Hey Paul

Hitchens on Palin and the GOP

2008-10-27T15:01:00.001-07:00

Hitchens on Palin and the current GOP

This is what the Republican Party has done to us this year: It has placed within reach of the Oval Office a woman who is a religious fanatic and a proud, boastful ignoramus. Those who despise science and learning are not anti-elitist. They are morally and intellectually slothful people who are secretly envious of the educated and the cultured. And those who prate of spiritual warfare and demons are not just "people of faith" but theocratic bullies. On Nov. 4, anyone who cares for the Constitution has a clear duty to repudiate this wickedness and stupidity.

Amen. Read the full essay here.

Obama's Funny Campaign Donations

2008-10-22T14:37:00.000-07:00

Furriners and ObamaWhy bother doing any research when it's so much easier to sling ridiculous accusations willy nilly. I loved what this guy had to say in the comments:

And thus the line is drawn between folks who still have something to learn about the world (and who would therefore ask questions) and those whose brains have fossilized to the point that all data merely confirm what the rocks in their heads are already telling them.

Stock Chartgame

2008-10-16T09:05:00.000-07:00

Think you can make money in the stock market?Try it risk-free.

Financial Crisis Primer

2008-10-15T09:23:00.000-07:00

Financial Crisis PrimerWith the recent financial meltdown, I'd been feeling awfully ill-informed. So I decided to start scouring the web in an effort to understand what the heck is going on, how it all happened and what it all means. This American Life had two recent shows about the crisis. First, there was The Giant Pool of Money, a show about the housing crisis and what it has to do with the turmoil on Wall Street. Then there was Another Frightening Show About the Economy which focuses more on the Wall Street end of the crisis. I also came across a piece by Paul Krugman (who just won the Nobel Prize in economics) in which he uses the analogy of a baby-sitting co-op to explain how economies work (or don't). And then there's this piece by Jim Manzi on The American Scene who uses a caveman analogy to explain the economy and the recent Wall Street crisis. If you've come across other useful resources to explain the economy and the Wall Street crisis, feel free to leave a link in the comments.

2008-10-14T09:16:00.001-07:00

Articles of ImpeachmentWill these people ever pay for their crimes?

The Big Picture on the Sun

2008-10-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

Our Freakin' Amazing SunThe Big Picture has some amazing pics of the sun.

Epicurus on God

2007-12-02T17:10:00.000-08:00

Epicurus on the coexistence of God and evil:

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able, and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God?

The good news is we'll all be dead.

2007-11-25T17:21:00.001-08:00

The good new is we'll all be dead.From a review of Michael Novecek's Terra: Our 100-Million-Year-Old Ecosystem--and the Threats that Now Put it at Risk in the November 15, 2007 issue of Nature:

The geological perspective of Terra is bizarrely reassuring. Humans will presumably be gone within a few million years, perhaps sooner. If the past that Novacek describes is a guide to the future, global ecosystem processes will be restored some tens of thousands of years to a million years after our demise, and new forms of life over the ensuing millions of years will exploit the denuded planet we leave behind. Thirty million years on, things will be back to normal, albeit a very different 'normal' from before. It is good the be optimistic. The problem is living here in the meantime.

I think it's safe to say the tree-huggers have gone off the deep end when their view of eutopia is a world without us.

China Regulates Reincarnation

2007-08-22T14:16:00.000-07:00

Regime Regulated ReincarnationReligion is absurd. Government is absurd. Religion + Government = Sublime:

In one of history's more absurd acts of totalitarianism, China has banned Buddhist monks in Tibet from reincarnating without government permission. According to a statement issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, the law, which goes into effect next month and strictly stipulates the procedures by which one is to reincarnate, is "an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation."

Full story here.

SYTYCD is rigged

2007-08-17T14:38:00.001-07:00

So You Think You Can Danceis rigged. How else can you explain Sabra's win. I mean no disrespect to Sabra. Of all the girls, she was my favorite, but Danny and Neil were way better. Danny clearly deserved to win. I could have lived with a Neil win as well; after all, he is a great dancer and admittedly there's more to this sort of competition than just skill. But no way do I buy a Sabra win. The producers felt they had to have a female win at least once in three seasons--they stole a quarter of a million dollars from Danny. Very disappointing.

The Flask is Back

2007-03-15T11:14:00.000-07:00

The Flask is BackI don't know why it was ever gone, but for the last several weeks, the bubbling flask in my hand has been nothing but a white box. Since I haven't blogged in I don't know how long, I didn't want to bother Evan about it. Maybe now that it's back, it'll inspire me to start blogging again.

Yeah, it's a scam

2007-01-30T19:48:00.000-08:00

Yeah, it's a scam.Here's the follow up response to the "tutoring email" I wrote about earlier.

Thanks for your email,And more so i am glad the way you have kept me posted on the (tutoring) and i have accepted your offer and its okay by me,

I have make contacts with my son concerning the arrangement of the tutoring which he told me is ok by him and i want you to know that i am going to pay for month which is $300and also my client who is in U .S. will be sending you a check of $4,000

And i want you to know that the rest of the money will be used to get house accomodation beside your location for my son and his nanny and any other arrangement for the lesson so that the tuition can be able to conveniet for both of you,as soon as you get the check cash you will deduct cost of price of the lesson and send remaing balance to my son's TICKET AGENT so that they can book for their flight ticket to come to U.S.

Regarding this kindly get back to me with your full information to receive the check ,like your full name we be on check your full address where you can receive it, inculding your contact phone number, so that payment can be able to made out intime,Because i want the lesson to start as soon as you received the check .

Thanks and waiting to read from you.

jackcob.

Obviously, I'm not going to give them any personal information, but I would like to have some fun with this. Any suggestions?

Tutoring

2007-01-30T10:04:00.000-08:00

Am I Being Scammed?In an effort to rake in some extra cash, I recently posted an add to craigslist offering my services as a chemistry tutor. It took a couple weeks, but I finally started getting some hits and last night I met with my first client. So far so good. I have one question though. In the past few days I've been getting these strange emails requesting my services and I can't help but be suspicious. Here's the text of the first message:

Good day to you over there, I need a tutor for my son (larry) for the month of (Feb), i got your advert while surfing through the internet and i really want my child to be taught by you.larry is 14 year old and easily catch up.

Although,i understand you are in (U.S} but i've arranged with my Nanny ASSOCAITE living there that my son is coming to stay with him for his period of tutoring and he has agreed with me,i am based in finland kindly get back to me with......

1.YOUR CHARGE FOR AN HOUR....

2.TOTAL CHARGES FOR 1 MONTH THAT HE
WILL BE TAUGHT 3 TIMES PER WEEK..

3.FULL NAME AND ADDRESS....

4.YOUR PHONE NUMBER..."

don't hesitate to e-mail with your total charges.

Sound suspicious to you? It did to me, but I responded anyway. I did give my phone number, but said I was located in "South Natomas area of Sacramento, just off Garden Highway,"--I wasn't about to give out my home address. If this is some sort of scam, how would it work?

And here's another email I just got:

Hello,
My name is debrah smith and i am 24 years old.I am a very tolerant person and down to earth,dont interfer into other peoples business cos i like to respect their privacy.I am looking for someone that i could confide in to take some Home Lessons in my new apartment i just acquired in the States(thanks to roomates.com), as I will be making my move from Marion Iowa to my new apartment very close to your place .i saw your ad the web.so i would like you to help me out in some Lessons,i work for a company as a model in the us, i want to know where you are located also as the company will be paying for the lessons and also i have a modelling partner her nick name is surygirl, I think she too is interested as we are both on this lesson,they are also paying for her lessons,Pls send me your location and i will mail you if this is possible please inform on your price ranges and also your address where the payment could be made to via cheque from my company,i await to hear from you.
regards
debrah

I was suspicious of this as well, but responded anyway (this time without even my phone number). Then, moments after I replied, I got another message from someone else, but with the exact same text as debrah's message. So obviously, these weren't for real, but what is it? In both, roomates.com was hyperlinked--is this just a crazy way to get people to their webpage?

Pluto Demotion "mean spirited"

2006-10-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

Deserved ReputationI know it's old news, but I came across this tidbit about the backlash to Pluto's demotion in Chemical & Engineering News (subscription required) and just had to share:

My favorite protest came from California Assemblyman Keith Richman, who introduced a resolution condemning IAU's reclassification of Pluto as "mean-spirited." Among the resolution's light-hearted declarations are that Pluto, "affectionately sharing the name of California's most famous animated dog, has a special connection to California history and culture" and "downgrading Pluto's status will cause psychological harm to some Californians who question their place in the universe." Richman managed to get 53 assembly members to sign on as coauthors.

Is it any wonder Californians have a reputation for being nuts?

