Saturday, April 28, 2007

China's Great Wall of Silence


China's Great Wall of Silence

The new "Gang Of Four:" Yan Song (nee Song Binbin), Liu Ting Ting, Weili Ye, Liu Jin.

This is Public Occurrences.

Friday, April 27, 2007

Stephen Wolfram's "A New Kind of Science"


Stephen
Wolfram's
A New Kind

of Science

Once again* we press this book on our readers. Its basic ideas are that science made a wrong turn at mathematics when it should have followed the primordial foundations of modern computing and that doing so now will give us more knowledge of ourselves and the universe and perhaps lead to the computational equivalent of "The Grand Unified Theory."

These claims were not met with, as were those of Newton and Einstein, universal acceptance in their fields. That is perhaps because Wolfram is wrong. It may be too because he is an immodest writer. Immodesty is one of man's graver defects and is universally annoying. The effect, even among general readers, is to discount the claims of the immodest. That may be a mistake with Wolfram. To turn Churchill's putdown of Atlee around, Wolfram is a very immodest man with much to be immodest about.

There is an upside to his immodesty however: large parts of the 1200 page book can be skipped. This is more the case because Wolfram would suffer no editor and so many points are repeated.

Still, the view here, as it was in 2002 when the book was published, is that Wolfram is on to something and that it is worthwhile for people to be acquainted with his work. This is Public Occurrences.

*See below, June 9, 2002.


Friday, April 20, 2007

On Modesty



Modesty as a characteristic has assumed over the years a greater part of my reflections. I have come to put it very near the top of the characteristics I feel most desirable. More than that, essential. I have been troubled to find myself lacking in it, or a sufficient quantity of it, and have resolved to acquire more of it. I have urged it upon readers in their discourse with their fellows on Islam. I have urged that on others of course because I found it lacking in myself.

I have also seen it as part of the American character though. We have never been a society that has been much taken by the "isms" that roiled the twentieth century and nearly killed off the human species. Nazism, fascism, communism, these we have been plagued so little by as to seem almost inoculated against. Even the more benign socialism, which has entrenched itself in father England, in America sprouted only a few fragile seedlings which did not survive many seasons.

I believe that Americans have an innate skepticism for any idea that seems too all encompassing, that claims to explain all. We may not be able to intellectually dissect our difficulties with it but we have an innate distrust of it and trust our instincts enough to disregard it.

I have read a book called Pilgrim's Way, written in 1939. This post was occasioned by the following passage that the author John Buchan wrote in a chapter called "My America." He briefly discussed the American's characteristics:

"Lastly--and this may seem a paradox--I maintain that they are fundamentally modest."

He went on to give some particulars:

"Their interest in others is proof of it;...As a nation they are said to be sensitive to criticism; that surely is modesty, for the truly arrogant care nothing for the opinion of other people. Above all they can laugh at themselves, which is not possible for the immodest."

John Buchan, of whom more will be written here at some point, was one of the most remarkable men of his or any other time. To read these words of his on us was a wonderful start to the morning. I am Benjamin Harris.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

The Joy of Spam

The Joy of Spam.

You couldn't make this up.
........

Dearest One,

My greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.I am Mrs.rita_brown from South Africa.I am married to Archdeacon .brown moses whom untill his death served as an archdeacon in the St.Micheal'sarchdeaconry in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died in the year 2003. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death we were both born again Christian. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $6.5.Million under suspense account in one of the famouse bank here in Abidjan capital of Cote d'Ivoire for safe keeping.Presently,my Doctor confirmed to me that I have serious sickness which is cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness.Haven known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a church or individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I want a church that will use this fund for orphanages,helping the widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made us to understand that“Blessed is the hand that giveth” I took this decision because I don’t have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don’t want my husband’s efforts to be used by unbelievers. I don’t want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly way. This is why I am taking this decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that“the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace”. I don’t need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health hence the presence of my husband’s relatives around me always. I don’t want them to know about this development. With God all things are possible.
\u003cbr\>As soon as I receive your reply I will give you the contact of the bank here in Abidjan. I want you and the church to always pray for me because the lord is my shephard. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Whoever that Wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and Truth. Please always be prayerful all through your life.Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another church or individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I\n Stated herein. Hoping to receive your reply. Due to present condition of my health,I was warned by my doctor to avoid receiving or making any call. Remain blessed in the Lord.

Yours in Christ,

mrs. rita_Brown

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Why Do People Hate Spam So Much?

Why do people hate spam so

much?

These things are hilarious. This is an actual email that I received. I sympathize with victims but really, anybody who falls for something like this...


From:Mr. David Dunbar

My Dear Friend.

How are you doing? (Fuck off, dickhead)
In appreciation of your esteemed contact received through a reliable Source, (sic) a close associate of your (sic) and the choice of your country (???sic) I wish to introduce myself.

Am (sic)David Dunbar, the son of the late (Did he die of grammatical insufficiency?) Dr. Jenkins Dunbar the formal (sic) minister for Land, mines and energy to formal (sic)President Charles Taylor of Liberia in 1997-2003. (Let me introduce MYSELF: I am Snow White)
I am making this contact to you in respect of US $12.5 Million(TWELVE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) (I figured that out, asshole) which I inherited from my late father and this funds (sic) was raise (What are you, fucking Borat?) from the sales of diamond (sic) when my father was in position. (The only position your father was ever in is the doggy position to a wildebeast.)

