9.28.09

I made a list last night. Because discipline I lack. Sigh. I wonder what I was thinking back years ago when I was reading Henry Miller and I thought it'd be so great to be a writer. Does a kid at 14 actually understand Henry Miller. Should a kid at 14 understand Henry Miller. Why are my questions ending in a period. Did it again--sigh...

I keep thinking about my place within a lineage of people. I sometimes think about the fact that I'm here because all of my ancestors survived long enough to reproduce. That's strange. And its a very very long time. That kind of historical span is like reflecting on space--as Douglas Adams said, its big, unimaginably big.

Here I am. Speck O dust. Well a compound of proteins, water, errr other things too--atoms and void and Epicurus would say.

One of these days all of this--the world, as in Wittgensteins "my world"--will make sense. Or maybe it won't. But maybe just maybe right before I die, I'll chuckle and go, "oh, I get it now."

I'm going to work now... [actually i'm going to go put on my boots...]

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Jim Nichols
Under the Name of Reason
www.JimNichols4.com

Last post then off to school...

People keep asking me where I've learned what I've learned. I don't tend to think I'm that knowledgeable yet... at least I'm nowhere near what I'm capable of and where I should be. Lack of discipline, family, and political obligations keep me too busy to do the intellectual leg work I'd like to do.

But if you like what I have to say I can give you a few recommendations
1. Read often and broadly

2. Read quality blogs (where I've gotten all of my economics for the most part)

3. Read different newspapers from different political perspectives. Most importantly the New York Times since it sets the national media agenda and is the newspaper for movers and shakers in the world. You want to know what they are reading and thinking. Secondly the wall-street journal. I'm sorry to see the decline since Murdock... and they've had some loses because of it. But the WSJ is a great news source. The opinion page is a joke... but the news is par excellance--the reason being if you are going to make good financial decisions you need to know whats actually going on with as little spin as possible. Also Financial Times is a good read as well... NPR in the mornings... when I do watch the news on tv its Jim Leher on PBS. And online news I get at Democracy Now probably THE BEST news source out there. But its so reality based that it sounds as if a news report from mars...

4. COntact people you come across authors, teachers, and other nonprofessional intellectuals you might come across. Stay networked.. ask questions

5. The back of the book... where are the sources and citations go... thats where you learn to leap from...

thats about it. A little tip from me to you. Please feel free to throw out your own in the comments page.

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Jim Nichols
A Speculative Fiction
www.JimNichols4.com

And you may ask yourself....

My mind... can't my mind.... "can't think... where am... what time... who? errr...." He looks over at the small box with music coming out. All he see is 2:32.... 2:32... 2:32... seems to mean something but he is not quite sure.

"What time does that mean? When do I have to go to work? What do I do? Why can't I concentrate on what this little black box is trying to tell me?" 2:32. Still bemused... still staring... his fiances whispers over to him. Its 2:30.... you got to go.

"Yup... knew that... most definitely... I'm JUST NOT SURE WHAT THE CONTEXT FOR THAT NUMBER IS... ahh... wait. Yes 2:30... I have to leave by 3:00. I work at UPS. This is my beautiful house.... that is my beautiful wife... My name is Jim and my mind doesn't work cause it went to bed about 2 and half hours ago. Noting more nothing less."

Its strange when your mind just doesn't work for just a brief moment that seems like eternity. It was very funny... very surreal... very scary/weird.

For fun....



okay this is more like it....



I love my life... even when its weird....

"get some, get some, get some---go again"


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Jim Nichols
A Speculative Fiction
www.JimNichols4.com

off to school... via 285 to marta... to five pionts station...

To school I go... school to school me. Its 12:03... i'm hungry... I'm not done with my readings...

get some, get some, get some, get some--go again..

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Jim Nichols
A Speculative Fiction
www.JimNichols4.com

Its 6:52...

and I'm finally about to get working on my homework which was in theory going to get started on Thursday... sigh...

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Jim Nichols
A Speculative Fiction
www.JimNichols4.com

off to work...

"get some, get some, get some, get some... go again" --Henry Rollins

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Jim Nichols
A Speculative Fiction
www.JimNichols4.com

For my Dad...

