yet people think charles is brilliant because he's on the SCREEN

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5788104&forum_id=2\u0026mark_id=5310917#49362347)

america, and europe in its own, separate way, will be replaced by something else, something new. they can't be "reformed" or restored. just like the rest of these past civilizations and empires

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5788104&forum_id=2\u0026mark_id=5310917#49362567)

the chinese ruling class has always forcememed civilizational continuity even when it doesn't exist, because it's to their benefit and legitimizes them. also imho it's an objectively good and healthy thing for a society to think of itself as a continuous organ, even if it's artificially forcememed to some extent

every chinese dynasty (for the most part) should be thought of as a separate civilization that rose and fell in cycles

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5788104&forum_id=2\u0026mark_id=5310917#49364884)

a gripping writer is someone who has wrestled with pain, crucified between the opposites, dealing with deep and thorny issues, and this comes across in their writing -- the symbols underlying the writing become "charged". charles bukowski is a good example of a great writer, because of the extreme pain of existence he lived through in the decades before writing. each word carries *weight*. i'm past the point of where writing in an empirical register grips or entertains me, i need symoblic charge underlying writing to feel engaged these days

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5788104&forum_id=2\u0026mark_id=5310917#49364294)

I think I will read it, seems like a fun book even if I will barely remember any of it

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5788104&forum_id=2\u0026mark_id=5310917#49364270)