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Today I would like to propose a toast to explosions and looks of baffled amazement.
Cheers!
Cheers!
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Babel and Rant
Mutterings from the Eye of the Storm
03 September 2008 @ 06:56 pm
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenw
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/us/po
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Conventio
http://iwitnessvideo.info/blog/index.ht
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/us/po
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Conventio
http://iwitnessvideo.info/blog/index.ht
13 August 2008 @ 09:01 am
I find this amusing in light of all the noise our candidates are making in regards to encouraging innovation at all levels of American life.
The fact that the Massachusetts authorities are so blunt about the total lack of any kind of actual crime is, frankly, quite chilling.
The fact that the Massachusetts authorities are so blunt about the total lack of any kind of actual crime is, frankly, quite chilling.
06 August 2008 @ 11:13 am
Wesa and I have had somewhat of a conversation in the mix concerning religion, and I suppose what you'd call the nature thereof. She recently pointed me at an article.
This post is NOT researched, being a very personal, off the cuff and immediate response to the article/argument. You may well find inconsistencies here, but I've dealt with them elsewhere, or at least am aware of them and will tackle them at another time.
************************************
Her email:
This has some good arguments/points regarding our previous discussions:
Direct quote from elsewhere: "Atheism is not a belief system. It is a singular position on one issue. Theism is the state of mind where you have a belief in a god. Atheism is a lack of that belief. There's no belief system. There's no dogma, there's no tenants, there's nothing that says Dennis and I will agree on anything other than whether or not a god exists. Everything else is up for grabs. And that becomes the subject of what kind of philosophical positions and systems you want to adopt, whether it's naturalism, rationalism, secular humanism...."
"Expanding on that, I ask: Is theism a religion? Of course not. Then why would atheism be one? Religions may build on a theistic stance as one of their central values, but theism itself is not a religion, it's a stance on a single question. Religion requires a system of beliefs, all tied together"
"Atheists do have a belief (I believe in no god), which is the standard people are using for "religion". Presence of a belief in god is the typical atheist's standard; presence of a belief of any sort is the standard used by those claiming atheism is a religion."
************************************
full "article" here
************************************
True, atheism is not a system of belief, it a position on a single issue.
Conversely, belief in god is not a system of belief, it is a position on single issue.
Catholicism is a system of belief (explanation).
Buddhism is a system of belief (explanation).
I'm going to have to concede here and revise some previous statements:
Atheism isn't a RELIGION, just like theism isn't a RELIGION. They are, however, TYPES of religions, as per my definition of what a religion is, namely any system of understanding or explanation that relies at any point upon FAITH.
By this definition, "science" is a TYPE OF ATHEIST RELIGION, or at least an atheist system of inquiry that in the end relies on religion for its continued existence.
I think part of the issue is that none of these various systems fit neatly into one single category.
I'm not confusing the word "religion" with the word "belief." I'm redefining the word "religion" to make it as practical as possible. Religion is the existence of faith in a concept, ANY concept, that is not (currently) provable. I believe in the existence of electricity, but electricity can be proven to exist, therefore making belief in it NOT a religious belief.
Catholics cannot prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the existence of their god, making their belief in his existence faith-base, making it a religious belief. Atheists cannot prove the non-existence of any deific presence beyond a shadow of a doubt, making that belief faith-based and therefore religious.
Off hand the only gray-area example I can think of is science, which has and continues to prove certain things about reality. There is, however, a belief in the scientific community in the existence of a scientific principle behind existence, which they are as yet unable to prove. Science is the offspring of and the step beyond religion. Science then becomes a religious system by virtue of it's belief in its own ultimate relevance, rather than a belief in any specific final explanation. Science is a slippery one.
Religion is not confined to a belief in the presence of a deity. Animism, for example, is an atheist religion (though I highly mystical one).
I'm losing this.
Belief is the acceptance of a concept, WITH OR WITHOUT proof.
Faith is belief lacking proof.
Religion is a belief in something that is not or cannot be proven to be true, given some form of systematic approach.
Atheism is just as concerned with an explanation of the nature of creation as theism. They simply approach it without a Sky-Daddy.
Do you believe in god/a god? : No : Prove it :
Do you believe that there is no god/are no gods?: Yes : Prove it :
Do you believe in electricity? : Yes: Prove it : *flips light switch*
Personally, I'm not terribly concerned with religious systems such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism etc. The problem we seem to be having is that these specific systems have been so ubiquitous for so long that they've come to BE the definition of religion. This is somewhat akin to having lived in the ghetto so long that gangstas and black people are the same thing, or watching Fox News for so long that all Muslims are terrorists, when in reality the one is just a certain type within the larger set.
