In Check

One of sciences alleged crimes is revealing that our favorite, most reassuring stories about our place in the universe and how we came to be are delusional.  Instead, what science reveals is a universe much older and much vaster than the tidy, modern anthropocentric proscenium of our ancestors. We have found from modern astronomy that we live  a tiny hunk of rock and metal third from the sun, that circles a humdrum star in the obscure outskirts of an ordinary galaxy, which contains some four hundred billion other stars, which is one of about a hundred billion other galaxies that make up the universe and according to some current views, a universe that one among an immense number, perhaps an infinite number, of other universes. In this perspective the idea that our planet is at the center of the universe, much less that human purpose is central to the existence of the universe is pathetic. (Emphasis added) – Astronomer Carl Sagan.

Life probably only has the meaning you give it. It could be self-less service for a country, accumulation of wealth, living for some god, the next sexual conquest, or nothing at all.

Your choice.

When Alexander the Great’s army who had been triumphant for around a decade started to ask “What for?” and things fell apart very quickly. Even continual success can lose it’s meaning.

New To The Blogroll…

Can’t hyperlink because of lack of bandwidth(takes over 5 mins of loading to make it a hyperlink). My time is better spent elsewhere.

Antilibrary – http://antilibrarium.wordpress.com

Chicago Boyz – http://chicagoboyz.net

Daily Routines – http://dailyroutines.typepad.com/daily_routines/

Sand & Dust – http://nickbrooks.wordpress.com/

I’ve been wondering if there is a certain tipping point where one reads to many blogs? By over subscription you miss out on what is really worthwhile since one can be prone to scanning or just dismissing articles in general by their opening paragraph.

Either way, I’m hitting a saturation point. Thinking about designating a certain subject orientated blogs to give me enough “touch” on certain subjects so my attention can be focused eslewhere.

Here’s Where I’ve Been…

Recently Finished(Sorry no links, my internet is horrible here).

Tribes – Seth Godin
Thanks to James for giving  me this book. Very good book, but a bit too generalized. His points are still well made.

On War – Clausewitz (again)
Re-read this when I was in England, but aside from a few gems the book is dated. I’ve been immensely enjoying the Clausewitz Roundtable, but most of the points brought up are nothing new nor thought provoking.

Genghis Khan – Jack Weatherford
Thanks for Soob suggesting this one through Twitter. I was quite struck at how unique and powerful the Mongol dynasty(or dynasties) were in influencing major aspects of culture today. Something I’ve never really given thought to or really looked at.

How We Believe – Michael Shermer
Thought this was a well written and documented book. Still doesn’t completely answer the question he attempts but a good starting point for further research.  A must read if your interested in such a subject.

Transformation of War – Martin Van Creveld.
Excellent and a must read(even if he got a touch too futurist in the end, but understandably so)

The Poltically Incorrect Guide to Captialism -Robert Murphy.
Everything I’ve been saying about economics for some time. A great book, an easy read, and a gateway book for subjects mentioned in the book. Speaking of economics, Naked Capitalism is my blog of choice for daily economics.

Revolutionary Strategies in Early Christianity – Daniel Abbott
He raises some great points, but leaves me wondering without fleshing out his details. Everything felt a little to simplified in his version.

They Are Organized….

…and they are angry.

I caught a few pictures of a Pro-Palestinian rally in Madrid Spain this past weekend.

I spent some time taking pictures and talking to people. This was not some “stop the violence, lets love” rally this was a full fledged anger at what has happened the past few weeks in the Gaza.

This group of protesters were not conscientious Europeans, but a group of young disgruntled Muslims.

As with anything, these outspoken groups do not reflect the populous as the whole. They can have large amounts of sway of public opinion. You’ll find these movements can start hip/trendy things. Think of all the Che Guevara shirts you still see around. I had dinner tonight with a girl who was wearing a Pro-Palestine slogan. She’s quite indifferent to politics, but she thought it was it made her look “concerned about the tragedy going on over there.” Think of  it like all those people who wore Livestrong bracelets, most could care less about cancer but it made them look hip. Hopefully, like most fads, this one dies off.

I had a few drinks with couple of the Pro-Palestine ralliers later on that night. Our conversation drifted between Israel-Gaza Conflict, America, Spanish politics,  and Islam.

