Universal Freethought

I propose a bigger tent, not surrendering the atheist tent, but to make it but one wing of a larger movement: Universal Freethought. Universal Freethought is being radically smart. Its being smart enough to make art or music, smart enough to be well read. Smart enough to have a body of intellectual work under your belt, even if that work is online or self-published. The world is dominated by the stupidity of people’s psychological inertia, largely shaped by commercial marketing. People who are smart enough to think and think hard need to have a common cause.

Universal Freethought is the values of the academy carried beyond the ivory tower and into the general public dialogue. In fact, in many cases intellectuals owe the success of their discoveries as Universal Freethinkers shape these ideas into something that is attractive for a larger audience, who is busy living life and does not have reading the dry academic text of your field anywhere on their “to do” list.

I want all my friends to consider popularizing this concept with me, fanning the flames gently until it roars into a full blown meme. I sincerely hope that this idea does not fall by the wayside in my thoughts.

I care about society, and the tolerance of large populations in academic ignorance is a threat to our advancement.

A Universal Freethinker does not believe that they are intellectually superior by DNA or luck of birth. The Universal Freethinker is a radical educator. Dedicated to manifesting a powerful community of humanity where people actually realize their potential and contribute to the greater good as much as they are capable when they can realize their greatest good.

I have not found any other movement with the exact same aim of Universal Freethought except for the academy, but the effects of the academy are deeply limited by the lack of economic justice in our present civilization.

If you are reading this you are already a Universal Freethinker, more than likely. So what are you going to do about it?

Little Fucker

In the last few weeks as the the face of DFW lay covered in ice, with a break here and there to drive around in it, I was driving west bound on the 635. I hate the 635. It terrifies me, I think everyone on that road is on meth and slightly suicidal, and I used to ride it on a highway legal chinese imitation Vespa. This was a little like a glorified bicycle, and my neighbors were tail gaiting Ford F-150s.

Driving in my car on this cold day, on the devil's highway I saw him! About the size of a small house I saw the Liitle Fucker. Not the picture you see above, because that was taken by another person in a different sighting of this powerful graffiti meme making its little dance with the metroplex. I wish I had a photograph of the Little Fucker as I saw him, the whole thing was a little like a prehistoric religious experience. The Little Fucker found me first online, and then appeared to me in the real world.

This image was found in Austin, showing the juju is indeed far reaching.

I first learned of this little creature, usually referred to as "bomb walking", or "walking bomb guy smoking cigar." But I have rechristened him: Little Fucker.

I found all of this rich information on a website known as reddit, its users as redditors, in a sub-reddit called /r/dallas.

This website, specifically /r/dallas , is much like the Little Fucker. It is locals marking their territory. It is people who are outgoing, intelligent, usually in the know, talking about where they live. DFW.

The "threads" which follow the Little Fucker are here and can give you a good taste.

UPDATE: Pic of walking bomb guy smoking cigar

Seen around DFW, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Irving, Coppell, Carl's Corner

Walking Cigar Bomb Guy Graffiti (this one is my favorite because the redditor didn't have a picture, but his itch to find this meme was so strong he drew it on his computer

If you can vibe my need to feel this kind of connection with the place you live then you are perfect for r/dallas.

The redditors on r/dallas post about good places to eat, bands, places to get coffee, local news you need to know about, and has been one of my top sources along with the Dallas Observer and Lit Monthly for whats going on. I totally recommend it.

But even if you are not interested in another geek meme drinking hole for DFW, if you see the Little Fucker, smile. You have just been chased by a meme from a powerful 21st century cave painter.