Moms Louder Than Fire Alarms

2006-10-02T09:02:00.000-07:00

Moms More Alarming Than Fire

Children in deep sleep awoke to recordings of their mothers' voices -- calling them by name and ordering them out of their bedrooms -- even if they slept through the beeping sound a smoke alarm makes, according to a small study.

Why is this not surprising? Read the full story at CNN.com.

Penn State 33, Northwestern 7

2006-10-02T08:53:00.000-07:00

Penn State 33, Northwestern 7We're baaaack! It looks like we might have an offense after all. Morelli was throwing good, and while he did make a few mistakes, it was a drastic improvement over last weeks showing at Ohio State. If he continues to make quantum leaps like that, we'll be crushing Michigan in no time. Wouldn't it be grand is Penn State gave Michigan their only loss this season?

George Schaller

2006-09-30T09:40:00.000-07:00

Quote of the Day

It is tremendously worrisome that we don't talk about nature anymore. We talk about natural resources as if everything had a price tag. You can't buy spiritual values at a shopping mall. The things that uplift the spirit—an old-growth forest, a clear river, the flight of a golden eagle, the howl of a wolf, space and quiet without motors—are intangibles. Those are the values that people do look for and that everyone needs.

George Schaller in National Geographic.

FDA Turns 100

2006-09-29T14:39:00.000-07:00

FDA Turns 100Chemical & Engineering News has an article commemorating the one hundreth anniversary of the Food and Drug Administation. My favorite tidbit:

Food processing in the late-19th and early-20th centuries involved a great deal of deception. Chemicals were used to heighten color, modify flavor, soften texture, and delay spoilage according to FDA. Jars labeled strawberry jam often contained no strawberries, only glucose, red food coloring, grass seeds, and gelatin. Jars of honey were sometimes diluted with glucose. Rotten eggs were deodorized, rancid butter was revived. "Soothing syrups" for babies were often laced with morphine. "Olive oil" was sometimes made with cottonseed.

There are two things I want to know—how does one "revive" rancid butter and how do I get my hands on some of that "soothing syrup?"

Movin' Out

2006-09-28T23:10:00.000-07:00

Movin' OutA few years ago I had tickets to see Billy Joel and Twila Tharp's Movin' Out in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, a couple weeks before the show, I totaled my truck and could not make the trip. Very disappointing. But, I'm now living in Sacramento—and so is Movin' Out (at least for this week). I saw the show tonight. I wish I could write a thorough review worthy of this or any other blog. But I'm not much of a writer, so let me just say this: I'm going to see the show again next week. Yes, it was that good. Great music, great musicians, great dances, and gorgeous and phenomenal dancers. The stand out dancer was Holly Cruikshank, who is absolutely mesmerizing with her legs for days. I think I might be going again just to see her, but honestly, the others were very good too.

Hillary Says No To Torture

2006-09-28T16:33:00.000-07:00

Hillary Says No To Torture

Interactive Periodic Table

2006-09-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

Cool ChemistryCheck it out—an interactive periodic table. This would have made Gen Chem so much easier had it been around oh so many years ago.

Quote of the Day

2006-09-26T15:27:00.000-07:00

Quote of the DayI know I quote Andrew Sullivan a lot, but I can't help it—he's one of the few remaining sane voices of conservatism in America. Here he is again trying to crack through the thick skull of the electorate:

The deeper point is that, in this law, the "battlefield" has been extended into every living room in the country, and that without judicial oversight, the entire discretion to name someone an "illegal enemy combatant" is entirely up to one man, the president. And he also has the discretion to torture such a person at will, using techniques once deployed by the North Vietnamese and the KGB. This is the bill now being considered. It is a grave threat to basic liberties.

Sullivan's latest book, The Conservative Soul: How We Lost It, How To Get It Back , will be out in a couple weeks.

Killer Teddy Bear

2006-09-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

Killer Teddy BearA teddy bear clogged a drain at a fish hatchery, thus blocking the flow of oxygen and suffocating thousands of trout.

Hatcheries supervisor Robert Fawcett said the bear, dressed in yellow raincoat and hat, is believed to be the first stuffed toy to cause fatalities at the facility.

The deaths prompted Fawcett to release a written warning: "RELEASE OF ANY TEDDY BEARS into the fish hatchery water IS NOT PERMITTED."

Well now we know—and knowing's half the battle.

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid

2006-09-26T10:01:00.000-07:00

Be Afraid, Be Very AfraidKing George is trying to install a "thinly-veiled military dictatorship" and he must be stopped. The time for playing politics is past—please fight this.

Andrew Sullivan:

How do I put this in words as clearly as possible. If the U.S. government decides, for reasons of its own, that you are an "illegal enemy combatant," i.e. that you are someone who
has engaged in hostilities or who has purposefully and materially supported hostilities against the United States,

they can detain you without charges indefinitely, granting you no legal recourse except to a military tribunal, and, under the proposed bill, "disappear" and torture you. This is not just restricted to aliens or foreigners, but applies to U.S. citizens as well. It can happen anywhere in the U.S. at any time. We are all at potential risk.

We can and must fight terrorists without sacrificing our own freedoms. If we give up our freedoms, they will have won—no matter how many of them we kill. Call or write your representatives today. Most, if not all, of our representatives have webpages where you can submit your comments directly on line. It's that easy. If you're in California, Senator Boxer can be reached here, Senator Feinstein can be reached here. Check here to find out where your House Reps are.

5 Tips to increase your likeability

2006-09-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

Dude, chill.I just discovered the Prometheus Institute webpage—I think this is going to be one of my new favorite places on the web. Here are five tips to increase your likeability from said webpage:

1. Be positive
2. Control your insecurities
3. Provide value
4. Eliminate all judgements
5. Become a person of conviction

They may sound simple enough, maybe even banal, but click here to read the list with commentary—I found it refreshing.

Numero 4 in particular jogged some thoughts loose in my head. I know I'm not the most patient person, especially when it comes to driving. If a car in front of me isn't going as fast as I want to drive or isn't getting out of the way, I will tail them like crazy until they get the picture. And yet, when someone is doing the same to me, do I speed up or change lanes? Of course not. In fact, I slow down until they give up and decide to just pass me—even if I'm in the fast lane (which I usually am). I know I don't always use my turn signal, and yet I have no problem achieving indignation overload when another driver does the same. When someone doesn't hit the gas at the exact split second the light turns green, my blood pressure spikes and I got into honk mode. But as the consumate daydreamer, I know I've done the same many times myself. I guess the take home message is: I need to relax. Nobody's perfect, least of all me.

Tim Ryan 10, King George 0

2006-09-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

Tim Ryan 10, King George 0Finally, a representative willing to stand up to King George without equivocating.

Better Off Single?

2006-09-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

Better Off Single?I came across this article of 10 reasons you're better off unmarried. Click here for explanations.

1. You have a better body.
2. You're more likely to achieve great things.
3. You do less housework.
4. You can do what you want with your money—including keeping it.
5. You have better sex.
6. You're better rested and smarter.
7. You're less depressed.
8. You have better friendships.
9. Your travel tales are enviable.
10. You know yourself—and what you want out of a relationship.

Discuss.

Rosemary packaging extend shelf life of meat

2006-09-25T15:44:00.000-07:00

Rosemary or carbon monoxide: Take your pickSpanish researchers have found a way to replace carbon monoxide as a preservative in meat packaging.

The rosemary-enhanced plastic film kept beef steaks looking pink and fresh for 14 days under conditions found in supermarkets. The use of rosemary also increased average display life by about two days compared to meat packaged in a traditional modified atmosphere mixture of oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas.

This is great, since CO (that's carbon monoxide to you non-chemists) actually makes meat look fresher than it is. I wonder if the new packaging imparts any rosemary flavor to the meat?

Sarcasm from Prudence

2006-09-24T18:19:00.000-07:00

Dear PrudenceOne of the great things about beig a guy is never being asked to be a bridesmaid—I've heard so many horror stories about brides gone psycho. Here's some advice from Slate's Prudence:

Dear Annoyed,
How thoughtless of the other bridesmaids not to take a vow of celibacy during the year plus of planning for the wedding. Now that they have been so derelict in their duties, they must consider how to make amends. The one who will have the baby at the time of the wedding should consider giving it up for adoption so she won't be distracted by having to nurse the child. The seven-and-a-half months pregnant bridesmaid should have a premature, induced delivery. This will allow her to wear a regular bridesmaid's dress and leave the infant behind in the ICU. As for you, why don't you just give your friend your bank account PIN so she can access your funds without having to bother you with specific requests for money. Alternatively, the three of you could get together, agree to have one of you act as a spokesmaid, and explain to the bride that she's planning a wedding day, not D-Day. Unless she is able to get a grip on her obstetric and financial demands, all of you will have to decline the honor of serving as her attendants.

Read the letter she's responding to here.

Is Bush A Christian?