Even though well educated, I would call many(if not all) of their views divorced from reality, the right person with the right sway over these young men could leave a lasting impact. Not for the better some may say.

Don’t Trust a Dictionary

*Post influenced by listening the answer of fellow students trying to grasp/define religion*

What is religion?

Webster Dictionary defines it as “the service and worship of God or the supernatural.”

Most would accept this as a pretty standard definition. To some, this makes perfect sense. I would disagree, many religions have no god or even monotheistic to begin with.

Let’s back this up for minute.

“Those who know nothing of foreign languages, knows nothing of their own.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

For most of us, we are stuck in a certain paradigm of thought. I wouldn’t deem this necessarily bad, but one flirts with ethnocentric point of view. Thinking with this quote in mind, I take the stand with the brilliant Mr. Goethe that being stuck within a certain paradigm of thought can be quite devastating. Without an outside perspective, you don’t see the subtle influences your own language confines you under. We can see this in other areas. What Goethe intends, I suspect, is that without some way to use a mirror like objectivity of comparison of another language your really only deceiving yourself.

Suspend belief/disbelief, at least temporarily.

With this quote in mind, lets replace language with religion.

“Those who know nothing of foreign religions, know nothing of their own.” – Glenn Anderson(with guiding help of von Goethe)

Without some way to compare your religion to another, you really know nothing of your own. Religions borrow, religions steal, and religions mimic each other.  No reason to think your religion is THAT original, but it most certainly is unique. In typical human fashion we judge before we know. Suspending belief/disbelief, atleast temporarily gives you the opportunity to see thing differently. Wouldn’t you rather judge after than before?

What does this have to do with how one defines religion?

Actually, quite a bit.

Lets look at the terms:
1) Polytheism
2) Monotheism

Both of these are of Greek origin, and with taking these terms we take the history and concept of the terms too. This is what fascinates me, we take these terms then try to transplant them everywhere else in the world. Yet, we don’t know the limitations of these terms. Lets transport these terms in India for example, Hinduism can be both polytheistic and very monotheistic at the same time. These terms which in the West use for distinction lose their meaning. Maybe that’s why we struggle so much with taxonomy?

When we take a picture of a moving car, and then show this picture to a person and say “This is a moving car.” Not really. We are only seeing a certain facet, part, and side of the moving car. This is the same with words, we throw around terms or define them but it’s mostly at face value. We do not account for the historical and evolving use of the word itself.

In the end, don’t trust a dictionary to find the real meaning. Use it as a starting point.

Side Notes:
For those who dismiss religion as some crazy foolishness, you’re short changing yourself. One does not have to believe in a certain thing to appreciate the value of it.

Oh yes, the best definition of religion? I am not entirely sure, because it determines what kind of religion we are talking or studying about.

If I am wrong on any of these parts, please correct me. I’m just trying to flesh out my thoughts.

Not Only Cats Have Nine Lives – Part 2

The face of Terrorism, atleast to the French

“What school do you attend in Morocco?” – French Customs Officer

“Al-Akhawayn University in Ifrane.” – I reply, in a hurry to get through customs.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

***
Ben Gurion International Airport security restrained me once for over 4 hours. I was repeatedly strip searched and hassled because I “raised alarms.” To be fair, I was wearing a tattered cowboy hat and had one hell of a tan at the time from my archeological dig. I am quite convinced those cute Israeli ladies running the security operation just wanted an excuse to detain and remove my clothing.  Those Israeli ladies don’t mess around.^^

***

“Why are we not through customs already?”  Golden Boy asks(pictured above).

“Beyond me. Maybe they think we’re terrorist because we are with the Moroccan Teddy Bear.”  I suggest.

The Moroccan Teddy Bear is a 6′7 Moroccan with short curly hair and a grudge against all Arabs.  Nobody really knows why, he just says they “screw up everything.” He has been known to burst in large baritone voice declaring his hate for all that is Arabic at the most inconvenient of times. One time this inconvenient burst of hate occurred while in front of a few chaps from Saudi Arabia. Thankfully, me pleading that they are brothers under Islam and large amount of yelling I couldn’t understand kept the peace. The ironic part, The Moroccan Teddy Bear is part Arabic himself although he vehemently denies it.  His personality is a mix of flamboyancy, sporadic hate of all that is Arabic, the charm of any smooth politician, and love for any and every woman at the same time. The Moroccan Teddy Bear was born in the wrong century, he should have been living in some luxurious palace as an ambassador to the distant Ottoman Empire making love to a new concubine every day while gorging himself on food and entertainment.

