Just a couple of things for today:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/us/politics/17train.html
and
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2706/spaceb.jpg
...think about that.
Genuine
Dude. Ginsberg is a complete badass. Check it:
Ginsburg Shares Views on Influence of Foreign Law on Her Court, and Vice Versa
You rock, Justice Ginsberg. High five!WildCoyote
_________ check
Today is one of those days where you don't want to wake up, to stop dreaming. It's one of those days where all you can think about walking around outside is that the day should go ahead and become nighttime because it's so dreary. It's the kind of day where all you can think about is sleep.
But, I was doing some thinking in my Cultural Anthropology class and here's what I came up with:
Everyone perceives reality in their own perspective, which of course means that they are not only no longer objective, but also have a different reality than that of the "actual" reality. Right?
Wrong. Since everyone perceives reality differently, there is no "actual" reality. It doesn't exist, because everyone (thankfully) has their own opinion, their own version of the story. In writing they call it a point of view.
All this just reinforces a point that keeps becoming clearer as a I get older:
It's all relative.
Yup.
wildcoyote
P.S. In the absence of "actual" reality, there is no such thing as inherent truth, either. But that's another litany for another time.
But, I was doing some thinking in my Cultural Anthropology class and here's what I came up with:
Everyone perceives reality in their own perspective, which of course means that they are not only no longer objective, but also have a different reality than that of the "actual" reality. Right?
Wrong. Since everyone perceives reality differently, there is no "actual" reality. It doesn't exist, because everyone (thankfully) has their own opinion, their own version of the story. In writing they call it a point of view.
All this just reinforces a point that keeps becoming clearer as a I get older:
It's all relative.
Yup.
wildcoyote
P.S. In the absence of "actual" reality, there is no such thing as inherent truth, either. But that's another litany for another time.
Homosexuality via Culture
It's true that no culture is homogeneous. That is to say, no culture is so entirely encompassing and complete that every single individual strictly adheres to it without difference of opinion, thought, or action. This exists at the group level as well; for example: Jewish Americans have their own very distinctive, and yet are still very much an integral part of the larger American culture.
This brings me to my main point: homosexuality (what else?). Although homosexuality obviously has no known evolutionary significance, and serves almost no purpose in the scope of survival mechanisms, what then is its function in the context of culture? It is interesting to me, personally, how homosexuality is viewed by different cultural groups. Some societies consider it an abomination (like our very own, not so very long ago), some societies have adapted to their culture pretty fluidly, and some even openly encourage homosexuality (*cough* Ancient Greeks *cough*). There are records of homosexuality in nearly every culture, during every time period of human existence. This isn't a new phenomenon; however, it has entered into a new dimension.
Although I am not sure if I even view homosexuality as a cultural dissonance (I guess it depends on the culture, eh?), I do know this: the challenge we face today, as a global society, and especially here in America, is how to efficiently and effectively incorporate this rapidly expanding sub-culture into our own. Maybe we should take a look at some of those that readily embraced homosexuality as a normal part of the natural world (yes, even some animals have homosexual relationships).
Maybe someone should investigate the cultural significance and functionality of homosexuality. What larger scope of vision did these cultures have that allowed them to view homosexuality as not only commonplace but as completely harmonious with their culture? Does homosexuality run as a parallel to the rest of culture or is it a part of it? Like I said before, no culture is homogeneous. And it may very well be that it is this cultural heterogeneity that has allowed us to thrive as the dominant species on the planet.
That's all for today.
WildCoyote
This brings me to my main point: homosexuality (what else?). Although homosexuality obviously has no known evolutionary significance, and serves almost no purpose in the scope of survival mechanisms, what then is its function in the context of culture? It is interesting to me, personally, how homosexuality is viewed by different cultural groups. Some societies consider it an abomination (like our very own, not so very long ago), some societies have adapted to their culture pretty fluidly, and some even openly encourage homosexuality (*cough* Ancient Greeks *cough*). There are records of homosexuality in nearly every culture, during every time period of human existence. This isn't a new phenomenon; however, it has entered into a new dimension.
