Koran from Muhammad or God; Torah from Babylonian Jews or God?

Read an interesting article in today’s New York Times Magazine (December 7, 2008; page 24 Who Wrote the Koran?) about a theological reformer challenges those who claim to speak for Islam. By Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabarr.  Abdulkarim Sorush is Iran’s leading public intellectual, he is a scholar of Islamic theology and was Ayatollah Khomeini’s man for bringing Islam back to Iran. But he is a smart guy and he really studied what he was doing - and consequently asked people to think, not just follow.  Much like the true Rabbi’s and Scholars of ancient Hebrew texts and the Torah.  As a Reform Jew I do believe that the Torah reflects what God wants us to live our lives - but through ancient stories passed down from generation to generation.  There are some that believe the Torah was directly given to us by God and others who believe that the stories were first written down in Ancient Babylon to unite and help the Jews from becoming assimilated into the Babylonian culture. Its one thing to come out of a cave and say "I have found the word of God - see we weren’t kidding" and another to say  "you have to do this because I say its the right way to live your life." Same for the Koran according to Sorush.  As written in the article:

"The recent controversey began about eight months ago, after Soroush spoke with a Dutch reporter about on of Islam’s most sensitve issues: the divine origin of the Koran. Muslims have long believed that their holy book was transmitted word for word by God through the Prophet Muhammad. In the interview, however, Sorush made explicit his alternative belief that the Koran was a"prophetic experience." He told me that the Prophet "was at the same time the receiver and the producer of the Koran or, if you will, the subject and the object of the revelation."

 Its pretty a conversation I have all the time - you can argue against divine creation of all that we are "Adam and Eve" or you can say Darwin was right.  Or you can believe what I believe in that Darwin was right but the hand of God was involved every step of the way.  So that as a Reform Jew - I do think these very smart Rabbi’s or Priests or whomever, did write down the Torah very carefully and said "this is the word of God" to get people emotionally involved.  The less intelligent were hooked as they needed guidance and a way to follow without thought, the intelligent who had morals and a grasp on social reality said - this is a good way to teach.

So I’ve just insulted my friends who are Orthodox, no way - they are the ones who study and question the most - it is the way of our people, and the way of Islamic scholars for thousands of years. It is only fear and control that make for tyrannical rule. The kind of rule they needed at the time of Mohammad to unite the Arabs, the kind they needed in ancient Israel to unite the Jews and the kind they needed in ancient Rome to re-unite the Roman Empire to become the Holy Roman Empire.  I’m equally insulting all religious believers who cling to a patriarchal hierarchy of God-King-Man (or God-Pope-Bishop-King-Man; or God-Ayatollah-President-Man; or God-Priest-King-Man).  We don’t need a king in a democracy so we don’t need religion in government.  Its what this country was built on - not a Godless nation, a nation under God - but with liberty and justice for all.  With the hand of God guiding us along - but not ruling over us. I believe God planned all along to let us find our own way - he just gave us the tools (Torah, Bible, Koran or whatever) to make sure we stay on the right path. 

iTunes .99 cents vs. $14 for a CD?

 More Artists Steer Clear of iTunes

Per this article.   Maybe the data isn’t there but it would have been interesting to compare this to the gold age of the 45s (whenever that was) - we didn’t have that many when I was a kid in the early 70’s but what about the 60’s? Come to think of it, I did have friends with reasonably large stacks - Quite frankly I could imagine that there were a lot more one hit wonders back then as we bought 45’s rather then albums.  I do remember some 2 to 3 song LP’s.  Maybe iTunes could go to a two song option with the bonus "flip side".  Anyway - I wonder what the empirical data shows for that scenario.  My point is, this isn’t that new of a model.  Maybe if all these single song downloads were not there these artists wouldn’t be selling anything (Big difference between .99 and $14 for a CD).  Maybe today’s artists simply cannot fill an album.  I was a fan of bands like Genesis, YES and Pink Floyd as a kid - so I "Had" to buy the album to get the full picture. However I never would have bought an album from Gary Wright even though I knew Dream Weaver by heart after making my "tape mix" from a friend or the radio.

What, do you think you are the center of the universe?

So I’m in the movie theatre and 4 girls walk in and sit one seat away from me in the same row.  Its Batman - The Dark Knight. The kind of movie I like to get lost in.  30 minutes to go in the movie and the girl closest to me pulls out her blackberry with a backlight and starts tapping away. I figure - important message from her boyfriend that his wedgie got stuck and he needed help.  Then 15 minutes to go and she pulls it out again, the freaking climax of the movie and what the hell is so freaking important!?  I actually got up and moved over 5 seats (away from the awsome center seat I had). 

When the lights come on  we all leave, only one girl leavs her slurpie cup and empty bag of popcorn on the seat. 

Generation Y? Generation Why?  Generation Me!  Well, we were just as bad - my father was right.