“I’m surprised he hasn’t already put a jihad on all that is Arabic. Pulling a General Sherman except not through the American South. ” Golden Boy suggest as he shrugs at the possibility.

“Let’s remember, jihad is an Islamic concept, and it would defeat his purpose to hate everything that is Arabic if he is declaring a jihad” I look at him knowingly.

“Whatever. I just can’t believe he talked us into traveling to Paris so we can help him find women while we wear djallabas. “

The Moroccan Teddy Bear called me at 5AM Monday morning earlier that week with a brilliant idea. Travel to Paris. Why? He thought Morocco was becoming “Arabafied” and wanted to see what the lovely ladies of Paris were into that weekend. To get a few more hours of sleep, I sleepily agreed. By the lunch time I had a ticket in my hand and Golden Boy had also been dragged into this plan. Even though Golden Boy wasn’t even informed he was going till that night. The Moroccan Teddy Bear has a way of convincing a person, one minute your in the library studying and 3 hours later you’re half-way across the country trying to find this obscure town that serves the best kuskus in all of Morocco.

However,  the wearing of the djallabs was part of the deal. We had to wear it anytime we were out and about in Paris since we were guest of the Moroccan Teddy Bear. He was paying the bills and we were providing the laughs. Imagine two Americans in some expensive night club in Paris while wearing djallabas and you begin to understand the ludicrous thinking of The Moroccan Teddy Bear.

I found a djallaba warm, comfortable, and it made me look like a Jedi knight. The djallaba was an easy way to blend in slums of any major city and to avoid the Whiteman’s Burden. The Whiteman’s Burden is placed any foriegner who travelers outside majority Caucasian countries, especially Africa. Instead of trying to “civilize” Africa like the Europeans of old, I am burdened with constantly trying to be ripped off, haggled, solicited for sex and drugs. With my head lowered and my shoulders slumped I look like an old Moroccan man roaming the streets at night looking to find those things not acceptable in daylight  instead of a dumb foreigner lost in the wrong part of town.

Trust me, being white and foreign is not an advantageous as you think.

***

Trying to find my hotel in Amman Jordan I found myself in a few block in the wrong direction.  Steeler, my travel buddy from Western Pennsylvania, thought it was a good idea to ask a group of young men hanging out in a by a dark narrow alley if they could help us. That question was more destructive than former President Bill Clinton asking how one defines “is.”**

***

The customs officer reappeared with a few other security guards and told us, “We are going to take you both into further questioning.”

“Wait, WHAT?” I asked a bit shocked.

His boss replied, “We have suspicion that you two are part of an Al Qaeda terrorist cell.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Golden Boy stammers.

“This officer believers you two go to a school called Al Qaeda University.”

“You mean Al Akhawayn University?” I ask, practically exasperated.

Thank you France and The Global War on Terror. Sincerely, Thank You.^*

—

^^This a common thing in Israeli security. Although it tends to only last for a few hours to others I’ve talked to who’ve had to go through the experience.

**I really enjoyed visiting in Amman, no hard feelings about the “services” they charged. (Unless you want to give my back a few hundred dinar? I was never a fighter especially when the odds are 5 against 2)

^*The Customs Officer was new at the job thought the djallabas looked suspiscious. The importance of border security is something overlooked, so I won’t complain if they are a little overzealous.

Propaganda/Biases in the Israel-Hamas Conflict

Perspective accounts for alot more than we would like to Admit.

Caught this as I woke up today. Look at the status update of Jihane Makhtoum if your still behind the curve.

Some would call her update propaganda some would call it fact. Using the evidence given to us right now, we would have to conclude that Israelis are barbaric murders. Checking out the Support Gaza page I found this.

