All posts by James Daniel

The Brutality of Logic

Philosophy

A few years ago I had an Epiphany that I shouldn’t have had to have.  When you use logic in an argument (or debate) you are using and incredibly brutal blunt object.  I have always been highly logical, as anyone who knows me will attest, and I should have been aware of how brutal logic is at a much younger age.  That I haven’t been I am profoundly sorry, I should have used my gift of logic with more care.

I would like to plead mitigating facts.  Mostly that the use of logic is not shown in our Medea in any case like it actually is.  I think this is because most actors, screenwriters, and directors are not naturally gifted with logic.  It is something they learn, if they learn it at all, in a few short class’.    What I mean is most people think logic is Sherlock Holmes or Mr. Spock an while these characters do use some logic the characterizations don’t bring home just how brutal logic is to most people.

Let me be very clear here.  Most people rarely if ever use true logic and when they do attempt to they usually commit a logical fallacy.  This is no fault of theirs!  To expect an average person to use logic correctly would be like expecting that same average person to play a church organ.  It is just not going to happen.  Even those of us who are gifted with an inborn proclivity for the use of logic need to study it’s correct use before we can be expected to master it.  We also use the word ‘logic’ in the wrong context.  When you here someone say ‘That sounds logical.’  What they really mean is ‘That sounds reasonable.’

Logic and Reason are not the same thing.  Let me say that again, Reason and Logic are not identical.  Something that is reasonable can be illogical and something logical can be unreasonable.  If you don’t believe me, just read ‘Alice in Wonderland’ everything in it is logical, but totally unreasonable.  This is not to say that things can not be both logical and reasonable, they can.  They can also be illogical and unreasonable.  Nor should things also need not be always logical and reasonable, but making something that is logical also reasonable is one way to make logic less brutal.  Therefor I recommend checking the reasonableness of your logic.

I also would like to recommend remembering that with logic when your fundamental postulates are accepted you will always end up where you intended to go.  This feature of logic will often make whoever your arguing with feel like you have trapped or tricked them somehow.  Remmember that they will often say “that’s not logical.”  When they mean it’s not reasonable and remember that their idea of what is reasonable my not match.  Also it is very very easy to become harsh or hard when using logic because you will be using hard, demonstratable facts (this is because it is next to impossible to use soft facts or opinions in logic).  This is one area I have to watch myself because I keep asking for ‘citations’ in political debates that I can ‘fact check’.  This leads to being accused of not being willing to ‘listen’ to the othersides position.

So remember when using logic “Gently, gently”.

Most everything Wrong with Zombie Apocalypse.

General, Philosophy

When I was 10 I started watching ‘The Twilight Zone’, the second show scared me out of my wits and gave me nightmares.  I didn’t watch any SF/F or Horror for several years, until I was 13 and my BFF started teasing me about it.  My Mom came up with an idea that worked great.  She said “Jim, you love science and are very logical.  Most of these movies are really very silly so why don’t you just work out how they are all wrong.  Where the holes are, why the science is bad, and why they are illogical?”  I gave it a try, an you know?  It worked.  Ever since then, when I watch SF&F and some Horror I can take them totally apart before the closing credits are over.

So, you ask, What does this have to do with the Zombie Apocalypes?  Everything.  Everyone of the Zombie Apocalypses (aka ZA) are scientific junk and often tottaly illogical.  An this irritates me no end.  But before I get started with my deconstructing of ZAs I’d like to make a couple of caviots.  First I’m only talking about Zombies created my non-mystical means.  Second I’m not dealing with ZAs that are comedies, spoofs or satires (like “Zombieland”). Finally, I’m not dealing with any ZAs that leave why the dead are rising tottaly a mystery (like the classic “Night of the Living Dead”).  That said, let’s get started.

