Law and Order Is Fundamental to Economic Heath

It is widely recognized that a culture of law and order are essential for economic development. (If not widely recognized, it ought to be.) A stable and predictable legal system, effective law enforcement, and a low level of crime are all factors that contribute to community health. These factors can help attract investment, promote entrepreneurship, and create a favorable business environment. 

On the other hand, a weak legal system, ineffective law enforcement, and high levels of crime can deter investment, discourage entrepreneurship, and undermine economic growth. 

For example, a weak legal system can make it difficult to enforce contracts, protect property rights, and resolve disputes. This can discourage businesses from investing in a community, as they may be worried about their assets being stolen or their contracts being broken. 

Ineffective law enforcement can make it difficult to catch criminals and bring them to justice. This can lead to a rise in crime, which can make people feel unsafe and discourage them from starting businesses or investing in their communities. It can make employees fearful of working after dark downtown.

High levels of crime can also make it difficult for retail businesses to operate. For example, businesses may have to spend more money on security, or they may have to close early in order to avoid being robbed. This can reduce profits and make it difficult for businesses to grow. 

Therefore, it can be argued that law and order are critical components of economic development. 

* * * 

How has it come about the in many places it seems like the attitude is "Economic Development Is Bad" and "Crime Is Good." I mean, why do so many cities stop arresting or prosecuting criminals? Why are so many police officers taking early retirement? How can a trouble maker be stopped 100 times in a single year and not ever go to jail. When he doesn't show up in court, he is allowed to say, "I intended to" but nothing happens. 

What's going on?

Some people believe that police have too much power because they are often armed and have the authority to use force. They argue that this power can be abused, and that police officers are often not held accountable for their actions. While these things may be true, others argue that police need to have a certain amount of power in order to do their jobs effectively. They point out that police officers often face dangerous situations, and that they need to be able to use force to protect themselves and the public.

There's no doubt that police have a great deal of power. It's important to remember, however, that this power is not absolute. Police officers are still subject to the law, and they can be held accountable for their actions.

No one wants a police state. There is, however, something to be said for a desire to feel safe on our streets and in our homes. 

More can be said, but this will serve as a start.

Creating Embryos in the Lab: "Oh Brave New World"

IN June, a month packed with "big stories" (Trump indictments, Hunter Biden revelations, Titanic exploration gone awry, new twists and turns in the Ukraine/Russia misadventure), it would have been easy to miss this story about a human embryo created without an egg or sperm. It's only the latest episode in genetic engineering since Dolly the cloned ewe was unveiled more than 25 years ago.

Here are the two stories that caught my eye:

Creating embryos in the lab: How, why, and what the future holds
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/creating-embryos-in-the-lab-how-why-and-what-the-future-holds

Human embryos created without egg or sperm in controversial breakthrough

https://nypost.com/2023/06/15/human-embryos-created-without-egg-or-sperm-in-controversial-breakthrough/

No one knows if these embryonic structures — created from stem cells — could develop into a viable living organism, or what that organism might be like. But the breakthrough is sure to ignite a firestorm of ethical, legal and scientific debate.

In Aldous Huxley's novel "Brave New World," the concept of human cloning raised a number of issues. 

Those familiar with the story will recall how this dystopian future society was divided into different classes of cloned individuals, each with specific roles and functions. Alphas were the highest class in the social hierarchy, intellectually and physically superior, occupying leadership and managerial positions in society. Betas were slightly lower in the hierarchy compared to Alphas. Though intelligent and skilled, they were not as dominant or authoritative. Gammas were the next level below Betas and Alphas, typically employed in administrative or technical roles. Deltas, lower still, performed tasks requiring less skill and intelligence such as manual labor and routine jobs. Epsilons filled the lowest place in this future society, designed and conditioned to perform menial and labor-intensive tasks.

