[aeon] For the Ancient Greeks, virtue wasn’t a goal in and of itself, but rather a route to a life well lived. By being honest and generous, embodying diligence and fortitude, showing restraint and kindness, a person would flourish ‐ coming to live a life filled with meaning and finding an enduring, as opposed to ephemeral, happiness. Today, that view hasn’t much changed. While we hear plenty of stories of celebrities, politicians and even our neighbours finding fleeting pleasure through self-gratification, dishonesty or hubris, we can also see the ’other shoe’ eventually drop, leading to despair, social rejection or worse.
If it’s true that virtue leads to a life well lived ‐ a view that receives more empirical backing with each passing year ‐ the question How do I become virtuous? takes on a bit of urgency. For the majority of ethicists, both ancient and modern, the answer is clear: virtue comes from living an examined life, one where deep deliberation leads to the embrace of noble qualities such as honesty and generosity, no matter how difficult it can be to enact them.
There’s a problem with this well-worn path, however. In a busy world where many feel inundated with the demands of daily life, devoting time to philosophical deliberation ‐ worthy as it might be ‐ can feel like an elusive luxury. So while the usual route for pursuing virtue can certainly work, after more than two decades studying how emotions shape the mind, I think there might be an easier way to achieve the same end.
In considering moral character, the Roman orator Cicero said: ’Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.’ And while I think it’s an overstatement, Cicero’s view does offer up the tantalising prospect that, simply by cultivating gratitude, other virtues will grow. If correct, it suggests that there’s an entirely different way to improve moral character ‐ one that is rapid, easy and efficient.
#5
Perhaps this is why the left is perennially unhappy. They are grateful for nothing. Ilhan Omar comes to mind. Truly an ungrateful and hate inspired biotch.
#7
Begin the day with a song to the Lord, read the Bible, exercise for an hour. Meditate while resting and getting ready. Go kill the world. Followed it for decades, never lost a day. Well, maybe some days... but the life was friggin' lived. In a job that people off themselves doing, why I'm a happy camper ! In the kind of world we inhabit, if I was any happier, I'd be insane !
This whole philosophy to me is another piece of work from the 'love yourself' industry of short-cut psychiatric jump-starts to what I call 'faux-contentedness'. Research on monkeys shows that a monkey sharing his banana is a happy monkey, so share your Pontiac with the schlep next door !
The question of 'How do I become virtuous ?' was answered by no man better than the Christ Himself.
'Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.' But he couldn't for he was a putz.
And there've been few with spine enough since then to even ask. It just goes to show how unrealistic and hard it is to gain virtue in the real world. But God gives peace without your earning it.
A good alternative, says the scientist is the oxytocin high of 'feeling good' about doing good. Which is why today we have these ersatz values of 'give-to-feel-good' and concern for everyone's feelings that have leaked into our systems of legislation, justice and enforcement; crippling us in our war with the beast.
There is no virtue that can save you or make you better than you are, except the blood of Gawd. His sacrifice is enough for that. And there is no bloody way under the sun to improve moral character that's 'easy, rapid and efficient'. One tries to live up to the standard of Jesus, as best one can. The words of God, the sermon on the mount - there's still no better moral education. I think even Jordan will agree with that.
But the modern academic's fascination is about finding an easily systematized method of imparting the same 'happiness formula' to everyone, replacing conservative beliefs. It's success measured by neurons firing and flashes in your supramarginal gyrus on an MRI machine.
[The Intelligencer] At the time of the American Revolution, England was the world’s strongest military and naval power. Yet it was soundly defeated by George Washington and his rag-tag army of colonial revolutionaries and patriots. How could this have happened?
Surprisingly, the British provided the answer. Major George Beckwith, the head of British intelligence operations in the Colonies, upon returning to England in defeat, was quoted as saying, "Washington did not really outfight the British, he simply out-spied us!" Beckwith had thus credited the winning of the war, and thus the creation of our new nation, to Washington’s superior intelligence operations.
Washington had learned a hard lesson when he was a 21-year-old adjutant under British General Edward Braddock during the French and Indian War. Braddock’s forces were ambushed in the Monongahela Valley by the French and Indians and virtually annihilated. Washington escaped after his horse was shot out from under him. Braddock was mortally wounded, as were 615 of his officers and 914 soldiers. The French simply had an effective intelligence network and were aware of Braddock’s every move well in advance. Washington would never forget this bitter lesson and never again be so surprised.
#1
Washington was uncomfortable with spying, but he was desperate. Today we have spies who are desperate to squash human freedom. Totally different situation.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
11/01/2019 9:31 Comments ||
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#2
Also, Washington had competent spies.
