tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79288902879872754692024-02-20T10:04:10.033-08:00Church of MindDevoted to applying practical reasoning and debate to solve issues of modern life.SouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-81318437569829498372010-12-20T15:25:00.000-08:002010-12-20T15:28:56.373-08:00Kentucky Gives Initial OK to Tax Breaks for Noah's ArkI can't make this shit up. This is wonderful news. As if the world needed another reason not to go to Kentucky.
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<br /><strong><strong>FRANKFORT, Ky. – A group of investors looking to build a replica of Noah's Ark as part of a proposed $172 million theme park cleared its first bureaucratic hurdle on Monday.
<br />The Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority granted preliminary approval for state tax incentives for the project. An economic analysis must be done before being considered for final approval.
<br />"Actually, all we're doing is saying 'go do your study and bring it back to us,'" said Darrel BeShears, a member of the financing panel.
<br />Mike Zovath, co-founder of the Answers in Genesis ministry that opened the Creation Museum in Kentucky three years ago, said investors are looking to build a full-scale replica of the ark in what would be an expansive theme park that could draw some 1.6 million visitors a year.
<br />Investors, attracted by Kentucky's tourism tax incentives, are considering an 800-acre site near Williamstown, just off Interstate 75.
<br />Gov. Steve Beshear, who gave the proposal in a Capitol press conference earlier this month, has said he favors tax incentives for the ark park that is projected to create about 900 permanent jobs and have a $214 million economic impact in its first year of operation.
<br />Some detractors, including Americans United for the Separation of Church and State executive director Barry Lynn, have objected to the state providing tax incentives for a project with a religious theme. Lynn said religious projects should be supported by voluntary donations, not the government.
<br />The newest project would include an ancient walled city, a petting zoo, live animal shows featuring giraffes and elephants and a replica of the biblical Tower of Babel.
<br />The Tourism Development Finance Authority also gave final approval Monday to tourism tax breaks to Kentucky Speedway, which will host its first Sprint Cup race later this year.
<br />Kentucky Speedway is undergoing an $82 million expansion to accommodate the Sprint Cup. That includes expanding seating from 60,000 to 102,000.
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<br />Online:
<br />Ark Encounter: http://www.arkencounter.comSouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-18010141982921915742010-12-20T15:15:00.000-08:002010-12-20T15:20:59.851-08:00The Reason for the Season . . .As we enter the holiday season, I thought it appropriate to reflect on a few of the loving words of Jesus. Share these with your family as you enjoy the warmth of the season and all its blessings. Ahhh . . . good times.
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<br />"If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."
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<br />- Jesus (Luke 14:26)
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<br />"But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me."
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<br />- Jesus (Luke 19:27)
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<br />Cheers.
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<br />-JSouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-52550775649202166372010-10-19T18:47:00.000-07:002010-10-19T18:53:44.582-07:00"Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear."
<br />- Thomas Jefferson
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<br />"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use"
<br />-Galileo
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<br />SouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-5546869537213888542010-09-27T00:50:00.000-07:002010-09-27T00:53:45.127-07:00The Pale Blue Dot<div><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2pfwY2TNehw?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed height="295" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2pfwY2TNehw?fs=1&hl=en_US" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent"></embed></object></div>SouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-89179950031055124112010-06-25T20:13:00.000-07:002010-06-25T21:10:37.486-07:00It's Not All Bad Out There...This is awesome! I love seeing folks get behind their team. I love seeing our team playing well on such a huge stage. They've worked their asses off.<br /><br />Every American should give-up whatever they now do on Sundays, get out in the park and play some soccer. Our real sins are committed at the dinner table. Soccer could offer a real cure.<br /><br /><br />U-S-A !!!