Archive for the ‘politricks’ Category

Brainwashed: Seven Ways to Reinvent

"Years ago, when you were about four years old, the system set out to persuade you of something that isn't true.

Not just persuade, but drill, practice, reinforce, and yes, brainwash.

The mission: to teach you that you're average. That compliant work is the best way to a reliable living. That creating average stuff for average people, again and again, is a safe and easy way to get what you want.

Step out of line and the system would nudge (or push) you back to the center. Show signs of real creativity, originality or even genius, and well-meaning parents, teachers and authority figures would eagerly line up to get you back in line.

Our culture needed compliant workers, people who would contribute without complaint, and we set out to create as many of them as we could.

And so generations of students turned into generations of cogs, factory workers in search of a sinecure. We were brainwashed into fitting in, and then discovered that the economy wanted people who stood out instead.

When exactly were we brainwashed into believing that the best way to earn a living is to have a job?

I think each one of us needs to start with that."

.:View this manifesto at changethis.com->

Michael Steele? For Real?

*ahem* Michael Steele, my ninja f@$kin’ PLEASE! Are you kidding me? Nobody takes you seriously as is…

.:found over at the Daily Dish->

Canada Not Bitter About Hockey Loss

My ninjas, PLEASE.

Apparently Canadians aren’t bitter (well, these Canadians, at least) about team Canada losing to team US in Hockey this past weekend in Vancouver .

Really, this is kind-of stupid - but I still laughed out loud. Great stuff.

Quote of the Day

[image via]

"Everybody’s an elitist when it comes to something they care about."

~ New York Daily News columnist and critic Stanley Crouch

.:quote from "Consider Yourself Elitist (Yes, You)" ->via NPR

The Rant that Brought out the Crazies

This is just in case you forgot what started these "TEA parties."

ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit

The U.S. Department of Energy’s ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy) invites you to the inaugural ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit in Washington DC, March 1-3.

Bringing together all the nation’s key players in energy innovation: Research and Technology Leaders, Venture Capital Investors, Technology Entrepreneurs, Large Corporations, Policymakers, and Government Agencies.

.:blog.case.edu->

Ben Rhodes and The Year in Foreign Policy

Seven Ideas That Set Us Free

This July 4th, millions of Americans will mark our nation’s 232nd birthday with fireworks, parades, and other celebrations of freedom. So today, we’ve got a special, double-length issue that explores what freedom really means-or at least what it meant to America’s founders.

If you look back at America’s early history, you’ll discover at least seven different ideas about how people get to be free. Three make up a "Bill of Rights." Three make up a "Bill of Responsibilities."

: Continue Reading :

Senator calls for action on Yemen

WASHINGTON - A Senate committee chairman says the United States should consider whether air strikes, armed drones and clandestine operations are necessary in Yemen to defeat al Qaeda militants there.

Yesterday’s remark by Democratic Senator Carl Levin, who chairs the armed services committee, was a rare admission by a senior official that direct US military action in Yemen is possible, if it has not happened already. Such operations are highly classified.

Levin was speaking after a three-day trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The White House and Pentagon have said they have no plans to send ground troops to Yemen, and Yemen has made it clear it would not want them. Remaining options would include covert strikes against al Qaeda targets and increased aid to help train and equip Yemeni security forces.

: nzherald.co.nz :