Curiosity and Serendipity

price lab

Mon, 14 May 2012 01:26:42 GMT

The report of Lab School students getting alcohol at a teacher's home seems to be part of a "smear job," to discredit that school, by those that want to close it and bus 100 kids to Janesville. It could be either entrapment or just plain "spying" that some people do, toward their neighbors.

When I was in high school, one boy brought a jug of "moonshine," to a Sadie Hawkins Day dance at the school, and offered others a drink of it. I stayed away from him, to avoid conflict in school.

The Principal, whom I respected, although some others didn't, wanted to punish that boy, but was reportedly overruled by the boy's father, who was on the school board, and just laughed at him.

Within two more years, our country got into the Korean War, and drafted a slave army to fight it. Those young soldiers had never been allowed to legally buy beer.

The French Constitution prohibits the use of draftees for foreign wars, unless their country is invaded. By avoiding war, France saves enough money to offer free college tutition to all students.

Lab school teacher giving alcohol to students.

Mon, 14 May 2012 01:14:23 GMT

The report of Lab School students getting alcohol at a teacher's home seems to be part of a "smear job," to discredit that school, by those that want to close it and bus 100 kids to Janesville. It could be either entrapment or just plain "spying" that some people do, toward their neighbors.

When I was in high school, one boy brought a jug of "moonshine," to a Sadie Hawkins Day dance at the school, and offered others a drink of it. I didn't go near him, because I always wanted to avoid conflict in school.

The Principal, whom I... respected, although some others didn't, wanted to punish that boy, but was reportedly overruled by the boy's father,
who was on the school board, and just laughed at him.

In two more years, our country got into the Korean War, and drafted a slave army to fight it. Those young soldiers had never been allowed to legally buy beer.

In France, their Constitution prohibits the use of draftees for foreign wars, unless their country is invaded. By avoiding war, France saves enough money to offer free college tutition to all students.

Re: Mitt Romney's "bullying" incident..

Fri, 11 May 2012 22:21:21 GMT

I read this story, "The Pack," as a Freshman at Iowa State in 1946. It was written by John Galsworthy in 1905, and published as an anthology by three Iowa State English professors in 1946. I's about a "kangaroo court," conducted by students at an elite British school, who seemed to turn into a "pack of dogs," pursuing a prey animal. It's about conformity, as a very bad thing.

http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/john-galsworthy/a-motley-sla/page-4-a-motley-sla.shtml

If "Steb's" was still in business.

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:37:26 GMT

After Obama appeared at "The Sink," a young people's bar in Boulder, Colorado, I wished that he could have visited Stebs bar, in Cedar Falls, before its owners retired, many years ago. There's a nice picture of him, taken with another patron of The Sink, circulating on the Internet.

For a link to the picture, Google "Jerry Obama Stebs."

This is the link:

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/upshot/obama-picture-student-colorado-bar-goes-viral-190325356.html

If "Steb's" was still in business.

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:02:27 GMT

If "Steb's" was still in business.

After Obama appeared in a bar in Boulder, Colorado, I wished that he could have visited Stebs in Cedar Falls, but it was no longer around.

For a link to the picture, Google "Jerry Obama Stebs."

This is the link:

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/upshot/obama-picture-student-colorado-bar-goes-viral-190325356.html

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 04:34:18 GMT

I'm uneasy about the bureaucratic decision that newly-bought US Savings Bonds will no longer be produced as official hard copies.

The Great Wall of China was built to provide security from the Mongols. However, the latter were able to cross it, by bribing the guards.

If the compterized records fail, some people may be left "holding the bag," in Cyberspace.

For further information, google "Gerald Baker war bonds Korea."

"Holding the Bag," in Cyberspace.

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 16:35:26 GMT

In 1943, when I was age 10, my 81-year-old grandfather, Jake Baker, confided to my father and me his worries about how the federal government was going to finance its war spending programs. Finally, he said, cautiously, "I think they're gonna cancel the War Bonds." US Savings Bonds were called "War Bonds" in those days.

Neither my father nor I replied to that unlikely speculation.

On February 24, I read an opinion piece at "Time Online" that advocated abolishing our US currency, and blaming North Korea for the change. Such a process was to start with the abolition of $50 and $100 bills and of all coins.

Five years ago, an AlterNet article, based on investigative reporting by a respected German newspaper, the Frankfurter Allgemeine, reported that the CIA could be passsing counterfeit US currency, and pretending North Korea was doing it.

