TerryWalstrom

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Posts by TerryWalstrom

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  9

  A Wide-ranging discussion both fascinating and sometimes enlightening

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  rubin is a gay atheist formerly affiliated with the young turks, ben shapiro is an orthodox jew who mainly comments on politics from a conservative pov.

  dr. jordan b peterson is a professor of psychology at the university of toronto, a clinical psychologist, a public speaker.____none of these men is interested in discussing politics in this discussion, rather in centering on the overlap between rational, secular belief and any underlying religious truth which may be hidden in mythos.i know that sounds like the most boring thing possible--but--i assure you it is riveting.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ophwshr798&t=3112sif you watch through to the last hour, the topic is brilliantly deconstructed with an honesty and intelligence rarely witnessed in live events..

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  TerryWalstrom

  Dave Rubin is an honest thinker. He's willing to be wrong when facts strike down his firmly held beliefs. He had to pull away from the ideology of The Young Turks when it became clear to him what they were really about.
  
  Ben Shapiro is a wunderkind with a very fast and facile mind. His debating skills are deadly. He comes off as a babyface - but that's not his fault :)
  
  The striking thing about this video, IMHO, is how people who are different can argue volatile subjects without rancor or slimy tricks and name-calling because they are searching for something genuine.
  
  I see Jordan Peterson as spontaneous-- a person who thinks as-he-is-speaking. He doesn't have a prepared canned speech. The thoughtful way he reasons strikes me as intellectually honest.
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  3

  Oblivion

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  she danced in stolen dresses        to a chopin polonaise            in moonlight bright pentameters                suggesting shakespeare's plays.

  her bare feet on cold concrete    told her story to the crowd        hustling brusquely past her            as grand music played aloud.

  she dreamed the dreams of millionsto be known and rich and fairyet slowly it was fadingand nowno longer cared..     the wind swept in at midnight        her borrowed time ran slow            the lady in the stolen dress                 stopped moving to and fro.

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  TerryWalstrom

  I don't really try to sit down an write a poem. In fact, when I have TRIED I just give up blankly. What happens is sort of peculiar.
  I'll hear somebody say something--a phrase, perhaps. Or, I'll be reading something and an odd mix of words rubs together and ignites a starter fire inside of me.
  
  I'm going to say it is what passes for "inspiration."
  In this particular case, I was watching a documentary about somebody--I can't recall who--and the phrase "they danced in stolen dresses" caught my ear and burned.
  A smolder led to me jumping up and writing the phrase down.
  I had no ideas. At all. I began playing chess online with that phrase nagging away.
  
  I had to stop and open my laptop and create a document with that phrase as a mock-up title--a placeholder.
  
  The damned thing wanted to be written. It wouldn't let me do anything but get out of its way.
  After I thought it was done--I let go of it and went back to playing chess.
  Later, I read it again. A few places seemed out of sorts.
  Replacements and switcheroos. Editing.
  Re-read.
  "Feeling feeling..."
  After about ten bits of tidying up I let go of it.
  The last thing to change was the title.
  I realized the poem was not about dancing in a stolen dress. It was about the compulsion artists have they must surrender unto. Usually, it leads nowhere.
  Nowhere = Oblivion.
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  9

  A Wide-ranging discussion both fascinating and sometimes enlightening

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  rubin is a gay atheist formerly affiliated with the young turks, ben shapiro is an orthodox jew who mainly comments on politics from a conservative pov.

  dr. jordan b peterson is a professor of psychology at the university of toronto, a clinical psychologist, a public speaker.____none of these men is interested in discussing politics in this discussion, rather in centering on the overlap between rational, secular belief and any underlying religious truth which may be hidden in mythos.i know that sounds like the most boring thing possible--but--i assure you it is riveting.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ophwshr798&t=3112sif you watch through to the last hour, the topic is brilliantly deconstructed with an honesty and intelligence rarely witnessed in live events..

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• 

  TerryWalstrom

  Rubin is a gay Atheist formerly affiliated with The Young Turks, Ben Shapiro is an Orthodox Jew who mainly comments on politics from a Conservative POV. Dr. Jordan B Peterson is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto, a clinical psychologist, a public speaker.
  ____
  None of these men is interested in discussing politics in this discussion, rather in centering on the overlap between rational, secular belief and any underlying religious truth which may be hidden in mythos.
  
