On Jun 27, 8:58Â pm, "bigflet...@
gmail.com"
gmail.com>
wrote:> On Jun 28, 2:33Â am, turtoni
fastmail.net> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>>> On Jun 27, 2:44Â am, "bigflet...@
gmail.com"
gmail.com>
>> wrote:>
>>> On Jun 27, 2:40Â pm, turtoni
fastmail.net> wrote:>
>>>> As established by Frank Herbert, following the defeat of the thinking
>>>> machines by humanity in the Butlerian Jihad, it was forbidden to
>>>> create sentient machines. The Mentat discipline was developed as a
>>>> replacement for computerized calculation, just as the Bene Gesserit
>>>> and the Spacing Guild took on functions previously provided by
>>>> thinking machines. For thousands of years, society considered Mentats
>>>> the embodiment of logic and reason.
>
>>>> Unlike computers, however, Mentats are not simply calculators.
>>>> Instead, the exceptional cognitive abilities of memory and perception
>>>> are the foundations for supra-logical hypothesizing. Mentats are able
>>>> to sift large volumes of data and devise concise analyses in a process
>>>> that goes far beyond logical deduction: Mentats cultivate "the naïve
>>>> mind", the mind without preconception or prejudice, similar to the
>>>> contemporary practice of Zen, that can extract the essential patterns
>>>> or logic of data, and deliver useful conclusions with varying degrees
>>>> of certainty. They are not limited to formulating syllogisms; they are
>>>> the supreme counselors of the Dune universe, filling roles as menial
>>>> as archivists and clerks, or as grand as advisors to Emperors.
>
>>>> A Mentat's capabilities can be greatly increased by taking sapho
>>>> juice, but using it leads to addiction. Sapho is extracted from the
>>>> root of the Ecaz tree and its use doubles or even triples the Mentat's
>>>> already immense processing power. However, repeated use leaves a
>>>> permanent "cranberry-colored stain" on the user's lips.
>
>>>> Being a Mentat can be a profession in itself, or the discipline can be
>>>> added to other roles. Only a small number of people have the ability
>>>> to be a Mentat; thus, those with the discipline are prized in whatever
>>>> role they choose. There are also varying degrees of ability. In Dune,
>>>> Thufir Hawat is considered to be one of the best mentats known at the
>>>> time. Paul Atreides is a Mentat duke (and later emperor) in Dune, and
>>>> in Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse Dune, Miles Teg is a Mentat
>>>> bashar (or general) and the most formidable military commander in the
>>>> known universe. In Dune Messiah, Duncan Idaho is recreated as a ghola,
>>>> and trained as both a Mentat and as a Zensunni philosopher; he then
>>>> serves Paul as the House Weapons Master. In Children of Dune, he
>>>> marries the Regent, Paul's sister Alia, but is then instrumental in
>>>> protecting the royal heirs from her, demonstrating that Mentats are
>>>> rarely simply disinterested observers and counselors.
>
>>>> It is also possible to vary the discipline: In Dune, the Tleilaxu
>>>> create 'twisted Mentats' for the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Piter de
>>>> Vries being the most notable example). These are sociopathic Mentats
>>>> free from the usual constraints of human morality or instinctual
>>>> considerations (de Vries is, among other things, a sadist and acts as
>>>> torturer for the Baron). In Heretics of Dune the Duncan ghola supplied
>>>> to the Bene Gesserit by the Tleilaxu has been altered in many subtle
>>>> and hidden ways by the Tleilaxu, including the addition of submerged
>>>> Mentat abilities.
>
>>>> In God Emperor of Dune, Leto II outlaws the order and crushes any
>>>> renegade training schools he finds. Unlike his execution of historians
>>>> for the purpose of controlling his legacy and symbolism, Leto never
>>>> explicitly mentions why he suppresses Mentats, leaving the reader to
>>>> conclude that it simply plays a role in his larger purpose of
>>>> oppressing humanity in order to create his Golden Path. The art is not
>>>> eliminated, however, surviving through underground schools; notably,
>>>> the Bene Gesserit preserve the art, assuming that Leto knows of this
>>>> (through his prescience) and approves.