The first thing that has hit me, when dealing with Zombie outbreaks that don’t occur in a sealed environment, like the “Hive” Resident Evil, is where are all of the carrion eaters.  Let’s start at the smallest and work up.  I have never seen any flies or maggots much less carrion beatles and other lesser know insects that eat carrion.  Next are the missing birds like buzzards, crows, and ravens.  It’s not that they are missing, they aren’t.  In the pilot for ‘The Walking Dead’. They make a point of showing  the lead seeing crows eat  a corpse.  But not one crow is seen going after a single Zombie.  Not One!  Finally, where are all the dogs?  In ZAs that are for many weeks/months/years there should be lots of starving dogs that have gone or are going  feral, where are they?  Even if they don’t go after the Zombies, they should be a threat to people.  (Note:  the novel “World War Z” does have a nice expiration for what happened to the dogs, the Zombies are poisonous to cannies.)

The next issue is related to the lack of carrion eaters, that is the lack of decomposition of the Zombies.  We are told, as a fact, that the Zombies are reanimated dead.  We are told that they don’t bleed, or breathe, and they smell like the dead.  So my first question is where is the obvious decomposition?  When a person dies the mechanism that keeps all of our intestinal flora and fona where they belong stops.  Within hours these little nasties start digesting us.  All of the bactiera in our mouth also starts attacking the soft tissue.  Let’s not get started on all of the bactiera in the blood stream and other tissue.  The point is that all of the soft tissue starts being broken down with in a few days.  This all has to stop if the ZA is to happen, and that’s means the smell of the decaying body should not be there.  Zombies don’t sweat, so no BO.  The only smell should be from dried urea and shit.  Anyone who has been around decomposing  carcass  will tell you it smells nothing like urea and shit.

Almost done here, I’m on my last few points.  Given that the Zombies heart is not beating and the blood is not flowing. How does the oxygen and food get to the mussels and the fatigue poisons get removed?  Or to the nerves for that mater.  If the destruction of the brain is what stops, kills, a Zombie, the the nerve tissue Must be doing something.  Some kind of chemical reaction is taking place,  why aren’t the scientists looking into this?  One final note on the scientific/medical issues.

The ‘bug’ that infects and kills people and then turns them into Zombies is always shown to be only transmitted by bites, scratches, or ingestion of zombie tissue with near total 100% fatality rate.  This makes it a highly infectious.  It doesn’t seem to be transmitted by contaminated water nor does in seem to be air born in any story I’ve seen.  That means it not very contagious.  In many ways it is just like rabies, in “World War Z” is is called “African Rabies” until it gets it’s own name.  Like the Zombie bug, rabies is most often transmitted by being bitten by a ‘rabied’ animal.  So, why do we not see any effort to use the same methods for controlling rabies, developed be for the vaccine, even tried?

Another interesting question is what do they do with all the ‘dead’ Zombies?  Aren’t they still infectious?  If by some mischance you get scratched or get some on your hands and then wipe you mouth aren’t you at risk of ‘turning’.  It would seem that when you destroy the brain the Zombie bug  ceases to be infectious.  If you get some Zombie on you, how do you disinfect yourself?  In most of the stories you just wipe yourself off and maybe wash in some water.  Strange?

My last point is that the civil and military athoraties in most ZA stories are little more than idiots.  Not once, in any of them, did I ever see them using fire.  Not once.  I’ve seen HE bombing runs, but not one run with napalm.  No white phosphorous.  No flame throwers.  No mallatov cocktails.  And little or no eveidace of any serous fires, even though I have seen lots and lots of cars exploding and burning.  Also, in World War Z I did see some buildings burning in the background.  Just who kept the fires from spreading?  Just what would happen if we just raise the temperature of a zombie to 200 degrees F for 20 minutes an let us not over look cremating the whole Zombie, that should work too.  In fact as a scientist I’d want to find out how long a Zombie stays active while being boiled and/or cremated.  I can even think of how to set up the tests with little risk to the technicians involved.

Note, you do see a ‘tactical’ nuclear devise used in Resident Evil II but we don’t know how effective it is until the sequel came out.

That’s all for now.  I’d really love to hear your comments and observations on my deconstruction of Zombie Apocalypses, both pro and con.  I’d really enjoy any recommendations for reading/watching to answer any of my problems.