Posted by: Matt ||
11/01/2019 11:03 Comments ||
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[Bloomberg] Despite their surging popularity in Germany and elsewhere in Europe, the Greens did badly in last Sunday's election in the German state of Thuringia, and the nationalists from the Alternative for Germany Party (AfD) did very well. An important reason is that the Greens support wind energy and the AfD militates against wind turbines. The giant windmills have grown so unpopular in neighboring communities that their construction in Germany has all but ground to a halt.
There are nearly 30,000 wind turbines in Germany, more than anywhere else in Europe. Only China and the U.S., both much bigger countries, have more. Germany gets 23.5% of its energy from wind this year; it’s the biggest source of renewable energy for the country. But in the first half of 2019, only 35 wind turbines were added ‐ an 82% drop compared with the first six months of 2018. Last year was bad, too: Just 743 turbines were added, compared with 1,792 in 2017.
This is happening because it’s getting harder to get permission to erect the turbine towers. Local regulations are getting stricter. Bavaria decided back in 2014 that the distance between a wind turbine and the nearest housing must be 10 times the height of the mast, which, given the density of dwellings, makes it hard to find a spot anywhere. Wind energy development is practically stalled in the state now. Brandenburg, the state surrounding Berlin, passed a law this year demanding that wind-farm operators pay 10,000 euros ($11,100) per turbine each year to communities within 3 kilometers of the windmills.
Wind projects are also often rejected or stalled because they’re deemed to interfere with military communications, air traffic control or broadcast radio stations. AND Avian Wildlife
#1
I still can't wrap my head around the term "renewable energy". How is it different from non-renewable energy. Once it is used up, energy has to to be renewed from a higher source of energy.
#2
kinda like organic food labels. it's the name that sells
Posted by: chris ||
11/01/2019 12:37 Comments ||
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#3
They are only unpopular where they are ;-)
Posted by: European Conservative ||
11/01/2019 14:43 Comments ||
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#4
I'm waiting for the study to determine the impact of these turbines sucking all the energy out of the wind, thus contributing to man-made global climate change. Turbines don't make energy, they only take it from somewhere else.
Posted by: Bobby at the kids place ||
11/01/2019 14:55 Comments ||
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#5
"You don't want nuclear, you don't want gas. What are you planning to use - firewood?" - Vladimir Putin to Merkel.
[Politico] On its current path, the impeachment case against President Donald Trump is on a collision course with perhaps the most pivotal period in the Democratic primary, threatening to unravel the campaign plans of some of the top 2020 contenders.
The House is unlikely to vote on impeachment until the end of the year, meaning the Senate trial against Trump figures to begin in January ‐ just weeks before the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses. It’s an event that could require the six Democratic presidential prospects to remain in Washington every workday for at least a month.
Depending on when the trial begins, or if it drags on, the trial could affect the New Hampshire primary on Feb. 11, a day shy of the 21 th anniversary of President Clinton’s acquittal after a five-week Senate trial.
There’s no consensus over which Democratic contenders are advantaged by an impeachment trial. Candidates such as Joe Biden or Pete Buttigieg won’t be chained to senatorial desks, leaving them to stump unfettered in the two early states. But the six senators ‐ Michael Bennet, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren ‐ will occupy the national spotlight as jurors, located at the center of the political universe of impeachment.
#1
...But why are Booker, Harris, et al, even being allowed to sit as jurors? There is a clear conflict of interest here...
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
11/01/2019 4:29 Comments ||
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#2
There is only so much room in the news cycle. Do you want to spend your talking points doing Orange Man Bad or extolling the amazing qualities of the totally awesome Dem front-runner of the hour? Choose wisely!
#5
SteveS is not Dr. Steve. He is a lot more snarky :-)
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/01/2019 10:43 Comments ||
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#6
Trump must have a whole lot on the Dems. The Dems seem to be in a panic. They've put the impeachment outcome before anything else. The Dems have convicted and sentenced Trump before the trial.
We have found the rat’s nest. It’s in the National Security Council. The whistleblower...comes off the NSC. An Obama holdover, a Democrat. Somebody who worked with Biden, somebody who worked with Brennan. An Obama holdover who didn’t like Trump; who met with one of the active figures in the Ukraine effort to undermine the president of the United States in 2016.
Watch the video clip for more...
I wish I had more of the interview to post for you, but Fox News hasn’t put it out. So in its place here’s the Mark Levin Show podcast from tonight if you wanna hear more about this, etc.
[Breitbart] Appearing Wednesday at the "2020 Vision: Intelligence and the U.S. Presidential Election" event hosted by the Michael V. Hayden Center, former CIA Acting Director John McLaughlin lauded the "Deep State" for its role in the House Democrats’ partisan impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.