I'm uneasy about the bureaucratic decision that newly-bought US Savings Bonds will no longer be produced as official hard copies. If the compterized records fail, some people may be left "holding the bag," in Cyberspace.

For further information, google "Gerald Baker war bonds Korea."

Gerald Baker

http://www.alternet.org/story/46471//

http://news.yahoo.com/u-could-pressure-north-korea-tomorrow-quit-100-094000585.html

http://www.irishemigrant.com/ie/go.asp?p=story&storyID=10882

"Holding the Bag," in Cyberspace.

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:04:07 GMT

In 1943, when I was age 10, my grandfather, Jake Baker, confided to my father and me his worries about how the government was going to finance its war spending programs. Finally, he said, with resignation, "I think they're gonna cancel the War Bonds." US Savings Bonds were called "War Bonds" in those days.

I knew neither my father nor my grandfather had much schooling, so I said nothing.

This February 24, I read an OPINION piece at "Time Online" that seemed to be a trial balloon for abolishing our US currency, and blaming it on North Korea. Such a process was to start with the abolition of $50 and $100 bills and of all coins.

I'm also uneasy about the "done deal" that newly-bought US Savings Bonds will no longer exist as official hard copies, perhaps some day accidentally leaving some people "holding the bag," in Cyberspace. I have several of the older bonds.

Five years ago, an AlterNet article, based on investigative reporting by a German newspaper, suggested that the CIA was passsing counterfeit US currency, to stir up trouble, and pretending North Korea was doing it.

For further information, google "Gerald Baker war bonds Korea."

Gerald Baker

http://www.alternet.org/story/46471//

http://news.yahoo.com/u-could-pressure-north-korea-tomorrow-quit-100-094000585.html

Holding the Bag, in Cyberspace."

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 04:29:07 GMT

In 1943, when I was age 10, my grandfather, Jake Baker, told his worries about how the government was going to finance its war spending programs. Finally, he said, "I think they'll cancel the War Bonds." "War Bonds" were what US Savings Bonds were called, in those days.

I knew my grandfather hadn't had much schooling, so I said nothing.

Today, I read an online article at Yahoo "News," copied from an OPINION piece at "Time Online." It seemed a trial balloon for abolishing our currency, beginning with the abolition of some paper money and all coins and blaming it on North Korea, "Drug War" adversaries, and an "Axis Of Hogwash."

I don't trust the Internet, where a million dollars can be deleted forever, by a mouse click. I'm also disappointed that newly-bought US Savings Bonds will no longer exist as hard copies, risking people left
"holding the bag," in Cyberspace.

For further information, google "Gerald Baker war bonds Korea"

Gerald Baker

http://www.alternet.org/story/46471//

http://news.yahoo.com/u-could-pressure-north-korea-tomorrow-quit-100-094000585.html

The time I ran for President, 32 years ago.

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:51:20 GMT

Published in Live Journal, March 13, 2011

http://www.communitynewspapergroup.com/articles/2011/01/07/cedar_falls_times/columnists/doc4d279d58ad09a154584277.txt

Dying in America is a financial nightmare.

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:44:42 GMT

ASSSISTED SUICIDE:
Dying in America is a financial nightmare. One penniless relative: 4 days in hospital: $68,000./ Nursing home, $5400 a month, plus haircuts,etc./

Most medical expenses are in the last 6 months of life. Medicare is smart ...to pay 100% for hospice then, instead of hospital. But MDs balk at certifying 'only 6 months to live'.

Medicaid is available--IF you can devote 50 hours of phone-time to find out the rules !

GOP tried to abolish bankruptcy for individuals--NOT of course for corporations! But Dems forced them to allow ch.7 bankruptcy still for people earning less than median pay. But then you have to pay a lawyer !

We face a huge wave of boomers moving into old-age. If only those who desire it would be allowed assisted suicide ! It doesn't shorten life, just cuts short long deaths.

Anyone can commit suicide, unassisted--but it takes some skills, skills often lacked by people near the end.(And any helping relative goes to prison!) As things are, you have to decide on suicide at the first suspicion, say of Alzheimers. With assisted suicide, you could wait till you're sure.

Suicide-options saves people in their 70s (like myself) from blight of remembering horrible situation of relatives in late 80s.
-----------------
The Catholic bishops will scream, of course, as will the formidable nursing-home and hospital lobbies, wealthy allies of the bishops. But the health-insurers should enlist on the side of permission--as should the government, faced with staggering medicare/medicaid deficits.

