Life is like a rolled a yarn ball in the corner of a dark room.
We are complex beings. Things are never as they seem, when compensating for psychological repression and prejudice, we have a very hard time knowing how we feel. I fear that the decisions I am going to make on life ,that are purely based on emotions, will be the hardest decisions I will make in my life. I would assume everyone feels like that.
The question is what are these decisions. Should we leave all choice to our caprice? When do we tell ourselves that here stops emotional decisions and here begins the realm of rationality? Yes, I do know that there are people who live in a completely cerebral world, but is that ideal? Is that the pursuit of life? Am I denying something by denying feelings altogether?
I struggle with this question on a daily basis. When to be a rationalist and when to set that side of myself aside. I fear it will be a lifelong try-and-fail experiment. I just I hope I don’t get that question wrong when it counts the most.
Hit the spot
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
"If dopamine is the compound that breeds butterflies in our stomachs and causes people to impulsively leave their spouses, oxytocin elicits a feeling of intense compatibility, the kind that makes you think, “I could sit next to this person for the next thirty years.” In matters of the heart, oxytocin provides more clarity in decision-making because it allows you to see your crush with more depth, and with an eye toward the future rather than just the current, fleeting moment.
With practice, could we learn to utilize this knowledge of our own brains to be certain – or at least close to certain – about who and when we choose to marry?"
How do we make romantic decisions?
With practice, could we learn to utilize this knowledge of our own brains to be certain – or at least close to certain – about who and when we choose to marry?"
How do we make romantic decisions?
Jerk
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Everyone protects himself some way or another. There are people who ask a pretty girl to marry them in front of a whole table of people, just to live the hope -in his insecure mind- of amusing her and maybe receiving her attention. Others are overtly disgusting and rude, because they built up insensitivity so that when they are rejected; well who cares? she is B****. Then there are the assholes, they don't have to be rude, they just have to be cold, they never open up, why should they? They probably will get what they get anyway. Sure they might lose a few utilities here and there, but is it worth laying yourself out there to be embarrassed, rejected or underappreciated?
I don’t know what the ideal man is, but I’ll tell you this: rationality may give you many benefits; sensitivity gives you nothing of true value. I envy the thick, robotic homo sapiens. That does not mean you have to be rude, because let’s face it that tactic just does not work, you just need to realize your limit, but caring for people and events is no way to live, you will be constantly let down by people, constantly hurt by the world. There is no reprieve for the pain that society has to offer, one solution remains: give nothing, feel nothing and smile.
Feminism
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
“Sometimes, of course, women are victims. There are many Rihannas who do not have the escape hatch that being famous allows in this instance. But while feminists whine about false pay gaps and oppression that doesn’t exist, we ignore the mess that we’ve created in rejecting the fact that there is good in nature and tradition. We’ve so confused ourselves that now many teenagers in Boston are excusing Chris Brown. Why wouldn’t they? He and Rihanna are equal, and we expect no more from men — in fact, we’ve conditioned a generation or two now to expect less”
I like posting articles and tidbits because they state my views in much more eloquent terms.
But I will write a blog post about this topic, when time permits.
Leadership
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
“. . .If leaders drive change, then collaboration powers change. It is only when people collaborate —really effectively collaborate — that they come to the best outcomes, and the best answers. And in the end, while I think it’s vitally important how people build their capabilities. . .what will distinguish your life and your leadership, as you go forward, is less your capability and more your collaboration skills and your character, and what you choose to do.”
Carly Fiorina
Self education
"Students have been handed another excuse to skip class from an unusual quarter. New psychological research suggests that university students who download a podcast lecture achieve substantially higher exam results than those who attend the lecture in person."Source
I had an argument with someone about the undergraduate system and its usefulness contrasted to self-learning, at least I know I am not an idiot.I do think we are in store for a revolution in how we think about education, time will tell.
Update:
Maybe it already started:source
I had an argument with someone about the undergraduate system and its usefulness contrasted to self-learning, at least I know I am not an idiot.I do think we are in store for a revolution in how we think about education, time will tell.
Update:
Maybe it already started:source
You listening?
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
"Making sense of others in a social interaction is not easy—each new person we meet may be a source of ambiguous and complex information. However, when encountering someone for the first time, we are often quick to judge whether we like that person or not. In fact, previous research has shown that people make relatively accurate and persistent evaluations based on rapid observations of even less than half a minute"Source
Grow up!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Technorati Tags: People
” (Think how humiliating it would be for me to come back and ask you what happened)”
That is why you are not married. Get some self respect, and ask, if you need to take a shot of scotch before that is okay (most guys would just be “hey whatever happened to that Shiduch proposal”, but I understand you are a bit feminine). You are never going to succeed in anything you do if you just expect people to “hook” you up. People look out for themselves.
Wuss.
That is what my reply would have been, but I feel bad.
The rest of the article sounds like a baby whining, funny thing is they put this on one of the more popular Lubavitch website.
And people are commenting “well said”, are we all so pathetic?
Okay…
Faced with some writers block although I am not a writer…
Spoke to a friend about the blog, he tells me I should talk more about my emotions and perspectives.
The thing is I am scared, I feel people know who I am now, and therefore the price might be a bit steep.
In every relationship - including with ones wife- one is faced with two opposite forces. One is intimacy and the other is privacy. In some way I feel like this is not worth it. I am not blogging for very long, but I am already paying a price.
I gain very little from this blog; it seems I am unable to find stimulating conversations and interactions, I am left pondering where people can be found.
Maybe it is me, maybe it is the world. I am finding it hard to live, there are no easy solutions and I don’t know if I am looking for one, but I am dreading the path ahead knowing that no one is out there. I feel like Simba in the lion king screaming for someone to help but no one ever answers. The best solution might just be to run and run, until it catches you.
Somebody once wished me inner peace; the question I asked is: where can it be found?
Headline
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
"The views expressed here do not necessarily represent the unanimous view of all parts of my mind."
Malcolm McMahon
OB
Malcolm McMahon
OB
Why I blog
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
“Angry or upset? Try picking up a pen. According to psychologist Matthew Lieberman, most people don't think of writing as a way to calm down. "When you look at the brain, it looks a whole lot like emotion regulation is going on when people put feelings into words."
Source
Source
Ramble On
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
I am not a writer; I have a hard time expressing myself. Communication was never my forte, so I am going to write how I feel and I hope you can make sense out of it.
There are emotions in life that are deep and subtle, covered up by many layers of our consciousness. There is an art to expression: chiefly avoiding over-expression, but at the same time to convey it justly. Maybe because it is so inscrutable, that by definition it is hard to articulate or maybe because we are muted by the intensity of the emotion that we lack the ability.
I want to go further, not only is it hard but it is inequitable.
We express ourselves through the arts. We try and do it justice; we try to avoid degrading it by mere common words. If you do use vernacular it lacks the romantic appeal, and in the end it does not express. We stand at the nexus of staying true to the source while at the same time giving it its due light.
Most people lack the sensitivity to understand this; they over express an emotion, it is the cause or the effect of lacking perception, lacking depth. They truly do not feel, and therefore they can express. So in the end it is not hard or unjust but reality, if you can see the bottom you are at the shallow end.
It might all depends on whether it is a subjective or objective emotion, but either way wordiness is not fair, it is not elegant, and not graceful.
What inspired me to write this?
Mumbai.
Reading all the reports and news and memorials, I came to realize that it hurt me; I was made to feel part of a PR campaign rather than truly feeling hurt. I came to think that the masses were made out to be TV viewers being sold a product “as seen on TV”. And they sell it to you by saying it over and over and over again, their goal merely to ingrain it into your head, so that you should lack the awareness to realize the product for what it is.
Do we have to do that to them? We have over-expressed it, and therefore we have cheapened them. Expression is a means to end, not the end itself. People forget that sometimes.
There are emotions in life that are deep and subtle, covered up by many layers of our consciousness. There is an art to expression: chiefly avoiding over-expression, but at the same time to convey it justly. Maybe because it is so inscrutable, that by definition it is hard to articulate or maybe because we are muted by the intensity of the emotion that we lack the ability.
I want to go further, not only is it hard but it is inequitable.
We express ourselves through the arts. We try and do it justice; we try to avoid degrading it by mere common words. If you do use vernacular it lacks the romantic appeal, and in the end it does not express. We stand at the nexus of staying true to the source while at the same time giving it its due light.
Most people lack the sensitivity to understand this; they over express an emotion, it is the cause or the effect of lacking perception, lacking depth. They truly do not feel, and therefore they can express. So in the end it is not hard or unjust but reality, if you can see the bottom you are at the shallow end.
It might all depends on whether it is a subjective or objective emotion, but either way wordiness is not fair, it is not elegant, and not graceful.
What inspired me to write this?
Mumbai.
Reading all the reports and news and memorials, I came to realize that it hurt me; I was made to feel part of a PR campaign rather than truly feeling hurt. I came to think that the masses were made out to be TV viewers being sold a product “as seen on TV”. And they sell it to you by saying it over and over and over again, their goal merely to ingrain it into your head, so that you should lack the awareness to realize the product for what it is.
Do we have to do that to them? We have over-expressed it, and therefore we have cheapened them. Expression is a means to end, not the end itself. People forget that sometimes.
There is a reason.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Dont talk of love,
But Ive heard the words before;
Its sleeping in my memory.
I wont disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.
“Nashim daatam kaalos”- TRS
Monday, February 16, 2009
I have learned a lot of Gemara and Halacha, and every time I come across a sexist statement I cringe. Truth be told the Torah is full of sexist remarks, and it is hard believing is something that clearly does not make sense.
Last year I and my good friend Schenur were learning about woman testifying before a court, and how they are not believed unless they state the information by way of gossip or chit-chat.
We got into a whole discussion if my hypothetical wife saw a murder and she wanted to testify in Beis Din, can we say today she would not be accepted? How does that make sense? I know her (hypothetically) to be a trustable source; I know that she is brilliant, what would I say?
It was a tough one; we started discussing a lot of social and scientific claims in Judaism that do not make much sense. The problem is that they claim it empirically true or they claim it based on rational, not on Torah which we supposedly could slime out and say it does not necessary have to be reasonable.
I am not a feminist; I do not agree with everything the movement stands for. But like Voltaire said “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”
It really felt good to read seforim blog’s post about how we have changed, and that maybe even Torah would agree today that woman are equal in this regard.
