December 24, 2008
December 19, 2008
December 18, 2008
December 16, 2008
Quote
One Sunday a gentleman, who is a great inventor, called at my house. Only a few words had passed between us, when he arose, saying that he must go as it was time for church. Wondering that a man of his mental wealth could enjoy the intellectual poverty of the pulpit, I asked for an explanation, and he gave me the following: “You know that I am an inventor. Well, the moment my mind becomes absorbed in some difficult problem, I am afraid that something may happen to distract my attention. Now, I know that I can sit in church for an hour without the slightest danger of having the current of my thought disturbed.”
Robert Green Ingersoll - “Men, Women, And God” (1885)
December 10, 2008
December 09, 2008
December 08, 2008
December 07, 2008
November 24, 2008
Qoute
What harm does superstition do? What harm in believing in
fables, in legends?To believe in signs and wonders, in amulets, charms and
miracles, in gods and devils, in heavens and hells, makes the brain
an insane ward, the world a madhouse, takes all certainty from the
mind, makes experience a snare, destroys the kinship of effect and
cause — the unity of nature — and makes man a trembling serf and
slave. With this belief a knowledge of nature sheds no light upon
the path to be pursued. Nature becomes a puppet of the unseen
powers. The fairy, called the supernatural, touches with her wand
a fact, it disappears. Causes are barren of effects, and effects
are independent of all natural causes. Caprice is king. The
foundation is gone. The great dome rests on air. There is no
constancy in qualities, relations or results. Reason abdicates and
superstition wears her crown.Robert Green Ingersoll - “Superstition” (1898)
November 21, 2008
November 20, 2008
November 14, 2008
November 13, 2008
Quote
"Nature wins, doesn't it? You can't really compete with a few hundred million years of evolution.......Except spiders. Lose them. Nothing needs eight fucking legs." - Ricky Gervais
November 10, 2008
Unpopular
With 71 days left in office, President Bush is less popular than President Nixon was at the time of his resignation, according to data released Monday by CNN and Opinion Research Corporation.
The new poll, taken Thursday through Sunday, showed an approval rating of 24 percent and a disapproval rating of 76 percent.
CNN released a chart showing presidential "disapproval" ratings in CNN or Gallup polls for each president dating back to Harry Truman. This list shows the percentage of Americans who disapproved of the way each president was handling his job.
% Disapprove - Date
G.W. Bush: 76% - Nov. 2008
Clinton: 54% - Sept. 1994
G.H.W. Bush: 60% - July 1992
Reagan: 56% - Jan. 1983
Carter: 59% - June 1979
Ford: 46% - April, Nov., Dec. 1975
Nixon: 66% - Aug. 1974
Johnson: 52% - March, Aug. 1968
Kennedy: 30% - Nov. 1963
Eisenhower: 36% - March 1958
Truman: 67% - Jan. 1952
November 07, 2008
November 06, 2008
More election news....
Congressman Comes Out as Nontheist, Wins Re-election
Washington, DC – Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) is the only member of Congress who is on record as not holding a god-belief, the first such Congress member in history. Rep. Stark publicly acknowledged his nontheism in 2007 following a nationwide search conducted by the Secular Coalition for America. In an election year when national candidates' religious beliefs were given unprecedented importance, the Coalition sees Stark's re-election, with 76% of the votes in his district, as a sign that religious tests for candidates may become less common.
Polls have shown that Americans without a god-belief are, as a group, more distrusted than any other minority in America, and that most Americans would not vote for an atheist for president even if he or she were the most qualified for the office. At the same time, however, according to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, 2008 saw a "small but significant" increase in the number of Americans who say they are "uncomfortable when they hear politicians talk about how religious they are."
"This year, we saw an incumbent U.S. Senator not only defeated but roundly criticized after trying to paint her opponent as godless; and now we see an openly godless member of the House handily re-elected," said Herb Silverman, president of the Secular Coalition for America. "This looks to us like progress, and we praise Rep. Stark for his courage and leadership."