Study finds students narcissistic

These kid’s parents were the "boomers" - the original ME generation.  My parents were one each - before and after the boom. I think the difference is that the Boomers were much more physically connected to each other (in many ways) and that led to much more empathy and consideration where the mood of this generation is social but disconnected as they communicate via technology rather then woodstock, wine bars and anti-war rallies.  The boomers did end up a bit too selfish during the 80’s and 90’s but they did create a boom in the economy - maybe this generation will help us tweenies get out of the dip we are in now. I hope, there aren’t enough of me right now to support all those retiring boomers!. But first, they have to get their heads out of their computers, read less and get a little dirty.  Its one thing to talk about hope, rail in your blog (smile) and complain about the evil empire; its another thing to contribute to the economy, walk among those of us actually working for a living and to give leadership to the next generation by creating wealth and prosperity through something more then temporary fixes and wealth redistribution.  In too short of a time there won’t be much to redistribute - it will all be in India and China. 

Building a New and Stupid World - Phone Line (Song)

Building a New and Stupid World - Phone Line  No access to instruments of any…

 A friend who is powerful. This is a terrific poem. Singing a capella; putting it all out there makes me smile.  

Happymaker?

Q: What the heck is ?

A: The Happy Maker! 

Known as  (ka-ran-nis) or " The Happy Maker" in Greece, my ancestors produced some of the finer spirits (okay, they had a traveling distillery) on the Island of Lemnos, located in the beautiful Aegean sea.

The stuff was so good that when my great-great-great-…(way back)…….grandfather would come to town, the villagers would say: "here comes the happy-maker!"

So he changed his name to  (ka-ran-nis) meaning happy-maker.
When my Grandfather came over from Greece to the USA he changed his name from  to James Charanis and I was named after him. Here is the house where he was born:

I have not forgotten that tradition of keeping my customers happy.
Years of experience working with corporate clients of all types has taught me how to help my customers find solutions to their information management problems.

Here is another article of someone who traced their roots back to this lovely island

Pictures and info on the town:  Lemnos Villages

The Winter of our Discontent - Steinbeck

 Just finished it - the last few chapters pulled me so far in it woke me up. Ellen’s light is on; Maia carries my light. She will someday carry my Talisman.  Never can despair overcome the hope of the light in a child. Good stuff. 

Sean Kingston “Me Love” sample or just plain suck

YouTube - Sean Kingston "Me Love" - Music Video

Thanks Andy for pointing this out to me and messing with a memory.  Just kidding - you know sometimes a sample is a feeling - like I was just channel surfing and came across this chick-band Pussycat Dolls: Live in Manchester - had to stop: eye-candy.  I don’t see much original coming out of these girls either.  They are just plain singing other peoples stuff.  But at least they aren’t taking a tune and moving the words a bit. The "music memory" that caught my ear on that show was a pop song that has the sample from ELO’s Mid-evil Woman. I don’t know the song, its a sort of Rap.  

Tributes are good - remember how Run DMC revived one of my favorite bands - Aerosmith!  Explicit rebirth of a great old song. 

So I think its okay to sample - after all music is supposed to elicit a feeling, move you.  If these rappers pull a few bars from the original recording its makes you miss the next few bars and that will make you think, or feel.  Pulling a melody, chorus and changing the words a bit just pisses people off though as Kingston does here.  The Zeppelin song was so much better and the words made more sense anyway.  

Walt Mossberg article on Jordanian border in Israel

I love reading Walt’s tech column in the WSJ, not just because he is also a Mac fan but also because he always has a positive and enlightening approach to most subjects, even techie ones. Today I found his weblog and this is a great article on a positive situation in Israel and Jordan. Here Walt talks about the fact that the peace process between the two countries is working and it is possible for the people of both countries to not only get along but work together: Peace in the Mideast, With Great Cellphone Coverage . I think this is wonderful and a model for the possibilities. I wonder if it’s possible for cooperation someday as there is in Asia between Japan, China and the other countries in Asia who for centuries were sworn enemies. Japan is the economic powerhouse and the countries around have learned from them, trade with them and now are on equal ground. Would you call Korea Jordan? I’ve written here how most of these Arab countries are simply extensions of kingdoms. How I feel that the borders are fabrications and simply the result of previous empires leaving - England, France, Rome, Persia, Greece - all built these borders. Are there really Jordanians, Palestinians, Kuwaitis, Iraqis, Israelis? Or are these people from ancient times in kingdoms that replaced empires, countries created out of convenience or voids. Foreign countries drew these lines after world wars. We do know there are Persians, Arabs and Jews, Kurds, Hindus, etc. These are cultures that could be countries; but that’s another topic.

What I can say is Walt hit the nail on the head - a border is just a crossing and it can be a gateway to discovery and possibilities when your perspective is positive. Thanks Walt for stepping out of the box, tapping your experience and shedding some light and love.

Cover art for In Rainbows // journal // hicksdesign

Cover art for In Rainbows // journal // hicksdesignThis is a great page - I downloaded (and yes I paid for) Radiohead In Rainbows recently - lots of cool ideas here for cover art.  

Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy - Katie’s Crew

 From my friend Nick - here is a great idea for charity giving this year: Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy - Katie’s CrewNick Says: “Spinal Muscular Atrophy.  It’s a degenerative muscle disease.  Derivative of muscular dystrophy.  My niece has it.  She’s been in a wheelchair her whole life. Pretty brutal. ”