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jbn3rOPmR9w&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jbn3rOPmR9w&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>SouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-78840677766498696242010-05-12T13:44:00.000-07:002010-05-12T14:14:57.789-07:00You got to Respect the MormonYes you do! With all the crazy religions in the world, and all of them are crazy, you have to clap your hands for the Mormon. Nobody gets hurt. And as ridiculous as the Mormon faith is with all its idiosyncrasies, i.e., Joseph Smith and his verifiable criminal record, The Word of Wisdom, which clearly defines a Mormonic diet, the allowance of polygamy, a dead person's spirit in prison, and Jesus visiting the Americas to name a few, still the lasting effects of being a Mormon are nominal at best. In truth the Mormon, and I'm speaking of the Mormons I've encountered in my life, stick to their beliefs. They don't end up on T.V. involved in some homosexual scandal, they don't rape little boys on a global scale, or sneak off and do crank for a weekend in a seedy hotel room with some guy made up like Tammy Faye Baker in a really bad dress. <div><div><br /></div><div>The point is that we spend too much time saying one thing and doing another. Having come from a religious upbringing I do hold religious people to a higher standard, just as they hold non-religious people to a lower standard. "One without religion is bound to do evil things" is the dogma when all my life its been the opposite way around. The atrocities throughout history fall on the shoulders of the religious. Except for the Mormon, anyone remember the Mormon Wars? Me neither. While, to me, they may be the silliest of all religious systems in America, they are pretty harmless. I just can't get passed the fact that they are always in close proximity to a public school.</div><div>Otherwise....Bravo Mormon, Bravo!</div></div>Sippyjuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02351106380672206694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-24763079512810528222010-03-16T22:10:00.000-07:002010-03-16T22:17:56.408-07:00The Project Reason Video ContestThis is one of the finalist from the Project Reason video contest. This is an amateur video created by reasoning folks like you and me. It's a hopeful glimpse at a post-religion existence of humans. Please check it out.<br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1etVFaFaYA8&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1etVFaFaYA8&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>SouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-55881483342038858952010-03-10T23:18:00.000-08:002010-03-10T23:44:39.451-08:00Andromeda Society Meeting 7:00PMA couple of us attended a meeting of the local Andromeda Society recently because of an advertised video and discussion about the Big Bang Theory. I thought it would be an interesting break from reading about religion. Imagine my surprise when I found myself in a discussion with a member in which each time the science behind the theory reached an area it wasn't sure about, he immediately interjected God. I though it was hilarious. Scientist - as egotistical and cocksure as they can be, are perfectly comfortable saying "I don't know". Ignorance is often honesty. The religious guy was absolutely sure God caused the unexplained questions in the theory. I finally had to tell him statements like that were not only ridiculous, but they are conversation stoppers.<br /><br />I have to wonder, what would we know about our universe and ourselves if we could leave this nonsense out of the equation? Science has been forced to operate - not in light of religion, but in spite of religion. Why are people comfortable interjecting ideas for which they have no evidence and couldn't possibly be sure of, as if they are? Religion holds this immunity in conversation.<br /><br />It could be that spirituality in the absence of religion is a good thing. I happen to think there is evidence of this. There could be spiritual truths that could be reconciled with scientific truths - and could be held at the same time. It's probably through getting to the core of this that we can finally discover Universal Truths. The idea gives me goose bumps. It sounds like a world in which I'd like to live. Not to sound trite, but can you imagine a world where we can finally admit to ourselves that God doesn't write books, promise little sections of beach to certain chosen groups, or answer prayers about your illness or the promotion at work? That God doesn't always side with the nation in which you happen to be born for all matters (including wars), that God doesn't take away your sins and only you are responsible for the relationships you create around you? <br /><br />Could it be that Love, Peace, and Harmony <em>are</em> the Universal Truths we seek? Could it be that they are the basis of all morality? Could it be that we hold these truths - and always have? <br /><br />Could it be that freedom from bad ideas is all we need to make us aware again?<br /><br /><br />Cheers.SouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-40051889987260491562010-02-15T13:37:00.000-08:002010-02-15T14:20:54.992-08:00Marcus Brigstocke On ReligionThis is great. Everyone should see this. A funny take on the sad truth.<br /><br />I am often forced to contemplate whether or not religion is harmful inherently to our existence or if only through its misuse and abomination. These days, I cannot see the difference. The question is essentially - <em>Is religion itself bad? Or do humans do bad things in the name of religion? </em>What's the difference? Again, I don't see one. As Voltaire famously wrote, "As long as people believe absurdities, they will continue to commit atrocities."