We once faced staggering embalming bills; now even the Catholic bishops accept sensible cremation. I predict that within ten years, with necessary precautions (as now hold in Oregon) assisted suicide will be an accepted institution everywhere.
---------------
MY OWN PLANS: When I know I face Alzheimers or incurable cancer--then, after goodbyes to friends and relatives, I'm off to Vienna, where I will OD on luscious pastries and great beer--
then, if still necessary, into the Blue Danube.

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 02:26:52 GMT

Around 1957, shortly after the end of the Korean War, I decide to lead a celibate life. I'd read about the suffering that our POWs had endured in Chinese prison camps. Even, after they returned, they were were severely criticized by politicians and prosecuted as "traitors" by our own government.

In order to avoid having any descendants who would have to endure such stuff, by getting drafted into our nation's "perpetual war" army, I decided to avoid having any descendants, at all. It was the best decision I ever made.

The Fifth Army black-listed me, in June, 1961, by suspending the security clearance that allowed me to work at the Chamberlain Company, in Waterloo. That caused me to suspect the worst, namely of being sent to prison. In those lousy days, I also had no trustworthy person in which to confide. I was slowly going out of my mind.

At that time, a young woman in the office began pursuing me, but I had no interest in dangerous, unethical sex with an engaged woman. Her friends began to hate me, and I regarded them as troublemakers.

Two months later a psychiatrist, William Tice, conniving with my supervisor Irving Herman, had me held in Allen Hospital, and tortured with electric shock "treatment," on five different occasions. That drove me out of my mind, somewhat faster. Tice later committed suicide.

Both Irving and my other supervisor John Bergstrom were friendly toward me, and gave me good references, but they were worried about how this might affect their own careers. They were more inclined to believe accounts by glib liars than those of a shy introvert, such as myself, whom the government had already black-listed.

After Chamberlain laid me off, I went to college to get a teaching certificate, and taught in various schools until 1970, including 3 years at a school in Nebraska. During that time, I became interested in B.F. Skinner's "Walden Two" idea, of communes as an alternative to the "Warfare State."

Celibacy

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 02:08:53 GMT

Around 1957, shortly after the end of the Korean War, I decide to lead a celibate life. I'd read about the suffering that our POWs had endured in Chinese prison camps. Even, after they returned, they were were severely criticized by politicians and prosecuted as "traitors" by our own government.

In order to avoid having any descendants who would have to endure such stuff, by getting drafted into our nation's "perpetual war" army, I decided to avoid having any descendants, at all. It was the best decision I ever made.

The Fifth Army black-listed me, in June, 1961, by suspending the security clearance that allowed me to work at the Chamberlain Company, in Waterloo. That caused me to suspect the worst, namely of being sent to prison. In those lousy days, I also had no trustworthy person in which to confide. I was slowly going out of my mind.

At that time, a young woman in the office began pursuing me, but I had no interest in dangerous, unethical sex with an engaged woman. Her friends began to hate me, and I regarded them as troublemakers.

Two months later a psychiatrist, William Tice, conniving with my supervisor Irving Herman, had me held in Allen Hospital, and tortured with electric shock "treatment," on five different occasions. That drove me out of my mind, somewhat faster.

Both Irving and my other supervisor John Bergstrom were friendly toward me, and gave me good references, but they were worried about how this might affect their own careers. They were more inclined to believe accounts by glib liars than those of a shy introvert, such as myself, whom the government had already black-listed.

Celibacy

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 01:29:49 GMT

Shortly after the end of the Korean War, I decide to lead a celibate life, after reading about the suffering that our POWs had endured in Chinese prison camps. Even, after they returned, they were were severely criticized by politicians and prosecuted as "traitors" by our own government.

In order to avoid having any descendants who would have to endure such stuff, I decided to avoid having any descendants, at all. It was the best decision I ever made.

The Fifth Army black-listed me, in June, 1961, by suspending the security clearance that allowed me to work at the Chamberlain Company, in Waterloo. That caused me to suspect the worst, namely being sent to prison. In those lousy days, I had no trustworthy person in which to confide. I was slowly going out of my mind.

At that time, a young woman in the office began pursuing me, but I had no interest in dangerous, promiscuous sex. Her friends began to hate me, and I regarded them as troublemakers.