This page omits the part where Hamas hides or has strategically placed centers beside hospitals and schools.  Also, there is no talk about Hamas DIY missiles being shot into Israel that provoked this conflict.*

Knowing what is propaganda and understanding your own biases are the only way to judge the situation as objectively as possible. Until then, expect to be jerked around like this cute girl was because of convincing pictures and subtle but effective rhetoric while never accounting for the influences of being raised a Muslim.

*Neither side is exactly blameless to be frank.

Spirituality and Misleading Titles

“You’re just not spiritual guy. That’s why you don’t understand this stuff” – An ex-girlfriend commenting on my indifference after visiting a holy relic

Wikipedia defines spirituality as  “concerns itself with matters of the spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and faith, a transcendent reality, or one or more deities.”  Conceding that Wikipedia is  the consensus view of what spirituality is I’ll base my thoughts and works off it by constantly quoting its article.

Spirituality occurs when one “connects to a metaphysical reality greater than oneself.” If this is so, then my lack of spirituality occurs because I cannot attain an “emotional experience of religious awe and reverence.”  Interesting. Attending a multiple Baptist revivals I always found it oddly mystifying when flocks of people would come forward wailing and moaning about how they are “such horrible sinner” and ask their Lord to forgive them. People degrading themselves even to the point of confessing they are not worthy of life itself to something(a God) they cannot rationally explain is odd.  I am not one to degrade belief, because it is subjective, but to attain some form of spirituality through degradation baffles me.

Doing an archeological dig in Northern Israel this past summer I had the chance to attend part of Shabbat at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Here was my chance to really feel some “awe and revernece” at one of Judaism holisist sites.  Approaching the wall, drifting between Jewish pilgrams and Orthodox Jews, I heard the sincere prayers of hundreds of Israel’s finest. My hand finally touches the wall.

Nothing.

Certainly, more respect for the significance and history of this spot, but no spiritual fulfillment. Curiously, my fellow friends “felt God here.” Odd, how they felt something less a few feet away from me. Once again, I suspect emotional level of the area helped drive this “feeling of God.”A few beers later that night they admitted that feeling wasn’t really God per say, but a feeling of belonging and comfort. This was God to them I suppose.

Spirituality ultimately comes down to/occurs when an emotional or psychedelic experience in which a person or group loses the ability rationally understand a situation in which results in finding an “outer body experience” or “feeling” something that is not actually there. Is it necessarily harmful?  Depends. If these moments help you cope, belong, or find emotional release then I would usually say no.

Spirituality is often misunderstood as a characteristic of a person which could be replaced with words such as kindness, empathy, and comfort.

Maybe I’m just an indifferent brute, so correct me if I’m wrong.

***

My blog title is a bit misleading. I noticed my blog gets multiple hits from people searching for “spiritual enlightenment” or some form of “transcendentalism.” If you’re looking for a way to live your life here’s the best advice I’ve found;

The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge” – Bertrand Russell

Think that quote through if you are to dense to understand the implications of what he is saying.

In the end this blog is primarily about the acquirement of knowledge, lots of reading, humorous stories, listening more than speaking, and random thoughts that I am trying to flesh out. The blog title was just a pretentious way of saying it.

Add me on Twitter at MrGAnderson to see more of this in action.

***

As I sat in Haram es-Sharif (Temple Mount) beside the Dome of the Rock the next day I finally understood why I enjoyed studying religions. They are a mix of myth, tradition, history, adventure, and giving all us the worst and best of humanity. Maybe this is a bit romanticized view, but being a militant atheist and running around saying, “I can’t believe you belief this bullshit” never really solves anything (except starting unnecessary troll wars, and turning the conversation away from rational discourse).

You use the tools  and reasources at hand to find the correct answer, not the answer you want, but the right answer.

Here is where I’ve been…

Currently Reading:

America’s Defense Meltdown
Tribes – Seth Godin

Recently Finished:

East of Eden – John Steinbeck
Somehow this books slipped my notice in high school, for a few obvious reasons now made apparent after reading.

The Dip – Seth Godin
Worth every bit of praise.

War Nerd – Gary Brecher
A little over the top, a little arrogant, but a damn fine book. A few of his assertions, numbers, and generalizations made me go “?” but the point was made which was his ultimate intent. Welcome to Irregular Warfare.(It’s been here longer than you, but never was properly introduced)

Happy Hour Is For Amateurs – Philadelphia Lawyer
Too many entries taken from the blog, but still solid. A better written and more informative than I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max.

