August 31st, 2007 by Max
Hans Hoffman, a professor of Anthropology at Binghamton University, whom I had for both North American and South American Indians class, once told us, “Every society that has ever existed, has made beer”. Thanks Hans.
I’m here to suggest that every society that has ever existed has made their own mythologies. Indeed their own religions.
This was necessary because the naked apes that moved off of the plains of northern Africa, had a complicated two sided genetic advantage. They were smart. Smart people try to explain things. Smart people are aware of things. Smart people ask questions. And when they’re sitting on the plains of Africa, or on the hillsides of ancient Greece looking at the stars, or pondering civilization’s most perfect form of government in the Senate in Rome, or building a great civilization in China or India or Oahu they all are using the unintended gift that this huge evolutionary step has given them – self awareness and the ability to reason.
But what do they do with these questions? How does their reason provide answers to tough questions? THEY MAKE STUFF UP!
We know now that Zeus never existed. Olympus is a mountain not a supernatural villa. Valhalla doesn’t exist, despite how much we really would like to meet a Valkyrie. We know these were all made up, by intelligent people, to explain the world and themselves and why they’re here and where they’re going. That’s what myths do. That’s what religions do.
Joseph Campbell would have told you that many many of these myths involve a heroic figure, who takes it upon himself or herself to risk, and ultimately give up their lives, going into the underworld, or the land of the dead in order to save their society. 
World mythologic history is replete with these stories. And in some of them, the hero returns, conquers death and brings life to the chosen people because God looks upon them with favor.
God sometimes interferes with the people. God sometimes directs them. God sometimes asks for understanding and sometimes acts with vengeance.
If you Google “hero conquers death and saves the chosen people” you’ll get this link (as well as one on Buffy the Vampire Slayer – which only further proves its a classic)
http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/hml/hml21.htm the Myths/Saga’s link will take you to everything from Age of Reason to Zoroastrianism.
Here’s the point. People, because they have big brains, needed answers. But they didn’t know where or how to find the answers … they made them up. These answers were entrusted to the special people of those societies, the healers, the seers, the shamans and the priests.
What those people did for society – besides nurse all of humanity into the Age of Reason (and beyond) was answer questions. These are the questions they answered.
- - Why am I here?
- - How should I behave?
- - What is the world?
- – And finally: What will happen to me when I die?
Mythology – Lets call it Religion, answered the social questions.
These questions all were intertwined. A fabric of threads were woven together by meaning and mysticism. A fabric of society was woven together by the priests and their religions.
As years went by different social structures were developed that unraveled those some of those threads, by answering some of those questions.
The need for the priest was reduced, as other roles were created, that answered these questions, or at least provided answers that led to more questions that allowed the humans to use these brains.
- - Why am I here?
- Still a philosophically active question. Answered now by philosophers as wells as priests.
- - How should I behave? – Answered now by governments, a rational, if imperfect, human response to the question of how we naked apes should live with each other. Governments!
- - What is the world? – Ah here’s the rub. Science! We reject Ptolemy now and the crystal sphere. We don’t know all of the answers, but we know physics has them, and little by little we persuade physics to give them up!
- – And finally: What will happen to me when I die? – No one knows.
Though the first question still remains unanswered. Society now has different structures in place that have usurped the role of the Shaman or Priest of ancient societies – and I believe for the better.
But we are in conflict. Among traits most common to humans, is the unwillingness to let go of an idea. It happens. Rational people, if proved wrong, can accept new ideas. We want proof though. Irrational people cling to theories proven untrue centuries ago. I don’t know if there are any flat earth people who still exist, but I bet there are. They would be a good example of people who, when faced with proof of a new reality, still cling to their old belief. It gives them comfort. Another example is people who think that the earth is 5000 years old.
Some spiritual scientists would have you believe that there is no conflict between religion and science. There has been conflict in the past – with Religion bringing down the heavy hammer of dogma on many people. Ask Galileo.
Other structures have taken over the role of organized religion in society. Most notably government. In our case – Democracy. Remember that the Catholic Church was the sole arbiter of the law in the dark ages. Like I said, Dark Ages.
For a time there was no distinction between the King and God. Evolution. Democracy. Lets call it … Evolutionary Democracy. Evolutionary Democracy has provided an oportunity for western humans to divorce themselves from the divine right of kings. A change for the better I would say. Stronger, more secular government. Keeping religion out of government was wise for Thomas Jefferson to do. It would be wise for Saudi Arabia and Iran to do this too.
So Democracy claims a little of the old sway of the priest. And Science claims a bit more. These are examples of new ideas for humans. Ideas that answer questions the people previously looked to the priest to answer. Perhaps unfortunately other structures have evolved. Communism, as it is practiced now, is an example. I submit Social Democracies have a chance, but that’s politics for another time. Pseudo science threatens to make inroads, where science should reign. And new religions emerge. Mormonism http://www.i4m.com/think/southpark/lost_pages.htm, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Scientology have all been created in the last two hundred years as old thinking fights back. Conservative ideas grasping to reshape themselves and struggling to keep hold on the minds of the people.
