If your submission was not included in any of the parts, please know that it was not because I hated it. It was because it got eaten by the email black hole of a spam filter. Send it again or respond to it so I can figure out what happened.
Erik -- thanks so much for including "Gutenberg and the Whirlwind"! I really appreciate it. Two quick responses to your gloss: one of the big differences between social media and television is that the phone is always with you and you're actively engaged with it, making it a blistering hot medium (in McLuhanesque terms) rather than cool passive TV; and here in the deep south (I'm in Alabama) the battles going on in public and school libraries indicate that we still have a very complicated relationship with books. Anyway, I'm working on another piece that extends some of these themes, going into more detail about how my granddaughter incorporates her phone use into her life.
I'm obviously now extremely biased, but this series is a fantastic initiative – thank you for sharing, and thank you for including my piece! I'm glad you liked it.
I might have to sketch out the gradient of consciousness overlaid on a diagram of the evolution of the animal kingdom at some point. I think it's useful to view consciousness that way, as something that has been developing in complexity over many generations, just as any other complex evolved body feature in the animal kingdom. And it does feel weird calling consciousness a body feature, but I guess that's the point – the brain has been subjected to selective pressures just like any other organ!
The excerpt by Nick Bacarella shocked me. That someone, with all the scientific evidence available, would still describe ME/CFS (aka chronic fatigue syndrome) as psychosomatic. It is a neuroimmune or autoimmune disease.
Reposting my reply to Conny's comment on my post for visibility:
"I labored under the assumption of an autoimmune disease for a long time too. I tried all sorts of treatments associated with the theory -- antidepressants, small doses of BCAA, and a whole slew of equally experimental recommendations espoused by the field of "functional medicine." (And yes, I read and read and read about my condition, especially about Dr. Jose Montoya's research at Stanford.)
All of these glimmers of hope were, in short order, extinguished. Nothing worked. And then, when I stumbled upon the hypothesis described in this post, everything changed almost immediately. If that is just a coincidence, it's the most perfect coincidence I've ever experienced.
In my view, it's this very belief -- "ME/CFS is a disorder of the immune system" -- that holds sufferers back the most. By viewing our bodies as a problem to be solved, we subconsciously reinforce messages of danger. We persecute ourselves without knowing it, and we slowly but surely get worse.
I know my perspective can be challenging, especially to those with a history of these conditions. All I'd ask is to keep an open mind -- ask whether there's a possibility this view could have some explanatory power, and see where it leads!
(And if you'd like to continue this conversation offline, please feel free to shoot me a message on Substack! More than happy to continue the discussion.)"
The mind-body connection can be devastatingly strong (PTSD for example). Thank you for this amazing article and I will check out "The Mindbody Prescription" by, John Sarno as you mentioned in your article. I'll also take a look at your other work when I get the chance.
Re Your 'She said, I want something that I want!'..........
A couple of weeks ago, I felt there was something missing in my life. Quiet time for reflection. But it wasn't just about that. Felt more like 'stop the world, I want to get off. Heart and soul felt like they were drowning. Ordinarily, I get off on keeping up. Watching the news for trends. Trawling for links that allow me to intuit what's what. What people are thinking? The now and then gems that surface riding bubbles oxygenated with joy like the initial frolic of Kamala and Waltz. And it was fine, but then I kept waiting, hoping she would offer up something of substance..policy? Where you at, Kamala?
And as I watched Michelle Obama take the stage at the convention, as always, her presence emanated substance and hope. I would love to see HER run for office. Kudos to Biden for resurfacing with dignity and perception as he left the stage. Eminence gris! At least, DJT seems to be getting smaller in the rear view mirror!
Maybe if I extend my mini vacation from the daily news ....take a sabbatical.
Yay. Looking forward to getting off work so I can read the one about the connection between indigenous prophecies and our spiritual decay. The latter two words have been floating in my mind lately, but it's just been a vibe so far.
If your submission was not included in any of the parts, please know that it was not because I hated it. It was because it got eaten by the email black hole of a spam filter. Send it again or respond to it so I can figure out what happened.