Surveys vary as to the number of atheists, humanists, freethinkers and other nontheists in the U.S., with about 16% (over 50 million people) a reasonable estimate, making this a larger group than Jews, Presbyterians, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and Roman and Greek Orthodox combined. "If the number of nontheists in Congress reflected their numbers in the larger population," observed Lori Lipman Brown, director of the Secular Coalition, "there would be 86 nontheistic Congress members instead of one."
Washington, DC – Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) is the only member of Congress who is on record as not holding a god-belief, the first such Congress member in history. Rep. Stark publicly acknowledged his nontheism in 2007 following a nationwide search conducted by the Secular Coalition for America. In an election year when national candidates' religious beliefs were given unprecedented importance, the Coalition sees Stark's re-election, with 76% of the votes in his district, as a sign that religious tests for candidates may become less common.
Polls have shown that Americans without a god-belief are, as a group, more distrusted than any other minority in America, and that most Americans would not vote for an atheist for president even if he or she were the most qualified for the office. At the same time, however, according to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, 2008 saw a "small but significant" increase in the number of Americans who say they are "uncomfortable when they hear politicians talk about how religious they are."
"This year, we saw an incumbent U.S. Senator not only defeated but roundly criticized after trying to paint her opponent as godless; and now we see an openly godless member of the House handily re-elected," said Herb Silverman, president of the Secular Coalition for America. "This looks to us like progress, and we praise Rep. Stark for his courage and leadership."
Surveys vary as to the number of atheists, humanists, freethinkers and other nontheists in the U.S., with about 16% (over 50 million people) a reasonable estimate, making this a larger group than Jews, Presbyterians, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and Roman and Greek Orthodox combined. "If the number of nontheists in Congress reflected their numbers in the larger population," observed Lori Lipman Brown, director of the Secular Coalition, "there would be 86 nontheistic Congress members instead of one."
November 05, 2008
Say what !?
After further vote counting, it turns out Obama DID
win Jefferson County here in Ohio.
I'm more than a little surprised actually....
The Count....
| OBAMA/BIDEN | DEM | 17,266 | 48.85% |
| MC CAIN/PALIN | REP | 17,216 | 48.71% |
Very Close.....
Here in Jefferson County......John McCain won....
but JUST BY A HAIR. Real close.
Still, it was great to wake up this morning to CHANGE.
Yes. We. Can.
MC CAIN/PALIN
1,5360
1,5360
OBAMA/BIDEN
1,5351
November 04, 2008
This Must Be The Place
There are good songs, bad songs, ugly songs, strange songs....
But this is most likely the most beautiful song ever.
From Wikipedia.....
The lyrics were written by David Byrne, and the music was written by Byrne and the other members of the band, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison. In the "Self Interview" on the DVD of the concert film Stop Making Sense, Byrne admits that it is a love song, a topic he tends to avoid because it is "kinda big". Throughout the Stop Making Sense version, Byrne and his bandmates perform by a standard lamp, while close-up images of various body parts are projected onto a screen behind them. When the song reaches a bridge, the musicians step back and Byrne dances with the lamp, a reference to Fred Astaire's similar dance with a coat-rack in Royal Wedding.
This Must Be The Place
Home is where I want to be
Pick me up and turn me round
I feel numb - burn with a weak heart
(So I) guess I must be having fun
The less we say about it the better
Make it up as we go along
Feet on the ground
Head in the sky
It's ok I know nothing's wrong . . nothing
I got plenty of time
You got light in your eyes
And you're standing here beside me
I love the passing of time
Never for money
Always for love
Cover up + say goodnight . . . say goodnight
Home - is where I want to be
But I guess I'm already there
I come home - -she lifted up her wings
Guess that this must be the place
I can't tell one from another
Did I find you, or you find me?