I believe in Democracy. I believe in Science. I’m optimistic about the future.
evolution1.pdf
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August 30th, 2007 by Max
So here’s the scene. I’m out gardening at the edge of my property. Shadow, the neighbor’s dog on one side sits quietly watching me trim the grass away from my seedling Norway Spruces. Mr Brazee on the other side, the Coach of the State Champion basketball team, practices archery as he tunes up for bow season.
Two kids cut across my back yard and ply me with the “support the football team” discount card. I grumble about how I never use it, but I like to support the kids, and hand over ten bucks.
The humid air has turned marginally cooler as I sit back and wish it would rain. I smile at my little Rockwellian piece of the American dream.
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August 29th, 2007 by Max
Here’s a link to the Franklin Mountain Hawk Watch site:
http://www.doas.us/franklinmt.htm
Write to Andy and get these daily emails during Migration season. They’re neat to receive, no spam. Just interesting stats.
AndyMason@earthling.net . Yes, that says earthling. Just send him a note asking him to add you to his email list.
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August 27th, 2007 by Max
When I was young I asked about how the continents appeared to fit together. “Does that mean they were once connected?” I asked innocently. It looked pretty clear that they did fit together. I asked a nun. Possibly Sister Mary Cecelia. Whomever it was she said “No”.
Once when I was young and probably camping, I asked my Dad about a fossil I found in a rock in a creek bed. “Wasn’t this a living animal millions of years ago?” I loved rocks and fossils. “No” he said.
Their religion couldn’t allow them to tell me what was true. They couldn’t believe what was right in front of their faces. Religion blinded them.
I thought they told me the truth, so therefore was confused. They looked like old living things who’s imprint were left in rocks. The continents looked like they had moved… BECAUSE THEY HAD!
I may have become a geologist if people responsible for teaching me had only told me the truth. Instead I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. It is important to nurture that spark, when I child is learning. Instead I got superstition and confusion.
And never figured out what to do with my life.
I feel cheated by superstition, when I could have had science. Tell me again why religion and science are not opposed to each other?
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August 25th, 2007 by Max
People with televisions will remember commercials for Paxil, when the announcer gives his warning of side effects, at the end of the commercial, would add “some sexual side effects”.
Years ago I figured out that I was depressed. It was a long time ago and I really don’t think about it too much now, but at the time I figured it out, to a pretty high level of certainty.
So I went to see the doctor.
Right now I couldn’t even tell you which doctor it was. Anyway I got a prescription for Paxil. At the time I had no sexual partner, but yes, there are ways to determine these things without a partner, I figured out what “some sexual side effects” means. It means you can’t have an orgasm. It means you can feel pleasure, everything works, right up until the end. Now I don’t know what its like to be a woman, but for a man … that’s a big problem. So, after about 4 days on Paxil, I removed myself from the grip of Merck, or whomever it is that makes this concoction. I’m not saying its bad, though I know someone who will tell you that all SSRI’s are bad; I’m just telling you it wasn’t how I was going to go through my life.
So…
What to do.
Well, I figured that being dead was always an option, but that option would turn up soon enough anyway, and itself, had some sexual side effects. So that left that out. I could sit in my room and watch the world go by. Not a lot of fun either, although at least we were back in a world where an orgasm was possible. Still a pretty bleak world.
Still what to do? Well, what it came down to, and what it still comes down to, is to just power through. Get up in the morning. And that’s probably more important than I give it credit for – I’m not sure of this, because some very creative people were late late nighters, and I want to be a very creative person and I am a late late nighter – but whenever you get up, put your feet on the floor and get moving.
If you can put your feet on the floor. If not, put your wheels on the floor and get moving. I’m not a creationist, nor a Christian really, nor even a deist. Agnostic is probably the most religious I could call myself, or perhaps a wannabe Taoist. Still whomever you thank for the day, thank them for the day, and try to take advantage of it.
This is what I did and what I do. I power through it. One foot in front of the other. Move.
Sometimes. Some days … are harder.
Friday has become a hard day for me. Friday’s are like Christmas. I look forward to it coming from a long way off. When Friday gets here, its never like its supposed to be. Fridays I usually go home, alone, and wish that I could open some presents.
I love my job. Love it. But I still look forward to Fridays. Most times, like Christmas, Fridays disappoint me.
But I power through. And look forward to New Years.
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August 23rd, 2007 by Max
Most of us, most people I know … Vote.
All of us are affected by Politics.
