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Toward a Revolution in Personal Activism - Just Say "NO" to the Herd.

Andy Warhol predicted that in the future everyone would be famous for 15 minutes. We are now at the threshold of that future. But are we making a mistake? In an age where our most intimate secrets are publicly revealed via social media have we consented irreversibly to the loss of our privacy? Are we hurtling toward a dangerous state of affairs? If so is there anything we can do? [node:read-more:link]

Everyone an Artist

The highest possible goal for humankind would be a world where we were all artists. Art is the byproduct of someone who creates for no reason other than a deep love for the creation itself. They do not act for external reward, status, money, attention or recognition. Nor do they act out of duty, fear or guilt.

In this pure loving state they develop a zen-like relationship to their art and are thus able to perform to such a high level that it almost seems to transcend earthly existence. [node:read-more:link]

True Feminism Would End All Wars

Feminism has so far failed. Were it to truly succeed, war would be a thing of the past.

As a child I remember teenage boys coming to our door with flowers and chocolates for my older sisters. My sisters were whisked away on "dates" to the movies, the beach and fun fairs. They were wined, dined and treated like princesses. But when it came to careers, they did not get the same opportunities as men. [node:read-more:link]

EU Kills Internet Freedom - Article 13

The early days of the internet proved people were willing to share knowledge and creative works freely. This provided a glimpse of an open source world where expansive capitalism could be tempered. For the first time in history, the utopian dream of a world free of imposed labor and based on willing co-operation seemed within our grasp. [node:read-more:link]

Mainstream News vs Conspiracy Theories.

Mainstream news is comparable to press releases coming from head office. Conspiracy theories are like gossip on the shop floor.

The "facts" provided by mainstream news can be rearranged to create a false impression. By highlighting some facts and omitting others, the narrative can be manipulated. Though the isolated facts are correct, the overall picture can be deliberately skewed. This is called propaganda and is used to forward the agenda of those with the power to influence the media outlets. [node:read-more:link]

Tribalism in Party Politics

Our system of politics is tribalistic. It demands we choose a side and thereafter display loyalty to our cohorts. But upon joining a group our capacity to think objectively becomes compromised and we become biased. We begin to sacrifice our own opinions for the sake of the group. Energy becomes focused upon "winning" and the intellect is dulled.

Having a wide spectrum of opinions, beliefs and world views is good for a society. However when this diversity can only be expressed within the confines of a group it has both a homogenising and polarising effect. [node:read-more:link]

Dumb Animals and their Egos in the Garden of Eden

Could the message in the story of Adam and Eve be one of anti-intellectualism with an appeal for developing intuition? Is it a metaphor for the transformation of man from an animal to a human state?

Cultural myths are handed down from generation to generation often by word of mouth. In the process the story is adapted, changed, morphed and filtered. As a result the collective wisdom of the culture is often assimilated into the story. Thus these myths may hold significant meaning for the society where they exist. [node:read-more:link]

Dear Celebrities - An Open Letter

Dear Celebrities,

Please save our species.

As you make a living in the public eye, you're a role model to many who want to be just like you. Therefore what you do is more important than what you say. So please, urge the world NOT to follow your example.

Here are three core demands as a guideline to the #CelebrityRebellion (CR); [node:read-more:link]

Artistic Sovereignty

Some look toward one world governance as the only way to tackle global problems. But I reckon it's the opposite. Salvation lies with the ingenuity and creativity of the sovereign individual. For it only takes one person with one great idea to change the tide of history. [node:read-more:link]

Celebrity Rebellion

Hollywood gave us a culture of excess and lavish overconsumption. They taught us to believe "I'm worth it." So isn't it a bit hypocritical for Emma Thompson to fly in from LA to scold us over energy use?

Though we'd all benefit from a cleaner environment, I'm not convinced that government regulation is the solution. Research shows that the richest use energy at a rate exponentially higher than average. So any tax imposed is likely to cripple the poorest whilst the rich burn energy like Caligula at a banquet. Guilt would be alleviated for energy hogs who can simply afford to pay. [node:read-more:link]

Celebrity Rebellion

Hollywood gave us a culture of excess and lavish overconsumption. They taught us to believe "I'm worth it." So isn't it a bit hypocritical for Emma Thompson to fly in from LA to scold us over energy use?

