The Sisters of Satan

   The Talmud suggests that Satan will appear in the guise of a beautiful woman. Misogyny ruled early Judaic interpretation of the law. Christian fundamentalists in keeping with Old and New Testament literal mistranslations of text encourages women to be subservient to males. In the Muslim religion similar views are preserved. The belief that Satan walks the Earth stalking human beings is widely held. 

   How did this occur? What is in the post modern human psyche that allows the idea that a Supernatural being has set his sights on us? Ready to destroy us and our families.
   Ten thousand years ago as humans began to form into larger social groups in a cooperative arrangement to house, clothe and feed themselves any threat to the group was seen as coming from without. Domestic animals had to be controlled by fencing and tethering lest they destroy the crops and famine would result. The most destructive animal was the goat. A goat or goats can strip an orchard, a crop, a vineyard in a matter of hours. Later, the idea of a mythological being appeared resembling the goat replete with cloven hooves and horns who could be blamed for the all ills of mankind. From the earliest writings this being was responsible for famine, fever, and misfortune.    

   Today it is easy to see the progression of the myth of Satan through literature. Perhaps the most epic fictional account of the Fall can be seen in Milton's “Paradise Lost”. Through this piece of fiction the idea of Satan as an actual entity was promoted. Through the use of fear persons could easily be controlled. These concepts are used today in some religious organisations.
   In the UK an entire subculture has erupted concerning satanic rituals. There are rumours of cults of secret satanic organisations wrecking havoc on society. Not much of it is based in fact. The British, determined to take naughty behaviours to the next level are like children with a new toy. It is the same with their fascination with pseudo-sexual deviance. Being naughty is the Brits way of rebelling. It is for the most part harmless activity as long as no one is injured physically or psychologically. British Social service agencies have investigated fully the rumours of organised satanic cults and have found them to be without any basis in reality. Paganism has swept Britain and given her early history the interest is understandable. It’s a relatively crowded island and any form of individuality one can afford to partake in is certainly acceptable.
   Satan is now firmly established as a non-fictional character based on a culture's need to find a reason to hate what it doesn't understand.  

   Hate is a wasted emotion. It accomplishes nothing positive and creates an atmosphere of fear. Ignorance is hates handmaiden. It is through ignorance that the myth of Satan and his minions doing his bidding has invaded popular culture.
   Human evil is a reality. The planned genocide of the Native peoples of the Americas is an example of human evil. The rise of Fascism and Totalitarian regimes in the twentieth century and the wholesale slaughter of millions of persons is a product of human evil. The genocides in South East Asia and in Africa are certainly manifestations of human evil. Slavery was a product of human evil. 

   It is far easier for the human psyche to blame an outside force for man's inhumanity to man than to blame ourselves. The list is far too extensive for this article. Suffice to say let mankind take responsibility for its actions and stop blaming a mythological being.
   Ignorance is the refusal to learn. Stupidity is the inability to learn.
When people read my profile they automatically relate “Satan” as something to be avoided. It is by no accident that the first sentence of my profile reads,“I am an initiate of the Sisters of Satan.”
   A style of film arose in America prior to, during, and after WWII. French film critics who were unable to view American films during the Occupation were flooded after the Liberation with all things American. They coined the phrase “Noir” or later “Film Noir” for the stylised American films that used German Expressionist art direction and camera techniques,  snappy dialog, and a plot line that more often than not pitted a single man against forces that were out to destroy him. Joining the protagonist in the storyline was usually a very specific kind of woman. French critics recognised this female as “La femme fatale”. 

