Know thyself - or - On the examined life

• October 18, 2006
• James Skemp

In Gavin Schmitt's 2006 essay Should We Examine Life?, Gavin attempts to arrive at some solid decision on the two following questions, "Is there value in examining our lives and the world around us? Is there value in ignoring our selves and our world?", having come to this questions based upon Socrates' claim that "the unexamined life is not worth living". However, while Gavin attempts to answer these questions, and perhaps succeeds, he opens himself up to an even larger question, which will be the topic of this essay.

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Movie review: Being John Malkovich (1999)

• October 6, 2006
• James Skemp

It's unfortunate that I didn't watch Being John Malkovich, my third movie through Netflix, sooner. Unfortunate because it's one of the most interesting films I've seen in a very long time ..

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This could be a commercial (Schopenhauer)

• September 1, 2006
• James Skemp

Arthur Schopenhauer's Sämtliche Werke (5 paperbook collection)

$117.67

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Who you are, versus who you may have been

• August 20, 2006
• James Skemp

"'Tis always better to be who you are, then to strive after who you may have been." Which is to say, if you ever have the chance to go back and change certain events in your past (as in, time travel), do not take it. The you that you could now be is not the you that you have become. In fact, the you that you may have become may be worse off than the you that you are, no matter what you may now believe.

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Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence - Scene 17: Control System

• August 19, 2006
• James Skemp

[17 Control System]

"'Who can gaze into the mirror without becoming evil? A mirror does not reflect evil, but creates it.'"

"Poetics, now? We're running low on ammo."

"'Thus, a mirror bears a glimpse, but not scrutiny.'"

===

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Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence - Scene 16: The Ship

• August 19, 2006
• James Skemp

[16 The Ship]

(Batou busts into the ship from above.)

"I'm in. Forward the vessel data. Download complete. You got my vision in your sites?"

"Recording now. Wouldn't miss my mentor's assault."

"You're a real smart ass."

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Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence - Scene 15: Undersea

• August 19, 2006
• James Skemp

[15 Undersea]

(Batou goes under the water. He grabs onto a dolphin.)

"I've made contact with the escort."

"Roger."

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Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence - Scene 14: Kim's Mansion. The 4th Encounter

• August 19, 2006
• James Skemp

[14 Kim's Mansion. The 4th Encounter]

(Togusa:) "Are we actually back in physical reality?"

(Batou:) "There is no way to distinguish reminiscence from true memory. Whatever they are, they can only be analyzed after the fact. The passage of time itself can't be stored, so it's tough. And inevitable, now that our e-brains share external memories. Do your wife and daughter, waiting for you at home, really exist? Or are you, in reality, still single, living in some cheap rented room, only dreaming of that family. Don't you want to verify what actually happened back there?"

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Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence - Scene 13: Kim's Mansion. Again and Again

• August 19, 2006
• James Skemp

[13 Kim's Mansion. Again and Again]

(We're back outside, and Batou and Togusa turn towards the building, hearing a shot.)

"Here goes!"

(The girl is gone, but there's the number '2501'.)

"Batou!"

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Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence - Scene 12: Kim's Mansion. Again

• August 19, 2006
• James Skemp

[12 Kim's Mansion. Again]

(Continued from the previous chapter.)

"Kim chose to become a complete cyborg. That was his reason. He bounced around between Special Forces and Electronics, and got into black market weapons. His reputation turned to shit. Wound up your garden-variety hacker."

"Sounds like quite a story."

"No matter how far a jackass travels, it won't come back a horse."

(Batou pauses.)

"What's wrong? Lets go."

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