Made to Stick – Chip and Dan Heath
What I’ve been looking for. Here is my summary.

American Psycho – Bret Easton Ellis
Amazing, but brutally wicked…and I’m not alluding toward the gore or murder. The next time you drink excessively, go on drug binges, or chase women I’ll understand why, finally.

Meditations (again x3) – Marcus Aurelius
I was stuck in Montreal Airport for 6 days this was all I had to read. Finally took elaborate notes, and after a good deal of scrutiny I have to redact my statement of this book being one of the greatest ever written. Will try to get up a post explaining why.

History of the Arab Peoples – Albert Hourani
A classic to say the least, and dense as hell. This is a gateway book.

Islam: The Straight Path – John Eposito
Helped fill the knowledge gaps. College professors have two ways to teach, spoon feeding or forcing the student to think for himself. Dr. Enghal, by suggesting this book during our talks in his office, has made me think.

SUCCESs(Making Memes Stick)

*Post influenced by the book Made to Stick and a question I posed to Purpleslog about how to gets certain memes to stick*

A meme defined by Wikipedia “comprises any idea or behavior that can pass from one person to another by learning or imitation. Examples include thoughts, ideas, theories, gestures, practices, fashions, habits, songs, and dances. Memes propagate themselves and can move through the cultural sociosphere in a manner similar to the contagious behavior of a virus.”

What makes an idea stick?

An idea that stick is understandable, memorable, and effective in changing thought or behavior. To breakdown stickiness here is what Chip and Dan Heath have considered what makes memes the stickiest.

SUCCESs

S – Simple

U – Unexpected

C – Concrete

C – Credible

E – Emotional

S – Simple

s – Just misspell SUCCES for clarity sake.

What hinders us most from passing on our very useful and important ideas is the Curse of Knowledge. I’ve expressed my own dissatisfaction at what happens when the CoK hampers the way of tutors and teachers. The CoK happens when we as the ones who understand something are trying to express it to others not as knowledgeable about the subject.  This gap can and will lead to your knowledge being forgotten or dismissed if not adequately presented.

S – Simple

For my military friends, think Commander’s Intent. Simple needs to be the most important thing, like any good journalist you cannot bury the lead. The simple is a combination of core + compact, think of those old proverbs you remember from a child. Sound bites that are profound.

U – Unexpected

It doesn’t have to be as shocking as meatspin.com(DO NOT GO  THERE), but it has to break the person person’s pattern, or guessing machine. Create a mystery. Haven’t we watched a whole crappy movie just to see the ending? Create knowlege gap of curiostiy.

C – Concrete

Abstract is hard to put into tangible terms. For example, they say that 1 out of every 4 students at West Virginia University. Make it more tangible by saying, your friend John will drop out of WVU while you, Jim, and James will stay here. It is all about helping people remembering. Think of your idea as a velcro, the more hooks in your idea the better chance it will stay.

C – Credible

Sometimes facts aren’t enough. Just because you write an excellent paper, with excessive amount of sources, on why the book of Matthew was written in Galilee doesn’t mean people will believe. Nicholas Taleb mentioned in his book The Black Swan, we are far more likely to avoid Central Park in New York City at night if we hear a story on the flight there by the passenger beside us about his friend getting mugged. Appeal to different forms of authority and create realistic examples for your audience.

E – Emotional

Mother Teresa said “If I look at a mass, I will do nothing. If I look at one, I will act.” Also appeal to self-interest, but remember Maslov heigharchy of needs, there are MANY forms of self-interest. Remember the Curse of Knowlege, people usually won’t care as much about an idea as you. Make them care by the power of associations.

S – Stories

You want to people to act on your idea. Think of Jared from the Subway comercials? Use stories to inspire others to act. Think also of stories as flight simulators for others, think Stategic Corporal.

There are plenty of ways to implement this(Influence Warfare?). I used it for my final presentation about Islam Water Extraction, Storage, and Distribution. Quite a boring subject, but it was fun to put theory into practice.

In the end, just read the bloody book. It’s an easy/enjoyable/useful read.