“TWITTER DOES NOT BELIEVE IN FREE SPEECH”
Murugesan is an interesting man because he concedes two important things: (1) working at Twitter has turned him into a leftist because that's the mindset of the entire company, and (2) he's beginning to think Elon Musk is making sense when he says free speech is important. Murugesan's open-mindedness may flow from the fact that he's been experiencing some cognitive dissonance.
According to Murugesan, it's unquestionable that "Twitter does not believe in free speech." However, he hasn't quite grasped that this hostility to free speech is about power and control. Instead, Murugesan attributes it to Twitter's (and Facebook's and Instagram's) unwillingness to allow "bullying and harassment" on the site. As he understands it, free speech is all about preventing "bullying and harassment."
Here´s what Murugesan misses.
A TALE OF TWO MASS SHOOTINGS
In the span of one month, there were two mass shootings. One perpetrated by Payton Gendron in Buffalo on May 14, the other by Frank James in New York City on April 12.
Both took place in New York. Both were racially motivated. Both shooters were violent extremists. But the media tied only one of them to a mainstream political party. Can you guess why?
This is why.
KEEPING YOUR SANITY THROUGH MEASUREMENT
Aristotle 387-322 BC
Measurement is the first step that leads to control and eventually to improvement. If you can’t measure something, you can’t understand it. If you can’t understand it, you can’t control it. If you can’t control it, you can’t improve it. ― H. James Harrington
It is the mark of an educated mind to expect that amount of exactness in each kind the nature of the particular subject admits. – Aristotle
There is a whole field of study of psychophysiology and biofeedback that is dedicated to helping people learn to control aspects of their physiology, including certain brainwaves, in order to achieve greater relaxation, lowered blood pressure, and other psychological and health benefits.Thomas Jefferson once said that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. I would say that goes for the price of self-ownership and effective living, too. Aristotle would also.
THE PORTUGUESE RIVIERA
A cliff-top fishing village on the Italian Riviera? Nope, Azenhas do Mar – Watermills of the Sea – is on the Portuguese Riviera. This is a magic place of fairy tale castles, thousand year-old fortresses, luxury boutique hotels, fabulous food, great wine, gorgeous beaches, and postcard-perfect scenery everywhere.
The Portuguese people are among the kindest in Europe, while Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world. Of all the planet’s First World countries, it’s hard to find one more friendly, calm, and welcoming than here.
Who’s the pretty girl? Lucky me – she’s my wife Rebel, mother of our two grown sons, my business partner, and my best friend. We’ve had a home here for many years. Rebel loves Portugal so much she taught herself to be fluent in Portuguese.
If you’d like a personal experience of the best of Portugal, come with Rebel and me on our Portugal Exploration this October. Let me know if you’d like to have too much fun here with your fellow TTPers: [email protected]. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #123 Photo ©Jack Wheeler)
THE MOSCOW VICTORY PARADE, MAY 9, 2022
27,000 dead so far is a lot of hearses and coffins
FLASHBACK FRIDAY – CLIMBING MOUNT OLYMPUS
August, 1971. Here is where the Ancient Greeks believed their 12 Olympian Gods lived, on the summit of the highest peak of Olympus – Mytikas at 9,571ft/2,918m. There are 52 jagged prominences of Olympus, but if you want to commune with Zeus, Apollo, Aphrodite, Athena and the rest, this is where you go.
It takes just two days: morning drive from Athens (4 hrs) to Litochoro, then the roadhead at Priona (2,500ft). Afternoon hike of some 3 hours through pretty pine forests to the comfortable Spilios Agapitos refuge (6,700ft) for dinner and a bunk bed overnight. You’re up at dawn for a strenuous but not technical climb up to Skala peak at 9,400ft. In my photo, you’re looking at Mytikas from Skala. It’s a Class B rock scramble – no ropes or gear, but this shouldn’t be your first mountain rodeo. Be careful!
I was by myself at the Mytikas summit and no selfies in those days, so I said my greetings to the gods, and I was back down at the refuge by lunchtime. You’ll be back at the Plaka below the Acropolis in Athens for ouzo and dinner. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #45 photo ©Jack Wheeler)
HALF-FULL REPORT 05/13/22
Welcome the Friday The 13th HFR! It’s the only Friday the 13th of the year, 2022, so let’s make the most of it by seeing who’s having a real bad luck day today.
First, though, let me take a moment to thank Mike Ryan for his marvelous HFRs of the last two weeks while I was in the Himalayas. Thanks so much, Mike!
We start with the Great Impostor, who on Wednesday (5/11) tried to ridicule the man he stole the presidency from as “The Great MAGA King”. The senile buffoon thought it was an insult, when the majority of Americans think it an accolade. So POTUS quickly riposted with himself as Aragon, hero of the Lord of the Rings. Classically cool.
The Impostor had an inspiring run of bad luck this week. All par for the course from a man who recently said on the White House lawn that “America is a nation that can be defined by a single word…”
ANATOMY OF A TIDAL WAVE ELECTION
President Cleveland shrinking through the years
Carlisle, Pennsylvania—It was called the political storm of the century. It would end with the largest single turnover of power in American history—and one for the ages.
It was fall 1894. People were still feeling the effects of the Panic of 1893, which had shut down most of the economy and plunged the nation into a catastrophic recession, with every segment of the country in a world of pain. Farmers were disgusted with the cost of wheat; laborers were desperate for jobs and higher pay.
President Grover Cleveland, a Democrat in the beginning half of his second nonconsecutive term in office, did not know what to do and did not have any solutions. Just four years earlier, Democrats had gained 86 House seats and a majority. On election night 1894, Republicans gained 130 seats—a whopping 35% of the lower chamber, which totaled 357 seats at that time.
Democrats lost 125 seats outright, with Republicans picking up third-party seats as well. It remains the largest numerical loss for a political party in US history, according to the House historian. The House went from 218-D/124-R to 253-R/93-D. Now that’s a wave!
Could history have a repeat performance for the US this coming November? Yes, it could…
THE GOLDEN THRONE OF KING TUT
Now on display in National Museum of Egypt in Cairo, the 3,340 year-old artistic masterpiece of Pharoah Tutankhamun and his wife Ankhesenamun portrayed on facing back of the king’s throne chair was discovered by archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922.
I was stunned beyond words when I first saw it in 1971, and every time I’ve seen it since, I’m shocked into the same state of awe. It’s not simply the sheer beauty of the blue lapis lazuli, the red carnelian, the silver and the solid gold plate, nor the breathtaking skill of artistry. It’s that the scene is so profoundly, so touchingly human. As she gently rubs oil on to his arms, they are looking into each other’s eyes with the tenderness of love.
This is not some God-King high and mighty ruler and haughty Queen far above their lowly subjects, but a very human man and wife in love. This golden throne speaks to us from 33 centuries ago that back then people were people like us. Our connection to history is our common humanity. I hope someday you will be able to see the Golden Throne of King Tut in Cairo, and be in awe of it for yourself. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #168 photo ©Jack Wheeler)
SKYE’S LINKS 05/12/22
George Soros’ dark money outfits conspire against Musk's acquisition of Twitter and his becoming their new CEO:
Musk Blasts Soros 'Dark Money Groups' Threatening Twitter Advertisers
A few words of wisdom to Soros and his minions inflated with hubris: never declare war on someone who is more IQ points ahead of you than the average human is ahead of a gorilla - especially if he has $200,000,000,000 more than you do in resources.
Stock up on popcorn and IPA; I believe that we are about to witness an inflection point in history on a par with the printing press. This edition of Skye’s Links will blow you away…