I think I agree. I have often noted precisely the opening you mention. Specifically, whenever people who champion the war strut about advertising "hey the fatalities are down 20%!" or "hey, the surge is managing to reduce sectarian violence, now all we need to do is give it some more time!" etc etc, I always find myself saying, "yes, but at what *cost*??"

If the war was cost-free, then we could bandy about all day about relative advances here, bright signs there. But when you add in the fact ***all this is costing us millions upon millions with every passing day*** such touting of advances seems trite, trivial, foolish, shallow, flaky...

To tout what are even in the best analyses small progresses, once those advances are put in the context of hard-nosed *costs* of our national treasure of $$, appears mincing and effete...

And well, we all know how that plays in Peoria. Not at all! uncle Charlie hates mincing effeteness, after all...

sadre

I don't find that inner gymnast ugly at all. All you are doing is reacting to the trivial narcissism of the self-absorbed American bourgeoisie. You paid blood and bones and hours upon hours for the right to say "I was a gymnast". I see now reason why you shouldn't be impatient and a little bit sharp with the dabblers who have the self-absorbed gall to think for a second they "share" a common background with because, as you say, they did some extracurricular activity in junior high.

Frankly, I am on your side here. I say, let that beast out. People need to learn the difference between dabbling and doing.

Right?

the key point is when he starts to think that quantum behavior can occur at the level of neurons

so sad, when a brilliant mind starts to freak out at the sheer givenness of the cosmos. sorry, professor, there is no god