Randomness

Reflections/A McLaughlin

Notes from all over

Whew! 2026 sure is looking like another shit show. May our prayers for calm and action of positive change come true. Meanwhile, I have bits and pieces to throw at you since my brain has turned to jello. I’m still waiting for inspiration but my patience is wearing thin. Read on and maybe you can be inspired.

Inspiration, a poem

I sit in rapt attention-

for the sound of the muse’s footstep in the hall!

I fret for her arrival, the frisson of wonder she always bring.

How bored I am! How tired I am of my stale voice.

Let her come and take me away from the mundane-

To explore new places, to see behind the curtain of ordinary reality,

Where the sound of a new word is a delight or finding

a grand way to say “I love you”.

I await her to introduce a rugged soldier who regales

with his latest adventure over a pint of ale,

Or presents me to the fairy Queen,

impressed with my observations of her court.

The possibilites are –wanting.

But the phone rings and I glance at the clock,

Reminded of the dull drum of every day life.

How I long for the muse, the best company.

Heisenberg was Right 

There is a law in physics called the Heinsenburg Uncertainty Principle. I’ll spare you the math, but it boils down to, you can never be too certain of a phenomenon you are observing because you affect the phenomenon you are observing. I live by this principle because, let’s face it, one can never be too sure anything. Quantum Mechanics, that studies tiny weensy particles and their behavior is weird and unpredictable. Like the asshole motorist in front of you or where the bad fairies took your other sock. Who knows? But here’s another puzzle, how can we be sure of the measurement of a phenomenon if the measurement device is also affected by the phenomenon? Also, how does consciousness influence the measurement?

I don’t get it but human bias can influence the outcome so can we can kiss objectivity goodbye.

Years ago my uncle Din presented my mom (who related it to me) with a new age Zen Koan, where does electricity from a ground wire go once it goes into the ground? I lost sleep over that and now you can.

How Movies and TV Got Dull

Years ago, before there was the internet, a TV executives complained about the short attention of viewers--which was caused by fast paced ads and style of shows at the time. Now that the internet has given everyone the attention span of a gnat, movie producers are making the same complaint. That’s right, the people that caused this are blaming the viewers. As a result I rarely watch TV. I prefer to pick up a book and get lost for a couple of hours.

These cultural morons are creating-and I use the term loosely, “content” that is repetitive drivel because they wouldn’t recognize an original idea -a dirty word in the biz- if it bit them in the ass. The entertainment business is now run by bean counters who play the stock market or trade in venture capitalism and know nothing about creative arts and think AI can write the next blockbuster song, movie script, and maybe even your next prescription. Human artists are passe. We’re doomed.

The Unaware Self

Self awareness in not as obvious as one may think. It can be a disability in itself. After years of observation, I have come to realize that most people are often unaware of their behavior. The assumption is that someone is acting a given manner on purpose-deliberately. Whether it’s talking too fast or loudly, using annoying mannerisms, dominating a conversation or simply acting “childish”.

I’ll use an exaggeration to illustrate. Suppose you’re with a group and someone blurts out “Thar she blows” for some odd reason, some may ignore it, consider it an odd quirk and what the hey. Most likely no one will say anything to the person because -obviously- they are doing it to be a jerk.

Someone who knows them well enough might confront them later and ask what the hell that was all about like a parent scolding a child. They are an adult, surely they know it was inappropriate. To the offenders utter surprise- they had no idea they were doing something weird and are mortified to discover this.

For the disabled who are acutely sensitive to social behavior-like autism, this risk happens on a daily basis. If you think it’s hard work adjusting to the disabled and their peculiar ways, it’s hard for them too. It’s exhausting to adjust to the normal world-especially little or misread cues to inform them to what is “normal”.

Being aware of our behavior is not a given, instead of reacting with frustration or impatience, try to understand we are all struggling and be kind-someone will do the same for you.

Notes from All Over

I’m back and this week I found some psychic insight, more incidents of Facsism and a great podcast.

 

It's Psychic

First up is a tarot reader who is spot on. Normally I find online readings about as vague as daily astrology in the newspaper and the headlines just as melodramatic, but and this guy is specific, clear and has a soothing voice.

The New SS

Snatching men, women and children off the streets, locking them up then shipping them to another country is completely evil.

The agents carrying out these acts should be ashamed. They obviously don’t give a shit, they obey out of blind obedience but would they let that to happen to their own kid? Of course not. They follow a strange narrative that says "the others" are to be feared. They are small minded people with delusions of power who hate the world.

