william.scherk

I'm afraid I don't take notes on your posts, nor do I commit them to memory. Perhaps you would be so kind as to summarize the rules of civility that you have defined "pretty well." Or at least direct us to some relevant posts via links. I have begun the all-points-bulletin-review of the long series of posts. Phil at SOLO. Phil at RoR. Phil at OL. Phil's independent productions. Here's my strategy: search for & download all seventy-four thousand posts apply sophisticated text-search algorithms assemble a volunteer Council Of Editors & Reviewers identify the principles of the Standards Of Civility offer for sale each principle for five dollars publish each paid-for principle on OL, SOLO, and RoR.

I will download, cut, insert, and visually doll up Hsieh here and maybe post to the list when I get a chance. I liked these two questions from her What I Say Goes podcast (Episode #63: Live Rationally Selfish Webcast) Forgiveness (18:07) <img src="http://www.vdoc.ca/images/teethingpain3.gif" width="44px" style="float:right">Is forgiveness necessary? Religious connotations aside, popular psychology often tells us that we must forgive those who have hurt us, even if they are no longer in our lives. It's "healthy". Is forgiveness really necessary to emotional healing? Should I forgive, if the offending party hasn't recognized his/her fault? Forgiveness must be earned by the person who acted wrongly, but a person can always accept that a wrongdoing happened and choose to move on with his life. Making Fun of Others (35:48) Is it moral to make fun of others? Can mocking, or making fun of others ever be good? For instance, many people use it as a way of showing that they dislike someone without having to be direct about it. <img src="http://www.vdoc.ca/images/teethingpain3.gif" width="44px" style="float:right">So long as it's done honestly, poking good fun at the evil, the incompetent, and the silly can be moral. The entire 58 minutes: http://dianahsieh.podbean.com/mf/web/ny7i3m/2011-03-06.mp3 -- and some SEO Optimization, key words Diana Hsieh video help me get to the top of the Google rankins on a Diana Hsieh video search. One day she will see this video and I will no doubt get some kind of reaction from The Machinery. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AQxfyhUwZE

Some of the most interesting, detailed and compelling reports on Egypt come from the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper, which seems to be finding its journalistic chops since the revolution. Here is a sample from today's Al-Ahram. Libyan official flies to Egypt with Gaddafi message Activists see state security's hidden hands behind attacks on Egypt's Copts 'Friday of National Unity' march planned after sectarian clashes Egyptian political activists to visit Soul today Why the counter-revolution targets women and Copts? Egyptian million woman march ends with a gunshot Muslim brotherhood asks people to support Army and Government: Brotherhood leader condemns those inciting sectarianism in Egypt

Peter, you have mixed in some excerpts from two reports. One is behind a paywall or via email subscription, the other is from where? Can you please mark off what are your own words and which are borrowed? Robert Fisk reports on a purported secret Saudi arms connection in the Independent. The only press report of Egyptian special forces in Libya I can find comes from the UK Daily Mirror. Should we give more credence to the Mirror than to the Independent?