Religion has been with us since we started this human adventure. At no point in history has there ever been any indication that it is going to go away. Self proclaimed atheists are just as convinced and fanatical as the Catholics, who are just as convinced and fanatical as the Buddhists, who are just as convinced and fanatical as the Muslims, and not a single one of any of them can prove their point. With this in mind, one has to wonder if religion itself is a necessary, intrinsic part of being human.
If this is so, it may be time to try a different approach to it, to make it work FOR us rather than using it to pit ourselves against each other.
The simple fact remains that EVERYTHING EXISTS, and therefore it had to have come from somewhere or something. Some spark set all this in motion. If you want to believe it was Random Chance, fine, go pray to Math. If you think the Sky-Daddy did it, fine, go pray to the Sky-Daddy. You're welcome to your personal Spaghetti Monster, but don't forget for a moment that, as yet, YOU CANNOT PROVE IT, and therefore have FAITH in your explanation of things.
More to come, I'm sure.
This post is NOT researched, being a very personal, off the cuff and immediate response to the article/argument. You may well find inconsistencies here, but I've dealt with them elsewhere, or at least am aware of them and will tackle them at another time.
************************************
Her email:
This has some good arguments/points regarding our previous discussions:
Direct quote from elsewhere: "Atheism is not a belief system. It is a singular position on one issue. Theism is the state of mind where you have a belief in a god. Atheism is a lack of that belief. There's no belief system. There's no dogma, there's no tenants, there's nothing that says Dennis and I will agree on anything other than whether or not a god exists. Everything else is up for grabs. And that becomes the subject of what kind of philosophical positions and systems you want to adopt, whether it's naturalism, rationalism, secular humanism...."
"Expanding on that, I ask: Is theism a religion? Of course not. Then why would atheism be one? Religions may build on a theistic stance as one of their central values, but theism itself is not a religion, it's a stance on a single question. Religion requires a system of beliefs, all tied together"
"Atheists do have a belief (I believe in no god), which is the standard people are using for "religion". Presence of a belief in god is the typical atheist's standard; presence of a belief of any sort is the standard used by those claiming atheism is a religion."
************************************
full "article" here
************************************
True, atheism is not a system of belief, it a position on a single issue.
Conversely, belief in god is not a system of belief, it is a position on single issue.
Catholicism is a system of belief (explanation).
Buddhism is a system of belief (explanation).
I'm going to have to concede here and revise some previous statements:
Atheism isn't a RELIGION, just like theism isn't a RELIGION. They are, however, TYPES of religions, as per my definition of what a religion is, namely any system of understanding or explanation that relies at any point upon FAITH.
By this definition, "science" is a TYPE OF ATHEIST RELIGION, or at least an atheist system of inquiry that in the end relies on religion for its continued existence.
I think part of the issue is that none of these various systems fit neatly into one single category.
I'm not confusing the word "religion" with the word "belief." I'm redefining the word "religion" to make it as practical as possible. Religion is the existence of faith in a concept, ANY concept, that is not (currently) provable. I believe in the existence of electricity, but electricity can be proven to exist, therefore making belief in it NOT a religious belief.
Catholics cannot prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the existence of their god, making their belief in his existence faith-base, making it a religious belief. Atheists cannot prove the non-existence of any deific presence beyond a shadow of a doubt, making that belief faith-based and therefore religious.
Off hand the only gray-area example I can think of is science, which has and continues to prove certain things about reality. There is, however, a belief in the scientific community in the existence of a scientific principle behind existence, which they are as yet unable to prove. Science is the offspring of and the step beyond religion. Science then becomes a religious system by virtue of it's belief in its own ultimate relevance, rather than a belief in any specific final explanation. Science is a slippery one.
Religion is not confined to a belief in the presence of a deity. Animism, for example, is an atheist religion (though I highly mystical one).
I'm losing this.
Belief is the acceptance of a concept, WITH OR WITHOUT proof.
Faith is belief lacking proof.
Religion is a belief in something that is not or cannot be proven to be true, given some form of systematic approach.
Atheism is just as concerned with an explanation of the nature of creation as theism. They simply approach it without a Sky-Daddy.