Some of us, all of us if this movement gets big, will have the opportunity to affect the election in a surprising and positive way – if we try this:
LIE
That’s right. Its simple. Its fair. Its important. And you can do it!
Yes. I know you are an honest person. You play by the rules. Believe in right and wrong. You probably think its wrong to lie. I say no. In this context its a good thing.
Lie to pollsters. That’s all! Just lie to the polsters. Lie all the time. Lie big. Lie alot. Lie completely.
Politics has become too much dependant on advertising and marketing. They do focus groups and then sell you the candidate based upon what they learn that you would like to hear. They feed you happy thoughts.
Lie to them.
Statistics are funny. I answered a poll about 17 years ago, and I swung the election against King George the 1st. I figure based upon stastical probabilites that I spoke for some 700,000 voters. I lied. I told them I liked him. I said I would vote for him. I spoke for 700,000 people. Confused them. Saved the country.
Now you’re saying that you might want to vote for the Republicans. (hack…cough) Well fine screw up the Democrats the same way. Lie. Say you liked Bill Clinton. Say you like his wife. I don’t care. This is an equal opportunity plan.
The point is to screw up the marketing.
Vote which ever way you want. They won’t know!
What this will do for you … and this is the best part. This will make all politicians say what they think. They won’t know who to pander to, so they’ll just speak what they think. That will give all of us the benefit of seeing the true person who we elect president …
before they get in the White House!
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August 23rd, 2007 by Max
Every night it seems to come down to one simple choice. Beer or Ice Cream!
Someday I may go with the same thing Nick Nolte tried in Cannery Row. A beer milkshake. For right now though … the choice remians.
Tonight. Its ice cream!
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August 14th, 2007 by Max
I just went out, on the day after the peak day for the Persiod Metor showers – when we actually had a fairly cloudless sky – and saw 8 meteors! Two of them were the “Oh wow” kind. Yay for me. Yay for meteors.
In Max’s world. A Yeungling and a meteor shower, are about as good as it gets!
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August 9th, 2007 by Max
This one is a broadwing that I saw on the way to Montezuma last week.
This one is an Osprey. I think it was watching me. Maybe it was fishing. I took over 400 pictures that day. I’ll post a few more later. 
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August 6th, 2007 by Max
There’s a lot of things that happen now, that didn’t happen when I was a kid. Some of them good. Some not so good. Some just things I’ve noticed.
When I watched TV in 1963, when the world was simple, and American culture had a sense of decency, there were things you couldn’t talk about on TV.
Some of those things include bras, tampons, erections, impotence, priapism and the heartbreak of psoriasis. OK, maybe you could have talked about psoriasis.
Those were commercials.
On Saturday Night Live they’ve pushed the envelope with “The Attack of the Masturbating Zombies”, a few years ago. Alex Baldwin’s “Schwede Balls” skit. And last nights “Sofa King” skit where the players would say “at Sofa King – its Sofa King good” (so fucking good). They like to slip things in past the sensors. Its a game I think. And I think its funny.
I like South Park, but I noticed in a repeat episode this week, Cartman, when talking about how sex works, says “You just slap her titties around a bit, stick it inside her and pee”. No comment on content, but since when have we been able to say “titties” on TV? Did I miss something?
Back to commercials.
This night I’ve seen a commercial for something called body wash. This one from Old Spice. No words. Some background sound. I missed the beginning but looked up in time to see the camera closing in and focusing on a foamy bar of soap in a shower soap disk. Again there were no words. No comments, but there were three or four PUBES on the bar of soap.
Without trying to pass judgement on it, I have to say that this is a commercial that you would not have seen during Leave It To Beaver!
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August 4th, 2007 by Max
I have another theory about music. This time in may or may not involve that song that’s stuck in your head. It does involve that song that pops into your head.
I think, that a song pops into your head because either the name of the song, or a particular phrase of that song, is directly relevant to the emotions that you’re feeling at that time.
If you’re on your way to a soiree’ where you know things are going to be loud and wild – don’t be surprised if Prince’s “1999″ pops into your head.
Anyone else ever been lost in their thoughts and realized that internally they were singing Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here”? Maybe you were missing someone.
It may not always be the title. You might be “… sittin’ at a tiny table in a ritzy restaurant.” Maybe its just a “tiny table” you’re sitting at or a” tiny table” at a not so very ritzy restaurant. It can be literal. Hopefully it is not literal for you, if you’re listening to The Amazing Rhythm Aces! Perhaps you were thinking about your friend. Maybe you were just struggling with small talk. “Talk was small, when they talked at all … ” It might not mean you’re having a “Third Rate Romance”. Perhaps your friends are showing you pictures of the cheap motel that they stayed at on their vacation.
So pay attention to the next song that pops into your head. Just be careful how you interpret it!
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August 3rd, 2007 by Max
In some old pictures…
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