Paris Hilton: How to Live a Rich, Full Life with your Brain on your Publicist's Desk

First of all, let me apologize for the time between posts, even a life as banal as mine must intercede occasionally. On with the show, off with 'er head.

Of course we have all read the news and unfortunately that means being forced to be up to date on this refugee from the Taming of the Shrew. Every one of the myriad talking heads in America has been rightly clamoring to have her serve out her full sentence, which is anemic even by the liberal California standards. I am not nailing her to the cross for the actual DUI, we are all prone to errors in judgement, often with more disastrous consequences than a wrecked SUV. Her tearful wailing and quasi-sanctioned house arrest make me think she's watched a few too many episodes of Oz. Her recent about face probably has less to do with acceptance than one of her minders coming down to the prison and hitting her on the nose with a rolled up newspaper

Justicia exsisto caecus , tamen id est etiam penuriosus
uber vadum pondus libra per aurum

Second thoughts on Causal relationships: the American example

Following in the undeniably tragic wake of the Virginia Tech shootings is another curious phenomenon: finding someone to share your pain. This idea that if you know others who hurt like you it somehow makes you hurt less. This is not however the central theme of this post.

I have spoken in other blogs about the tendency for people and groups to attach causes to events that have little to do with the actual event. There is a news story out today about shared recognition between the Virginia Tech shootings and the Kent State shootings in 1970. Two incidents whose only similar factor is that they both occured on university campuses. There is a vast practical and theoretical difference between lone psychosis and government malpractice. Looking for commonality where there is some is one thing; appealing to the world for sympathy gives way to maudlin sentimentality.

Not that I don't understand them. Western civilization has always had a conceptual problem with randomness. people believe things happen to them for a reason. There is a causal link between all events. Here we sit at Z, we can therefore see the linear relationship from A. Z exists because Y came before it and X came before that. But it is impossible to know all the causes for an event. The Kent State and Virginia Tech shootings may be related in some way. but I doubt the organizers of the memorial had this in mind. Given the nature of this world it is possible there are multiple linear relationships all descending from one A to many Z's.

That was today's semi-relevant philosophical tangent...Enjoy

Mordred had a Point

First a moment of deep condolence and reflection for the victims of the Virginia Tech massacre. To have one's life at the hands of another's fickle whims is slavery of the worst kind. May they feast in Elysium for all eternity.

It is American tradition to become publicly hysterical whenever an incident of this magnitude occurs. The Powers that Be Bush will undoubtedly make a big splash about something that is basically a side issue. This is because Americans like thier leaders to be decisive first and thoughtful second, unlike the philosopher kings of the Republic. This is a good quality in foreign policy, but a bad one in domestic policy. Goverment needs to be seen as "doing something" regardless of whether it may or may not be the right thing. Government, nor anyone else, can banish the hate from the hearts of men.

Gun control is likely to become the whipping boy for politicians after this, just as it was after other mass shootings. Since the government can't ensure the responsible use of guns, it is easier to deal with the existence of guns. One, however, does not blame the hammer for injury, one blames the person wielding it.

This should remain the purview of the universities. The government is ill-equipped to make sure every one of its citizens is well-adjusted and happy. It can advocate more money to counselling services within institutions of higher learning. This can help lessen the stress that comes with university and life in general. The best thing for the government to do it leave it to the smaller constituent parts of the whole.

I cannot speak to preventative measures for moody homicidal loners, these people are unlikely to ask for help and likely to resent it if it is forced upon them. I will say this: Waiting three hours to call the police for rowdy drunken fratboys is acceptable, even preferable; waiting three hours to call the police for automatic weapons fire is universally stupid.

Momentary lunacy or deeper condition

We are all capable of saying some very stupid things. Generally speaking, our audience for those moments when we put our foot in our mouth is a little bit smaller than Don Imus'. It is a curious condition where the people that hold silly opinions seem to get more airtime than most. One wonders if the momentary lunacy that I spoke of earlier is for holding the opinions or feeling an inexorable pull to make sure everyone else knew of it as well. I am inclined, at least, to keep my moments of stupidity to myself. Shock jocks are notorious for saying anything to anybody and remaining convinced that they are clever and edgy. Can we expect proffesionalism in a society where athletes and their assorted minders are lauded for their misbehavior as much as being punished?