Science for the people?

The slogan "unite behind the science" is frequently being used to shut down political dissent and questioning. Indeed, you can be both censored and persecuted for questioning "science". And very often, the leftists and the liberals are behind this "science" crusade. Being "unscientific" has become the equivalent of being a witch, or perhaps a KGB agent. 

This scientism is a threat to political democracy, not just in its "static" form, but also in its more dynamic form, in which democracy is used to politicize everything (especially whatever vested interest groups consider sacrosanct) and change it - to reform society, in short. There was a time when progressives would see things in precisely this way, rejecting all "scientific" claims that class society, capitalist economy, gender inequality or racial segregation were "natural" and hence outside the proper jurisdiction of the political sphere. And yet, here we are, with authoritarian social engineers and condescending saviors telling us what to do in the name of "science", and insisting on the top of their voices that nothing - not a proper democratic debate, and absolutely not fiery political protests - can trump their questionable decisions cuz scientific. In fact, I wouldn´t even call them social engineers, since they at least tried to change society (sometimes even for the better). The present-day "PMC" just wants to uphold the status quo as it looked like circa 2010 (when most workers had been thrown under the bus long ago). 

Logically, liberals and leftists should have been racist during the 19th and early 20th century, uniting behind a science which said that Whites were a superior race, while Negroes were, of course, inferior. Perhaps they should still be racist, since Whites consistently outperform Blacks on IQ tests. Also, science showed that of course women were more stupid, emotional and weak than men. Yet, no true progressive at the time was thinking like this. Why not? Muh science, after all! Clearly, the reasons weren´t "scientific" but political, social, ideological. As for Blacks, they fought racism and slavery anyway, regardless of debates between Whites about the desirability of such a struggle. 

"But X has been scientifically proven" isn´t an argument against a democratic debate and political process, *not even if the claim is true*. A whole number of issues are still on the table and must be dealt with politically, by duly elected officials, a free press, and so on. A course that´s scientifically correct, could hurt the economy, disproportionately hit the workers or oppressed minorities, make it harder to defend the nation against foreign enemies, and so on. Science may be consequence-neutral, but politics cannot be, progressive politics in particular. "Group X has lower IQ than Group Y" could be an argument for apartheid, but it could also be an argument for creating more employment opportunities for Group X (in this case, jobs that don´t require high IQ), thereby integrating them into society, strengthening the social cohesion of the nation.  

Ironically, the COVID pandemic is an excellent example. *According to established science, pandemics are best fought by herd immunity*. Had the pandemic been allowed to take its course in the spring of 2020, the whole thing would have been over by summer. Yet, it´s probably true that this is *politically* inexpedient for a whole number of reasons. That´s why leftists and liberals oppose it in favor of hard lockdowns. The claims that this is somehow more "scientific" than herd immunity is just bullshit rhetoric to lock down any political debate about the course taken. And since there is seldom a scientific consensus on any issue, the people who talk warmly about "science" are really saying that a *very specific group of scientists should be handed political veto powers over our elected officials or the popular will*. But on what grounds have this *particular* group of scientists been selected? Obviously on the grounds that they support...you guessed it...the *politics* of the faction making the proposal...

So it always boils down to good ol´ politization in the end.

That purported "progressives" suddenly want everyone to unite behind a classless and perfectly objective Science, or else be stripped of their democratic rights, simply shows what very material class interests they are defending. It is the interests of...their own class.     

Fourth Sunday in Advent

 

Blatant transphobia

The feminist activist group probably has a point. Of course, Pete Buttigieg can easily reject the feminists´ proposal by accusing them of being trans-phobic... 

"Male body too favored"

Resolved: more pop concerts in church?

The Latin Mass situation continues. Note the weird sculpture in the background on the photo (that is, the photo in the article linked to below)...

Pope Francis cracks down on Latin Mass

Lutheran Masses have changed, too...

Drag Queen Sunday for kids at Lutheran church

En julklapp till Greta Thunberg?

Låter faktiskt som en intressant film! Lägg förresten märke till att recensenten själv är väldigt "meta". Fast vill Hollywood vara riktigt edgy, borde de göra en komedi om corona. År 2040, kanske? 

Hollywood visar oss vår slappa klimatattityd

Arbeit macht frei?

Fria Tider slår ett slag för den lutherska arbetsmoralen. Eller också vill de visa MUF att de är pålitligt nyliberala. Själv sitter jag mest och skrattar. 

Vad nedanstående visar är ju några andra saker. 