>
>>>> Later, in Chapterhouse Dune, the Duncan ghola speaks to the Bene
>>>> Gesserit Reverend Mother Bellonda and recalls his past incarnation
>>>> from the time of Leto II:
>
>>>> I went to Wallach IX at the Tyrant's command ... My orders were to
>>>> suppress the Mentat school you thought you had hidden there ... I, a
>>>> Mentat, forced to suppress a school that trained people the way I was
>>>> trained. I knew why he ordered it, of course, and so do you.
>
>
>>> Many variations on a theme.
>
>>> Skywalked vs Darth was an excellent example.
>
>>> Derren Brown has mastered the art of such suggestion.
>>> He can send marshal arts students into severe pain with a sweep of his
>>> hand,(even with no visual contact) and also collect large amounts of
>>> money from bookmakers when producing a losing ticket.
>
>>> Id love to see some academic experiments on him.
>
>>> BOfL
>
>> I've brought up NLP on a number of occasions in this newsgroup.
>
>> "In a Daily Telegraph article published in 2003 Simon Singh criticised
>> Brown's early TV appearances, arguing that he presented standard magic
>> and mentalism effects - such as the classic Ten Card Poker Deal trick
>> - as genuine psychological manipulation.[9] On Brown's television and
>> live shows he often appears to show the audience how a particular
>> effect was created—claiming to use subliminal imagery, body language
>> reading and so on. Singh's suggestion is that these explanations are
>> dishonest. Furthermore, Singh took exception to the programme's
>> website being categorised under Channel 4's "Science" section. The
>> minisite was moved to Entertainment for later series.
>
>> In his book Tricks of the Mind, Brown writes, "I am often dishonest in
>> my techniques, but always honest about my dishonesty. As I say in each
>> show, 'I mix magic, suggestion, psychology, misdirection and
>> showmanship'. I happily admit cheating, as it's all part of the game.
>> I hope some of the fun for the viewer comes from not knowing what's
>> real and what isn't. I am an entertainer first and foremost, and I am
>> careful not to cross any moral line that would take me into
>> manipulating people's real-life decisions or belief systems."
>
>> Brown claims he has never used actors or stooges in his work. In
>> Tricks of the Mind he offers the defence that such a ploy is
>> "artistically repugnant and simply unnecessary"; furthermore, he
>> "would not want any participant to watch the [TV] show when it airs
>> and see a different or radically re-edited version of what he
>> understood to have happened".[10] Certainly, during stage
>> performances, Brown chooses participants at random by throwing an
>> object (a frisbee or stuffed animal) to the audience and having them
>> pass it around; whoever ends up with the object joins him on stage.
>> [11]
>
>> In response to the accusation that he unfairly claims to be using NLP
>> whenever he performs, Brown writes "The truth is I have never
>> mentioned it". Brown does have an off-stage curiosity about the
>> system, and discusses it in the larger context of hypnotism and
>> suggestion."
>
>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> I have no doubt, he is a serious and totally honest student, and
> extremely entertaining.
>
> I particularly liked the examples where he venturd into the realm of
> the 'so called' gurus and healers, and duplicated their effects, only
> to be invited to their organisations.
>
> I was well into my path, when I came across a number of NLP's
> including one (if not 'the') innovators of the rainbow techniques and
> associated para-phenalia. His name was 'Everett or similar.
>
> I also came across many of the Werner Erhart and later Anthony
> Robbins's 'students'.
>
> It was then I developed a deeper understanding of the difference
> between converging and diverging stages of ones development, and why
> the sheep and shepherds have mutual needs.
>
> BOfL
nicely backpedaled.
you need to learn your place..