2006-09-24T17:56:00.000-07:00

Quote of the Day

American lemmings are now so brain washed that they believe this war criminal is a man of God. It would seem that the God he worships is really the Viking god of war, Thor, with his thunder of ongoing, preemptive "Shock and Awe" extending as far as the eye can see into our future.

Christian Dewar

I Will Survive (Jesus Version)

2006-09-23T21:40:00.000-07:00

Jesus Christ: The MusicalAnd now for something a little more light-hearted. Warning: Some Christians may find this offensive.

Richard Dawkins - The Root of All Evil

2006-09-23T21:32:00.000-07:00

The Root of All Evil

Sam Harris at Idea City '05

2006-09-23T21:17:00.000-07:00

23 minutes of Sam Harris at Idea City '05

Pot Legalization in Nevada

2006-09-23T18:19:00.000-07:00

And why not?A recent poll shows pot may be decriminalized in Nevada soon.

The best part of the story, though, is that the group opposing the initiative is called the Committee to Keep Nevada Respectable. Gambling, prostitution, and 24-hour liquor sales are one thing, but pot smoking? That would really give the state a licentious reputation.

Jason Sullum on Reason's hit and run blog.

Penn State 6, Ohio State 28

2006-09-23T16:42:00.000-07:00

Penn State 6, Ohio State 28Absolutely embarassing. We have no offense whatsoever. None. If we had even a half decent high school quarterback, we'd have beat Ohio—because as good as they are, our defense did a damn good job containing them. Those last two Ohio touchdowns should be credited to Penn State's offense, particularly our pathetic quarterback. I am so sick of having the best defense money can buy and no offense to speak of. How many more times will we hear some brain dead commentator yap on about Morelli's laser arm? Who gives a shit how fast he can throw the ball if he can't complete a pass?

digby's Hullabaloo

2006-09-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

Quote of the Day

People and societies don't just wake up one morning to find they no longer recognize themselves. It's a process. And we are in the process in this country of "defining deviancy down" in ways I never thought possible. We are legitimizing torture and indefinite detention --- saying that we will only do this to the people who really deserve it. One cannot help but wonder what "really deserves it" will mean in the years to come as we fight our endless war against terror.

digby's Hullabaloo

Edward Abbey Quote

2006-09-22T19:52:00.000-07:00

Quote of the DayEdward Abbey:

A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.

Jon Steward Whoops Bill Bennet on gay marraige

2006-09-22T19:45:00.000-07:00

Jon Stewart 5, Bill Bennett 0

Yale Online for Free

2006-09-22T16:26:00.000-07:00

Attend the Ivy League for FreeFrom CNN.com:

Yale University said on Wednesday it will offer digital videos of some courses on the Internet for free, along with transcripts in several languages, in an effort to make the elite private school more accessible.

While Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and others already offer course material online without charge, Yale is the first to focus on free video lectures, the New Haven, Connecticut-based school said.

The 18-month pilot project will provide videos, syllabi and transcripts for seven courses beginning in the 2007 academic year. They include "Introduction to the Old Testament," "Fundamentals of Physics" and "Introduction to Political Philosophy."

Sign me up.

Redefining War Crimes

2006-09-22T10:32:00.000-07:00

Redefining War Crimes"War crimes" used to mean any conduct:

(3) which constitutes a violation of common Article 3 of the international conventions signed at Geneva, 12 August 1949, or any protocol to such convention to which the United States is a party and which deals with non-international armed conflict; or

Now it's:

(3) which constitutes a grave breach of Common Article 3 as defined in subsection (d) when committed in the context of and in association with an armed conflict not of an international character; or

And who gets to decide what constitutes a "grave breach" as opposed to a mere violation? Why King George, of course!

(3) INTERPRETATION BY THE PRESIDENT.—(A) As provided by the Constitution and by this section, the President has the authority for the United States to interpret the meaning and application of the Geneva Conventions

So basically, the Geneva Conventions can go screw themselves. We're gonna torture whoever the hell we please, because we're America, and we're always right. But nobody better even think about torturing our soldiers or we'll bomb them into the Stone Age—and then prosecute 'em for war crimes.

Virginia Postrel Quote

2006-09-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

Quote of the DayVirginia Postrel:

Information is the enemy both of out-of-control government and of paranoia. Vigorous, open dissent is a powerful check on government excesses--and an important, peaceful outlet for citizen grievances.

Declaring those grievances illegitimate, and those citizens the philosophical allies of murderers, may make a weak president feel strong. But it won't make the grievances go away. And it won't make sleazy rhetoric any less sleazy.

Sam Harris vs Pope Benedict

2006-09-21T16:39:00.000-07:00

Harris 1, Benedict 0
Pope Benedict:

The West has long been endangered by this aversion to the questions which underlie its rationality, and can only suffer great harm thereby. The courage to engage the whole breadth of reason, and not the denial of its grandeur—this is the program with which a theology grounded in Biblical faith enters into the debates of our time.

Sam Harris:

Please read that first sentence again. I hope it doesn’t seem peevish to point out that the West faces several dangers even greater than those posed by an incomplete epistemology. The West is endangered, primarily, by the religious fragmentation of the human community, by religious impediments to clear thinking, and by the religious willingness of millions to sacrifice the real possibility of happiness in this world for a fantasy of a world to come. We are living in a world where untold millions of grown men and women can rationalize the violent sacrifice of their own children by recourse to fairy tales. We are living in world where millions of Muslims believe that there is nothing better than to be killed in defense of Islam. We are living in a world in which millions of American Christians hope to soon be raptured into the sky by Jesus so that they can safely enjoy the holy genocide that will inaugurate the end of human history. We are living in a world in which a silly old priest, by merely giving voice to his religious inanities, could conceivably start a war with 1.4 billion Muslims who take their own inanities in deadly earnest. These are real dangers. And they are not dangers for which more “Biblical faith” is a remedy.

Gays In the Military

2006-09-21T14:10:00.000-07:00

Unsafe at any costThis is what we get when we let the idiocy that is religion seep into our government. Watch and laugh—and then weep.

Who Would Jesus Torture?

2006-09-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

WWJTWho Would Jesus Torture?

Watch Sunset 60 on NBC.com

2006-09-20T19:36:00.000-07:00

Sunset 60 RerunsIf you missed the best show on television, go to NBC.com and you can watch the entire first episode of Sunset 60. Just watch the first ten minutes and you'll be hooked. Now, if only FOX would show reruns of House online—I'm gonna have to drop my Real Estate Finance course if I don't find a way to watch House.

Penn State--Ohio Coverage Map

2006-09-20T15:23:00.000-07:00

Glorious NewsThis is the most beautiful thing I've seen all week—the coverage map for this Saturday's Penn State - Ohio State football game. It's so rare that any of the games are broadcast out here. And don't try and tell me it's just because we're playing #1 Ohio State. This is going to be the game of the year in which the under-appreicated Nittany Lions chew up and spit out the overrated Buckeyes. I have faith. Oops! I mean I have thoroughly analyzed all the evidence and scientifically determined Penn State will kick ass.

Don't miss it— 12:30pm on ABC. My condonlences to middle America.

Response To Evan Re Sam Harris

2006-09-19T21:37:00.000-07:00

Response to EvanFirst of all, thanks for the comments, Evan. I've been meaning to respond because I both agree and disagree with you. I do not believe Harris conflates fundamentalism with a mere belief in God. In this particular quote (which I think is from another essay or article, not his first book, The End of Faith), I believe he is simply pointing out the disconnect between faith and reason. This is just as much a criticism of secular folk who refuse to question religion as it of religious folk who refuse to question anything. The disconnect is the arbitrariness with which we blindy accept religious faith in the midst of so much rationality.

If the President, or anybody for that matter, were to claim that they spoke to their hairdryer on a daily basis and that it guided them in the decisions they make, we would almost uniaminously declare this person mentally unstable. We all know our hairdryers don't communicate with us—that's absurd.

But why is it any less absurd if we take the hairdryer out of the picture? If I say I talk to God every morning and that God guides me in the decisions I make, I get special treatment (insomuch as I'm not deemed mentally ill like the man with the hairdryer). And yet, the Church of the Hairdryer rests of just a sure a footing as any other religious belief. There's no more evidence that I can speak to God than there is that you can speak to your hairdryer. (As an aside, I'm not questioning the historical fact of Jesus' existence—just the existence of God.)

In his book, Harris elaborates on the dangers of this sort of thinking (or should I say, non-thinking). When you can pull beliefs out of mid-air, you can pretty much justify anything—things like jihad, or torture. We will never escape the stranglehold religion has on the world until we stop giving religion a free pass. What's crazy is crazy, regardless of whether is comes from a minister on Sunday morning or a drunk on Friday night.

