>> ^Deano:

All power to his agent for helping to make him so successful but he really isn't that funny. Tell me there isn't a world of difference when you watch say Bill Burr after this.


Yes there is a big difference between Jimmy and Bill...Jimmy has charisma. You don't find him funny that's fine...he's got a career despite your opinion.

Leslie Mann is a charisma black hole. She is where likability goes to die.

Finally someone to match the charisma and presentation skills of Steve Jobs...

Nice. I was just looking through previous what are you readings yesterday for suggestions.

Starting The Mote in God's Eye. Looks promising.

Skim-read The Reluctant Fundamentalist this afternoon - it's rather dreadful.

Finished Crime and Punishment a couple of days ago. Loved it. One of those few 'classic' novels that isn't all hype. It's engaging and enjoyable, and very rewarding. The ultimate message that we should stop trying to think for ourselves and just do what Jesus says is possibly not the best, but that doesn't overwhelm and the style isn't preachy. I have yet to read a novel more perfectly structured.
It was a little distracting that one of the characters is basically Columbo. When he did the 'just one more thing' routine I had to put the book down for a minute. Turns out Columbo was based on Porphyrius. Man, that makes it weird for the modern reader.
I'm developing a taste for golden age russian literature; I hope to read a lot more soon.

Before that I burned through I Am Legend in one sitting. It's electrifying.

Brave New World needs to be more widely read.

The Algebraist is notable for having one of the least likeable villains ever. Genuinely, I think that's its main literary achievement. I have huge respect for Iain Banks for writing a world-conquering, star-spanning tyrant who is in no way cool or enviable. Archimandrite Luseferous is like a parody of a fourteen-year-old's power fantasies; not a Magnificent Bastard, he's just a contemptible, nasty (occasionally terrifying) creature with no charisma or real intelligence and we need to see more of that.
There's great stuff in this book, but it does follow the standard disappointing SF novel arc of: 'big ideas, big ideas, oh no the plot is taking over, narrowing focus, narrowing focus, now it's just about this guy and his Quest, how did the galaxy get so small, inevitable convenient climax.' Very much worth reading to pick out the many great elements in this book, but those elements don't really come together.
I'll get round to the Culture novels eventually.

Oh, I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for the first time since I was five, but couldn't carry the enthusiasm on to the rest of the Narnia books.

Thinking about Crime and Punishment reminded me, I really need to pick up a cheap second-hand ereader so I can stop paying for public domain books.

I like the sound of The Quantum Thief, that goes on the list.

I would be OK with it if Gates had ideas I liked as well as the charisma necessary for the job. To answer your unasked question: wealth does not equal wisdom, nor impart the gift of leadership.

Warren Buffoon has one gift IMO: predicting the stock market. Otherwise he seems rather oblivious about how economics work. Poor fellow.





>> ^MonkeySpank:

Well QM, my friend.
If we follow your "success" logic, Bill Gates should be the president of the US, and Warren Buffet should be V.P. Are you OK with that?

>> ^quantumushroom:
Yeah, he did a poor job clarifying his personal beliefs, versus beliefs about what government should or shouldn't be allowed to do.
Of course, compared to the Kenyawaiian narcissist, Cain is a genius many times over, with actual business and life experience.

>> ^Sarzy:

>> ^Deano:
>> ^ChaosEngine:
I'm going to go see this for the same reason I went to Iron Man 2:
Scarlett Johansson in a cat suit.
sold.

Never saw the appeal of her. She's got the charisma of a piece of lettuce and just about the same amount of sex appeal imo.

Check your wiener, I think it's broken.


She just looks too young and bland. And I really don't buy her as an action superhero. She could be one of those women who look a lot better in their 30s.

And honestly re the acting she's the female equivalent of Orlando Bloom.

>> ^Deano:

>> ^ChaosEngine:
I'm going to go see this for the same reason I went to Iron Man 2:
Scarlett Johansson in a cat suit.
sold.

Never saw the appeal of her. She's got the charisma of a piece of lettuce and just about the same amount of sex appeal imo.

Check your wiener, I think it's broken.

>> ^ChaosEngine:

I'm going to go see this for the same reason I went to Iron Man 2:
Scarlett Johansson in a cat suit.
sold.


Never saw the appeal of her. She's got the charisma of a piece of lettuce and just about the same amount of sex appeal imo.