<br /><br />No one pondered and studied this question more than Thomas Paine. Fortunately for us, he wrote, with great eloquence, on the subject in <em>The Age of Reason</em>. Interestingly - considering the pre-Darwinian context of his writings, one stands in amazement of his insight. He knew the origin of the world around him was greater than the church's explanation. But the church's adherence to flawed explanation and its efforts to restrict further examination (one can only suppose because its fear of the truth) was the aim of Paine's dissatisfaction. Consider this passage from the above mentioned text:<br /><br /><blockquote>"[W]hen a system of religion is made to grow out of a supposed system of creation that is not true, and to unite itself therewith in a manner almost inseparable therefrom, the case assumes an entirely different ground. It is then that errors, not morally bad, become fraught with the same mischiefs as if they were. It is then that the truth, though otherwise indifferent in itself, becomes an essential, by becoming the criterion, that either confirms by corresponding evidence, or denies by contradictory evidence, the reality of the religion itself."</blockquote><br /><br />All religions are built upon lies and deceit. The idea that good will eventually come from them is irresponsible. It is an idea overdue for abandonment. <blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UY-ZrwFwLQg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UY-ZrwFwLQg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>SouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-10398811620172067672010-02-06T20:44:00.000-08:002010-02-06T21:05:33.360-08:00Do We Ask Too Much From God?Dear God,<br /><br />Please create us in your image, shape us, shape our lives, oh wait - create the universe first, create the Earth, create the sky above us, create all the species (both living and extinct), create the seasons for us to air condition, and please God I really need that raise. Please send us your son for us to kill and ignore, no wait, for us to adore for the rest of time or until you call us up to heaven - I know it's coming soon, and please make it soon before this foreclosure goes through, did I mention that raise? Please God, how about those Saints in their first Superbowl this Sunday? You know, I have $100 on them and I already promised 10% to Rick Warren's Mega Crutch for the rest of his hair plugs - and goddamn, they're called the Saints for chrissake! (sorry, and sorry). Anyway, could you also favor the country I happened to be born in for all matters (especially wars)? Please guide our lives, tell us whom to marry, whom to love, guide me in voting for the right (Right?) candidate, guide my career decisions, habits, friendships and acquaintances. Also, please look after Grandma and her surgery, please look-after all the babies - wait not <em>those</em> babies, <em>these</em> babies. Please make the weather nice so I can go mountain biking tomorrow, please help me understand fossils and science in general. I really need that raise God. Please create other "false" religions for us to compare ourselves to, and later annihilate. And if a plane crashes somewhere with 200 people on board, please save at least 1 so we can call it a miracle and not lose faith, so help us God. In God We Trust,<br /><br />Amen.SouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-7770486173713625532010-02-06T17:01:00.000-08:002010-02-06T17:02:01.598-08:00"Die stimme der vernunft ist leise."SouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-31358182389826828962009-12-02T00:27:00.000-08:002009-12-02T08:02:25.580-08:00If By Whiskey...I came across this recently while doing some research on logical fallacies. I really get a kick out of it. It is a excerpt from a 1952 speech given by Mississippi lawmaker, Noah S. "Soggy" Sweat Jr. The speech rose out of a debate on whether or not Mississippi should continue to prohibit alcohol.<br /><br />I have no idea what this guy looks or sounds like, but I can see and hear him perfectly. Try to imagine a southern gentleman with a name like Noah S. "Soggy" Sweat Jr. from the "great state of Mississippi" heralding his cause as his slow, chosen words echo through the halls and columns of a legislative building. Ha, I love it.<br /><br />Anyway, here it is. Check it out.<br /><br /><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>"My friends, I had not intended to discuss this controversial subject at this particular time. However, I want you to know that I do not shun controversy. On the contrary, I will take a stand on any issue at any time, regardless of how fraught with controversy it might be. You have asked me how I feel about whiskey. All right, here is how I feel about whiskey:<br /><br />If when you say whiskey you mean the devil's brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster, that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yea, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children; if you mean the evil drink that topples the Christian man and woman from the pinnacle of righteous, gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, and despair, and shame and helplessness, and hopelessness, then certainly I am against it.