amnesiacs.org

Responding to "Who Ministers to the Ministers?"

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:32:00 -0400

Responding to "Who Ministers to the Ministers?":

In response to a former classmate’s link on Facebook regarding crime and the clergy:

On the advice of a wholly disreputable astrologer, I’ve been on the lookout of instances of synchronicity — recently I’ve been reading Marcus Aurelius’ “Meditations” as well as “George, Nicholas and Wilhelm” by Miranda Carter. Both are reflections of the lives of Emperors: one ancient and wise, the others…not-so-much. The axis of synchronicity revolves around the founding of the ancient Roman Church on the beliefs of the Stoic philosophers, which eventually led to the excesses of the European monarchs of the late 19th century.

So why is there so much crime? It’s about the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots. The wider this gap becomes, the more that ministers and police officers will find themselves overwhelmed by the volume of violence that threatens to consume our society.

We need to address systematic poverty in order to have any effect on the crime rate.

Olivia Simone’s First Home Movie

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:01:16 -0400

Olivia Simone’s First Home Movie

Feel this. Bullion (from across the pond; the UK, to be exact)...

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:30:00 -0400

Feel this. Bullion (from across the pond; the UK, to be exact) thought that it would be an excellent idea to mash up J Dilla (may he rest in peace) vs. the god-damned Beach Boys! A lot of comparisons are being drawn to Dangermouse and his Grey Album, which was okay, but. Don’t let me start hating on The Beatles or Jay-Z in a public forum, “Mr. Empire” will probably put a hit out on me.

But for real, this ish is so-so fresh! The artist, once again: Bullion. The track is “Caroline, No”.

Fanimation of Thom Yorke - Black Swan. It’s good, I...

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 06:52:42 -0400

Fanimation of Thom Yorke - Black Swan. It’s good, I swear.

The Runaway General - Stanley McChrystal

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:39:08 -0400

The Runaway General - Stanley McChrystal:

We live in Oz.

Somewhere during the drudgery of work or before the commute to school, I had an opportunity to peruse the Times. In today’s article analyzing the policy shift in the war in Afghanistan, they linked to the now famous article relating the (mis-)adventures of Gen. Stanley McChrystal and his sloppy, deluded entourage. How fitting that RS broke this wide open. It’s not only their penchant for hard hitting journalism, it’s their ability to expose the rock star in anyone.

One more illusion dispelled. If only we could find reality again.

My Money and Banking instructor displayed this for the class at...

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:02:28 -0400

My Money and Banking instructor displayed this for the class at the end of our three hour session.

Too bad this is only a six-week semester. At least it’ll be interesting?

Iran Updates (VIDEO): Live-Blogging The Uprising

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:48:05 -0400

“There are more ideas on earth than intellectuals imagine. And these ideas are more active, stronger, more resistant, more passionate than “politicians” think. We have to be there at the birth of ideas, the bursting outward of their force: not in books expressing them, but in events manifesting this force, in struggles carried on around ideas, for or against them. Ideas do not rule the world. But it is because the world has ideas (and because it constantly produces them) that it is not passively ruled by those who are its leaders or those who would like to teach it, once and for all, what it must think.”

- Michel Foucault

Iran Updates (VIDEO): Live-Blogging The Uprising

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:32:44 -0400

everyone has mentioned all of the so-called players in iran except for the real power-base: the money. wealthy iranians are no doubt displeased with iran’s tanking economy, and are looking to khamenei to correct it. a first good step towards this would be ahmadinejad’s ouster.

ayatollah khamenei no doubt realises that the days of the revolution are passing from the consciousness of the youth of iran. there is a shift of power occurring right before our eyes. khamenei and his advisors will remain in power, guided by a more moderate cabinet. one only needs to look at the website of dr. ali akbar velayati, former foreign minister and current policy advisor to the ayatollah.

http://www.velayati.ir/?lang=en&p=09

ahmadinejad, unless he can muster significant public support by wednesday, is done.

Grizzly Bear. Grizzly Bear, Grizzly Bear, Grizzly Bear. Why...

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:13:31 -0400

Grizzly Bear. Grizzly Bear, Grizzly Bear, Grizzly Bear. Why couldn’t they have opened for Radiohead in West Palm Beach instead of…of that band I was being too cool to watch? Their upcoming release, Veckatimest, is burning up the Internets; I imagine that it’s got to be simultaneously exciting and irritating for the band. Here’s the rub: for once, the hype is well-founded. I’ve tried to put in other CDs, I made a copy for my Starbucks barista at school, and I send people a link to the preview track put out by Warp Records all day long. If you dig it, please consider pre-ordering the album: they’ve put a lot of work into this album and I promise, it’ll be worth it come May.