There was a time
Before we were born
If someone asks, this where I'll be . . . where I'll be
We drift in and out
Sing into my mouth
Out of all tose kinds of people
You got a face with a view
I'm just an animal looking for a home
Share the same space for a minute or two
And you love me till my heart stops
Love me till I'm dead
Eyes that light up, eyes look through you
Cover up the blank spots
Hit me on the head Ah ooh
But this is most likely the most beautiful song ever.
From Wikipedia.....
The lyrics were written by David Byrne, and the music was written by Byrne and the other members of the band, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison. In the "Self Interview" on the DVD of the concert film Stop Making Sense, Byrne admits that it is a love song, a topic he tends to avoid because it is "kinda big". Throughout the Stop Making Sense version, Byrne and his bandmates perform by a standard lamp, while close-up images of various body parts are projected onto a screen behind them. When the song reaches a bridge, the musicians step back and Byrne dances with the lamp, a reference to Fred Astaire's similar dance with a coat-rack in Royal Wedding.
This Must Be The Place
Home is where I want to be
Pick me up and turn me round
I feel numb - burn with a weak heart
(So I) guess I must be having fun
The less we say about it the better
Make it up as we go along
Feet on the ground
Head in the sky
It's ok I know nothing's wrong . . nothing
I got plenty of time
You got light in your eyes
And you're standing here beside me
I love the passing of time
Never for money
Always for love
Cover up + say goodnight . . . say goodnight
Home - is where I want to be
But I guess I'm already there
I come home - -she lifted up her wings
Guess that this must be the place
I can't tell one from another
Did I find you, or you find me?
There was a time
Before we were born
If someone asks, this where I'll be . . . where I'll be
We drift in and out
Sing into my mouth
Out of all tose kinds of people
You got a face with a view
I'm just an animal looking for a home
Share the same space for a minute or two
And you love me till my heart stops
Love me till I'm dead
Eyes that light up, eyes look through you
Cover up the blank spots
Hit me on the head Ah ooh
November 03, 2008
Best
November 02, 2008
November 01, 2008
October 31, 2008
October 30, 2008
+-+front.jpg)
October 29, 2008
Five on the Five
The Raconteurs - Five on the Five
It's a decision that was made between you and me
And the division that was lately this odyssey, believe me
I'm bad enough and I guess we're doing fine
But I'm scared of something more that is on the line
Well I got five on the five
And I been taking time, doing it all alone
If we keep it alive
I'll ignore all the signs and keep driving home
Right back to you, yeah
Right back to you, yeah
Well, I love you well enough that I'll have you know
The day I found you, girl, you laughed like a stereo
Now tell me why you always wanna put on a show
Cause you look nothing like the kids in the videos
Well I got five on the five
And I been taking time, doing it all alone
If we keep it alive
I'll ignore all the signs and keep driving home
Well I love you well enough that I'll have you know
The day you found me, girl, my laugh made a stereo
Now tell me why you always think I put on a show
Cause I look nothing like the kids
Yeah, I look nothing like the kids
Yeah, I look nothing like the kids in the videos
Well I got five on the five
And I been taking time, doing it all alone
If we keep it alive
I'll ignore all the signs and keep driving home
It's a decision that was made between you and me
And the division that was lately this odyssey, believe me
I'm bad enough and I guess we're doing fine
But I'm scared of something more that is on the line
Well I got five on the five
And I been taking time, doing it all alone
If we keep it alive
I'll ignore all the signs and keep driving home
Right back to you, yeah
Right back to you, yeah
Well, I love you well enough that I'll have you know
The day I found you, girl, you laughed like a stereo
Now tell me why you always wanna put on a show
Cause you look nothing like the kids in the videos
Well I got five on the five
And I been taking time, doing it all alone
If we keep it alive
I'll ignore all the signs and keep driving home
Well I love you well enough that I'll have you know
The day you found me, girl, my laugh made a stereo
Now tell me why you always think I put on a show
Cause I look nothing like the kids
Yeah, I look nothing like the kids
Yeah, I look nothing like the kids in the videos