  I know that sounds like the most boring thing possible--but--I assure you it is riveting.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1opHWsHr798&t=3112s
  
  
  If you watch through to the last hour, the topic is brilliantly deconstructed with an honesty and intelligence rarely witnessed in live events.
• 
  3

  Oblivion

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  she danced in stolen dresses        to a chopin polonaise            in moonlight bright pentameters                suggesting shakespeare's plays.

  her bare feet on cold concrete    told her story to the crowd        hustling brusquely past her            as grand music played aloud.

  she dreamed the dreams of millionsto be known and rich and fairyet slowly it was fadingand nowno longer cared..     the wind swept in at midnight        her borrowed time ran slow            the lady in the stolen dress                 stopped moving to and fro.

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  TerryWalstrom

  OBLIVION
  __

  She danced in stolen dresses
  to a Chopin polonaise
  In moonlight bright pentameters
  suggesting Shakespeare's plays

  Her bare feet on cold concrete
  told her story to the crowd
  hustling brusquely past her
  as grand music played aloud

  She dreamed the dreams of millions
  to be known and rich and fair
  Yet slowly it was fading
  and now
  no longer cared.

  The wind swept in at midnight
  her borrowed time ran slow
  The lady in the stolen dress
  stopped moving to and fro

  Chopin turned to silence
  Shakespeare's sonnets froze
  the dancer in the stolen dress
  Slumped down and rubbed her toes

  Dimes and nickles in her hand
  She strikes her final pose
  Bows to no one - disappears
  to where all lost things go

  ________
  (A Poem by Terry Walstrom)
  
  
• 
  58

  Do You Ever Wonder Where Certain Posters Are?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  do people simply leave because the site has given them what they wanted?

  are they now infrequent lurkers?.

  did they go back to the watchtower?.

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  TerryWalstrom

  I think I've been on this Discussion group since about 2003 and I've seen 'em come and I've seen 'em go.
  I've gone through many life transitions in that time and ever so often I go "radio silent" because--well, I get tired of all things JW. Then, something like Leah Remini happens or the release of a book and I've fired up again.
  It would be interesting to have a roll call of who has been here for more than a little while.
  The days of Alan Fuerbacher, Narcissos, Little Toe, Hillary-step seem long ago to me now.
  Sigh.
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  26

  Jesus Christ: Invented by the Romans to subvert the Messianic impulse in Judaism into Pacifism?

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  of course, there are many crackpot theories about all sorts of things.

  we hear about them,look into them and laugh.however, once in a great while, somebody presents a cogent and feasible thesis backed up by scholarship and history.watch this video presentation and present your rebuttal (or agreement) for discussion.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uqg8w7ezuq&t=268s.

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  TerryWalstrom

  The one thing most fair-minded scholars can agree upon is that the traditional presentation of Jesus to the world has too many finger-prints on it to be naively accepted "as is."
  
  The Evangelicals simply posit infallibility from the assertion of Authority and that doesn't fly in Modern times.
  
  Skepticism is in mother's milk.
  The Jesus Story was really tasty to Romans after so many wars with its pacifism and Prince of Peace conversation rather than nationalistic demands for more tribute and acquisition.
  Largely, it was women who were drawn to the message of Love and who spread the influence of a Good God rather than a terrifyingly quixotic one. No further sacrifice because Jesus made the best one for all time--now that's economical!
  
  The Community of goyim Christians outnumbered the Messianic Jewish contingent & separated itself into a much louder and more influential story that succeeded in crowding out the parochial and exotic hermetic Shemetic strain.
  
  How much of the Jesus story isn't improvised?--that should be the question.
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  2

  Let's Talk About Writing

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  let's talk about writing.

  for me, writing is sort of like jazz.. writing is "thinking inside the moment".

  improvising and surprising an audience--is good jazz.. have you ever heard "bad" jazz?ha ha ha--of course you have!

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  TerryWalstrom

  Excellent point! Self-centered writing keeps the reader on the outside of the experience.

  If it isn't important in Value to a reader--it isn't important enough to read (no matter how much I felt it while writing.)

  How do you write "valuable" things others will read and feel as strongly as the writer?
  Be entertaining. Surprise them. Build an expectation which changes how they think by challenging (but not threatening) their viewpoint.
  Or...
  Become a tour guide to your experience through empathy, vicarious role play. Let the reader walk in your shoes for a few minutes. Make it a thrill ride or a guilty pleasure--but make it funny or sad in a real and sympathetic surrounding.

