absurd?

Albert Camus' 'The Myth of Sisyphus' helps to explain the 'absurd'. I had been brought up and educated as a designer, with a strong belief that everything starts existence somewhere. Things/elements may then evolve, change or be designed to exist in another role. However Camus starts to explain ‘the absurd’ and the logical philosophy of existentialist, Leo Chestov, offering a strong argument for a God's existence. 

Chestov explains ‘the absurd’. Humans can design and create almost anything. That which they cannot create, but exists or have existed at some point, can be considered as ‘the absurd’. Camus was not 'existentialist' himself, he has merely told the philosophical stories of others, throughout his books.

50/50

Furthering last weeks note/post regarding my power balance of both arms. I succeeded! The gym bike was used to test my upper limbs...

I know that this means very little, as I remain a fair distance from having equal control of both sides, but it is a minor goal achieved! Happy!

Where did I find this confidence?

People may see me, and think I should have none. 

My mind's self confidence is so strong. You cannot attempt to gauge it. I am always able to fall on it/ believe in it/ use it, when needed.

I then get home, I don't like what I see in the mirror. What I see, is not how I feel.

It makes me sad, to realise what people see when they look at me.

It is no wonder that I cannot attract girls! People should therefore, not be surprised by my relative confidence in my ability to speak to females, face to face. It is my only hope...

I must banish these thoughts. I have to remember how strong my mind feels. 

OK, I am regularly urged to remain ‘quiet’ regarding my political opinion!

I take this into account, but i happily, completely ignore it. It just isn't 'British', to express dismay at our 'British, Conservative personality'.

Personally i think that many problems with British politics are due to lack of approachable candidates. Very few leading politicians, in parliament, offer any type of an attractive personality. It may seem that most MPs offer nothing. The charming smirks of Jeremy Hunt and Iain Duncan Smith represent so much. It is no surprise that the public want nothing to do with them.

Not a real democracy, but this country considers itself as ‘free’. People must voice opinions  and not live ‘under a whip’. ‘The whip’ being controlled in your constituency, by the same political party for a whole life-time (probably). If you are lucky, you may have experienced another party’s rule, for 5 years. Our country is broken. The only choice has ever been ‘left’ or ‘right’. That is not a proper, free democracy! In the recent past decades, we saw both sides funnelling centrally. I have a theory that, as the population realises that this country has jammed itself in becoming too central, we will see rise of extremes on both sides.  This may seem scary, but at least people will become more interested in the system. History shows us that the far-right is always a terrible option. British people were influenced to leave the EU, and they are only just realising that UKIP lied to us. Are they ‘far-right’? Scary. Green is the one sensible option. Not ‘left/right’, or ’21st Century Fascism’, a party concerned with the future existence of planet Earth. Slightly important! It hurts me that this party is not bigger. This country is stuck. Our electoral system has jammed to a stop, but the ‘big two’ aren’t going to help, because they forever want to be in this position, 1st or 2nd.

I ask everyone to seriously re-think who they will vote for. We need to break free. I am not young anymore, but i recognise that we owe it to the future of our country!

This system is broken.

Personal new music discoveries, that i wish to share...

Current, new music, 'Overcoats'. I am yet to investigate these properly, but it appeals... 

https://audiotree.bandcamp.com/album/overcoats-audiotree-live

may 2017

but… Little Hurricane

I continue on, discovering a super, duet. Lead guitar is accompanied by very strong, rocking drums. This performance is old, relatively.

2012 (released 2017) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccHqaS8aDME

I cannot believe that I have only just found out about this band.

I love this. They do have a new album ('Same Sun Same Moon'), released April '17, proving that they are as rocking as ever!

http://www.littlehurricanemusic.com/videos

I feel more balanced

I feel more balanced. 

I find that machines in the gym are able to prove my relative symmetry of power outputs through legs (mentioned previously on this blog). This past week showed me that a similar power balance is being developed through my upper limbs.

Arm symmetry 49/51

I realise that this may not mean anything, to most people. I know that when I used the same machine much earlier, in my 'rehabilitation home', I used to reach such balance 20/80!

You should all know that I am a keen supporter, and faithful member of the Green Party. We all know our relative small scale, as a political party, but each of us fiercely believe that our manifesto is unique. Unique perfection.

I urge you to catch re-runs of last night's TV shows, on which the Green leaders were allowed to voice opinions, which not only offered sense, but also made the opposition parties portray how weak they are themselves!

https://www.itv.com/hub/the-leaders-debate/2a3822a0002

(feat. Caroline Lucas)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08r64w1/question-time-18052017

(feat Jonathan Bartley)

I admit that much earlier in my life, I had considered myself an 'atheist'. I now realise that this is so wrong. I am a believer, but i know nothing more. 

