Susan Sontag’s principal gifts to our civilization were not that easily packaged, but were a brilliant, non-stop commentary on contemporary art practices and their effects on our emotions. She did get off one sound bite in an interview on television, which was to me a stunning sermon in and of itself. She was asked what she had learned from the Holocaust, and she said that 10 percent of any population is cruel, no matter what, and that 10 percent is merciful, no matter what, and that the remaining 80 percent could be moved in either direction.
-Kurt Vonnegut
RickB
Human, Artist, Fool.
Ynys Mon, UK.
And I’m writing it because I need the therapy and I lust for world domination.
Ten Percent 
13 May, 2007 at 11:51 pm
I don’t know anything about Susan Sontag, except that she was some kind of singer, and maybe popular during the Veitnam war. She was wrong: it isn’t 10%, it’s 37%. Google “Stanley Milgram”
14 May, 2007 at 12:08 am
ha, ahem. Ah yes Milgram, well actually that result is only the final shock level, the adamant refusers only began at the 300 volt level so the percentage is arguable. In Sontag’s case she was talking in the context of society not the narrow terms of the Milgram study and I find it a fairly good approximation that explains the actual course of human history. Unfortunately.
12 July, 2007 at 9:37 am
Interesting and worthwhile stuff here. I’ve added Ten Percent to my blogroll. Keep up the good work.
Peace.
12 July, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Thanks frolix22, I’ll do likewise.
15 August, 2007 at 7:04 am
Hold forth on the Fool aspect sometime, please. We need more of a certain kind; not too many though, or it could get cacophonous.
15 August, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Everyday tells me I am a fool, for I continue living.
23 February, 2008 at 8:26 am
Hi, thanks for the link. I also added your fine blog to the roll 🙂
23 February, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Hey homeyra, I was most remiss in not having read you before, anyway that is now rectified and thanks for the link!
18 August, 2008 at 2:35 am
Hey Rick, found you through naj – I’ll be subscribing and reading along! Good stuff – thanks!
18 August, 2008 at 11:58 am
Hey Monte, thanks for the props (I see we share a wp theme! And anyone who quotes KV is a compadre) I know you from your contributions to Stop The Second Holocaust, but I’ll add your wp now too.
18 August, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Welcome monte/mas!
26 August, 2008 at 3:33 pm
“And I’m writing it because I need the therapy and I lust for world domination.”
And blogging is soooooh much cheaper than therapy. Oh, and don’t we all when it comes to world domination. Aim high, comrade, aim high….
26 August, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Hey Harpy,
Can’t be any worse than cost/benefit standardised CBT!
Don’t worry, when my Empire bestrides the Earth like a Colossus I shall be merciful unto those who have good blogs (also free Jaffa Cakes).
*strokes cat and laughs evilly*
26 August, 2008 at 8:03 pm
*strokes cat and laughs evilly*
Ah, comrade Blofeld, we meet again. Here is a year’s supply of Jaffa Cakes along with some Jammie Dodgers thrown in for good measure.
Indeed it can’t be any worse than CBT or even DBT (shudders at memories)
26 August, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Redistribution of biscuits shall be my first priority comrade!
Eek! I am deeply suspicious of all the behavioural stuff, seems a bit like slapping the side of a tv and if it works thinking you fixed it. It treats people as behaviours to be corrected not as complex humans. Works for some, not me.
26 August, 2008 at 11:33 pm
“It treats people as behaviours to be corrected not as complex humans. Works for some, not me.”
I agree with that.
27 August, 2008 at 3:39 pm
And you’re cool on the biscuit front too, yeah?
27 August, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Thanks Rick…
Yeah, jaffa cakes and jammie dodgers.
30 December, 2008 at 4:09 am
Just realized, from a card at People’s Geography, that you must be an Anglesey dweller. My son and I visited that beautiful isle – to see Beaumaris – three years ago. B. was our favorite of all the castles in NW Wales. We zoomed around on tiny roads in a coach, diving into drives when oncoming traffic appeared.
