11 Aphorisms: Liberty, Love, Life, Death, Drugs and Courage.

by Brandon Toner

• The modern person is confronted with two options: consume dangerous drugs or consume dangerous ideas. The former threatens to destroy their bodies, the later the very society which necessitates the former.

• Mercy is the most noble act, vengeance the next. Punishment and forgiveness are for those in chains.

• True liberty is the power to be merciful toward those who cause you injury.

• Never fear to think, it is a confrontation with your self. If you cannot confront your self then you will not be able confront others.

• Dangerous ideas are much more exciting and deadly then dangerous drugs.
  

• The bored are the breathing dead.

• Love can be the most charming of tyrants.

• Euphoria can be bought, courage cannot.

• 'Life or death' is a false dichotomy.

• Materialism is valuing what you do not have and not valuing what you do have.

• Aphorisms are widely read but often narrowly understood.

First Post

This is going to start as a place to keep track of my thoughts, of news stories i think people should be reading and maybe some photos and other art (my own and others) that i like. Maybe it will evolve into something interesting, something worth reading, but most likely not. I have been flirting with the idea of blog for awhile and have made a few abortive attempts (if you cant count myspace as an actual blog). I guess i finally decided to commit to a blog because myspace and facebook and Microsoft word was unable to really fit my needs of tracking the news of world and my thoughts about it.

I am really trying to avoid apologizing for my blog. I feel like i dont have the talent or the creativity to produce something interesting so i shouldn't even bother, or have the audacity to think somebody will actually read this, but I came to a conclusion: Fuck it. If i actually want to produce something interesting, and add a worthwhile voice to the public discourse, i wont do it worrying about how I stack up to others, or worrying about criticism of my ideas, or spelling and grammar mistakes. Who gives a shit.

I think thats an apology for my blog. Damnit...

Oh, a shoutout and thank you to my friend Jessica at UofM Feminist for encouraging me to start a blog and otherwise making a concerted effort at emasculating me for not doing so sooner.