<br /><br />But, if when you say whiskey you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips, and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean Christmas cheer; if you mean the stimulating drink that puts the spring in the old gentleman's step on a frosty, crisp morning; if you mean the drink which enables a man to magnify his joy, and his happiness, and to forget, if only for a little while, life's great tragedies, and heartaches, and sorrows; if you mean that drink, the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of dollars, which are used to provide tender care for our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful aged and infirm; to build highways and hospitals and schools, then certainly I am for it.<br /><br />This is my stand. I will not retreat from it. I will not compromise.<br /></blockquote>SouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-32954955508715695482009-10-29T00:22:00.000-07:002009-10-31T13:13:37.866-07:00Mojave Cross (Salazar v. Buono)This is pretty interesting. I like that it's located here in our backyards. I know the family of Henry and Wanda Sandoz pretty well, and I feel badly for them. I've read the oral arguments and I really don't see any way the Supreme Court could overturn the decisions of the lower courts. As much as it upsets me to think how devastated the Sandoz's will be, the cross has to come down.<br /><br />I'm interested in some open debate about this. What are the LEGAL issues at hand? I wonder if we could use our armchair attorney skills to reduce this case to its basic legal questions.<br /><br />Some things to think about: Do the attempts to reclassify, protect, transfer ownership, etc. made by the government remedy the Establishment Clause issue? Could those attempts in themselves be classified as <em>extraordinary</em>? Would the government have taken those steps to protect the cross if it had been a Star of David? A Buddha? A swastika? What about the reversionary clause in the land transfer agreement - does that serve to allow the government to retain legal control of the land even after the ownership transfer?<br /><br />My favorite question from the oral arguments was from Chief Justice John Roberts. He asked, "What if the government sold simply one square foot, or whatever the area that the base of the cross is -- is resting on the ground? Would your argument be the same?"<br /><br />Cool stuff. What do you think?<br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NeuBB_mOFIA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NeuBB_mOFIA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br /><em></em>SouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-14024488922797137532009-10-22T14:03:00.000-07:002009-10-22T14:30:35.693-07:00Gay Marriage Debate Put to EndThe man in this video is Philip Spooner. He is 86 years old and a lifetime Republican. He is a living hero. He is quite possibly the bravest man I've ever witnessed. I am privileged to live in his time and in his country.<br /><br />By the way, he just put an end to the gay marriage debate. As an attorney would say, the question is repetitious - "asked and answered" - 65+ years ago. If you don't believe so, re enroll in a U.S. History class. You may have missed something.<br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GrEbJBFWIPk&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GrEbJBFWIPk&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>SouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-72865315180823865282009-10-14T21:52:00.000-07:002009-10-22T20:57:31.853-07:00Is that D-Money?This dude has obviously had a bad day. He really needs a drink.<br /><br />Two great things about this video: 1). I think I've done a similar "loopdy-loop" thing while opening a door at a liquor store. Thank god for large handles. 2). I am reminded of the plight of the desert tortoise when I watch this guy try to flip over to his feet.<br /><br />Also, I've seen Ken Hofeldt ride a mechanical bull - and it is WAY more graceful. I'm just saying.<br /><br /><object id="1446068" alt="Drunkest Guy Ever Goes for More Beer Funny Videos" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="464" height="376" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="_cx" value="12276"><param name="_cy" value="9948"><param name="FlashVars" value=""><param name="Movie" value="http://embed.break.com/MTQ0NjA2OA=="><param name="Src" value="http://embed.break.com/MTQ0NjA2OA=="><param name="WMode" value="Window"><param name="Play" value="-1"><param name="Loop" value="-1"><param name="Quality" value="High"><param name="SAlign" value=""><param name="Menu" value="-1"><param name="Base" value=""><param name="AllowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="Scale" value="ShowAll"><param name="DeviceFont" value="0"><param name="EmbedMovie" value="0"><param name="BGColor" value=""><param name="SWRemote" value=""><param name="MovieData" value=""><param name="SeamlessTabbing" value="1"><param name="Profile" value="0"><param name="ProfileAddress" value=""><param name="ProfilePort" value="0"><param name="AllowNetworking" value="all"><param name="AllowFullScreen" value="false"><embed src="http://embed.break.com/MTQ0NjA2OA==" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" width="464" height="376"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.break.com/index/drunkest-guy-ever-goes-for-more-beer.html">Drunkest