random incoherence and infantile meanderings

A few weeks back I had a conversation with my brother about this idea I’ve been playing with for a while. The gist of  it is this, which is better; a homogeneous mix of peoples of all diversities and types or a total segregation? Oil and vinegar or thousand island dressing?

After getting over the whole impossibility of either extreme, just from a logistical point of view, we kind of agreed that a clumpy mixture halfway in between pure blend and total separation is probably not only best but also the balance point that humans and their society are naturally going to grow towards.

Today I was listening to Dan Carlin’s Common Sense podcast about how it seems like the political situation in the States is getting kinda depressing, where we are so different that it barely seems worth the fight to come together. And when he brought up the idea of states seceding, I started thinking that it was perhaps time for me to get a copy of the fabulous Mr. Tom Merritt‘s Boiling Point. And that I feel like it would both be best for the country (hell, for the whole world) if the US split up into little state countries and that it would also be utterly horrible, leading to segregation, hate, and repression.

Okay, to explain a little bit. First off, Tom’s book Boiling Point is about the future when the US isn’t so united anymore because states have been breaking off into their own independent countries. Or at least that’s the impression I have, since I haven’t actually read the story yet.

I like the idea of breaking the US up because I realize that freedom for me means that everyone gets to believe whatever bullshit they believe. I’m not sure how to articulate this idea fully, but the idea is that while I find people who disagree with same sex marriage repugnant, I also believe that their freedom to believe (wrongly) is being impinged when we do the right thing and bring equal rights to all. If, for example, South Carolinian (I chose them ‘cuz I hate SC) decides to disallow homosexuality and, why not, colored people (including those damn no good injuns)…

Yeah, see, I can’t even make the argument FOR breaking up without devolving into why it is a terrible idea.

So extend this further. If we mandate freedom for all on people who don’t believe in freedom for all, don’t we dimish their freedom? But isn’t it the greater evil to not allow the equal freedom for all? So shouldn’t we be out busting up other countries to MAKE FORCE them to have freedom for all also?

I mean, that sounds like an obvious wrong idea, but isn’t that what we did as a country in the civil war? Aren’t we all rpoud of ourselves for forccing the south to stay in the country, for forcing them to become “better people”? So doesn’t it follow that we should continue to FORCE betterment?

Doesn’t that lead to double ungood?

I’m so fed up with the fear mongering, hate, and lies in goverment, but.. well, what do I expect from a gigantic group of humans animals who can barely remember to think even some of the time?

1. I should be writing 131 – Excellent interview with Jay Lake
2. Cover to Cover #373A: Alma Alexander
3. Nina Kimberly the Merciless Episode 8 – Cliffhangered. Dammit.
4. Agony 727: Michael Kurland Reads at SF in SF on September 12, 2009
5. Savage Love Episode 152
6. Goblin Market Episode 10 – I almost feel sorry for the bad guy. I wonder if that’s on purpose?
7. Down From Ten, ep 10 – The characters are awesome. I’m just not sure if the story is actually… well, a story. Nothing to it but to wait and see.
8. The Dreamer’s Thread episode 5b – And here I was hoping the mouse guard was going to be the muscle.

The one downside to listening to Goblin Market and Dreamer’s Thread at the same time is that I am finding myself confused as to which story I am listening to. I’ll start an episode and then shake my head, trying to figure out just which heroine is supposed to be doing what. I assume this is because, in my head, they are both fairy tales about a young woman about to embark on a quest to save fairy land.

37:57 | 43:20 | 38:44 | 4:36 hours podsumed

***No Buzz Out Loud. I, achingly, finally gave up the last of my tech news podcasts. I’ve been with then since before Molly left to have the Cylon baby and… well, I’m going to miss them. Except for the days when Natalie AND Brian Tong are on. I want to crack his skull open on those days.

1. BOL 1066: Tinfoil phones
2. Tekdiff 9/11/09 The Account-Relic Skies Pt.3
3. Dead Robots Society presents DC 09 Special Episode – Podcasting Tips For Working Writers
4. Dragon*Con 2009 – Life in the Dollhouse panel with Felicia Day – I eventually gave up on this one. It was too quiet and I just couldn’t hear most of what was being said.
5. Dragon*Con 2009 Special – A very good “what to expect” for D*C virgins.
6. The Sofanauts No 24
7. 69- A History of Rome Wedding
8. Agony Column: A 2009 Interview With Tim Maleeny
9. East Meets West 173 – TV and Dragon*Con
10. The Dreamer’s Thread episode 5
11. Radio Active #81: That New Mac Smell
12. THE ONE AND ONLY TrapCast featuring George, Sara (no h), Jenn, and Brandt (cuz I can’t spell) Episode 35 – Ideas and Walking West
13. Love Long and Prosper Episode 124: Mommy, I mean, Daddy

45:44 | 50:32 | 41:20 | 9:12 hours of podsuming

1. BOL 1063: Buzzed out loud
2. BOL 1064: Urine in the sky with diamonds
3. Baker’s Dozen – part 1 – Ooooh, another user choice story. This one will be fun, cuz I’m going to listen the same way I read a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book. I read every story line down to the end.
4. D&D Podcast September 11, 2009: Penny Arcade, PvP, Wil Wheaton: Series 3, Episode 3
5. HP Podcraft Episode 10 – The Terrible Old Man
6. Nobilis Erotica 139 – A Mummy in Metamor City
7. Bonus: Soulless, by Gail Carriger (Audio)
8. Down From Ten, ep 9
9. Geek of all Trades Episode #27:

40:05 | 45:18 | 39:29 | 5:49 of podsuming