Les Porter

I am OLD! I have old definite opinions. I also have some insight into life that I can occasionally share. And it must be said, there are people on board Xomba a bit older than I, and possibly far, far wiser.

My biggest concern and strongest opinions are on such things as the wholesale retreat from "Science," from knowledge; from the idea of testing hypotheses on the anvil of Reality, and using the scientific method to forge new items of knowledge.

A related concern right now, is that of the Abrahamic belief "Islam" in its radical form.  The problem is this:  No other system from the Middle East [Abraham, et al.] is so "dead" ended.  There is NO future for the belief.  And under it's system the goal is to kill all non-believers since they don't matter to the religion. 

I'm of the opinion the idea as practiced is a "scourge" on the planet that must be modified from within or eliminated and excised from the face of the Earth in order to prevent it causing the extinction of our species. I see this as a species imperative, a need to use reality as a test of life values, of eliminating bad memes. These bad ideas are likened to brain viruses. And to an intelligent species, absolutely destructive.

Islam will be excised by the Chinese if the Radical elements within Islam are not able to correct themselves and modify their course from the demented track of death in the radical line. This is not rocket science. [take a good look at "any" Islamic "science" if you can find any, and become educated.]

Think of what these very people did to the Giant Statue Bhuddas in Afganistan -- these Taliban.  See also what the are doing to their daughters and women.  You want them to have a share at the world's table?  Think about it.

What we take to the future should be worthy of the trip.  Sometimes it is hard to near impossible to judge and so a sense of certainty or uncertainty arises.  But with sense of ultimate purpose and logical goaIs, I can see no reason to extend an invitation to the radical death-seeking, death-worshiping, immature and inadequate men of the radical wing of this potentially valuable contributor to the religions of humanity. 

Can they be changed or isolated and kept apart, like brave new world . . . except no reson.

I also have some very strong ideas about our government, and the American Constitution, and the loss of our rights -- things that really ought to be discussed widely rather than simply stolen for the benefit of a few. - -

There are things I do not have either opinions about or concern about -- because I do not see them as having major effect on the species survival. (Bad ideas, bad memes do have effect on the species, the latest hottest tune may speak to both our hearts and minds -- but likely does nothing for the species.)  

Any one can send me a letter, a PM and I may entertain you. Anytime that you would care to discuss things or non things with with me, feel free to query. I might respond. I am very opinionated; yes I am. I am experienced of many things that could be of interest. I am introspective, and extroverted, I am also spiritual, and in somethings, spirited; I am willing to share many things and ideas and stories.

But, since I am old, realize I probably do not have as much time as you, but if you get to the nub of it, I am always willing to share. Just realize, my time is valuable to me. I like poetry, I like verse. What I call projective verse is my baliwick. - - - -

I like Hitch-Hiking on exceptional things, extending a verse, creating one and/or maybe finishing one or taking its idea, its theme, its metal mettle, its core -- on a new life journey, one course only I can put it on.

But I love literary hitch-hikers, I love hitch-hikers in writing.  

Hitch on! Lets explore some word pictures! Let's flesh out or build or finish an idea or a concept. Two minds better'n one!

Now that is rad, ain't it?

Did I say I was opinionated?  I sure did.

Until Nick put this Xomba thing in third gear, [version 3.0.3.6.7.99x] I had many many thousands of reads, and some "votes" for articles.  All of that seems lost with the Xomba robot mentality and a monomaniacal push to only go skin deep and if the old stuff that got Xomba to this point is lost, so what?

Did I say I was opinionated?  

Most of my posting efforts content has been minimalized, and simple things you do in html have been removed.  Subscripts and superscripts are essential for Science communication, but Xomba can't handle this kind of stuff.  I can write 10^20th but can't elevate the 20 to its exponential position.  Or write COsub 2.

Did I mention I was opinionated?

I do not "like" getting criticized -- even constructively, but YOU can't constructively criticize Xomba.  It is not allowed.  I write to nick, jeremy, and most of the time they do not respond, except to say they are working on their problems, not the writer's problems with the site.  I notice a lot of people almost get to the critical opinion stage, but most of it is mealy-mouthed, and pardon me but YOUR slip is showing (almost.)

There is a difference between bugs and features.

Late add: I look forward to more effective communication when nick finally acquires the programmer he is seeking.  Really.  And that is NOT criticism.  Nick, et al., have been very busy.

As Venus is, Earth will become.

Hobbies:

Astronomy, physics, cosmology, telescopes, welding, writing, salt water fishing and release. Ecology. Too many things, sculpture, art, geography, constitutional law, material science, the ocean, everything in the real extenal world. But also the internal world of literature, of psychology, of emotions and animal logic and feelings. The biosphere. It has only a little over a billion one hundred million years before the Sun begins the inexorable change that ends life on Earth. The Sun warms enough to make Earth a Venus long before the Sun itself becomes the bloated red giant and degenerate white dwarf of the far future. I like knowing those kinds of things, a kind of sad and disappointing hobby. But, bright monkey we are. You learn your whole life.

Favorite Movies:

Too many. Intricate and delicate; ironies, like nabokov, and many others, Action, yes, but thoughtful too, I have ideas about a screen play I'd like to write. But I am running out of time. too many, far from the madding crowd, Vadim did some art there

Favorite TV Shows:

Network Evening News, Free Speech TV, Pacifica, Amy Goodman, MSNBC, Keith, Rachel, Ed, Democracy Now! Even Lou Dobbs![watch Dobbs self-destruct] C-SPAN Washington Journal. Booknotes. SCIENCE CHANNEL -- its fun but can't keep up with the real thing.

Favorite Music:

Classical, romantic era, some jazz, rock, some contemporary. Just about everything or every kind of music that has evolved. Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos, Grandiose themes. Zarathustra, Wagner. flute, picolo, heart beats, wind. tiny natural sounds, things now I only remember. i.e. I remember hearing the wind whistling through the wings of swifts following rocks I had thrown high into the air. I once could hear the air rushing around the rock as it fell back to earth. the streamlined hiss of a fast bird on the wing. (Hey, they can follow the rock falling or fly around it as it falls, escorting it to a few feet from impact with the earth. But that was a quiet place. Now, my spouse finds me deaf. or nearly so.

Favorite Books:

Too many. Science, reason, Contact -- Sagan. Astronomy and Astrophysics Science. SF. Any and all science. Taxonomy, the relatedness of things and the reason they are related. Variations on themes. The natural logic of their origins and genesis. etc.