More signs of the times from the past week, in no particular order, as I amass them. The most significant news from Tunisia is that the secret police are to be disbanded (following on an earlier abolishing of the Ministry of Communications). In Egypt, many small steps and incidents and items suggest that a new era of openness and debate is taking shape. Tunisia interim leaders dissolve secret police agency Tunisia's interior ministry has announced it is dissolving the country's secret police service. The agency had been widely accused of committing human rights abuses during the rule of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, who was ousted on 14 January. Interim Prime Minister Caid Essebsi has also announced a new government, which includes no members of the old regime. Tunisia's press revels in new freedom TUNIS, Tunisia — Since the overthrow of President Zine al-Abedine Ben Ali on Jan. 14, Tunisians have been waking up everyday with a taste of freedom and that includes the country's newly free press. Despite the new Tunisia's general atmosphere of slight anarchy and economic problems, people are joyful, proud and optimistic about the outcome of their revolution. After 23 years of dictatorship, they are discovering the stimulation of an independent press. NATO starts 24/7 surveillance of Libya NATO has launched around-the-clock surveillance flights of Libya as it considers various options for dealing with escalating violence in the war-torn country, America's ambassador to the organization told reporters Monday. Representatives of key Western powers also highlighted the possibility of establishing a no-fly zone in Libya -- part of growing campaign to break strongman Moammar Gadhafi's grip on power. British, French and U.S. officials were working on a draft text that includes language on a no-fly zone, diplomatic sources at the United Nations told CNN. Secret archives leaked, Egypt military wants them returned After state security allegedly tried to burn secret archives, Egyptians managed to save and post some on Facebook. Military seeks them returned for national security’s sake Armed forces promise to rebuild torched church in original site Amid continuing protests inCairo, Egypt's Armed Forces has promised to rebuild the torched Helwan church in its original location, according to state TV. Prime Minister Essam Sharaf is currently meeting with the protesters and discussing their demand that the governor of Helwan (south Cairo) be replaced. The church was set ablaze by a group of Muslims following a dispute between two families over the romance between their Muslim daughter and Christian son. As the church blazed, Muslims rescued the church clerks and sheltered them. 67 officers and policemen detained The South Giza prosecution has decided to detain 67 officers and policemen for burning documents and damaging public buildings. The group will be detained for four days pending investigation. Egypt's prime minister delivers inclusive message Prime Minister Essam Sharaf called Monday on Egypt's youth, who have been credited for spearheading the movement that led to the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, to contribute to the new government. "The clean youth, the real members of the revolution, not those from outside, we ask them to contribute effectively, socially and economically to the political process," Sharaf said on national television. In a signal that he plans to create a government representative of segments of society that had previously been given scant power, he vowed to increase the representation of women in the parliament and asked for those Egyptians who are living abroad to contribute to the new political process. Sharaf reiterated the government's commitment to stand by its international agreements, which include the 1979 Camp David Accords with Israel. Egypt's prime minister meets Christian protesters Prime Minister Essam Sharaf joined some 1,000 Christian protesters on Monday evening, who welcomed him but refused to talk to him before the Helwan governor resigns. Egyptian Christians protested on Monday after a church was set on fire on the outskirts of Cairo, the latest sectarian flare-up in a country already facing political turmoil. The army vowed to rebuild the church before Easter holidays, but the protestors say the governor of Helwan (south of Cairo) refuses to rebuild the church in its original location, and suggests another site outside the village. Christians oppose this suggestion. "We demand the resignation of Helwan governor," said one of the protestors gathered in front of the state TV building. Some Muslims also joined the crowd who gathered outside the state television building in central Cairo. Banners called for a unified law for worship buildings. Protestors say they won't leave before our demands are met. Million Woman March scheduled for Tuesday The Million Woman March will mark the beginning of a stretch devoted to the advancement of women's rights in Egypt, an ongoing cause punctuated by International Women's Day as well as Egyptian Women's Day (16 March) and Mother's Day (22 March). The march is being organized on Facebook. Constitutional amendments: Agreements and concerns The Armed Forces set 19 March as the date for a national referendum on the constitutional amendments drafted by a committee of experts, a statement said on Friday. The referendum will be held on the amendment of seven articles of the current constitution, the abrogation of Article 179, which grants the government the right to infringe upon human and personal rights under the pretext of combating terror and the addition of a paragraph to Article 189, which allows the parliament to amend the constitution. If they are approved by the referendum, the changes will provide a crucial framework for the next parliamentary and presidential elections.

