Fear is the mind-killer.
Dune
Dune
The preparations for Hate Week were in full swing, and the staffs of all the Ministries were working overtime. Processions, meetings, military parades, lectures, waxwork displays, film shows, telescreen programs all had to be organized; stands had to be erected, effigies built, slogans coined, songs written, rumors circulated, photographs faked.
1984
My dream job: effigy builder.
How did everyone all of a sudden become an armchair political enthusiast?
Another Unreliable Witness: on democracy
I’ll post more on this later—but the short answer is that a lot of young people finally saw a candidate they could be excited about. A lot of politics has involved alienating whomever you need to alienate to get past 50% of the votes. Obama seems to genuinely respect people across the political spectrum who disagree with him. These people in turn respect him—and for the first time a lot of us feel we have an opportunity to have a meaningful political voice. We have a candidate who isn’t the lesser of two evils.
The amazing thing is that it’s not “armchair political enthusiasm.” People are actually getting involved in tangible ways. For some that means blogging. This is, perhaps, not the most effective way to get involved in a campaign—but it’s still a way to exercise political muscle. For others, it means donating money. Obama’s campaign has passed its 1.5 millionth donor. (And it’s primary season.) Many are traveling, organizing, knocking on doors. The entire political landscape in the country is changing.
(via squashed)
Here’s how it works. You do the thing you’re scared shitless of, and you get the courage after you do it.
George Clooney, “Three Kings”
George Clooney, “Three Kings”
And he attacks the obstacle with his crotch!
Ninja Warrior announcer, after the guy falls on his crotch
Ninja Warrior announcer, after the guy falls on his crotch
I believe I can more effectively bring this country together to solve problems than any other candidate.
Barack Obama: Q and A from Google employees
Barack Obama: Q and A from Google employees
Barack Obama: On Net Neutrality (via )
I would expect that, if asked, Hillary Clinton would have the exact same position. But I can just imagine that she would, in her explanation, continue to pander to the “folks like you.” She would not say it’s because “we all lose,” as Barack Obama put it, but it’s because the working class would lose.
10 Commandements for Total Happiness
I don’t normally like things as cheesy and cliche as this, but today it struck my fancy.
10 Commandements for Total Happiness:
1. Act Your Shoe Size. Whatever it was you loved doing as a kid, start doing it again.
2. When it comes to sex, listen to your body, but give your brain emergency veto power.
3. Preserve your little rituals: 9 AM cinnamon lattes, Sunday pedicures, August girls’ getaways.
4. Miss no occasion where there will be great music and everybody dancing.
5. Celebrate silly-versaries: your first paycheck, first kiss, first caviar.
6. Manage your expectations. A galaxy-size gap between what you expect someone to do and what they’re capable of doing will only bum both of you out.
7. Have an in-case-of-emergency-break-glass outift in your closet - something that makes you feel appropriate and awesome.
8. Fake it till you feel it. Acting more confident, outgoing or enthusastic can make any wallflower bloom.
9. Don’t try to fix everything or always have the answers. Just know how to listen.
10. Be nice to mean people. Watch as they become confused!
(via marypark)
And now we need one for men.
Things I Did Today for the First Time
- Took an AP exam
- Watched Iron Man
- Coxed a boat