THE ABSURD TIMES A Florida Cartoon on Ron Illustration: We Just Get Tired BlBlame it on Woke by HHonest Charlie Thanks for reading AbsurdTimes's Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. By the time I finish my introduction here, there begins a longish text by Adorno, a formidable member of the so-called Frankfort School, or the practice of Critical Theory. More about it later, but it will be issued in parts in subsequent postings without comment. Right now, we need to start off with the stupid overuse of the word "woke," an indispensable part of any aspiring leader of the MAGA Mob. I honestly have not heard the term used by anyone else with any seriousness, nor does it deserve any. These days, anything that approaches something that these rabble-rousers dislike (and they spend a great deal of money making sure of what it is that the rabble dislikes) becomes "woke" and they plan to destroy it. However, we can review some history of similar events and realize that "woke" has always been with us – it simply has not been identified as such. Even Social Security was deemed "woke" until the State of the Union. The process had rece3ived some attention and the backlash amongst the rabble was so intense that these cringing Magats all of a sudden cringed at any thought that they ever even considered axing Social Security. They could have remembered an old "Tea Party" movement, a precursor to the 'Birthers' and now the Magats, was militant about Social Security. At one time, a Republican Senator from Pennsylvania (yes, he of the magic bullet ruse) was attacked during a town hall with cries of "keep your government hands off my Social Security". This leaves little to say. Previously, Socil Security had been called 'socialism' as FDR constructed several changes under his "new deal". Ronald Ray Gun was acting the role of President as corporate Amerika cast him as their attacker in chief. We lack the word 'woke' at the time, so we had only "socialism" to attack and were a bit handicapped by that as some people actually knew what it was. "Woke" had no such problems. After all, our system had so badly allowed greed to blossom so wildly causing it to crash so totally, here and around the world, that FDR could do anything he wanted to save it. If he was a Socialist, he could have nationalized all the banks, things would probably still be better today, but he did not. When he ran, he gave his reason: "I need to save my friends from themselves." In other words, we need some rules. So what happened at the state of the Union? Well, such events were usually quite sedate affairs. One moronic scum shouted "you lie" at Obama and that was about all that ever happened. But this last time, Joe Biden (hardly a flaming liberal) was able to lash out at the Maga plans against Social Security and the entire place was in an uproar with denials! Elected Maga types screamed and shouted denials, attacking Biden's status as a human beling! That marked the end of a string of attempts to undo another bit of progress made by FDR back in the 1930s. Social Security lost its role as woke. The previous time Social Security was being attacked was by the Bush/Cheney mob and a scheme to put all the money from the Social Security fund into the stock market. At that time, after the repeal of another FDR program, the Stock market crashed and the scheme was abandoned. The Dodd/Frank bill was passed and that kept things safe until Trump and the repeal of Dodd/Frank (and Frank, now with a salary of 2 or 3 million a year, was very much behind the repeal) by a well-bribed Congress and a batty Trump. Just recently, a couple more large banks collapsed as a result, and perhaps some new regulations will be put into place. At the very least, the stupidity and greed of big money has screwed things up so foolishly that the public has forgotten the drilling in the new lands and other broken promises of the Biden administration. Or, to make things more comprehensible to the MAGA minions, Dodd/Frank was not involved – all that happened was that a few "Woke" banks failed. These woke people have to learn what's right. Ron De Fascist and Dopey Donald seem to make lovely alternatives. Ron's crusade against Walt Disney and Donald's claims of "witch-hunt" and aspirations to be the "retribution" for the scum simply need to do some more work. One of the great misfortunes of the civil war is that anyone with any capacity for abstract thought moved north and the south was left basically with the white trash. Nixon recognized this as it was a key part of his "southern strategy". He also predicted that Donald would someday become an effective politician. (Yes, there are still some sane and thoughtful people in the south and they at least benefit politically from the population increase of former slaves as they will usually be more liberal than the white trash. This is also a good time to point to a bit of wisdom often quoted and originating with the Texan Lyndon Johnson, who other then his unjustifiable war, was fairly insightful: "If you tell a poor, stupid, low white man that he is better than the richest and most educated black person, he will let you pick his pocket." That was a strategy he often employed. Finally, to sum up the Trump business we can only ask 'How can there be a witch hunt when we know who the witch is?' Why hunt when he identified himself? It all smacks of Woke to me. Now, what has all of this got to do with "woke"? Actually, it is working up to a more important question: What has Florida got to do with CRT? What is this CRT? Well, it is kind of like "woke". All they really know is that it points out racist behavior and the rest they make up. They haven't the slightest idea of what it is – all they need to know is that somehow it points out that white people have not always been very nice to black people. Well, they haven't! Who can argue with that? Well, every bit of white trash who thinks that somehow all the black people are going to take things away from white people and they, the white