Submitting my essay on a cultural thing peculiar to Indians in this essay : https://open.substack.com/pub/sochvichaar/p/do-poor-indians-look-alike?r=9vt3e&utm_medium=ios
Erik -- thanks so much for including "Gutenberg and the Whirlwind"! I really appreciate it. Two quick responses to your gloss: one of the big differences between social media and television is that the phone is always with you and you're actively engaged with it, making it a blistering hot medium (in McLuhanesque terms) rather than cool passive TV; and here in the deep south (I'm in Alabama) the battles going on in public and school libraries indicate that we still have a very complicated relationship with books. Anyway, I'm working on another piece that extends some of these themes, going into more detail about how my granddaughter incorporates her phone use into her life.
Just seeing this now, thanks!
I'm obviously now extremely biased, but this series is a fantastic initiative – thank you for sharing, and thank you for including my piece! I'm glad you liked it.
I might have to sketch out the gradient of consciousness overlaid on a diagram of the evolution of the animal kingdom at some point. I think it's useful to view consciousness that way, as something that has been developing in complexity over many generations, just as any other complex evolved body feature in the animal kingdom. And it does feel weird calling consciousness a body feature, but I guess that's the point – the brain has been subjected to selective pressures just like any other organ!
Many thanks again, Erik
The excerpt by Nick Bacarella shocked me. That someone, with all the scientific evidence available, would still describe ME/CFS (aka chronic fatigue syndrome) as psychosomatic. It is a neuroimmune or autoimmune disease.
Reposting my reply to Conny's comment on my post for visibility:
"I labored under the assumption of an autoimmune disease for a long time too. I tried all sorts of treatments associated with the theory -- antidepressants, small doses of BCAA, and a whole slew of equally experimental recommendations espoused by the field of "functional medicine." (And yes, I read and read and read about my condition, especially about Dr. Jose Montoya's research at Stanford.)
All of these glimmers of hope were, in short order, extinguished. Nothing worked. And then, when I stumbled upon the hypothesis described in this post, everything changed almost immediately. If that is just a coincidence, it's the most perfect coincidence I've ever experienced.
In my view, it's this very belief -- "ME/CFS is a disorder of the immune system" -- that holds sufferers back the most. By viewing our bodies as a problem to be solved, we subconsciously reinforce messages of danger. We persecute ourselves without knowing it, and we slowly but surely get worse.
I know my perspective can be challenging, especially to those with a history of these conditions. All I'd ask is to keep an open mind -- ask whether there's a possibility this view could have some explanatory power, and see where it leads!
(And if you'd like to continue this conversation offline, please feel free to shoot me a message on Substack! More than happy to continue the discussion.)"
The mind-body connection can be devastatingly strong (PTSD for example). Thank you for this amazing article and I will check out "The Mindbody Prescription" by, John Sarno as you mentioned in your article. I'll also take a look at your other work when I get the chance.
Re Your 'She said, I want something that I want!'..........
A couple of weeks ago, I felt there was something missing in my life. Quiet time for reflection. But it wasn't just about that. Felt more like 'stop the world, I want to get off. Heart and soul felt like they were drowning. Ordinarily, I get off on keeping up. Watching the news for trends. Trawling for links that allow me to intuit what's what. What people are thinking? The now and then gems that surface riding bubbles oxygenated with joy like the initial frolic of Kamala and Waltz. And it was fine, but then I kept waiting, hoping she would offer up something of substance..policy? Where you at, Kamala?
And as I watched Michelle Obama take the stage at the convention, as always, her presence emanated substance and hope. I would love to see HER run for office. Kudos to Biden for resurfacing with dignity and perception as he left the stage. Eminence gris! At least, DJT seems to be getting smaller in the rear view mirror!
Maybe if I extend my mini vacation from the daily news ....take a sabbatical.
Yay. Looking forward to getting off work so I can read the one about the connection between indigenous prophecies and our spiritual decay. The latter two words have been floating in my mind lately, but it's just been a vibe so far.
Great piece! You need a TOC at the beginning.