See this and then this. Back in the day we used to say "Parts is parts."

An old girlfriend took the Mahar position regarding the "courage" of the 9/11 murderers, and we had one of the most satisfying arguments of my lifetime. (Wonderful woman, but a typically inane lefty.) I shoulda took notes.

But I didn't, so let's reflect for a moment on the generally stingy & terrified character of human nature.

People don't want to have to work hard. They don't want to have to make difficult changes to their lives, especially when those changes are permanent. They don't want to surrender beliefs given to them in childhood by the people who raised them, even when those beliefs are readily challenged and unrewarding.

And when people do make an effort of any small size or limited context, they want it regarded as a tremendous sacrifice, an enterprise of incalculable righteousness and consequential glory. A favorite example is this incidental scene from "Amelie," wherein the gamine dreams of returning a few lost toys to a child long since grown up... But if her gesture isn't suitably admired, she'll move on through her life in comfortable selfishness. The human heart bargains with its own laziness: 'Maybe I'll have to do something unpleasant someday, but it will only be for *that one time,* and then I'll be able to relax."

But fantasies of single warrior combat also gratify our cynical belief about odds: 'On any given battle, maybe the wind will be at my back, so I can achieve a freak victory in a couple of seconds, and spend the rest of my life telling people I was completely confident all the while'.

Or, you can judge the bravery of the act by the voltage of its practicalities: How much courage is involved in slitting a flight attendant's throat? (Does anyone remember that TV awards show a few years ago where a rapper punched a distinctively milquetoast musician named Moby? Even as a caveman-level demonstration of aggressive masculinity, it was transparently weak tea.)

How much courage was involved in exploiting any of the vulnerabilities in airline travel on 9/11? (Remember, investigators later concluded that in each of the four attack crews, only one or two team leaders knew they were on a suicide mission.)

In the chaotic & primitive cultures of their childhood —warlord-ruled villages in deserts and lawless 'Big Man' neighborhoods— these attackers know their transgressions would have been answered by reckless violence on their whole families, and perhaps upon an entire block or valley.

Their sensitivities are correct: MODERNITY WILL ALWAYS BE ABOUT SOFT TARGETS. Building a life in contemporary civilization requires all kinds of continuing courage: To trust in the love of a woman, to educate and market yourself, to know how to compose and follow through on contracts and agreements.... Growing up in our cultures requires all kinds of courage, we just don't see it because it's baked into our habits.

But these guys aren't up to it. The Las Vegas contingent of attackers spent their last night in a strip club... Is there any less courageous venue for a final experience of eroticism?



Nope, sorry to have to say this... But I think my old girlfriend, and Bill Maher, and Dalrymple and perhaps our own Amy are confessing an especially childish view of courage when they ascribe it to terrorists.

Courage happens over time, and builds things. It's important but no fun, which is why we admire those who have it.

Wrong thread. Dammit, I'm moving it over. SUE ME

A twofer from KC Johnson about the Rolling Stone defamation lawsuit.

https://twitter.com/kcjohnson9/status/909578503787606016

https://twitter.com/kcjohnson9/status/910140584689524736

So mass murderers of unarmed victims are courageous because they are willing to die? Like Dylan Roof? Oh, we don't mean people like him.

Not an argument I can buy, sorry.

Collages. One quite funny, one...not so much.

https://twitter.com/OrwellNGoode/status/910329929899880448

https://twitter.com/OrwellNGoode/status/907632241135812608

http://metro.co.uk/2017/09/20/this-is-what-the-mexico-earthquake-looked-like-on-a-river-6943324/?ito=twitter

Poor Jimmy Kimmel just can't help himself. #BoycottHollywood

Kimmel: GOP Are Villains Looking to Take Your Kid’s Health Care

http://www.wtol.com/story/36413858/prosecutor-mom-of-child-who-died-in-hot-car-not-charged

Another busy busy parent bakes the kid to death in the back seat. No charges, naturally.

We are asking way too much of police officers; asking them to maintain order, treat the mentally ill, advance race relations, and deal with their own psychological issues without telling anyone.

Another busy busy parent leaves her kids to bake in the back seat because she's having "a bad day."

Interestingly, she faces more of a penalty than the busy busy parent who actually killed her child by doing so.

A woman accused of leaving her three small children in a hot car while she got her daily dose of medication told a judge she had had a “really bad day.” ... On Wednesday, Judge Fowler ordered Arnold to pay $1,180 in fines and fees.

Well, then...

http://www.kktv.com/content/news/Mad-Pooper-wanted-by-Springs-Police-444969443.html

With Jose, Irma, Maria, and two major earthquakes, can we really afford to scoff at this one?

"Christian Numerologist" is a contradiction in terms.

Crid: Christianity has dabbled in numerology since the first century. See the Book of Revelation 13:18.