Death of Hypatia®

Category: Know Thyself

  • Know Thyself Post #79

    Know Thyself through QUESTIONS:

    Have you ever noticed that there are some people that when you speak to them, they don’t ask you many questions? Perhaps an insincere ‘How are you?’, but no follow ups, no scoping out further details, no deep diving examination?

    Have you ever noticed that when some people ask you questions it does not seem to be because they wish to know what YOU think, but more for them to tee up a flaw with your baited answer?

    Next time someone asks YOU a question, see if you believe they are asking because they want to know what YOU think?

    Next time YOU ask some a question, ask yourself the same.

     … more “Know Thyself Post #79”

  • Know Thyself Post #78

    Know Thyself through THE 1ST AMMENDMENT:

    The cable package that I pay for monthly carries a separate charge for a ‘news’ channel that I do not care for and only watch occasionally to see arguments from another POV. I do not like HAVING to pay for this channel, but there is no way around it. It is there and I choose when I watch it and I know myself enough to call a duck a duck.

    Recently a late night show host was pulled from the air because the network was pressured by the administration. The network came to its senses and reinstated the show in its lineup. But, over 20% of the country cannot see this show. This was decided for them by the network. These people can no longer choose what they wish to watch because their local affiliates decided for them. These public broadcasting outlets have decided what information the people that live in these areas can see and hear.

    What do YOU think?

     … more “Know Thyself Post #78”

  • Know Thyself Post #77

    Know Thyself through LITERATURE:

    Think about the following quote:

    Which of us is there can tell how much vanity lurks in our warmest regard for others and how selfish our love is?

    – William Makepeace Thackeray Vanity Fair

    Think about someone you truly love.

    Is vanity there?

    Is there an aspect of selfishness?… more “Know Thyself Post #77”

  • Know Thyself Post #76

    Know Thyself through POLITICS:

    Know when your freedoms are being taken away.

    (Wikipedia):

    “In Mills v. Alabama (1943) the Supreme Court laid out the purpose of the free press clause: … there is practically universal agreement that a major purpose of [the First Amendment] was to protect the free discussion of governmental affairs. … the press serves and was designed to serve as a powerful antidote to any abuses of power by governmental officials, and as a constitutionally chosen means for keeping officials elected by the people responsible to all the people whom they were selected to serve.”… more “Know Thyself Post #76”

  • Know Thyself Post #75

    Know Thyself through 1980’s POLITICAL satire:

    I saw an old SNL Weekend Update from 1988. Dennis Miller was solo at the desk with a banging mullet and making snarky jokes per the upcoming 1988 Presidential election between George Bush (senior) and Michael Dukakis. One particular quip struck me as timely:

    ‘You know I don’t even think the Presidential system works anymore, I’m advocating a new system, the volleyball-tocracy, we elect six men, one of them serves until he screws up, they rotate, and somebody else takes it for awhile.’

    I know this was said in 1988, but not bad….six guys trying to one up each other, probably better checks and balances than we have right now, no? Thoughts?… more “Know Thyself Post #75”

  • Know Thyself Post #74

    Know Thyself through Language

    Entmology /ET-im-OL-ə-jee/ n./: the study of the origin and evolution of words—including their constituent units of sound and meaning across time.

    Language has always fascinated me. Words have little stories within them, if you know how to read them, or, if you notice them. I find I use words and phrases reflexively, sometimes without knowing the real meaning behind the words. I’m using them correctly, usually, but it is knee-jerk more than saying them because they fit the situation better than other words would. Or I’m so comfortable with a word that I didn’t notice there was a meaning there, often pretty obvious, that I had taken for granted.

    For instance: I love the movie Caddyshack but it wasn’t until I watched it last week for the, at least, 59th time, before I realized that the name ‘Caddyshack’ referred to the structure the caddies hang out at beyond the sight of the members of the gold club. It was just the name of the movie to me.

    I have used the phrase ‘Suffice it to say’ incorrectly….recently.

    I didn’t consider where the names of the months come from. I knew July was renamed in Julius Caesar’s honor after his death, and I knew Octavian, aka Augustus, named August after himself. But I didn’t know that Caligula, Nero, Domitian and Commodus named at least one month after themselves. These reboots didn’t stick as these men proved to be profoundly unpopular after they were murdered or committed suicide. Side note: Commodus renamed all 12 months after himself, the end of his reign was thought of as increasingly dictatorial, he created a personality cult or cult of the leader where he deified himself, and went so far as to perform as a gladiator in the Colosseum. Ironically at the age of 31, he was assassinated by a wrestler named….and I’m not making this up….Narcissus. Yeah history!