Guy Ever Goes for More Beer</a> - Watch more <a href="http://www.break.com/">Funny Videos</a></span>SouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-43285109525441626902009-09-30T21:05:00.001-07:002009-10-01T08:01:38.800-07:00Obama Facebook Poll: "Should Obama Be Killed?" Pulled From Site, Secret Service Investigate - UPDATED (PHOTOS)<a href="http://shar.es/1c6xA">Obama Facebook Poll: "Should Obama Be Killed?" Pulled From Site, Secret Service Investigate - UPDATED (PHOTOS)</a><br /><br />Posted using <a href="http://sharethis.com/">ShareThis</a><br /><br />Wow! This sort-of goes along with some thoughts I've been having about social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, etc..<br /><br />Over the last few weeks, I've been thinking about the affect these sites have on society. I was worried that online networking sites were taking the place of society for many people.<br /><br />Remember, Thomas Paine regarded society as a "blessing". Are we really doing society justice through sites like Facebook and MySpace? I know many readers of this blog will differ, but I will attest that social networking sites are, in fact, detrimental to society.<br /><br />Over the past two years, I assumed incorrectly that membership to social networking sites would naturally curtail as the era of grandiose bragging diminished. In other words, is it still cool to flash fake gang signs with your "homies" out front of the Bellagio while your car was being repo'd and your house was in foreclosure? Evidently, it is.<br /><br />How more apt are you to go online and join a blog or networking site than go out to city council meeting? Are you more likely to go online and learn about people of the world sharing a different viewpoint than yours or to find people who think as you? The crux of my argument can be summed-up as this: IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN TEN FRIENDS ON YOUR (FACEBOOK, MYSPACE, ETC.) PROFILE AND YOU DO NOT KNOW THE NAMES OF YOUR NEIGHBORS, F@#& YOU - YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.<br /><br />That's right. I'll say it again, F@#& YOU - YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.<br /><br />I say this because I am 36 years old (albeit going on 15), and I can remember a time when my family knew everyone on our street. I don't just mean the people's names and which house they lived in but really <em>knew </em>them. How differently would you think about social issues if you knew everyone on your street?<br /><br />Think about it.<br /><br />Would you be more tolerant to opposing religions if you discovered the guy from down the street who often brought-in your trashcans was a Muslim?<br /><br />Think about it.<br /><br />Would you be more tolerant to issues of individual rights if you knew that the nice kid from down the street came from homosexual parents?<br /><br />Think about it.<br /><br />If you weren't wasting your life getting to know people from your kindergarten class, you may have found out your neighbor was hoping someone would help him with his campaign to change America.<br /><br />Or, he was Timothy McVeigh.<br /><br />Think about it.SouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-82933831578228145712009-09-29T21:46:00.000-07:002009-09-29T22:06:15.490-07:00Jon Stewart Has His Way With CNBCThis is great. It's a clip from March 4, 2009 of Jon Stewart ripping <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">CNBC. </span>If you haven't already seen it, please check it out. His response to "Sir" Allen Stanford is prefect.<br /><br />Side note: Why do I feel like I get better news from Comedy Central than all the cable news networks out there? Also, if you "get it", the entertainment over at Fox News is pretty damn funny. If you don't "get it", see you at the next Tea Party.<br /><br /><br /><table style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f5f5f5; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #333" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="360" height="353"><tbody><tr style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #e5e5e5" valign="center"><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 2px"><a style="COLOR: #333; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/" target="_blank">The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: right; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 2px">Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style="HEIGHT: 14px" valign="center"><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; PADDING-TOP: 2px" colspan="2"><a style="COLOR: #333; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-march-4-2009/cnbc-financial-advice" target="_blank"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">CNBC</span> Financial Advice</a></td></tr><tr style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #353535; HEIGHT: 14px" valign="center"><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: right; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; WIDTH: 360px; PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; OVERFLOW: hidden; PADDING-TOP: 2px" colspan="2"><a style="COLOR: #96deff; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/" target="_blank">http://www.thedailyshow.com/</a></td></tr><tr