I think that anybody who says these sexist statements based on Gemara or Poskim should really think twice if they are embarrassing our Chachomim. It is a Chillul Hashem and might be against Torah to state their opinions as if it is relevant today. (Just look at all the Anti-Semitic blogs and sites that use this as ammo)
Seforim blog:
“The fact is that earlier generations often thought very differently about things. For example, we are much more sensitive to matters such as human rights than they were. They took slavery for granted, while the very concept of owning another person is the most detestable thing imaginable to us. Followers of R. Kook will put all of this in a religious framework, and see it as humanity's development as it gets closer to the Messianic era”
“As noted already, I have observed this personally when haredi figures, and not only of the kiruv variety, have asserted that certain ideas and concepts are in opposition to Jewish values, and have then been flustered when I showed them that great figures of the past have actually put forth what today is regarded, even in the haredi world, as immoral statements.”
“These are incredible words. R. Kook was also "confident that if a particular moral intuition reflecting the divine will achieves widespread popularity, it will no doubt enable the halakhic authorities to find genuine textual basis for their new understanding.”
Last year I and my good friend Schenur were learning about woman testifying before a court, and how they are not believed unless they state the information by way of gossip or chit-chat.
We got into a whole discussion if my hypothetical wife saw a murder and she wanted to testify in Beis Din, can we say today she would not be accepted? How does that make sense? I know her (hypothetically) to be a trustable source; I know that she is brilliant, what would I say?
It was a tough one; we started discussing a lot of social and scientific claims in Judaism that do not make much sense. The problem is that they claim it empirically true or they claim it based on rational, not on Torah which we supposedly could slime out and say it does not necessary have to be reasonable.
I am not a feminist; I do not agree with everything the movement stands for. But like Voltaire said “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”
It really felt good to read seforim blog’s post about how we have changed, and that maybe even Torah would agree today that woman are equal in this regard.
I think that anybody who says these sexist statements based on Gemara or Poskim should really think twice if they are embarrassing our Chachomim. It is a Chillul Hashem and might be against Torah to state their opinions as if it is relevant today. (Just look at all the Anti-Semitic blogs and sites that use this as ammo)
Seforim blog:
“The fact is that earlier generations often thought very differently about things. For example, we are much more sensitive to matters such as human rights than they were. They took slavery for granted, while the very concept of owning another person is the most detestable thing imaginable to us. Followers of R. Kook will put all of this in a religious framework, and see it as humanity's development as it gets closer to the Messianic era”
“As noted already, I have observed this personally when haredi figures, and not only of the kiruv variety, have asserted that certain ideas and concepts are in opposition to Jewish values, and have then been flustered when I showed them that great figures of the past have actually put forth what today is regarded, even in the haredi world, as immoral statements.”
“These are incredible words. R. Kook was also "confident that if a particular moral intuition reflecting the divine will achieves widespread popularity, it will no doubt enable the halakhic authorities to find genuine textual basis for their new understanding.”
Birth Control
When discussing birth control methods with the girls in their school, the teachers tell them that if they go on the pill that it will affect fertility; they will have a harder time conceiving later on. Naturally the girls believe the teachers because we have a natural bias of appealing to authority.
When hearing this from girls I know, I laughed, telling them it is an old wives tale and they are just using their normal scare tactics. They turned to me wonderingly, as if who I am to know the mechanism of a woman better than their teachers?
To which i replied: Google it!
Sure enough, all doctors agree that the information so far conclusively proves there is no effect, that by their knowledge of biology it ought not to affect fertility.Msnbc/Past Pill Use Doesn't Lower Fertility
The lesson I learned was that these old teachers do not yet realize that the facts they state can easily be checked up and verified, they have no clue that we live in an information age, which can take seconds to find out if it is true, that by stating old fictional tales they are ruining their credibility.
It is sad that we have such teachers educating our kids. I hope my wife is smarter than this; that we can have an open conversation about the wrongs and rights rather than me debunking all the tales she heard in seminary. I dream.
Why do they feel the need to scare the girls, do they think it will work? Has it ever worked?
I guess that is an historical question, going back to witches and spells.
Update: I was wrong in stating that they teach girls about BC and its effects. I take solace in knowing that they would.
When hearing this from girls I know, I laughed, telling them it is an old wives tale and they are just using their normal scare tactics. They turned to me wonderingly, as if who I am to know the mechanism of a woman better than their teachers?
To which i replied: Google it!
Sure enough, all doctors agree that the information so far conclusively proves there is no effect, that by their knowledge of biology it ought not to affect fertility.Msnbc/Past Pill Use Doesn't Lower Fertility
The lesson I learned was that these old teachers do not yet realize that the facts they state can easily be checked up and verified, they have no clue that we live in an information age, which can take seconds to find out if it is true, that by stating old fictional tales they are ruining their credibility.
It is sad that we have such teachers educating our kids. I hope my wife is smarter than this; that we can have an open conversation about the wrongs and rights rather than me debunking all the tales she heard in seminary. I dream.
Why do they feel the need to scare the girls, do they think it will work? Has it ever worked?
I guess that is an historical question, going back to witches and spells.
Update: I was wrong in stating that they teach girls about BC and its effects. I take solace in knowing that they would.
Rationality
Sunday, February 15, 2009
"Poets, philosophers, acidheads, salesmen: everybody wants to know, 'What is Reality?' Some say it's a vast Unknowable so astounding and raw and naked that it grips the human mind and shakes it like a puppy shakes a rag doll. A lot of good that does us."
-- The Book of the SubGenius
Source
-- The Book of the SubGenius
Source
Peace Of Mind
I went to L’Chaim last night, it seems like I am at one every night, what is with all these people and getting married?
We got to talking about the economy; I came to realize how little this person knew about basic economic laws. People really have no clue, they hear Rush Limbaugh on the radio and they think they are the next Adam Smith. Why are we like this?
It gravels me that people can walk through life without basic knowledge. How can this be right? I just went on using the Socratic Method, it was funny.
I hate socializing. It is boring, people just end up repeating what they heard, I end up getting angry at peoples lack of knowledge and basic thinking skills, and I lack patience for foolishness and incoherence. I am doomed to isolation.
I hate people like TRS, they retell stories I heard a thousand times, like there is some bit if revelation every time they say it. Hey, did you know I can read the same story books that you do, and faster?
What do I like about socializing?
I think meeting unique stupidity, contrary to my opinion a few years ago, stupid minds to not think alike.
This reminds me of my smicha companion, I miss him.
We got to talking about the economy; I came to realize how little this person knew about basic economic laws. People really have no clue, they hear Rush Limbaugh on the radio and they think they are the next Adam Smith. Why are we like this?
It gravels me that people can walk through life without basic knowledge. How can this be right? I just went on using the Socratic Method, it was funny.
I hate socializing. It is boring, people just end up repeating what they heard, I end up getting angry at peoples lack of knowledge and basic thinking skills, and I lack patience for foolishness and incoherence. I am doomed to isolation.
I hate people like TRS, they retell stories I heard a thousand times, like there is some bit if revelation every time they say it. Hey, did you know I can read the same story books that you do, and faster?
What do I like about socializing?
I think meeting unique stupidity, contrary to my opinion a few years ago, stupid minds to not think alike.
This reminds me of my smicha companion, I miss him.
Scary
Carl Orff - Carmina Burana - O Fortuna
Fate, in health
and virtue,
is against me
driven on
and weighted down,
always enslaved.
So at this hour
without delay
pluck the vibrating strings;
since Fate
strikes down the strong man,
everyone weep with me!
Jack it up,savor the beauty.
G-D
Saturday, February 14, 2009
What I consider the strongest argument for G-D, debated:
Jerry A. Coyne;
Miller raises another argument also used by creationists and theists as proof of celestial design: the so-called "fine tuning of the universe." It turns out that the existence of a universe that permits life as we know it depends heavily on the size of certain constants in the laws of physics. If, for example, the charge of the electron were slightly different, or if the disparity in mass between a proton and a neutron were slightly larger, or if other constants varied by more than a few percent, the universe would differ in important ways. Stars would not live long enough to allow life to emerge and evolve, there would be no solar systems, and the universe would lack the elements and the complex chemistry necessary for building organisms. In other words, we inhabit what is called a "Goldilocks universe," where nature's laws are just right to allow life to evolve and to thrive. This observation is called "the anthropic principle.".........
........Also, scientists have other explanations, ones based on reason rather than on faith. Perhaps some day, when we have a "theory of everything" that unifies all the forces of physics, we will see that this theory requires our universe to have the physical constants that we observe. Alternatively, there are intriguing "multiverse" theories that invoke the appearance of many universes, each with different physical laws; and we could have evolved only in one whose laws permit life. The physicist Lee Smolin has suggested a fascinating version of multiverse theory. Drawing a parallel with natural selection among organisms, Smolin proposed that physical constants of universes actually evolve by a type of "cosmological selection" among universes. It turns out that each black hole--and there are millions in our universe--might give rise to a new universe, and these new universes could have physical constants different from those of their ancestors. (This is analogous to mutation in biological evolution.) And universes with physical constants close to the ones we see today happen to be better at producing more black holes, which in turn produce more universes. (This resembles natural selection.) Eventually this process yields a population of universes enriched in those having just the right properties to produce stars (the source of black holes), planets, and life. Smolin's theory immensely raises the odds that life could appear.
KENNETH R. MILLER Responds:
For someone so insistent on empirical evidence, Coyne is remarkably quick to invoke faith when it suits his purposes. Realizing that the anthropic principle could indeed be seen as friendly to religion, he knows he just doesn't have enough evidence to reject it. So Coyne dreams that "perhaps some day, when we have a ‘theory of everything' that unifies all the forces of physics, we will see that this theory requires our universe to have the physical constants that we observe." Indeed. Perhaps we will. But even if we achieve that theory, we will still have to ask where the laws and principles of that theory come from, something that even Coyne at his speculative and hopeful best does not seem to appreciate............
.....Coyne's entire critique, then, is based upon an unspoken assumption he expects his readers to share, namely, that science is the only legitimate form of knowledge. To Coyne, any deviation from that view is an adulterous contradiction of the sacred scientific vow to exclude any possibility of the spiritual, not just from one's scientific work, but from the entirety of one's philosophical world view.
