NFL week 8 picks

It’s that time of the week, and it’s high-time for some NFL picks courtesy of everybody’s favorite Heretic!  Last week I was 8-4, a step up from the embarrassment of the previous week. 38-20 isn’t too bad, though, but I expect at least 70%.

Game of the Week
Steelers @ Saints
The Steelers are now at full strength, with Roethlisberger back. The Saints, however, aren’t, with their running backs injured. Given last week’s horrible meltdown, Drew Brees should be extra motivated to bounce back, but the Steelers are the most complete team in the league right now. Steelers by 3 Continue reading NFL week 8 picks

Irony and philosophy as remedy for politics

First, go read the blog titled “Philosophy and Remedy” @ thekindlyones.org.  I originally posted the following blog in the comments section.

If this blog relies on a distinction between the public & private role of the intellectual then I think irony can serve as the secret that avoids merging them both and forcing the philosopher to act as a politician every time he speaks.

screen-shot-2014-05-12-at-12-33-26-amThe dream of a single life that fuses the private and the public sphere dates back to Plato’s efforts to answer why one should be just and Christianity’s moral imperative that one can reach self-realization through serving others. All of these relies on the assumption of a common human nature, that both private life and human solidarity are one and same. Continue reading Irony and philosophy as remedy for politics

New blog you should be reading

My colleague Paul Newall has launched a brand new blog called “The Kindly Ones.” I’ve been friends with this fella on the internet ever since we met at the old Internet Infidels at the Secularweb.org. We’ve had many classic wars with quite a number of Internet Personalities on a number of forums, and these days, we’ve migrated to blogging.
His specialty is philosophy of science and historiography and rugby, and shortly I’ll be blogging on his latest topic, Philosophy as remedy.

NFL week 7 picks

Finished 6-5 last week. Weak. Now I’m 30-16 on the year. Better step it up this week!
Must see:
Eagles @ Titans
Both teams are coming off excellent victories last week, and this should be a great match-up between two teams with two solid options at QB each. Titans MUST stop the eagles’ passing game in order to win. Lucky for them, playmaker DeSean Jackson is out with a bruised noggin. Since Kolb is playing, Titans won’t have to sacrifice a DB to spy the QB for scrambling out of the pocket. Chris Johnson is finally getting back on track and the Eagles may not be able to stop him. Titans in a shootout.

Vikings @ Packers
The Favre Bowl, part III is headlined by a pair of underachieving teams. The Vikings haven’t found their 2009 magic, and the Packers keep getting injured and penalzing themselves. Sack artist LB Matthews is back, but Moss has a couple of weeks under his belt catching passes from Favre. Add the Packers’ 21st defense against the pass, and that spells a Viking victory.

Bob’s and Nick’s special
Skins @ Bears
Both are coming off tough losses last week. The Bears need to stop the newfound Skins running game in Tourain, but their defense is really struggling, especially vs the pass, and they can’t protect Cutler. Skins need to feed Tourain and get after Culter. Skins by 7

Continue reading NFL week 7 picks

Systematic? Edifying? You decide!

Over the years of studying philosophy, I’ve seen quite a number of classifications that categorize them. I’ve come across an interesting one in Rorty’s seminal Philosophy & the Mirror of Nature, in which he distinguishes systematic and edifying philosophers. The distinction founders on those whose work is constructive and those that are reactive. Continue reading Systematic? Edifying? You decide!

NFL week 6 picks

I’ll be blogging my NFL picks from now on. I already posted my picks for week 3 (here), week 4 (here) & 5 (here). I’m currently 24-11
Games of the week
Ravens @ Patriots
Moss is gone, so who’s gonna catch those 50 yard bombs from Brady? All they have are untested, unproven talent, and it’s not a good time to start experimenting against the ferocious Ravens defense. In fact, the Ravens have been poor on run defense, but the Patriots don’t have anyone in their backfield worth mentioning. Ray Rice is healthy, and Flacco is maturing by the week. Ravens by 3. Continue reading NFL week 6 picks

The best of East & West

Last Friday at Deaf West Theater, I had the pleasure to watch two excellent performers in Jon Savage & Douglas Ridloff, and I also had the good fortune to work with them for their next performances on Saturday and Sunday. They hail from opposite sides of the US: San Diego for Savage, and New York City for Ridloff, and their material quite aptly represented their stomping grounds. Savage waxed on hilarious & poignant tales from his childhood, whereas Ridloff channeled Lenny Bruce in which he was spontaneous, frank, and improvisational. Continue reading The best of East & West

the Book of Truth

The Book of Truth

(a classic from my heydays on IIDB, 6 years ago)

One day in heaven, the philosopher was walking with God, waxing philosophical.
God: Everything you ever wanted is here.
Philosopher: Everything? Do you mean the Truth, too?
God: Why, yes. If its true, its in the Book of the Truth.
Philosopher: What’s that?
God: Come follow me.

They walk towards the Official Library of Heaven, where all the books that have ever existed, or will exist, are located. In the center there’s a tall podium with the biggest book ever lying atop of it, and open. The golden letters are printed in type 6 font, new roman times style, on the finest paper.

God: Every single truth is in this book.
Philosopher: Indeed? All true sentences?
God: But of course. I am essentially omniscient and I also know this to be true. That’s also in there!
Philosopher: Au contraire, mon deux.
God: What?
Philosopher: I can think of at least one true sentence that cannot be in there.
God: Surely thou jest!
Philosopher: Not at all, your eminence.
God: Alright, what is this sentence? I warn you it cannot be meaningless. I am wise to the art of sophistry!

The philosopher takes a piece of a paper and writes “This statement is not in the Book of Truth.” God’s eyes bulge, and He begins to stammer.

Philosopher: Is this sentence in there? If so the book contains a falsehood. If not, then the book does not have all true sentences. Therefore it is not the Book of Truth.
God: Oh, dear. I hadn’t thought of that. I should have never made that Cretean….

Philosophy of the Gods, part II

(For part one, go here)

ELDER GODS

Mamacocha and Isis, by Awet Moges

Their immortal hearts have been seared and hardened by an insurmountable evil that makes them immune to all fantasies & hallucinations of gods who still believe in ideals. Elder gods reject Cartaphilus, that dangerous prophet, and the most audacious thinker of delirious times.

The elder gods are typically radical skeptics & lovers of doubt. Instead of an impetuous glorification of life, these elders have a disillusioned outlook that considers themselves to be superior skeptics and exorcists of all certainty & conviction. Their observations are fueled with the abysmal mechanisms of doubt – an antiseptic that pacifies the spirit and detaches it from any vital stakes. Continue reading Philosophy of the Gods, part II