    I knew Benedict Arnold was a traitor, but not specifically what he was a traitor for, till I looked it up.

    Did you know that the word Jesus means Christ? So his name is Christ Christ. Repetitive, but spiced up with a synonym, like the 80’s band Mr. Mister.

    I thought I knew what being ‘Machiavellian’ meant….I didn’t.

    I’m going to keep noticing words/phrases that just tumble out with little to no known backstory, and learn about them.

    I like (knowing the) meaning (of) what I say.… more “Know Thyself Post #74”

  • Know Thyself Post #73

    Know Thyself through noticing forgiveness:

    In your life, in the last situation of which you were a primary participant, and in which an olive branch was offered:

    Questions:

    1. Was the olive branch extended TO you, or BY you?
    2. Was it accepted?
    3. Would you do anything differently if given the chance?
    … more “Know Thyself Post #73”

  • Know Thyself Post #72

    Know Thyself through emotion

    I watched a playoff in golf the other day and the hometown boy won. When he did this started a shitstorm of jubilation from everyone there. There were high fives, all manner of fist pumps, and a sustained roar that must have been sick to have been within. I saw many gentlemen so full of exuberance that they were able to lift their port bodies off the actual ground, repeatedly. kids being knocked about like in a mosh pit but with the look of ecstasy on their faces.

    People cried.

    It was infectious, I found myself smiling and I had very little to do with the putt.

    I wish I had a career where demonstration of my skill resulted in such unabashed vigor by onlookers. Screw onlookers, would be cool to feel that way from doing anything.

    I wish I could feel such feelings from others and within myself by doing something really well.

    What do YOU think?… more “Know Thyself Post #72”

  • Know Thyself Post #71

    Know Thyself through Recall:

    Did you know that lineups are still used today by police enforcement? The average time for a live lineup where potential suspects stand side by side in front of a one-way mirror like in movies or old TV shows. According to the inter webs this takes place on average: ‘hours to days’ after the alleged crime. Hours to Days have passed before someone could mark someone they think they remember committing a crime. Not surprisingly, this is often wrong.

    Do you think YOU, or better said, your memory or recall, would fall in the ‘often wrong’ category?

    If you ate outside your home in a commercial establishment in the past 72 hours, think back to your most recent meal/drink/snack that you purchased – Could you pick out the person you paid in a lineup? Could you describe the person you paid well enough for a composite artist to render a drawing of them? Can you picture the person you paid right now?

    Try this:

    1. Go to the Contacts of your phone
    2. Find the first contact under ‘B’
    3. Picture them in any other form than a profile pic or an image that comes up on your phone
    4. Rinse and Repeat for the first contact under ‘L’
    5. Rinse and Repeat for the first contact under ‘T’

    How good were YOU at this?

    Next time you are face to face with someone in your contacts list, really look at them.… more “Know Thyself Post #71”

  • Know Thyself Post #70

    Know Thyself through HISTORY:

    Fame and Fortune are cyclical and too much of either with eventually provoke the anger of the gods.

    -Gregory S. Aldrete, PhD, Polycratus of Samos-the Tale of a Tyrant

    In around 533BCE, Polycrates seized power of the island of Samos in Ancient Greece when, during a festival to Hera where the population dressed as if for battle and paraded to the goddesses’ sanctuary, Polycrates and his two brothers, armed with actual working armaments, murdered the leaders of the city during the ritual. After the coup d’etat, instead of dividing Samos equally among the three brothers as agreed, Polycratus went solo by murdering one brother and sending the other into exile.

    Polycratus built up his navy and soon began to enjoy the fame and fortune that came with flexing maritime power in the ancient world. With the subsequent pillaging and plundering brought about by maritime power came wealth. And as always, with wealth came envy and resentment from new friends and old enemies. A warning, as noted by the historian Herodotus, that his soon to be ex-friend Amasis tried to communicate to Polycratus:

    Now Amasis could not fail to notice how much exceptional good fortune Polycrates was enjoying, and it concerned him, So, when this string of luck continued unabated, Amasis wrote him a letter saying, ‘It gives me joy to hear that a friend and ally is doing so well, but I am not pleased by your good fortune because I know that the gods are jealous. I have never heard of anyone who enjoyed good fortune in all things, who then did not ultimately die in total disaster. So, Listen to my advice about how to deal with your perpetual good luck. You must select your most valuable possession-the thing that would most break your heart if you were to lose it-and then deliberately throw that object away.’

