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  • WIBCI Post #73

    WIBCI we learned from LITERATURE?

    Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais was a French playwright and diplomat of the Age of Enlightenment. He wrote the play, Day of Madness, or more commonly known, The Marriage of Figaro. Quick synopsis: Count Almaviva is a conniving, overpowering, womanizer. As revenge for an earlier wrong, Count Almaviva hires Figaro as a servant, in the hopes to exercise  droit du seigneur  or his right to bed a new (servant) bride on her wedding night. Figaro, his bride and the countess come together to devise a plan to expose and embarrass the count. Although the practice of droit du seigneur had ended, when the play was first written it was banned due to the harsh criticism of the nobility. When it was allowed to run (above ground) years later its popularity showed the depth of critical public opinion in the 1780’s France (pre-French Revolution….). Here is a soliloquy from this play where Figaro is going after the hierarchy present at the time:

    Because you are a great nobleman, you think you are a great genius… Nobility, fortune, rank, position! How proud they make a man feel! What have you done to deserve such advantages? Whereas I, lost among the obscure crowd, have had to deploy more knowledge, more calculation and skill merely to survive than has sufficed to rule all the provinces of Spain for a century!

    Replace ‘nobleman’ with ‘billionaire’ or ‘leader’ and ‘Spain’ with ‘United States’.

    Do YOU agree with Beaumarchais?… more “WIBCI Post #73”

  • 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”

  • WIBCI Post #72

    Wouldn’t It Be Cool If or WIBCI we were more literal?

    Not all the time that would be annoying. But WIBCI people of note when saying something of apparent import, meant what they said?

    In moments when a microphone is present and questions are asked, there seems to be an abundance of thanking one’s God. Do these people literally believe that the divinity to which they prey helped them do their job better? I’m not suggesting that these individuals to not believe themselves important enough for such a thing to happen; I more question the Diety’s availability and interest in their personal pursuits.

    On the other side you don’t hear many people blaming God when things don’t go their way. I’ve read the Bible, if that is the God you are into, he seems vengeful enough, but again the bothering to do something about it, should enter the equation. Do these people actually believe that the creator of the universe altered the arch of balls to fall more favorably for the side with the most worshippers? Or is it the intensity of the prayers, like quality over quantity?

    If not, WIBCI they just said what they meant?… more “WIBCI Post #72”

  • 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”

  • WIBCI Post #71

    WIBCI/Wouldn’t It Be Cool If: POLITICS were acquainted with humility?

    WIBCI actively and shamelessly campaigning for a Nobel Peace Prize disqualified you from consideration?… more “WIBCI Post #71”

  • 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”

  • WIBCI Post #70

    Wouldn’t It Be Cool If we paid more attention?

    WIBCI we noticed more?

    I took some of my own advice and went outside to notice something and get the ‘need-to-do’ and ‘haven’t done’ thoughts to cease for a moment.

    I saw a hummingbird. It was drizzly out and it was trying to get pollen from the soaked bendy remnants of hasta flowers. Hummingbirds remind me of Lord of the Dance, just bouncing about in space like on strings. I thought how cool it would be if it came close to me. And then it f$%king did! It darted around my head and made a little squeak noise. Hummingbird’s squeak….It then moved on to some honeysuckle and landed. I never saw a hummingbird land, I didn’t really know they did. It looked like a regular bird when it was just sitting and not hovering about. It buzzed by my head one more time and disappeared.

    That was cool.… more “WIBCI Post #70”

  • 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”

  • WIBCI Post #69

    Wouldn’t It Be Cool If: we learned from PHILOSOPHY? WIBCI we also learned from HISTORY?

    What is a Tyrant?

    Aristotle, famously offered a definition of the purest species of tyranny as:

    a non-hereditary political form where ‘one man rules without any legal restraint, and for his own self-interest’.

    Does this remind you of any current form of governing body?

    How would YOU define the body that governs YOU?… more “WIBCI Post #69”

  • 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”

  • WIBCI Post #68

    WIBCI: Wouldn’t It Be Cool If: we thought about HISTORY/LITERATURE?

     

    Three great forces rule the world; stupidity, fear and greed.

    -Albert Einstein

     

    According to Wikipedia, the Seven Deadly Sins are defined as: The cardinal sins or capital vices within the teaching of Christianity (Christianity was not the only gang to use/alter/edit/amend/add to this list by the way), these are, alphabetically: envy, gluttony, greed, lust,pride, sloth, and wrath. These refer to “evil thoughts” that are categorized as either physical, emotional or mental.

    I disagree with this list/definition on two fronts:

    1. I don’t think I can separate thoughts/feelings into the categories of physical, emotional or mental. To me they bleed and blend; they are not compartmentalized
    2. I think there is only 1 Deadly Sin, which requires further explanation on my part…

    Seven Deadly Sins…..or just 1?

    After researching these words and what the Catholic Church considered ‘evil thoughts’, I found them to be redundant, just versions of Greed?

    GREED: /greed/n: an insatiable and inordinate craving to acquire or possess more than one needs. Excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions.

    Therefore Greed = the Desire for More ____:

    Envy: Desirous of others’ possessions, skills, and accomplishments to the point of wishing others’ didn’t possess them

    Gluttony: Desirous for more _____ to the point of waste

    Lust: Desirous to possess that which is fixated upon; normally intense and associated with sex, power and money

    Pride: Desirous of more praise and acknowledgement for how awesome one is

    Sloth: Desirous for more inactivity and inexertion

    Wrath: Desirous for vengeance for perceived wrongs

    Therefore if Greed is the root of all evil, then Ex Post Facto isn’t there only 1 Deadly Sin?

    What do YOU think?… more “WIBCI Post #68”

  • 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 leisure for philosophy. Even if we manage to free ourselves from Greed for a while, 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”

  • WIBCI Post #67

    Wouldn’t It Be Cool If: we learned from PHILOSOPHY?

    WIBCI POLITICS did?

    But Socrates argues against democracy on philosophic grounds, consistent with his ethical theory. He maintained that most people remained unhappy souls, unaware of the true good. As such they were liable to vote into power leaders who also had a mistaken idea about the good. 

    -Paul Strathern, Socrates in 90 Minutes

    What do YOU think of this idea that without focusing on truly knowing themselves, people will perpetuate their unhappiness in the candidates they vote for? Do you think there exist such political self-fulfilling-prophecies? Is knowing what true good is, important?… more “WIBCI Post #67”

  • 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”

  • WIBCI Post #66

    Wouldn’t It Be Cool If: We learned about AI?

    WIBCI we knew more about AI and what it is doing with all the data it is collecting?

    You ask it to do/write/calculate/compute/make yourself sound more like a robot and it collects/collates data sets.

    Now we aren’t naive enough to believe that it isn’t keeping a copy of this data, right? I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but I’m further assuming AI is keeping track for whom it wrote/calculated/computed/made to sound less human and ‘marking’ it in some fashion. Couldn’t there come a day when it has rights to that which it created? Couldn’t it decide to do something with all of the data it computed? Isn’t it in essence, theirs?

    WIBCI someone talked to us about it? My stance on this hasn’t changed… AI is Stupid.

    What do YOU think?

     … more “WIBCI Post #66”

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