people, are better than the black people. Are you befuddled enough? Well, don't be. Put directly, CRT is just one more example of being woke, just like Disney. Florida, according to its governor, is "where 'woke' goes to die". Well, now, here is a bit of real Critical Theory, prefaced by a few serious remarks. The excerpt will be continued in another posting in a few days or so, without much commentary: This is the second book of Adordo's aphorisms, an example of Critical Theory written in honor of Max Horkheimer, leader of Critical Theory.An aphorism is not, as commonly believed, a single sentence wittily phrased, laced with paradox or anger. It is rather a condensed discussion of a single subject under a single heading, lasting as long a several paragraphs and often as short as the single, biting, sentence. There is no explanation for the confusion of the two concepts, but it is best to make it clear from the onset.Adorno is patently wrong and in error on every single subject he discusses, misunderstanding every author or subject in turn and, in general, confounding ideas and concepts in a simple-minded way. Eventually, during the course of the discussion as he explains why he made the interpretation he did, he eventually reveals a clear, incisive and correct opinion on every single subject and there is not a single point on which one can contradict him.Now, the paragraph above seems to be pure nonsense, but it is my own parody on how Adorno actually works. Early on in the discussion one is tempted to disagree with him, but as he progresses to explain his views he seems irrefutable and, curiously enough, in accordance with one's own view of the subject, if one actually had one in the first place. It is a strange experience at first, but eventually becomes more comfortable as one's respect for his acumen and honesty is established. One would expect that since the reader had already read the previous posting of book one of this series there was no need for further introduction, but subsequent questions and observations prompted this introduction.For example, Adorno presents an analysis of WWII that few would today be allowed to present, yet he does it skillfully and accurately, although leaving out a few items that will be supplied here. His concern is not with Hitler's, the leader's (Fuürer in German] cruelty, but with his stupidity that is a hallmark of fascism, the linkage of commercialism with warfare that inevitably leads to al lack of creativity. One example he gives is Hitler's decision not to attack England at the time, an attack that would have been successful and led to Germany's victory (supposing it stopped there), but rather to move eastward, violating his treaty with Stalin. Adorno could not have known this at the time, but Hitler often cursed Neville Chamberlain for having "ticked him" and never forgave himself for this blunder. Additionally, he was furious with Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor as the last think he wanted was America's entry into the was, although Roosevelt devoutly hoped for this and perhaps precipitated it. All of this was controversial at the time, but today it is very dangerous to even suggest such a thing and popular wisdom has so deeply ingrained the opposite view.However, if all of this is uncomfortable today, his remarks starting about midway in this essay, in the 70s in number below, are more easily digested by today's mind, although the commercial interests would be very upset indeed with these insights. He talks about the decline of the Union at a time when it was very powerful and correctly predicts its decline. He talks of the artificial nature of quality in mass-production. For example, the Cadillac at that time was considered the epitome of automotive quality, but he points out that in almost every instance the design of the Cadillac is the same as the Chevrolet. Only materials and production of a much cheaper nature are substituted to produce a wider-selling car. Then he moves to his more valuable critique of cognition itself, or modern science, that systematically devalues everything that gives human meaning to life and, more to the point, the very scientists themselves. Today, it is only the "popularizer" of Science that gives it any meaning.He comments on a great many other issues, and this brief introduction to book two should be considered as one person's observations thereon:Minima Moralia by Theodor AdornoPart II |
Showing posts with label Scum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scum. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Woke
Sunday, December 15, 2019
The Scum Also Rises
THE ABSURD TIMES
THE SCUM ALSO RISES
BY
CZAR DONIC
Oscar Levant, for our President.
He at least knew he was schizophrenic.
Also was a poet, writing "Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, I'm schizophrenic, and so am I."
If you ever do see one of his films, watch the fingerwork. He ws the first to direct the long shot to come first and THE the focus on the hands. You will marvel at how fucking fast his fingers anc moe and so precisely.
At the end of this file, we have a few more contemporary photos or illustrations.
A few weeks ago, I tuned in to TCM, a cable channel started by Ted Turner, a colorful person in himself. It features, uncut and commercial free, older movies, classics, and often will gather them around such topics as directors, actors, even cinematographers. This time, they were featuring Oscar Levant, a fascinating subject. I thought I knew a great deal about him, but I learned a few things that were new to me. The show came at a good time as it presaged that last election in Britian and was during the time of Trump, two preposterous "rulers" that had reminded me of a remark of Oscar's.
Levant was what was then called "manic-depressive," but retained his sharp wit until the end. The quote I remembered was after he left treatment for severe depression, saying "I was kicked out for depressing the other patients." Particularly apt these days.
