(Frank Gehry's Stata Center on MIT campus, Cambridge.)

I've just been through an ordeal of trying to find an acceptable definition of "naturalism" that isn't "materialism" or "physicalism."

Would anyone care to enumerate the differences between the three for me? I'm especially interested if you happen to espouse any one of these, what you believe differentiates it from the other two.

Also, specifically, I've heard buddhist authors and others make statements such as "everything is just molecules." Which one of the three does this fall under?

HOLY MONSOON, BATMAN!

It's raining so hard right now. It only started raining just before I was going to get off the subway. Now it's raining so hard. As hard as the monsoons I encountered in Thailand. My apartment is flooding through one window, and some books and cds were damaged, as well as the book in my bag.

Mississauga Goddam

I met Nick's family on Sunday, and it went well. I think they liked me. Beforehand, Nick and I went down to the lake, herb gathering, and collected some Yarrow, which is now drying from the hook on my wardrobe. Mississauga now has two reasons to exist: Nick lives there, and Yarrow grows there.

(Music of the) Revolution

These days I'm listening pretty exclusively to Nina Simone, and other Soul, Jazz, Blues, and Cabaret music. So much so that I can't make myself listen to any kind of industrial or angry-electro-rock stuff. It's funny because these days I find Nina Simone so much more of a revolutionary than, say, Rage Against the Machine or NIN. Angry straight white men yelling about how hard it is to be angry, straight, white men really doesn't do a lot for me anymore. Nina Simone singing fiercely about the impending revolution in the 50s-70s, however...

~Morgan

What do you do with crimes so horrible as to be beyond comprehension? What do you do with Rwanda, with the mobs shouting slogans against cockroaches and young people, children even, wielding machetes and machine guns against their neighbors, teachers, pastors, even parents? 
You cannot hate them, so alien are they. You are utterly unable to imagine taking such an action, to imagine the circumstances which drove so many ordinary people to it, to imagine anything beyond the images you have seen. You cannot, therefore, hate. You feel repulsed, disgusted. Above all, you feel grief. Your emotions thus do not lead you to anger - or if they do, it is anger at the world which stood outside and did nothing.
Your intellect, also, does not bring you to punishment. What possible purpose would it serve? Deterrence? As though people in such circumstances could be deterred by the thought of punishment from an apathetic outsider, years later... Keep them from harming people again? The circumstances which let them do so are gone.

And yet you want to punish, you cannot imagine letting such horrors go without someone being responsible, you are driven by some sense of justice and by the idea that somehow you must do something, even the futile and unrelated, about this.

So first of all, Canada's get a grand total of 2000 iPhone's - for the whole damn country - as a seemingly punitive measure from Apple in response to Rogers' pool-cue-up-the-ass pricing.

And now the other major Telcoms - Bell and Telus - are going to be charging users FOR INCOMING TEXT MESSAGES. This is the fucking dumbest thing I have ever heard of, especially with the rise of text spam.

I am sick of having 0, nilch nada bupkis in terms of choice when choosing a Telcom in the fucking country. Yeah, i know they're awful everywhere. But this rankles my hackles to the nth degree.

Apparently though there is another player entering the game though, they'll likely just keep on with the anal raping of customers.

...

*sigh* and I feel like ass. Stupid existence.

I love The Sherbourne Health Centre, but I also fucking hate them. I NEED to see my doctor to find out the results of my breast ultrasound, to find out if I have cancer, and I can't because the only appointments they have are for days that I'm working. Their only evening appointments are at the very end of the month, and I'm not sure I'll be here then. They have August appointments that I could get, but I won't do anything health-care-related in August, for obvious reasons. Also, how come my new, supposedly part-time job is working me with full-time hours?

~Morgan

Also, this:

http://www.amazon.com/Critique-Criminal-Reason-Michael-Gregorio/dp/0312378033/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215501295&sr=8-1

We interrupt the last couple weeks of grousing to bring you a film recommendation. This looks good, although it reminds me in tone and content of Cowboy Bebop which had a more assured, innovative style. Lately I am sort of irked by rotoscoping because I feel as if becoming the only acceptable venue for non-naturalism, but still without actual faith in animation to support itself naturalistically.

What I mean is that there's this sense that live action films are better off being naturalistic/realistic rather than surreal or subjective, and that animation can't help but be surrealistic rather than having acceptable gravitas. The implicit assumption behind all this is that gravitas requires realism, and realistic content requires realistic form, so that cartoons can't possibly have equal gravitas to live action.