Reality check

Mayim Bialik’s podcast Breakdown offers intelligent discussion on a number of subjects. This one is with another podcaster Kara Swisher who delivers a reality check about the current state of affairs.

Notes from All Over

  Real Men Have Balls

You know it's interesting that Trudeau, Macron and Zelensky (in the early days of his presidency) were viewed as weak, corrupt etc. by public perception are now growing a spine and showing some balls. Were we wrong about them to start with? Yes. True character is tested with adversity.

There is a concept called “the stand by” effect where people are reluctant to intervene because they don’t see it as their problem but will join in once someone takes action. This is why in an emergency situation one needs to direct a specific person to call 911. Likewise, a cause or revolution requires a leader or the movement loses energy and focus.

Speaking of men, the reason straight men fear gay men is because the straight is afraid the gay will hit on them the way they hit on women. News flash straights- gay men are terrified of making a pass at you for fear of getting beat up or killed. Also gay men don’t need women and that’s scary to a straight. Even an incel –deep down—desire women. Those who don’t are truly a threat.

Rapists, serial killers, and mass shooters—all men. Maybe this aggression is an evolution they need to get over. While it’s handy for dealing with wild animals and competing with other hominids, it’s ultimately self destructive. A leftover from tribalism where others are viewed as a threat. Like a family member inventing an offense to justify a feud or violence. Maybe it’s something in the water?

Save the Earth, Cut Down a Tree

I just heard a news story that an environmental conference is being held in the Amazon forest to address it’s destruction. So officials are cutting down acres of forest to build a wide road to the venue. The very definition of stupidity and a fat middle finger to Mother Nature. My God.

Turn the Other Cheek

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek.” Matt 5:38

In Roman times it was considered a condescending thing to slap someone with the back of the hand but more a challenge to an equal to strike with the palm. Also striking with the left hand ( historically considered unclean) would be disgraceful for an aggressor. So if someone were to insult you, or put you down, they would backhand with their right. But if you “turn the other cheek” he can’t backhand you the same way. They have three choices: hit you again with the right palm thus signaling a fair fight with an equal, use the left hand which was disgusting or back down from the unfair challenge and look like the bad guy. Jesus made an excellent metaphor.

Quotes

A good conversation is like a mini skirt, short enough to retain interest, but long enough to cover the subject. --Celeste Headlee (10 ways to have a better conversation TED talk).

It’s better to somewhere slow then nowhere fast. --James Thurber

I reject your reality and substitute my own-- Attributed to Adam Savage but from the cult film “dungeon Master”.

Notes From All Over

 

    I’m back to writing after a month of tangling with the new phone, computer and application upgrades- which are not finished. I had trouble getting texts so I called Consumer Cellular and was told to upgrade the phone’s OS --groan, not again. I tried but we discovered my wifi security is weak- the tech was freaking. Wait a minute, you’re worried about someone using my network as a hot spot while our treasury is being looted by a delusional billionaire and some 18 year old hackers? I don’t what the problem is, I was perfectly happy with my old phone and computer system, despite what I’ve been told.

    Today I offer some random notes found in a pile. Enjoy.

    I have a pet peeve about the use of the word girl. All girl bands, the first girl to (fill in the blank) the girl pilot landing an airplane. Grrrr, these are not girls they’re women. We don’t say the boy on the moon, or boy of the hour. It’s not a term of endearment ( which they don’t need) it’s patronizing.

    Corporations accuse the working class of being lazy while big box stores throw merchandise out instead of donating cause it’s too much trouble to pick up the phone and call Goodwill or St. Vinnie’s to get it. Then there are the pickers who collect high end stuff parked on the curb in rich neighborhoods on trash day. To big companies, people—like their cheap ass products-- are commodities to exploit until deemed useless then tossed aside for someone cheaper. What a bunch of wasteful shits.

    This reminds me that planned obsolescence has degraded quality to produce bad taste in everything from houses, clothing to furniture. Things used to be made to last not produced to replace quickly. I’d rather look for something solidly built at a vintage store than buy some tacky crap at Ikea. It may be heavier to move but it will last a lot longer.

    During the pandemic, there were stories of people attacking Asians in misplaced anger that it was their fault. Why? Because the old Chinese lady, store clerks and cashiers at fast food places, are lower on the social pecking order than the attacker, people powerless to challenge the powerful who are the cause of problems. Like comedy one must aim high not low when ridiculing.

    People who are pissed someone spoiled a movie plot, hunt for leaked footage of a film before release. They are akin to those who don’t mind tiktok or facebook robbing their personal data but get indignant if you look at their cell phone sitting on the table.