   Many actresses built their careers on playing this type of character. The competition for la femme fatale roles was fierce because these roles were so well developed by writers and deliciously evil. These are the characters that I fondly call “The Sisters of Satan”. They are my literary allusion of the Noir style la femme fatale. I coined this phrase some years ago. Their personalities are for the most part what modern psychologists would diagnosis as sociopaths. The rich film history of the film noir style with it’s over the top storyline, dialog, and superb photography I personally find fascinating. Yes, the la femme fatale caricature is misogynistic. But not anymore so than the ditsy ingenue, the Ian Fleming female heavy, or any production where weak women are portrayed as less than complete persons. The Noir la femme fatale was an extremely strong albeit sick individual. It is that contrary persona which entertains me and stimulates my intellectual interests.
   Some of the postings that have appeared in this blog have dealt with the reoccurring theme of denial. Denial is the unconscious motivation of the femme fatale.  Denial is one of the psychological issues facing each of us today. We are an anxious, frightened and potentially violent species. We need to look at ourselves and this culture and decide what we want our future is to be. We can not afford to allow zealots, charlatans, and warmongers to continue to make the policies that have so far cost the lives of untold millions of human beings. Each of us is responsible for the current war. Our children have returned from the Mideast with severe psychological issues including PTSD because of policies based on lies. Soldiers are committing suicide at an unacceptable rate. Tens of thousands of Muslims have died from the bombs dropped by American pilots flying American planes. A modern country was returned to rubble and a civil war was allowed because of the lies perpetrated upon us by men and women whose ability to lead remains suspect and whose actions if not criminal may at least be viewed as morally reprehensible.
   It is no coincidence Muslim fundamentalists refer to America as “The Great Satan”. I was ashamed to be an American after the bombing began. It has taken me 7 years to gain the courage (because I was afraid before the regime change) to say what I wanted to say. We have emerged from a very dark time. Our economy is in ruins, social services are strained to their limits, and people are losing their jobs, their pensions, and their homes.
   The anti-intellectual mindset that has been America needs to be changed.
   I am being told to stop writing from comments I have received. The Bill Of Rights tells me I can say and publish whatever I want without fear of censorship. If you don't like what I write, don't subscribe.        When ignorant, uneducated citizens and those who encourage them start trying to push academically trained, educated professionals around we get together and hire attorney's who hire investigators who look into the lives of people who want to censor others. This is called the adversarial process. The plaintiff becomes the target while their case is reduced to secondary importance. The ACLU loves to defend writers and our right to express ourselves. Only a judge can prevent a writer from creating with a gag order. Unless they assassinate the creator like someone did that unfortunate MD last month because he had the courage to save the lives of women whose pregnancies would have killed them. 

   A writer is not responsible for how the reader interprets his work. A writer can not be responsible if a reader has the inability to identify allusion, metaphor, hyperbole, or satire. A writer's responsibility is not to the reader. It is the reader's responsibility to have the intellectual capacity to comprehend the intent of what is being read.
   It is my hope that all who read my work find within it that I am a deeply empathetic, caring person who has never physically harmed anyone. I do not promote violence unless as hyperbole. If someone feels threatened by my words it is their problem. I lead my professional life in service to persons in need of understanding. My motivation in my writing is to entertain, provide information, and provoke dialog.
   If you don't like it don't read it.

"How Things Are Made"

