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Entertainment as Ritual in Contemporary Culture

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:29:31 GMT

clipped by: abailart
clipper's remarks: Interesting article with reference to Michael Jackson's life and productions as an example of entertainment's role in modern 'ritual', and how neuroscience, particularly 'mirroring', is relevant.

Clip Source: neuroanthropology.net

Over the last century, anthropologists have often chosen to study exotic symbolic systems — rituals, myth, art — and frequently managed to illuminate the cultural logic underlying what seem initially to be “irrational” practices.

So why haven’t anthropologists leapt to study one of the most exotic and powerful symbolic systems in human history? I’m talking about the Western (and predominantly American) system of “entertainment”. Not only is this system central to contemporary Western culture, it has arguably played a major role in the breakdown of the cultures of many indigenous communities.

some interest in the topic has emerged in the last couple of decades. Much of this material is promising; often authors pursue the insight that in some ways entertainment activities are similar to rituals. This is not only an accurate observation, but it points to the possibility of beginning to map how entertainment works to establish some of the central meanings of contemporary life.

Tags: anthropology, culture, entertainment

A game for life

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:05:39 GMT

clipped by: balthazarus
clipper's remarks: "The challenge is to learn enough about the brain changes induced by different technologies and types of games in order to be able to guide them, enhancing functions that result in a functional and behavioral advantage for each individual. If done properly, the motivating, almost addictive, nature of these technologies, may actually prove a very valuable ally to achieve desired goals in education, medical treatment, and rehabilitation."
I do agree to the point that it is up to us, humans, to pour the meaning into the availability that is technology.

Clip Source: www.scientificamerican.com

Take two video games and call me in the morning

What is all this video gaming doing to young brains?

Growing scientific evidence demonstrates that the human brain dynamically changes in response to experience and to changes in the environment, a phenomenon that is known as “plasticity.”

a world with vastly different technology driven demands, opportunities and challenges, is surely going to lead to brain changes

video games may actually induce brain changes that lead to behavioral benefits.

number of applications of computer games have been developed for education and rehabilitation

A recent study by Daphne Bavelier and colleagues at the University of Rochester offers the intriguing suggestion that playing video games may not only be beneficial because of practicing specific skills, but may also enhance core functions of vision – something that has been classically viewed as immutable as an adult.

game induce different brain changes and thus promote different behavioral advantages

Tags: games, computer, brain, behaviour

At least 100 people tortured TO DEATH by American forces

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:35:25 GMT

clipped by: Spiritualmonkey
clipper's remarks: ["http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/E2640627-D96B-4558-B78E-1CD9F8952DAB/"]Since WWII enemies on the battlefield have surrendered to American troops[/url] because they believed they would be treated humanely and not abused by the Americans in uniform. This was true as recently as Iraq 1.0.

We used to be the good guys. Now?

We're a nation of laws. We can't just sweep dozens of murders due to White House-approve torture and have any sort of moral legitimacy internationally beyond that of an armed thug.

I think this country is better than that.

Clip Source: www.salon.com

So often, the premise of media discussions of torture is that "torture" is something that was confined to a single tactic (waterboarding) and used only on three "high-value" detainees accused of being high-level Al Qaeda operatives. The reality is completely different.

The interrogation and detention regime implemented by the U.S. resulted in the deaths of over 100 detainees in U.S. custody -- at least. While some of those deaths were the result of "rogue" interrogators and agents, many were caused by the methods authorized at the highest levels of the Bush White House, including extreme stress positions, hypothermia, sleep deprivation and others.

As Gen. Barry McCaffrey recently put it:

We should never, as a policy, maltreat people under our control, detainees. We tortured people unmercifully. We probably murdered dozens of them during the course of that, both the armed forces and the C.I.A.

Tags: torture, abu-ghraib, cia, military, murder, law-enforcement, iraq, human-rights, terrorism

Understanding does not diminish Awe

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:52:50 GMT

clipped by: balthazarus
clipper's remarks: "The religious experience is, at best, a stunted variety of this feeling. Awe without understanding, or at least the desire for understanding, degenerates into mysticism: viewing a mystery not as a challenge to be solved, but something to be worshipped for its own sake. Mysticism states that ignorance is a desirable condition, a state we should glory in. This attitude only keeps us frightened and ignorant, and worst of all, robs us of the deeper and more genuine awe that comes with comprehension. I say, let us explore. There may be problems too high or too deep for us, mysteries we cannot penetrate - but so far, we haven't found any, and if there are any, they will not need to be protected from our investigations."