Though we'd all benefit from a cleaner environment, I'm not convinced that government regulation is the solution. Research shows that the richest use energy at a rate exponentially higher than average. So any tax imposed is likely to cripple the poorest whilst the rich burn energy like Caligula at a banquet. Guilt would be alleviated for energy hogs who can simply afford to pay. [node:read-more:link]

Devoid of a soul, mankind becomes obsolete.

GLOBALIZATION is another word for MONOPOLY on a world-wide scale. It's a corporate free for all. Behind closed doors, armies of lawyers draft mountains of bureaucracy, friendly to the corporates, but devastating for small business. Little fish can't compete. Soon every High Street begins to look the same as multinationals squeeze out local shops. [node:read-more:link]

The Idiocy of the Crowd

There is research which shows that decisions made by a large group are more accurate than those of a small panel of experts. This is called the “Wisdom of the Crowd”. The findings state that the group must be diverse and draw upon a wide spectrum of the population with people from all walks of life.

I suspect that where the opposite is true, namely that the crowd is not diverse and instead shares a uniform and homogenized worldview, that not only does collective wisdom suffer but also the decision-making abilities of the individual within the group. [node:read-more:link]

Positively Sickening

When I moved to London in the eighties, I felt immediately at home. The humorous cynicism reminded me of the small East Coast, American town where I grew up.

I had been living in California which is perhaps the New Age capital of the world and centre of positive thinking. So the more down to earth attitude of the English was refreshing.

On the surface maintaining a positive attitude seems to be a no-brainer with numerous benefits. [node:read-more:link]

Who is Your Real Enemy?

Whatever your political beliefs, the idea that one man's vision can dominate the world landscape through the overwhelming power of his ill-gotten financial gains should leave you uneasy...

George Soros has transferred 18 billion (the bulk of his fortune) to his Open Society Charity in an all-out assault against Brexit, Trump and any political views he disagrees with. This is to ensure his globalist vision endures long past his death. [node:read-more:link]

Wanted: Genius to Save Humanity

Our leaders believe nuclear weapons will keep the peace through a principle known as Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) The theory is that nobody will launch the first strike because to do so would mean suicide. This prevents direct wars between superpowers.

Instead tensions are relieved by proxy wars. This is where conventional wars are fought using smaller countries, but with nuclear powers behind the scenes, pulling the strings. [node:read-more:link]

We Need More than DaMore

Though I respect fired Google employee James Damore's Manifesto on sexual differences, I think he failed to address the real problem facing society which is that humans as a species are profoundly biased when sizing up others.

Given any random male and female pair, yes the likelihood that the male will be better at tech and science is probable, but only by just a few percentage points.

Unfortunately this very slight edge confers a wildly disproportionate advantage as the effect is cumulative over time and throughout society. [node:read-more:link]

The Garden of Eden: Can We Get Back In?

Some dismiss the Bible, Koran and Torah as fairy stories. But I reckon fairy stories have a lot to tell us about our collective unconscious. As they filter through the generations, certain themes endure. I suspect this longevity signals a spark of truth. Those myths and legends which survive the test of time, may offer insight into the human experience.

In the Garden of Eden story, Adam and Eve lived in Paradise. But they tasted forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. This opened their eyes. They saw they were naked. [node:read-more:link]

Debate: The Key to Survival

The biggest danger facing us today is not guns, bullets, bombs, global warming or even a group of lizards calling the shots. The biggest danger is the inability of our citizens to engage in civilised debate with those whom they disagree with. [node:read-more:link]

Learn from Islam

Around 600 CE the prophet Muhammad spawned a great civilization through his teachings. At one time Muslim libraries contained more books and literature than in the entire Greek world. They studied spherical trigonometry, agriculture, physics, medicine and science, using astrolabes to measure the altitude of stars. They built sophisticated astronomical observatories. They set up psychiatric hospitals and even had universal health care. Early Muslims had literacy rates that would put the modern day Muslim World to shame. [node:read-more:link]

Unleashing the Health Care Revolution

There is talk about replacing Obamacare. Some believe there isn't enough money to provide healthcare to all.

But "money" is merely a symbol for energy which is either stored (property, goods) or dynamic (services).So instead of asking whether we have enough "money" the better question is "Have we got enough energy?" [node:read-more:link]

Fake News? We Can Decide For Ourselves.

I remember being taught at school that the Russians were brainwashed by their government. It was the 1960's and we were in the midst of the Cold War. Miss Macgregor said Russian people were fed false information by their government who controlled every aspect of their lives. I didn't know what "brainwash" meant but visions of zombies filled me with horror as I imagined scenes from a dystopian sci-fi novel.