Such a memorable visit – sort of stirs me up to find a connection to it!
31 December, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Hey Monte, yes indeed, the isle of Anglesey is where my secure undisclosed location resides! That’s really nice to hear, your description sounds pretty accurate , especially the narrow roads and yes Beaumaris is lovely. Weirdly that’s where we took a Canadian friend some time ago. I’m glad it made a good impression and if you ever are in the area again please let me know I shall treat you to some tea & cakes!
& Viva People’s Geography!
3 January, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Hi,
My name is Maria and I am a DREAM Act beneficiary. I arrived in this country at the young age of 12, with my parents, from Peru. I am now 21 years old and undocumented. I have grown up in the United States and consider this country my only home. If sent back to Peru, I would be banned from the U.S. for 10 years and the chances of coming back are slim to none. I graduated from high school in 2004 and since then, it has been difficult for me to continue my education as a result of my status. The DREAM Act would help me, and students in my situation, realize our dreams of becoming active members of society by allowing us to attend school or join the military.
Currently, there is an active project on CHANGE.ORG, a website that will present the top 10 ideas that it generates to the Obama administration upon its inauguration. DreamACTivist.org has presented the idea “Pass the DREAM Act Now” (http://www.change.org/ideas/view/pass_the_dream_act_now) and it has gathered enough support to make it to the second round.
YOUR BLOG is the most invaluable tool you have in order to help us,
Starting January 5th, the voting polls will re-open for the second round. We will ONLY have 10 days to gather as many votes and support as possible in order to become one of the top 10 ideas that will be presented to the Obama administration. There will be a widget that you can post on your website to allow readers to vote for our cause, as well as tell their friends to do so as well. Also consider voting for the other immigration ideas that made it to the second round, as they also need your support. This project is of extreme importance and your prompt participation is greatly appreciated.
Also, DreamACTivist and the United We DREAM Coalition will be launching a website on January 21 (www.dreamact2009.com) that will become a 65,000 petition drive for the DREAM Act, signifying the 65,000 undocumented students that would benefit from this act each year. Please visit http://dreamactivist.org/petition for more information and consider joining our efforts to make the DREAM Act a reality in 2009.
Please, don’t hesitate to contact me with further questions at maria@dreamactivist.org
In solidarity,
Maria M.
Co-Founder of DreamACTivist.org
5 January, 2009 at 2:11 am
Thanks, and will do!
1 May, 2009 at 7:11 am
Hey Rick! What’s this about world domination?? I, the most High and Holy Empress of the Universe, (known and unknown) shall bestow upon you the title of “Dominator of Worlds”, if only you’ll update me on your blogroll at my new (and permanent, I promise) home: http://thornesworld.com.
Yes, it’s true. I fell so in love with wordpress I had to go self hosted. I’ve found my feet (and heart) again and am blogging our journey to a sustainable lifestyle off the grid out here in the desert, a bit of my art and gardening, paganism and magick and of course avian rescue. I miss you! Stop by sometime!
xoxoxo
Thornie
3 May, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Ok will do, wow you own domain, may be going that route myself in a few months (hosting, grid/sustain might take a little longer) so your news is encouraging Empress!
1 May, 2009 at 7:16 am
Oh!! I’m also the official “Trash Thursday” blogger at http://www.blogonsmog/trash-thursday where I write about precycling, recycling, reusing and upcycling!! I turn trash into treasure and junk into art!! Come see me sometime, handsome. *wink
3 May, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Ok sweetheart *winks back*
ps. fixed that link,
http://www.blogonsmog.com/trash-thursday/
29 June, 2009 at 2:42 am
How’s that “world domination” coming, by the way?
29 June, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Monte I gotta tell ya, it’s taking its time, I might settle for just not hated by too many people and maybe even loved by a few.