Two months later a psychiatrist, William Tice, conniving with my supervisor Irving Herman, had me held in Allen Hospital, and tortured with electric shock "treatment." That drove me out of my mind, somewhat faster.

Celibacy

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:50:21 GMT

I decided to lead a celibate life, shortly after the end of the Korean War, after reading about the suffering that our POWs had endured in Chinese prison camps. Then, after they returned, they were were berated by politicians and prosecuted as "traitors" by our own government.

In order to avoid having any descendants who would have to endure such stuff, I decided to avoid having any descendants, at all. It was the best decision I ever made.

I thought that having descendants resulted from mere vanity, which meant nothing to me, in comparison to the danger of causing others to live in this evil world.

The Fifth Army black-listed me, by suspending my security clearance, just before the July 4 holiday in 1961. That caused me to suspect the worst, namely being sent to prison. I had no one in which to confide. Then, in August, a psychiatrist, William Tice, collaborating with Irving Herman, had me held in Allen Hospital, and tortured with electric shock "treatment." That drove me out of my mind.

About.com Kidney Failure

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:44:58 GMT

.SearchDeath and DyingHospice 101Tips & MoreEnd-of-Life.SharePrint .Apply now to guide this site

Discuss in our forum
What is it Like to Die of Kidney Failure?
From Angela Morrow, RN, former About.com Guide
Updated April 25, 2010

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

.See More About:dyingthe dying processkidney failure
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Question: What is it Like to Die of Kidney Failure?
If you have end stage renal disease, you may be wondering what it is like to die of kidney failure. Many people find it helpful to know what they can expect as they journey through the dying process. Whether you've suffered acute kidney failure in conjunction with another serious illness and have decided not to start dialysis, or if you have end-stage renal disease and have decided to discontinue dialysis, here is what you can expect going forward.

Answer:
Death from kidney failure is generally considered a gentle death. In fact, many physicians and nurses would choose to die of kidney disease rather than any other illness. Most symptoms of kidney failure can be easily managed or suppressed and pain is rarely a problem.

Physical Symptoms of Kidney Failure
The kidneys filter waste from the bloodstream and regulate the amount of water contained within the blood. When the kidneys fail to do their job, the waste accumulates in the body. This build up of waste may cause several symptoms.

Energy Level: The first thing you may notice is a loss of energy. You may become more sleepy or lethargic. Your sleeping patterns may change; you might sleep more during the day or have difficulty sleeping at night. As things progress, you will sleep more and more and eventually lose consciousness altogether.

Mental Changes: You might notice mild confusion early on that may progress to disorientation, anxiety, or delirium. Any discomfort from these mental changes can usually be easily managed with gentle reassurance from loved ones and health care professionals and the use of medications, if needed.

Muscle Changes: As minerals build up in the blood, you may notice muscle twitching, tremors, or even seizures. Medications can be given to prevent seizures and treat them if they occur. Gentle massage can relieve discomfort caused by muscle twitching or spasms.

Skin Changes: A build up of a chemical called urea in the blood may cause your skin to itch. You may even develop a fine white powder on your skin. Itching can usually be controlled with topical creams or antihistamines such as Benedryl.

Appetite and Weight Changes: As with any serious illness, your appetite will decrease and may cease altogether. There is no need to force yourself to eat if your body doesn't feel like it. Doing so may only make you feel worse. You may lose weight as your appetite wanes or you might gain weight as your body retains extra fluid. If you are not producing much urine but still drinking fluids, you might notice your feet, legs, abdomen, and other areas of your body swell with excess fluid.

Changes in Urination: You may pass little or no urine at all. If this is the case for you, limiting the amount of fluid you drink may improve your comfort by decreasing the amount of excess fluid in your body. As mentioned above, excess fluid will lead to swelling of the feet, legs, abdomen, and other areas of the body. The fluid may congest the lungs, making breathing difficult, and strain the heart. If you are not producing any urine, death will usually occur quite soon, usually within one to two weeks. If, however, you are still producing some urine, you could live much longer.

Breathing Changes: The build up of acids in the blood may cause changes in breathing. You may breath faster and more shallow. This breathing is generally not uncomfortable. If fluid has accumulated in the lungs, you may have shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea. There are things you can do to ease shortness of breath like sitting upright, using oxygen and a fan directed at your face, and taking medications such as morphine.