Our team of international technical altruists is working hard alongside metaphysicians, Special Air Services, and the Google People to release Daunce Lynum from the No-Post Zone imposed on her by terrorists/gremlins. In the meantime, a dispatch to Jack Layton's mother-in-law, followed by an execrable French translation for devotees of that elegant tongue. <div style="border:thin red groove;padding:5px"><a href="http://www.vdoc.ca/images/teethingpain3.gif" border=2><img width="134px" style="float:right" src="http://i.ebayimg.com/08/!BUs(k!QBmk~$(KGrHgoH-DcEkJw1zHMKBKOwuolRfg~~_12.JPG"></a>Bureau du premier ministre Le très hon. Stephen Harper CONFIDENTIEL A MME C. Chow chez Layton, La Commune, Toronto Cher Biscuit. le pire est arrivé, nous avons obtenu notre invitation aux noces royales mais Steve dit NOUS NE POURRIONS PAS Y ALLER parce qu'il pourrait y avoir une élection parce que les Libs et le PND pourraient voter contre le budget et je suis au bout du rouleau. Déjà Rachel se plaint pourquoi ne peut-elle être une demoiselle d'honneur dans une robe de princesse, au lieu de 3 ans les bébés et en parler de robes, j'ai obtenu des robes sans frais à partir des designers canadiens importants et j'ai reçu une très étrange jupe de n'importe ou, le Sacré Igloo, et il y en dit qu'elle est d'inspiration Gaga et incorporés pemmican, pouah pourquoi la décadente culture américaine doit polluer toujours nos peuples autochtones. Je voudrais demander à S de faire quelque chose mais je refuse de lui parler, je lui ai fait dormir sur le canapé et caché son livre de hockey, mais rien ne fonctionne. Je vais inviter Zsuzsanna Zsohar, épouse de Michael Ignatieff et la femme de Duceppe et Rick Mercer à déjeuner et je voudrais que vous et Olivia viendriez. Nous devrions convaincre les hommes crétins de VOTER LE BUDGET parce que si je ne m'assisterait pas à ce mariage il n'y aura pas encore de paix ou de bon gouvernement icitte, et comme vous me conseilliez je vais prendre aucun intérêt aux "élections" de S. Pourriez-vous apporter votre fabuleux poutine gai pan au déjeuner? Mme D aime ça toute entière. Nous comptons sur vous, Distraitement, Laureen </div>

I read Kelly Elmore's blog, Reepicheep's Coracle. She is a good writer and is both honest and sweet-hearted. If ever there was a warm and cuddly Objectivish mom (lashings of love while inculcating Objectivish virtues), this is she. Once in a while she gets handed the chore of selecting notable blog extrusions for Objectivist Roundup, and from her March 2 2011 list comes a post by Kate Yoak of Parenting is . . . Having also mentioned the bread issue at OL, I got a bit of a chill thinking that HsiehCo cult outreach at Objectivist Answers was bearing deformed fruit, but we already knew that. What deepens the chill is a picture of autistic incomprehension at the ick factor of Objectivism. Yoke provides more Objectivish mom stuff in her answer to a 'morality of giving blood' query. Objectist Answers is a creepy, fascinating place. I sent a Facebook note to Kate requesting Frenz. Saw your post at http://www.parentingis.com/2011/02/are-objectivists-evil.html Once in a while Objectivish things take on a bit of an ick factor for me, for one reason or another. The morality of bread question was pitched in such a way to make me see OAnswers as a kind of conference of moral inquiry wherein puzzles and quandaries are expressed by questioners resulting in a mini-fatwa issued by thoughtful authorities. This is the minutia of life brought to the scholars for adjudication, like the varied phone, text and email inquiries that lead to mini-fatwas from Cairo's Al Azhar (over half a million a year!) clerical authorities. I got a bit of a queasy moment imagining that similarity.

I appreciate the note on the video -- Diana is free with her opinions, very free, and takes a very long time to conclude that there is no freaking embargo on the Rand-approved Branden work or the movie, just watch out for EVUL. She takes five of the nine minutes to calmly talk about villains, evul, denigration, guilt, sanction, in a non-ranting tone that doesn't quite conceal that she is ranting at boring length about her own psychological issues with demons. Moving beyond this blandly crazy hypermoralism is a difficult challenge for the next fifty years of Objectivish communities of interest. How to move beyond Uncle Kookiepants and the dire moralism of Hsieh? I took the visual from one of her other Youtube rants, chopped it up, heightened contrast on a sepia filter, cartoonized to be a coloured crayon drawing. I took the monologue rant from her most recent podcast. I added selected portions of John Galt Theme that made Phil get all a-glistened. I ramped up the busy parts of the theme and added some reverb and discreet Egyptian Bellydance Trance dub to help deliver the emotional oomph. The theme seemed much too low-powered, so with added punch, and with the Mad Princess of Objectivism maundering in counterpoint, I hoped to once more make someone feel moved. The challenge to Objectivism is moving, moving beyond schism. It seems like the mad princess will never get over her hurts and disappointments and never consider the hurts and disappointments she has lavished on others. <img src="http://www.vdoc.ca/images/teethingpain3.gif" width="66px">

