Another quote about Spinoza:

The most opposite parties arrayed themselves against Spinoza. The aspect of this army of adversaries is highly amusing. Near a swarm of black and white Capuchins bearing cross and censer, marches the phalanx of the Encyclopedist, who also take aim at this "daring thinker"; by the side of the Rabbi of the synagogue of Amsterdam, who sounds the attack with the sacred buck's-horn, advances Arouet de Voltaire, playing obligato on the shrill pipe of irony for the benefit of deism.
-Heinrich Heine

My favorite post-game interview:

Just so everyone knows, the translation is accurate. I read about the contents of Darko's rant nearly a month before this video is surfaced. Believe: what you read is what he said.

Meet Professor Pussy, the enemy of Professor Passion:

Public Lavatory Shenanigans!

"This is the joke about a Mr. Nussbaum, who goes to his rabbi to announce that his beloved dog Buster has just died and that he would be grateful if the rabbi would say a memorial service for the dog. The rabbi, after expressing his condolences, tells Mr. Nussbaum that Jews are not permitted to say memorial services for animals.
Mr. Nussbaum informs the rabbi that he has no other family, that Buster meant everything to him, that he would be willing to make a serious contribution to the rabbi’s special fund for working with inner-city children if he would accommodate him here.
The rabbi, not an inflexible man, tells Mr. Nussbaum that, all right, he will do the service for Buster the next day in the small synagogue at 2:30. And so the following day, the rabbi goes through the service and speaks about the dog for roughly fifteen minutes. Mr. Nussbaum, alone in the audience, listens, tears in his eyes.
When it is over, he approaches the rabbi, hands him a check for $5,000, and says: “Rabbi, I shall always be grateful to you for what you did for me and for Buster. It meant the world to me. And what you said about my beloved dog has moved me greatly. Do you know, Rabbi, till this afternoon I had no idea how much Buster had done for Israel.”-From Joseph Epstein

I was reminded of this joke when using the restroom at the student union. I always love reading bathroom stall graffiti: Who writes this stuff? Who thinks while taking a dump that, now, NOW is the time to express myself? It is a great mystery to me and I can’t resist speculating on the psychology of bathroom stall writers.

Anyway I was reminded of this joke because in this toilet stall there was written, “Israel sucks balls” “Israel=Jewish Nazis” and the spiritually uplifting, “Free Palestine.” Someone out there is so awesome in their goodness that even their act of defecation was in promotion of a nation’s cause. Even with a turd floating beneath them they recognized the opportunity to be a voice of liberation and a voice of hope. I also can’t help but smile at the probability that this was done by some kid who hates the dehumanization of peoples that is implicit in colonialist rhetoric.

Gonna be some sweet sounds, coming down on the night shift!

If I am ever in a band, I want all my videos to feature me and the guys putting on make up. You might think smiling at other guys and putting on make up in a video could lead to some awkward images. You might be right. Watch what can only be called a mistake. A brilliant mistake. As a bonus you get to listen to a kick ass song.

Before Jerry there was Morton

The whole thing is awesome but check out 2:06!

We dance round in a ring and suppose, But the secret sits in the middle and knows.

-Robert Frost

Used as the opening to Edwin Curely's first book on Spinoza

The Great Outdoor Panda Fight (with Chinese announcer)

A Great Article

As of today, it has been four years since my friend David was killed by a Hezbollah sniper. There is an article you can link to in the title above that made me think of my friend. It is a very good article. I think it sort of explains my disgust with activists and the state of political discourse in academia today. Just a reminder to the self righteous: Not all soldiers are ignorant jar-heads. Not everyone who disagrees with you, disagrees with you because they lack education. You, and not your opposition, might be the one fighting/campaigning for a worse world.

This is not a Joke!

http://ricflairfinance.com/

Rick....Champ....Natch....Could you finance my house?

Thanks fashion dudes

This anecdote is a bit old (3 weeks) but it is as true today as it was then:
I just got done blastin' my quads at the gym and I attempted to get on my bike. To straddle my bike I had to lift to my leg over the bike seat and the horizontal bar that forms the familiar triangle shape that we all associate with manly bikes. As I lift my leg over the bar my shorts tear apart right along the crotch. I mean a big ol' rip. I stood there in disbelief staring at the gigantic opening that revealed my groin. I was wearing underwear of course, but not boxers. Boxer briefs. When lifting weights I go in for the extra support boxer briefs provide and the insurance against wang hang-age I so sorely need. Who wants to be the guy whose sack is showing while doing sits up?

So I stand there with total crotch exposure and a fairly long bike ride home. I am not a big fan of riding around with tight crotch undies. It is also Game Day on campus so the streets are filled with people. I decided there was nothing I could do and get on my bike. I shake my head in disgust when I realize by pedaling I only exacerbate the situation. I feel decidedly "uncool." As I ride however, I start relaxing and realize that there are lot of people who intentionally look stupid. In fact, I have seen people wear outfits that are so torn even hobos would reject the clothes as "disutilitarian" (that word is a shout-out to the casual ninja.) I start riding with confidence. Tight crotch exposure is new look. I am "dude" with fashion sense. I am teenage fashion show.
I didn't receive a second look from anyone. Alternative fashion saved me from embarrassment.