Clip Source: www.daylightatheism.org

Moving Beyond Awe

The nineteenth-century German theologian Rudolf Otto, in his book The Idea of the Holy, popularized the term "numinous", an adjective describing the sense of mystery and wonder that purportedly stems from the presence of a deity. According to Otto, the sense of the numinous had two main characteristics: the mysterium tremendum, the sense of fear and trembling that comes from the presence of that which is wholly other, and the mysterium fascinas, the sense of fascination and curiosity that such an experience evokes.

Otto's theology concisely sums up the categories of religious experience. But the problem with his conception of the numinous is that it lacks one very important quality - understanding.

For Otto, as for many theists, the numinous is not something we should seek to comprehend.

there is no mention of penetrating the mystery

pulling back the curtain of our ignorance

what humanity has been doing throughout its history: piercing the mysteries that surround us

Tags: atheism, religion, understanding, awe

Women Are Better Than Men with a Hammer

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:30:52 GMT

clipped by: chestnut501
clipper's remarks: Research presented at the Experimental Biology annual meeting reveals that women may be more accurate than men at using a hammer.

Clip Source: www.scientificamerican.com

We might think women are not as adept as men at wielding heavy tools, like say, hammers, according to popular stereotypes.

Scientists measured the accuracy and force of men and women’s blows to a metal plate.

Indeed they found that men struck twice as hard as the women. But women were 25 percent more accurate than men

The researchers theorize that maybe men and women inherently use different strategies, putting more emphasis on either force or accuracy, respectively. But these are preliminary results. They intend to do further studies with larger sample sizes in different conditions.

But for now that old stereotype might need to be retooled.

Tags: hammer, accuracy, force, men, women, eye-to-hand-coordination, biology

Passenger Strips Naked and Goes Crazy Mid-Flight

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:30:28 GMT

clipped by: clip-on-tie
clipper's remarks: LOL as if you needed something else to worry about on a flight.

Clip Source: travelinglight.professionaltravelguide.com

US Airways Flight Diverted After Passenger Strips Naked and Goes Crazy Mid Flight

US Airways Flight 705, en route from Charlotte to Los Angeles, was diverted to New Mexico earlier this afternoon when a passenger stripped naked mid-flight and became "unruly" according to KRQE-TV.

The male passenger apparently removed all his clothes and began to run around the cabin naked; other passengers aboard the plane "helped to restrain the man until the plane could land."

everyone is safe, the streaker is in FBI custody and the plane kept on moving to Los Angeles.

honestly folks, if a guy is naked, he poses no real threat (he's not a terrorist, clearly, and you can actually see that he has no weapons on his person, right?) to my immediate safety other than permanently harming my retinas.

Tags: nekkid man running around inside plane?

People tend to avoid information that contradicts what they already think or believe

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:20:33 GMT

clipped by: einbar
clipper's remarks: "We swim in a sea of information, but filter out most of what we see and hear. A new analysis of data from dozens of studies sheds new light on how we choose what we do and do not hear"

Clip Source: www.physorg.com

People sometimes seek the truth, but most prefer like-minded views

We swim in a sea of information, but filter out most of what we see and hear. A new analysis of data from dozens of studies sheds new light on how we choose what we do and do not hear. The study found that while people tend to avoid information that contradicts what they already think or believe, certain factors can cause them to seek out, or at least consider, other points of view.

We wanted to see exactly across the board to what extent people are willing to seek out the truth versus just stay comfortable with what they know,

The studies they reviewed generally asked participants about their views on a given topic and then allowed them to choose whether they wanted to view or read information supporting their own or an opposing point of view.

The researchers also found, not surprisingly, that people are more resistant to new points of view when their own ideas are associated with political, religious or ethical values

Minnesota Supreme Court rules for Franken

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:43:46 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Unanimous decision; Coleman may attempt appeal to feds

Clip Source: www.newser.com

(Newser) – The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled unanimously in favor of Democrat Al Franken in the Senate election battle there, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. The court decided that Republican Norm Coleman’s challenge of a lower court’s ruling did not merit reconsideration, the Pioneer Press adds. Though Coleman may bring the dispute to a federal court—or even the Supreme Court—that is not necessarily a barrier to Franken being seated.

