Psybertron Asks

Tell us something we didn’t know. This just in – politics is a cynical business apparently. A review in the Grauniad of Mark Curtis “Web of Deceit“. [via Jorn] Documented evidence is always handy though.

More evidence of the power of metaphor too, linking this to the current WMD spat between government spin-doctor Campbell and the BBC ? It is no coincidence that spin and web both speak of deception. Web’s are spun to trap the unwary – the antidote is not to be outraged at the spin, but to be aware of the web.

Story of the Alexandria Library – A pet interest of mine, blogged earlier. [via Jorn]

Rhiz-O-Mat and Post-Modernists – On-line resource on Deleuze and Guattari’s “Anti-Oedipus”. [via Rivets] Also this “Everything Post-Modern“site on Post-Modernist resources.

Intentional Metaphors Mislead – Eureka Alert [via Jorn]. Naive story, but useful documented evidence of (a) metaphors are all there is, (b) anthropomorphic metaphors can be particularly misleading, and (c) no-one ever said anything without intent anyway, not even a “scientist”, whatever one of those is.

The Future’s Bright #2 – Hands up if you’re glad to be bright, wave if you’re happy you’re right, hey !

Are you a “Bright” ? Not sure about this one yet, but an interesting concept none-the-less. [via Dawkins in the Grauniad] [via Rivets].

Two quotes from the Columbia Dictionary of Quotations via Quantonics earlier this year …

Theodore Roosevelt in 1917 (after Victoria – I know) “The things that will destroy [us] are: prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first ….”

Walter Bagehot in 1872 “The whole history of civilisation is strewn with creeds and institutions which were invaluable at first, and deadly afterwards. A bureaucracy is sure to think that its duty is to augment official power, official business, or official members, rather than to leave free the energies of mankind; it overdoes the quantity of government, as well as impairs its quality. The truth is, that a skilled bureaucracy . . . is, though it boasts of an appearance of science, quite inconsistent with the true principles of the art of business.”

Pirsig Pages Update – Significantly updated the Pirsig Pages to include many more source and reference links. Started much correspondence concerning biographical details. Timeline now awaiting update.

Friends of James Willis – Having finished my latest re-read of Lila, I’m back on to James’ “Friends in Low Places“. Compelling stuff. I didn’t pick it up until 1 am, and could hardly put it down. Needless to say I overslept this morning !

[Post Summary: Dr James Willis readings:
– Friends in Low Places
– Paradox of Progress
– Scylla and Charybdis
– James Willis on Psybertron]