But in 1990 my band Crunch became one of the first western bands to perform behind the former iron curtain. So I finally got a chance to actually go there and see for myself. [node:read-more:link]

Capitalists and Socialists are BOTH Stupid

To a socialist, capitalism is the root of all evil. Likewise capitalists believe socialists eat babies for lunch. But what each group is demonizing is merely the extreme version of the other. In reality socialism and capitalism are merely the opposite points along a continuum. This type of black and white thinking is an error in logic which polarizes the population into opposing groups. Psychologists call this type of black and white thinking "splitting". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splitting_(psychology). [node:read-more:link]

Is Internet Gossip more reliable than Mainstream News?

Is internet gossip more reliable than mainstream news?

Mainstream journalists often express despair that people "believe everything they read on the internet". The standard wisdom is that news must be sourced reliably. As such, good journalists faithfullly adhere to a code of standards.

But Ronald Reagan's deregulation of the media in the 80's has reduced the evening news to mere entertainment and worse, a tool of propaganda for a few corporations. Likewise the UK media is becoming more and more subject to corporate interests. [node:read-more:link]

Is Internet Gossip more reliable than Mainstream News?

Is internet gossip more reliable than mainstream news?

Mainstream journalists often express despair that people "believe everything they read on the internet". The standard wisdom is that news must be sourced reliably. As such, good journalists faithfullly adhere to a code of standards.

But Ronald Reagan's deregulation of the media in the 80's has reduced the evening news to mere entertainment and worse, a tool of propaganda for a few corporations. Likewise the UK media is becoming more and more subject to corporate interests. [node:read-more:link]

Horror Stories in Law: Don't Sign Away Your Rights!

I signed a NDE (non-disclosure agreement) with my former record company and regretted it. At the time I was pressured into it by my lawyer who told me it was normal procedure and I had to do it if I wanted to settle. But I regret being unable to warn young musicans of the pitfalls of signing with a record label. I vowed never to sign another one.

Years later after winning my Gearslutz lawsuit, I was presented with another one. This time I refused. The refusal cost me about 10 grand. But I do not regret it. It's a matter of principle. [node:read-more:link]

Let's get rid of Politicians!

Our current system of voting is archaic and needs an overhaul. This change should be imposed from the top down but should instead evolve virally through technology.

We currently have a system where citizens vote for politicians who in turn vote on the issues. This is due to the impracticality of each citizen voting on every little issue. But technology and the internet could change that. Through the use of encryption, a public vote on each issue may now be feasible. [node:read-more:link]

Opt-in Citizenship

Imagine being the citizen of a country which you do not live in but which you chose to be an online member of. Each individual would get the choice of which government to pay taxes to. This would create competition and put pressure on governments to offer a decent level of service with regard schools, police, health,etc. Call it "Opt-in Citizenship". Is this possible? Can anybody see this working? [node:read-more:link]

Corporate Media Breaking Bad - Today USA, Tomorrow the World

Is corporate media destroying the USA? If so, how did it happen?

Though Ronald Reagan is generally seen as one of America's most successful and popular presidents, he has however left a rather questionable legacy. In fact one could argue that many of our current problems are as a result of his policies. [node:read-more:link]

History is NOW!

We usually think of the world in the "olden days" as being something quite distinct and alien from the one we live in today. We see ourselves as modern and sophisticated. But if you think about it, NO one sees themselves as living in the "olden days". ALL people think of themselves as "modern". The Black and White aspect of "old time" photos adds to this sense of otherworldliness. [node:read-more:link]

The Relativity Theory of Personality and the Oppressive Nature of Astrology

I believe in astrology, but disagree with the actual use of it because of this fundamental flaw;

Astrology plays down the fluid, dynamic and relative nature of personality and fixes individuals into a stereotype. In doing so, it is oppressive and limiting. [node:read-more:link]

Celebrities Suck

We Human Beanz have always looked toward leaders and as far as evolution was concerned this may have been a good thing...but modern day celebrities are like the junk food of leadership. They look good, but ain't da real deal. When in doubt just follow yo'self!

Anonymity is the New Rock and Roll. [node:read-more:link]

Celebrities Suck

We Human Beanz have always looked toward leaders and as far as evolution was concerned this may have been a good thing...but modern day celebrities are like the junk food of leadership. They look good, but ain't da real deal. When in doubt just follow yo'self!

Anonymity is the New Rock and Roll. [node:read-more:link]