RISING UP AND RISING DOWN

WILLIAM T. VOLLMANN

An interesting book. I have been jumping around reading sections of the abridged version. The original is seven volumes. Vollmann describes what he is after is a "calculus of violence". He ranges all over history and literature in an attempt to understand how acts of political violence are justified.

• Amazon listing for the abridged version


• McSweeney's Rising Up and Rising Down page


• A blog devoted to Rising Up and Rising Down


• Reading Vollmann

GENERAL SEMANTICS

General semantics is an educational discipline created by Alfred Korzybski primarily in the years 1919 to 1933. As he often said, general semantics (GS) is distinct from semantics, a different subject. GS is based on the notion that certain personal techniques of evaluation derived from factors underlying the methods of modern science (and scientific knowledge of the world and ourselves), can enhance our ability to evaluate and respond to the world as we experience it.

The three major premises of the system are (1) the map is not the territory [our impressions of things, whether felt in our bodies as sensations, or expressed by the words we use to describe them, are not the things themselves], 2) the map does not show all of the territory, [our reactions (sensations or words) in response to things inevitably miss or leave out a lot of what is actually going on], and (3) the map is self-reflexive [our reactions to anything can prompt further reactions, nonverbal or verbal, which in turn become part of the territory of our experience, complicating everything].

This is quoted from the Wikipedia's entry on General Semantics

• Wikipedia Article on General Semantics



• Article on General Semantics



• Institute of General Semantics

Thomas Friedman was on NPR's Science Friday today. He is concerned we will enter a national crisis without a proactive energy policy focusing on alternative fuels. He would like to see a greater focus in American society on science and innovation.

Science Friday

The World is Flat

Wikipedia on Friedman

Friedman's Web Site

Friedman's Recent New York Times Columns

I listen to a hypnosis tape or cd every night. Some favorites:

Mark Cunningham

Mark Cunningham's Hypnosis Discussion Board

Dr. J's Head Cleaners

Paul McKenna's Change Your Life in Seven Days

Review of Change Your Life in Seven Days

Wendi Friesen

Paraliminals

My purpose here will be to blog, log, and discuss anything that is relevant to me. Do not expect some great overarching theme here. This is about me exploring the net and bringing back whatever cultural treasures, artifacts, and detritus I find interesting.