With all due respect to my distinguished colleague, that is nonsense. One can indeed embrace science in every respect, and still ask a deeper question, one in which Coyne seems to have no interest. Why does science work? Why is the world around us organized in a way that makes itself accessible to our powers of logic and intellect? The true vow of a scientist is to practice honest and open empiricism in every aspect of his scientific work. That vow does not preclude the scientist from stepping back, acknowledging the limitations of scientific knowledge, and asking the deeper questions of why we are here, and if existence has a purpose. Those questions are genuine and important, even if they are not scientific ones, and I believe they are worth answering........
Miller
Coyne
Jerry A. Coyne;
Miller raises another argument also used by creationists and theists as proof of celestial design: the so-called "fine tuning of the universe." It turns out that the existence of a universe that permits life as we know it depends heavily on the size of certain constants in the laws of physics. If, for example, the charge of the electron were slightly different, or if the disparity in mass between a proton and a neutron were slightly larger, or if other constants varied by more than a few percent, the universe would differ in important ways. Stars would not live long enough to allow life to emerge and evolve, there would be no solar systems, and the universe would lack the elements and the complex chemistry necessary for building organisms. In other words, we inhabit what is called a "Goldilocks universe," where nature's laws are just right to allow life to evolve and to thrive. This observation is called "the anthropic principle.".........
........Also, scientists have other explanations, ones based on reason rather than on faith. Perhaps some day, when we have a "theory of everything" that unifies all the forces of physics, we will see that this theory requires our universe to have the physical constants that we observe. Alternatively, there are intriguing "multiverse" theories that invoke the appearance of many universes, each with different physical laws; and we could have evolved only in one whose laws permit life. The physicist Lee Smolin has suggested a fascinating version of multiverse theory. Drawing a parallel with natural selection among organisms, Smolin proposed that physical constants of universes actually evolve by a type of "cosmological selection" among universes. It turns out that each black hole--and there are millions in our universe--might give rise to a new universe, and these new universes could have physical constants different from those of their ancestors. (This is analogous to mutation in biological evolution.) And universes with physical constants close to the ones we see today happen to be better at producing more black holes, which in turn produce more universes. (This resembles natural selection.) Eventually this process yields a population of universes enriched in those having just the right properties to produce stars (the source of black holes), planets, and life. Smolin's theory immensely raises the odds that life could appear.
KENNETH R. MILLER Responds:
For someone so insistent on empirical evidence, Coyne is remarkably quick to invoke faith when it suits his purposes. Realizing that the anthropic principle could indeed be seen as friendly to religion, he knows he just doesn't have enough evidence to reject it. So Coyne dreams that "perhaps some day, when we have a ‘theory of everything' that unifies all the forces of physics, we will see that this theory requires our universe to have the physical constants that we observe." Indeed. Perhaps we will. But even if we achieve that theory, we will still have to ask where the laws and principles of that theory come from, something that even Coyne at his speculative and hopeful best does not seem to appreciate............
.....Coyne's entire critique, then, is based upon an unspoken assumption he expects his readers to share, namely, that science is the only legitimate form of knowledge. To Coyne, any deviation from that view is an adulterous contradiction of the sacred scientific vow to exclude any possibility of the spiritual, not just from one's scientific work, but from the entirety of one's philosophical world view.
With all due respect to my distinguished colleague, that is nonsense. One can indeed embrace science in every respect, and still ask a deeper question, one in which Coyne seems to have no interest. Why does science work? Why is the world around us organized in a way that makes itself accessible to our powers of logic and intellect? The true vow of a scientist is to practice honest and open empiricism in every aspect of his scientific work. That vow does not preclude the scientist from stepping back, acknowledging the limitations of scientific knowledge, and asking the deeper questions of why we are here, and if existence has a purpose. Those questions are genuine and important, even if they are not scientific ones, and I believe they are worth answering........
Miller
Coyne
Hole in my soul.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
I drank a lot last night, I got really intoxicated. Truth is I am not a big fan of alcohol for obvious reasons, but I do believe once in a while it is good to let your deep conscious spill out. We all need a release at times, leave ones overly calculated thought and into the realm of pure self. Some will obviously disagree with me, saying the negative outweighs the positive.
Anyway I got so drunk and then came the sick part. I was throwing up like crazy. It was an amazing experience, pain gives man such perspective. It was a microcosm of life. The issues of life are stifling and I have thus far been unable to resolve it. I just sit and pray that it end. That I be redeemed of what pains me.
I find life to be afflictive; I am searching for something of which I do not know. People throw themselves to learning, some to art, and others to demigods. Those have been temporary simply because I think there is something greater to perceive, of which no one can point the way. I am fooling myself, I have yet to realized that this is it; this is what we have, nothing more and nothing less. What you see is what you get. That is the most depressing thought of all.
I am angry at the world for what it has to offer. Maybe I hate the world because I hate myself; there are just too many theories to verify.
Anyway I got so drunk and then came the sick part. I was throwing up like crazy. It was an amazing experience, pain gives man such perspective. It was a microcosm of life. The issues of life are stifling and I have thus far been unable to resolve it. I just sit and pray that it end. That I be redeemed of what pains me.
I find life to be afflictive; I am searching for something of which I do not know. People throw themselves to learning, some to art, and others to demigods. Those have been temporary simply because I think there is something greater to perceive, of which no one can point the way. I am fooling myself, I have yet to realized that this is it; this is what we have, nothing more and nothing less. What you see is what you get. That is the most depressing thought of all.
I am angry at the world for what it has to offer. Maybe I hate the world because I hate myself; there are just too many theories to verify.
Chof Beis Shvat
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Since I am a football fan I am going to start off with a football analogy and go from there.
There are times in a game when a player does something mediocre; say he makes a nice tackle, no biggie. Then he starts celebrating like he won the lottery, he does this whole dance and he makes this whole hoopla, sometimes they fake pantsing themselves, sometimes it is just weird what they do. Well when I see this type of stuff it annoys me. When people make a big deal out of nothing it pisses me off. I guess it just shows that we are idiots for blowing things out of proportion.
Chof Beis Shvat is one of those things we make a mountain out of a molehill. The reality is that a miniscule of people spoke to her, and even less had anything remotely called a relationship with her. She did nothing publicly for the sake of Lubavitch, that is to say no one spoke to her on public matters, she had nothing to do with community affairs period, and we go and make a big deal out of it like she was G-D’s gift to mankind.
Now if there was a precedent for it, celebrating the memory of our leader’s wives, I would understand. But we never did, even the wives of Rabbaim that Chassidim used to visit, and ones that sacrificed their lives for their husbands no one says peep, why?
I think the aristocratic people of Chabad created the holiday to parade their “amazing” relationship that they had with the Rebbatzin, as if they are elite. I am whining.
There are times in a game when a player does something mediocre; say he makes a nice tackle, no biggie. Then he starts celebrating like he won the lottery, he does this whole dance and he makes this whole hoopla, sometimes they fake pantsing themselves, sometimes it is just weird what they do. Well when I see this type of stuff it annoys me. When people make a big deal out of nothing it pisses me off. I guess it just shows that we are idiots for blowing things out of proportion.
Chof Beis Shvat is one of those things we make a mountain out of a molehill. The reality is that a miniscule of people spoke to her, and even less had anything remotely called a relationship with her. She did nothing publicly for the sake of Lubavitch, that is to say no one spoke to her on public matters, she had nothing to do with community affairs period, and we go and make a big deal out of it like she was G-D’s gift to mankind.
Now if there was a precedent for it, celebrating the memory of our leader’s wives, I would understand. But we never did, even the wives of Rabbaim that Chassidim used to visit, and ones that sacrificed their lives for their husbands no one says peep, why?
I think the aristocratic people of Chabad created the holiday to parade their “amazing” relationship that they had with the Rebbatzin, as if they are elite. I am whining.
About me
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Due to popular demand (yeah right like I am Mr. popular) I was asked to write 25 things about myself (who do I tag? I barley know anybody) okay TRS is up next then;
1. I enjoy snowboarding. It is an expensive sports, but once you get the gear, and hit the slopes, wind in your face, the thrill, it is an amazing experience
2. I enjoy watching football/baseball. Jets, Yankees are the teams I root for. Watching the immense capabilities of pro athletes is quite a wonder.
3. I love playing sports. I truly enjoy a well fought game; competition brings out the best or worst of me, depending on who you ask.
4. I hate eating. It is such a waste of time. Same foods over and over again. And it cost an arm and a leg.
5. I sleep too much. I do not sleep well; I don’t know what it is. My mind finds it hard to power down.
6. I enjoy having a deep conversation about life, love, and the pursuit of happiness.
7. I enjoy watching a good film or TV series. Bleak house was the latest I watched, amazing depiction of 19 century England.
8. I enjoy reading classic literature. I find it fascinating while reading their insight into what makes us tick. Hamlet was the latest; the inconsistency of hamlet and the tragic ending makes no sense. But that is the beauty.
9. I hate wasting money due to a lack of basic planning.
10. I think way too much, and talk even more. One should think but not over-think, talk but not over-talk; life is about balance.
11. I think marriage is stupid, but we all do it for no apparent- valid reason. Blogging about that next.
12. I detest the ultra-extreme-orthodox (any other adjectives you use?)education, allowing your child to be ignorant of how the basic functions of the world works in the name of religion, is a crime against humanity.
13. I am told I am too intense, that I live life full throttle.
14. I always feel/realize that I am alone. Do all people feel this way?
15. I am a bit lazy. I am not a doer I am a thinker. I hesitate and feel self conscious.
16. I like really tall girls.
17. I treasure when people are genuine and truthful even when it hurts and burns.
18. I love losing myself in thought, forgetting my idiotic existence and just appreciate the logic and reasons behind laws.
19. I hate social classes, maybe I just hate money; I think I am a socialist.
20. I would like to study my whole life, just sit and learn new things. Sit and figure it all out.
21. I am not writer; quite frankly I am terrible at it. I guess that I why people start a blog.
22. I find it odd that few religious people play piano or write poetry, why do we squash the creative thinking of our youth?
23. I enjoy listening to classical music, the effect on thought and emotion is unparalleled in today’s music world.
24. “24” is pretty cool.
25. Tex Baby!
As you can see I ran out of things in the end.
Wow these mishathingies Nemo are made for perpetually bored people. But so are blogs so who are we to judge?
1. I enjoy snowboarding. It is an expensive sports, but once you get the gear, and hit the slopes, wind in your face, the thrill, it is an amazing experience
2. I enjoy watching football/baseball. Jets, Yankees are the teams I root for. Watching the immense capabilities of pro athletes is quite a wonder.