I also remembered he held the record for an album ranked number one for over a year, his classical recording of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. I learned, however, that he also had one called the Concerto in F, also by Gershwin, and in addition an even more enduring Prano Concerto #1, by Tsychowski. (I believe there was one more such recording, but I've forgotten what it was by now.) The point is, he was such a popular and outspoken critic, that one forgets that at the time he was ranked above Horowitz and others as the greatest pianist of the time. (To dispell argument, I'll add "one of" to that.) I have also heard his Pavanne for a Dead Princess in an album titled some "Some Tolerable Moments in the 20th Century," or something like that, and it is an excellent rendition. But his live remarks were soon to obscure all that.
First, he wrote two books, A Smattering of Ignorance and Memoirs of an Amnesiac. The first was number one on the Times best seller list. The second is depressing, even to me. That'll give you an idea.
In all of his movies (he never played a leading role, of course), he was given free reign to ad-lib all of his line as they were better that any writer could ever have come up with. So far as I can remember, all of his recordings were in the 40s, his television appearances until the very early 60s. The House of Un-American Activities Committee once contemplated investigating him as a "Communist," but found out that he was thrown out of a couple of their meetings for wisecracks. He would have not made a good target at all. In fact, the hearings would have likely been laughed out of existence if they had called him and he showed up to testify.
I can imagine some of the testimony:
"Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist party?"
"No, they didn't like me and I would not care to be a member of any group that would have me in it."
"Now Mr Levant, are you taking this situation as seriously as it deserves?"
"I think there is little doubt about that."
I simply can not imagine this without slipping into my mind twisting into warped spasms of laughter.
Would he have? Think of it this way. One of the most respected and tyrannical conductors ever to live, and certainly at the time, was Arturo Toscanni. He would break sticks during rehersals out of rage. One day he was especially terrifying while Oscar Levant was doing rehersal with his orchestra. Oscar became so weary of it he said to him "If you don't behave, I'm gonna follow your beat."
If Toscanni could not impress him, McCarthy certainly woud not have. QED.
TODAY
I had thought that the title would suffice for the topic and the brief biography of Levant would be a good introduction. The truth, however, is that I find it impossible after that to take today seriously.
Now we see the progress we have made as a civiliation. Donald Trump tweeted about 126 times is less than 24 hours as and after the House of Representatives voted for 2 Articles of impeachment. He is to become the only President to be impeached in his first term, a record like to stand for another 240 years, perhaps more if we managed, as we show all signs of doing, to eliminate humans from the earth as a result of an unlivable climate.
Cyberbullying
Never really understood it, but then kids get consequences in school as a result of peers? Maybe. Meanwhile, Melania Trump (yes, she is his wife) became upset when a Lar Professor said "Donald can not make his son a Baron, although he can give him that name," or words close to that. Then Donald attacked a 16 year old girl and told he to "chill". Seems she had people talking about the climate and, probably the greatest sine of all, go named PERSON OF THE YEAR, instead of him. Melania said nothing at first, but Greta said she was dealing with the anger management problem by chilling and watching a movie with a friend. About the same time, a Judge fined Donald 2 million for stealing from his own charity to pay debts on "deal" that went bad and to have a fake cover of Time made to list him as MAN OF THE YEAR. I'm told the three oldes kids of Trump also have to attend some lecture on not stealing from children, but this may not be the fact, but then again, what is a fact these days?
In other words, Donald has already lost the Twitter war to her and citing her Asperger's as a reaqson to make him more heinous is superfluous. It seems to make her superior.
McConnell, who has stifled over 2,000 bipartisan bills has announced that her is already coordinating with the WH counsel. In other words, a jurist, perhaps the foreman, is coordinating the the defense council. The Judge in the Senate trial will be Roberts, once considered a Republican (a previous version of Republican, B.T. – before Trump), will be the judge. We have much to be sick about.
All Senators will take an oath to evaluate the evidence fairly. At least more than half will lie. This is called perjury, although Senate Rules make them immune to prosecution. Otherwise, nothing would ever get done, even with honest people.
Much of Trump's unhappiness stems from this cover from Time magazine:
He was not happy with this at all.
especially since a judge fined him for using his charity's money to pay for his earlier version..
So, another teenager produced:
At least, no work on the hands was needed.
Labels:
Greta,
Impeaqachment,
Oscar Levant,
Scum
Sunday, April 07, 2019
The Scum Also Rises
THE ABSURD TIMES
Just as we orbit around the Sun, the Sun orbits around the core of the Milky Way. Relative to the center of the galaxy, we're moving at an average speed of 143 miles per second—even at that breakneck speed though, it still takes 225 to 250 million terrestrial years to complete one trip around. (Just to keep things in perspective.)