Do you believe in god/a god? : No : Prove it :
Do you believe that there is no god/are no gods?: Yes : Prove it :
Do you believe in electricity? : Yes: Prove it : *flips light switch*
Personally, I'm not terribly concerned with religious systems such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism etc. The problem we seem to be having is that these specific systems have been so ubiquitous for so long that they've come to BE the definition of religion. This is somewhat akin to having lived in the ghetto so long that gangstas and black people are the same thing, or watching Fox News for so long that all Muslims are terrorists, when in reality the one is just a certain type within the larger set.
Religion has been with us since we started this human adventure. At no point in history has there ever been any indication that it is going to go away. Self proclaimed atheists are just as convinced and fanatical as the Catholics, who are just as convinced and fanatical as the Buddhists, who are just as convinced and fanatical as the Muslims, and not a single one of any of them can prove their point. With this in mind, one has to wonder if religion itself is a necessary, intrinsic part of being human.
If this is so, it may be time to try a different approach to it, to make it work FOR us rather than using it to pit ourselves against each other.
The simple fact remains that EVERYTHING EXISTS, and therefore it had to have come from somewhere or something. Some spark set all this in motion. If you want to believe it was Random Chance, fine, go pray to Math. If you think the Sky-Daddy did it, fine, go pray to the Sky-Daddy. You're welcome to your personal Spaghetti Monster, but don't forget for a moment that, as yet, YOU CANNOT PROVE IT, and therefore have FAITH in your explanation of things.
More to come, I'm sure.
10 July 2008 @ 08:47 am
To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right."
—Confucius, 551-479 BC
Who, exactly, decided that "putting the world in order" was our job, and how did we come to the conclusion that the world, prior to our involvement, was in disorder?
—Confucius, 551-479 BC
Who, exactly, decided that "putting the world in order" was our job, and how did we come to the conclusion that the world, prior to our involvement, was in disorder?
08 July 2008 @ 01:28 pm
Why would you build a 2 story library in a small town and only put in six parking spaces?
03 July 2008 @ 06:16 pm
So . . . I tried to go out in public yesterday. It didn't go well, hence, I purchased no bug killer or tomato cages.
Today's chore was the compost heap. Now, there really is a structure in the back corner of the yard, built specifically as a compost heap. The problem is that the previous owner (post heap builder), was neither terribly smart nor terribly gumptious. As a result of this, the compost heap is a total disaster. Besides the fact that vines from the neighboring lot have thrust very health roots all throughout the heap, it turns out that it also became a general dumping ground. We're talking whole, uncut planting failures, pieces of potting mix bags, chunks of lumber, and the like.
I also found a garden hose and a tomato cage. The universe loves and hates me at the same time.
Today's chore was the compost heap. Now, there really is a structure in the back corner of the yard, built specifically as a compost heap. The problem is that the previous owner (post heap builder), was neither terribly smart nor terribly gumptious. As a result of this, the compost heap is a total disaster. Besides the fact that vines from the neighboring lot have thrust very health roots all throughout the heap, it turns out that it also became a general dumping ground. We're talking whole, uncut planting failures, pieces of potting mix bags, chunks of lumber, and the like.
I also found a garden hose and a tomato cage. The universe loves and hates me at the same time.
02 July 2008 @ 03:37 pm
I went to Lowe's today. That was my first mistake.
My second mistake was assuming that buying ANYTHING would be anything even remotely resembling a straight-forward endeavor.
Google failed. Lowe's is actually a block further east then it indicated, AND the only way to get there is to either take Mr. Toad's Wild Ride through various alleys and industrial parking lots, or from the top of a bridge that looks like a freeway on-ramp, is poorly marked, and is smack dab in the middle of/suspended above the Everett Station/shitty industrial area.
The cheapest tomato cages I found were $2, but I don't know for sure they had them in stock (it's impossible to tell, since all their products were absolutely clusterfucked). The rest were huge and $4 apiece, which I thought ridiculous. There is only one spray specifically for spiders for . . . I think $3-4, but it only has a 1 foot jet. There's a wasp/hornet spray with a 20 foot jet that will kill just about anything living, but it was $4-5. There is also a 1 gallon jug of stuff for a sprayer, which gives decent reach and will kill just about anything, but it was about $8. The department manager had absolutely nothing to say about any of the products they carried, aside from what could be read on the packaging. None of the brand names were even remotely familiar to me.
I didn't buy anything.
My second mistake was assuming that buying ANYTHING would be anything even remotely resembling a straight-forward endeavor.