My dad took off from the safe world of corporate America and moved to the Philippines and start a buinsess in a third world country that needs his knowledge and skills.

I am inspired every day by his determination and it will work out for him as long as he keeps plugging away and following the buinsses leads that come across his way.

Sometimes I think he wonders what the fuck he's doing. Sometimes the struggle is what makes your life have meaning...





Cheers Dad... I love you!

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Jim Nichols
A Speculative Fiction
www.JimNichols4.com

This week... each one of you has a homework assignment...

I jokingly tell people I've quit as Chairman and as someone trying to be active in the Democratic Party about 20 times this year...

I'm sacrificing a lot... and in many ways and for many reasons I see it as futile. So many Democrats don't walk the walk and put their money and time where their mouth is.

Everybody has a job, everybody it tight on money, everybody wants to watch American Idol (okay... no I don't... I've never seen the thing.)

The National Party and State Party are in my opinion in a wreck and aren't doing the things they need to do to fix their sturctural problems.

Am I just sustaining something that will never do anything but people me into a life where I don't get to do what I do best which is thinking, reading, and writing...

I'd love to go back to throwing house parties on human rights issues that nobody goes to...

I'm tired of always watching my message... (yes people we need to raise taxes to the levels of other industrialized nations if not more...)

I came across something this morning..

John 21:18

I tell you the solemn truth, when you were young, you tied your clothes around you and went wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will tie you up and bring you where you do not want to go.”

I feel pretty tied up...

I don't get to spend the time with my fiance and friends that I want... I watch my GPA get get... I long to sit and just read... hell I crashed out about 7 pm and was just out... Deana had to clean up dinner and dragged me up to bed--I as always when woken up out of deep sleep just babble incomprehensably and stumble around...


I need to learn to laugh at the sacrfice...

"you don't know where I've been lou... you don't know where I've been" Tyler




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Jim Nichols
A Speculative Fiction
www.JimNichols4.com

New Orleans Pic's

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Jim Nichols
A Speculative Fiction
www.JimNichols4.com

got to run to work...

But on my to-read list is... A Basic Income for AllIf you really care about freedom, give people an unconditional income.

Won't be drinking liberally tonight... sorry Peter! Got to go to an obama event in Fayette with Jerry Brilliant...


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Jim Nichols
A Speculative Fiction
www.JimNichols4.com

The sermon this week at First Methodist church of Stockbridge

I went to First Methodist church of Stockbridge yesterday. I had been meaning to for a while. It was a lovely church. Smaller than some of the mega churches that have become the rage but seems active.

Having been raised in a Methodist church there is something interesting about the feeling of... what I'd guess i'd call coming home. Something about the connections of feeling a comfort... and the traditions and songs... it was nice.

The sermon was on Matthew 25:31-46

The Sheep and the Goats
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

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Jim Nichols
A Speculative Fiction
www.JimNichols4.com

is this thing on??

[tap tap tap... man hits mic gets slight feedback]
"is this thing on"
[echo of an empty room... from the back of the bar a voice yells out]
"Bar closed three hours ago man! Your too late!"
[man at mic, sighs a long sigh... might have been his only shot... he turns and walks off stage]

---------

so I've been wanting to post on a ton of stuff and I just haven't had time--got home from GA State at 12:25 last night. Up by 1:45. I could tell you where from the core of me I'm pulling this out... but you would have had too have been there. One of those subjective: you had to have seen what I saw, everything--the smells, the sounds, the people lost in this haze of hollowness.

Come to a interesting concession on the Fair Tax I want to talk about. McCain talking points. INteresting experience at board of elections on Tuesday night.

WIll catch up soon I promise! Till now go read the NYT's and email a synopsis of a story I haven't had time to read--that would be lovely.

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Jim Nichols
A Speculative Fiction
www.JimNichols4.com

6 hours left and counting

Taking a quick break from my two day paper writing marathon.

Its due by 11:59 tonight and its 6:42 now. I'm through the first two sections and have 3 sections left. I'm taking a moment of pause to catch my breath, rest my eyes, and call my lovely fiance to say hello.

Thats all...

