Free the Animal

Politics and Delusions Roundup

Here's a few things I'd wanted to blog going back a bit.

• Billy calls it "psychosis." I call it "automatic lying." Take your pick with regard to Senator Harry Reid, D-NV. See if you can manage to get through all four minutes without your head exploding. 

• Via my cousin Steve, who defends large companies against bullshit tort claims in large and complex business litigation, this excellent WSJ Op-Ed by Bret Stephens: Global Warming as Mass Neurosis.

A second explanation is theological. Surely it is no accident that the principal catastrophe predicted by global warming alarmists is diluvian in nature. Surely it is not a coincidence that modern-day environmentalists are awfully biblical in their critique of the depredations of modern society: "And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart." That's Genesis, but it sounds like Jim Hansen.

And surely it is in keeping with this essentially religious outlook that the "solutions" chiefly offered to global warming involve radical changes to personal behavior, all of them with an ascetic, virtue-centric bent: drive less, buy less, walk lightly upon the earth and so on. A light carbon footprint has become the 21st-century equivalent of sexual abstinence.

Finally, there is a psychological explanation. Listen carefully to the global warming alarmists, and the main theme that emerges is that what the developed world needs is a large dose of penance. What's remarkable is the extent to which penance sells among a mostly secular audience. What is there to be penitent about?

As it turns out, a lot, at least if you're inclined to believe that our successes are undeserved and that prosperity is morally suspect. In this view, global warming is nature's great comeuppance, affirming as nothing else our guilty conscience for our worldly success.

In "The Varieties of Religious Experience," William James distinguishes between healthy, life-affirming religion and the monastically inclined, "morbid-minded" religion of the sick-souled. Global warming is sick-souled religion.

• Then there's the irreplaceable George Carlin, RIP. There were a number of post-worthy video clips I saw in the days following his death, but this one -- "The Public Sucks. Fuck Hope" -- is easily the best, just like Jay says. Here's what I love about this clip: condescending contempt. He's dead on, and it's exactly how I view the average dumbshit American voter (99%+).

How to Deal With Me

Jesus. There's history here, which I won't bore you with. Suffice it to say that I have a reputation at our condo complex as some cross between an asshole, maverick, facilities engineer and handyman when I can help, which is whenever I can and anyone asks.

I use the pool area a lot, especially this year as I've taken in more vitamin D than in the previous 10 years combined. I'm sporting quite a tan, now. Anyway, the arrangement of various furnishings and planters, for lack of a better word, sucked. So I did something about it. I rearranged, and also brought down a couple of nice old classic teakwood steamer chairs and table from a sun deck in another part of the building that's never used. Spent about an hour sanding them down to restore some of their past luster. And, for the most part, the changes are welcome. I'm very good at this sort of thing. But, for shame, I did not go through the Rec Committee, or whatever they call themselves.

Feather's have been ruffled. Now, due probably some of my past antics, the scolding I received is of course accompanied by praise for how good it looks, the work involved, etc.

Wrong move. I'd sooner swallow a "fuck off." So here's the email out. I just can't help it. These are a couple of my favorite people in the complex, but when it comes to something like this, it just doesn't matter.

Folks:

C'mon. Who do you think you're dealing with? There were no costs involved, nothing done can't be easily undone, and I did all the work without needless "committee masturbation."

I simply don't care about poor hurt feelings or ruffled feathers. I never ask permission. Fuck that.

Do whatever you all want, but I don't suffer posturing, self-important foolishness or bullshit. I don't work through committees. My action in the door alarm debacle ought to be evidence enough of that.

Now; good day to you all. Relax. Enjoy the long weekend. Sincerely.

Hi Folks

Yea, still here (actually, "there"). Just drove down to Vista, CA yesterday, once again making the trip from San Jose in great time (7 hours) while plowing right through LA on I-5 rather than trying to be clever. I'll be here for about a week on R&R and will probably have a few things to post about.

More later, probably even today.