Another Modist Proposal – National Militia

General, Law, Politics

This is not a post calling for any kind of “gun Control”, so get that out of your head right now.  I have come to the conclusion that in the current political environment it is not possible to have a rational and calm discussion on the subject.  Instead I wish to make a proposal that just may help with the problem of ‘open carry’ & also ‘mass shootings’.  Do take note, the only way these two subjects are related is they involve people and guns.

What I want to propose is a revival of the “Embodied Militia of the United States”.  What I am suggesting is that everyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who owns any kind of ‘arms’ such as an assault rifle or used by any of our regular armed forces be required to enroll in the National, Embodied Militia of the United States or the State Militia in which they reside.

That sead Malita must require the following

1) Each member must attend one weekend, 16 hours, training every month.  Such training will include the safe and effective use of the arms which has qualified them for membership is the militia.  This shall be in addition to training and/or activities required by the State or National Government.

2) Each member shall be held responsible, at all times, for the safe use of theirs arms under either the National Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) for the “Embodied Militia of the United States” or in the case of State Militias any such military laws as seen as necessary and proper by the State.  In cases where the State has no laws then the UCMJ shall be used.

3) At any such time that the Congress feels that a National Selective Service (aka Draft) is needed those members of the National or State militias that met the age, health, and other requirements shall be inducted before any none member person shall be inducted.

All we have to Fear is Fear itself!

General, Politics

TrumpAfter listening to acceptance speeches for almost 50 years, I started way back in 1968, I have to say this is the most frightening speech I’ve ever heard.  That said, Mr. Trump gave one of his best speeches ever.  BUT I have NEVER heard one filled with more hate, fear, vitriol, lies and half truths.

Those who know me know that I usually only compare current political speakers to fascist of the 1930’s except when I’m being very snarky.  Like many students of the politics I have listen to many of the speeches of Hitler, Mussolini, and oddly enough a couple of Franco.  While I don’t speak any of the languages I did get several different translations version while I paid attention to the sound and delivery.  An the speech given tonight had way too much hate and fear. It played to the lowest qualities of the American electorate.  It told us to be afraid, be very afraid, and here is why you should be afraid.  He then, on and off thru the speech, gave us half truths, lies, and damn lies.  I have not heard such a pack of drek since the last time I went to an Amway meeting.

Let me say this clearly, Trump is a master liar.  He mixes half truths, with little lies and then goes on to the bald face lies which he then drives his message home.  Vote for me because I’m the Answer.  I will save you from all of the monsters I’m telling you that are in your closet, and under your bed.  About the only thing he did not throw in was the Zombie  Apocalypse, but he did talk long and hard about the great government conspiracy.

All I can say in response is to remember what one of our greatest and once  upon a time  one of the most hated by conservatives:  “All we have to Fear, is Fear itself”.

Why Conservatives say they are attacked: A Hypotheses

General, Philosophy

For the past couple of weeks I’ve been pondering why so many conservatives I know keep telling me they are always being attacked (political conversations mostly so let’s stick with that).  This has puzzled me because I have a very hard time thinking of any really good examples of liberals/progressives attacking conservatives.  If I accept what I’m being told, that they feel they are being attacked and I do, then why can’t I see it?  Well I’ve come up with a possible hypotheses, it’s not really be nearly rigoureousely worked up to be call a theory.

In a nut shell, conservatives feel attacked because of how the precieve political debate.  Conversely liberals/progressive fail to see that the conservative are feeling attacked because of how they precieve political debate. For the past few years I’ve been studying the Reseach  into political psychology.  Such as the popular work “The Republican Brain” by Chris Mooney.  What has struck me is how some people see debate as a win/loose, right/wrong, ‘zero sum’ game (situation).  The political psychology studies I’ve been reading suggest that this kind of psychology tends to collect in conservative groups.

So what does this mean?  Only that conservators have a higher chance of being people who see debate as something you need to win and if you don’t win you have to have lost.  Most people, when they find themselves in a situation of Wining or Loosing, they will feel like they are being attack.