Below I go on to explain a reasoning against aethism. I am agnostic.

 

Agnosticism is the view that the existence of God or the supernatural are unknown and unknowable.

Why Am I Here? - The Atheistic Worldview

'Why I am here? Well, if God doesn't exist, that means that life must have come about through some natural impersonal, unintelligent, and ultimately purposeless process. That means we're ultimately as purposeless as the very process which brought us into existence. Life's just an accident and so are you. You can find short term reasons for living like you're here because your parents wanted to have children, etc., but ultimately you're just an accident and so are your parents. Life is one big accident. You serve no purpose, you'll cause no lasting effect, and in the grand scheme of things your life is utterly meaningless. Without a Creator in the beginning, there was nobody around to put you here on purpose which means you aren't here for a reason. It's that simple.'

http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/why-am-i-here.htm 

http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/existentialism.htm

Existentialism - how i view much of life.

My words...

We have no choice but to live the path our fate designs for us.

We must accept that our 'free will' can exist, but our fate is the over-riding power, able to account for the choices we make through our 'free will'.

Importantly, our free will allows us to ignore the possibility of a 'fate'. If everyone just lived, believing fate, the world would collapse.

'Fate' = 'God'.

Noam Chomsky https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edicDsSwYpk

 

A very interesting, scary explanation of politics. He starts by explaining the US problem,  but continues discussing the French and British elections.

A very wise man.

two words

...Two words

'Shit happens'

The easier that people accept this concept, the quicker their mental approach towards life becomes more relaxed, and their life is easier to live. 'Fear' is the actual notion that cripples most people, unsurmountably. OK, I am physically damaged, but I feel that I have gained so much through accepting this two-word phrase. I am so incredibly lucky to know that '**** happens'.

It was one of the first comments that i made, after awakening from my comatose state. People were startled, taken aback, so I then explained. It was a phrase used by one of my heroes, David Millar, back in around 2003/04, being interviewed on TV, when explaining failure of a 'performance-enhancing-drugs' test. As a very keen cycling fan, with plenty of background knowledge, I kept faith and belief in him. I was left to understand that phrase a lot more.

'Maglia azzuro' et 'Maglia verde'

 3 cross the line together as Caleb Ewan wins stage 7 of the Giro D'Italia, today. Pictures, screenshot from EurosportTV. Thank you.

The above set of words is a personal note reminding me that things have changed in the last decade. I followed the sport of professional cycling so closely, in 2006. I cycled parts of the Tour de France route, and wrote my book 'Colours of the Peloton'. Jerseys awarded to the leader of various competitions have changed. Blue is now green, which in the Tour de France is the same as 'Ciclamino' in the Giro! Sorry, you probably do not know what i talk about. In this 21st century world of 'global pro-cycling', I think that each national tour should involve the same leader's jerseys. No confusion? Greater value? 

New iPhone 'case' 

My screen cover has had a few too many air-bubbles. They drive me crazy, so... I felt the desire to peel it off. I am now aware that my phone is facing potential ruin, if damaged. So, a plan was made. I will protect it when carried in my bag, using a cycling sock as a sleeve. I now only check my phone's notifications when I am stopped and am ready to look under the 'Campagnolo sock'! My phone continues to buzz and whir at me, but I am going to ignore it until I am ready! 'Notifications' will no longer run my life! I want to regain part of my life that has been eaten by my phone!

Please…

https://www.makevotesmatter.org.uk/open-letter-2017

I understand that unfortunately, we are probably too late to organise this for the 2017 General Election, but this country is in desperate need of an update to our 'fair' electoral process. Everyone's vote is just as important as each other. We cannot allow our opinions to be squashed, becoming so insignificant because we live in 'the wrong borough'. We must be proud of our democracy, therefore we should allow it to exist properly. The UK is not a 'mini-USA'. Each county is not an individual state, governed individually, each with their own laws. We do not live in divisions of race, gender, sexuality, or location. The smallest division, is this countrywide. I am just as equal as anyone else in this country, therefore my vote should be valued just as equal. Unfortunately we are still living under a government which is elected through a seemingly ancient system. It should surprise no-one that many people do not vote. The whole system is rigged.

CV and work examples

This past couple of weeks, has seen me create a '2017 updated'  CV and Mini-Folio of work examples...

PG CV

Mini-folio

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/hold-yourself-tight/id1229742996

Music.