Each class was predetermined by means of the cloning and conditioning processes, ensuring each class had specific attributes and abilities predesigned for their assigned roles within this "Brave New World." The strict caste system perpetuates social stability and conformity but comes at the cost of individuality and freedom.

Huxley clearly intended to shine a light on the ethical concerns he believed were potentially in our future. Here are several of these.

--Loss of Individuality and Personal Identity

In Brave New World, individuals were mass-produced much like any other consumer goods, resulting in the loss of uniqueness and individuality. We saw a glimpse of this in Pixar's Toy Story series when Woody and Buzz Lightyear discovered (in the toy store) that they were not unique. Huxley showed how clones were created to conform, denying them the opportunity to develop their own identities and pursue personal fulfillment. Feel free to comment on this or any of the following points.

--Lack of Autonomy and Freedom of Choice
Cloning in Brave New World was a process controlled by the state, where individuals had no say in their creation or destiny within the hierarchical society. This raised ethical concerns about the suppression of personal autonomy and the denial of freedom to shape one's own life.

--Exploitation and Dehumanization 
Cloning in the novel served as a means of producing a subservient workforce and a compliant population. Clones were treated as commodities rather than as fully human individuals. They are conditioned and manipulated to be content with their assigned roles, stripping them of their humanity and dignity. Do we see echoes of this in our current culture?

--Psychological and Emotional Consequences
The clones in Brave New World" were subjected to extensive conditioning, which suppressed their emotions, desires, and critical thinking abilities, raising ethical concerns about the psychological and emotional well-being of cloned individuals, as they are denied the full range of human experiences and emotions. The drug Soma would serve to keep the masses happily compliant. What we see is a merger between the State, Big Tech and Big Pharma. Huxley anticipated this 80 years ago.

The novel makes a statement on the importance of individuality, autonomy, freedom, and the potential consequences of manipulating human life through cloning. It's a cautionary tale about the potential risks and ethical dilemmas associated with the pursuit of scientific advancements without careful consideration of their broader implications. 

In short, these trends are an assault on the very essence of what it means to be human. 

Related Links

"Oh, Brave New World!" -- Revisited

Human Cloning: Why the Ethicists Are Concerned

Who Will Berry Whom?

When Nikita Khrushchev made his 

provocative pronouncement,

"We will bury you!"...

Soviet Premiere Nikita Khrushchev.

President Eisenhower missed

a golden opportunity to offer this witty reply:

"WE WILL BERRY YOU!!"

Legendary photographer Gary Firstenberg
strums Chuck Berry's guitar.

I saw Chuck Berry once when I was in college.
He was traveling with a pack of 1950s rock 'n rollers, doing the

rock 'n roll revival thing. This memory brought to mind a time 

I was at the Indianapolis Airport waiting for an early flight. 

About 30 WWF wrestlers straggled in and sat all around me. 

The thought I had was that one wrestler couldn't fill a night club 

but a whole squadron might fill a small stadium.

This is what the Rock N Roll Revival was about... packing small

stadiums like the Convocation Center in Athen. Even Chuck 

Berry's patented duckwalk would get old after awhile if he tried

to carry the whole evening alone. So these veteran stars came

together to share the stage, increase their audience size and 

get paid to do what they loved to do... Perform.

The Platters, Shirelles, Sha Na Na and a host of others...
Was Bo Diddley there? He might have been. 

Chuck Berry was fo' sure.

* * * 

If you like word games, you may have noticed that 

Bury and Berry are homonyms. Here's a story I created 

using as many homonyms as I could think of, & it was a lot.

How I One the Wore

From the Rat Race to Life in the Slow Lane: Finding Balance and Purpose

"Frazzled" 

While cleaning more folders and files from my office and garage I came across this quote about the pace of life and the pressures we're under.