Studio 60 Premier

2006-09-19T21:17:00.000-07:00

Studio 60: New Best Show on TelevisionAaron Sorkin's new show premiered last night and just the fact that it's Sorkin's show guarentees it's going to be the best show on television. That man is incredible. I'd been eagerly awaiting this for a couple months and it was well worth the wait. Great cast, great premise, and phenomenal dialogue. Though I have to admit, about half-way through the show I was beginning to worry that not enough of the characters would be likeable. One of the best things about The West Wing (Sorkin's previous masterpiece) was that the characters were so smart and idealistic. As unrealistic as that might have been (especially in today's West Wing), it was nice to dream. I like smart people, and I still have a bit of the idealist in me. Anyway, with a show that takes place behind the scenes of a television show, there was the very real possibility that most of the characters would be morally repugnant, vapid and incapable of forming complex thoughts. But no, by the end I was convinced Sorkin had another hit. I can't wait to see where this goes. Check out the promo below. And then join the parade—Mondays at 10pm.

Screaming Cat YouTube

2006-09-19T16:17:00.000-07:00

YouTube Trial RunThis is the very first embedded YouTube for Hey Paul's Blog. Please let me know if you experience any pain or discomfort (not that I'll be able to alleviate it, but I'd like to know—that's just the sort of sadist I am). This funny, yet mildly disturbing clip, comes to Hey Paul from his friend in Michigan. Yes, he's a Wolverine, but we don't hold it against him—he's doing his graduate work as a Nittany Lion, though he's doing it among Spartans (it's a long story).

Desmond Tutu Quote

2006-09-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

Quote of the day IIIArchbishop Desmond Tutu to the Bush administration:

You taught us no government worth its salt can subvert the rule of law. We believed you. That's part of what you have as a gift for the world. Then how can you commit Guantanamo Bay? Take back your country

Hat tip: sullivan

Sam Harris Hairdryer quote

2006-09-18T09:42:00.000-07:00

Quote of the day IISam Harris:

The President of the United States has claimed, on more than one occasion, to be in dialogue with God. Now, if he said that he was talking to God through his hairdryer, this would precipitate a national emergency. I fail to see how the addition of a hairdryer makes the claim more ludicrous or more offensive.

Harris's new book, Letter to a Christian Nation comes out tomorrow—I'll be in line with bells on.

Sullivan Quote

2006-09-18T09:34:00.000-07:00

Quote of the dayAndrew Sullivan in his Sunday Times column:

American conservatism has gone from being a political philosophy rooted in scepticism of power, empirical judgment and limited government into an ideology based in born-again religious faith, immune to empirical reality and dedicated to the relentless expansion of presidential clout.

Penn State 17, Notre Dame 41

2006-09-18T09:28:00.000-07:00

Penn State 37, Notre Dame 3I couldn't watch the game, so I can't comment on whether this score really signals we're ready for Ohio State next week. Let's hope so. I did get to watch the Michigan-Notre Dame game and thorouoghly enjoyed watching Notre Dame get whooped.

God Hates Fags

2006-09-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

God Hates FagsWell, we knew that. But I guess he also hates the rest of us who think it's none of our fucking business who their neighbor fucks. God even hates the soldiers who risk their lives fighting for our freedom.

Phelps believes the deaths of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and the 2001 terrorist attacks are an angry God's punishment for the country's tolerance of homosexuality. "This nation has ticked off the Almighty, and it's too late to repent," he says.

Now even an apostate like myself knows these nutjobs aren't getting their message from the New Testament. But to say that their message isn't biblical is just false. The Old Testatment is full of this sort of thing. God is all about punishing the wicked—most often by death. That's religion. My question is, since I know most modern Christians would tell you that's not really the message of the Bible (though, it's anybody's guess how they know), why aren't they the loudest and most vehement critics of this sort of sick display of religious fervor? We constantly hear about how it's such an abomination for two men to live together in a committed relationship, but we don't hear those same people condemning this message of hate. Apparently, God's more concerned with making sure we know who he hates than who he loves. That's religion.

Amen.

Term Limits II

2006-09-11T21:13:00.000-07:00

Term Limits IINot surprisingly, I'm not the first to advocate term limits. In fact, there's an entire citizen organization that advocates for term limits—US Term Limits. Their mission statement is:

To rally Americans to restore citizen control of government by limiting the terms of politicians at the local, state and congressional levels.

I also found this little gem from Benjamin Franklin on their site:

In free governments, the rulers are the servants and the people their superiors and sovereigns. For the former, therefore, to return among the latter is not to degrade but to promote them.

Term Limits

2006-09-11T14:15:00.000-07:00

Term LimitsAllow me to think outloud/online for a moment. Anyone who pays any attention to politics knows we have a problem. Actually, many problems—but I'm thinking particularly of the partinson bickering. It seems like our leaders spend so much time campaigning and tearing the opposition down, that they leave very little time for actually doing the work of the people. When was the last time you saw two politicians from oppossing parties civily debating the pros and cons of a new bill—and I mean really debating, with facts and analysis, not just catch phrases and buzzwords. Or God forbid, actually working together to pass the same bill. More than likely, the last time you saw two pols or candidates at the same table, they were trading juvenile barbs or evading actual facts or trying to please everyone by doing nothing.

How can we change this? The first thing that comes to mind is term limits. You get one term and then you're out. If you can't run for re-election, what's the point of spending all your time and money campaigning? Might as well buckle down and try and get something accomplished. Now we'd have to make sure everyone had a long enough term to learn the system and then get something done. How about six years? If you can't write and pass one good bill in six years time, maybe you're not cut out for politics—go get a real job like the rest of us.

But do we set the term limits per office or across the board? In other words, if you can just run for the Senate when your House term is up, does that really solve the problem? Probably not completely, but it's probably better than what we have now. Or maybe we say, you get six years in any elected office, then you have to go back and into the job market for another six years. If after that, you still have a passion to serve and your constituents can still stomach you, then by all means, run again. In addition to reducing the campainging and increasing the governing our leaders do, this would have the added benefit of eliminating career politicians—people with no connection to the real world in which the rest of us live every day. To ensure this, maybe we need to go one step further, and say that after serving your term you cannot work on any government payroll for at least six years. That would prevent outgoing pols from simply becoming an advisor or staff member of another pol until they can run again. Get back into the real world and see how the rest of us live—don't just stop in once in a while for a fundraising dinner, come live a few years in reality.

Now, maybe some of you are thinking you really like your representatives—you want them to run again. Come on, let's be honest. Are there really any politicians out there that are so good, so honest, so full of integrity and acumen that the world would be worse off if they took some time away from their cushy government jobs? I mean we're only talking about a six year break. If they're that great, wouldn't you rather have them doing the work of the people for a solid six years, even if it was only every other six years instead of every sixth year, with five years of campaigning and partison bicking in between?

OK, that's all for now. Talk amongst yourselves—I just gave you a topic. I'll be back with more on this topic. I know there are good arguments against term limits, though they escape me at the moment—and my cat's sitting in my lap making it difficult to type.

Brad Pitt Quote

2006-09-10T18:27:00.000-07:00

Quote of the dayBrad Pitt:

Angie and I will consider tying the knot when everyone else in the country who wants to be married is legally able

Amen!

Penn State 17, Notre Dame 41

2006-09-09T16:46:00.000-07:00

Penn State 17, Notre Dame 41Not our best performance. In the first half, we were making progess down the field, but kept making stupid mistakes which really took the wind out of our sails. And we didn't have any pass protection. Hopefully we can get our act together soon, because in two weeks we play #1 Ohio State, in Ohio. Speaking of Ohio, let's all hope they lose to #2 Texas this evening.

Quote of the Day

2006-09-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

Quote Of The DayAndrew Sullivan:

Today's Christianists have one major problem in their recasting of Christianity as a partisan politics and a set of inviolable laws and moral regulations. That problem is the message of Jesus.

Am I A Partison Moderate?

2006-09-04T08:34:00.000-07:00

Am I a partison moderate?Is that even possible? After my previous post, I got to thinking if my comments weren't the very thing Giuliani was bemoaning. Is it possible that, even as a moderate, I've become so disgusted with the two political parties that I've now become part of the problem? Do I spend too much time criticizing the current state of affairs to actually do any good? If so, does that disqualify me as a moderate? (If not, does the fact that I'm a registered Libertarian disqualify me?)

My gut reaction is yes, and no. I don't thing you can criticize too much when things are as dismal as they are. There's no justification for whitewashing the truth or looking the other way in the name of politcal harmony. When our leaders have strayed so far from the path set out by the founding fathers and the constitution, they probably should be ceaselessly ridiculed into submission. However, maybe one of the reasons so few people give a shit is that they see no alternative. In which case, maybe in addition to tearing down, those of us who still care should take the time to point out the rare statesmen (even if we don't always agree with them).

I've always thought of myself as a moderate because I believe I have an open mind and can listen to both sides of an informed argument without my head exploding like some Fox News nimrod. Furthermore, I find myself agreeing with both parties, depending on the issue at hand. ~~I think both parties have something to offer.~~ I think there are a few good people within each party who could do some serious good if their party wasn't suffocating them.