More tips to help manage dyspnea

If you are at home, it's important to have medications on hand to treat symptoms that may occur. A comfort kit of medications can be kept on hand "just in case". Whether you are at home or in a health care facility, a knowledgeable and compassionate hospice team can help you manage any symptoms that arise while helping you and loved ones prepare for death. With your symptoms well managed by professionals, you can focus on what is most important to you during this time.

Death is rarely a welcome guest but death from kidney failure may be the most gentle and comfortable death any of us could ask for. If you have further questions about what to expect during your particular illness, speak with your kidney specialist or hospice physician.

More on Kidney Failure
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The Dying Process
•The Dying Process: A Journey
•DABDA: The 5 Stages of Coping With Death
•Anticipatory Grief
Caring for the Dying
•Acts of Love: Caring for a Dying Loved One
•Interacting with the Dying
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Kidney failure, gentle death.

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:38:55 GMT

http://dying.about.com/od/thedyingprocess/f/dying_of_kidney_failure.htm

Alzheimer's disease results in death? Big deal.

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 23:06:56 GMT

Articles about Alzheimer's Disease state that it's the fifth-leading cause of death. Big deal. First, the people who have it are at, or close to, an age when people generally die of something. Second, I think death would be the best thing that might happen, if I had Alzheimer's, myself.

I'm age 79, and have such dizziness, that it's sometimes hard to keep from falling over. My mother fell and broke her hip at age 71, and her sister did the same thing, at age 87. Death is surely preferable to intermimable suffering, especially if it's mindless, as dementia is.

My mother had arthritis, but I don't know if her sister did. They both existed for many years, in nursing homes.

If I remember right, a "Courier" story about the death of King George V mentioned that his physician had given him a form of euthanasia. He was the head if the Anglican Church. The law can be merciful to the ruling class, but the lives of us peons are declared "sacred," which means, "the property of the government."

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 02:55:13 GMT

The July 30 article, about Melody Judge being a minister of the Universal Life Church, was interesting. The August 6 comments about it, by Phil and Julie Paladino, were interesting, too.

I, also, am a minister of that Universal Life Church. At Thanksgiving time in 1972, I happened to be in central California, and stopped at Modesto, to visit the late Kirby Hensley at his church. Quite a few people were there for a Thanksgiving dinner, and just before we left, he gave each of us his "Doctor of Divinity" degree, which at that time usually cost twenty dollars .

Although I call myself "just a make-believe minister," I have equal standing with a real one under the U.S. Constitution, which says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

The Paladinos criticize Hensley's church for not being devout enough. However, Hensley, who had been a Baptist minister before establishing the Universal Life Church, had compared the exclusiveness of some, presumably pious, religious groups to the uselessness of the "barren fig tree" of the Gospels.

Sarah Townsend suicide

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:03:31 GMT

According to the online Courier July 26, Sarah Townsend, an 18-year-old high school student of Florence NJ, committed suicide by drowning, and cocaine was found in her body. Frankly, since drowning is apparently a very painful death I'd surely prefer to have some such pain-killer in my system, if I died that way.

I wonder what was her reason for dying. Henry David Thoreau, who said, "Most men lead lives of quiet desperation," should have included women, in that statement, too.

gnostic

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 02:21:21 GMT

In the early centuries of the Roman Empire, most branches of the the newly-formed Christian Church were gradually taken over by ambitious politicians, who denounced each other as "heretics." There were, however, places where such hierarchies didn't develop: Egypt and Edessa, for example. In modern times, until recently, no one had any idea, of why that occurred.

In 1945, peasants at Nag Hammadi, in Egypt, discovered a large jar full of ancient scrolls, that turned out to be various previously-unknown Gospels and other written material. It was in the category of "Gnostic Christianity."

Gnostics believed that knowledge has a redeeming and liberating function that helps the individual break free of bondage to the world. So, these modern descendants of the ancient Gnostics must have thought that
there could be wisdom in those manuscripts, and preserved them. Eventually, scholars were found, who could translate them.

In a 1934 book by the German religious writer Walter Bauer, the author says that the absence of historical records of religious controversy in Egypt and Edessa during the earliest Christian centuries indicates that
there may not have been much religious controversy there, before sophisticated politicians came along, to stir it up. Bauer says the early Egyptian Christians probably regarded Gnosticism as just "Christianity."

According to Gnostic teaching, this world, in which the human mind is imprisoned in the flesh, was created by an ignorant Demiurge, who believed that he was God.