That’s all for now…..more later as I work this idea up into a theory.

The first test of NRA meme is in

General, Philosophy, Politics

imageThe first major test of the NRA’s mime “A good guy with a gun is the best solution to the mass shootings” is in.  At last week’s mass shooting in Dallas Tx of police can and should be considered the first test of the forgoing meme trotted out by the NRA after mass shootings.  In this case we have so far reported 15 ‘open carry’ supporters at the shooting site.  To date not one of the 15 has been reported to have supported any of the police in the police’s response to the shootings.

While a single sample like this can not be taken as anything but a start it is suggestive that there may be something incorrect with the meme.  First point is that so far not one of the reported “Good Guys with a gun” even attempted to engage the shooter.  In dead most have been reported to have evauated the area with “all do haste” as the unarmed citizens did.  In one well documented instance the the person carrying an assault rifle turned over his gun to a policeman once the shooting started as he did not want to be mistaken as the shooter.  A demonstration of very good common scince.

What conclusion can be drawn from this insedent?  Not much.  We can draw the inference that when untrained people are faced with combat situation, even when we’ll armed, they will not stand.  Instead they will flee.  This phenomenon has been known to both the military and police for many many years.  An is why untrained levies are considered worse than useless by the military.  It may also be why the 2nd amendment starts out talking about a “well regulated militia”, but that is for another post.

The 2nd inference that can be drawn is that when someone who can not be quickly identified as a “Good Guy”, that is someone on your side, it is best to not appear as a threat.  In this case, unarmed, or not in the area in question.  An if you start out armed, get disarmed as quickly as possible to someone who is identified as a “Good Guy”.

“Say it ain’t so, Joe!”

General, Philosophy, Politics

imageOnce more we have two men shot by the Police.  Both of them were carrying fire arms.   The current facts, as known, says one had both the proper license and all the proper paperwork and told the Policeman in question that he was carrying and he was going for his ID before he was shot.  The other, in a state that you do not need any special permits to carry a concealed weapon was shot when someone, I’m not sure if it was a Policeman or not, is supposed to have shouted “He has a GUN.”  So far the only thing these two men have in common was they were both “Black” and male.  So my where is the outrage from the NRA?

These two ‘good guys with guns’ were exercising their 2nd amendment right to keep and bear arms and they were shot down by the Police.  Where is the righteous indignation of the NRA?  Where are the interviews on FOX News with all of the “open carry” advocates?  Why the stunning silence?  Can it be that the 2nd Ammendment only applies to white men?  “Say it ain’t so, Joe.”

My odd world view: A rant

General, Philosophy, Rants

Recently I’ve been giving some heavy thought to how people look at keeping their word. This was caused by my or ding a new cane when my old one broke.  This was over two month ago and for past month I’ve been talking with the store and getting promises that I’ll have it next week. This got to me thinking about how I look at giving and keep your word.

I’m not talking about the casual saying you’ll do or not do something or is something trivial is true or not.  I’m talking about the big life promises.  The kinds that go into making, and breaking those critical relationships of our lives.

I will be the first to admit I have a very hard nosed view about keeping my word.  More than once in my life it has been pointed out that I will say, “I’ll Try”, “I think (or believe)”, or “We’ll see” instead of “I’ll do it”, or “As good as Done”, or “I know”.  For me it is simple logic.  If I say “I’ll do X.” Then I have to do it, no mater what.  No excuses, no nothing, it gets done no mater what it costs me.  Extrem, yes.  But all me.

One of the things this view has created is my view of people in general.  I know, from long and sad experance that most people don’t have my attitude about keep their word.  When most people say “I’ll do X” they mean “I’ll try to do X but it may not get done and you have no way of knowing just how much effort I’ll give to get it done.”  This has lead me to rarely ask anyone to do anything for me and never ask with out having contengancy plans for when they do not do what they said they would do.  If it is not to important to me I often do nothing, if it is very important I figure out away to do it myself.