So in the end, I don't think my vehement criticisms of the current administation or others in power disqualifies me as a moderate. If anything, it qualifies me as a patriot. To quote Barbara Ehrenriech:

No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.

Rudy Giuliani for President

2006-09-03T22:06:00.000-07:00

Good Guys Never WinBut we can hope, can't we? Here's hoping at least one political party nominates a politically moderate person of integrity—like Rudy Giuliani:

The other thing we have to learn is that we can't get into this partisan bickering. The fact is that Republicans and Democrats have the same objectives. … Democrats are loyal Americans. Republicans are loyal Americans. I think we have better answers, but we have to respect each other.

In all likelihood, we'll get Hilary Clinton, spawn of Satan, vs Rick Santorum, Christianist nutjob. Is Ross Perot still around?

Hermann Goering Quote

2006-09-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

Quote of the DayHermann Goering, second in command of the Third Reich, after his capture and trial at Nuremberg:

Why of course people don't want war...that is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for a lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

Penn State 34 Akron 16

2006-09-03T20:34:00.000-07:00

Penn State 34, Akron 16As painful as much of graduate school was, watching Penn State football makes me want to do it all over again—or wish I had ESPN Gameplan so I could at least watch the games on TV instead of a 3 inch pop-up on my laptop. Oh well, I guess one game a year will have to suffice now that I live on the other side of continent.

Frontier Justice

2006-09-03T17:01:00.000-07:00

BushwhackedI just finished reading Frontier Justice: Weapons of Mass Destruction & The Bushwacking of America by Scott Ritter, former U.N. Weapons Inspector. Excellent critique of this administration's blatant disregard for truth and ravenous appetite for war. Here are a few choice passages:

With the election of George W. Bush to the presidency, the PNAC posse found a sheriff they could, and did, manipulate at will, a man with no redeeming qualities, no individual spirit, someone who had spent a life operating in the shadow of a much more powerful (and capable) father, a man who was but a shell, a puppet, waiting to be maneuvered by those with more depth and capability. George W. Bush's record as governor of Texas is only surpassed in incompetence by his record as president, but in both cases his tenure succeeded in empowering an elite few who made their fortunes by manipulating the words and actions of the empty suit holding office.

There is an ongoing struggle here in America for the very soul of the nation, one that pits a dangerous cabal of neoconservative ideologues against two centuries of American democracy. It is a stuggle fought both in secrecy, behind closed doors, and in the open, waged before our eyes. What makes this struggle so very dangerous is that most Americans are unaware that it is taking place. Battles over fundamental principles and values that define us as a nation are disguised as "bureaucratic exercises" and "politics as usual." But there is nothing normal about what is occuring—the death of a nation for the self-interest of those who would corrupt the very cause of liberty championed by the people.

But it's not all aimed at King George & PNAC. Ritter has a fair dose of criticism for the American people.

Ultimately, there is no difference, and indeed there can be no difference between the people of the United States and the government of the United State, because thanks to our constitution, we the people of the United States of America are the government.

We really have no one to blame but ourselves. Yes, the Bush administration sold us the Big Lie concerning Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, but we collectively bought into it. The media, Congress, and the people of the United States—we are all collectively culpable. We didn't ask enough questions, we didn't demand enough answers, and when someone had the gall to do so, we played "see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil" in an effort to avoid considering that when it came to weapons of mass destruction, the emperor had no clothes.

I fear that many in America have come to expect the benefits of being an American without first making the investment of citizenship. We are a nation that has stopped voting. We are a people so accustomed to wrapping ourselves in a cocoon of comfort that we fear anything that rocks the boat of prosperity, even if the ship is sailing toward the abyss. We have ceased being a nation of citizens, and instead become a collective of coddled consumers. We have ceded our role as citizen to those power elites and have become blind to their abuses of power and the destruction of what we stand for as a people—so long as these power elites keep waddling down the path of relative prosperity.

Unfortunately, not enough people heeded Ritter's warning and King George was recrowned in 2004. But it's not too late. We will have more elections, and we can win back our country if we will just start giving a shit. Take an interest in your government. Vote. Impeach Bush. Write your representatives. Run for office. Do something—anything.

Motoring & Leisure Magazine

2006-09-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

Does This Make Me A Professional?I'm now a published photographer—in Motoring & Leisure Magazine. No, not the cover image you see here, but a small stock photo of a road sign. Someone on the staff found the image in my flickr photostream and asked if they could use it for their letters-to-the-editor page—something about bicyclists and drivers sharing the road. I didn't get any money, but I got a photo credit in an honest to goodness magazine (and a free copy of the magazine). In related news, I recently discovered that you can quickly find websites that use your images by searching technorati—and in fact, I found several that have used my images. All without explicit permission, but all gave credit and that's all that's required under the Creative Commons license.

Theodore Roosevelt Quote

2006-09-02T23:05:00.000-07:00

Theodore Roosevelt in 1918 (during WWI):

To annouce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.

Olberman on Rumsfeld

2006-08-31T20:57:00.000-07:00

Olbermann on RumsfeldIf you care about your freedom, if you care about this country and its democracy, then I beseech you, take a few minutes and watch this video.

UPDATE: It's come to my attention that the link to Keith Olbermann's excellent soliloquy on Rumsfeld was incorrect. I've redirected the link to youtube. Sorry 'bout that.

It's Official

2006-08-31T15:40:00.000-07:00

It's OfficialCheck out this cool web app that lets you make all sort of official looking seals with lots of custom features.

Is NASA a waste of money?

2006-08-31T14:10:00.000-07:00

Money To BurnI came across this article regarding a new multibillion dollar contract NASA awarded Lockheed Martin for a spaceship. It got me thinking (which I'm prone to do) about all the enormous sums of money we spend on space travel and exploration. And might we have better uses for this money hear on planet Earth (we are still a planet, right)?

Now, as a scientist, I think I understand better than most the high cost of scientific research (one of the mass spectrometers in my lab costs close to half a million dollars—and you can't even do much with it unless you buy an LC for another $60K). Furthermore, I think I understand better than most the value of basic research—research that has no obvious application. Many of the current technologies and medical cures we have today can be traced back to some obscure scientist slaving away in a lab just trying to understand some fundamental aspect of biology or physics or chemistry (yeah, chemistry) only to find that whoa!, this could cure cancer!

But even so, when I ponder the gargantuan sums of money spent by NASA—such as $912,000,000 for the X-33 spaceplane which never got built—I can't help but wonder if maybe we ought to build better schools, provide healthcare to needy children or end obesity first; then we can fly to Mars.

To find the answer, I did a quick Google search (doesn't Google have all the answers?) for some compendium of all the glorious things we have now that can be traced to NASA spending. Google failed. But I did find this: an opinion piece from spacedaily.com addressing the question of NASA's largesse. I'm unconvinced. The author makes the argument that NASA's profligate spending is okay because it's not much when compared to all the money we spend on other stuff. And when they say we, they're not even referrring to the government, they mean you and me. Could there be a dumber argument?

For instance, this year, total pet-related sales in the United States are projected to be $31 billion – the[sic] double, almost to the cent, of the $15.47 billion NASA budget. An estimated $5 billion worth of holiday season gifts were offered – not to the poor – but to the roving family pets – six times more than NASA spent on its own roving Martian explorers, Spirit and Opportunity, who cost the American taxpayer $820 million both. Instead of providing a launch pad for the immorally expensive shuttles, Florida can do better and clothe the underprivileged - a genuine alligator pet collar cost only $400 a piece.

First of all, government spending should not be confused with the sum total of personal spending. If you want to buy Fufu a cashmere sweater instead of feed the hungry, that's your perogative. But I'll be damned if I'm gonna sit back and let you tax my hard-earned income to pay for your lavish idiocy (at least not without a lot of whining). Second, didn't your mother ever teach you that two wrongs don't make a right. Even if the government did tax me to buy doggy toys (don't get any ideas, Dems), that wouldn't make NASA's enormous spending any less eggregious.

The bottom line is that we have plenty of problems right here on Earth that could benefit from a little more cashflow. So unless NASA thinks Mars has better schools or cheaper healthcare, maybe we should hold off on the multibillion dollar rockets to nowhere.

All that having been said, if anyone knows of a nice summary of all that we've gained from NASA spending up to now, I'd love to check it out and maybe even reconsider my stance.

Munch's The Scream Recovered

2006-08-31T10:02:00.000-07:00

Good NewsEdvard Munch's The Scream has been recovered. I wonder if anyone will be getting the 2 million dark chocolate M&Ms reward.

History of Housing Prices

2006-08-31T09:10:00.000-07:00

This is why I can't afford a home.