3. I love playing sports. I truly enjoy a well fought game; competition brings out the best or worst of me, depending on who you ask.
4. I hate eating. It is such a waste of time. Same foods over and over again. And it cost an arm and a leg.
5. I sleep too much. I do not sleep well; I don’t know what it is. My mind finds it hard to power down.
6. I enjoy having a deep conversation about life, love, and the pursuit of happiness.
7. I enjoy watching a good film or TV series. Bleak house was the latest I watched, amazing depiction of 19 century England.
8. I enjoy reading classic literature. I find it fascinating while reading their insight into what makes us tick. Hamlet was the latest; the inconsistency of hamlet and the tragic ending makes no sense. But that is the beauty.
9. I hate wasting money due to a lack of basic planning.
10. I think way too much, and talk even more. One should think but not over-think, talk but not over-talk; life is about balance.
11. I think marriage is stupid, but we all do it for no apparent- valid reason. Blogging about that next.
12. I detest the ultra-extreme-orthodox (any other adjectives you use?)education, allowing your child to be ignorant of how the basic functions of the world works in the name of religion, is a crime against humanity.
13. I am told I am too intense, that I live life full throttle.
14. I always feel/realize that I am alone. Do all people feel this way?
15. I am a bit lazy. I am not a doer I am a thinker. I hesitate and feel self conscious.
16. I like really tall girls.
17. I treasure when people are genuine and truthful even when it hurts and burns.
18. I love losing myself in thought, forgetting my idiotic existence and just appreciate the logic and reasons behind laws.
19. I hate social classes, maybe I just hate money; I think I am a socialist.
20. I would like to study my whole life, just sit and learn new things. Sit and figure it all out.
21. I am not writer; quite frankly I am terrible at it. I guess that I why people start a blog.
22. I find it odd that few religious people play piano or write poetry, why do we squash the creative thinking of our youth?
23. I enjoy listening to classical music, the effect on thought and emotion is unparalleled in today’s music world.
24. “24” is pretty cool.
25. Tex Baby!
As you can see I ran out of things in the end.
Wow these mishathingies Nemo are made for perpetually bored people. But so are blogs so who are we to judge?
Comfortably Numb
Friday, February 6, 2009
I always said either I am the dumbest person in the world or I am brilliant. Either way it seems I don’t connect with society very well. I am bored with people. There is no fun in just sitting around doing zilch, talking about idiotic things, or hearing someone talk that everyone thinks is the second coming of Winston Churchill say things I could care less about. I hate when people are so fake. They parrot things they don’t mean, and they ask questions about things that they could care less about. How humanity has progressed in spite of society is beyond me. But I think it’s a miracle.
That is the problem with Ultra-orthodox Judaism. It’s hard to change people when they think their ideology is divine script. It’s becomes difficult to progress when people keep aping the same foolishness.
Uhhhhhh if I hear one more story or tidbit about the LR I think I am going to shoot myself.
When are they going to run out of ammo already? I feel like a man taking cover and the chamber of these monster gunners does not seem to empty.
I get it. He was a monumental figure, but why don’t they talk about things that actually mean something?
This guy was talking about the Yeshivah administration. Saying that kids complain they are not getting more love, and that is why they move on to greener pastures. He said you have to be your own man. Forget the past and live today.
Gee brilliant. But what got me the most is these people don’t get it. They are to blame because they don’t teach. They are to blame because they left their students destitute of any intellectual prowess. They left the kids without structure without skills to think and process information.
Kids don’t care about how teachers feel. Sure it is nice that they have a sweet teacher. Teachers are not there to give love; they are there to teach how to learn.
This was said by one of the leaders of chabad. Damn were screwed.
That is the problem with Ultra-orthodox Judaism. It’s hard to change people when they think their ideology is divine script. It’s becomes difficult to progress when people keep aping the same foolishness.
Uhhhhhh if I hear one more story or tidbit about the LR I think I am going to shoot myself.
When are they going to run out of ammo already? I feel like a man taking cover and the chamber of these monster gunners does not seem to empty.
I get it. He was a monumental figure, but why don’t they talk about things that actually mean something?
This guy was talking about the Yeshivah administration. Saying that kids complain they are not getting more love, and that is why they move on to greener pastures. He said you have to be your own man. Forget the past and live today.
Gee brilliant. But what got me the most is these people don’t get it. They are to blame because they don’t teach. They are to blame because they left their students destitute of any intellectual prowess. They left the kids without structure without skills to think and process information.
Kids don’t care about how teachers feel. Sure it is nice that they have a sweet teacher. Teachers are not there to give love; they are there to teach how to learn.
This was said by one of the leaders of chabad. Damn were screwed.
In your head
Thursday, February 5, 2009
If I had to answer why I believe in a supreme being it would be conundrum. We don’t choose to believe in something from a purely rational perspective, nor from a purely emotional perspective. I think it all comes together. Some of it is biological, our hard wired neurological system that demands a cause for all events better known as the principle of sufficient reason, Some of it is sociological, some of it is pure rational reason, some of it is because we fear change unless an equal or greater force pushes us to the other side, some of it is because it gives us emotional support, and I think there are countless other reasons why we believe. Sure in economic form there is a utility factor, what we prize, which the majority of it is comprised by material or emotional advantages. I still think there is a rational factor in it too in that there are questions in one’s head that are difficult to answer. I am not advocating in G-D of the gaps, but nevertheless there are deep riveting philosophical questions that every man faces, and he feels the need to sooth it with religion.
I will be stating famous philosophical reasons as well as quoting from a book I do appreciate called “G-D, rationality and mysticism” by Irving Block.
To preface we need to gather some understanding of what is rational and what is meant by “proof”.
Rational in it simple meaning means;” A justification for something existing or happening” Plainly speaking with have a database of empirically proven causes that cause certain effects; when we see the cause we can/do predict the effect. There are causes that are not empirically proven and/or the effects have many variables. What makes those that accept those cause/effect rational or irrational?
G-D is not a mathematical theorem nor can he be empirically proven. He is like the black hole. So we collect a few arguments, put them together and there seems to be a convincing argument for the belief in G-D. No one argument is sufficient. We humans think with collective proof. How does a pretty girl know she is pretty, because one person told her? She collects over time what a sense of pretty is; and she collects statements from many different walks of life. She then comes to the conclusion she is attractive. Now that might change, and the standards might change, but she assumes it to be true based on inductive reasoning. The value is there until there is information to dispute it.
Which comes to the philosophical question of inductive reasoning; how do we know that the future will be like the past? How do we know tomorrow that the fork is not the food but that the eggs are?
Hume said this cannot be solved. So is it rational or irrational? How about the principle of sufficient reason? Hume replied that we have rational intuition. We have to accept certain a priori arguments, for negating it seems irrational. Now does that apply to the rational of G-D ,Does denying it make one irrational I don’t think so.
I do think that atheism is rational, so is the belief in a supreme being. Why do I choose in one versus the other? Like I said in the beginning it is a very hard question to answer. Maybe the argument for G-D seems more rational. Are certain people more susceptible to “confirmation bias” then others?
On to proof, what I mean by proof is that all I try to prove to myself is that belief In G-D is rational. Denying the rationality is being irrational. One can choose atheism due to it being more rational in their mind, but you cannot deny that a belief in a G-D is rational.
I am not a positivist. I am not a pure empiricist, because I don’t think G-D can be proven as such. I don’t think it rational to deny all metaphysical propositions like the “Vienna circle”. Biology would never have been studied if we accepted only the empirically proven and only universal laws. There are many soft sciences.
Next up; the arguments for and against.
I will be stating famous philosophical reasons as well as quoting from a book I do appreciate called “G-D, rationality and mysticism” by Irving Block.
To preface we need to gather some understanding of what is rational and what is meant by “proof”.
Rational in it simple meaning means;” A justification for something existing or happening” Plainly speaking with have a database of empirically proven causes that cause certain effects; when we see the cause we can/do predict the effect. There are causes that are not empirically proven and/or the effects have many variables. What makes those that accept those cause/effect rational or irrational?
G-D is not a mathematical theorem nor can he be empirically proven. He is like the black hole. So we collect a few arguments, put them together and there seems to be a convincing argument for the belief in G-D. No one argument is sufficient. We humans think with collective proof. How does a pretty girl know she is pretty, because one person told her? She collects over time what a sense of pretty is; and she collects statements from many different walks of life. She then comes to the conclusion she is attractive. Now that might change, and the standards might change, but she assumes it to be true based on inductive reasoning. The value is there until there is information to dispute it.
Which comes to the philosophical question of inductive reasoning; how do we know that the future will be like the past? How do we know tomorrow that the fork is not the food but that the eggs are?
Hume said this cannot be solved. So is it rational or irrational? How about the principle of sufficient reason? Hume replied that we have rational intuition. We have to accept certain a priori arguments, for negating it seems irrational. Now does that apply to the rational of G-D ,Does denying it make one irrational I don’t think so.
I do think that atheism is rational, so is the belief in a supreme being. Why do I choose in one versus the other? Like I said in the beginning it is a very hard question to answer. Maybe the argument for G-D seems more rational. Are certain people more susceptible to “confirmation bias” then others?
On to proof, what I mean by proof is that all I try to prove to myself is that belief In G-D is rational. Denying the rationality is being irrational. One can choose atheism due to it being more rational in their mind, but you cannot deny that a belief in a G-D is rational.
I am not a positivist. I am not a pure empiricist, because I don’t think G-D can be proven as such. I don’t think it rational to deny all metaphysical propositions like the “Vienna circle”. Biology would never have been studied if we accepted only the empirically proven and only universal laws. There are many soft sciences.
Next up; the arguments for and against.
Question.
Here is the question of the day.
“Christian doctrine holds that all of us were implicated in the guilt of Calvary and were, in a mystic sense, present for it.”
Christopher Hitchens
Why do atheist Jews consider themselves Jewish? Regarding Hitchens, He was born in England. He is anti-religion. So what gives? Does he believe his mother makes him Jewish? Is that not itself based on believing in religion?
“Christian doctrine holds that all of us were implicated in the guilt of Calvary and were, in a mystic sense, present for it.”
Christopher Hitchens
Why do atheist Jews consider themselves Jewish? Regarding Hitchens, He was born in England. He is anti-religion. So what gives? Does he believe his mother makes him Jewish? Is that not itself based on believing in religion?
