Soy-based wiring sounded like a Reddit rumor, so I googled it. Sure enough, some cables are using a plastic insulation made from soy instead of oil, and squirrels love it. Green idiocy knows no limits.
Aaron Bushnell, RIP. Did a brave thing even though any of us would have dissuaded him from the same action. Still, he persisted, and did something shocking to "normal folks." Hopefully his action makes a difference. I would not rule a positive result out...
I respectfully disagree. I don't want to demean him because he is a beloved son, but this action is violent, and violence begets violence. I do not see how this violent suicide will stop Hamas terrorism and Netanyahu genocide. Both sides "leadership" are entrenched in one goal > land < and violence is the means for both sides. Zionists want more land for Israel, Hamas wants land to go back to Palestine. Neither side care about their CITIZENS LIVES, the Gazans are being sacrificed by Hamas and the hostages are being sacrificed by Netanyahu. And Biden just wants strategic Israel for USA >it's all about land to the 'leaders', the civilians (including their own citizens) are just collateral damage
I think the biggest impact of Bushnell's action will be in the American military community. I agree that not too many other minds will be changed, if only because people have their heels dug in on the issue. It worth noting that, unlike a mass shooter, Bushnell kept his protest to himself, so to speak. If I'd known him I would have strongly advised against such an action, no matter how principled. It's one thing if you're a Buddhist monk in Vietnam in the 1960s, another if you're a 25 year old Airman in the USA in 2024. I think youthful feelings of invincibility probably played a role in Bushnell's decision-making, that sense of immortality that fades with age. I agree there are no good guys between Israel and Hamas, although Israel clearly has the stronger hand in shaping this tragic reality. Thank youfor the comment; I forgot what I exactly wrote, although I've been writing about this all week.
I hope the impact in the American military community is not following his action. This is something that should not be upheld, not demeaned, but not glorified either.
My understanding is that the military has a suicide problem, although I think the qualification is that most are suicides of despair. Bushnell's action struck me as "idealistic" by contrast; he wanted to make a statement. Young people do crazy things, and I think Bushnell was still too young to see that his "protest," while seeming to be the thing to do in theory, was not the best way to go about the protest business. I doubt there'll be a copy-cat effect, but definitely a topic of conversation on our military bases around the world--way too many military bases around the world.
Totally agreed. I think Bushnell's case was different because he was young and idealistic, and young people get ideas in their heads and sometimes get swept away by them. Not that I have any particular insight, but my guess is that he had totally convinced himself of the nobility of his cause, and just took that leap into what he felt was the logical conclusion of his idea, his "extreme protest." America has a sad, sordid history of throwing its War Veterans to the curb. Not to go overlong here, but I met a one-armed veteran of the Vietnam War in DC on the Capitol steps in DC in 1986 (I was 18 at the time). He'd taken a Greyhound Bus from Salt Lake City to finally get some compensation for the loss of his limb in Vietnam in 1972 (that's a long-ass trip, as I took a few Greyhounds to the West Coast back in the late 80s/early 90s). He said that he wouldn't have done anything differently, and I offered no objection, even though I knew enough then to know that the Vietnam War was bullshit; but this veteran was clearly more than a little bitter about how his Government, that shipped him off to that pointless war (and all Wars are pointless) to get his arm blown off and had dragged its Tax-Dollar Feet ever since, delaying the payment for his "services rendered." To say the least, this encounter made an impression.
I'm not in contact with military people at the moment, but I've known a few and know enough to know that combat experience "messes you up," whether you're hung-ho or just trying to get a paycheck. Even being in the military can be a harrowing experience, as I think the opening sequences of Stanley Kubrick's 1987 film "Full Metal Jacket" show. Young men tend to be a bit "psycho": I know, I was one once upon a time. Young people also tend to "fall in love with ideas," and my guess is that was the case with Aaron Bushnell. I think his "motivation" was pure, but his method misguided.
I would say again that Mr Bushnell misjudged the nature of his idea, owing to his youth. You know teen-agers, they think they know the World (hormones more than actual ideas that you've thought out). Mid-20s White Male, military, same deal. I think it's a case of "Absolute commitment" vs "No commitment," and young Aaron simply didn't have the wisdom, the experience, to see the shades of Gray between those "extremes," which are in fact artificial guardrails. Life is lived in the messy middle, and is a series of compromises unless you take the Absolute/No way. Aaron Bushnell would have benefited greatly from better mentorship in the American Military, and that's definitely a critique of the American Military.
Ironically the "witchhunts" against Trump might be inciting actual insurrection, smh.
Trump actually DOES mean that Black People get indicted for nothing. This is his exact quote by Trump in context:
“I got indicted for nothing, for something that is nothing,” Trump told a black-tie event for Black conservatives in South Carolina ahead of Saturday's Republican primary. “And a lot of people said that’s why the Black people like me, because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against, and they actually viewed me as I’m being discriminated against. It’s been pretty amazing but possibly, maybe, there’s something there." https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-says-his-criminal-indictments-boosted-his-appeal-to-black-voters/ar-BB1iNxSr
There is a long history of twisting Trump's words, and then when the context is established, what he says makes perfect sense. I was at his rally in 2015 when he joked around for everyone to make Boy Scout Pledge to vote for him during hurricanes, etc. The media said we did Nazi salutes! o_0
Finally US democracy comes out of the closet, turns out it's fascism! 😐
Yep
Soy-based wiring sounded like a Reddit rumor, so I googled it. Sure enough, some cables are using a plastic insulation made from soy instead of oil, and squirrels love it. Green idiocy knows no limits.
Yep.
I mean, I have heard it 3 times now from the repairman, I am not on Reddit.