    -Herodotus

    Polycratus took this seriously and decided the possession he would most miss, was a gold ring set with an emerald fashioned by the famous Theodorus. He sailed out on one of his warships and threw the ring into the sea.

    A few days past when a fisherman who caught a prize fish, presented it to Polycratus as an offering. Polycratus gladly accepted and was pleased until he heard that as the fish was being prepared, the ring was discovered in its belly.

    The Gods had rejected his offering.

    Damn.

    Can we stop and consider the unlikeliness of such an event…. let’s say this ring was blingy, like 5″ blingy…. this 5″ bauble was thrown into THE AGEAN SEA, an area roughly 215,000 km², where it was promptly eaten by a single fish that was shortly thereafter caught by a single fisherman who happened to gift it to the very same person who threw it off a boat into THE AGEAN SEA! And the crazy kick to the crouch is that this was an offering to the Gods! I believe that if I were the kind of person who believed enough in God offerings to sail out to sea and Titanic my favorite bangle, I would also be the kind of person who would heed such a pronounced hard pass.

    It is believed when Amasis heard about the ring/fish boomerang situation he promptly broke off his friendship with the doomed warlord. A counter belief is that Polycratus abandoned his friend and went as far as backing/aiding the Persians in a campaign against Amasis. Suffice it to say, the two were no longer BFF’s after this divine diss.

    As fate would also have it, Polycratus continued on, as most megalomaniacs do, ignoring warnings and assuming eternal immortality. Ultimately his luck ran out and Polycratus’s fate was sealed. Some years later, finding himself strapped for cash, he was lured by the promise of treasure that his secretary verified in person to be good. Now either this secretary was not very bright and didn’t notice the trunks had only a thin layer of gold on top and were mostly rocks, or, he was in on it (as he gained control soon after). Either way Polycratus was so arrogant as to accept an offer from a longtime foe, verified by his moronic and/or double-crossing secretary, while ignoring warnings from friends, family, an oracle and, his daughter’s dream. Not surprisingly, when Polycratus went to retrieve his treasure and was promptly murdered. Herodotus wrote that Polycratus had  suffered a death too ‘disgusting’ to detail. Eeesh, too disgusting for ancient Greeks….the people who brought you keelhauling, combing and, crucifixion….damn.

    My questions for YOU are:

    • What would YOU sacrifice to the Gods if given the same advice from Amasis?
    • What would YOU do if it were rejected?
    … more “Know Thyself Post #70”

  • Know Thyself Post #69

    Know Thyself; through your deal breakers

    What do YOU consider ‘compatible’ with YOU?

    What if we really thought about, really knew those characteristics we honestly judge as important for potential partners to exude? Not just romantically, but in potential friends, co-workers, bosses, representatives…anyone whom could influence our everyday lives. What would you really want to know, up front, out of the gate, no holds barred? What would you love to know that they didn’t know you knew?

    I find the following important to know:

    1. how many real friends you have from childhood
    2. amount of fragrance you bring with you
    3. the last thing you read
    4. # of times you’ve voluntarily vacationed at a theme park with costumed animals as an adult
    5. having any non-judgmental feelings about reality TV
    6. how you drive
    7. thoughts on evolution
    8. why you chose/are choosing your profession
    9. how you throw a ball
    10. any perceived ick-like feelings in your presence
    11. the level of hilarity you find within Monty Python
    12. feelings per country music
    13. affinity for stinky cheese
    14. best present you ever gave someone
    15. you tend to prefer the remake/reboot/sequel to the original

    What would YOUR compatibility determinants/deal breakers/would-love-to-know-without-you-knowing-I-know list be for a stranger? How would anyone whom currently influences your everyday life measure up against your list?… more “Know Thyself Post #69”

  • Know Thyself Post #68

    Know Thyself through PHILOSOPHY:

    In Plato’s Phaedo, Socrates discusses what he believes happens to the soul after you die. He discusses the evils that exist in the flesh, or, the body. In an attempt to modernize the following, I thought…what word  best replaces ‘body’ that makes sense today?  Social Media? AI? Billionaires? Then I came up with it: GREED

    As long as we have Greed, and this evil can mingle with our soul, we shall never completely attain what we desire, namely truth. For Greed‘s forever wasting our time with its demands. Whenever it is ill it hinders us in our pursuit of real being. It fills us with passions, desires, fears, and all kinds of imaginings and foolishness. Greed alone, and its desires, cause wars, social divisiveness, and battles: for the origin of all war is the desire for wealth, and we are forced to pursue wealth because we are enslaved by the wishes of Greed. On account of all this, we have no leasure for philosophy. Even if we manage to free ourselves from Greed  for awhile, and try to examine some matter, it hinders us at every step of our inquiry, causing confusion and trouble and panic, so that we cannot see the truth for it. Truly we have learned that if we are to have any pure knowledge at all, we must be freed from Greed. 

    -Plato

    Can YOU come up with a better replacement?… more “Know Thyself Post #68”

  • Know Thyself Post #67

    Know Thyself through your HISTORY:

    Can you remember the last time you had sick day? Where someone had to call/email into wherever you were supposed to go that day and explain how you weren’t going to make it in. Can you remember? Was it recent or not since you were a kid?

    If it was recent: Think back to it: Did you feel so bad you REALLY couldn’t go in, or just bad enough? Did anyone take care of you? If so, have you ever taken care of them? What would you say was your prevailing feeling that day? Did you do anything interesting? Did you seize this day? What was the best thing you did that day?

    If you haven’t called in sick since you were a little kid, um, good for you? Or maybe not so good? If your life is tyrant-free and allows for it, maybe you should call in not-sick? If you can remember back when you actually stayed home from school, try and remember how it felt? Did anyone take care of you? If so, have you since then, ever taken care of them? What would you say was your prevailing feeling that day? Did you do anything interesting? Did you do anything worth telling your friends about next time you saw them? What was the best thing you did that day?

    If you were to prepare for ‘next time’ and wanted to have something on-hand to learn, or relearn, what would you choose?

    Some ideas for things to check out found in most abodes:

    • The 7th book on any shelf
    • That drawer over there
    • The 23rd recipe in a cookbook selected at random
    • That closet over there
    • The unlabeled truck/box/container up in an attic/down in a basement/high on a shelf and/or buried behind many other things, that contains….well…you’re not really sure
    … more “Know Thyself Post #67”

  • Know Thyself Post #66

    Know Thyself through POLITICAL HISTORY:

    I was listening to a lecture about Cimon or Kimon, who was an ancient Greek nobleman, military hero, and prominent politician from Athens. The lecturer discusses what he calls one of the:

    ‘Most interesting institutions of Athenian democracy in this period was ostracism. Every year, Athens would hold a special election in which the citizens would vote, not for the person they liked the best, but for the person they hated the most. They voted by writing a name on a shard of pottery called an ostracon, several caches of which have been unearthed by archeologists. If a minimus total of 5,000 votes were cast, the top vote-getter was expelled from Athens for 10 years, and if he returned before those 10 years had elapsed, he was executed.’

    – Gregory S. Aldrete, PhD, Unsung Heroes of the Ancient World: S1E1 Cimon of Athens From Glory to Disgrace

    What do YOU think about this policy? On one hand, I believe it useful for the citizens to have the ability to voice such a strong displeasure with a politician. This is an efficient way of getting rid of bad apples or those that promised to be one way and then acted another. But on the other hand, this is pretty brutal no? Needing only 5,000 votes means political rivals could bribe citizens to get rid of competition. Man f$cking with democracy right from the beginning.

    What if this policy were in place today, archaic or brilliant? Who would YOU vote for?… more “Know Thyself Post #66”

  • Know Thyself Post #65

    Know Thyself Through Your Writing:

    What if all job applications included the following question:

    • Did you use AI to help you with the writing/filling out of this application, resume and/or cover letter?     Yes     No

    How would YOU answer?

    How do you think your current/former employer would prefer applicants to answer? I suppose this is dependent on the job and the employer.

    Personally, I don’t think anyone could write about me, any better than me. AI is Stupid.

    What do YOU think?… more “Know Thyself Post #65”

→←