Fakin' it (part one)
Monday, February 2, 2009
As the report came out the other day about welfare statistics and that Kiryas Yoel has the highest rates of consumption and percentage of people on welfare, the conversation has turned to those that sit and learn Torah as their livelihood and take the governments monies. Are they ethical? Should it be this way? What does the Torah itself say? And then the question becomes well then how should it be?
Part one;
I have to preface this conversation by writing about my experiences in my Yeshivah life, and from what I hear I suspect it is the same throughout the ultra-orthodox world.
There are two aspects to Judaism. One is the aspect of conduct; there are strict laws on how to act and with whom to interact. There was and there always will be differing opinions on exactly what that code is. Some a lenient some are more strict. Most people try and stay somewhere in the middle. We adapt to our environment and stay true to our heritage. Then there is a level above that; the extreme way; where every possible “Chumra” is taken upon oneself. Every possible “Hiddur” must be done. Where the people in the community are pressured and harassed to accept a very harsh and difficult religion and creed. Where when in the SA there is ambiguity; E.g Tznius (there is no Hilchos Tznius) they fix that section up in a hurry, and pile the extreme version of every paragraph, refusing to even recognize a rational opinion, or even compromise on their interpretations. And then they call this “Yiras Shomaim”. (Unfortunately when some kids from this community are faced with compromise, in their mind they tell themselves that since this is basic and I must violate them; might as well throw the whole yolk off my back)
Then there is the Torah learning aspect of our community. Throughout our history we have honored and revered the ones who are able and capable to sit and learn. We gave them respect and gave them means to survive. We put a high value on Torah learning. In our history we had little means and we needed the young ones to help out financially. This led to a sort of self selecting group of children who were consensually acute and precocious, to be sent off to learn. Thank the almighty democracy was born, and the standard of living and the education standards has skyrocketed. We have not yet adapted to this phenomenon and till this day; we refuse to abide by the basic ideals of education; which is a universal test, a way of measuring objectively who is bright and who is not. This has led to the reality that every parent can afford to tell his kid that he will be the next Chaim Volozihner or the next Ktzos.
In our school system we know very well and what I mean by “we” I mean the teachers and the students themselves realize that there are elite learners. The elite divide into the conduct categories I stated above. Either they are extreme or they are not so extreme. Or maybe they are even contemplating intellectual freedom. Either way what has happened is this; it has paid off to lie, for the teachers and for the parents and for the kids themselves. Due to our history and the Torah putting such a high premium on learning, who is willing to say that he cannot learn? Which parent will tell a Shadchan that his kid is an “am haaretz”? Which teacher is going to tell the wealthy donor his kid is an ignoramus? None of them will.
So we made up this big lie; “he is not a “Yiras Shomaim”. First it helps the teacher because he does not have to teach, since there is no way in measuring if he is actually teaching. It helps most of the parents; because let’s face it the percentage of elite minds in history in not more than ten percent, and here is the crux of the issue; it helps the kids; because one; it is not possible to change biology but possible to change conduct, and two; it gives them an excuse to sit for years and not work with the added benefit of an excuse; why should that bright “fryak” learn when I am a Tzaddik?
So it boils down to our perspective, our lack of measuring tools, and more so to our laziness. And above all our willingness to live a lie rather than faces reality. That is the world we live in today. And from this comes all ailments in our society; If the idiots don’t know or refuse to recognize the bright ones. Then who has to follow whom? Maybe I am the smart one and you are the foolish one? In OT terms; how do you know? …….Who has to respect whom? Your Smicha paper is just like mine! “ver bizt du”?
Part one;
I have to preface this conversation by writing about my experiences in my Yeshivah life, and from what I hear I suspect it is the same throughout the ultra-orthodox world.
There are two aspects to Judaism. One is the aspect of conduct; there are strict laws on how to act and with whom to interact. There was and there always will be differing opinions on exactly what that code is. Some a lenient some are more strict. Most people try and stay somewhere in the middle. We adapt to our environment and stay true to our heritage. Then there is a level above that; the extreme way; where every possible “Chumra” is taken upon oneself. Every possible “Hiddur” must be done. Where the people in the community are pressured and harassed to accept a very harsh and difficult religion and creed. Where when in the SA there is ambiguity; E.g Tznius (there is no Hilchos Tznius) they fix that section up in a hurry, and pile the extreme version of every paragraph, refusing to even recognize a rational opinion, or even compromise on their interpretations. And then they call this “Yiras Shomaim”. (Unfortunately when some kids from this community are faced with compromise, in their mind they tell themselves that since this is basic and I must violate them; might as well throw the whole yolk off my back)
Then there is the Torah learning aspect of our community. Throughout our history we have honored and revered the ones who are able and capable to sit and learn. We gave them respect and gave them means to survive. We put a high value on Torah learning. In our history we had little means and we needed the young ones to help out financially. This led to a sort of self selecting group of children who were consensually acute and precocious, to be sent off to learn. Thank the almighty democracy was born, and the standard of living and the education standards has skyrocketed. We have not yet adapted to this phenomenon and till this day; we refuse to abide by the basic ideals of education; which is a universal test, a way of measuring objectively who is bright and who is not. This has led to the reality that every parent can afford to tell his kid that he will be the next Chaim Volozihner or the next Ktzos.
In our school system we know very well and what I mean by “we” I mean the teachers and the students themselves realize that there are elite learners. The elite divide into the conduct categories I stated above. Either they are extreme or they are not so extreme. Or maybe they are even contemplating intellectual freedom. Either way what has happened is this; it has paid off to lie, for the teachers and for the parents and for the kids themselves. Due to our history and the Torah putting such a high premium on learning, who is willing to say that he cannot learn? Which parent will tell a Shadchan that his kid is an “am haaretz”? Which teacher is going to tell the wealthy donor his kid is an ignoramus? None of them will.
So we made up this big lie; “he is not a “Yiras Shomaim”. First it helps the teacher because he does not have to teach, since there is no way in measuring if he is actually teaching. It helps most of the parents; because let’s face it the percentage of elite minds in history in not more than ten percent, and here is the crux of the issue; it helps the kids; because one; it is not possible to change biology but possible to change conduct, and two; it gives them an excuse to sit for years and not work with the added benefit of an excuse; why should that bright “fryak” learn when I am a Tzaddik?
So it boils down to our perspective, our lack of measuring tools, and more so to our laziness. And above all our willingness to live a lie rather than faces reality. That is the world we live in today. And from this comes all ailments in our society; If the idiots don’t know or refuse to recognize the bright ones. Then who has to follow whom? Maybe I am the smart one and you are the foolish one? In OT terms; how do you know? …….Who has to respect whom? Your Smicha paper is just like mine! “ver bizt du”?
Brilliance
Friday, January 30, 2009
A person will speak falsely when he is afraid of other people.
(Rebbe Nachman of Breslov)
(Rebbe Nachman of Breslov)
Tolstoy
Thursday, January 29, 2009
I read this past year the novel Anna Karenina by Lev Tolstoy. It is truly a brilliant literary work. Its description’s of love, anger and depression are timeless. Tolstoy’s insight into the psychology of human nature is exquisite. I extracted some profound lines, which I really felt touched some deep emotion.
“There was no solution, but that universal solution which life gives to all questions, even the most complex and insoluble. That answer is: one must live in the needs of the day—that is, forget oneself”
At times one is overwhelmed with life. He truly does not know how he will live another moment. He sees the future and is filled with despair. Will I love? Will I succeed? Will I achieve greatness? Will I be liked? It’s a weight on his shoulders and a thorn in the heart. Depression overcomes him; he sees no solution to the problems of life. Here Tolstoy describes how to deal with life, and all its currents. Take it one step at a time. Deal with what is ahead of you. Thinking too much is the issue here. Thinking that one has to conquer the world with one step, to achieve something monumental with one swift act is absurd. Live day by day.
“And those who only know the non-platonic love have no need to talk of tragedy. In such love there can be no sort of tragedy. ‘I’m much obliged for the gratification, my humble respects’—that’s all the tragedy. And in platonic love there can be no tragedy, because in that love all is clear and pure, because...”
At that instant Levin recollected his own sins and the inner conflict he had lived through. And he added unexpectedly:
“But perhaps you are right. Very likely...I don’t know, I don’t know.”
"Whom am I and what am I? A nobody, not wanted by any one, nor of use to anybody"
“There was no solution, but that universal solution which life gives to all questions, even the most complex and insoluble. That answer is: one must live in the needs of the day—that is, forget oneself”
At times one is overwhelmed with life. He truly does not know how he will live another moment. He sees the future and is filled with despair. Will I love? Will I succeed? Will I achieve greatness? Will I be liked? It’s a weight on his shoulders and a thorn in the heart. Depression overcomes him; he sees no solution to the problems of life. Here Tolstoy describes how to deal with life, and all its currents. Take it one step at a time. Deal with what is ahead of you. Thinking too much is the issue here. Thinking that one has to conquer the world with one step, to achieve something monumental with one swift act is absurd. Live day by day.
“And those who only know the non-platonic love have no need to talk of tragedy. In such love there can be no sort of tragedy. ‘I’m much obliged for the gratification, my humble respects’—that’s all the tragedy. And in platonic love there can be no tragedy, because in that love all is clear and pure, because...”
At that instant Levin recollected his own sins and the inner conflict he had lived through. And he added unexpectedly:
“But perhaps you are right. Very likely...I don’t know, I don’t know.”
"Whom am I and what am I? A nobody, not wanted by any one, nor of use to anybody"
Age old.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Since I am going to get opposition and counter-arguments for my view, I am going to use the immortal Nemo counter-arguments, since they are the obvious ones;
“Practically and definitively this is an impossibility.”
It is only impossible since we make it so. Just like the previous post about change. John Adams had to convince people that we should break off from England’s sovereignty. It took him a long time, and many hours convincing the Continental Congress that is was the right and just way to act. We needed change. People thought he was crazy, that we did not have the army or power to defeat the English. But he did it. And now he and his companions are in the history books as the greatest leaders in the history of man.
“Were it decided that he was replaceable, there certainly wouldn't be any agreement about who should take the position.”
They elders disagreed about the LR in the first place. It is funny how we forget history and decide a new leader does not exist. It would, if we searched for it. And it would if the youth gather together and choose that man to lead them. It has already started; look at Beis Shmuel. We don’t need a consensus. All we need is a group of people in the hundreds that get together and build on how he directs things to be. He will give advice, he well lead. It can and should be done. Just because some like to think that there is not anybody around to lead, and because no one can live up to the LR, does not make it right. We had a leader after Moshe. We had a leader after R’ Yehudah Hanassi. We have had leaders that have following monumental figures in Jewish history. We had kings after great king. We need a leader; so we take what we can get, enough of the idea that the new leader has to measure up to a romantic figure.