What IS second best revenge? I love your podcasts!
Thanks, Amy---
2nd best revenge: making assholes miserable?
Aaron Bushnell, RIP. Did a brave thing even though any of us would have dissuaded him from the same action. Still, he persisted, and did something shocking to "normal folks." Hopefully his action makes a difference. I would not rule a positive result out...
I respectfully disagree. I don't want to demean him because he is a beloved son, but this action is violent, and violence begets violence. I do not see how this violent suicide will stop Hamas terrorism and Netanyahu genocide. Both sides "leadership" are entrenched in one goal > land < and violence is the means for both sides. Zionists want more land for Israel, Hamas wants land to go back to Palestine. Neither side care about their CITIZENS LIVES, the Gazans are being sacrificed by Hamas and the hostages are being sacrificed by Netanyahu. And Biden just wants strategic Israel for USA >it's all about land to the 'leaders', the civilians (including their own citizens) are just collateral damage
I think the biggest impact of Bushnell's action will be in the American military community. I agree that not too many other minds will be changed, if only because people have their heels dug in on the issue. It worth noting that, unlike a mass shooter, Bushnell kept his protest to himself, so to speak. If I'd known him I would have strongly advised against such an action, no matter how principled. It's one thing if you're a Buddhist monk in Vietnam in the 1960s, another if you're a 25 year old Airman in the USA in 2024. I think youthful feelings of invincibility probably played a role in Bushnell's decision-making, that sense of immortality that fades with age. I agree there are no good guys between Israel and Hamas, although Israel clearly has the stronger hand in shaping this tragic reality. Thank youfor the comment; I forgot what I exactly wrote, although I've been writing about this all week.
I hope the impact in the American military community is not following his action. This is something that should not be upheld, not demeaned, but not glorified either.
My understanding is that the military has a suicide problem, although I think the qualification is that most are suicides of despair. Bushnell's action struck me as "idealistic" by contrast; he wanted to make a statement. Young people do crazy things, and I think Bushnell was still too young to see that his "protest," while seeming to be the thing to do in theory, was not the best way to go about the protest business. I doubt there'll be a copy-cat effect, but definitely a topic of conversation on our military bases around the world--way too many military bases around the world.
We didn't say that Bushnell's suicide was like the other military suicides.
Our point was that there is very little organizing or compassion around the veteran suicides.
Totally agreed. I think Bushnell's case was different because he was young and idealistic, and young people get ideas in their heads and sometimes get swept away by them. Not that I have any particular insight, but my guess is that he had totally convinced himself of the nobility of his cause, and just took that leap into what he felt was the logical conclusion of his idea, his "extreme protest." America has a sad, sordid history of throwing its War Veterans to the curb. Not to go overlong here, but I met a one-armed veteran of the Vietnam War in DC on the Capitol steps in DC in 1986 (I was 18 at the time). He'd taken a Greyhound Bus from Salt Lake City to finally get some compensation for the loss of his limb in Vietnam in 1972 (that's a long-ass trip, as I took a few Greyhounds to the West Coast back in the late 80s/early 90s). He said that he wouldn't have done anything differently, and I offered no objection, even though I knew enough then to know that the Vietnam War was bullshit; but this veteran was clearly more than a little bitter about how his Government, that shipped him off to that pointless war (and all Wars are pointless) to get his arm blown off and had dragged its Tax-Dollar Feet ever since, delaying the payment for his "services rendered." To say the least, this encounter made an impression.
I read in Guardian that he went from extremely religious to anarchist views. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/27/aaron-bushnell-israel-embassy-anarchist-community-of-jesus The most tragic part of his story was that his military contract was set to end in May. I'm afraid the ones who are in despair will not be able to differentiate the "types" of suicide
I'm not in contact with military people at the moment, but I've known a few and know enough to know that combat experience "messes you up," whether you're hung-ho or just trying to get a paycheck. Even being in the military can be a harrowing experience, as I think the opening sequences of Stanley Kubrick's 1987 film "Full Metal Jacket" show. Young men tend to be a bit "psycho": I know, I was one once upon a time. Young people also tend to "fall in love with ideas," and my guess is that was the case with Aaron Bushnell. I think his "motivation" was pure, but his method misguided.
I would say again that Mr Bushnell misjudged the nature of his idea, owing to his youth. You know teen-agers, they think they know the World (hormones more than actual ideas that you've thought out). Mid-20s White Male, military, same deal. I think it's a case of "Absolute commitment" vs "No commitment," and young Aaron simply didn't have the wisdom, the experience, to see the shades of Gray between those "extremes," which are in fact artificial guardrails. Life is lived in the messy middle, and is a series of compromises unless you take the Absolute/No way. Aaron Bushnell would have benefited greatly from better mentorship in the American Military, and that's definitely a critique of the American Military.
Ironically the "witchhunts" against Trump might be inciting actual insurrection, smh.
Trump actually DOES mean that Black People get indicted for nothing. This is his exact quote by Trump in context:
“I got indicted for nothing, for something that is nothing,” Trump told a black-tie event for Black conservatives in South Carolina ahead of Saturday's Republican primary. “And a lot of people said that’s why the Black people like me, because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against, and they actually viewed me as I’m being discriminated against. It’s been pretty amazing but possibly, maybe, there’s something there." https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-says-his-criminal-indictments-boosted-his-appeal-to-black-voters/ar-BB1iNxSr
There is a long history of twisting Trump's words, and then when the context is established, what he says makes perfect sense. I was at his rally in 2015 when he joked around for everyone to make Boy Scout Pledge to vote for him during hurricanes, etc. The media said we did Nazi salutes! o_0