Persepolis was a notable example of how this totally doesn't need to be true, although seeing that they cut the surrealistic heart out of the film (Marjane's suicide attempt) breaks my heart a bit.* The formalistic, naive assumption underpinning all this really stinks, not to beat that drum off its rim. I kind of feel like the scientific, secular, emphasis on the empirical self or the self through the empirical lens is leaking all over art like a badly plastic-wrapped ham hock.

*Much as I respect Marjane's decision, I don't actually think it was the best thing for the film. I think she might have deceived herself there, rather than owning it as simply being too painful for her.

Some of you may believe in free will. You may introduce, as an ostensibly sufficient reason for that belief, free will's apparent self-evidency; i.e., it seems like we have free will. (Not a straw-man - it's reason enough for both Hannah Arendt and Anosognosia, though the latter might have associated himself with the position only in order to teach the person he was talking to.) Now, another, perhaps overlapping, set of you may have heard of an experiment conducted in the 1980s by a man by the name of Benjamin Libet, the results of which are often used as evidence of the non-existence of the freedom of the will. In this experiment, subjects were asked to flick their wrist at a time that suited them, and to note the position of the second hand on a nearby clock at the point they felt the conscious decision to move their hand. Libet found that the unconscious brain activity leading up to the conscious decision to flick the wrist began approximately half a second before the subjects consciously felt that they had decided to move.

Now, I am not asking you to respond to this challenge; but on reading of it myself, my thoughts drifted that way, and I found that, 'self-evidently,' I could perceive its findings to be true. I scratched my head, flicked my wrist, etc., and noticed every time that my hand was beginning to move, or there was a slight tautening of my muscles, just a half-second or so before I decided to scratch my head or whatever. And this is the challenge I'm posing. How can you claim that free will is self-evidently extant in the light of this 'self-evident' determinism?

---

I was reading Roger Scruton's An Intelligent Person's Guide to Philosophy (or rather, a reissue of it under a different name, which I can't remember), and he said that Anselm's ontological argument has never been adequately refuted. But this surely isn't right! I was under the impression - and still am - that it is easily refuted by asking why it is that we think that existence is superior to non-existence (or existence in mind and reality is superior to existence in mind only). I certainly see no reason to believe that the former of both choices are superior.

However, and interestingly - what does this entail? That existence and non-existence are equivalent or incommensurable? The latter seems far more plausible, but it is never acted upon; we assume all the time that it's better to live than die (or vice versa). But how can existence be better or worse than non-existence? How can we possibly compare them? Or should we (as I suspect) abandon the practice, and speak of the evils of death only by reference to the evils it brings to the survivors?

http://www.asofterworld.com

Even though I still have many notes to type up on Allison's Kant's Transcendental Idealism, I've finished reading the book and have moved on to the Critique proper. I'm just reading through the prefaces right now and sure they're prefaces, but Kant is not nearly as dry as I'd been lead to believe by the philosophical they. So far, it's awesome, with Kant comparing all prior metaphysics to "mock combats" on a battlefield or, even better, "random groping."

Also, there are a number of gems like: "We do not enlarge, but disfigure sciences, if we allow them to trespass upon one another's territory."

I suppose there's no reason to be particularly surprised by this, but once again (as with Being and Time), there are a number of overt parallels to Kuhn within the first 30 pages or so. I mean sure, Kant sees himself as ringing in a paradigm shift in metaphysics, but he is at least partially inspired by what he takes to be analogous ones having already occurred in Greek mathematics and in science with Bacon.

This is us on the day of the Dyke March. Photo by the lovely Jade.

Yesterday I bought a Zora Neale Hurston fingerpuppet! I saw it, and I was like "Who would make this? And, who other than me would buy it? I MUST HAVE IT!"

~Morgan

After a long while of sparse availability, the best trance album of all time is up on Youtube. For my friends who love trance -- it is certainly an aquired taste -- enjoy! It is best listened to in order, of course, and while doing something fun. For those who haven't the taste, it is best aquired via repeated listens of Juno Reactor's Bible of Dreams.

Hallucinogen's The Lone Deranger:

1. Demention
2. Snakey Shaker
3. Trancespotter
4. Horrorgram
5. Snarling (Remix)
6. Gamma Goblins 2
7. Deranger
8. Jiggle of the Sphinx

And here is a bonus track apparently found on the German edition. I find it doesn't go as well with the album, so I'm separating it thisly.

