Monday, March 14, 2011

Times they are a'changing

Listening to some Roy Orbison this morning and wondering how he would have done on American Idol.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Peace on Earth would be devastating to the world economy, particularly the US, UK, Germany, France and Russia. War is good for business...ask Lockheed-Martin, General Dynamics, EADS, and Uralvagonzavod, just to name a few.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Confessions of a Spiritual Retard

I seem to have been born missing the belief gene. I do not seem to have the capacity to believe in anything that does not present at least some evidence to my experience. And even if I do believe, I am conscious of the fact that it is merely a theory, an hypothesis, a possibility, but not a fact. Even the religion of science presents theories or beliefs, but these beliefs then seem to be accepted as fact. Take the Big Bang Theory for example. It is only a theory, but most scientists believe it and have closed their minds to any other possibility. Therefore, it is a fact...not!

When I was a teenager my youngest sister (age 2-3) believed in two imaginary friends, Goon and Charlie, who lived in the storm sewer. For the life of me I could never make contact with these friends, which I considered a personal failing. Eventually though she forgot about them as she grew up. I suppose Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny were the next imaginary characters to occupy her imagination. They too fell away in time.

It seems, however, that around the world supposed grown-ups believe in a variety of imaginary friends of the most preposterous kind. Many have an imaginary friend who tells them what to eat and what not to eat as well as what to wear, particularly on their heads. And this imaginary friend apparently gets very angry if his rules are violated. To hear them talk about it this imaginary friend is a very vindictive and arbitrary despot. Why would one want such a friend? This friend seems to pick which children to kill and where to inflict all sorts of disasters like floods and earthquakes. And it is quite clear that this friend doesn't like women so well in most cases. This friend's one redeeming grace seems to be its interest in sports. The competitor who has the greatest influence with this friend seems to win the sports contests.

And, once more, for the life of me, I can find no evidence whatsoever in my own experience that would even vaguely point to the existence of such an imaginary friend, just as I could find no evidence of Goon and Charlie. However, at least Goon and Charlie were much friendlier and more fun than this other imaginary friend.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Fundamentalism

I am watching a History Channel program on the medieval mind and it strikes me how much 21st century Islamist fundamentalism shares the idiotic, thoughtless ideas about women, sex and God, that were prevalent in 12th century medieval Christianity.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Egypt

The arrogance of youth meets the arrogance of power.

Requisites for Worldly Success

I have spent much of my adult life studying the qualities required for worldly success, whether it be political, financial, or otherwise. Here are the qualities that I find extremely common among so-called highly successful people:

1. MOTIVATION

It seems all too obvious that one must be motivated to be successful. However, do we ever ask what it is that provides fundamental motivation or the desire to move? The answer is clearly unhappiness and insecurity. Simple! A happy, secure person is not motivated; has no need to move. So, a deep unhappiness and insecurity bordering on, if not full blown, neurosis is the fundamental requirement for worldly success.

2. DETERMINATION - SINGLE-MINDEDNESS

I don't think that many would argue against the observation that the vast majority of the world's population meets the first criterion. What else then is required? Is it not a certain energy, drive, determination, focus, single-mindedness? Do not we speak of "the drive for success?" Do we not find that many high achievers seem profoundly driven? And what else is this other than obsession and compulsion? Serious and deep obsession-compulsion at least bordering on psychosis.

3. RUTHLESSNESS

Here we separate the wannabees and pretenders from the high achievers. For top level success there must be a certain disregard even disdain for anything which would impede the success drive, such as rules, regulations, morals, ethics, other people.

4. COMPETITIVENESS

It is obvious that for someone to be successful he/she must be extremely competitive. In the most successful, they see everything in terms of winning and losing.

5. AGGRESSION

The desire to take the initiative and to dominate is also required for competitive success.

6. MANIPULATION

Strategic thinking aimed at maximizing personal advantage is another necessity.


So, the ideal candidate for worldly success is a seriously neurotic, obsessive-compulsive, mild-to-moderately psychotic sociopath. While there are certainly a few exceptions, this is without doubt in my mind, the most common path to "success." Is it any wonder, then, that the world is in strife? With this profile for our leaders and cultural icons how could there be any possibility of peace and tranquility in the world?