Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Self-help in the land of denial
Bukowski sez, “I am my own God.” What are your thoughts on the movie “What the Bleep Do We Know?” http://www.whatthebleep.com/
Posted by dw on from 09/12 at 04:22 AMHi all...I am on the road again. My mother is in the hospital so I am in NE Pennsylvania. I am using a borrowed laptop. I think I miss my mouse. I can’t e-mail Mudge because I don’t have any addresses with me but we have to get him to come back home. Good topic today. I think that a lot of pop-psyche is just a way of escaping reality...like when there is a big tragedy and the “experts” just say they will call in councelors and everything will be all better. Sometimes there is justification for extreme saddness. And about well directed anger, maybe we need more of it.
captch word is “home”...where my mouse is…Posted by RMJ on from on the road again 09/12 at 04:55 AMNice one today. Carlin once said something like “If it’s self help why do you need a book?” That said, there’s a handful of books on my shelf that could narrowly be defined in the self help category: Derrick Jensen, Albert Camus, Naomi Klein. . .
PS Mickey thanks for the promo. If anyone wants more details on that show they can check here.
Posted by Keir on from The Hague (Jackowski election hdqts) 09/12 at 05:20 AMI agree w/ you and Carlin maybe that’s why films are mostly better for instruction or self-help (as I alluded to in #1.), but I hate how “self-help” sounds.
Posted by dw on from 09/12 at 05:28 AMFirst of all, I am fully aware of the rather bold statements I’m about to make re this film… but a couple of lads in this film are so smart that they’re able to candidly describe the scientific concept of ideas and thought in itself! To me that’s pretty amazing and frankly I question the intellect of anyone who underestimates this film. It’s truly unique in that it touches on every branch. There’s a good amount of knowledge in this part documentary, part story, that provides an explanation for real potential of shared peace and prosperity within our culture. In short, several participants make convincing assertions (on more than one occasion) that trusting our own actions is in the best interest of us all. Any critic worth his/her salt would not declare this work anything short of unusually daring, articulate and persuasive. It would be conspicuously curious and a true crime if these insights remain dormant from the mainstream much longer. What was that about “trends” Mickey Z. wrote about the other day
Posted by dw on from 09/12 at 05:49 AMGood morning and thanks for a great article Mickey. Head’s a little hurty just now, so I don’t have a lot to say, but I agree with everything you’ve said and others you quoted, most wholeheartedly.
Mudge, what do you think???
Keir I’ll have to check that link later; dw you make this video sound compelling too.
RMJ - travel safely
Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 09/12 at 08:37 AMJesus H. Christ:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2353742,00.html
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 09/12 at 09:32 AMHello Expendables. Another great weather day here in the Big Apple.
DW: I have not seen that film but you sure make a compelling case for me to do so. If only I had a DVD player.
RMJ: Hope your mom is okay.
JOS: For me, the saddest part of the link you offer is how ridiculously predictable such behavior is. I am not even remotely surprised. How pathetic is that?
Empress: If I could, I’d give you a neck massage. Feel better.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/12 at 09:49 AMAnd, finally...Keir: Break a leg, my friend.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/12 at 09:51 AMHi folks
Re 9/11 families against war, can I recommend / remind people of the entry for Jeremy Glick in 50 AR, a splendid man. His slot in Outfoxed is one of the standout points in the movie.
My big problem with god is all the holes in the plot. Oh, that and all the “followers” of his/hers who want to kill for silly reasons. Yes, that’s a toughie.
Good luck Keir. RMJ - my best to you & your motherPosted by Chris on from Manchester & the classroom. 09/12 at 10:04 AMSpeaking of books. . . I just got back from giving a music lesson. My 12-year-old student told me that her school forbids the reading of non-fiction books in its library. I had to ask three times to be sure she meant non-fiction. I can’t really remember reading too much non-fiction in my adolesence (our history books were pure fiction, of course) but I don’t remember being forbidden. Well, there’s a niche: corrective non-fiction for young readers. Any publishers out there. . . ?
