Life

Thoughts and insights about life. Philosophy. Sociology. Politics. How to live life and get the most out of it.

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Written in 1976 by Carlo M. Cipolla his essay on stupid people, defined as those that by their actions cause losses to others without benefiting themselves, asserts that as a group they are the most powerful force. Beyond evil doers such as organized crime.

He provides the following structure to group people by their impact on themselves and others.

Graph with the benefits and losses that an individual causes to him or herself an causes to others.
Benefits and losses that an individual causes to self and others

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Taken from a circular letter, addressing many topics, written to three friends and co-workers in the conspiracy against Hitler, on the tenth anniversary of Hitler’s accession to the chancellorship of Germany (note: emphasis added)…

Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented by use of force. Evil always carries within itself the germ of its own subversion in that it leaves behind in human beings at least a sense of unease. Against stupidity we are defenseless. Neither protests nor the use of force accomplish anything here; reasons fall on deaf ears; facts that contradict one’s prejudgment simply need not be believed – in such moments the stupid person even becomes critical – and when facts are irrefutable they are just pushed aside as inconsequential, as incidental. In all this the stupid person, in contrast to the malicious one, is utterly self-satisfied and, being easily irritated, becomes dangerous by going on the attack. For that reason, greater caution is called for than with a malicious one. Never again will we try to persuade the stupid person with reasons, for it is senseless and dangerous.

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Tampa Bay Times - Letters to the Editor
23 Sept 2021

Dead right

Florida’s new surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo*, is spot-on with his observation that the best form of prevention from COVID-19 is for persons to have an infection because this will provide the best immunity. I am aware that he is correct because of a recent experience with a member of my family. He had a severe infection from COVID-19. He is past that now and is completely immune—not only for COVID-19 but flu and other respiratory infections as well. Dr. Ladapo’s recommendation works. Of course we are burying this family member next week.

Charles Chamberlain, Spring Hill

We have seen that like most vaccines, the COVID-19 ones attempt to avoid any infection but the more important service to lessen the impact of an infection to avoid death. I would suggest we not measure the effectiveness of this or any other vaccine only by lack of any infection but the cumulative reduction in the impact. At least for me, I can literally live with an influenza or other infection as long as it does not kill me.

* The surgeon general has commented that a previous coronavirus infection “protects people from getting very ill and also protects people from being infected again.”↩

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EC-130Q Hercules TACAMO

TACAMO stands for "Take Charge and Move Out", a phase often used in the military and particularly by the Marines. But in the context of U.S. military aircraft, the phrase refers to a special mission and a similarly unique aircraft equipped to perform the mission. Years ago I worked on it but could not talk about it.

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Not for what you did, but for what you did not do. Missed opportunities.