The "What Are You Thinking About Right Now?" PIP

[Cult Icon]

On 8/23/2020 at 5:17 PM, Enrico_sw said:

 

Well, happy birthday.

 

Thanks!!!!!

[Enrico_sw]

1 hour ago, Cult Icon said:

@Enrico_sw  moving the off topic convo off the GOT thread:

 

The audiobooks I have are:

 

Birth of Tragedy

Beyond good and evil

Genealogy of Morals

Ecco Homo

Twilight of the Idols

Thus spoke Z

 

Twilight, Beyond G&E and Z are great books. Z is a bit grandiloquent at times but the poetry is beautiful. Twilight is witty and very interesting to read. Beyond G&E is one of the most insightful books to help us understand our present times.

 

1 hour ago, Cult Icon said:

I have some basic knowledge of his core teachings due to studying an audio-course a while ago.   He comes across as inherently from the Aristotle (more aristocratic) rather than the Stoic/Buddhist (more focused on inner resilience).  Before listening to his audiobooks (i will probably start in 2 weeks according to my schedule)  my current opinion is that his core concept of "Will to Power" is inherently wrong, it should be "Will to meaning".  This is very critical as it seems that will to power is the foundational pillar of his aristocratic views.  Take that away and all of related concepts fall down. 

 

The "will to power" and the concept of Übermensch are some of the most misconstrued concepts in philosophy. You can't really understand them before you read his books. "Pundits" that comment it are often wrong (and I suspect it's because many of them read reviews instead of reading the books... out of laziness).

 

Nietzsche's sister (who was a nazi) published a fake book  on Will to Power that betrays and falsifies his ideas.

 

I don't think he is for aristocracy (even if he sometimes defends these types of systems, for example with the Manu Laws in India, which is closely linked to the caste system). If we read carefully what he says, his point is that people are not equal in terms of competence. We're not all the same. Some are better than others and they should be higher on the hierarchy. In that sense, his views are more in favor of a "meritocracy" than an aristocracy. Even if sometimes he defends older systems like Manu, his words plead for a hierarchy based on competence, not based on "birth privilege". He also hated the concept of outcastes.

 

Nietzsche just wants to protect the "strongs"  from the resentment of the populace. By strongs, he doesn't mean people with birth privilege, he means people who are more talented and who sometimes undergo the wrath of jealous people.

 

To put it simply, I think he would like the concept of equality of opportunity, but he would hate the "equality of outcome". That's why many present-day "thinkers" don't like him... (BTW, the confusion between equality of opportunity and equality of outcome is the foundation of many disarray and nonsense in our present days)

 

1 hour ago, Cult Icon said:

Birth of Tragedy interests me a lot as I have some fascination with the hero's journey and the tragic hero.  looking forward to listening to Thus zpoke Z.

 

Birth of tragedy is his 1st book, it's written in old school german philosopher language and I really don't like this style, it's heavy and not a very good vector of information. His words are still meaningful (unlike many traditional german philosopher - like Kant...), but it's less pleasant to read. I read it in French, maybe it will be a bit different when translated to English (the translator sometimes has an impact on the writing quality).

 

In any case, in its form and its content, it's not my favorite book.

[Stromboli1]

Talcum X is at it again with no repercussions.

 

[elfstone]

I rescued a kitten from the street about month ago. Couldnt make the time to get him vaccinated.  Lost him to fpv today...

He had the most striking heterochromia I have ever seen. 

[Enrico_sw]

1 hour ago, elfstone said:

I rescued a kitten from the street about month ago. Couldnt make the time to get him vaccinated.  Lost him to fpv today...

He had the most striking heterochromia I have ever seen. 

 

Hey, it's very sad to hear, friend. Losing animals is always hard.

[Matt!]

On 8/25/2020 at 6:30 AM, Stormbringer said:

Incredible  

 

 

The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association today announced that in light of the Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to not take the floor today for Game 5 against the Orlando Magic, today’s three games – Bucks vs. Magic, Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers - have been postponed.

 

[Stromboli1]

26 minutes ago, Matt! said:

The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association today announced that in light of the Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to not take the floor today for Game 5 against the Orlando Magic, today’s three games – Bucks vs. Magic, Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers - have been postponed.

 

 

Are they there to play basketball or be social justice activists?