Fundamentalist Mormon Caught

2006-08-30T22:33:00.000-07:00

God fought the Law and the Law wonFrom a Time news story on the capture of Fundamentalist Mormom freak Warren Steed Jeffs:

While on the run from the law for more than a year, Jeffs told his followers that authorities would never capture him, because God was protecting him. Members of the church believed him; after all, he was their prophet — the "speaker of God's will." But on Monday night, Jeffs' faith bumped into the law, when a Las Vegas trooper pulled over a burgundy Escalade on a routine traffic stop.

Pilot Locker Out of Cockpikt

2006-08-30T19:54:00.000-07:00

Airplane Security OverboardWhen even the pilot is locked out of the cockpit, it might be a sign we've taken this whole terrorism fear-mongering a bit too far. Enjoy.

Federal Funding Accountability Transparency Act

2006-08-30T16:22:00.000-07:00

Great Idea Meets Great ResistanceI recently heard about the proposed Federal Funding Accountability & Transparency Act which would create a searchable website listing all government pork. What an obviously great idea. No wonder politicians are against it. From an NTU & NTUF open letter to Congress:

On behalf of the millions of taxpaying citizens represented by the groups signed below, we strongly urge you to support S. 2590, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. The bill, sponsored by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) and co-sponsored by colleagues John McCain (R-AZ), Barack Obama (D-IL), and Tom Carper (D-DE), would direct the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to create a publicly-available website that would list every entity receiving federal grants or contracts and the totals awarded for the last ten fiscal years. Such a website would entail very little cost and would greatly increase transparency in the distribution of government funding. At last, those who most deserve to know about this process – the American people – would have the tool they need to conduct their own evaluations of Washington's priorities.

Anybody with half a brain has to see this as an incredible weapon against the wasteful swine that constitute our government. Call or write your representatives and let them know you're onto them.

Little Miss Sunshine

2006-08-29T14:28:00.000-07:00

Little Miss SunshineBest movie I've seen since V for Vendetta, and the best comedy I've seen in I don't know how long. A truly rare movie. When I saw it at Tower Theatre, the entire audience laughed almost thoughout the film. The characters are genuine, their problems, while a bit outlandish (it's a comedy after all), seem to hit home as the sorts of things we all deal with at one time or another. And at the end of the movie, you just feel great. It has a warm-hearted message without being preachy or sappy. Go see the sleeper hit of the summer.

MeltDown Book Review

2006-08-29T13:52:00.000-07:00

Dry, But ConvincingAn enjoyable read this was not. Informative, certainly. The author endlessly dissects example after example of the exaggeration and distortion of climage change both in the media and in the scientific community. Eventually, it's gets pretty monotonous and I had to skip ahead to the end where the main thesis of the book is presented (not the best place for it).
If you're looking for plenty of evidence to help deal with your fear-mongering tree huggin' friends, then this book is for you. If you're looking for an engaging read (that also credibly questions the global warming hype), then check out Plows, Plagues and Petroleum (which I blogged about here).

Visiting The Mormon Temple

2006-08-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

LDS Here I ComeJust Kidding. I've been fascinated my Mormonism for a long time. Probably because of all the secrecy surrounding it, and some of the very odd beliefs they hold (even the ones they'll admit to are pretty out there). So when a new Mormon temple opened in my very own Sacramento, I had to take the opportunity to see the inside before it was dedicated and forever closed to the general public.

I couldn't believe what an enormous operation this was. First, you had to get tickets well in advance (though they were free). Then, when you get there, they've got more security guards/guides than all the sporting events, museums and national monuments I've been to combined.

We start the tour in a separate building much like the recreation/office area of any mainstream chruch. We are shown a short video describing the significance of the temple and then are told that while there are lots of very nice places to sit in the temple...we will not be sitting. While it was not stated, I got the clear impression that I'd better not even try it.

Then we are led over to the temple where we have to don little white booties to protect the carpets. And then we enter. I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting, but what I saw wasn't it. There is not one large central meeting place like you have in a cathedral or large church. It was basically lots of small rooms, each with a specific purpose. The first room we entered was the baptismal room, impressive only for the small baptismal pool sitting atop a massive white marble statue of twelve life-size oxen. From there, we were taken to a changing room, where temple visitors would change out of their Sunday best and into their white temple garments—basically a typical locker room. From there we entered what looked like a small movie theater without a screen. The walls were painted with a large mural of the surrounding California landscape. This was apparently a teaching room (like, Sunday school, though the temple is closed on Sundays). We then entered one of the sealing rooms. This is where spouses are sealed to each other and children are sealed to their parents. With the exception of the locker room, this had to be the most unremarkable of the rooms. Literally no bigger than a small bedroom, it consisted of a place to kneel in the center, some chairs around the edge and two large mirrors on opposite walls. From there, we entered another small movie theater-like room, though this one was decorated in white everything. At the front was a small lecturn behind which the wall was completley covered with a thick white stage-type curtain (no word on what was behind the curtain). And finally, we entered the Celestial room. This is supposed the represent the Mormon's vision of heaven on earth. Before entering we were told of it's most holy nature and instructed not to speak when inside. What struck me about the Celestial Room was it's rather unremarkableness. Granted, it was elegantly appointed. Bright white walls and ceilings, gold inlay, a gorgeous crystal chandelier and very nice furniture. I think the furniture was the oddest part of the room. While everything was very elegant, I thought this must be what the lobby of the White House looks like or any number of mansion parlors. While the tour guide told us this room was reserved for meditation, the furniture was arranged in little grouping as if to encourgage chit chat.

And that's it. I suspect there was more to the temple we were not shown. From the baptismal room, it was clear there was another floor below the main level which we didn't see and I'm still curious as to what was behind that curtain.

One last curious note is the security surrouding the place. The very large plot of land seemed to be surrounded by barbed wire fencing visible on the drive up to the temple, though not from the temple itself. And during the tour, there were guides at every corner ensuring you didn't take a misstep into the wrong doorway.

Whatever goes on in there, it was well worth the visit.

Drooling Over Books

2006-08-28T15:10:00.000-07:00

Drooling Over Books I can't even tell what these books are and I'm salivating. What is it about these collections that inspires such awe? Maybe it's the idea that in one place is everything you could ever want to know--all of human knowledge right at your fingertips. And all you have to do...is read. Amazing--can't wait to buy the book. Hat tip: kottke

Stumbling on Happiness

2006-08-28T14:20:00.000-07:00

Highly RecommendNo, I didn't just come upon this book perusing the self-help section of the local Barnes & Noble. (There's just something a little too pathetic about that entire section--too much psychobabble drivel, not enough empirical fact. Then again, what amount of psychobabble drivel isn't too much?) I saw an add for the book in The New York Times Magazine and saw that Both Steven Levitt and Malcolm Gladwell had written very nice blurbs. That's enough for me--I immediately headed to the bookstore (where it was foolishly displayed amid lots of psychobabbly drivel when it clearly belonged either in psychology or science (and no, they're not the same).

Anyway, I didn't let it's unfortunate mingling with the riff raff deter me. It was an excellent book full of insight into the human mind. It's not a book about how to be happy, but a book about the inner workings of our brains. Specifically, why we're so bad at determining our own state of mind and imagining how we will feel in the future. Turns out, much of the problem is that the brain is so good at other things--like making stuff up to fill in for lost memory and make us feel like we live in the best of all possible worlds.

The book is filled with tons of hard empirical science (always a plus), but is not dry. In fact, Gilbert in an engaging and often quite funny writer. Actually, he's a professor of psychology at Harvard who happens to have written a book.

Bottom line: am I a happier person for reading the book? Well, yes and no. Yes, I very much enjoyed the book and I learned a lot--and that always makes me happy. No, I don't now have the secret code to never ending happiness. But I am better prepared to catch my mind when it tries to con me into doing and thinking things I'll later regret. I highly recommend it.

Signing Statements

2006-07-24T12:09:00.000-07:00

Signing StatementsThis CNN story reports that the ABA president has issued a statement saying King George's use of signing statements erode our democrcacy.

Bush has had more than 800 signing statement challenges, compared with about 600 signing statements combined for all other presidents (italics added)

Wow! That's quite a jump. One might even call that unusual. But wait:

Noel J. Francisco, a former Bush administration attorney who practices law in Washington, said the president is doing nothing unusual or inappropriate.

Oh, well if you say so.

Your Right To Be A Bigot

2006-07-12T06:34:00.000-07:00

You Have A Right To Be A BigotI came across this news clip in the Sacramento Bee this morning. Apparently the Sea Scouts don't admit boys who are gay or who don't believe in God. And because they're hateful bigots, they've been denied free access to the Berkeley Marina. And now they want the Supreme Court to step in and ensure their constitutional right to free stuff.