Google failed. Lowe's is actually a block further east then it indicated, AND the only way to get there is to either take Mr. Toad's Wild Ride through various alleys and industrial parking lots, or from the top of a bridge that looks like a freeway on-ramp, is poorly marked, and is smack dab in the middle of/suspended above the Everett Station/shitty industrial area.
The cheapest tomato cages I found were $2, but I don't know for sure they had them in stock (it's impossible to tell, since all their products were absolutely clusterfucked). The rest were huge and $4 apiece, which I thought ridiculous. There is only one spray specifically for spiders for . . . I think $3-4, but it only has a 1 foot jet. There's a wasp/hornet spray with a 20 foot jet that will kill just about anything living, but it was $4-5. There is also a 1 gallon jug of stuff for a sprayer, which gives decent reach and will kill just about anything, but it was about $8. The department manager had absolutely nothing to say about any of the products they carried, aside from what could be read on the packaging. None of the brand names were even remotely familiar to me.
I didn't buy anything.
01 July 2008 @ 05:07 pm
Clark said that being in a plane and being shot do not qualify McCain to be president.
I do not make the assumption that having suffered a concussion qualifies me to be a brain surgeon (or a doctor of any kind, for that matter).
Why is this so difficult to understand?
I do not make the assumption that having suffered a concussion qualifies me to be a brain surgeon (or a doctor of any kind, for that matter).
Why is this so difficult to understand?
01 July 2008 @ 03:58 pm
Why is it that these people can sound so intelligent yet spend so much time trying to talk over each other and snickering at each other. Juvenile much?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/2113454
Never mind the fact that neither one seems to actually be listening to the other, nor the mediator for that matter. Interruption is very professional, yes?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/2113454
Never mind the fact that neither one seems to actually be listening to the other, nor the mediator for that matter. Interruption is very professional, yes?
27 June 2008 @ 09:47 am
So, we had Lisa's family in town for a wedding recently, and while they're great people, I'd have to say I don't particularly enjoy having 4 family members staying at my house for a week. Especially when one of them doesn't take the "no photos" rule seriously. Ah well.
But family is gone, and everything is quiet again. I'm looking forward to getting back to a normal diet (namely, one that doesn't consist of nothing but cheese, meat, and wine). Now don't get me wrong, I'm all about decadence, but seriously . . . . blue cheese covered steak 3 nights in a row? Jesus.
I'm currently reading Hume's Treatise on Human Nature. I don't know if it's me or if it's that the books is so old, but not too much of it sounds overly insightful. Hopefully getting deeper in will change that. It doesn't help that the man couldn't keep his terms straight. We shall see. As a break I'm re-perusing The Complete Calvin & Hobbes, a strip which figured heavily in my childhood. Waterson is a genius, and the books are really well done.
I have a lot of liquor, wine, and beer at my house right now. You are jealous, yes? No? YES!!! DO NOT LIE TO ME!!
ahem.
So yes. I'm hoping to get something worthwhile out of Hume. A paper perhaps. Dog knows I'm not writing anything else right now.
Did I say Dog? There is no Dog!
But family is gone, and everything is quiet again. I'm looking forward to getting back to a normal diet (namely, one that doesn't consist of nothing but cheese, meat, and wine). Now don't get me wrong, I'm all about decadence, but seriously . . . . blue cheese covered steak 3 nights in a row? Jesus.
I'm currently reading Hume's Treatise on Human Nature. I don't know if it's me or if it's that the books is so old, but not too much of it sounds overly insightful. Hopefully getting deeper in will change that. It doesn't help that the man couldn't keep his terms straight. We shall see. As a break I'm re-perusing The Complete Calvin & Hobbes, a strip which figured heavily in my childhood. Waterson is a genius, and the books are really well done.
I have a lot of liquor, wine, and beer at my house right now. You are jealous, yes? No? YES!!! DO NOT LIE TO ME!!
ahem.
So yes. I'm hoping to get something worthwhile out of Hume. A paper perhaps. Dog knows I'm not writing anything else right now.
Did I say Dog? There is no Dog!
10 June 2008 @ 03:35 pm
Well then.
It's been some time since I left any ranting in this little corner of the e-universe. Things have been busy, things have been slow. No excuses, I just haven't said anything.
So then.
I live in a 100 year old house now. It's got an earthen basement, unfinished (no bodies yet). It's got wood floors. It's got a ghost of some kind that was REALLY upset when I showed up and kicked he/she/it out. Tough shit ghouly, this be my pocket-universe now.