EDIT: Since I mentioned it, here's the first couple tracks off Juno Reactor's Bible of Dreams. They have a more ambient and worldbeat quality which makes them more accessible to people who don't listen to dance music.

1. Jardin de Cecile
2. Conga Fury

P.S. Since I've reminded myself of it, I'm being a bit silly with the video links already, and probably most of you haven't heard it, here are the wonderful...

Orchestre National de Barbes -- Alaoui

The dust of the fireworks resembled the space dust which produces new stars in the universe. An allusion only furthered by those fireworks which pause in the air to disperse as green smoke after the cluster of exploding swarm shoots out like fleeing tadpoles.

Positive side-effect to crisis of all belief [in meaning]: don't give a fuck at parties = life of the party. Negative side-effect of alcohol tolerance: I drink a lot man, damn! I must've had more than a six pack and I am not even sleepy, just barely buzzed. That is usually expensive, but MIT fraternities provide lots of free (good) beer.

Yeah so happy 4th. We're still a nation. Whatever, America, thanks for letting me be clear about my apathy towards you right now.

http://www.asofterworld.com

Ah traveling, how I love thee!

I can not believe I have been gone for nearly two months now... it feels like I just left Canada a few days ago! Yet when I think of how much I have experienced in the four countries I have been to, I have trouble believing that I have only been gone for two months! I have not been updating livejorunal much on my travels, but that is because I have been so delightfully occupied with other things! I also haven't posted any photos here because it takes a long time with the code, but instead have been uploading them to facebook. You can find me as Kimberleigh Smithbower Roseblade if you want to see them. You can also add me as a friend, just make sure you state that I know you from live journal first!

The last time I updated I was in Vienna, Austria and have since been to Budapest, Hungary and now am in berlin, Germany. I was originally planning on seeing more cities then I have along my travels, but I am finding that I truly enjoy myself more when I have the chance to stay in a place longer then just a day or two. I really get a feel for the city, its people and can really sink my teeth into the culture. Traveling this way also keeps my more sane so that I am not needing to rush around and be constantly traveling every other day. I also assume that it is better for my health this way as I have yet to get ill or overtired.

However, today I managed to mess up my back (while making eggs benedict for breakfast). The disc I slipped when I was sixteen (that pinched a nerve) seems to have slipped a bit again. It is not nearly as bad as it was eight years ago when I got the original injury, but it is still keeping me in a lot of pain. I think it is because of all the different beds, couches and floors I have been sleeping on and my poor back has had no time to adjust. When I return home, I might need to find a chiropractor or possibly consider surgery because this is not the first time the injury has reoccurred. I do yoga and stretch, but it seems as though that is not enough and with my active lifestyle it irritates me considerably to have my back keep me from going out and doing the things I love. However, I feel after a few more hours of relaxing and stretching I will be able to head out and explore more of Berlin.

So... my thoughts and experiences thus far?

Vienna was just amazing. I found quite the community of like minded artists, musicians and performers while there. The first people we stayed with- hannah and Stephan- were amazing enough, but after meeting Simon everything just get spiraling up and up! The creative community in Vienna reminded me a lot of the artistic community I am lucky to be a part of in Vancouver. While I was in Vienna I got to sing and play harmonica with a blues band on the Solstice as well as put on a fire show the same night, which was also Simon's birthday. I also got to go to a music festival for free because I was part of the drum and didgeridoo workshop that Simon was doing there. Thats right- FREE music festival entrance and I got to drum and play music all afternoon and dance with Simon at sunset. We also created quite the crowd when he was playing the hang drum as I accompanied on irish tin whistle. I truly love how much music I am able to make with that boy! We are already planning some musical collaborations in the future when he comes to visit Vancouver and for when I return to Vienna as well. And let us not forget the fire spinning and performing! The two of us naturally inspire and feed each others creative energy- something I always love to find in another human being.

