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Know Thyself
One of two famous precepts of the Delphic Oracle, the Greek expression is given in our alphabet as "Gnothi seauton", translated into English as, "Know Thyself"...
Nobody knows anybody. Especially themselves. We may think we know ourselves; but we really have no clue about the inner workings that result in our external actions, let alone how those external actions are perceived by the outside world. We observe these actions in others and come to conclusions about their internal motivations. My supposition is that -- whether we consider them 'bad' or 'good', evil or saintly -- we are always wrong in our conclusions, at least to some degree. When it comes to judging ourselves and our fellow human beings, even a small degree of error makes fools of us all.
A human being, even the simplest among us, is a complex computational entity. The entire process involves not only active thought, but biological imperatives, past experiences and random chance/action, making true understanding -- let alone judging good or ill intent -- an impossibility.
No less is true of ourselves.
We may think we know our own 'minds'; but we have no real inkling of how we are perceived by our fellows with whom we interact, those who observe our actions and make similar judgments about our 'goodness' or 'badness'...
Ergo, we cannot judge ourselves, because we lack a true outside, objective perspective. We can only guess at how we are perceived by those others with whom we interact by how they respond to our actions. But what are their motivations? Do they in turn wish to encourage us by their reactions to do 'right' or 'wrong'?
Likewise, we cannot judge others, because we can never hope to understand the inner workings of their minds -- and even if we can get very close indeed to correctly anticipating which influences will result in the external actions of other people, we are still hamstrung by our own internal filters that determine 'right' and 'wrong', our preconceived notions of how others should behave...
A major part of the problem -- both as observer and observed -- is that so much of our decision-action process takes place at the subconscious level, or even at the purely physical, pre-thought level; actions and reactions that stem from our reptilian and early mammalian brain centers. If only Evolution (whatever you believe that to be) had totally expunged the vestigial, failed versions of our brains, rather than leaving them intact beneath our newer, brighter brains...acting as a pre-filter for every input racing inward through our eyes, ears and other sensory organs...we might be able to fully comprehend each other and ourselves. As it stands, you'd be as well off walking up to an alligator and trying to shake hands, as trying to figure out a single Homo sapiens sapiens, yourself included...
For a thinking man, which i fancy myself to be, this all makes being a human a very difficult proposition, indeed. Still, it's the only game in town, i suppose. Guess i'll go back to watching the shadows play on the wall of my cave, now...
-zed
P.S.
After writing this little (incomprehensible) piece, i Googled 'know thyself', trying to find the actual Greek to use as a title. While it turns out that Shiny 'Verse can't take Greek symbols (that's why i had to edit the title block), i did find out that the ancient Greek philosophers likewise believed that 'know thyself' was an unattainable goal, sort of like Jesus', 'go, and sin no more'... It's the effort that matters.
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Lex Luthor Leaves Smallville
Announced a year ago, Michael Rosenbaum, who played Lex Luthor for seven seasons on Smallville has finally left the series. Here is a letter from him to the fans.
"Dear Smallville Fans,
Well, it's been seven wonderful years. Your support is what has made Smallville so successful, and I appreciate you all more than you know.
That being said, it is time for me to start the next chapter of my life and career. I hope that I gave you some enjoyment over the years, and that you found my portrayal of Lex Luthor to be satisfying. I am truly grateful, as Smallville fans are the best fans out there. I sincerely hope that you will continue to follow my career through my hair growth period and beyond.
I'm very excited about what the future holds, but certainly, Smallville will always be a part of me. I will definitely miss the greatest crew in the world, and the wonderful cast that has been like a family to me.
Thank you Al and Miles for creating the show. Thank you writers, producers, directors and editors. Thanks Tollin, Robbins and Davola for being there for the pilot. Thank you Peter Roth for employing me for ten years. Lisa Lewis, I miss you already. John Glover, thanks for helping me feel more comfortable touching other actors, while acting. Bizarre, but helpful.
Mostly, I want to thank Greg Beeman for directing the "Oh Sherry" video, by Steve Perry, back in the '80s.
Thanks crew. Thanks fans. Thanks Smallville.
I love you all,
Michael Rosenbaum"
That's just really cool of him. While Lex is nearly impossible to replace and certainly in any series where the ultimate bad guy goes, the series usually follow soon after. CW did drop a couple of hints along with Rosenbaum's announcement as to what villians might take his place.
"Doomsday: In season eight, Clark will face his ultimate challenge with the appearance of the legendary, unstoppable destroyer Doomsday, who appears on Smallville for the first time. As comic book fans know, Doomsday is notorious for being the only character in the DC Comics universe to have killed Superman.
Female villain: Doomsday won't be Clark's only nemesis in the upcoming season. The executive producers are tight-lipped about a new female villain they will be introducing, but they can say she will be familiar to many fans and will set her sights on Clark in ways Lex never could. Intelligent, brilliantly manipulative, and dangerously sinister, our gorgeous new villain has one more weapon in her arsenal: Her mutual attraction with Clark may prove to be as deadly as kryptonite for him."
So interesting times ahead for Smallville. Seven season is a long run for a series like this. The eighth might be the last. Clark Kent, after all, disappears for several years after Smallville and comes back as Superman.
Nathan Fillion is King of His Castle
Nathan Fillion has landed the lead in ABC's new series, "Castle." And get this, he co-stars with the way cool and gorgeous Alyssa Milano.
Fillion will play a mystery novelist who consults with NYPD on difficult cases.
Thanks, WHOSIT, for the heads up on this news.
Source: Zap2It.com
Yo! GI Joe!
GI Joe was a regular staple during my younger years in those long and grueling hours of after school cartoon vegetation sessions. Since it's a slow news day, why not we all relive those glorious years of day saving action?
Whoa! I see that our American heroes have all grown up.
Check out the man-proof body armor.
Is that a thong?
Naruto and Sakura would be jealous.
Chest out. Stomach in. Butt out.
Hasbro definitely needs to make life-size versions of their GI Joe dolls for the big kids when the movie premiers.