    Did I mention how much I hate cell phones?

In the neighborhood

Well now this is a new way to think about population density. It's a popular map making the rounds on the net. I'm not sure of the practicality of it but it's food for thought.

Notes From All Over

While I search the internet for interesting things to read, comment on and gather ideas for my own blog I collect bits and pieces. Here in no particular order are Notes from All Over:

A quote that well explains the extreme measures of terrorist thinking. In his book, "Reality vs. Subjectivity" Dr. Hawkins has this to say about ego:

"The ego is not only unable to correctly access situations that are fatal but it even willingly sacrifices life for its own ends. The ego is therefore potentially deadly and would rather 'see you dead than admit it is wrong. . . The ego is intran sigent in that it fails to learn from its mistakes. Failed policies are reinstated repeatedly, even in the face of major catastrophe, and the justification is almost always a resort to some moralistic catch phrase that services the political gains of the propagandists who exploit the gullibility of the naive public."


. . . “If Obama wants to support gay equality, he knows what to do. If Pelosi and Reid want to support gay equality, they know what to do. If HRC believes in gay equality, they also know what to do. So spare us the schmoozing and the sweet-talking and do it. Until then, Mr. President, why don't you have a nice steaming cup of shut-the-fuck-up?” -Andrew Sullivan

In the media everyone is the same size. Whether it’s OJ Simpson or Joe the Plumber. Everyone and everything becomes trivial. How can the viewer discern what is an important story?
Technology gives people the feeling they are more powerful (like Batman and his utility belt) than they really are, that’s why gadgets are so popular, but it’s a false sense of power.

“Gay people should be free to marry and other people should be free to believe that our same-sex marriages are wrong because their religion forbids it or because that's how they were raised or because they just think it's icky. Just because same-sex marriage is legal doesn't mean that everyone is required to approve. Interracial marriage is legal despite the disapproval of some; inter-faith marriage is legal despite the strong and sometimes violent disapproval of most religious traditions; divorce is legal despite the disapproval of Jesus Christ himself and despite being forbidden by the Roman Catholic Church. Gay people want the same deal interracial couples, inter-faith couples, and divorced-and-remarried couples all have now: our marriages should be legal even if some people disapprove.” Dan Savage

Once upon a time, I, Chuang Tzu, dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly, unaware that I was tzu. Soon I awaked, and there I was, veritably myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man.



There was a lot being said after the idiot with the bomb in his underwear botched his ticket to martyrdom.

Security theater indeed. More like bad dinner theater. I knew from the moment TSA was formed it would be a joke and a huge waste of money. I am so tired of the agency talking about the seriousness of security ( which is important) only have something like this happen to prove what ignorant dumb fucks these people really are.

You know who takes security seriously? The Israeli's. Do we hear about this kind of incompetence in other countries? No. We still think our country is invincible despite 9/11 so we don't need to be vigilant like Europe and the Middle East where they deal with these dangers every day. Shlomo Dror, an Israeli air-security expert, had it right in 2002 when he said: “The United States does not have a security system; it has a system for bothering people.”

The effect of the Patriot Act and Homeland Security gave intelligence agencies carte blanc to spy on American citizens. Another attack on this country will simply be used as an excuse to increase it's spying on us rather than actually stopping the terrorists. - My comments on Stranger blog about TSA security breach 12/8/09

Eisenhower warned of the excess of government and the military-industrial complex 60 years ago:

“in the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together."


“stick to politics Wanda, I don't need celebrities to tell me what to think about political issues. CBS is a private corporation and has a right to decide their programming. The Super bowl is a family show and most people don't want to have to explain why two men are kissing to their children. That's not a personal statement on my part, that's a fact.” -Huffington post blog comment on Wanda Sykes critic of CBS banning a gay dating ad on the super bowl.

My reply:
The commentator has offered a typically pedantic response. Let's take a closer look at the rhetoric, shall we.

"CBS is a private corporation and has a right to decide their programming" the networks broadcast over the public airwaves. The FCC and profits, more than anything, determine what gets aired.

"The Super bowl is a family show" A family show where steroid injected athletes violently crash into each other while fans yell obscenities and consume large quantities of food and beer. Oooookay.

"most people don't want to have to explain why two men are kissing to their children. That's not a personal statement on my part, that's a fact."

Explaining uncomfortable things to your children is the job of a parent. You are perfectly free to tell them such behavior is immoral. Unless you have the right to speak for other people -which you don't, your last statement is an opinion- intellectually limited- but still an opinion.