I ended up staying in Vienna for eight days. Not just because I fell in love with the city but because... (wait for it)... I fell in love with Simon. I know it sounds cliche: Canadian girl goes backpacking overseas, meets someone, they fall madly in love- sounds like some Summer romance novel, but it happened and there was nothing either of us could do to stop it, nor would we want to. It was a bit hard at first because when we realized just how strongly we felt for each other I got a bit scared due to the distance that would be coming between us when I left Vienna. I didn't know what to do. I knew how I felt, but also knew that I had a lot more things to do in Europe and also to finish up back home in Canada. However, a love like this does not come around often, so Simon and I have decided to stay together. Yeah, I know... Kimmie in a long distance relationship?!?! I never though I would ever to this LOL! It feels so right, though and who am I to deny something like that? Both Simon and I are so exceptionally happy and feel that this is something worth the time and hard work to keep going. We are also going to keep ourselves open and free when we are not in the same city which makes things a bit easier. Simon is already planning a trip to Vancouver in September and it looks as though he might join me in a few other places in Europe before I head back home!

This has been quite the year of love for me. For the first time in ages I had someone (thank you Marvin) who I felt I could call my May King on Beltaine and now, I have found Simon as well. As you all know by now, I am an infinite being of love and that each person in my life I love in my own unique way. This year I was blessed to feel this love returned to me in ways I have not felt in some time. I am eternally grateful and blessed for it. it is one thing to love and be loved, but another to be IN love. I say it often, but I truly feel so lucky and thankful for everything this Universe has given me!

Budapest was great! My first night in town I went to a great pub with two floors, a patio and an outdoor garden where I met some Hungarian musicians and some American journalists. Later in the evening, myself and my traveling companion met a bunch of university students from the city. Most of these students were not originally from Hungary and were born in many places around the world from Poland, to the Netherlands, to Canada and the United States. We stayed up until six in the morning with these people talking, laughing and sharing stories. The rest of our time in the city, these people showed us around and told us much of the history of Budapest and Hungary. One of my favourite experiences was heading over to the hilly Buda side of the city and climbing up to the castle just after sunset to enjoy a view of the Pest side as night swept over the city. Simply beautiful!

Now, I am in Berlin where I have been spending time with my friend Manuel! We met while he was studying in Toronto on a six month exchange, but I haven#t seen him in nearly two years. It is so nice to be in his country now where he can show me around and give me the real Berlin experience. Yesterday we had a nighttime BBQ in a park by the river with some of his friends, then we went to a rock club that had a SWIMMING POOL inside. Despite not having a bathing suit, this naiad went in completely topless (gotta love Germany for their attitude toward nudity!) and swam around, which encourage many of the other patrons to do the same! What a way to cool down after dancing!

Now, I am going to find a space and do some more stretching in hopes to help my back. I really hope this doesn't last too long as I have a lot of exploring I want to do. I have health insurance for this trip if need be, but quite frankly I hope I do not have to use it!

Love you all tons and sorry I have been so absent from LJ lately!
xo

There's some animal outside screaming over and over again. I went out to see if it was hurt, but it ran away quite adeptly. Looks like a possum or something, but it's dark out. I've never heard an animal scream like this, I guess it's a mating call or something.

It's really nice out, no humidity, a nice wind blowing, comfortably warm. I sat out front and played guitar for a while, sipping my Patron Silver and hoping the weird animal would come back so I could get a closer look.

Despite this, I am a bundle of nervous energy. I think I will go for another walk.

EDIT: I made the screaming noise for someone and was told it was a racoon and that's what they do when they are arguing with someone. Weird, I've been around racoons alot and never heard this... perhaps racoons find me very calming.

Against the usual characterization of Cartesian skepticism as symptomatic of an epistemological illness, or even an illness whose manifestation is epistemology itself, I would like to suggest that the essence of the Cartesian philosophy is the critique of the given which ultimately reveals the presence and irreducibility of an ethical moment standing between our intuition of being and our judgment of the same.

Rather than being an epistemic mania, such a philosophy conditions the epistemic by placing before it the aesthetics and ethics of a subject whose free agency is itself what grants knowledge an essence. This philosophy places the responsability for this ethical ground on the head of the subject whose activity determines it as such.

Thus Descartes is absolutely modern, not by subjecting the subject to knowledge, which indeed would be a backdoor return to theocentrism, but by subjecting knowledge to the subject. With Descartes it is at last thinkable for knowledge to be something other than discovered: for our epistemic duty to go beyond the mechanism of uncovery and into the art of production. It is only this productive capacity that opens the possibility for actual activity and responsability. Thus the Cartesian philosopy extends the stakes of human activity beyond truth and into freedom and justice.

Hopefully this will resolve some recent contentions. Your bucket,
A.