Although I am not sure if I even view homosexuality as a cultural dissonance (I guess it depends on the culture, eh?), I do know this: the challenge we face today, as a global society, and especially here in America, is how to efficiently and effectively incorporate this rapidly expanding sub-culture into our own. Maybe we should take a look at some of those that readily embraced homosexuality as a normal part of the natural world (yes, even some animals have homosexual relationships).
Maybe someone should investigate the cultural significance and functionality of homosexuality. What larger scope of vision did these cultures have that allowed them to view homosexuality as not only commonplace but as completely harmonious with their culture? Does homosexuality run as a parallel to the rest of culture or is it a part of it? Like I said before, no culture is homogeneous. And it may very well be that it is this cultural heterogeneity that has allowed us to thrive as the dominant species on the planet.
That's all for today.
WildCoyote
I've gone over to the dark side
I now understand why falling in love is one of the scariest and most beautiful parts of the human experience.
It's like jumping off a cliff. It's like that second before the car crash when time stops and everything you've ever known is about to hit you right in the face before you even have time to react. Love isn't like some slowly blossoming delicate flower; love is the moment before the fucking thunderclap when the whole earth stops to hold its breath before the sky tears apart completely.
I'll never forget what this feels like.
**side note: I just realized the fantastically dirty parallel of a volcanic eruption being used to describe love. A volcanic love eruption. *smirk*
WildCoyote
It's like jumping off a cliff. It's like that second before the car crash when time stops and everything you've ever known is about to hit you right in the face before you even have time to react. Love isn't like some slowly blossoming delicate flower; love is the moment before the fucking thunderclap when the whole earth stops to hold its breath before the sky tears apart completely.
I'll never forget what this feels like.
**side note: I just realized the fantastically dirty parallel of a volcanic eruption being used to describe love. A volcanic love eruption. *smirk*
WildCoyote
Photosynthesis
Via Glitter and Doom
Photosynthesis
Well I guess I should confess that I am starting to get old. All the latest music fads all passed me by and left me cold. All the kids are talking slang I won't pretend to understand. All my friends are getting married. Mortgages and pension plans. And it's obvious my angry adolescent days are done. And I'm happy and I'm settled in the person I've become. But that doesn't mean I'm settled up and sitting out the game- Time may change a lot. But some things they stay the same.
Maturity's a wrapped-up package deal or so it seems. Ditching teenage fantasy means ditching all your dreams. All your friends and peers and family solemnly tell you you will have to grow up. Be and adult. Be bored and unfulfilled. But no one's yet explained to me exactly what's so great about slaving 50 years away on something that you hate. About meekly shuffling down the path of mediocrity. Well if that's your road then take it but it's not the road for me.
And if all you ever do with your life is photosynthesize, then you'll deserve every hour of your sleepless nights that you waste wondering when you're going to die.
Now I'll play, and you sing- The perfect way for the evening to begin. I won't sit down, and I won't shut up, and most of all I won't "grow up".
Maturity's a wrapped-up package deal or so it seems. Ditching teenage fantasy means ditching all your dreams. All your friends and peers and family solemnly tell you you will have to grow up. Be and adult. Be bored and unfulfilled. But no one's yet explained to me exactly what's so great about slaving 50 years away on something that you hate. About meekly shuffling down the path of mediocrity. Well if that's your road then take it but it's not the road for me.
And if all you ever do with your life is photosynthesize, then you'll deserve every hour of your sleepless nights that you waste wondering when you're going to die.
Now I'll play, and you sing- The perfect way for the evening to begin. I won't sit down, and I won't shut up, and most of all I won't "grow up".
The media finally gets something right
Here is the link to the article:
Individuality, creativity brings art to life
I wish I had the picture to go along with it, but I can't seem to find it anywhere online...
Hmmm....
Maybe I'll just scan it in.
Enjoy :)
WildCoyote
Individuality, creativity brings art to life
I wish I had the picture to go along with it, but I can't seem to find it anywhere online...
Hmmm....
Maybe I'll just scan it in.
Enjoy :)
WildCoyote
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