Yes, I think this public grief is either insincere or misplaced. Thats a generalisation I know, and there are bound to be exceptions, but for the most part I think its true.

There are famous figures I who's passing would sadden me greatly. Mostly scientists, mostly people that showed me the beauty of reality. The Feynmans and Sagans of today. I suppose in that sense I could rightfully be accused of hypocrisy. If you learnt some life lessons from a speech Steve Jobs made then ok, fair enough, but I mean did it really take him to teach you "memento mori"?

I'm just pissed that a guy can cut all of Apples philanthropic projects, sells overpriced computers in shiny boxes and had above average charisma is suddenly hailed a visionary.

you disgust me. you clearly dont see the point at all. if you are so intentionally blinded by your own lack of identity that you have to attribute your gender confusion to a CHILD, seek therapy elsewhere.

>> ^hpqp:

I fail to grasp your point. It's not about how the person feels about themselves; indeed, while a non-operated transsexual is still "male/female" biologically, they are the opposite sex in their minds, their self-identity and behaviour. The problem is the image of themselves that is reflected back on them by society (the perceived identity).
Imagine a gay man who, despite telling everyone he is gay, and acting as stereotypically "gay" as possible, is constantly treated as straight: gay men ignore his advances because they believe he is heterosexual, and women shun him because he's not a real "wo-/man". The analogy isn't perfect, but the fact remains that "no man is an island, entire of itself" (Donne). Our lives and identities are affected by the perceptions and reactions/judgments of others.
edit: no amount of openmindedness can change that fact that sexual attraction is affected by a person's physical attributes. A heterosexual male, for example, will generally react more positively (in terms of sexual responsiveness) to a convincing trap than to a masculine-looking transsexual. That's where ftm transsexuals have an advantage: it is easier to acquire masculine traits with testosterone (and thus attract heterosexual women/gay men) than vice-versa. Remember, we all begin as "girls" in the womb.
>> ^chilaxe:
@Trancecoach @hpqp "the pain of being in the wrong body"
From the perspective of human potential, it doesn't really seem proportionate for someone to care that much which gender they are.
Is one gender really better than the other, or are they both within the range of reasonable human experiences? Are people's personalities really that inflexible and unadaptive?
It's really not that difficult to study gender roles and charisma and learn how to play a male or female well.

I fail to grasp your point. It's not about how the person feels about themselves; indeed, while a non-operated transsexual is still "male/female" biologically, they are the opposite sex in their minds, their self-identity and behaviour. The problem is the image of themselves that is reflected back on them by society (the perceived identity).

Imagine a gay man who, despite telling everyone he is gay, and acting as stereotypically "gay" as possible, is constantly treated as straight: gay men ignore his advances because they believe he is heterosexual, and women shun him because he's not a real "wo-/man". The analogy isn't perfect, but the fact remains that "no man is an island, entire of itself" (Donne). Our lives and identities are affected by the perceptions and reactions/judgments of others.

edit: no amount of openmindedness can change that fact that sexual attraction is affected by a person's physical attributes. A heterosexual male, for example, will generally react more positively (in terms of sexual responsiveness) to a convincing trap than to a masculine-looking transsexual. That's where ftm transsexuals have an advantage: it is easier to acquire masculine traits with testosterone (and thus attract heterosexual women/gay men) than vice-versa. Remember, we all begin as "girls" in the womb.

>> ^chilaxe:

@Trancecoach @hpqp "the pain of being in the wrong body"
From the perspective of human potential, it doesn't really seem proportionate for someone to care that much which gender they are.
Is one gender really better than the other, or are they both within the range of reasonable human experiences? Are people's personalities really that inflexible and unadaptive?
It's really not that difficult to study gender roles and charisma and learn how to play a male or female well.

@Trancecoach @hpqp "the pain of being in the wrong body"

From the perspective of human potential, it doesn't really seem proportionate for someone to care that much which gender they are.

Is one gender really better than the other, or are they both within the range of reasonable human experiences? Are people's personalities really that inflexible and unadaptive?

It's really not that difficult to study gender roles and charisma and learn how to play a male or female well.

it's funny cause he has no charisma = P

the charisma is dripping off the stage

Ahahahahahaha, this shit is hilarious.
I miss good ol' George W., at least he was honest enough not to burden his audience with charisma and other insidious mind control techniques.