Before there was a Starbucks on every block of both sides of the streets of the City. Before there was that odd little Dunkin Donuts man with the mustache shuffling across his bedroom floor at 4 am “to make the donuts”. Before America decided that caffeine was a legitimate stimulant with which to increase one's anxiety to levels heretofore unknown outside hospital mental health wards there was Tim Horton's.
Tim Horton was a hockey player in the early days of the NHL. He was killed, tragically, in a plane crash. When rescuers came upon the fuselage of the DHC-3 Otter airplane in the wilderness that is much of Canada all that could be identified of him were his testicles. Wolverines had ravaged the corpses of the crash victims. More about this later.
A Tim Horton's franchise is now being created at the rate one every eight minutes. It is the fastest growing enterprise in North America. In the States a Tim Horton's restaurant is also a Canadian embassy where citizens can obtain tourist information and find respite. Tim Horton's has the finest coffee and donuts in the world. There are several reasons why Tim Horton products far surpass its competitors.
The grease Tim Horton's uses to fry the donuts and used in the pastries and pies is a byproduct of the fur industry. The annual harp seal harvest creates an unlimited supply of fresh blubber. After a pup seal is clubbed it is dragged by its rear flippers to waiting skinners. With assembly line precession the skin is removed; the carcass is processed into sled dog food, and the pelts are stretched inside out. While on the fleshing boards workers quickly scrape the fat off and send it down the line to be rendered. The fat is placed in large vats and heated at high temperature to turn the solid fat into liquid. The meat that came off the skin with the fat does not liquefy. It remains solid and is sold to vendors who have concession stands at curling clubs and hockey arenas. “Seal on a stick” is very popular in Canada and is similar to the corn dog sold in the States. The now liquid fat is pumped into tanker transports and shipped to a central warehouse for distribution to franchises.
The coffee at Tim Horton's is a special brew. The beans used are from both South America and Africa. What makes the blend superior as compared to Horton's competitors is what is done to the beans before they are ground. Canadian Agribusiness subsidised by the ministries of Agriculture and Natural Resources owns and operates huge factory farms where pregnant cow moose are husbanded. The moose are kept in stanchions and their urine is collected in a gutter. The urine is pumped into tanks and the imported coffee beans are then dumped in to marinade. After a time the beans are removed, roasted and ground. This helps to explain why Canada has the lowest birth rate among third world nations.
Tim Horton was an iconic Canadian sports figure. His prowess on the ice can be attributed to the high testosterone levels recorded at his regular medicals. Horton's testicles were much larger than the average male. Forensic experts were able to determine it was indeed Horton when they examined the recovered parts of the wolverine ravaged remains from the crash site. Horton's testicles were declared by a unanimous vote of Parliament as a national treasure to be preserved and are on display at the Natural History Museum in Ottawa. "Tim Bits" are large cylindrical deep fried dough balls the exact dimensions of Mr. Horton's.
Next time you're in a Horton's you may hear a patron say, “Please double-cup that.” This phrase is self-explanatory. You may also hear a recording of a gravelly baritone voiced man in a sing/speak manner recite dour lyrics over the restaurant's speakers. Do not be alarmed by this. It is most likely Canada's poet laureate Leonard Cohen. Sit back and relax! Enjoy your coffee and Tim Bits.

Passive-Aggressive no more

Exciting new advancements in technology are allowing employers the ability to modify employee behaviours in several cost saving ways. Honeywell, the innovative force behind the new technology has developed an ankle strap that can be worn by employees which will allow Central Control to monitor an employee 24 hours a day. While in the work place employee production levels can be checked with the stroke of a keyboard. An employee who spends an excessive amount of time in the toilet, around the water cooler, or surfing the world wide web will be disciplined with a “mild” electronic impulse designed to correct the inappropriate behaviour immediately. No longer will it be necessary for management to verbally reprimand an employee. The time saving measures are designed to further distance labour from management thus eliminating the co-mingling of inferiors with their superiors. Honeywell is expected to introduce its new product at the 2010 TechnoExpo in Las Vegas.
With 24-hour monitoring employers will know where an employee is at all times. A GPS chip in the ankle strap can trace an employee from the time they leave the production floor, office, or job site. The GPS technology will register where the employee goes after work and how long they remain in any given location.
A chemical sensor in the ankle strap can detect illicit substance use and nicotine use as well as monitor the blood alcohol level of the wearer. Honeywell remains strongly committed to insuring employees do not alter their mood in ways that will hinder future job performance. Another sensor will monitor employee eating habits. Employees who do not follow corporate nutritional standards will receive an electronic impulse that will induce vomiting. The sensor will also measure and monitor an employee's BMI. Honeywell believes a healthy employee is a productive employee.
A minute microphone on the strap will record all employee conversations 24-hours a day. An employee who is critical of his employer or a co-worker will face immediate dismissal. Employees who are involved in political or religious activities deemed subversive by their employer will also be dismissed. Honeywell believes that Corporate Internationale's commitment to fighting any threat to its existence will welcome this new innovation.
Honeywell has hinted the ankle strap is a precursor to future technological innovations. Working with behavioural psychologists and neuroscientists Honeywell is expected to complete a feasibility study of sub-cranial implants to replace the costly ankle strap by 2015.