Ett: en stor del av "den nya, dynamiska globala ekonomin" (blä blä) består av pseudo-jobb. För hur kan de där företagen överleva utan att faktiskt, ähum, *göra* något? 

Två: det finns personer som *inte* kan arbeta hemifrån. Arbetarklassen, eller tjänstearbetare. Däremot måste de betala skatt. För att finansiera medelklassens pseudo-jobb? 

Tre: Etablissemanget gjorde ett litet misstag, och inte så lite heller, när de stängde ner samhället för att "bekämpa corona". Systemet kommer snart att vara både avslöjat och bankrutt. 

Det verkar som att revolutionen faktiskt börjar "i vardagen", trots allt. 

Mediernas bästa tips: Så fejkar du arbete när du "jobbar hemifrån"

Doomsday Glacier

Good luck convincing China and India that this is even remotely a problem, and reverse their course towards modernization and great power status. But sure, maybe the UK could show some leadership and build more wind farms? 

Scientists watch giant "doomsday" glacier in Antarctica with concern

The language matrix has you

 

Does language shape the way we think? A short TED talk suggesting that - surprise - this is actually the case. Could be a problem for firm believers in propositional revelation and such. "It´s interpretation all the way down"...until the Thing In Itself (or Lord of Hosts) hits us over the head with a really yuge disaster, LOL. 

Interestingly, I *do* know the direction of southeast from where I´m currently staying, but that´s mostly because I´m surrounded by maps! 

I´m sure this is perfectly normal

From Wikipedia (link below).

>>>Yoginis are often theriomorphic, having the forms of animals, represented in statuary as female figures with animal heads. Yoginis are associated with "actual shapeshifting" into female animals, and the ability to transform other people. They are linked with the Bhairava cult, often carrying skulls and other tantric symbols, and practising in cremation grounds and other liminal places. They are powerful, impure, and dangerous. They both protect and disseminate esoteric tantric knowledge. 

>>>They have siddhis, extraordinary powers, including the power of flight; many yoginis have the form of birds or have a bird as their vahana or animal vehicle. In later Tantric Buddhism, dakini, a female spirit able to fly, is often used synonymously with yogini. The scholar Shaman Hatley writes that the archetypal yogini is "the autonomous Sky-traveller (khecari)", and that this power is the "ultimate attainment for the siddhi-seeking practitioner".

>>>The goal of Yogini worship, as described in both Puranas and Tantras, was the acquisition of occult powers or siddhis.

>>>The Sri Matottara Tantra describes 8 major powers, as named in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, namely: Anima, becoming microscopically small, giving knowledge of how the world works; Mahima, becoming huge, able to view the whole solar system and universe; Laghima, becoming weightless, allowing levitation and astral travel away from the body; Garima, becoming very heavy and powerful; Prakamya, having an irresistible willpower, able to control the minds of others; Ishitva, controlling both body and mind and all living things; Vashitva, controlling the natural elements, such as rain, drought, volcanoes, and earthquakes; and Kamavashayita, gaining all one's desires and any treasure.

>>>The Sri Matottara Tantra lists many other more or less magical powers that devotees can obtain by invoking the Yoginis correctly, from the ability to cause death, disillusion, paralysis, or unconsciousness to provocation, delightful poetry, and seduction.^"

>>>Sculptures at some of the Yogini temples such as Shahdol, Bheraghat and Ranipur-Jharial depict the Yoginis with kartari knives, human corpses, severed heads, and skull-cups. There appear to have been corpse rituals, shava sadhana, as is described in the Vira Tantra, which calls for offerings of food and wine to the 64 Yoginis, and for pranayama to be practised while sitting on a corpse. The Vira Cudamani requires the naked practitioner (the sadhaka) and his partner to sit on the corpse and practise maithuna, tantric sex. 

>>>The Sri Matottara Tantra instructs that the corpse must be intact, beautiful, and fresh; Dehejia notes that this does not imply human sacrifice, but the selection of the best corpses. In the circle of the Mothers, in front of the statue of Bhairava, the corpse is to be bathed, covered in sandalwood paste, and have its head cut off in a single stroke. The Mothers will, it states, be watching this from the sky, and the sadhaka will acquire the 8 major siddhis. Further, flesh from the corpse is eaten; Dehejia states that the practice "is not uncommon" and that in Kamakhya, people avoid leaving a corpse overnight before cremation "for fear of losing it to tantric practitioners".

Wikipedia on "Yogini"

Spindelfobiker i alla land, förenen eder!

Jag HATAR spindlar, tycker nog att tanten gott kunde ha fått det tredubbla beloppet! 

Jagades med spindel, spräckte pannan