valign="center"><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" colspan="2"><embed style="DISPLAY: block" height="301" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="360" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:220252" wmode="window" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="autoPlay=false" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all" bgcolor="#000000"></embed></td></tr><tr style="HEIGHT: 18px" valign="center"><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" colspan="2"><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" height="100%"><tbody><tr valign="center"><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; PADDING-LEFT: 3px; WIDTH: 33%; PADDING-RIGHT: 3px; PADDING-TOP: 3px"><a style="FONT: 10px arial; COLOR: #333; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes" target="_blank">Daily Show<br />Full Episodes</a></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; PADDING-LEFT: 3px; WIDTH: 33%; PADDING-RIGHT: 3px; PADDING-TOP: 3px"><a style="FONT: 10px arial; COLOR: #333; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/" target="_blank">Political Humor</a></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; PADDING-LEFT: 3px; WIDTH: 33%; PADDING-RIGHT: 3px; PADDING-TOP: 3px"><a style="FONT: 10px arial; COLOR: #333; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/2009/09/23/ron-paul-on-the-daily-show-tuesday-sept-29/" target="_blank">Ron Paul Interview</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>SouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-21909079232923283962009-09-22T22:25:00.000-07:002010-02-25T18:45:36.765-08:00Banana Man's Buddy Touts the Bible Again<p><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GN9zpf5cT0M&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GN9zpf5cT0M&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></p><br /><p>I don't really know where to start with this little <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">diddy</span>, but it's just too good to pass up. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Christians</span> sure hate those pesky Darwinians don't they?</p><p>I can't imagine why this argument remains central to Evangelicals. I can't even imagine having this argument. What else can we argue? The earth-centric view of the universe? Any other ideas from the Stone Age? This ship left the dock eons ago. And really, it wasn't much of a big deal until the Protestant Reformation when future television evangelists decided that a literal interpretation of the Bible made sense. I guess they felt the expanse of knowledge brought about by the recent Scientific Revolution gave cause to tighten the belt a little - else the coffers become leaky.</p><p>The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Creationists</span> are always quick to point out that evolution is only a "theory" (with finger quotes next to each ear). <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ahhhhh</span>, enlighten us - should we be skeptical of all theories? Like atomic theory? Or the theory of electricity? I wish Creationists were on the forefront challenging Newton's Gravitational Theory.</p><p>What is the hang-up with the Origin of Species? Charles Darwin certainly wasn't the first to come up with the idea of evolution - he himself traced it back to Aristotle and even earlier Greek philosophers - more importantly, he wasn't the last. For the 150 years since it's publication, it's been been expanded-on by numerous scientists and has become the cornerstone of all life sciences. All knowledge of biology, physiology, genetics, and a host of other life sciences that I don't know enough about to mention are furthered and explained through evolution.</p><p>It's no wonder Evangelicals are still fighting over the legality of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Obama's</span> election and whether or not he's a Christian. Hell, nine or ten months is nothing to someone fighting this 150 year-old <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">dilemma</span>. Be proud Evangelicals - you've earned your place right there with the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">birthers</span>, flat-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">earthers</span>, moon hoaxers, and the Sasquatch searchers.</p><p>I really enjoyed the presentation from Cameron and his <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">accomplice</span>. The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">reference</span> to Hitler is a classic staple of Right-Wing nonsense. Evolution = Hitler, Obama = Hitler, okay I got it. </p><p>My favorite part though has to be the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">references</span> to all the scientists "who believed that God created the universe." The argument is fallacious in itself - that one would suppose evolution is false because one believes in a Creator. The Deist come to mind (which <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">incidentally</span> Albert Einstein, Sir Isaac Newton, and Nicolas Copernicus all claimed to be). In fact, of the seven scientists mentioned, only one, Michael Faraday, claimed to be a Christian. Moreover, he's the only one <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">mentioned</span> of the seven that could even remotely be considered a contemporary of Charles Darwin. Given that Roger Bacon lived nearly 600 years <em>before</em> the Origin of Species was published, it's not overly baffling why he didn't agree with it. Johannes Kepler's works of planetary motion was so <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">scandalous</span> in the 1600's that attempts were made to have his mother tried for witchcraft! And Louis Pasteur, he invented a process for making beer and wine safer to drink - without which this blog wouldn't exist - so he isn't so bad.