By the way; the Rebbe was not G-D, and not everyone keeled at his legs. Fisher scammed the Rebbe in his face. People used to fight for power in his face. The Rebbe demanded 770 renovated, but money went elsewhere. The Rebbe demanded tons of things that people just spat at, did not listen one bit. This romantic view of the Rebbe is simply wrong. We are rewriting history. Some will say the Rebbe avoided all confrontation because no one would have listened to him, so he just kept the status quo regarding many matters, enough of this BS.
“And on the definitional level, he said that Dor Hashvi'i is the first generation of Geulah.”” “made Lubavitch the global empire it is today. It is fundamentally irreconcilable with appointing a new Rebbe”
Well Moses told the Jews that they would go to Eretz Yisroel and he was wrong. The Alter Rebbe made a deadline for Moshiach, he was wrong. The Rambam made a deadline and he too was wrong. Many leaders said things to inspire the nation and they turned out to be wrong. If we did not face this we would never live. We move on. We always have and we always will until the true and final redemption.
Until then, you need to pay your mortgage and you need to save money for your kids wedding. You need to plan for the future in case that our sins get in the way. Same thing goes for a teacher, mentor, someone to unite the people and lead them. To teach a collective body how to act in the new and improved world. Face the challenges of today. Face the reality that the Rebbe was wrong. Maybe he was right at the time, and we screwed it up royally. I don’t know. But what I do know is that it’s coming up on two decades and our kids are not going to buy these foolish arguments. They won’t understand. They will be looking for guidance. Who are we going to choose for them?
Learn Jewish history. We overcame worse catastrophes, worse repressions. What did we do? We taught our youth and we bred leaders. We set up a good school system, we pushed our children and we squeezed our hearts to find greatness. It is time to push, fight, and search once again.
“Practically and definitively this is an impossibility.”
It is only impossible since we make it so. Just like the previous post about change. John Adams had to convince people that we should break off from England’s sovereignty. It took him a long time, and many hours convincing the Continental Congress that is was the right and just way to act. We needed change. People thought he was crazy, that we did not have the army or power to defeat the English. But he did it. And now he and his companions are in the history books as the greatest leaders in the history of man.
“Were it decided that he was replaceable, there certainly wouldn't be any agreement about who should take the position.”
They elders disagreed about the LR in the first place. It is funny how we forget history and decide a new leader does not exist. It would, if we searched for it. And it would if the youth gather together and choose that man to lead them. It has already started; look at Beis Shmuel. We don’t need a consensus. All we need is a group of people in the hundreds that get together and build on how he directs things to be. He will give advice, he well lead. It can and should be done. Just because some like to think that there is not anybody around to lead, and because no one can live up to the LR, does not make it right. We had a leader after Moshe. We had a leader after R’ Yehudah Hanassi. We have had leaders that have following monumental figures in Jewish history. We had kings after great king. We need a leader; so we take what we can get, enough of the idea that the new leader has to measure up to a romantic figure.
By the way; the Rebbe was not G-D, and not everyone keeled at his legs. Fisher scammed the Rebbe in his face. People used to fight for power in his face. The Rebbe demanded 770 renovated, but money went elsewhere. The Rebbe demanded tons of things that people just spat at, did not listen one bit. This romantic view of the Rebbe is simply wrong. We are rewriting history. Some will say the Rebbe avoided all confrontation because no one would have listened to him, so he just kept the status quo regarding many matters, enough of this BS.
“And on the definitional level, he said that Dor Hashvi'i is the first generation of Geulah.”” “made Lubavitch the global empire it is today. It is fundamentally irreconcilable with appointing a new Rebbe”
Well Moses told the Jews that they would go to Eretz Yisroel and he was wrong. The Alter Rebbe made a deadline for Moshiach, he was wrong. The Rambam made a deadline and he too was wrong. Many leaders said things to inspire the nation and they turned out to be wrong. If we did not face this we would never live. We move on. We always have and we always will until the true and final redemption.
Until then, you need to pay your mortgage and you need to save money for your kids wedding. You need to plan for the future in case that our sins get in the way. Same thing goes for a teacher, mentor, someone to unite the people and lead them. To teach a collective body how to act in the new and improved world. Face the challenges of today. Face the reality that the Rebbe was wrong. Maybe he was right at the time, and we screwed it up royally. I don’t know. But what I do know is that it’s coming up on two decades and our kids are not going to buy these foolish arguments. They won’t understand. They will be looking for guidance. Who are we going to choose for them?
Learn Jewish history. We overcame worse catastrophes, worse repressions. What did we do? We taught our youth and we bred leaders. We set up a good school system, we pushed our children and we squeezed our hearts to find greatness. It is time to push, fight, and search once again.
Trauma
There are five stages that humans go through when something traumatic occurs (G-D forbid) in their lives;
1) Denial - this can't be happening. Deferral is another reaction that may be confused with denial. With deferral the parent accepts the clinical findings but seems to ignore the implications.
2) Anger - why did this have to happen?
3) Bargaining - I promise I'll never ask for another thing if only you will …
4) Depression - a gloom that comes from having to adjust to so much so quickly.
5) Acceptance - This is when the anger, sadness and mourning have tapered off. The person simply accepts the reality of the loss.
(While there is a sense of shock in the beginning, I don’t know if that is part of the bereavement process or not)
Each of us moves toward acceptance at our own pace. Unfortunately that progress isn't a straight line. We often move back and forth between denial and depression for some time. While most of us by this time are well past denial, there may still be brief moments when we act as if or try to pretend something catastrophic never happened.
Effects on the Organization;
1) Reduced productivity.
2) Employees isolate themselves from others.
3) Higher absenteeism.
4) Reduced ability to work as a team.
5) More conflicts among co-workers.
(Taken loosely from; http://www.wright.edu/~scott.williams/LeaderLetter/trauma.htm)
I think when we go back on Gimmel Tammuz; when the Lubavitch Rebbe passed away, we can see all these phases and more. Besides the one step that really we have not reached and that is step 5.
There are many people in our community still holding by step 1. But I think most of us went on to the next step pretty quick relatively; give or take a few years.
Step 2 is often seen at fabrangens; where the Mashpia says how he is angry at Hashem (G-D almighty) for taking away such a great man. Some in CH feel personal anger at the whole situation. Some go so far as fighting and screaming. There are degrees but I think there still exist an underlying anger within all of us at what happened. Most of us have learned to deal with it, and for the most part have moved on to the next stage.
Bargaining; step 3. This is a tricky one because Judaism is basically based on bargaining with G-D. We all do it in our lives. Give me money and I will give charity. Give me such and such and I will try and be such and such. That is why we do half the things we do. And really who is to blame? G-D; He told us clearly; act good and you well get goodies. So this is a constant problem which is why I think most of us skip/skipped this step simply for the reason that we are always doing it. Not anything out of the norm.
So we move on to step 4; depression. I think this is such a vague step and like they said you really hop back and forth, go there Gimmel Tammuz-Yud Shvat, then back from depression around Simchas Torah time. So it really is not a perpetual state. And as said above; it goes hand in hand with the anger part, so fabrangens and events are ripe for these depression-anger-denial stages.
Step 5; here is the kernel. Here is the nub. Very few faced this head on. Very few have moved on. That is not say moving on means abandoning your reverence and resepct of the LR. This means coming to realize we need to move on. We need a new leader, a new teacher. It’s accepting this fact irrespective if you can/will find one. It’s the realization that you are lacking a mentor and that you should get one. It is the same thing with all issues; half the cure really is facing reality. People have gone to great lengths to avoid this acceptance. Great lengths to fight reality. It is sad, depressing that every gathering stories of the Rebbe are told over and over and over indefinitely, without discussing what is really important, without leading the youth to a better reality. They are always living in the past, what about the future? We need to move on. The Rebbe would want us to move on; find someone that can lead. Sure we are not going to find someone to fit the romanticized view of him, just like you won’t find the perfect girl. No one can live up to the perfection we put in our heads. But we need to try, we need to push. We need to get better. We need to perfect our trade and perfect our lives. We live in an anarchic/archaic state; everyone does what he thinks is right and he brings “proof” from our holy books, and regurgitate things they heard in a fabrangen like its the Ten Commandments. Like they say; one can bring proof that you are allowed to eat pig. One could say that our father's did not drive a car why should we? When will this end? When will we move on? When will we face the truth?
We need to realize that we are human, and the LR was human. There is a process of how humans have dealt with calamities throughout our history. This generation is no different. We are not a new species of Jews. We are not a new species of humans. There is a science to this; and we need to come to terms that what we are feeling are lies and untruths; simply because it is not objective, it comes from the grief within.
We need to change. We need to move on. We need to accept. Acceptance is all we have left.
Go back to the effect on organization. Has it not all happened to us?
1) Denial - this can't be happening. Deferral is another reaction that may be confused with denial. With deferral the parent accepts the clinical findings but seems to ignore the implications.
2) Anger - why did this have to happen?
3) Bargaining - I promise I'll never ask for another thing if only you will …
4) Depression - a gloom that comes from having to adjust to so much so quickly.
5) Acceptance - This is when the anger, sadness and mourning have tapered off. The person simply accepts the reality of the loss.
(While there is a sense of shock in the beginning, I don’t know if that is part of the bereavement process or not)
Each of us moves toward acceptance at our own pace. Unfortunately that progress isn't a straight line. We often move back and forth between denial and depression for some time. While most of us by this time are well past denial, there may still be brief moments when we act as if or try to pretend something catastrophic never happened.
Effects on the Organization;
1) Reduced productivity.
2) Employees isolate themselves from others.
3) Higher absenteeism.
4) Reduced ability to work as a team.
5) More conflicts among co-workers.
(Taken loosely from; http://www.wright.edu/~scott.williams/LeaderLetter/trauma.htm)
I think when we go back on Gimmel Tammuz; when the Lubavitch Rebbe passed away, we can see all these phases and more. Besides the one step that really we have not reached and that is step 5.
There are many people in our community still holding by step 1. But I think most of us went on to the next step pretty quick relatively; give or take a few years.
