arendt and pals

I'm being told one thing and shown another! I email Professor to see what I should be typing about and start in on last Wednesday's source material and see that this Monday's source material is already being discussed on these internets. Though this doesn't matter as much as I'd originally thought because the past couple of readings have been dealing with mostly the same type of subject matter. The witness.

So naturally reading these readings I find myself comparing it to my own experiences. I tried to think of what type of category I might fall into if I were put into a situation of dire peril. As the likelihood of a direct comparison to the Holocaust is non-existent in my own experiences, I try and push myself to the limits of my understanding. I try and think of a time of great loss that I had trouble getting past or over. Every time I come up against this type of situation, of loss and sadness, I get filled with anger. I suppose it's a method of outwardly directing problems that plague me, but that is what I do.

The reason for this divergence is that I realize just how important the idea of the witness is to the problem posed by the camps, but I myself couldn't do it. Without the witness, we would have no stories to hear and learn from. As that is the most important part of these kinds of studies, I believe, to never forget what happened. Just as it is the duty, as they see it, of some survivors to tell their story to anyone who wants to listen. Being a witness takes a lot of courage, almost a different kind of courage than fighting back. I'd like to point out though, that some people are innately inclined to fight back. That mentality of “If I'm going out, I'm taking as many people as I can” takes courage too. The stories of those people will never be told. On some level, with my lack of identification with the experiences, I can somehow better relate to those that didn't get to tell their story. At least they don't have to live in a world where this kind of infinite injustice can occur. In a way, it's easier for these souls to exist because they don't anymore.

These mettlesome souls would agree that maybe just being a witness to the horror is not quite enough. The trials of the Nazis can be nearly unanimously agreed to have fallen far short of their intended or expressed goal of justice. Justice doesn't seem to have a place in the world where the camps existed, this is partly because right and wrong became blurred in the quest for survival. The situation where the witness and the survivor and the fighter and the camp guard all exist is one where no normal laws of understanding can be used. Ultimately it depends on how one defines evil, but we've certainly been given a benchmark for the precedent of evil incarnate.

Written By: Javier Nelson

javier asks "why?"

www.facebook.com

Of course, this is a place of "business" and that facebook nonsense is a time waster squared. Lock that down on every local network, obviously.

www.theChive.com

Well, all right, I understand this one and I accept it, even though it's generally harmless.

www.npr.org

Publicly funded radio news broadcasting? Really? Well, this is a place of "business" after all.

www.tmz.com

Oh, yes, I see now.

Written By: Javier Nelson

ask javier about magic

Originally Posted Here

Question: "Does irradiate destroy tel-jilad archers?"

Answer: "This is a good question and it took me a few minutes to find your answer:

Yes, I see no reason why irradiate wouldn't destroy the tel-jilad archers, just because they fly does not make them a "non-creature".

As far as relevancy goes, this could easily be a topic on a radio broadcast. I listen to 3 or 4 weekly podcasts about magic and this question could take up an entire show discussing the finer points of offense and defense and what it really means to be a "creature" or a "winged beast"."

Written By: Javier Nelson

ask javier about werewolves

Originally Posted Here

"Generally, the lore says that you'd need to be bitten or infected by an existing werewolf. Some schools of thought believe that the werewolf can change at will, others only against its will under the light of the full moon. Depending on the type of werewolf you're dealing with, a full on bite may be necessary to "infect" you or merely a scratch. Direct physical contact seems to be the only recurring theme in werewolf infection through scratches, bites, or blood contact. I would have to assume that intercourse with a werewolf would also infect an individual."

Written by: Javier Nelson

angry alec and the zombie walk of shame

(WWTDD)

Alec is my favorite of the Baldwin clan for reasons such as the above photo. He's fierce like a lion drag queen and not only does he know how to ruffle the feathers of those invasive photographers, he can really bust a rant on the old twitter:

Advice

Originally posted here

I have decided to "spread the wealth" of my limitless good advice and I've begun sharing with the internet world. There will be more to come and I also welcome any and all questions you may have, email me anything you'd like to know: javierthepolarbear@gmail.com

Written by: Javier Nelson

the code

ethics - plural of eth·ics (Noun)
Noun: 1) Moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior.
          2)The moral correctness of specified conduct.
Synonyms: morality - morals - ethic - moral

• Every man needs a code, this is yours.
• You will take some secrets to your grave.
• Everyone ought to have a plan, most of all you.
• Never lie to those you trust, never trust those who lie.
• No man requires another's validation.
• Never rebel against yourself.
• Go out walking, after midnight.
• Love has never gotten in the way of murder.
• Accept what you can't control, control what you can.
• Satisfy your needs and entertain your fancies.
• No one will ever have all the answers, stop trying.
• Righteousness is a priori.
• Though it may seem otherwise at times, virtue.
• Use your rage, don't lose your rage.
• Give love unconditionally.
• Never get high off your own supply or shit where you eat.
• By any means necessary.
• Solitude is a warm, bathing light.
• Most times try nicely first, otherwise grift.
• Keep the personal, professional, and private lives separate.
• Do not over-share.
• When you expect the least from people, they will occasionally surprise you.
• Be awesome.
• Never judge a book by its cover.
• All things must end.

Javier Nelson

breaking a bad game of thrones

(courtesy of @porkinak)

I don't really watch either of these shows but Porkinak does and he seemed to think this was noteworthy, plus it's a smooth bit o photoshop.

venus transits, science gets dropped

"With one foot in the past and one in the future, your present will always get tea-bagged." ~John O'Callaghan


Venus is in transit this week. Don't say "so what" just yet because I'm about to tell you why it's "important". Actually, it has no real significance for you, sure, but the importance of the event comes through the rarity and the beautiful wonder of the heavens.

I'm going to break this transit thing down for you:

• Our solar system is made of large bodies of matter called "planets" which elliptically orbit the largest thing in the solar system: the sun, hence the name "solar system".
• These planets go about their own business and generally leave each other alone, sometimes though, their paths "intersect". They do not intersect in the sense of "Oh my god look out! Mars is about to smash into my backyard!!!" but they do occasionally cross through each other's field of view. Here's an image of this particular event:

messy boys

ninja, ninja