</p><p></p>SouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-31937855967984307932009-09-19T13:18:00.000-07:002009-09-19T17:06:39.989-07:009.12 ProjectI just started reading a book by Rick <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Shenkman</span></span>, <em>Just How Stupid Are We? Facing the Truth About the American Voter</em>. It's interesting and frightening. He basically makes the point that we Americans are just too ignorant for democracy. He believes that we'll fall for any myth put out there by media, members of government, churches, etc.<br /><br />During George Washington's farewell address he spoke about the need for education in a democracy. He said, <blockquote>"Promote, then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened." </blockquote>In other words, in order for a government "of the people, by the people, for the people" to succeed - it ought to in the very least be an <em>informed</em> people.<br /><br />The people in this video are really upset about something, but I'm confused at exactly what it is.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lUPMjC9mq5Y&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lUPMjC9mq5Y&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>SouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928890287987275469.post-13206702398113361742009-09-19T00:14:00.000-07:002009-09-19T13:13:18.001-07:00Dad, Why Do We Have A Constitution?My first post for the new Church of Mind blog. I am choosing to reprint an editorial I wrote for the local Hi-Desert Fishwrapper during last year's election. It was published on October 22, 2008. At issue, was California's Proposition 8 - A proposal for a Constitutional Amendment banning homosexual marriage. It's my first attempt at editorial / political writing, and it felt like a logical first post. I am very proud of it.<br /><br />The issue of gay marriage is interesting to me because of the number of questions and subsequent issues it evokes. Why would states want to limit rights of marriage to heterosexuals? What interests do states have in <em>any</em> marriage? Do people often confuse <em>weddings</em> with state-granted marriages? What does the Bible say about gay marriage? Or marriage in general? When do churches lose non-profit status when donating to special interest?<br /><br />In my local community, and pretty-much across the state, it felt as if citizens were looking to their church or the Bible for the answers to these questions. I wanted to address it through the basic ideas of individual rights.<br /><br />Also, why do I feel like messages of hatred are always followed by quotes of scripture? I don't understand it. I've read the Bible many times. I never got that from it. Come to think of it, I didn't get much from it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote><p>Dad, why do we have a Constitution?</p><p>As a parent, I look forward to questions like the above with great delight. Nothing makes me feel more American than answering questions about our country's greatness and the greatness of the men and women who've made it so. Incidentally, nothing bores a 5- and 10-year old (not to mention their mother) more than their father's tedious answers to seemingly simple questions. So, to spare my family, I present to you the following.</p><p>Thomas Paine once wrote, "Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil." It was because of similar cautious outlooks of government that our founding fathers created our nation's first constitution.</p><p>Constitutions are written to protect citizens from governments. Our basic rights and freedoms (speech, assembly, voting, etc.) are guaranteed by our constitution. In other words, our rights are not defined through public opinion. They are guaranteed through virtue of freedom and its principles as protected in our constitution.</p><p>It is rarely a good idea to regulate social conditions through constitutional amendment - regardless of how personally approved or not approved you feel. One would not need to turn back many pages in American history to see failed attempts at this. Issues facing voters today are fundamentally the same as those of past generations. Issues of religious persecution, racial intolerance, gun-ownership rights, etc. are only solved through strict adherence to the rights of individuals; Equal Rights.</p><p>Constitutions should only be amended with the intent of preserving rights of individuals. It is, therefore, our duty to vote disapprovingly of any attempts to amend our state or federal Constitution with the intent of taking away the rights of any law-abiding individuals.</p></blockquote>SouthWesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00460586892576125024noreply@blogger.com0