A New Year's Toast 

In with the new, but cherish the old, to health, to peace and AI, to Good Fortune, to a cure for wrinkles, to flying cars, and hope springing eternal. Happy New Year!

 Freedom of Speech

Freedom of speech is neither a privilege nor a right. Privileges and rights are by definition entitlements that in order to exist must be 'bestowed' upon us by someone. I say to hell with them and their favors, I was born bitching and I'll keep on until somebody shuts me up or I croak. It's intrinsic.

 Postmodernism

A 20th-century intellectual and artistic movement that emerged as a reaction against modernism, characterized by a skeptical attitude toward objective reality and universal truths. It emphasizes themes like subjectivity, fragmentation, and the rejection of grand narratives, viewing knowledge and truth as socially constructed and relative rather than absolute. 

Core concepts

Skepticism of truth: Postmodernism questions the existence of objective, universal, or scientific truths, suggesting that reality is a product of individual interpretation and social construction.

Rejection of grand narratives: It is skeptical of "metanarratives," or the large-scale theories and stories (like those of progress, religion, or science) that have been used to explain history and human experience.

Relativity: It holds that all values, knowledge, and concepts are relative and that there is no single, objective standard for truth, morality, or beauty.

Fragmentation and discontinuity: Postmodernism often reflects a sense of the self as fractured, dispersed, and incomplete, and uses techniques like irony, self-consciousness, and pastiche to convey this.

Blurring of distinctions: It blurs the lines between high and low culture, art and everyday life, and different styles and genres, often blending and reinterpreting elements from the past. 

In practice

Literature and art: Postmodern literary and artistic works frequently employ irony, parody, and a self-aware or self-reflexive style to comment on the nature of reality and storytelling itself.

Philosophy: Philosophically, it challenges modern assumptions about reason, progress, and the ability of science to provide ultimate answers, viewing power structures as deeply intertwined with the production of knowledge.

A reaction against modernism: While modernism sought to break with tradition to create a new, pure form of expression, postmodernism is more open to reinterpreting, reappropriating, and playing with existing styles and past traditions. --Gemini

 7 Principles of Hermes

Mentalism: The idea that "The All is Mind; the Universe is Mental." Everything you experience is an interpretation of your mind, and your thoughts shape your reality. (This does not mean that the universe is mental, or a mind! It merely means that your personal knowledge of the universe is all you can know.)

Correspondence: A concept expressed as "As above, so below; as below, so above," suggesting a connection between different levels of reality. 

Vibration: "Nothing rests, everything moves, everything vibrates." All things in the universe exist in a state of motion and vibration. 

Polarity: Everything is dual and has poles. Opposites are identical in nature but different in degree, and extremes meet. 

Rhythm: Everything has a rhythm or cycle that governs its flow, rise and fall, and tides. This is seen in the pendulum swing of all things.

 

Cause and Effect: Every cause has an effect, and every effect has a cause. Nothing happens by chance; all things happen according to law. 

Gender: Gender exists in everything, with both masculine and feminine principles present on all planes of existence. --from The Kybalion, 1908 

 Skin Rash and Whole-Body Itching

Your skin may be itchy all over due to dry skin, allergic reactions to substances like soaps or detergents, or skin conditions like eczema or hives. It can also be a symptom of an underlying medical issue, such as liver, kidney, or thyroid disease, diabetes, or nerve-related conditions. 

Skin-related causes

Dry skin: Stripping natural oils with harsh soaps or frequent washing can cause dryness and itching. 

Allergic reactions: Contact dermatitis can result from an allergy to a product like a strong detergent, lotion, or chemical. 

Eczema or psoriasis: These chronic skin conditions can cause widespread itching. 

Hives: These are raised, itchy welts that can appear all over the body. 

Parasites or infections: Scabies, lice, or fungal infections can cause itching. 

Underlying medical causes

Internal diseases: Conditions such as diabetes, thyroid problems, and liver or kidney disease can cause generalized itching without an obvious rash. 

Nerve-related conditions: Shingles or other nerve disorders can lead to a sensation of itching. 

Medication side effects: Some drugs can cause an itchy skin reaction. 

Pregnancy: Hormonal changes during pregnancy can sometimes cause itching. 

What you can do

Identify triggers: Think about any new products you've used, like soaps, laundry detergents, or lotions, that might be causing a reaction. 

Moisturize: Apply a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer to help with dry skin. 

Use cool compresses: A cool, wet compress can provide temporary relief. 

Try an over-the-counter remedy: Antihistamines may help, especially if the itching is allergy-related. 

Consult a doctor: If the itching is severe, persistent, or you have other symptoms, it is important to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan, as it could be a sign of an underlying medical issue. --Gemini 

 Seeing a child drinking from his hands, Diogenes threw away his cup and remarked, "A child has beaten me in plainness of living." --Diogenes the Cynic, University of Chicago

The program for life advocated by Diogenes began with self-sufficiency, or the ability to possess within oneself all that one needs for happiness. --Britannica

 St. James Infirmary - Hugh Laurie

Lyrics

I went down to the St. James Infirmary

Saw my baby there

Stretched out on a long white table

So sweet, so cold, so fair

Let her go, let her go, God bless her

Wherever she may be

She can look this wide world over

She'll never find a sweet man like me

When I die, want you to dress me in straight-lace shoes

Box-back coat and a Stetson hat

Put a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain

So the boys'll know that I died standin' pat

Then give me six crap shooting pall bearers

Let a chorus girl sing me a song

Put a red hot jazz band at the top of my head

So we can raise Hallelujah as we go along

Folks, now that you have heard my story

Say, boy, hand me over another shot of that booze

If anyone should ask you

Tell 'em I've got those St. James Infirmary blues