His business partner, about some months ago poisoned him to death, (o.m.g.)and he died in a private Hospital (sic; sniffle) called (The Royal Hospital)in London. When he was about to die, he called my attention (sic)and informed me that he lodged some funds with the SG-SSB BANK in West Africa (Ghana) and other documentations (sic) were also revealed to me by my late father before his death, he then (sic)
advised me to look for a reliable business partner abroad (Did he also tell you that I cannot balance my checkbook?), who will assist me in investing the funds in a lucrative business. So this is the main reason why I am contacting you to seek your assistance for us to move this (sic) funds to any country of your choice for investment purposes (I choose Publoccistan). So I will like you (You ARE Borat!) to be the person taking delivery, so that the funds can be moved in your name and particulars to any country of your choice where it will be claimed and invested. Hence my father had intimated the BANK (sic) personnel that the owner of the fund is his foreign business partner whose particulars will be forwarded to the bank when due.(What the fuck does that last sentence mean?) But I will guide you accordingly(That's a load off.). As soon as the fund reaches, (sic)I will then come over to meet you in person, (You do NOT want to meet me in person.)so that we can discuss physically (Yeah, we'll discuss something physically.) on investment details.

Based on this instance I and my family have unanimously decided to give you 20% of the total funds the balance of 80% you will invest and manage for my (MY) family. I will hereby guarantee you that this is not governments funds, it is not drug funds and it is not funds from arms deal and it has no terrorist origin. (I believe you, you sound like an honest guy.) I will give you all proof of deposit and existence of funds once fully satisfied with your capability (of fucking your mother) and honesty ( in admitting that I fucked your wife). I hope this will be the beginning of a prosperous relationship (as do I) between my family and yours (learn to punctuate, pencil-dick). Nevertheless if you are for any reason not interested, (and I am NOT) kindly inform me immediately so that I will look for
another contact (read: sucker). I am waiting for your quick response.

Best Regard,
David Dunbar.

Dear Dave,

Here is my quick response:

I am from Mars,
Your are from Venus,
Open your mouth
And suck my penis.


Bitch.

I AM BENJAMIN HARRIS.


Friday, April 13, 2007

Things that You'll Like and that Are Good for You Too




-Surface magazine. The best magazine on design on the planet. This is Public Occurrences.

Sunday, April 08, 2007

The Loyal Opposition

The Loyal Opposition

Received this email from Eric*:

"thank (sic) you. my (sic) ALLAH (sic) be upon those who follow the straight path."

No, Thank YOU, Eric. This is Public Occurrences.


*See The Loyal Opposition, April 1.

Saturday, April 07, 2007

OPINION LEADERS

Opinion Leaders

We'd like to extend our thanks to "Big D, USMC, Janesville, WI. for his support and the many important contributions that he has made to make this a better website.It is our pleasure to identify, with their permission, those who have ordered bumper stickers and otherwise have taken a leadership position in their communities.

Today, it is our honor to name:

"Big D," USMC,

Janesville, WI.,"

This is Public Occurrences.

Friday, April 06, 2007

China's Great Wall of Silence: The Murder of Bian Zhongyun

China's Great Wall of Silence: The

Murder of Bian Zhongyun.

This page's post on Carma Hinton/Morning Sun/Song Binbin* has been picked up and printed on the China Information Center's website. Our thanks to C.I.C. and Mr. Harry Wu. This is Public Occurrences.

http://www.cicus.org/news/newsdetail.php?id=7252

* March 19, 2007.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Important Voice on "The Clash of Civilizations": Ms. Brigitte Gabriel

Important Voice on "The Clash of

Civilizations": Ms. Brigitte

Gabrielle.

This brilliant, brave, remarkable, young woman is an example of why it is inevitable that Islamic Fascism will be vanquished. Visit her website www.americancongressfortruth.com and give her your financial support. This is Public Occurrences.

Sunday, April 01, 2007

China's Great Wall of Silence: The Murderers of Bian Zhongyun

China's Great Wall of Silence:

The Murderers of Bian Zhongyun.

The identity of Dr. Weili Ye's "a certain individual."

In her article The Death of Bian Zhongyun, Dr. Ye refers to a person who played a key role in creating hostility toward Bian at the school that summer:

"It needs to be added here that a certain individual, a woman whose former husband was an employee at the Girls' Middle School, took advantage of the CR to get her revenge on Bian for purely personal reasons. With the indulgence of the work team, she played a key role in damaging Bian's reputation among the school community by spreading totally groundless rumors about Bian's private life." (p. 204, n.4; see also p. 216, n. 59 and p.217 n.60)

Oh dear, this is academic burlesque. It is cloak and dagger melodrama with a see-through cloak. The name of the woman is Yuan Shu'e.

(Shhh! The initials of the certain individual who wrote this post are B.H.)



The Loyal Opposition

The Loyal Opposition

The below was received by us and is printed with his permission:

"It's sad that people like you (Benjamin Harris)who (sic) print things such as as (sic) this "islam has bloody borders" (sic) and get others evoled (sic) this (sic)war isn't about ISLAM!!! it (sic) about (sic) people who choosed (sic) the wrong way to deal with its problems."
Eric Griffith @eolwshytown@sbcglobal.net.

As can be seen from Eric's email we are up against an intellectually potent and articulate opposition.

Eric has directed me and you to a website called "ISLAM 101" in order that we may correct our erroneous thinking. This is Public Occurrences.