Prosthetic Conscience

Links for 2008-08-21 Thu

• Analysis of the Georgian War in terms of the decline of the nation-state
  Jeff Vail argues that the nation-state is being replaced by the market-state:

  The basic issue is not that the “state” is going away, but that the constitutional basis of a “state” in providing for the welfare of a contiguous “nation” is increasingly invalid, leading to the rise of the “market-state” (where the constitutional basis for the state comes from its ability to provide market opportunity to those within its borders) and a growing conflict with disenfranchised and marginalized nations (and other non-state groups) that exist wholly or partially within the borders of the new market-state. This “market-state”/”nation” conflict is the new lever of choice in the new “great game.” Where it serves Russia’s interest, they will support a non-state “national” group against the integrity of a “market-state” (Georgia). Where it is against their interest, they will support the “market state” (here, Russia) against separatist “national” groups (e.g. Chechnya, Dagestan, and a dozen other internal problems — Siberia, for example, has some serious separatist problems). Similarly, the US will support the “market-state” where it must (as in Georgia, Iraq, Pakistan, etc.) and will support non-state “national” groups where it serves its interest (Kosovo, the Ahwaz rebels in the Iranian province of Khuzestan where most of Iran’s oil is, the Baluch rebels in the East of Iran, but not the same rebels in the SW of Pakistan, etc.).

• Bad syntax design decisions in Ruby
  

  Via planet Emacsen.

• Twilight of the Psychopaths
  

  Good article on how power in our society (and other complex societies) is something generally wielded by and for psychopaths. Has reference to the excellent book On Killing. I disagree with the author, however, that the psychopaths are in much danger of losing their war with the rest of us.

  The novels of Peter Watts are also useful and instructive in considering the competitive advantages of psychopathy.

• Neo’s passport (in The Matrix) expired on 9/11/2001
  

  Via Cryptogon, via IMDB.

  Note that: The Matrix was made in 1999. .

  Some personal information can be seen on Thomas Anderson’s “criminal record” that Agent Smith glances at when he interrogates Neo: The last update to the file was July 22, 1998 Neo’s date of birth is “March 11, 1962” Neo’s place of birth is “Lower Downtown, Capitol City” Neo’s mother’s maiden name is “Michelle McCahey” Neo’s father’s name is “John Anderson” Neo attended “Central West Junior High” and “Owen Paterson High” (named after the film’s production designer). Seconds later a photocopy of his passport can be seen. There the place of his birth is CAPITAL CITY USA, his date of birth is the 13th of September 1971, the passport was issued on the 12th of September 1991 and will expire on the 11th of September 2001.

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