In my life I have been surprised by people being shocked, and/or offended that I don’t ‘trust’ them to do what they say they will do.  When I explain that sometime in the past they said they would do something they didn’t do it.  Invariably they say something like “But that wasn’t very important”.  I’ve been told I tended to look a bit dumb struck and say something like “What does that have to do with it?”  It has taken me something like 60 years to figure out what I wasn’t getting.  First most everyone “thinks or beleaves” that their word is important to them when in fact it really isn’t.  They have a very casual view of the importance of keeping their word.  In the words of one of my favorite TV shows when I was in High School: “I’t ain’t no big thing, brother.”

What is truely hilarious  to me is just how offended some folks get when I explain this all to them.  Those who get the most upset seem to be those who truely have the most casual attitude about keep their word.  I wonder how many people I have offended with this little piece.

Fear and Lothing of the Death Lobby

General, Politics, Rants

Yesterday the Death Lobby (AKA the Gun Lobby) chocked up another victory in the US Senate with the defeat of four (4) amendments related to the dreaded Gun Control.  Not that any of these measures would have prevented Orlando.  Nor would they have taken a single firearm from anyone.  They were, obviously the first step by the ‘Govment’ to come and take away your most fundamental freedom.  Not speech, not religion, nor even life, but the most basic right to keep and bear a devise who’s designed to denigh another their right to life.

The Death Lobby is right, the right to keep and bear arms is the first and most fundamental right of Americans that we can not even prevent someone who is suspected of being a terrorist from buying one.  We can keep him from flying. We can keep him from buy both fuel oil and fertilizer at the same time. We can send him to Guantanamo with out even a single hearing.  But we can’t make him wait 48 hours to get his assault rifle.

I think we need to no longer say Welcome to America, the Land of the free and home of the brave.  We should instead say Welcome to Americal the land of the Armed and the home of the Dangerous.  We should accept the fact that we are no longer brave, we are fearful.  We have exchanged our love of law for love of fightfulness.

Media and the ‘Horse Race’

Politics

The greatest disaster to befall the Mass Media is the. Unexpected early end to the GOP’s primary.  This was a great show, a ‘Horse Race’ with over 17 starters and a great showman front runner and it ended much to soon.  Almost two months before the GOP convention the last two challengers to Donald Trump not only pulled up before the finish line, they have walked off the track.

What was the Mass Media to do?  Their great political ‘Horse Race’ was over before they were ready.  They had expected this race to go into California, and with any kind of luck, into the GOP convention.  It wasn’t even June yet and they had no show to sell.  They couldn’t attack Trump, or keep playing all his wonderful FooPaws till the start of the General election.  Not only would their audience get bored their corporate masters would not stand for it.  What to do?

Fortunatly for the great reality show that our elections have become had a ready built answer…..the Summer Replacement!  Enter the ‘great’ Sanders vs. Hillary fight.  Sure it’s down card and sure it doesn’t have the pazzas of main event in the GOP.  But it does have the GOP’s and Conservative Movement’s favorite villain “Hillary Clinton”.  If having a great villain will work for the WWW surely it will work for the Mass Media.  Right?

Well, I won’t say ‘wrong’ yet, but it is looking like and awful hard sell to me.  Sure Hillary’s numbers Vs. Trump are dropping.  But as anyone who follows just how our elections work would say….’Duh’.  When you have someone like Hillary running significantly ahead of newbie to politics like Trump and he gets his nomination sewed up this early the numbers of the front runner will go down just as we’ve seen.  As for the ‘revolution’ in the Democratic Party and a possible replay of the 1968 Chicago convention.  Good Luck!  Yes the supporters of Bernie are pushing hard and yes he has a chance of winning the California primary.  But as I said in an earlier blog, it is quite possible for Bernie to win the state and still get fewer delegates.  All quite honestly and by the rules.

What we have here is the Mass Media tiring to whip up a ‘Horse Race’ in sake of a story.  Since the story of winning delegates is ‘boring!’ They need to create a ‘fight of the century’ between Bernie and Hillary when none really exits.  So pleas don’t read too much into what the Mass Media is putting out, they are tiring to sell air time, not report the facts.