The world is too big for us, too much is going on, too many crimes, too much violence and excitement. Try as you will, you get behind in the race in spite of yourself. It's a constant strain to keep pace... and still, you lose ground. Science empties its discoveries on you so fast that you stagger beneath them in hopeless bewilderment. The political world is news seen rapidly, you're out of breath trying to keep pace with who's in and who's out. Everything is high pressure. Human nature can't endure much more.

Atlantic Journal June 16, 1883

* * * 

I love this quote for several reasons. First, it seems comical to me that this was written 140 years ago last month. Was the rat race so staggering even back then?

It also reminds me of how many of the same issues that our forebears struggled with are along the same lines as what we're dealing with. Crime, violence, living under pressure, the speed at which political news flips across our consciousness like tumblers on a gymnastics team.... It makes your head swim.

It also raises the question regarding how we ought to live. Of course, the more money one has the more options as well. "I can do whatever I want" only applies to those who have the means to do whatever they want. 

Over the years I've reflected on this quote many, many times. It always surprises me to think the rat race didn't begin in the 1980s but was pushing and shoving people a full century earlier. 

Personally, I think a lifetime of being stressed out, always running to catch up but never being caught up, takes a toll on our health. How do we find balance then? How slow down? And if we can't slow down, how pace oneself so as to avoid burnout? How do we create spaces to refill our wells? 

For me, I have observed that life has seasons. Sometimes we're impelled to run, sometimes we're able to take a breather. Whatever we go through is a learning opportunity. There's a certain amount of energy generated when we have to meet deadlines. On the other hand, repetitive work that feels meaningless eventually takes its toll. The key is finding a pace that is right for you. 

* * * 

Slow Living
Here are some posts I have published in the past about the concept of slow living.

Slow Living Versus the Rush and Roar of Fast Track Life

The Slow City Movement

Slow Living and an Icelandic Illusion

The Man Behind the Beat: An Interview with Eddie Bayers

When it comes to notable resumes, American drummer Eddie Bayers has it in spades. You may not know him as a household name, but insiders know him well. And the rest of us are more than familiar with his work, even if we didn't know who it was that kept the beat going on. 

Bayers' studio work is extensive, establishing the rhythm for big names that include Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Brian Wilson, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Rogers, B.J. Thomas, Kenny Chesney... and a list that goes on and on and on. As a session drummer he's played on 300 gold and platinum albums. 

His Hollywood services are equally impressive, with credits on movies that include A Few Good Men, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Bridget Jones's Diary, Twister, Space Cowboys, Something to Talk About... and again many more.

His numerous awards are likewise noteworthy. In 2022 Bayers was officially inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame, alongside other esteemed inductees that included The Judds, the late Ray Charles and the late Pete Drake. During his career he's received the Academy of Country Music ‘Drummer of the Year Award’ for fourteen years, and has three times won the Nashville Music Awards ‘Drummer of the Year.’ And he's not done yet.

This past week he was at the Watershed Studios with Charlie McCoy and others to record Nevada Bob Gordon's seventh CD. Through this connection I was introduced to Eddie for the purpose of this interview. Once we covered the basics Eddie shares some important insights about the music business that he's learned as a veteran.

EN: What was your first experience with drumming?

Eddie Bayers: It was in high school. Although I was a classical piano player, I was interested in the drums.

EN: Who were your biggest influences as a drummer?

EB: My first was Mitch Mitchell. Hearing him with Jimi Hendrix.

EN: What is your favorite genre of music to play?

EB: Today, it’s a melting pot, but initially it was R&B.

EN: What is the most challenging song you have ever played?

EB: It wasn’t challenging, but it was great that I could do something to the song. Steve Wariner’s Married to A Memory.

EN: What is your favorite memory from your time in Nashville?

EB: So many memories, it’s hard to pick one.

EN: I can understand that. What is your favorite Hollywood movie you have worked on?

EB: The Prince of Egypt.

EN: What advice would you give to aspiring drummers?

EB: Honor the music you’re required to perform. Have a good attitude. Networking is a major factor. Be involved in the music community wherever you're going to be.