'To Bear Sir' is an artist that I have previously promoted on this blog. Released today, 'Hold Yourself Tight' the album was bought/downloaded this morning. I have only listened to it once, so far. I can tell that it is not as downbeat/depressing as his EP that i fell in love with ('A Carnage, Uneasy Moan'). It is  a wonderful record, and i encourage you to investigate.

Everyone...

Everyone, everyone, EVERYONE...

Why vote for your beliefs?

Even if there is very little chance of electing the politician that you believe in, vote for them anyway. Gaining your support will provide with them such strength and allow them to influence the elected MP, to make decisions having considered YOUR beliefs. If you disagree with ANY of their final decisions, why vote for them? How can you assign your support to anyone that risks causing a suffering of anykind . We live in a democracy. Everyone counts. Be proud of your vote. Participate correctly. Your vote will be worth more to political parties who expect less. Your vote is valuable, use it wisely.

Chris Walker

The candidate who I support strongly, in this years election, is Chris Walker of Kingston Green Party. I know that votes are worth something, if used wisely. I am a Green Party member, and I work hard for them, so this may not be a surprise. I am able to realise that many people vote in a certain direction, to oppose the favourites. The trouble is that the leading two parties in Kingston could both be considered negatively. My research tells me that they both may be happy to collude.

I have made the decision that NO-ONE, ANYWHERE should vote tactically. We must be proud and extremely grateful for this democracy, therefore we must support it. We must participate correctly. We must do a little research and find out where our heart lies.

Contact: Chris Walker 07801 817808 chriswalky@yahoo.com

Chris Walker, charity worker, selected as the Kingston Green Party candidate for the Kingston and Surbiton constituency

Chris Walker has lived with his family in New Malden for 12 years. He works for VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) in Kingston.

He has decided to stand up against the effects of funding cuts in education, health and housing locally as well as Government neglect in the face of air pollution and climate change. Children and young people stand to suffer most from Brexit and the Green Party believes we need to invest in their future.

Following his successful selection at a meeting of local party members, Chris pledged to improve the future for young people in Kingston by campaigning on:

·      Education: investing in a system that works for everyone and making education free. Addressing the mess that has resulted in huge variations in attainment in Kingston, only the wealthiest able to afford to go to University and a funding crisis for local schools.

·      Housing: giving young people an affordable home or a decent rented property through building new social housing, bringing in rent controls and a landlord register.

·      Environment: addressing the damage we are inflicting on our children through air pollution, climate change and the impact of unsustainable development locally.

The Greens offer something different. Old style politics has got us into a real mess and only the Greens offer hope for the future.

The Coalition Government was disastrous and hit the most vulnerable through policies like the Bedroom Tax, Tuition Fees and Legal Aid. Most people have seen their living standards worsen over the past 10 years, while the top 1% have got much wealthier.

The Government is ignoring the environment, slashing spending on renewables, selling off prize assets like the Green Investment Bank and making disastrous deals like Hinckley Point, that will cost ordinary people billions of pounds for years to come.

Chris Walker said:

‘By the end of last year I was feeling pretty disillusioned with mainstream politics. Years of austerity, Brexit and then Trump had made me feel pretty helpless. When I witnessed local head teachers attending public meetings warning of a funding crisis for schools, local people getting evicted from social housing and young people not going to university because they can’t afford tuition fees, I realised I couldn’t sit and watch any longer.’ 

Young people in particular need a life raft in this Brexit storm and the Green Party is committed to building them one. Chris is inviting people in Kingston to Stand Up for a better future.

Notes

Chris Walker, 48, has lived with his family in New Malden and has been a member of the Green Party for 10 years. He worked for Surrey County Council in Kingston for four years before volunteering with his wife for VSO in Eastern Europe. Returning to the UK in 1999, he worked for 15 years for an employee-owned research consultancy, where he was a director when he left to re-join VSO in Kingston two years ago. Both his sons attend local state schools and he is a keen cyclist.

For more information on Kingston Green Party, see: https://kingston.greenparty.org.uk/

For donations towards the General Election deposit for the Green Party in Kingston and Surbiton, see: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/kingston-green-party-general-election-deposit

Music. 

A wonderful intriguing website. Jeff Buckley's record collection. Free clips for everyone!

http://www.jeffbuckleycollection.com

Blood on the Tracks

After investigating the Buckley's website, above, I learn that my favourite Dylan album is 'Blood on the Tracks'.

My decision is heavily influenced by two cover versions of songs that I LOVE.

If you see her, say hello

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4Osr2qt6mc

Simple Twist of Fate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-rHaTAsSTs