Step 2 is often seen at fabrangens; where the Mashpia says how he is angry at Hashem (G-D almighty) for taking away such a great man. Some in CH feel personal anger at the whole situation. Some go so far as fighting and screaming. There are degrees but I think there still exist an underlying anger within all of us at what happened. Most of us have learned to deal with it, and for the most part have moved on to the next stage.
Bargaining; step 3. This is a tricky one because Judaism is basically based on bargaining with G-D. We all do it in our lives. Give me money and I will give charity. Give me such and such and I will try and be such and such. That is why we do half the things we do. And really who is to blame? G-D; He told us clearly; act good and you well get goodies. So this is a constant problem which is why I think most of us skip/skipped this step simply for the reason that we are always doing it. Not anything out of the norm.
So we move on to step 4; depression. I think this is such a vague step and like they said you really hop back and forth, go there Gimmel Tammuz-Yud Shvat, then back from depression around Simchas Torah time. So it really is not a perpetual state. And as said above; it goes hand in hand with the anger part, so fabrangens and events are ripe for these depression-anger-denial stages.
Step 5; here is the kernel. Here is the nub. Very few faced this head on. Very few have moved on. That is not say moving on means abandoning your reverence and resepct of the LR. This means coming to realize we need to move on. We need a new leader, a new teacher. It’s accepting this fact irrespective if you can/will find one. It’s the realization that you are lacking a mentor and that you should get one. It is the same thing with all issues; half the cure really is facing reality. People have gone to great lengths to avoid this acceptance. Great lengths to fight reality. It is sad, depressing that every gathering stories of the Rebbe are told over and over and over indefinitely, without discussing what is really important, without leading the youth to a better reality. They are always living in the past, what about the future? We need to move on. The Rebbe would want us to move on; find someone that can lead. Sure we are not going to find someone to fit the romanticized view of him, just like you won’t find the perfect girl. No one can live up to the perfection we put in our heads. But we need to try, we need to push. We need to get better. We need to perfect our trade and perfect our lives. We live in an anarchic/archaic state; everyone does what he thinks is right and he brings “proof” from our holy books, and regurgitate things they heard in a fabrangen like its the Ten Commandments. Like they say; one can bring proof that you are allowed to eat pig. One could say that our father's did not drive a car why should we? When will this end? When will we move on? When will we face the truth?
We need to realize that we are human, and the LR was human. There is a process of how humans have dealt with calamities throughout our history. This generation is no different. We are not a new species of Jews. We are not a new species of humans. There is a science to this; and we need to come to terms that what we are feeling are lies and untruths; simply because it is not objective, it comes from the grief within.
We need to change. We need to move on. We need to accept. Acceptance is all we have left.
Go back to the effect on organization. Has it not all happened to us?
Change
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Another brick on the wall Pt2;
As I saw the president Obama stand up and give his speech to the world, shivers went up my leg. I am joking it didn't, but it did get me thinking;
This signifies an era.
This is not a onetime thing; this is how we have to think from now on.
This is how we evolved. We are done with authority telling us right from wrong without explanations. We are done with them ruling and judging without explanations. We are done with this partisan crap.
We need to realize that we can change. We can improve. We don’t have to stand stagnated in our old long held dogmas. We have the power within, to collectively take grab of what we think is right.
It is time for the younger generation to dictate policy in Chabad.
The old are out. They are done. We live in the internet world.
There is someone that can change Lubavitch. I guarantee you this; there will be a time when a young man and/or young lady will get on “Facebook” and the blogs collect all the people and make a revolution.
(if it is a woman replace all "he" with "she")
He will demand we change our schools. Demand that we change our councils. Make it transparent.He will demand that there be no more oligarchies, demand that our most eligible go on "shlichus" that we abolish the family territory garbage. We should take it away, revolt. There will be no more elite. There will be no more terror from the rich. There will be no more corruption in our midst. He will help fix the dating issues. He will clean up 770 by annihilating all inane political fight, and he will demand that we kick out idiots and extremist.He will say that we should and will make a real rabbinic program, where we can be proud of our kids, and proud of our leaders.
We have had enough of this 1930 Russian style of management. The transistor is 45nm.
The day will come. I just hope it is sooner rather than later.
Enough! Change. We can and we will.
As I saw the president Obama stand up and give his speech to the world, shivers went up my leg. I am joking it didn't, but it did get me thinking;
This signifies an era.
This is not a onetime thing; this is how we have to think from now on.
This is how we evolved. We are done with authority telling us right from wrong without explanations. We are done with them ruling and judging without explanations. We are done with this partisan crap.
We need to realize that we can change. We can improve. We don’t have to stand stagnated in our old long held dogmas. We have the power within, to collectively take grab of what we think is right.
It is time for the younger generation to dictate policy in Chabad.
The old are out. They are done. We live in the internet world.
There is someone that can change Lubavitch. I guarantee you this; there will be a time when a young man and/or young lady will get on “Facebook” and the blogs collect all the people and make a revolution.
(if it is a woman replace all "he" with "she")
He will demand we change our schools. Demand that we change our councils. Make it transparent.He will demand that there be no more oligarchies, demand that our most eligible go on "shlichus" that we abolish the family territory garbage. We should take it away, revolt. There will be no more elite. There will be no more terror from the rich. There will be no more corruption in our midst. He will help fix the dating issues. He will clean up 770 by annihilating all inane political fight, and he will demand that we kick out idiots and extremist.He will say that we should and will make a real rabbinic program, where we can be proud of our kids, and proud of our leaders.
We have had enough of this 1930 Russian style of management. The transistor is 45nm.
The day will come. I just hope it is sooner rather than later.
Enough! Change. We can and we will.
Meatloaf
Very rarely in life are people purely evil or purely good. We walk the line, we try our best and we try to keep the corruption that comes from within at a minimum. Some of us try to compensate by giving charity some by doing other good deeds and so on. No one is clean. The only time we are white is the Day of Atonement and even then it’s only because we are wearing a tablecloth.
That is the regular man, and then there is the business man;
You can’t succeed without screwing someone over; its basic economics. I have yet to meet an honest,holy business man. It does not exist. It gets even worse when you are OPEC-like in your distribution. Where you set the price and really no one can say anything.
When it comes to Rubashkin I have to say I see the above to be true and more.
He tried to get away with things. He tried to wheel and deal, illegal workers and all and he got caught. Is he evil? No!
He tried to scam the Frum community. Half the times the meat was not kosher. The other half he screwed Lubavitcher left and right. It was a scam (half of Judaism is perpetuated by people trying to scam us, $100 dollars for a fruit?)
Did he get caught? Yeah. Is it because he did not pay off someone?
Very probable.
Did he do charity? Yes!
Did he do good things for many people? Yes!
Does he deserve to sit in jail? No. From a moral perspective maybe, but we don’t live in theory we live in practice. We humans accept that there is a certain level of necessary corruption. It's what makes us democratic and not Marxist.
Should there be people acting like they are holier than thou? No. they are the biggest liars and cheaters; the ones who act like Rubashkin is a serial rapist, Common get over it. Did you read the news lately? About The CEO taking tax payer money and going on vacation? Selling his house for 100 dollars to his wife? Maddof? Where are all the cry babies?
Does not mean that Rubashkin is in the right. Does not mean that he does no right. Does not mean he is good nor does it mean that he is evil. He is life. And he should be given a second chance.
That is the regular man, and then there is the business man;
You can’t succeed without screwing someone over; its basic economics. I have yet to meet an honest,holy business man. It does not exist. It gets even worse when you are OPEC-like in your distribution. Where you set the price and really no one can say anything.
When it comes to Rubashkin I have to say I see the above to be true and more.
He tried to get away with things. He tried to wheel and deal, illegal workers and all and he got caught. Is he evil? No!
He tried to scam the Frum community. Half the times the meat was not kosher. The other half he screwed Lubavitcher left and right. It was a scam (half of Judaism is perpetuated by people trying to scam us, $100 dollars for a fruit?)
Did he get caught? Yeah. Is it because he did not pay off someone?
Very probable.
Did he do charity? Yes!
Did he do good things for many people? Yes!
Does he deserve to sit in jail? No. From a moral perspective maybe, but we don’t live in theory we live in practice. We humans accept that there is a certain level of necessary corruption. It's what makes us democratic and not Marxist.
Should there be people acting like they are holier than thou? No. they are the biggest liars and cheaters; the ones who act like Rubashkin is a serial rapist, Common get over it. Did you read the news lately? About The CEO taking tax payer money and going on vacation? Selling his house for 100 dollars to his wife? Maddof? Where are all the cry babies?
Does not mean that Rubashkin is in the right. Does not mean that he does no right. Does not mean he is good nor does it mean that he is evil. He is life. And he should be given a second chance.
Hat tip
"They also lack any kind of real skills, at least most of them do. Maybe that was the plan all along; teach them nothing, no language, no skills, that way if and when they leave they'll be so miserable that they'll eventually come running back! if that was the plan then they succeeded. On the other hand, maybe these kids have "issues," in which case we needn't worry about them........"
http://theantitzemach.blogspot.com/
Depressing, Tyrants.
http://theantitzemach.blogspot.com/
Depressing, Tyrants.
Love Me Tender
I have to write a post about my views, due to there being a misconception.
So here goes in real short;
I believe in G-D. I pray to him as best as I can.
I believe in being frum.
I believe in the separation of church and state. For that matter I believe in the wisdom of our American forefathers.
I believe in secular wisdom.
I accept the rationale of evolution.
I accept that the world is between 13 and 14 billion years old.
I think the Lubavitcher Rebbe was a great, rational and holy man.
I just don’t think I have to agree to everything he says. And I hope he does not want me to or I have to rethink the above.
The man in my picture is Rabbi Yosef Rozin-”Rogotchover goan”
I love to learn about everything.
I love to read classical works. Tolstoy is so far my favorite author; although it changes book by book.
I love to listen to classical music. I believe you can listen to Non- Jewish music.
I believe Lubavitcher education system is currently corrupt and immoral.
Basically I think I am modern orthodox. Although I think I am a hybrid of some sorts.
I don’t think all Muslims are pure evil.
I believe in torture.
I voted for Obama.
That’s it for now.
So here goes in real short;
I believe in G-D. I pray to him as best as I can.
I believe in being frum.
I believe in the separation of church and state. For that matter I believe in the wisdom of our American forefathers.
I believe in secular wisdom.
I accept the rationale of evolution.
I accept that the world is between 13 and 14 billion years old.
I think the Lubavitcher Rebbe was a great, rational and holy man.
I just don’t think I have to agree to everything he says. And I hope he does not want me to or I have to rethink the above.