Well I got five on the five
And I been taking time, doing it all alone
If we keep it alive
I'll ignore all the signs and keep driving home
Black Keys
The Black Keys - All You Ever Wanted
You're just like time
Except you can feel the shame
All hands on deck, now
The sea is getting rough again
You see me out your window
Even when you close the blinds
And all you ever wanted
Was someone to treat you Nice and Kind
Take a step before running
Take a breath now before you die
When you work the streets, darlin'
Make sure your sneaker laces they get tied
I'll be your black bird darlin'
Hanging on your telephone wire
Flap my wings, oh yeah
And set your heart to fly
You're just like time
Except you can feel the shame
All hands on deck, now
The sea is getting rough again
You see me out your window
Even when you close the blinds
And all you ever wanted
Was someone to treat you Nice and Kind
Take a step before running
Take a breath now before you die
When you work the streets, darlin'
Make sure your sneaker laces they get tied
I'll be your black bird darlin'
Hanging on your telephone wire
Flap my wings, oh yeah
And set your heart to fly
October 28, 2008
October 27, 2008
October 24, 2008
Via The Huffington Post:
I can't take much more of this. Two weeks to go, and I'm at the end of my rope. I can't work. I can eat, but mostly standing up. I'm anxious all the time and taking it out on my ex-wife, which, ironically, I'm finding enjoyable. This is like waiting for the results of a biopsy. Actually, it's worse. Biopsies only take a few days, maybe a week at the most, and if the biopsy comes back positive, there's still a potential cure. With this, there's no cure. The result is final. Like death.
Five times a day I'll still say to someone, "I don't know what I'm going to do if McCain wins." Of course, the reality is I'm probably not going to do anything. What can I do? I'm not going to kill myself. If I didn't kill myself when I became impotent for two months in 1979, I'm certainly not going to do it if McCain and Palin are elected, even if it's by nefarious means. If Obama loses, it would be easier to live with it if it's due to racism rather than if it's stolen. If it's racism, I can say, "Okay, we lost, but at least it's a democracy. Sure, it's a democracy inhabited by a majority of disgusting, reprehensible turds, but at least it's a democracy." If he loses because it's stolen, that will be much worse. Call me crazy, but I'd rather live in a democratic racist country than a non-democratic non-racist one. (It's not exactly a Hobson's choice, but it's close, and I think Hobson would compliment me on how close I've actually come to giving him no choice. He'd love that!)
The one concession I've made to maintain some form of sanity is that I've taken to censoring my news, just like the old Soviet Union. The citizenry (me) only gets to read and listen to what I deem appropriate for its health and well-being. Sure, there are times when the system breaks down. Michele Bachmann got through my radar this week, right before bedtime. That's not supposed to happen. That was a lapse in security, and I've had to make some adjustments. The debates were particularly challenging for me to monitor. First I tried running in and out of the room so I would only hear my guy. This worked until I knocked over a tray of hors d'oeuvres. "Sit down or get out!" my host demanded. "Okay," I said, and took a seat, but I was more fidgety than a ten-year-old at temple. I just couldn't watch without saying anything, and my running commentary, which mostly consisted of "Shut up, you prick!" or "You're a fucking liar!!!" or "Go to hell, you cocksucker!" was way too distracting for the attendees, and finally I was asked to leave.
Assuming November 4th ever comes, my big decision won't be where I'll be watching the returns, but if I'll be watching. I believe I have big jinx potential and may have actually cost the Dems the last two elections. I know I've jinxed sporting events. When my teams are losing and I want them to make a comeback, all I have to do is leave the room. Works every time. So if I do watch, I'll do it alone. I can't subject other people to me in my current condition. I just don't like what I've turned into -- and frankly I wasn't that crazy about me even before the turn. This election is having the same effect on me as marijuana. All of my worst qualities have been exacerbated. I'm paranoid, obsessive, nervous, and totally mental. It's one long, intense, bad trip. I need to come down. Soon.
October 23, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)