Here's my take (if it wasn't already clear from my recap above): The constitution bars the government from making your hate a crime. You can and have established a group centered on the ideals of hate and intolerance. Congrats—I'm sure Jesus would be proud. You do not have a constitutional right to free shit though. Just as you may decide that your manhood is threatened by others' sexual preference, the government may decide that bigotry is bad for society. As such, it is in their interests to implement policies that attempt to squash it. Now they can't keep you from thinking hateful thoughts, but they don't have to reward you for them either. The government shouldn't even have to give you access to the Marina at all, let alone free access. Isn't discrimination grand?

Goodbye

2006-06-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

GoodbyeMy grandfather on my father's side who has been ill for some time finally passed away on Monday. His obituary from the Johnston Funeral Home is here:

OBITUARY NEW BERLIN, NY-THOMAS F. HANLEY; Thomas F. Hanley, 82 of New Berlin, NY died Monday June 5, 2006 at the New York State veterans home in Oxford, NY. He was born in Flushing, NY on September 28, 1923 the son of Thomas F. Hanley and Lillian (Griffin) Hanley. He married Dorothy Still on July 20, 1946 at St. Andrews Roman Catholic church in Flushing, Long Island. The would have celebrated 60 years of marriage this July. Tom Served his country during World War II in the United States Army having been in the European theater of operations. He was employed as a Cost estimator at BF Goodrich of Norwich, NY until his retirement. He was a very devoted member of St Theresa’s Roman Catholic Church of New Berlin, NY. Tom loved his wife of 60 years with a kind heart and a tenderness that came through his ten children. He taught us all to be God Fearing and with the Lord in our hearts all things are possible. Tom enjoyed his woodworking shop and found great peace in making special treasures for his family and friends to enjoy. For those of us who had the pleasure of really knowing what a wonderful man, husband, father and friend he was, we are blessed. He is survived by his wife Dorothy L. Hanley, His children, Kathy G. Sausen of Florida, Thomas F. Hanley III of California, John C. Hanley of New Berlin, NY, Jeanne L. Whitman of Virginia, Donna M. Curtis of Greene, NY, Stephen P. Hanley of Norwich, NY, Carolynn Fitzgerald of Sherburne, NY, Sue A. Barney of Morris, NY , Moura K. Hanley of New Berlin, NY as well as 20 grandchildren and 16 Great Grandchildren. Tom was predeceased by a daughter Marianne C. Hanley who died in 1984. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, June 7 , 2006 at the Johnston Funeral Home in Morris, NY from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9:00 pm.The Rosary service will beheld at 7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday , June 8, at 11:00 am at the St. Theresa’s Roman Catholic Church in New Berlin with the Rev Francis Case officiating. Committal services with military honors and burial will follow in Hillington Cemetery in Morris, NY. Online condolences may be sent to www.johnstonfh.com

Seattle Here I Come

2006-06-05T17:03:00.000-07:00

Seattle Here I ComeOK, this time I have a decent excuse for my lapse in blogging. I just returned from 9 days in Seattle. The first 7 were for work—the 2006 American Society of Mass Spectrometry conference and the last two days a friend and I just enjoyed the city. Seattle may just be my new favorite place. Absolutely gorgeouse. We lucked out and had wonderful weather and my god, the food was spectactular. The Copper River Sockeye salmon at Cutter Bayhouse was phenomenal and the dry aged ribeye at Tulio's was the best steak I've ever had. The crusie up to San Juan Island was some of the most beautiful country I've ever seen. I'm in awe and I'm moving first chance I get. Anyway, lots and lots of pictures on the way.

2006-05-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

One Step Closer To JusticeJust when you thought the world had gone to hell in a handbasket, you read this.

Skilling was found guilty on 19 counts of conspiracy, fraud, false statements and insider trading. He was found not guilty on eight counts of insider trading.

Lay was found guilty on all six counts of conspiracy and fraud. In a separate bench trial, Judge Sim Lake ruled Lay was guilty of four counts of fraud and false statements.

Both Lay and Skilling could face 20 to 30 years in prison, legal experts say.

A co-worker and I were actually talking about this just yesterday. She was mentioning that prison just didn't seem like the right punishment for these two. They're not really threats to society and prison isn't going to return all the money they stole from innocent people's retirements. But what else can we do? Furthermore, one could argue that they are a threat to society. Maybe not a violent threat, but what's to stop them from committing more white collar crimes. Personally, I hope they rot in prison for 30 years.

Honest? Don't Be Ridiculous

2006-05-24T13:42:00.000-07:00

Honest? Don't Be RidiculousA simple request from Andrew Sullivan:

I wish anti-medical marijuana advocates would be honest and simply say: we oppose this medicine because it might give people pleasure as well as helping them. Then we'd at least be able to have an honest debate.

Well, duh

2006-05-22T23:06:00.000-07:00

Well, duhAt seven years old, Braxton Bilbrey has become the youngest person to swim from Alcatraz to San Francisco's Aquatic Park. Upon reaching the shore, one reporter asked him what was the hardest part. His reply:

The swimming.

Good answer Braxton.

Dear Blogosphere

2006-05-22T20:32:00.000-07:00

Dear BlogosphereHey Paul has an ethical question for you. Consider the situation of two coworkers. For the sake of anonymity, let's call them my mother and Amy. Long ago my mother did something to wrong or severely annoy Amy, though she has no idea what this travesty was. Ever since then, Amy can't stand even the sight of my mother. She will not willingly converse, wave hello, anything. According to my mother, Amy's disgust and discomfort are apparent in her facial expressions. Alas, they still work at the same place and from time to time they are forced into one anothers' company. For instance, there may be a meeting they both must attend. They may both show up early and have to wait for the remainder. Now Amy, left to her own devices would never be the one to start a conversation or even initiate friendly hellos. My mother however, just can't help herself. She has to say hello. Ask how Amy is doing, etc. She does this knowing full well how much Amy hates having to make small talk with her. But my mother find joy in torturing this woman. So she pushes further and ask how her son is doing or what her weekends plans are. Anything to force Amy to chitchat, knowing she can't get up and leave as there's a meeting about to start. My mother even laughed as she described the woman's discomfort at having to engage in conversation with her.

Hey Paul contends this is tormenting Amy. Bear in mind, Hey Paul thinks Amy is whiny little bitch (even though we've never met) and Hey Paul finds it exceedingly hilarious that his oh-so-holy mother find such joy in tormenting this woman. However, my mother insists she's just being polite by making chitchat. Hey Paul counters that while it might be polite to simply nod hello, it is sadistic to push the conversation further knowing full well how much discomfort the other is in. My mother has no real interest in Amy's weekend plans or in her son's latest goings on, she just enjoys watching Amy squirm. That's sadistic. Funny, yes. Polite, no.

Your input would be greatly appreciated.

From dictionary.com:
torment v. 2. To agitate or upset greatly. 3. To annoy, pester, or harass.

sa·dism n. 2. The deriving of pleasure, or the tendency to derive pleasure, from cruelty.

Eating My Brain

2006-05-18T20:39:00.000-07:00

Eating My BrainAfter reading Evan's post about living the pre-industrial life, I was reminded of TV Turnoff week last month, which I actually participated in. I like to think of myself as a reasonably intelligent person with rather intellectual interests. I love to read (mostly non-fiction), I love learing just about anything. I try to follow politics, I try to stay abreast of what's going on in the world and I'd much rather discuss the major issues of the day than J Lo's latest fling. And I can't imagine the people on The Tonight Show's Jaywalking segments can actually be that out of touch. All that being said, I know I watch too much TV. I have my favorite shows, The West Wing, House, American Idol (don't knock it Evan), etc. Problem is, I find myself watching far more than my favorites. I will sit in front of the TV flipping away the hours when I know full well there's nothing on worth watching.

And so I decided a week without TV would be good for me. I hoped that I might finally be hit with the deep realization that I'd be so much more productive without that evil boob tube. And I did it. A whole week. Well almost. The weekdays were a breeze. I'd come home, eat dinner and then I'd read. I got so much reading done that week it was awesome. But then the weekend came and I just couldn't wait any longer. I caved and resumed flipping.

Interestingly, the following week I found myself wondering about an episode of House I hadn't seen. I knew I'd seen the previews for it (it looked really good). But I'd just watched the next episode and it wasn't it? What happened, I wondered? Did I forget to watch House and not realize it 'till now? I think it took me at least a day to remember that it aired during TV Turnoff week. I'd completely forgotten. It was as if that week without TV had never happened. My mind buried the experience from my memory. Oh well, I'll catch it on the DVD.

Anyway, I am getting better about being more aware of my TV viewing habits—trying to limit myself to those shows I know I like and avoid channel surfing when I know there's nothing on.

But what if I miss something good? What then?

In a related bit of technology blather, I too thought I'd be one of the last holdouts to get a cell phone. But I finally caved last August. In my defense though, it is my only phone—I don't have a land line. And lately I leave it in the car or at home and leave the the ringer off. So I don't think I should completely lose my Luddite creds just yet.