[Cult Icon]

On 8/25/2020 at 5:30 PM, Enrico_sw said:

 

The "will to power" and the concept of Übermensch are some of the most misconstrued concepts in philosophy. You can't really understand them before you read his books. "Pundits" that comment it are often wrong (and I suspect it's because many of them read reviews instead of reading the books... out of laziness).

 

Nietzsche's sister (who was a nazi) published a fake book  on Will to Power that betrays and falsifies his ideas.

 

I don't think he is for aristocracy (even if he sometimes defends these types of systems, for example with the Manu Laws in India, which is closely linked to the caste system). If we read carefully what he says, his point is that people are not equal in terms of competence. We're not all the same. Some are better than others and they should be higher on the hierarchy. In that sense, his views are more in favor of a "meritocracy" than an aristocracy. Even if sometimes he defends older systems like Manu, his words plead for a hierarchy based on competence, not based on "birth privilege". He also hated the concept of outcastes.

 

Nietzsche just wants to protect the "strongs"  from the resentment of the populace. By strongs, he doesn't mean people with birth privilege, he means people who are more talented and who sometimes undergo the wrath of jealous people.

 

To put it simply, I think he would like the concept of equality of opportunity, but he would hate the "equality of outcome". That's why many present-day "thinkers" don't like him... (BTW, the confusion between equality of opportunity and equality of outcome is the foundation of many disarray and nonsense in our present days)

 

That's what I'm referring to.  His foundational concepts look like an extension of the Aristotelian view, the "great man" theory- as in terms of merit. 

 

Nietzsche himself was a Greek scholar and professor, it couldn't have been accidental. Aristotle also has his concept of "natural slave" which reminds me of Master- slave morality. 

 

A few months ago I re-read "Hitler and the Power of Aethetics" and Nietzche/Nazi connection was explored here, basically the Nazis abused his concepts for their political uses and connected with his family.  The pinnacle of Nazi art was the Aryan superman, basically a more vicious looking Greek/Roman sculpture.

 

Aristotelian ethics are virtue ethics.   It seems to me that the Nicomachean ethics was a "mission statement" for the ideal Athenian patriot.  In here "happiness" is defined as a life of virtuous acts of big impact, the pinnacle of its is the "magni-psychos (spelling)" which is basically an aristocrat with noblesse oblige who spends big money on great things.   This is where Stoicism and Buddhism/hinduism/and other Indian philosophies differ, through 2,500+ years of practice they have found the highest state to be that of the deathless, or in other words complete and perfect enlightenment, nirvana, etc.  There is also modern cognitive neuroscience, coined "neurodharma" that proves this to be correct.  So I find the Aristotelian concept of happiness  flawed in this respect.  Interestingly enough US positive psychology prefers both external and internal forces, with Aristotle as the founder.

 

So happiness can be entirely generated internally due to the true realization of emptiness, that objects/states have no separate and independent existence.  It seems to me that the Existentialists Heidegger and Sarte also have their own forms of emptiness/no self, (the fourth noble truth of Buddhism), explored in "Being and Time" and "Being and Nothingness".

 

So you can see how this relates to Nietzche's core concepts?  If Nietzche doesn't properly recognize emptiness and what true happiness is than his set of theories has problems.

 

I look forward to starting and finishing these 6 books, also am doing Being and Time which looks like an exploration of emptiness. 

 

[Cult Icon]

On 8/26/2020 at 2:06 PM, elfstone said:

I rescued a kitten from the street about month ago. Couldnt make the time to get him vaccinated.  Lost him to fpv today...

He had the most striking heterochromia I have ever seen. 

 

sorry to hear that.  At least his suffering is over.

 

as much as sarah rose mcdaniel? 

[COP11]

Now they're having classes on weekends? WTF!

[COP11]

20 hours ago, Stromboli1 said:

 

Are they there to play basketball or be social justice activists?

They are pretending to be activists. Meanwhile their shoes are made in China by women and children working around the clock making like 10 cents but don't give a damn about that. Fuck them! Bunch of fucking hypocrites!

[Stromboli1]

NHL caved to the social and sports media activists, no balls and they can piss off!

[Stromboli1]

59 minutes ago, COP11 said:

They are pretending to be activists. Meanwhile their shoes are made in China by women and children working around the clock making like 10 cents but don't give a damn about that. Fuck them! Bunch of fucking hypocrites!

 

I agree and there's real oppression going on in China, but the NBA and their players bow to their masters.