Posted by Keir on from The Hague (Jackowski election hdqts) 09/12 at 10:46 AMSomething that caught my attention this morning:
Posted by Dr. B on from Oklahoma 09/12 at 10:53 AMKeir that school sounds like they might be burning books next - eesh. I’ve never heard of such a thing. Does that mean they cannot bring math homework into the library?
The stingray story is so horrible. Nutjobs each and every one.
Dr. B - I heard about Banky’s visit to Disney yesterday - he’s one of my favourites
Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 09/12 at 11:09 AMI like this Banksy guy:
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 09/12 at 11:27 AMFunny, I just ran into a Banksy link today too.
Posted by Keir on from The Hague (Jackowski election hdqts) 09/12 at 12:39 PMKeir, a friend of mine is a university professor here and sez the new cataloguing system for European university libraries dictates if a book hasn´t been loaned out in two years, a faculty member can take it home, so all now has to happen is a useful book gets left off the syllabus a short stretch and like the song goes, they don´t gotta burn the books they just remove em. and good luck tonight.
Rosemarie, that your mother gets well.
I´ve been thinking about Banksy lately, there´s a rash of grafitti around here looks quite similar to his.
Posted by owen on from barcelona 09/12 at 12:47 PMJOS - check all through his site, there’s lots to like.
And...he’s planning a warehouse artjob in LA somewhere late this week...venue TBA...I’m sure it’ll be interesting
Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 09/12 at 12:48 PMfor a good while a few years ago on the top step of the Tate Modern gallery in London used to be stencilled Mind the Crap.
Posted by owen on from barcelona 09/12 at 12:54 PMLove that Paris Hilton video...her popularity is proof of our failed society.
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 09/12 at 12:58 PMWell, this settles it, that subject is over...let’s move on:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14801666/
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 09/12 at 04:19 PMHello again. I’m listening to Keir right now...I think. There didn’t seem to be an introduction and, to be honest, I’m not sure what to expect.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/12 at 05:06 PMKeir is talking right now. Hope you’ll tune in.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/12 at 05:11 PMHey Mickey thanks for listening. I developed a splitting headache over the day so I wasn’t able to do the show I had planned. But at least we got to play Mazen Kerbaj’s Starry Night, that was important to me---google it if you don’t know what I’m talking about.
JOS, re #20, the non-existence of gulf war syndrome. . . one of my closest friends grew up in Poland in the 70’s and 80’s and is always reminding me that in totalitarian regimes, if the regime decides black is white it becomes, and always was, fact. Eventually it will be a thought crime just to mention ‘the non-existence of gulf war syndrome’.
Posted by Keir on from The Hague (Jackowski election hdqts) 09/12 at 07:37 PMInteresting stuff, Keir (is it pronounced keer?). Great to hear your voice and a type of music of which I have little or no experience.
Btw, has anyone commented on the Hitchens quote in today’s post. I think this is my new credo: “Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence.”
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 09/12 at 07:43 PMAnybody know these guys, The Evolution Control Committee? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Evolution_Control_Committee
Posted by dw on from 09/12 at 08:48 PMHello Expendables.
Gitmo detainee in orange jumpsuit on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Classic.
See ya ‘round.
Posted by Jeremy on from Taipei 09/12 at 10:05 PM“Plagiarythm Nation” is the one cd I have of theirs. It’s as good a place to start as any - the “Rocked By Rape” track that has samples of Dan Rather’s voice over samples of AC/DC’s ‘Back in Black’ is the most famous or infamous of the lot on that cd, but there’s plenty more fun where that came from.
Posted by Dr. B on from Oklahoma 09/13 at 12:07 AMDr. B f/ OK, i’ve read about the dan rather stuff...i’ve heard ECC is different, talented. a c-bus, ohio crew and I’m still learning a lot about them, go figure. still not sure if my midwest “purity” is a good or bad thing, yet?! peace
Posted by dw on from Ohio 09/13 at 12:28 AM
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