>>>But there is something about seeing a composer >>of this stature do it that is quite different. >>It is a very beautiful thing, if you study it. >Hey Rich, how would you like it if I posted a >spoof recording of some comic opera Mounties >with no comment just below your sharing >something you really care about? Here is Diana Hsieh, offering comments on the morality of recommending Atlas Shrugged Pt 1 -- along with fresh denunciations of TheBrandens and TAS/Kelley, leavened with a stirring symphonic score and some heartening visuals. Hsieh's surprisingly common-sense approach to the TAS-tainted movie comes around 5 minutes in. [Question 5: Buying an Evildoer's Book Would you recommend buying Nathaniel Branden's Vision of Ayn Rand or not? Given Nathaniel Branden's history of dishonest attacks on Ayn Rand and Objectivism, would you recommend that anyone buy this book? (It's the book version of his "Basic Principles of Objectivism" course.) I've thought about buying it, but I don't want to support that man in any way. My Answer, In Brief: You should not give moral sanction to an evildoer's book, recommend it without qualifications, or give the evildoer a platform. However, if the book would be of value to you, then you ought to buy it.] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AQxfyhUwZE

>>Michael, it's best to have a point in your >>posts that readers can follow: first you talk >>about sanction and pizza parlors, then about >>the vatican's url. If I followed MM correctly . . . he is writing a blog article, wanted a picture of a Pope (Angelo Rancolli Roncalli aka Pope John XIII) to illustrate a point about 'Sanction of the Victim,' and visited the Vatican site to perhaps borrow an image. Certainly his post here can be seen as a ramble, but that is alright -- he is no doubt aware that he could have better edited his post to guide the reader to its interesting main points. >>Finally you mention they have a secret library. >>So? I went to Vatican.va, looking for the "Vatican Secret Library." As it turns out, MM may have been subject to severe early-morning blears, since the actual link at nine-o'clock says "Vatican Secret Archives." So, rambling, maybe. Incoherent, perhaps. Factually bleared, yes. >>I've seen many of your rambling posts over the >>years which have this coherence / tangentiality >>problem. I am pretty sure MM will take your helpful, positive critique on board. Myself, I rarely accept confident statements or claims made in this forum without verifying the information. Whether due to the blears or ideological strait-jacketing or half-assed research, some confident claims and statements turn out to be wrong in whole or in part. I am reasonably certain that you, Phil, sometimes hesitate over responding to posts here on OL. I believe you once in a while say, "Is my intervention welcome, necessary, appropriate? Have I perhaps misjudged my role here? Do I want to be viewed as a constant scold? Do I give off an aura of invincible rectitude? Are my opinions incorrigible? Do I practice what I preach? Should I let one opportunity to correct another person's misdeeds go by . . . or should I enter a thread with my usual tone of hectoring superiority and omniscience?" It is the fingerwagging, Phil. It is the pose. It is the bitterness barely concealed. It is the personal grievances and the unforgiving pettiness of your interventions. It is the scolding, mean-spiritness, the implacable righteousness and unadmitted hypocrisy. You quite often leave behind an impression that subverts your own stated aims and ideals. Whatever the good sense and good points in a given post, all too often the central points are marred by the presentation. I wonder sometimes if you are capable of self-criticism, or if you inhabit a bubble, a self-reverential fiction -- in which you are the smartest, nicest, kindest, most reliable, most knowledgeable, clearest thinking toad in the pond. A perfect moral being, the Ur-Objectivist who Knows The Truth and Is Not Afraid To Proclaim His Holiness. Here is a picture of the dude noted by MM:

>>>>>>>I just listened to the "John Galt Theme" again.[bFLG] >>>>>>>Who wrote this?[bFLG] One step solutions for vexing information quests --->>>> OR

>>>It's flat out wonderful: free, as fast as >>>lightning, no indexing, not a memory hog >>>and even does more with none of the >>>disadvantages. >>Anyway, he now uses Agent Ransack too, so all is good. >I do? You do.