Simone Petrement, in her book "A Separate God: The Christian origins of Gnosticism," says,

"What the Gnostics blamed in the Demiurge, that is, the power that for them dominated and symbolized the world, was that it wished to be God and even to be the only God. Thus, it was not exactly the world that they attacked but the religion of the world, the boundless adoration of that which is nothing but might.
The Gnostics said that humanity must be liberated from the religion of the world and that this was not possible except by a revelation that was not of this world."

I believe that the "religion of the world" is still a "reverence for war and other displays of power," just as it was, during Roman Empire times.

gnosticism

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 21:58:08 GMT

In the early centuries of the Roman Empire, many branches of the the newly-formed Christian Church were gradually taken over by bureaucracies that dominated the people by superstitious preaching. There were, however, three places where such hierarchies didn't develop: Egypt, Asia Minor and Edessa. In modern times, until recently, it was unknown why that occurred.

In 1945, peasants at Nag Hammadi, in Egypt, discovered a large jar full of ancient scrolls, that turned out to be various previously-unknown Gospels and other written material. It was in the category of "Gnostic Christianity." Although Egyptian Gnostic ideas were despised and disparaged by the world's "big shots" of ancient times, they had a message of hope for the downtrodden people of other countries.

Gnostics believed that knowledge has a redeeming and liberating function that helps the individual break free of bondage to the world. So, these modern descendants of the ancient Gnostics must have thought that
there could be wisdom in those manuscripts, and preserved them. Eventually, scholars were found, who could translate them.

In 1945, I was age 12, and had recently learned that public libraries existed. I was thrilled by the beauty of knowledge. Like the poet Keats, I believed that "truth is beauty, and beauty is truth."

The Gnostics attributed the creation of this world, in which the human mind is imprisoned in the flesh, to an ignorant Demiurge, that believed it was God.

Simone Petrement, in her book "A Separate God: The Christian origins of Gnosticism," says,

"What the Gnostics blamed in the Demiurge, that is, the power that for them dominated and symbolized the world, was that it wished to be God and even to be the only God. Thus, it was not exactly the world that they attacked but the religion of the world, the boundless adoration of that which is nothing but might.
The Gnostics said that humanity must be liberated from the religion of the world and that this was not possible except by a revelation that was not of this world."

When military conscription continued after the Korean War ended in 1953, It indicated to me that it would never end. That meant that young US males would forever be slaves of the federal government. I decided that, as a disapproval of that policy, I would practice celibacy. That would ensure that no possible descendant of mine would ever be born into slavery, because I'd have no descendants at all. I've therefore been celibate my entire life, except for a very brief period of experimentation, over 45 years ago.

Also, by being celibate, I've kept myself free from the tedious and uncalled-for ordeals of marriage and raising children, in this grossly overpopulated world.

I believe that the "religion of the world" is still a "reverence for war and other displays of power," just as it was, many centuries ago. My celibacy has been, in a small way, a gesture of disapproval of the world's overpopulation, but more important, to me, it signifies rejection of the government's claim of ownership of the citizens' lives.

Even though conscription ended in 1973, the reimposition of draft registration in 1980 and its continued existence today indicates that our federal government rarely gives up any of its power over the people.

I believe that military slavery is a major cause of insanity, and that the more-shy or more-sensitive persons are more susceptible than others to be driven insane by it.

Gnostics

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:03:15 GMT

In the early centuries of the Roman Empire, many branches of the the newly-formed Christian Church were gradually taken over by bureaucracies that dominated the people by superstitious preaching. There were, however, three places where such hierarchies didn't develop: Egypt, Asia Minor and Edessa. In modern times, until recently, it was unknown why that occurred.

In 1945, peasants at Nag Hammadi, in Egypt, discovered a large jar full of ancient scrolls, that turned out to be various previously-unknown Gospels and other written material. It was in the category of "Gnostic Christianity." Although Egyptian Gnostic ideas were despised and disparaged by the world's "big shots" of ancient times, they had a message of hope for the downtrodden people of other countries.

Gnostics believed that knowledge has a redeeming and liberating function that helps the individual break free of bondage to the world. So, these modern descendants of the ancient Gnostics must have thought that
there could be wisdom in those manuscripts, and preserved them. Eventually, scholars were found, who could translate them.

In 1945, I was age 12, and had recently learned that public libraries existed. I was thrilled by the beauty of knowledge. Like the poet Keats, I believed that "truth is beauty, and beauty is truth."