A partial transcript is as follows:
MARGARET BRENNAN: There is something unique, you would have to agree, that the impeachment inquiry is underway, sparked by a complaint from somebody within the intelligence community. It feeds the president’s concern about an often-used term, a "Deep State" being there to take him out.
JOHN MCLAUGHLIN: Thank god for the Deep State. Everyone here has seen this progression of diplomats and intelligence officers and White House people trooping up to Capitol Hill right now and these are people doing their duty and responding to a higher call. With all of the people who knew what was going on here, it took an intelligence officer to step forward and say something about it, which was the trigger that unleashed everything else.
Now, why does that happen? This is the institution in the U.S. government with all of its flaws, and it makes mistakes, is institutionally committed to objectivity and to telling the truth. It is one of the few institutions in Washington that is not in a chain of command that makes or implements policy. Its whole job is to speak the truth. Is engraved in marble in the lobby.
#4
Ostensibly, the CIA, "is institutionally committed to objectivity and to telling the truth." Bullroar! As an observer, I would posit it is no different than other Washington institutions; it is committed to hesitancy and covering one's arse.
#7
Wow if I was sitting in the chair at 1600 I would just call the doj and have insurection. And treason charges leveled against gov employees network and tech idiots that are part of the fraud! They then can produce their evidence in their own defense God damn. Just do it fuck them all!hint hint!
[DAILYSABAH] The protests in Iraq and Leb raise questions over whether Iran ...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan, the abbreviation IRGC is a cognate form of Stürmabteilung (or SA), the term Supreme Guide is a cognate form of either Shah or Führer or maybe both, and they hate JewsZionists Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol... is losing influence in the region as protesters in both countries are condemning political elites and demanding an end to Tehran's influence in their countries' domestic issues. As the governments of both Iraq and Leb are supported by Iran, the protests pose a challenge to Iran, which closely backs both governments as well as powerful gangs in each country. An increasingly violent crackdown in Iraq against the Tehran-backed government and an attack by Hezbollah supporters on the main protest camp in Beirut have raised fears of a backlash by Iran and its allies.
Defying foreign intervention in the region, Iran accused the U.S., Soddy Arabia
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
11/01/2019 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11127 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
#1
Sanctions may be putting the financial squeeze on Iran's paid goons militias
Posted by: Frank G ||
11/01/2019 11:03 Comments ||
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[Babylon Bee] AUBURN, CA‐Local 36-year-old man Nate Ripley, who identifies as a six-year-old, "absolutely crushed" a game-winning homer at a local tee-ball game and won the championship for his team Monday evening, reports confirmed.
Ripley reportedly walked up to the plate in the bottom of the 6th, pointed his bat toward the left-field wall looming 130 feet in the distance, and let her rip, sending the ball rocketing over the fence and into a parking lot as the fans cheered and his coach yelled out, "Attaboy, Nate! Good job, bud!"
His team, the Lil’ Padres, attempted to hoist him up on their shoulders in celebration of their great victory over the favored Tiny Tigers, but were unable to pick up the large 230-pound man.
Ripley’s feat comes at the end of a momentous tee-ball season, in which the self-identified six-year-old absolutely shattered every record set prior to that point. With a 1.000 batting average, 52 home runs, and an incredible showing at first base, second base, shortstop, third base, and pitcher, the man is being called an inspiration to other six-year-olds everywhere.
"I’m just proud to be here with my team. It’s all for the love of the game," an emotional Ripley told reporters while enjoying an orange slice and juice box after the championship. "I couldn’t have done it without my team."
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[aeon] For the Ancient Greeks, virtue wasn’t a goal in and of itself, but rather a route to a life well lived. By being honest and generous, embodying diligence and fortitude, showing restraint and kindness, a person would flourish ‐ coming to live a life filled with meaning and finding an enduring, as opposed to ephemeral, happiness. Today, that view hasn’t much changed. While we hear plenty of stories of celebrities, politicians and even our neighbours finding fleeting pleasure through self-gratification, dishonesty or hubris, we can also see the ’other shoe’ eventually drop, leading to despair, social rejection or worse.
[The Intelligencer] At the time of the American Revolution, England was the world’s strongest military and naval power. Yet it was soundly defeated by George Washington and his rag-tag army of colonial revolutionaries and patriots. How could this have happened?
[Right Scoop] Here’s a snippet:
[Breitbart] Appearing Wednesday at the "2020 Vision: Intelligence and the U.S. Presidential Election" event hosted by the Michael V. Hayden Center, former CIA Acting Director John McLaughlin lauded the "Deep State" for its role in the House Democrats’ partisan impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.
...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for 
