Music

 is the closest thing we'll get to a time machine

once upon a time i was falling in love

now i'm only falling apart 

there's nothing i can do 

total eclipse of the heart 

inferences

 Inferences are assumptions made with style. 

Things I’m learning about the Army.

Army Standard Time is a little faster than Indian Standard Time.

Aspirin is the duct tape of medicine. 

“Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.”

origin of the word 'racism'

The word racism apparently was first used in 1902 by U.S. Army General Richard Pratt:


Segregating any class or race of people apart from the rest of the people kills the progress of the segregated people or makes their growth very slow. Association of races and classes is necessary to destroy racism and classism.



From reading the speech these words are taken from, I think Pratt's use of the word racism, like his use of 'classism' has less to do with private motives or purposes and more to do with actual lived experience of people. Segregation is racist because it kills the progress of the segregated people. Destroying "racism" is therefore an actual, concrete, attainable goal by integration (or "association") of the "races".

While some claim essential to racism is an explicit belief about the inferiority of a group of people, Pratt's focus is not on the belief but the actual difference in treatment.

Similarly, the 1965 UN International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination defines "racial discrimination" as


any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin that has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.

Notice the "purpose or effect" prong of the definition.

Truth in tension

One really important thing I learned about life: the necessity of finding your own way. Learn from others, sure, but your way is *your* way. Don’t pretend to be like everyone else. 

Another really important thing, possibly more important than the first: don’t set out to find your own way. Instead, set out to resolve the contradictions of justice and mercy, maturity and integrity, and work in a field suited to your personality that doesn’t pollute your conscience. Imitate people you admire. Read many books. Pray for guidance. Then do what seems right. You’ll find your way. 

Conversations with Brain

 B: Hey how’s it goin?

Me: not bad, bout to enter REM 4 slee...

B: Is now a good time time to show you that memory you repressed for years?

Me: what? N..

B: also I’ve included three alternative endings showing how you could have handled it better. 

Me: pls sto...

Brain: *popcorn*