Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
There is no and can be no “insanity.” The idea of “insanity” is that your reality differs from a consensus reality. But if you cannot be certain—and you cannot be certain—that a consensus reality exists, because you cannot be certain that other ukhaans exist, then the existence of your reality is of primary importance and whether your reality corresponds with any other reality that may or may not exist is of no importance. My reality is reality, and this is not an esoteric, obscure, off-the-wall idea; it is derived from humanity’s most basic philosophical ponderings, our first recorded inquiries into the nature of consciousness, our first questions of what it is to be alive.
The answer is that to be alive is to be alone.
The answer is that to be alive is to be alone.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Saturday, July 8, 2006
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
The most visited country in the world is France. French culture, lifestyle, food, etc. is so unique—so famously French. It is a curious example of cultural tourism in a developed, industrialized country. A friend of mine once pointed out that because tourism based on the uniqueness of the culture is the largest French industry, it can be argued that the job of every French person is simply to be French. The most valuable commodity that France produces is Frenchness.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Saturday, January 11, 2003
Thursday, January 9, 2003
A Canadian Abroad
“Where are you from?”
“Canada.”
“Oh. Where is that, is that in Europe?”
“No, it’s in North America.”
“Oh, you are American!”
“No, I’m Canadian!”
“Oh. So, that is a state, as Texas?”
“No, it’s a different country.”
“Different from America?”
“Yes.”
“Oh. Then why are you not different from an American?”
“Where are you from?”
“Canada.”
“Oh. Where is that, is that in Europe?”
“No, it’s in North America.”
“Oh, you are American!”
“No, I’m Canadian!”
“Oh. So, that is a state, as Texas?”
“No, it’s a different country.”
“Different from America?”
“Yes.”
“Oh. Then why are you not different from an American?”
Sunday, July 7, 2002
Monday, July 1, 2002
Sunday, June 16, 2002
Monday, March 4, 2002
Sunday, February 3, 2002
Saturday, November 24, 2001
Sunday, November 18, 2001
Monday, October 29, 2001
Sunday, August 26, 2001
Friday, July 27, 2001
So I’ve been thinking I should really get into heroin. Think about it: the most intense pleasure a human can ever experience. It’s actually rather depressing to think about. No matter whatever else one does, it could never bring as much pleasure – and pure, real, honest, sensual, unambiguous pleasure at that – as a hit of heroin. Sure, maybe you’ve had sex with the most highly trained and talented prostitutes in the world; okay, maybe you’ve piloted an advanced jet beyond the reaches of the earth’s atmosphere and into the nascent fringes of space; why not? maybe you’ve held your newborn son for the first time – but have you ever tried heroin? Nothing can compare. How could anything compare with every pleasure receptor in your brain orgasming at once?
I was telling all this to ------ a while ago and she started crying and begging me not to get into heroin, and made me promise that I wouldn’t.
But, see, I know that she only reacted that way because she loves me, and love is such a selfish thing. It’s not so much that she’s concerned for my welfare, but that she’s worried that if I were removed from her life that it would make her sad. And that’s lame. She just can’t find happiness in the fact that I could experience as much pleasure as is humanly possible, far more so than is ever attainable in humdrum day-to-day existence. The most difficult thing to procure in pursuit of one’s dreams is never the money nor the time, but the support of one’s loved ones. Sure, maybe I’ll pay a little for it, but wouldn’t *the most intense pleasure a human being can experience* be worth a little discomfort and pain? And besides, I don’t think that for a person like myself it is such a big sacrifice, since personally I’ve never been real big on showering and neurotically compulsive bowel control anyway. And could any human pain be less bearable than the crushing pain of daily mundanity?
I was telling all this to ------ a while ago and she started crying and begging me not to get into heroin, and made me promise that I wouldn’t.
But, see, I know that she only reacted that way because she loves me, and love is such a selfish thing. It’s not so much that she’s concerned for my welfare, but that she’s worried that if I were removed from her life that it would make her sad. And that’s lame. She just can’t find happiness in the fact that I could experience as much pleasure as is humanly possible, far more so than is ever attainable in humdrum day-to-day existence. The most difficult thing to procure in pursuit of one’s dreams is never the money nor the time, but the support of one’s loved ones. Sure, maybe I’ll pay a little for it, but wouldn’t *the most intense pleasure a human being can experience* be worth a little discomfort and pain? And besides, I don’t think that for a person like myself it is such a big sacrifice, since personally I’ve never been real big on showering and neurotically compulsive bowel control anyway. And could any human pain be less bearable than the crushing pain of daily mundanity?
Thursday, July 5, 2001
To be anchored to no one thing in particular must then make you relevant to all, aye? So you do not define (confine?) yourself by years, geography, knowledge, wealth, prestige -- but you have only been able to do so now that you have more than enough of each, enough so that you can now decide how much or little is important. But where were you before you had control of assets sufficient to free you from their associated ambitions and influences?--were you as certain of the core of yourself then? And, the more important corollary: where will you be when you face the total loss of your confidence-endowing wealth and power, such as when death approaches--will your identity still be as firm within yourself? Can you say for certain whether the bolsters of your identity originate mainly from within yourself, or do they support you from the outside world from which you so wish to distinguish yourself?
Sunday, July 1, 2001
Sunday, June 24, 2001
Friday, November 3, 2000
Thursday, September 14, 2000
Wednesday, March 15, 2000
Thursday, January 6, 2000
Sunday, October 31, 1999
Saturday, September 4, 1999
Thursday, June 24, 1999
Sunday, June 20, 1999
Wednesday, February 3, 1999
Wednesday, February 18, 1998
Tuesday, February 10, 1998
Monday, November 17, 1997
Sunday, November 16, 1997
Sunday, August 10, 1997
Tuesday, March 26, 1996
Wednesday, January 25, 1995
Wednesday, March 23, 1994
The Incomprehensibility of Time
The past and the future do not exist, except as thoughts. The past exists only as memory, the future exists only as anticipation: time truly consists of only the present moment.
The present moment is an infinitesimally small point on a line representing a passage of time.
Because of its infinitesimal nature, time is beyond human comprehension.
The past and the future do not exist, except as thoughts. The past exists only as memory, the future exists only as anticipation: time truly consists of only the present moment.
The present moment is an infinitesimally small point on a line representing a passage of time.
Because of its infinitesimal nature, time is beyond human comprehension.
Tuesday, January 4, 1994
Here I am, locked in the terrible throes of winter. We didn’t have school today. The windchill factor was 50 below (oF).
Anyway, the winter. I get nothing done. I have to sleep. I sleep a lot.
Of course it’s natural for humans to hibernate – we are mammals, are we not?
I know where the wanderlust comes from. I can feel it burning deep within me right now. With my entire world locked in miserable snow and ice, I dream about the summer, and running somewhere. I can envision green fields and trees passing by from a boxcar. I have given up my dream of running away into the world and never coming back to here. I really must come back. I have far too many opportunities. But my thirst for adventure is still strong. I shall live yet.
Anyway, the winter. I get nothing done. I have to sleep. I sleep a lot.
Of course it’s natural for humans to hibernate – we are mammals, are we not?
I know where the wanderlust comes from. I can feel it burning deep within me right now. With my entire world locked in miserable snow and ice, I dream about the summer, and running somewhere. I can envision green fields and trees passing by from a boxcar. I have given up my dream of running away into the world and never coming back to here. I really must come back. I have far too many opportunities. But my thirst for adventure is still strong. I shall live yet.
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