[PrettyDeadThings]

Is Manny the hottest guy ever? ..... yes, yes he is. 👀

 

 

[COP11]

53 minutes ago, Prettyphile said:

Is Manny the hottest guy ever? ..... yes, yes he is. 👀

 

 

 

 

One of the hottest, yes, but Alberto is my favorite

 

 

 

 

 

[Cult Icon]

+ Chinese Daoism has their version of emptiness

 

And youtube has LOTS of Nietzsche audiobooks, I should have searched this earlier.

 

Besides the ones above, there is also :

 

The Gay Science

Will to Power

Nietzsche and the Nazis

Human, all too Human

The Dawn of Day

The Anti-Christ

[PrettyDeadThings]

 

[elfstone]

16 hours ago, Cult Icon said:

 

sorry to hear that.  At least his suffering is over.

 

as much as sarah rose mcdaniel? 

Thanks!

I was left feeling really bad. 

Such a sweet kid

 

[PrettyDeadThings]

@Stromboli1 Left Media will never show the full story or explain what really transpired. The man narrating is a 30+ year police office.

03:30 is the start.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29

Spoiler

Joined the Air Force in 70's and retired in 90's. During that time, I was a cop and K-9 handler. Worked attack, narcotic and explosive detector dogs, assigned to Secret Service for President security, worked with DEA at International Airports for drugs, worked with US Customs on border drug smuggling and other details.

While in Korea twice, I worked dogs and with US Customs and KNP (Korean National Police) in various operations. Got to visit the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) on a unique trip when one of our choppers were shot down and we were flown in and dropped off to provide security for the downed aircraft and get the injured out. I remember reading in the paper, a few days later, that a helicopter went in the DMZ from engine malfunction. The big joke between the guys on the operation was, yea it went down for engine failure, when bullets hit the engine, it normally causes engine failure. One of the many times, I watched the Government lie, hide and mislead the people.

While at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, I trained dog for all branches of the military for drug, bomb, attack and search & rescue and worked with the base police. During that time is when the Iran Hostage incident happened so tensions were high. We had over 100 Iranian military students that we were training to be Pilots and Officers on the base. Back then, the US was close to the Shah of Iran and he had defected from his country and was being helped and hidden by the US, he was also wanted dead or alive by many, so not having him killed on our watch was tasking. He had medical issues so Wilford Hall Hospital was providing his free healthcare, but many people wanted him dead. I was assigned with many others to provide protection of him and his entourage, until they found a better place to relocate him. Just one of the many operations that US tax dollars paid for and very few ever knew about it.

While stationed in Ohio I worked a Drug Dog (Herc) on base and assisted Ohio State Police in various drug operations. While here, my great dog Herc and I had over 300 actual drug finds. I remember letting him off leash in parking lots and he would alert on several vehicles, I would put a sheet a paper under the windshield wiper, call for back up to secure the lots and then get all the information for warrants so I could do all the warrants at one time. This base was pretty big, we had three fishing ponds, on base hunting and lots of super-secret areas. Many believe that is where any UFO evidence is kept, I never saw anything but there many areas on the base cops were not allowed in and if we had to respond to an incident everything had to be covered with sheets before we were allowed to enter. I still have no idea what went on there.

While assigned to Hawaii, I was the Kennelmaster and started the only full time SWAT Team in the Air Force. Since Hawaii was a popular spot for dignitary visits, we worked closely with FBI and the Secret Service during routine protection details for the President, VP and other heads of countries that visited. During that time, the President of Philippines was fleeing his country after stealing all their wealth and he was hiding out on Hickam AFB, Hawaii. He was said to be the most wanted man in the world and many wanted him dead. For weeks, our SWAT and the US Secret Service provided 24-hour protection for this piece of shit, his wife with his 25 person fellow crooks that fled the country. Watching these people eat, drink and shop free, all being paid by US tax dollars never sat well with me and others. He hid out on Hickam AFB for about a month or two and then was moved elsewhere.

While stationed in California for over 10 years, I ran the Dog Section, the base SWAT and was Shift Supervisor. While there, I worked several operations with different State and Federal Agencies. I conducted an Operation with DEA at San Francisco International Airport doing "Profile Stops" on suspected international drug smugglers. This was back when it was OK to focus on people we knew were committing crimes without the liberals yelling we were picking the drug smugglers. We worked plain-clothes, reviewed flight information and any traveler coming from a high drug country, traveling alone, with a one way ticked and a few other criteria, we approach them as they got off the plane, identified ourselves and asked to search them and their luggage. If they said NO, we would hold them, call over our other federal agents, US Customs who do not need probably cause (PC) or warrants to search, and they would search them anyway. Had a very high success rate of finding drugs with cash, even if we had to trim a little fat off the constitution and bend the laws. Do the ends justify the means?