Sources: Minneapolis Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press (Minn.)

Tags: coleman, franken

Christian Repeatedly Stabs StepDaughter... er, Wait

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:21:24 GMT

clipped by: ColoradoRight

Clip Source: www.jihadwatch.org

He was only sentenced to 12 years. Stiffer sentencing would go a long way toward sending a clear message: You cannot do this in Australia. "Racy photos prompt stabbing," by Amelia Bentley for the Brisbane Times, June 29 (thanks to Michelle):

A man used a butcher's knife to stab his stepdaughter up to 20 times because he believed she was a "slut" who was interfering in his marriage, a court has heard.

Khaled Ibrahim Mohamed Ellaimouny, 38, was today jailed for 12 years for the attempted murder of his stepdaughter Amanda Lee Smith, who was 24 when her stepfather stabbed her in the chest, arms, legs and face as she sat on the lounge of the family's Shailer Park home in January 2007.

He allegedly told them: "I stabbed the slut. I wanted to kill her, but unfortunately she's still breathing."

Mr McCarthy said Ellaimouny told his wife after the incident: "I stabbed her because she's a f---ing slut, she deserved that. All I wanted to do ... just get rid of her."

Tags: muslim, murder, attempted

Justice served :)

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:50:05 GMT

clipped by: Antara
clipper's remarks: I am surprised he didn't get sued by the little bastard, lol

Clip Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

A knife-wielding burglar got a shock when he attacked a pensioner in his home - a couple of right hooks to the face.

Gregory McCalium had not realised that 72-year-old victim Frank Corti was a retired boxer.

This police mugshot of 23-year-old McCalium, taken soon after he was arrested at Mr Corti's home, shows the facial injuries the OAP inflicted as he made a citizen's arrest.

Today, McCalium is beginning a four-and-a-half year prison sentence after a judge told him he 'got what he deserved.'

Reluctant hero: Frank Corti is pleased with the sentence and has insisted that 'most people would have acted the same way'

A court heard how Mr Corti - who served with the Royal Engineers in North Africa from 1956-58 - was at home with his wife Margaret at the time of the incident.

McCalium, a neighbour, smashed his way into the couple's home and lunged at Mr Corti with a blade.

The pensioner dodged the knife and punched the intruder twice in the face, leaving him with a black eye and swollen lip.

Tags: elderly, uk, boxer, crime, robbery

Migaloo the albino whale

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:09:48 GMT

clipped by: mona

Clip Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Whale watching season has begun in Australia and the star attraction of the annual migration – Migaloo, a rare albino humpback – made his first appearance off the eastern coast this week.

The white Eastern Australian humpback celebrity, who was spotted off the coast of northern NSW, causes so much interest during his annual swim up to northern Queensland that the local environment authorities this week declared him a ‘special interest whale’ and threatened to issue hefty fines for anyone who gets too close.

There is now a 500m (1,600ft) exclusion zone around Migaloo for boats and jet skis, and aircraft must not venture closer than 2,000ft above.

“Migaloo has been declared a special-interest whale, granting him more space to swim up the Queensland coast,” Ms Jones said.

“The whale-watching regulations are there to protect the whales, but also to protect people from these huge, unpredictable mammals.

Hope they make you SMILE!

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:10:29 GMT

clipped by: wiganfootie
clipper's remarks: please go to the page

Clip Source: tulipfleurs.wordpress.com

Twenty-Nine Lines to Make You Smile . . .

"10 Famous Paintings Recreated in LEGO"

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:22:24 GMT

clipped by: cakebelly

Clip Source: www.oddee.com

Born in Turin some 56 years ago, Marco Pece is an italian photographer with a fascination with Lego. An art lover himself, his recent work recreates famous paintings in perfect detail, using the ubiquitous bricks. After long hours "playing" with the bricks, the final artwork is a fabulous photograph.

"I love to reconstruct celebrated paintings of the past, photos of great authors or movie scenes" explained Marco to Oddee, when contacted this sunday. "I'm a lover of the art in its multiple expressions, from the more ancient shapes to those most modern ones."

Grant Wood's American Gothic

Jan Vermeer's Pearl Earring

Last Supper

Raphael's Marriage of the Virgin

Warhol's Marylin

Edward Hopper's Nighthawks

Edward Hopper's Automat

Jan Van Eyck's Arnolfini

Renè Magritte's Golconda