The Gnostics attributed the creation of this world, in which the human mind is imprisoned in the flesh, to an ignorant Demiurge, that believed it was God.

Simone Petrement, in her book "A Separate God: The Christian origins of Gnosticism," says,

"What the Gnostics blamed in the Demiurge, that is, the power that for them dominated and symbolized the world, was that it wished to be God and even to be the only God. Thus, it was not exactly the world that they attacked but the religion of the world, the boundless adoration of that which is nothing but might.
The Gnostics said that humanity must be liberated from the religion of the world and that this was not possible except by a revelation that was not of this world."

When military conscription continued after the Korean War ended in 1953, It indicated to me that it would never end. That meant that young US males would forever be slaves of the federal government. I decided that, as a disapproval of that policy, I would practice celibacy. That would ensure that no possible descendant of mine would ever be born into slavery, because I'd have no descendants at all. I've therefore been celibate my entire life, except for a very brief period of experimentation, over 45 years ago.

Also, by being celibate, I keep myself free from the tedious and unnecessary ordeals of marriage and raising children, in a grossly overpopulated world.

I believe that the "religion of the world" is still a "reverence for war and other displays of power," just as it was, many centuries ago. My celibacy has been, in a small way, a gesture of disapproval of the world's overpopulation, but more important, to me, it signifies rejection of the government's claim of ownership of the citizens' lives.

Even though conscription ended, the reimposition of draft registration in 1980 and its continued existence today indicates that our federal government rarely gives up any of its power over the people.

I believe that military slavery is a major cause of insanity, and that the more-shy or more-sensitive persons are more susceptible than others to be driven insane by it.

Gnostic ideas

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 04:23:29 GMT

The Gnostics believed that knowledge had a redeeming and liberating function that helped the individual break free of bondage to the world.

The "new slavery," in the USA.

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:24:50 GMT

When Wall Street's congressional lackeys took our nation into the European War in 1917, they needed a lot of cheap cannon-fodder, to fight it. So, they enacted a military conscription law, similar to laws that existed in Europe. That provided for cruel and dangerous slave labor of American boys, for the benefit of the federal government and its big business beneficiaries in carrying out their intervention in that war.

There was a lot of opposition to the federal conscription law, the likes of which our nation had never had, before. (The Civil War, 52 years before, was fought with conscripts supplied by the separate states, under federal orders.) Eugene V. Debs, who was put in prison for speaking out against conscription, received almost a million votes for President in 1920, while in a federal prison.

In 1918, the US Supreme Court, under Chief Justice Holmes, had ruled in favor of the legality of conscription. It reminds me of what Holmes' father had once told him, "Don't you know that a lawyer can't ever become a great man?"

That Supreme Court decision said that the federal government was allowed to conscript citizens because of, "a clear and present danger." I've mentioned before, that the only "clear and present danger" had been that facing the young citizens to whose lives the government had staked a claim of ownership.

That decision established a precedent, that enabled Congress to begin military conscription before the US even got involved in World War II. It was briefly ended at the end of that war, but brought back at the beginning of the Korean War, and continued through the Indo-China war, by US forced labor, because the French Constitution forbade the use of conscripts, for putting down rebellions in its former colonies, unless it had been invaded.

When conscription continued after the Korean War ended in 1953, It indicated to me that US conscription would never end. That meant that young US males would forever be slaves of the federal government. I decided that, as a convincing gesture of disapproval of that policy, I should practice celibacy, to ensure that no possible descendant of mine would ever be born into slavery. I've therefore been celibate my entire life, except for a very brief period of experimentation, over 45 years ago.

If I were female, I might argue that I had a right to abortion, especially in the case of male children, to prevent them from being born into a condition of slavery. Ever since conscription (draft) registration was reinstated in 1980, such a condition exists. I'm sure there's plenty of evidence, that military slavery is a major cause of insanity, so the more-sensitive persons, who are the most susceptible to be driven insane, should be allowed to be abortions, and not forced to be born into a slave-life that can easily become hell.

Deaths and maiming in war are so hideously painful, that pain inflicted on an aborted fetus seems minor, by comparison.

So-called "basic training," by the military, consists of bullying by Sergeants, designed to undermine a conscript's self-esteem and is conducive to his developing mental illness, especially in those with low self-esteem, to begin with. That is all covered up, by the sneaky Sergeant, of course, so no one knows the cause of the insanity.