Let's see. Hillary's done. Obama might actually make it (as much a criminal I think him to be, he's the best of some horrific choices). I can't, however, quite convince myself that the anti-stupid in this country has gained enough momentum to elect a black man. And on that note, I had a girl say to me, "Please vote for McCain, anyone but Hillary." Wait now sister, last I heard those weren't the only two people running. Black people must be invisible to morons.
I'm rambling, ranting perhaps. You're surprised, I can tell. Anyway.
I was fired. In the same sentence the boss said "You're a hard worker," and "you don't move fast enough." Well now, that seems just a bit . . . . retarded? Am I being dense? This all began soon after shaving my head (if you don't have the visual, this won't make sense to you), so I honestly can't say I'm surprised. I'm threatening to ANYONE, much less a 60 year old Korean Christian lady. But there is no complaining here. This leaves me a little time to abuse YOU people, and what would your life be like without a little intellectual abuse?
Very little writing lately, which disturbs me. Fits and starts, nothing solid. Other things on my mind perhaps? I'm not qualified to decide, I think. What I might need is a good kick in the ass (figuratively, you savages). Project anyone? Anything going on, besides the usual circus the Evil Empire likes to present us with? Give me something to chew on!
Mr. Parker, this is my challenge. Let's get a little conversation going here and see where it takes us. Even lacking the production of something powerful, I expect it will be surreal and entertaining no matter what.
Anyway. I am have returned to the Taternet, and must re-orient.
More to come?
It's been some time since I left any ranting in this little corner of the e-universe. Things have been busy, things have been slow. No excuses, I just haven't said anything.
So then.
I live in a 100 year old house now. It's got an earthen basement, unfinished (no bodies yet). It's got wood floors. It's got a ghost of some kind that was REALLY upset when I showed up and kicked he/she/it out. Tough shit ghouly, this be my pocket-universe now.
Let's see. Hillary's done. Obama might actually make it (as much a criminal I think him to be, he's the best of some horrific choices). I can't, however, quite convince myself that the anti-stupid in this country has gained enough momentum to elect a black man. And on that note, I had a girl say to me, "Please vote for McCain, anyone but Hillary." Wait now sister, last I heard those weren't the only two people running. Black people must be invisible to morons.
I'm rambling, ranting perhaps. You're surprised, I can tell. Anyway.
I was fired. In the same sentence the boss said "You're a hard worker," and "you don't move fast enough." Well now, that seems just a bit . . . . retarded? Am I being dense? This all began soon after shaving my head (if you don't have the visual, this won't make sense to you), so I honestly can't say I'm surprised. I'm threatening to ANYONE, much less a 60 year old Korean Christian lady. But there is no complaining here. This leaves me a little time to abuse YOU people, and what would your life be like without a little intellectual abuse?
Very little writing lately, which disturbs me. Fits and starts, nothing solid. Other things on my mind perhaps? I'm not qualified to decide, I think. What I might need is a good kick in the ass (figuratively, you savages). Project anyone? Anything going on, besides the usual circus the Evil Empire likes to present us with? Give me something to chew on!
Mr. Parker, this is my challenge. Let's get a little conversation going here and see where it takes us. Even lacking the production of something powerful, I expect it will be surreal and entertaining no matter what.
Anyway. I am have returned to the Taternet, and must re-orient.
More to come?
02 February 2008 @ 06:44 pm
ehsy yimr dhoulf er yty yo sttibr
uh = "what time should we try to arrive?"
fucking home row . . . .
uh = "what time should we try to arrive?"
fucking home row . . . .
23 January 2008 @ 11:04 am
30 October 2007 @ 10:46 am
13 October 2007 @ 09:44 am
09 October 2007 @ 05:11 pm
08 October 2007 @ 11:07 am
I love slashdot.org
Ran across this. I'm still processing it before I voice an opinion, but I'd like to hear what you guys think:
http://www.10zenmonkeys.com/2007/10/0
More to come!
Ran across this. I'm still processing it before I voice an opinion, but I'd like to hear what you guys think:
http://www.10zenmonkeys.com/2007/10/0
More to come!
05 October 2007 @ 03:25 am
08 September 2007 @ 02:47 am
So this is apparently a few weeks old, but it's new to me
<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WALIARH
Yes that's what she really said.
<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WALIARH
Yes that's what she really said.