The force of the term “agnosticism” has been lost. It has come to mean: not to hold an opinion about the questions of the life and death; to say “I don’t know” when you really mean “I don’t want to know.” When allied (and confused) with atheism, it has become part of the attitude that legitimizes an indulgent consumerism and the unreflective conformism dictated by mass media.

For T.H. Huxley, who coined the term in 1869, agnosticism was as demanding as any moral, philosophical, or religious creed. Rather than a creed, though, he saw it as a method realized through “the rigorous application of a single principle.” He expressed this principle positively as: “Follow your reason as far as it will take you,” and negatively as: “Do not pretend that conclusions are certain which are not demonstrated or demonstrable.” This principle runs though the Western tradition: from Socrates, via the Reformation and the Enlightenment, to the axioms of modern science. Huxley called it the “agnostic faith.”

An agnostic … eschews atheism as much as theism, and is as reluctant to regard the universe as devoid of meaning as endowed with meaning. For to deny either God or meaning is simply the antithesis of affirming them. Yet such an agnostic stance is not based on disinterest. It is founded on a passionate recognition that I do not know. It confronts the enormity of being born instead of reaching for the consolation of a belief. It strips away, layer by layer, the views that conceal the mystery of being here—either by affirming it as something or denying it as nothing.

Such deep agnosticism is an attitude toward life refined through ongoing mindful awareness. It may lead to the realization that ultimately there is neither something nor nothing at the core of ourselves that we can put a finger on. Or it may be focused in an intense perplexity that vibrates through the body and leaves the mind that seeks certainty nowhere to rest.

I tried Crystal Head Vodka for the first time since I saw this surreal video sometime last year. It’s pretty good vodka and the bottle is really cool. But man, that video is something else. I wonder if Aykroyd wrote that crazy script. In way it’s so strange that it makes you want to send it to others and say, “watch this shit! It’s so freaking WEIRD”. As a marketing technique, that’s not a bad idea, but it’s so out there that I tend to laugh at it, which may not be what the marketers intended. The vodka itself is priced pretty high — about 50 bucks for 750ml.

Here’s the opening paragraph from their website:

Thousands of years ago, thirteen crystal heads were scattered across the earth – and they are greater and more powerful than anything we have the ability to manufacture today. Their workmanship is perfect: they contain no tool marks and have been cut against the natural axis of the crystal, defying the laws of physics. Some say they are artifacts from the lost civilization of Atlantis, some say they date back to the Mayans, still others say they were created by a higher intelligence.

My question is, with this kind of ridiculous copy, is their entire marketing campaign tongue-in-cheek to be strange and funny on purpose? Or does Dan Aykroyd and Co. really believe this crap? Does it matter?

CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #56

Let’s try a little experiment. Turn and look at someone near you — a loved one, a friend, a co-worker, a stranger — it doesn’t really matter. Now, as you look at this person, consider this: he or she is a completely unique, never – before – in – the – history – of – the – universe – has – there – been – anyone – exactly – like – this – person… person. Reflect on the fact that you are gazing at an impossibly complex and totally original work of art which will never be duplicated. I’m sure you see where I’m going with this. We so easily lose sight of how truly magnificent we are. Which is something to keep in mind if you chose to look at a stranger for this exercise. Even though he’s looking back at you with grinning, spittle-covered lips that are a miraculous construct of living tissue — even though perverse thoughts of what he’d like to do to you are racing through a meat-based computer that no Pentium chip will ever approximate, he is a masterpiece. If he were hanging in a museum, a security guard would most likely tell you, “Don’t touch.”

CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #15

Dave was mildly disoriented when he realized he and Richie were the same person. This sort of cognitive moment tends to undermine a guy’s sense of self. But it didn’t stop there. When Dave looked around the room, he realized he was also Kate and Lorraine and Ted and Lenny. Heck, he was also the dying philodendran on the windowsill. Suddenly he felt enormous compassion for all these variations on himself, or rather “ourself”, which he thought was a more appropriate label. The pain of loneliness and the fear of death were suddenly swept away by this one blinding flash of insight. It was so obvious! There are no separate forms of life. Life was life, just sort of wandering around looking at itself, loving itself, and unfortunately killing itself. Which is when Dave woke up, *#@+, showered and shaved, went to work, worried about nonsense, drove home, watched a supposedly funny show, had a stiff drink and went to sleep again.

CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #48

Zen mind, beginner’s mind. The phrase, popularized by Zen master Shunryu Suzuki, means exactly what it says — the Zen mind is a beginner’s mind. It has no preconceptions or fixed ideas. It is open, questioning and delighted. When I began in television, I had a beginner’s mind, but over the years I acquired a mind that was filled with so much stuff that my creativity became frozen. My joy became a dim memory. Obviously the answer was to re-cultivate the “beginner’s mind.” Less obvious was how to jettison this “acquired mind.” Well, after many months of meditation, I’ve done just that. The rules and boundaries of the “acquired mind” have been replaced with the wonder and delight of a child-like beginner’s mind. My writing once again flows effortlessly, and the result is a new sitcom entitled “Pooping!” or “Mr. Poopie” — whichever tests better.

I like how this guy gesticulates and has facial expressions during the “song” that seem like he’s saying something meaningful. But he’s not.

I had to go to the Circuit Court of Cook County today for non-criminal personal reasons. The reason for going is strangely not relevant to this anecdote. Rather than drag the reader through the dismal details of humanity seen in virtually every employee’s behavior I encountered this morning, I will summarize:

These are not happy government employees (are there any?)

I’m sure that working in a courthouse day in and day out provides the employees with a healthy dose of the dregs of our fine communities. Most of the people there are either traffic violators, or victims or perpetrators of domestic disputes, among other sordid activities. So I certainly understand that they aren’t bubbling over with cheerfulness and joy. But every single employee at the courthouse today was unhelpful, uninformative, rude, vague in giving instruction, and just plain crabby. They were zombies going through the motions, and it was apparent that their souls had been sucked dry years ago from what is probably an unrewarding, repetitive job.

As a result, my barely contained tendency toward misanthropy started to peek out from under the rock where it lives. I mumbled, “I was born into the wrong species”. After that, my day was sour with the bitter aftertaste of my morning courthouse experience.

Fast-forward to a few minutes ago, where I check Facebook to see that a co-worker had posted this link to a new video by the band, OK GO.

Ahhhh…YES! Just what I needed! Human Creativity! Human Music! Human Fun! And the title of the song is, ” This Too Shall Pass”.

The circle has been completed. I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed this video as much if I didn’t have the horrible experience at the courthouse today.

Difficult and easy complement each other.

Long and short exhibit each other.

High and low set measure to each other.

Voice and sound harmonize each other.

Back and front follow each other.

–Lao Tzu, Tao Teh Ching.

A NASA radar instrument on an Indian moon probe found evidence of at least 600 million metric tons of water ice spread out on the bottom of craters at the lunar north pole. It is yet another supply of lunar water ice, a vital resource that could be mined to produce oxygen or rocket fuel to support a future moon base, NASA officials said.

SPACE.com — Tons of Water Ice Found on the Moons North Pole.