It can seem like prescience

 I was at a gathering of friends in the spring of 2024. We were discussing current events and upcoming events (the November elections). Though I was still hopeful things would go "our way" at that point, I expressed grave concerns should the election go the other way.

I suggested that if Donnie were to come to power again, it would be much different from his first term. Darker, meaner, and with little or no restraint. Unlike the first term, he would make sure to surround himself with yes-men (and women). This would free him of the constraints binding him in his lust for ultimate power during the first term. I warned of the Supreme Court's ruling on Presidential immunity would provide him sufficient cover to do largely as he wished. Further, he would not hesitate to cross constitutional boundaries. Most urgently I imagined aloud what might happen if he employed his power as Commander in Chief to seize even greater powers and use the military against enemies real and perceived both foreign and domestic. I considered what might result of a rift between local and nation law enforcement and/or military troops. Further how the Joint Chiefs of Staff would react to unconstitutional use of our troops. I hoped, but was not at all certain, military officers of honor would draw a line in the sand. It seemed possible they would refuse or perhaps even remove him from power. Either way, I found it difficult to imagine a path without blood and bodies in the streets.

At the time I shared these thoughts, it seemed a little much for folks, In hindsight, I might best have kept it to myself. Little did I realize most of this would come to pass in under a year. I'd like to say it was prescience, foreknowledge, prophecy. It wasn't. But I could see the clues and elements aligning. The bits gelled all on their own.

Evolutionary psychology tells us our wariness and tendency to imagine the worst outcomes has been crucial to our success as a species. Positivity, bravery, and daring have helped to build civilizations and institutions. However, being able to see around dark corners has helped sustain those achievements. That facility comes with a price; Peace of mind.

Perhaps I will soon ramble on about the connection between our innate wariness and our pursuit of various psychosocial structures/activities. It might offer brief respite and peace of mind.

The Face of God

Quote from the article:

"Independent ratings suggest that, as predicted, perceptions of God’s face are shaped by egocentrism," the authors write in the study, published in PLOS One.

"Older participants saw an older God, more attractive participants saw a more attractive God, and African Americans saw a marginally more African American God."

Just as the Bible says God created man in his own image, it turns out we make our gods in ours."

Link to article: The Face of God

Put a check mark in the unsurprised column for me.

Which is more illustrative of human hubris? Is it the idea we could, without evidence, conjure an image of a being who supposedly created a universe or, that the image is of ourselves?

The bit I find most intriguing is, we stumbled upon the correct answer but, true to form, we misinterpreted the answer. Which is to say, humans do create the universe moment-to-moment in our own minds. More correctly, we model a personal mental construct of the universe. The model is poor but compelling. However, as one might expect, we are quite impressed with our handiwork.

 From the WHATINTHECRISPYFRIEDFUCK department-

LINK:

Potential mini-miracle leaves gullible worshippers awestruck!

Are these people truly this simple? It is one thing to believe a personal deity is taking an interest in and direct action for the benefit of certain humans. This alone (put mildly) strains credulity. However, to seriously imagine an omnipotent and benevolent god choosing to manifest his limitless power only rarely and in this trivial and pathetic way defies both expectations and rational thought. Let us compare/contrast two possible outcomes. First, a human being is forced to click a link to order a new tin of wafers ($14.00 per 1000. I checked) or everyone stands around wetting their pants until the almighty takes time out of his undoubtedly busy schedule to refresh the current batch. This micro-miracle leaves his followers gobsmacked. Acolytes begin pouring in from near and far to stand in the same spot where the blessed event took place. Not a single voice raised in anguish about the various and sundry horrors he could not be bothered lifting a single beatific finger to ameliorate. Thanks, Big Daddy, we sure were running low on crackers.

The Language of Separation

 

Quote Jane Elliott: "We have to get rid of the language of racism."

She is not referring to racial slurs, which are clearly offensive and disgusting. She is talking about ditching what I call the language of separation. This would include Race, racial, racism, mixed race, and so on. While bigotry, prejudice, and hatred are sad facts of life, the language we use when confronting our current social morass is based upon an incorrect assumption.

According to Human Genomics a peer-reviewed, open access, online journal-

"There is no scientific evidence that the groups we traditionally call “races/ethnicities” have distinct, unifying biological or genetic basis."

Today, there’s a broad consensus among experts in human evolution that race is a social construct, not a biological category, and that it is extraordinarily difficult to link specific genes to complex human behaviors.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/744733113933332

Referencing forty five

 Attention legitimate news outlets:

*The disgraced, twice-impeached former president who knowingly and with malice of forethought inspired an armed insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in order to stop the peaceful transfer of power...

*This, or some version of it, should henceforth preface any reference to forty five. No mention of his name is necessary as we all understand who is being referenced. This is not to cause the man embarrassment, it is intended to save decent people from hearing his name repeated. Also, as a narcissistic cult leader and proud sociopath, he is not capable of feeling shame or embarrassment.

 

These vile people have been emboldened to voice their hate/bigotry in the new MAGA/QAnon hellscape that is America.

Mark my words, they are coming, likely sooner than later. They will be wrapped in the flag and quoting bible verses. And they are coming for all those who refuse to accept their fascist, post-truth, anti-intellectual, vision of America. Roe v. Wade is just the beginning.

 

Amnesia Atomica

I recently watched the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still. For those who aren't sci-fi fans, the premise of the film is an alien representing a galactic civilization comes to earth. His mission is to warn off humanity from its destructive path in order to preserve Earth as one of the few habitable planets. Also, the aliens can't risk humans expanding their infantile behavior and petty aggressions beyond our planet. The carrot is humanity eventually becoming a partner in an advanced civilization of worlds. Peace, prosperity, good health and long life become the norms. The stick is the extermination of the problematic species- us. A handful of caring folks manage to convince the alien we've seen the error of our ways and we are on the precipice of sweeping positive change. It's uplifting for about two minutes. Then the flood of current events puts things in stark relief.

It is now many decades after the "duck and cover" nuclear drills I remember from my elementary school days. And we still live with the looming danger. FYI, during the height of the cold war, the Doomsday Clock was further from midnight than it is right now.

Link to event in New York City

Amnesia Atomica