  Words are music if you play the melody in them.
  For me--it's Jazz. If my reader taps their foot--my writing is sweet music.
  "Welcome to the Sing-Along."
  
  
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  2

  Let's Talk About Writing

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  let's talk about writing.

  for me, writing is sort of like jazz.. writing is "thinking inside the moment".

  improvising and surprising an audience--is good jazz.. have you ever heard "bad" jazz?ha ha ha--of course you have!

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  TerryWalstrom

  LET'S TALK ABOUT WRITING

  For me, writing is sort of like Jazz.

  Writing is "thinking inside the moment".
  Improvising and surprising an audience--is good jazz.

  Have you ever heard "bad" Jazz?
  Ha ha ha--of course you have!!
  That's like asking--"Have you ever read BAD writing?"

  Great writing is seduction!
  Seduction is offering an exciting stimulus toward a satisfying response which teases your inclinations to enjoy life more.
  Who doesn't crave that arousal?

  (Arousal is a magical word--don't you think?)

  Don't we often associate jazz with seduction?
  Let's say "yes" and see what that means.
  The excitement of seduction is partly being off-balance and putting you on your toes (or your back).

  Not really knowing where it's going...is arousing...moment to moment...leading someplace that might just be wonderful.

  (Note: This is still about writing--so, calm down!)
  
  

  When you first meet somebody on a blind date--that's like picking up a book for the first time. Those first few seconds should make your heart beat a little faster.
  A smile? Yes! (Opening paragraph)
  Appearance may be pretty important--but wait!
  "Don't judge a book by its cover" is good advice.

  Listen first.
  Listen for that seductive tone...is there insinuation toward sweet surprises?

  A good writer grabs you with a little humor (to break the ice) and a welcoming smile (an inviting setting) followed by that elusive miracle: a CONNECTION!

  A terrific writer establishes the electrifying moment of connection in a literary 3-way menage a trois:

  1. Your mind and your body
  2. Your body and your desires
  3. Evocative words as a gateway to the first two: imagination.

  Writing is background music for "possibilities" and as you enter this new world and explore its frontiers you are taken out of yourself in a good way.

  50 Shades of Gray sold 125 million copies in a genre where 40 thousand copies are considered a triumph.
  Here is why, in my opinion. That rather shabby book was all about Seduction

  Everybody wants to lose control and turn it all over to somebody else more powerful who can turn the pain into orgasmic pleasure.

  And guess what?
  A 2nd-rate writer achieved that. (Even a cheap thrill is still a thrill).
  Here is a secret: there's no such thing as a good writer or a bad writer--there is only the
  EFFECTIVE writer and an INEFFECTIVE writer.
  Many a man has said, "There's no such thing as bad sex".
  What the man means is "effective" sex. (FEELING IT).
  .
  A writer offers an Uber ride to someplace you want to go where you'll experience BIG FEELINGS.

  That's worth the ride--no?
  _______

  When I write, I'm thinking out loud RIGHT NOW.
  I don't prepare a damn thing. I hear it when you do--for the first time. That's pretty much the only way I can write.
  Why?
  It's the most surprising and satisfying way to find out
  what I'm thinking. Because you see, I don't know what I think until I write it down.

  Often I'll do that and then read it, turn up my nose and delete it.
  I post it publicly and later take it down--I hate it.

  Spontaneity is the only writing that works for me. I actually FEEL what I'm writing--or I don't.

  All the other kinds of writing don't interest me.
  
  Your mileage may vary.
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  26

  Jesus Christ: Invented by the Romans to subvert the Messianic impulse in Judaism into Pacifism?

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  of course, there are many crackpot theories about all sorts of things.

  we hear about them,look into them and laugh.however, once in a great while, somebody presents a cogent and feasible thesis backed up by scholarship and history.watch this video presentation and present your rebuttal (or agreement) for discussion.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uqg8w7ezuq&t=268s.

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  TerryWalstrom

  And the debunking video:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MH5Gt797vc
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  26

  Jesus Christ: Invented by the Romans to subvert the Messianic impulse in Judaism into Pacifism?

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  of course, there are many crackpot theories about all sorts of things.

  we hear about them,look into them and laugh.however, once in a great while, somebody presents a cogent and feasible thesis backed up by scholarship and history.watch this video presentation and present your rebuttal (or agreement) for discussion.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uqg8w7ezuq&t=268s.

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  TerryWalstrom

  It's fascinating how everybody draws water from the same well over and over and it tastes different every time :)

  Eisegesis