EN: What is the future of drumming in your opinion?

EB: I have seen so many changes. I would say the future is here, and drummers need to be knowledgeable about programming IE Protools, Logic X etc. Most drummers I have met already know how to play so having the capability to program or use a program with a computer would be a great asset, especially in recording.

I see a lot of drummers that run sequences that the band plays to because there are certain pieces of music (loops or vocals/more instruments) that go along with the songs the artist is performing.

EN: What is your favorite thing about being a drummer?

EB: The groove!!

EN: What is one thing you wish you could change about the music industry?

EB: Fairness in residuals for musicians and composers.

EN: What are some of the biggest changes you have seen in the music industry over the years?

EB: The fiscal template that happened because of digital formats for downloading.
     
EN: How do you stay up-to-date on the latest trends in drumming?

EB: I’ve always stayed up to date. In the past, if I heard something "new", I would learn it. It’s the only key to longevity to make a living in music.

  

EN: What are some of the challenges of being a session drummer?

EB: Actually, I don’t find challenges. In recording you can fix, or do it again. In live performance you have one shot!
·     
EN: What is your advice for drummers who want to break into the music industry?

EB: Don’t be genre minded. Listen to everything, and also, don’t be opinionated . Music is a service industry and all walks of people have their favorites that they like to listen to. You never know what your musical gig will require you to play.

* * * 

(L to R) Charlie McCoy, Eddie Bayers, Nevada Bob Gordon, 
 with Mark and Wanda Burchfield who ran the recording session.

Visit Eddie's website at: http://www.eddiebayers.com 

Photography courtesy Gary Firstenberg

Nevada Bob Gordon, author of 50 Years with the Wrong Woman: The Life of Nevada Bob: Adventures with Family, Friends and Foes, has just completed his 7th studio album. 

The River of Time: A Meditation on the Flow of Life

I had a new thought this weekend. It flowed out of a quote that went something like this: "The future is the past unfrozen."

As I reflected on this notion, however, I couldn't help but think about the behavior of water in its different states. I liked the idea that our past was frozen, and I thought about how water freezes below a specific temperature. But once it is unfrozen it can also be altered yet again when you boil it or heat it above 212 degrees F. It becomes an invisible gas at that point.

It's interesting that time therefore has three phases: past, present and future. Likewise water has three phases: solid, liquid and gas.

What we see when we apply this notion to time is that all of time is a unity, but it is experienced in different forms. Try as we might, we can't alter the past. Our achievements and mistakes leave a permanent record. They are frozen in time. Our present, on the other hand, is fluid. This fluid present is where we live and experience life. The future is invisible. It is so unformed it cannot be seen, like unpolluted air.

If the whole of time is one unit, then this would explain how God can be described as being the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, and be both simultaneously. Some people see a fatalism inherent in God knowing the end from the beginning, but the paradox is this: the present is ever fluid until it is past. Because the present is fluid, anything is possible. It's up to us to decide "what next." Our decisions today will determine what will be frozen in time tomorrow.

* * * * 

Is it true that what will be will be? 

What will be is up to us. 

Is the future inevitable?

Yes, but only after it has been frozen in the past.

EdNote: Top right is a painting, acrylic on panel, 24"x 36". Bottom is AI generated variation

Originally published in September, 2016

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Frankenstein's Monster Receives the AI Treatment

I came across one of my Frankenstein drawings and decided to play with it using an AI graphics app called Dream by Wombo. The first is my original. Those that follow are utilizing various prompts and features of the app. At the bottom is another of my Frankenstein monsters along with a link to a 2008 blog post titled Frankenstein: A Cultural History.

Frankenstein's Monster (Brush & Ink on newsprint)

Curious Monster

Comic Monster

Dangerous Monster

Steampunk Monster

Two-Faced Monster

Another ennyman original.

Related Link

Frankenstein: A Cultural History