"These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this..."

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:34:50 -0500

“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

- Thomas Paine - “The Crisis”

Afghans, From Hospital Beds, Dispute U.S. Account of Raid

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 04:01:11 -0500

Afghans, From Hospital Beds, Dispute U.S. Account of Raid:

For these reasons, we reject war based on the premise of “Shoot first, ask questions later,” Mr. Obama. It is impossible to query a dead man, unless we’re sending out mediums with every combat group. This is not a problem that will be solved with brigade-level force; it is time to put a leash on the Pentagon.

The Breeders - Cannonball This song still gets the hipsters...

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:35:51 -0500

The Breeders - Cannonball

This song still gets the hipsters dancing all up in the club!

Sufjan Stevens - To Be Alone With You I’d swim across lake...

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:26:00 -0500

Sufjan Stevens - To Be Alone With You

I’d swim across lake Michigan
I’d sell my shoes
I’d give my body to be back again
In the rest of the room

To be alone with you
To be alone with you
To be alone with you
To be alone with you

You gave your body to the lonely
They took your clothes
You gave up a wife and a family
You gave your goals

To be alone with me
To be alone with me
To be alone with me
You went up on a tree

To be alone with me you went up on the tree

I’ll never know the man who loved me
Nite peeps.

(via stupidinboston)

Portishead - Machine Gun I must admit, I was pretty upset upon...

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 12:42:00 -0500

Portishead - Machine Gun

I must admit, I was pretty upset upon my first listening of Portishead’s most recent release, Third. Then I remembered back to all of the other albums that I’d hated upon first listen; I reminded myself to put tape over the slot of my car’s CD changer and drive for a few hours. I was on I-595 a day later, driving out west the first time that I really “heard” this song. Now, I-595 splitting off from I-95 in South Florida isn’t a country road; it can be a busy little monster. I got really amped and got the speedometer down to about 90, and I passed a figure walking not-quite-along-the-side of this 10-lane leviathan, all dressed in black. Totally creeped me out, in a good way; I was endowed with a profound sense of solitude.

Anyway, pop this in your CD player and push the pedal down, unless you live in South Carolina; I’d strongly suggest you drive the speed limit there.

Eagle Nebula Through Trees (via...

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:44:00 -0500

Eagle Nebula Through Trees

(via dethjunkie:getthefuckoutrightnow:influent:rentedsurroundings:ofthefurrow)

Elliott Smith- Because (Beatles Cover) Because the wind is high...

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:01:00 -0500

Elliott Smith- Because (Beatles Cover)

Because the wind is high it blows my mind

(via jesuisjuli)

Note Mai’ Linda (via corcoise:ofthefurrow)

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:17:00 -0500

Note Mai’ Linda

(via corcoise:ofthefurrow)

Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:57:00 -0500

Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire

Zombies! Organize!! (Z!O!! for those of you that know) has a new...

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 20:33:00 -0500

Zombies! Organize!! (Z!O!! for those of you that know) has a new CD and a video to boot! I think they’re one of the best things to happen to music in S. Florida since The Postmarks or The Freakin’ Hott. Robotacus is on their latest release. If you were to, say, check out their webpage, I’m sure they’d think that was pretty awesome.

Bush Ducking From Two Shoes President Bush - ducking from two...

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:29:00 -0500

Bush Ducking From Two Shoes

President Bush - ducking from two shoes that a report threw at him in Baghdad.

In Iraqi culture, throwing shoes at someone is a sign of contempt; Iraqis whacked a statue of Saddam Hussein with their shoes after U.S. marines toppled it to the ground after the 2003 invasion. (via emilyposts)

Here’s video. (via synmirror:peterwknox)

Roughly translated, the reporter screamed, “I got yer going away present right here, pal.” I hope this guy didn’t have tea scheduled with Blackwater any time soon. Prime Minister Nuri al Malachi barely flinches. Either he knows that he’s relatively safe standing next to “that one” (insert gratuitous thumb-jerking motion here), or he’s supremely confident of this guy’s aim. White House Spokeswoman Dana Perino was reportedly injured in the melee: she took a microphone to the face and is now sporting a black eye. Well, aside from being George W. Bush’s final Press Secretary, anyway.