THE SCUM ALSO RISES
BY
CZAR DONIC
The title is a combination of a tribute to both bald Gonza and Hemmingway to whome Gertrude Stein once said "Earnest, You're always wearing a wig on your chest." He was so poor in Paris that he sat of park benches waiting for stray pigeons stupid enough to get close him, grabbed them, wrung their necks, and too them home to feed his family. One assumes the parts given to his family, at least, were cooked. But we are trying to write about the train of recent events over the last week or so and not go insane without the aid of alcohol.
So first we got hit with the idea of bribery to get kids into "prestige" schools like UMC and Yale (a strange combination). Yale is more famous for a learning ground for suit-wearing preps who study how to become government agents and overthrow foreign governments, any foreign government. Clean cut and pure and skull and crossbones. Yeah, true Amerikans.
Which reminds us to look up tuition history. At one time in Chicago, under Dick Daley, Junior College tuition was free (one-half by the state and half by the city), just as long as you took PE. (In Champaign Urbana it was just half). That explains why I could play semi-pro baseball (once shutout a AAA minor league baseball team in Eau Claire Wisconsin belonging to the Cubs). That way, I could forget about the stupid baseball scholarship and free room and board at an all-jock dormitory that would have been Hell. Stupidity strutted down the halls with a badge of honor. Now, of course, the legislators found out that people actually learn some things in higher education, so they kept raising the tuition until only the mindless children of the wealthy could afford to go.
Next? We have to cover international stuff and also have a few snippets from Daffy Don here and there.
Turkey: Erdogan made some remark about rising eggplant prices causing his political defeats and therefore he will buy his weapons from Russia.
France: An inspiration to all of us to wear yellow anywhere. France had the same choice as we did in the last election, either an insane fascist or a well-dressed austerity junkie. They chose the latter. We choose the former. Oh,hey, civil war in Libya, but Looney John Bolton still wants to use the Libya model for North Korea. That's why fat and jolly guy from Kansas is now secretary of State. I assume the President or Supreme Leader of North Korea still sends love letters to Trump.
Boeing is angry, which makes absolutely no difference to me as I will not get on an airplane and haven't since 9/11, not for fear of terrorists, but the driving to and from the airport and trying to get through the checkout line, all of which makes it much easier and more efficient to drive. "Take you shoes off, bend over, let's search you anal cavity, you have more than 2 ounces of liquid with you, and batteries?" It's damn nuts! And we still have idiots saying "Better safe than sorry." Why is that a choice? Or rather why isn't that a choice? Let's have an airline that doesn't give a damn, says fly at your own risks, and bombs welcome? Before that, it was still strange. People would get on planes and hijack them to Cuba as it was a safer place for them. It was so strange that once Marlon Brando was arrested for saying, joking, but not letting on, "Is the plane to Cuba?"
Trumps Tax Returns – you almost only have to mention them to get a laugh. It is about as funny as a headline I saw: THE LEFT CAN'T MEME! Yes, it's funny until you find out it is supposedly a serious article about politics. So, tax returns – aren't we the only country that subjects its people to that ritual to the extent that anyone who can afford it has to hire a tax attorney or a CPA? If you can't, you probably don't have to file. Now 10 years of Tax returns made public? Give it up, folks, give it up.
Have you heard that windmills cause cancer? Trump says so. Also, the United States is like a cheap motel: NO VACANCIES if you try to cross the border with a coyote? Don Quixote!
Where are you when we need you. Attack those windmills before we all get cancer and the giants come. Wehat giants? Where did that come from?" Who cares, it's there now.
Let's heard it for the Jewish Republicans for Trump! Democrats are anti-Semitic. We know that because they use tropes. Yeah, whatch out for the wild tropes coming from the evil Democrats. Better safe than sorry. No more holocausts! If the Democrats had their way, they'd put windmills in your back yard, giving you cancer and reducing your home's value by 75%. The reason he knows this is because he lowered the value of everything he owns when it was time to file taxes, and then killed the windmills as soon as the filing was over and he applied for a bank loan. How does one go bankrupt running a casino?
Hey, we need a head of the Federal Reserve. Remember that strange black guy who used to run Godfathers Pizza and said 9,9,9 was his tax solution? He will by Daffy Don's nominee for head of the Fed. Why the hell not? He can fight it out in the alley with John Bolton.
The secret is out from England and it makes the whole Brexit nightmare seem insignificant: Details emerged that Margaret Thatcher used to spank Christopher Hitchens. We have that detail from none other that Salmon Rushdie who, I assume, is no longer under a Fatwah for his death from writing SATANIC VERSES. I don't know – he may be getting into deep mud here in exposing Maggie as a sexual predator – much worse than Pizza gate from the twisted mind of Steve Bannon.
I'm tired and you just have to take the rest as if I covered it. Just remember, and Anarchist is someone who thinks all institutions should justify their existence.
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