I am pretty sure it is the same show -- Beck covers the Friday sermon by Qaradawi, Wael Ghonim's barring -- how Egyptian freedom stuff is working out for good folks from Google. I generally watch the Beck programs you post or refer to, to be able to respond to the opinions you put forward based on the particular show. The points you made about Wael Ghonim and other Google people and their role of useful idiots for some really bad guys, now spit out of the revolution like chewing tobacco -- I was hoping to pursue, once I had figured out the actual show you referred to. No hurry, I am in semi-retirement in an OL blog.

I remain surprised at the amount of tolerance for socialists folks in the OL community. No real in-group, out-group red-button festivities, no runnings on a rail outa town, no SOLO style invectathons and purges. We Canuckistani socialists must bear what scuffles come our way here. I am surprised we don't get slapped around more. Maybe we trade something in return for forebearance. Our tepid, inane, cleverish fumblings offer faint humour, creaky irony and other feeble things. We may be a foil for the striving productive free thinking friends of liberty. Our northern mumbles give contrast to the firm and fruitful discussions. Once in a while though, you got to clap on the six gun and say, "Carol, you support the collectivist forces. Your kind put a gun to my head and order me to obey. How long were you thinking of hanging around Dodge?"

I will tweak and then post this to the list. There is plenty of time to grow familiar with the electoral landscape in Egypt. You no doubt are aware of the constitutional changes pending referendum, and no doubt are aware that a raft of electoral law will need to be rescinded once new assemblies form. That's why I thought it was a good idea to see the first Islamist party out of the gates. Al Wasat has been trying to register a party since their split from the MuslimBoogeyhood. Their platform is different from the MB's presumed platform on three essential points. By invoking a general sense, we can avoid getting a feeling for events on the ground. Here it is vaguely stated that the registration of Al-Wasat can only be dangerous. In a general sense. Well, a general sense of danger doesn't let us assess Al-Wasat's particular danger. Details matter in such an assessment, I think all agree. Of course, considering that the video cited is reproduced widely on Rapture and Anti-Islamic kook sites, my first question was, 'so what?' Many knowledgeable commenters (Arabic speaking) noted that the chant was a common phrase shouted during the 18 days of revolution http://translate.google.com/#en|ar|to%20Jerusalem%20we%20go%20.%0A%0Amartyrs%2C%20millions But let's give the wiiged-out folks the benefit of the doubt and note the chant. Is this the ultimate sign from Friday the 18th? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbHwekWRqAY Others have filled in more background here -- the Friday sermonette at noon prayers by the returned Qaradawi, banned for decades from speaking, that Qaradawi expressed hope that he could lead prayers at Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. He's now gone back to his home in Doha, and the details and implications of his sermonette can be assessed. What, effectively, led some secular Google People (such as Wael Ghonim) to praise Qaradawi's lecture? Do you know, Richard? By the way, what do you think of the most popular Muslim preacher in Egypt, Amr Khaled (who has also returned to Egypt after an eight-year ban from speaking and a two year exile, and who is to deliver an important Friday address in Upper Egypt)?

I snagged it from the February 21st show I asked about -- was that the show you were referring to? http://www.watchglennbeck.com/video/2011/february/glenn-beck-show-february-21-2011-republic-vs-democracy/ This one?

I first wanted to find out what the show had said or suggested about 'the Google People' . . . and then figure out whether MSK's post was informative and correct.

