qi

I’m having a great time watching the BBC quiz show “QI” (quite interesting) on youtube. There’s just something really satisfying about all the facts that get thrown around. And the wonderful “heffalump traps”. Check it out.

stepping off

I watched “The Story of Stuff” recently (h/t byron). At one point the narrator describes the work-consume advertising-purchase goods cycle and quite rightly observes that it’s never going to make anyone happy.

She suggests simply “stepping off”. Stop profligate consumption. Think about why you work (To support a family? Then enjoy them!) . Deprioritise stuff and reprioritise people.

Good advice I think, and I believe that in my lifetime these sorts of decisions will be forced on us more than voluntarily taken. But it seems to me it doesn’t reach far enough. There is a spiritual “stepping off” to be done as well – an  examination of what the day to day means to each of us.  I find that most people I ask about where they seek or find meaning respond as if it is a challenge, giving answers more apologetic than descriptive. I reckon we need an epidemic of self-examination, individually and corporately.

We need to listen carefully to ourselves, to identify the premises and ideology we tacitly project between our words and actions. Perhaps then we’d see more scope for stepping off than merely buying less and spending more time with our families – no doubt a good thing, but still no more than a trading of one hedonism for another.

Think very carefully- all your effort and struggle, what is it toward?

ethics and aesthetics

I’ve been reading a collection of classic papers on ethics and abortion (appropriately titled “The Ethics of Abortion”). It struck me in one paper when a feminist arguing for abortion admitted her distaste for what might be called “frivolous” reasons for aborting a particular fetus.

Her distaste for frivolous abortion really seemed to be that – distaste. That is, her ethical objection seemed to be as much a statement of aesthetics as morality. In practice this is unsurprising. Of course we make ethical jugements made on the seemingness of things. On appearance, on feel, on the similarity of current situations to past. To run through a complicated utilitarian calculation (or even an abridged one) is hopelessly impractical for the utilitarian, and similarly to derive a thorough biblical anthropology/ethic/theology applicable to a given situation is impractical for the Christian.

I believe we rely on “running orders”- protocols we unconsciously prepare for ourselves from which we make our choices and determinations. This is more than simple conditioning, because this involves the mystery of cognition.

I think it is an excellent thing to examine your running orders when you have the time. To challenge myself on my basis for acting makes each action a statement about what I think the world is.

a different day

So… I’ve had about 3 weeks now of grossly disordered sleeping patterns, which I have put down to a little bit of sub-clinical hypercortisolaemia (i.e. exams are giving me the willies).

So at quarter-to-five on a Thursday morning, thoroughly ready for bed, I must decide. Sleep and wake at 3pm for another disjointed day?

NO!

Here is my plan – I will take the fight to them.  A flurry of blog posts to wake my brain up, followed by a  trip to the ocean for an early swim. Back home for a hot shower, then visit uni people with fruit to de-stress. A little reading around lunch, then a well-needed sleep before heading to work.

It is not the most productive day ever – with respect to study. However it is a different day. And I need a different day to the one I have been having over and over and over for the past few weeks.

Election Blog

4:16 – The “Yes we can”  bit was amazing. *This* guy’s going to be the president. After Bush. Ridiculous. 

4:09 – I think a good victory speech is harder than a good concession speech to write. Obama, however, is doing very well.

3:58 – BBC feed for the speech

3:55 – Jimmy Smits must be cheering.

3:52 – C’mon pres-elect! I can’t take the waiting. The SBS reporter in Grant Park reports 1 million in attendance – can it be true?

3:42 – Starting to really enjoy Crazy Glasses, but keen for Obama to get speaking.

3:35 – “we will break into a break” – CNN lols…

3:34 – I SEE OPRAH!!

3:32 – Just spotted blue florida on the map. Good to see!

3:29 – Obama to speak at Grant Park.

3:28 – “that is blessing enough for anyone”

3:27 – Shout out to Biden!

3:26 – Obama at 333. Looks like he picked up Colorado.

3:24 – McCain still going, Obama at 306. Huge cheer for Palin. She’d make a good candidate in 2016. She too is in tears. Pfotenhauer missed out on a thanks

3:18 – McCain concedes. He is clearly VERY emotional. “resPEct”. This speech was written long ago – not surprising, but it always surprises me. McCain’s crowd seems very monochromatic. I still feel for the republicans. I am pumped for Obama’s speech. “Tomorrow we must move beyond disappointment”. The John McCain chant is heartwarming. 

3:09 – “This is what God destined me to do – to be a journalist”

3:08 – Black anchors in tears on CNN. Amazing.

3:03 – Everyone’s going NUTS!

3:00 –  CNN calls it for Obama!!!

2:37 – I have too much pudding. The virtual capitol is my favorite graphic so far!

2:29 – The cutting back and forth between CNN and SBS shows Aussie news TV production values for what they are .

2:20 – I’m loving the CNN touchscreen! Also, my pudding is ready.

2:17 – Soledad whatserface from CNN is moderately beautiful.

2:15 – The US studies guy on SBS has ridiculous glasses.