I'll post both of these papers tomorrow. I'm not really happy with either of them. It's that old addage about the amount of time and effort you put into something will show in the results you produce. You can say that one again! Sigh... you do what you can, you do what you must, and you always try your hardest. Above and beyond that its merely useless stress worries and lack of perspective of your place and capabilities as a human.

p.s. anyone know why I can't link to my own page in my signature? I guess they don't want me inflating my google rank? Sigh...
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Jim Nichols
A Speculative Fiction
www.JimNichols4.com

"It was much pleasanter at home, when one wasn't always growing larger and smaller, and being ordered about by mice and rabbits." --Alice

"I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!" Alice --"Alice in Wonderland"

28. Strange word. Actually the word would be twenty-eight. 28 is a number and numbers are things which I still don't quite comprehend. They are out "there" before I was and will be "there" long after I'm gone--a fact which is both marvelously beautiful, yet the fact that I can't understand "there" or what it is seems to make me both scared and sad; as if I'm missing out on something of great importance.

I went camping this weekend. Something I haven't done in years. It was wonderful, tromping in the woods. The dirt and grim. Everything alive around you. Moutains, cliffs that hang in the air. Knocks and crannies out of the jagged rock. How all of this happend--and how long it took to happen. Facinating, and I wish I could be there to watch the whole thing. Tonjna would say I have been. Since the very begining, little bacteria that struggles topsy-turvie into this mamamel that has forsight and the ability to see--and hence plan--into the future.

If nature could predict I doubt it would have been able to forsee what as mess such an entity would make of the world. Where forthought seems to be something that could create progress it has reapped destructiveness--or maybe thats a lineage from a more violent brain? That we haven't fully passed that mechanism in the brain.

Progress--silly word--I'm taking a class on the individual and soceity where we are dealing with the philosophical response to the Enlightenment thinkers. Ah the Enlightenment. Such grandiose belief in progress, improvement, reason. And then we get wacked with the reality that there is no progress--maybe a construct, that comes from our biology--but nothing that is coming from history. I still believe in Progress, but its now something I do, we do, rather than something innate in the world. Progress can slip away as quickly as it has come about. What the fuck good are antibiotics or cancer treatments to someone sitting in Iraq, Palestine, Sudan? Sigh.

"But then, shall I never get any older than I am now? That'll be a comfort, one way never to be an old woman -- but then -- always to have lessons to learn!" Alice --"Alice in Wonderland"

To think that I am, rather than not am. To think something rather than nothing. I remember when I went to visit my Dad in the Philippines. I looked at his bookshelf and found Sartre's Being and Nothingness. I was so excitied to pick it up and actually read it! And the thought that my Dad had felt the same way... that we somehow wondered what the world was like--I mean really like--made me feel not so alone.

So I sat and struggled. Page after page. I can tell you I didn't understand it and yet wanted so badly to.

THis is my life... that i'm living one minute at a time.

If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see? Alice --"Alice in Wonderland"






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Jim Nichols
A Speculative Fiction
www.JimNichols4.com

grin

Had a nice lecture on Sartre in the afternoon. Came home for quick dinner and trip to buy food for our camping trip this weekend. Then headed to henry county NAACP meeting, followed that by hitting Henry County Young Democrats meeting. Then to buy last minute camping supplies. COme home to pack for the trip--pack weigh in at 64 lbs. Bed by 11:30... alarm off and 1:30 and drag myself up by 1:46am. Now I'm off to go throw 60 lbs boxes on trucks.

Can't help but think of what henry rollins sang: "get some, get some, get some, get some--go again"

I love this life... and I'm serious as a heartbeat... its an unbelievable privilege--and amazingly beautiful and fun to boot!
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Jim Nichols
A Speculative Fiction
www.JimNichols4.com

gone...

Blogging for today has been short and sweet... I'm off to an Obama house party and then to see ASO perform Beethoven

Robert Spano leads the Orchestra in an evening dedicated to the music of Beethoven including his famed 5th Symphony. The evening will also feature Beethoven’s stellar "Emperor" piano concertos.

Yeah... life is fun...
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Jim Nichols
A Speculative Fiction
www.JimNichols4.com