. . . are what? The 'this' Infidel refers to is a video of destruction of fences put up around a Coptic monastery. This was reported in Egypt's independent al-Masry al-Youm:

On the 'Boy did this one backfire!' thread, discussion has roamed over a few acres of various disputes, all tied to the Menace of Islam. At one point I wondered how Richard Wiig could be so confident about 'Sharia law in Canada.' That led to a schmozzle with Adam Selene, who forked up the first (incorrect) reference he could find . . . but eventually Wiig admitted he was wrong in his claim. But he didn't just say "I was wrong. Bite me." He added more material which led to more shmozzle in two back to back posts. So, there we split off the main trunk road of the story, which was the Islamic TV exec who went to jail for beheading his wife. The trunk had already sprouted 'honour killing' and other shoots, but here several buds erupt: Did Qaradawi raise two million voices in a chant to go die in Jerusalem? Will Canada face more credible demains for special religious arbitration? What does the registration of the Al-Wasat party signify? Wiig has stirred these all together into an unappetizing glop. But before I examine those offshoots, what really captured my eye was the reference to Qaradawi and The Google People -- a report by Michael expanding on Wiig's point about Menacing Signs. Michael references a Beck program, the awful Qaradawi sermonette in Tahrir Square, and then tells us that The Google People have been used . . . I have asked Michael if this Beck program was the one from February 21st, but have muffed my queries. I think this is the video, which has been chopped (I will upload a better sound version): Look for anyone other than Wael Ghonim to be mentioned as 'Google People.' One other Google person might be Amr Khaleed. And so much for trying to fight a dictator with do-gooder public manipulation, no matter how touchy-feely it is, while ignoring the toxic ideology waiting in the wings Mr Khaleed is an Islamic Preacher and TV personality. His Facebook page is the most popular in Egypt, according to the Washington Post. And from an overview of the Muslim Internet in Egypt via Islamonline: _______________________ -- a few links and embeds that I will put in the body of the entry. Wael Ghonim at Twitter.

I snagged it from the February 21st show I asked about -- was that the show you were referring to? http://www.watchglennbeck.com/video/2011/february/glenn-beck-show-february-21-2011-republic-vs-democracy/

I would pronounce Lynam as first 'linnum' and then, after seeing consternated eyebrowing, as 'line um.' Icke I have heard pronounced 'Ike' and also, of course, Ickee. How come Gorgon George is poking you, dja figger?

Was this from the Feb 21st show?

The page Phil twitted, the placeholder, was of course replaced when the content was filled in -- but the old plugged placeholder page wasn't removed. Somebody's shonky websearch turned up the page that should have been deleted. See Old Self-esteem Page http://www.nathanielbranden.com/catalog/articles_new.php vs New Self-esteem Page http://www.nathanielbranden.com/catalog/articles_essays/ I liked the opportunity to read up on the enduring placeholder convention derived from typesetting, and its continuing use in web/desktop mockups/models. I also enjoyed digging out the reference to Cicero. <p>Unearthed from the Branden placeholder (with the excerpted items highlighted). This is luscious-looking language. No wonder Mr Niceypants McSnarkburn tripped out on it:</p> <p>>neque porro qui squam est, qui do<b>lorem ipsum</b>, quia <b>dolor sit, amet, consectetur, adipisci</b> v<b>elit, sed</b> quia non numquam <b>eius mod</b>i <b>tempor</b>a <b>incidunt, ut labore et dolore magna</b>m <b>aliqua</b>m quaerat voluptatem. <b>Ut enim ad minim</b>a <b>veniam, quis nostru</b>m <b>exercitation</b>em <b>ullam co</b>rporis suscipit <b>laborios</b>am, <b>nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequat</b>ur? <b>Quis aute</b>m vel eum <b>iure reprehenderit,</b> qui <b>in</b> ea <b>voluptate velit esse</b>, quam nihil molestiae <b>c</b>onsequatur, vel <b>illum</b>, qui <b>dolore</b>m <b>eu</b>m <b>fugiat</b>, quo voluptas <b>nulla pariatur</b>?</p> A translation from Wikipedia. Apropos? Objectivish? Pertains to esteem? "Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

How do you pronounce Icke?