In the 80s, I was sent down to El Paso with Border Control and US Custom in a Joint Operation to intercept large shipments of drugs crossing the border. We had all branches of service with drug dogs and made several large finds one being a large fake gas tanker truck that was filled with Heroin and not gas. For sure, the biggest drug bust I was involved in. Pretty sure more drugs got in than we stopped but it looked good the Gov could do press releases on how good they are for finding something.

While in California and in Ohio, I worked a Bomb Dog and was assigned to the Secret Service (SS) for President Protection on several occasions. When working with the SS. The Secret Service have total authority and do not follow any rules of law. When you say you are protecting the President, no one says no and if they do, they are searched, cuffed and taken away quickly. Although I understood it was the President, I did not like the abuse of power and use of force without any accountability. Your civil rights are just a catch phrase when the President is around. Try being free around the President and you find yourself in jail.

While at Travis Air Force Base, California, I worked part-time as a civilian police officer in the Vallejo and Woodland. Two very different towns. Vallejo was pretty to close to Richmond and Oakland, California and all three cities were riddled with high violence and high crime. Did I mention that all three cities had predominately black populations. Until you are a white cop in a predominately black city, you have no idea what the differences are so those that throw out racist have no clue what they are talking about, facts are still facts even if you label them racist or mean. Let's say I saw more shootings, rapes and other violent crimes than any other city I worked and probably more than all other cities I have worked combined. Sacramento is no Disneyland but crime for population, Vallejo wins hands down.

Other side jobs or operations included being a member of the Air Force Pistol and Rifle team, working with Rangers and Special Forces breaking into and penetrating military bases in Germany testing their security, Desert Shield & Storm, Haiti Relief, a member of 44 man world wide deployment team that could be anywhere in the world in 24 hours, a Rappelmaster teaching rappelling from mountains, helicopters and structures, a Rangemaster, training and competing in military tactics, traveling to Turkey, Philippines and a few other countries.

That is the short story of my Air Force career. I had a top-secret clearance so some things and some operations I can't talk about since the Government takes that shit personal and will try to put your ass in jail if you talk about it. Which is why any military member involved in operations that are deemed, called or can be connected to "National Security", they are required to sign a confidentiality agreement under felony penalty if they discuss it.

After retiring from the military, I moved into civilian Law Enforcement. I did a couple of years working Welfare Fraud Investigations, a few years working Child Abduction and a year or so working on a Gun crimes grant. I was a member of the Witness Protection Team that provided protection to high-risk witnesses who had not yet testified and the District Attorney needed their testimony, after they testified they were put out to the wolves and on their own. Over time, I worked on several different Task Forces. A few years with the FBI Gang Task Force (TF) in Sacramento, while on this TF I was sworn in as a Deputy FBI Agent and Deputy US Marshall to enable us to enforce and conduct investigations on Federal crimes. A couple of years with the Sacramento High Tech Computer Crimes Task Force. Three years with the Sacramento Auto Theft Task Force which was run by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the Sacramento Sheriff's Office.

As a Detective with the District Attorney's Office, I worked all crimes that occurred in the county from rapes, robberies, murders, official corruption, Officer Involved shootings, drugs, etc.
I was one of two Firearms trainers for my agency and also the trainer and certified instructor for Weaponless Defense Tactics and Baton and Impact Weapons training. I developed policy and Operating Instructions (OIs) for use of force in the department.

I have written and served over 300 search warrants and testified as an expert in Superior Court and Federal court as an expert. Some areas that I was qualified as an expert in were Drugs, Use of Force, K-9 use, Firearms, Computer Crimes and Auto Theft. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Education and an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice and a College teaching credential. I am a certified instructor/trainer in firearms, weaponless defense, impact weapons to include the straight baton, PR 24, Yawuru Stick and nunchaku. My firearms and shooting training comes from actually experience and formal certifications. I am a certified Firearms Instructor for the FBI, State Of California, United States Air Force, NRA and Glock.

 

[Stromboli1]

10 minutes ago, Prettyphile said:

@Stromboli1 Left Media will never show the full story or explain what really transpired. The man narrating is a 30+ year police office.

03:30 is the start.

 

Of course they won't cause it doesn't fit the narrative.