There Is No Justice

2006-05-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

There Is No JusticeIn all my years at Penn State, I was disappointed with all but one season of the Center for the Performing Arts. As a big musical theater buff, I always anticipated the next season hoping it'd be the year they finally brought in the big ones. But with the exception of a couple shows—Miss Saigon, Rent and Fosse—it was always small-time things I had little interest in seeing. But now that I live on the other side of the continent, I see they are bringing in nothing but the best this coming season; The Producers, Aida, Cats, and Hairspray. And multiple performances of each. There's just no justice in the world.

I had hoped that moving to Sacramento would mean I'd find more theater, but that remains to be seen. I saw the first act of Bombay Dreams last night—too boring to bother staying for the second act. Oh well, maybe next season—we're getting Movin' Out and The Light in the Piazza.

If you haven't done anything wrong...

2006-05-12T10:29:00.000-07:00

If you haven't done anything wrong...then you shouldn't be treated as a potential terrorist.

If I had to choose between a one in ten thousand chance that I or someone I love might be killed by a terrorist in any given year or living in a police state, I'd take the former. The goal of terrorism is to make us live in fear and to destroy our way of life. If we become a nation of secret laws, pervasive surveillance, and midnight justice (Guantanamo and secret prisons, anybody?), then the terrorists have "won", even if there is never another attack on US soil.

Loren Davidson (CNN.com)

For some reason, I used to be of the mind set that if you haven't done anything wrong, you've got nothing to hide. I don't know exactly when or why I changed my mind, but I couldn't agree more with Loren.

I'm Baaaack

2006-05-09T17:46:00.000-07:00

I'm BaaaaackOk, well not really, but I will be soon. I promise. In fact, I've got tons to write about. I've just got to find some time to sit down and gather my thoughts. Soon. In the meantime, savor this little bit of wisdom for Michael Berman, author of Living Large:

It is not the goal of life to be thin. The goal of life is to be happy.

Who Will Be Our Hitler?

2006-04-30T08:06:00.000-07:00

Who Will Be Our Hitler?From Mark Edmundson's essay, Freud and the Fundamentalist Urge in this morning's The New York Times Magazine:

When a relatively free nation is threatened by terrorists with totatlitarian goals, as ours now is, there is, of course, an urge to come together and fight back by any means necessary. But the danger is that in fighting back we will become just as fierce, monolithic and, in the worst sense, as unified as our foes. We will seek our own great man; we will be blind to his foibles; we will stop questioning, stop arguing. When that happens, a war of fundamentalisms has begun, and of that war there can be no victor.

McKinney's The Fool

2006-04-23T22:43:00.000-07:00

McKinney's The FoolCNN has a video clip, in which Cynthia McKinney is seen at a local press conference where she's confronted with several questions she doesn't want to deal with. After she leaves, she doesn't realize her microphone is still on and calls one of her aides a fool. After realizing her mic is on, she returns to the press room and informs the media that anything their audio recorded while she wasn't seated in front of them is to be considered "off the record" and that they are not to use it. They do. Who's the fool now? Note: I couldn't find the direct link, but it's in CNN free video library.

When To Kill

2006-04-21T22:48:00.000-07:00

When To KillFor most of my life I've supported the death penalty. I have no sympathy for killers and I see no moral contradiction in executing the most violent criminals. However, I have recently adopted the view that the death penalty just doesn't work. It's hard to justify the exorbitant cost and time expenditure of prosecuting a death penalty case and all the appeals that inevitably follow. Furthermore, the proportion of minorities on death row relative to their proportion among violent criminals suggest the death penalty is not applied fairly. If you have money, you can either get off or get a seriously reduced sentence—otherwise, you're scered. And finally, the very real possibility of executing an innocent person, especially in the face of the back log of unprocessed DNA evidence is just too big a risk. Life in prison is surely punishment enough for most violent criminals.

But then every once in a while, you come across people like this—teenagers who broke into the home of a 90 year old woman and beat her to death. All for a few bucks. Prison is too good a life for these monsters. When I hear news like this, I can't help but wish we weren't so civilized—because these two should be subjected to a very long, painful and public torturing before their executions.

Global Warming Reality Check

2006-04-20T21:38:00.000-07:00

Global Warming Reality CheckIf you watch any news at all, I'm sure you're aware that the world is going overheat in the next decade and we're all going to die. And all becuase you won't buy a hybrid and you forgot to recylce that soda can the other day. Or maybe not. Either way, with all the doom and gloom we've been hearing lately about global warming, I decided it was time I did some actual reading in this area.

As a scientist, I already understood the process of burning fossil fuels and the greenhouse effect, but I wanted a deeper understanding of climate science. What effect have humans had? Is it really all that bad? If so, is there anything we can do about it? Etc. To get at these answers, a collegue whose boyfriend is an aspiring meteorologist lent me Plows, Plagues and Petroleum by William Ruddiman. This is not a politcal book. It doesn't try to make any moral arguments about public policy. It simply addresses the science of climate. How climates naturally change over time and how humans have affected climate changes in recent history.

If you listen to the media and the talking heads, global warming is the result of the industrial revolution. It's all the fossil fuels we're burning. All the SUVs we're driving. If it weren't for us glutonous Americans, the civilized world would still be living in the Garden of Eden. However, the truth is far less dramatic—though far more interesting.

Humans began affecting the Earth's climate over 8,000 years ago with the dawn of agriculture. Farming requires open land. So humans began cutting down trees. And the more they farmed, the more the population grew and the more land they had to clear for more farming. And so on. Less forested land means less carbon dioxide uptapke from the atmosphere. (Carbon dioxide is the major greenhouse gas responsible for global warming.) Also, the flooding of large areas in Asia for growing rice produces lots of methane (another greenhouse gas). More rice fields equals more people equals more rice fields.

And all this has certainly affected the climate. In fact, research shows that it has almost certainly prevented the occurance of an ice age. If you think a Noreaster is bad, try living in an ice age.

Has the industrial revolution accelerated the rise in greenhouse gases? Yes, dramatically. Have we seen the full affects of this? No. Do we know what those affects will be? No. You see, the Earth is rather slow to respond to atmospheric changes. Furthermore, different aspects of the Earth's climate (ocean temperatures, land temperatures, ice sheet thickness, etc) respond at different rates and so it's very difficult, if not impossible, to tell what the future holds. Will things warm up a bit? Certainly.

Should we be concerned? Maybe, but here's the catch. There probably isn't anything we can do that's going to have any impact. It takes hundreds, or thousands, or millions of years, (depending on the specific cycle we're talking about) for changes to become apparent. Trading in your SUV for a hybird may be good for air quality and your wallet, but it's not going to stave off global warming. Not even if we all bought hybrids.

Another thing you often won't read about in the media coverage is that the Earth undergoes constant climate cycles on the order of thousands and millions of years due to the rotation and tilt of the Earth relative to the Sun. And the climate conditions we're seeing now and are likely to see in the future aren't any hotter or colder than the Earth would naturally experience. We have certainly affected the timing of these changes, but not the magnitude.

If you want to know more about global warming and the affect humans have had on the climate, I highly recommend Ruddiman's book. It's somewhat technical, but the interested reader shouldn't have any trouble understanding the authors explanations. It's particulary interesting how Ruddiman ties together seemingly disparate areas of research to make a coherent point. Areas such as anthropology, medievil history, oceanography, climatology, etc. And he does it all without preaching or castigating the reader.

I Have To Have This

2006-04-19T15:18:00.000-07:00

I Have To Have ThisOne of the central tenets of my life philosophy is: You can never have too big a television. Ergo, I must get this new 103 inch plasma TV from Panasonic. Yeah, yeah, I know plasmas burn out quickly, but it's 103 inches!!! 103 inches!!!

Quick! Hide Your Civil Liberties

2006-04-19T14:35:00.000-07:00

Quick! Hide Your Civil Liberties!The president is coming! This story in the Sacramento Bee reports that King George will be visiting California this week. In fact the Fuel Cell Initiative he be stopping at to ridicule is actually just down the street from where I work—literally like two buildings away. I doubt we'll get to see him—but maybe wait in traffic for his motorcade to pass.

McClellan Flees

2006-04-19T07:03:00.000-07:00

McClellan FleesOccasionally I'll catch one of Scott McClellan's White House Press Briefings on C-SPAN and I always get the impression that he's on the verge of tears. Maybe it's just the way his voice sounds. Maybe Rove has a cattle prod up his ass. Or maybe it's just the constant humiliation from having to peddle the president's blatant lies. Whatever the reason, it will be interesting to see who replaces him.

The Messiah Has Arrived

2006-04-18T16:56:00.000-07:00

The Messiah Has ArrivedAnd her name is Suri.

Bridge Demolition

2006-04-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

Bridge DemolitionCNN.com has a cool photo series at the demolition of the Jamestown Bridge in Rhode Island. This is my collage of the best ones.