The man in my picture is Rabbi Yosef Rozin-”Rogotchover goan”
I love to learn about everything.
I love to read classical works. Tolstoy is so far my favorite author; although it changes book by book.
I love to listen to classical music. I believe you can listen to Non- Jewish music.
I believe Lubavitcher education system is currently corrupt and immoral.
Basically I think I am modern orthodox. Although I think I am a hybrid of some sorts.
I don’t think all Muslims are pure evil.
I believe in torture.
I voted for Obama.
That’s it for now.
Blinded by the light
I am just figuring out this whole blog, widget thing and all the tools on how to make this site presentable and clean. Any advice is welcomed.
Growing up in the Lubavitchers system if I had to grade my education it would be an F. that is not to say there aren’t any bright and smart people but the education was bad. I’ll explain why; there are things that school must teach or must produce so to speak in order to be considered an education;
1) He should have proficient knowledge in 3-4 subjects.
2) Develop critical thinking skills
3) Develop speaking and writing skills proficiently
4) Creative thinking skills, problem solving and such.
5) Have grades where they are able to mark their progress.
6) Have peers to stimulate their learning.
7) Have a curriculum, so that you educators and the parents know you mastered the level before going up to the next level, marking your yearly progress.
Now these are basic, some are understatements some are overstatements but the general idea outlined here are very basic, elementary education if you will.
Now there are always going to be smart kids in school and not so smart kids. Some kids can learn quantum physics on their own; some cannot learn algebra or even elementary math on their own. So really to mark a school one has to look at the average child in his or her class and see whether they made progress or not.
Here is the thing. Most of my epistemological progress in life was that of my own. I have self learned almost everything I know. I have progressed amazing if I say so myself, but that is not a good education. I was never pushed by educators to go a level harder. Plainly speaking I was never taught. I pushed myself. When looking at the rest of my peers; the mediocre ones or maybe the ones that did not have the self control or ambition I had/have; they all failed, all of them. Most kids cannot write high school level in any language. They cannot speak high school level in any language. They don’t have basic critical thinking skills. They cannot write an essay. They fail in the most basic ways. Is that an education?
Comes along TRS and says you learn something new each time you learn a Mammor. Are you kidding me? Our kids don’t have fundamental thinking skills how are they going to progress? I don’t have any profound Idea’s in Chassidus; meaning I think it, I process it and it is stimulating but half the time I don’t know what I am talking about, sure I know all the “levels” but that is not rational thoughts, there is no independent thinking- critical thinking ,what I am going to disagree? I am going to say it does not make sense? And for your info I can tell you more about Chassidus than 99.9999 percent of Lubavitchers.
Anyway I have so much more on this topic; too much.
Growing up in the Lubavitchers system if I had to grade my education it would be an F. that is not to say there aren’t any bright and smart people but the education was bad. I’ll explain why; there are things that school must teach or must produce so to speak in order to be considered an education;
1) He should have proficient knowledge in 3-4 subjects.
2) Develop critical thinking skills
3) Develop speaking and writing skills proficiently
4) Creative thinking skills, problem solving and such.
5) Have grades where they are able to mark their progress.
6) Have peers to stimulate their learning.
7) Have a curriculum, so that you educators and the parents know you mastered the level before going up to the next level, marking your yearly progress.
Now these are basic, some are understatements some are overstatements but the general idea outlined here are very basic, elementary education if you will.
Now there are always going to be smart kids in school and not so smart kids. Some kids can learn quantum physics on their own; some cannot learn algebra or even elementary math on their own. So really to mark a school one has to look at the average child in his or her class and see whether they made progress or not.
Here is the thing. Most of my epistemological progress in life was that of my own. I have self learned almost everything I know. I have progressed amazing if I say so myself, but that is not a good education. I was never pushed by educators to go a level harder. Plainly speaking I was never taught. I pushed myself. When looking at the rest of my peers; the mediocre ones or maybe the ones that did not have the self control or ambition I had/have; they all failed, all of them. Most kids cannot write high school level in any language. They cannot speak high school level in any language. They don’t have basic critical thinking skills. They cannot write an essay. They fail in the most basic ways. Is that an education?
Comes along TRS and says you learn something new each time you learn a Mammor. Are you kidding me? Our kids don’t have fundamental thinking skills how are they going to progress? I don’t have any profound Idea’s in Chassidus; meaning I think it, I process it and it is stimulating but half the time I don’t know what I am talking about, sure I know all the “levels” but that is not rational thoughts, there is no independent thinking- critical thinking ,what I am going to disagree? I am going to say it does not make sense? And for your info I can tell you more about Chassidus than 99.9999 percent of Lubavitchers.
Anyway I have so much more on this topic; too much.
Anarchy
Monday, January 26, 2009
http://www.crownheights.info/index.php?itemid=15398
Disclaimer: I have no personal ill will towards the people in the pictures. This is just how I feel in general.
Pictures like this really anger me. I feel a sense of disturbed peace when I see “Shluchim” with world leaders. It use to be these guys knew how to learn, sure they knew next to nothing about secular studies, anthropology, political science, or even basic arithmetic but they made it up with a deep understanding in religious studies. They studied many hours, and dedicated their lives to Torah. They had an aura of respectability, a sense of purity. With those types of people I have a general problem with, but I deal with it on a personal level.
Then I see pictures like these; the type of guys who have not studied diligently a day in their lives, have not worked an honest day in their lives. They slept through life; they BS their way through school and now they get to talk to a U.S senator? These people who think they are born into some sort of right to be in such a position are wrong and it is an abhorrence to everything good in this world. Not only is the system overloaded with indolent folk but they are the ones who are the face of our most precious organizations. Besides being ignorant period, and hurting us by their ineffective presentation they are a symbol of what is wrong in the world. We are better than this. We should have our best and brightest meeting with world leaders. We should have some sort of merit system. Nowhere in the world is it like this; where you have ignorant, foolish, unkempt, uneducated people dining with a U.S senator. Imagine if we had bright, presentable, educated merit based system for this type of affair? Where we can talk politics and push for good agendas?
This is a corrupt, idiotic world; where we rather have social hierarchy’s and foolishness then self improvement. Is this the message we should send our youth? That it is okay to be ignorant? That it is okay to be lazy? Is it okay to tell it to ourselves?
When will our system become democratic? When will we revolt to help out community? When will the young that work hard, that admire school and education stand up and revolt the powers that are not just stubborn but are insane, ignorant and above all filled with ancient dogmas? When will this sense of creed that dominates rational thought be abolished? When will we grab hold of the destiny of our most precious assets; our children?
I am sad.
Mysterious
I think Debbie Schlussel's article on CH.info was an overreaction. True no one should be a bigot and say one race in pretty and another is not, besides it being such a subjective quality in the first place. Which goes to show; she is not the smartest cat in the room that Essman, and the whole view crew are all idiots (some are really pretty). But what I find interesting is; they still don’t know what a Frum Jew is. Thousands of years have passed, we have been around a long time, and the world still does not know who we are? “they are like Muslims”? They don’t know out basic way of life… We still marry the brother of a dead husband? What the hell?
Are we that hard to understand? Are we that complicated? Are we that irrational?
http://www.crownheights.info/index.php?itemid=15386
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/susie-essman-on-the-view-012109-5-of-5/1835848837/?icid=VIDURVENT07
Are we that hard to understand? Are we that complicated? Are we that irrational?
http://www.crownheights.info/index.php?itemid=15386
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/susie-essman-on-the-view-012109-5-of-5/1835848837/?icid=VIDURVENT07
Blogs
Sunday, January 25, 2009
People their whole life search for expression. They search for a medium to reveal their thoughts and emotions. Some go to psychologist. Some talk to themselves or close friends. Some don’t or can't do either and search their whole lives to be able to release the tightness in their chest and fog in their heads. So what stops people from just standing up in a room and shout at the world? Self-conscious people we are, being able to avoid that has not been solved. Sure some writers did it by writing the novel. Who is going to judge the author instead of the character? Did people truly think Dostoevsky would kill?
Man has searched wide and far for expression, to combine the elements of expression with elements of discretion. Man has found one tool; Blogs.
It seems we forgot this. We forgot to express. We forgot what the purpose is. Now we are news commentary. We are religious advocates. What happened?
Man has searched wide and far for expression, to combine the elements of expression with elements of discretion. Man has found one tool; Blogs.
It seems we forgot this. We forgot to express. We forgot what the purpose is. Now we are news commentary. We are religious advocates. What happened?
What do they Think About Gay Marriage?
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
http://www.bigthink.com/features/995
Let me just say this; i think Shmuley Boteach is a smart man, but he misses the point. They don't just want to come to synagogue; they want to be proud of it. They want to rub their ideology in your face. That is how humans are; we don't just believe in something, we want everyone to know what it is we believe in.
Let me just say this; i think Shmuley Boteach is a smart man, but he misses the point. They don't just want to come to synagogue; they want to be proud of it. They want to rub their ideology in your face. That is how humans are; we don't just believe in something, we want everyone to know what it is we believe in.
"Oops"
http://www.bigthink.com/features/993
Right, he just happened to look for his car one day, and "oops they think I'm Taliban". What a moment it must have been.
Right, he just happened to look for his car one day, and "oops they think I'm Taliban". What a moment it must have been.
Reason of it all.
“What is the Jew?...What kind of unique creature is this whom all the rulers of all the nations of the world have disgraced and crushed and expelled and destroyed; persecuted, burned and drowned, and who, despite their anger and their fury, continues to live and to flourish. What is this Jew whom they have never succeeded in enticing with all the enticements in the world, whose oppressors and persecutors only suggested that he deny (and disown) his religion and cast aside the faithfulness of his ancestors?!
The Jew - is the symbol of eternity. ... He is the one who for so long had guarded the prophetic message and transmitted it to all mankind. A people such as this can never disappear.
The Jew is eternal. He is the embodiment of eternity." - Leo Tolstoy
(What is the Jew? quoted in The Final Resolution, pg. 189, printed in Jewish World periodical, 1908)
http://fora.tv/2008/10/16/Anti-Semitism_A_History_of_an_Idea
We were chosen, and it all went downhill after that.
We were picked, only to be picked on.
Do you want to know why there is a war in Gaza? Arabs can’t handle reality. Humans become violent when they lose control. Jews are the symbol of their inferiority. They realize Jews can’t be destroyed. Christians faced this reality. When will the Arabs?
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