The surreal life

Before Adam and Eve were expelled from paradise, museum visitors are told, all of the dinosaurs were peaceable plant-eaters. The evidence is found in Genesis 1:30, where God gives "green herb" to every creature to eat. There were no predators. T-Rex had such big teeth, the museum explains, so it could open coconuts. Only after Adam and Eve sinned and were cast out of paradise did the dinosaurs start to eat flesh. And Adam's sin is a key component of the belief system, for in the eyes of many creationists, in order for Jesus' death to be meaningful it had to atone for Adam's first sin.

Creation "Science" Is the Christian Right's Trojan Horse Against Reason (Alternet)

The first part of the paragraph is just plain funny. I kept trying to conjure up the image of one of the deadliest predators to ever roam the planet using its teeth to open coconuts!! Maybe some folks were using the "green herb" when they formulated this theory.

The latter part of the paragraph, on the other hand is disturbing. It indicates a mindset of the religious right to dodge accountability for any wrongs committed. (I'd rather not use the word sin here because different religions have different sins, which may have been due to the unique cultural umbrellas under which they thrived). Logically speaking, if a person believes that Jesus has died for mankind's sins (imagined or real), then a believer is safe in the knowledge that his sins have already been atoned for. It would be hard to conceive of such a person who would actually be accountable for his life.

W serves as a prime example. The "decider" can do no wrong, he can commit no crime, and when he does, he is safe in the "knowledge" that he is one of the "chosen" ones and he is only responsible to the creator whose son has already died on the cross to pay for his sins.

Moreover, these people live in an imaginary world, one created by them, and they expect everyone else to inhabit it, too. Safe in their manufactured reality, cocooned by religion, they cast moral judgments on everyone else. Yet they have never paused to examine their own behavior, the immorality of their actions, the killings perpetrated in their name.

I believe there is a certain demographic that is actually watching the havoc in the ME with glee as it confirms to something that the Bible said. To allow such people to take control of what is arguably the most powerful country in the world is not only a recipe for disaster, it is a poor reflection on moderates and liberals

The short proof of evolution

Before Adam and Eve were expelled from paradise, museum visitors are told, all of the dinosaurs were peaceable plant-eaters. The evidence is found in Genesis 1:30, where God gives "green herb" to every creature to eat. There were no predators. T-Rex had such big teeth, the museum explains, so it could open coconuts. Only after Adam and Eve sinned and were cast out of paradise did the dinosaurs start to eat flesh. And Adam's sin is a key component of the belief system, for in the eyes of many creationists, in order for Jesus' death to be meaningful it had to atone for Adam's first sin.


See the links!

This is so funny!!Whats next- the theory of intelligent falling?? Wait, I think the Onion had a theory on that. Anyways, I am just going to post a link here that will take the interested reader to a short article titled "The short proof of evolution."

http://www.mala.bc.ca/~johnstoi/essays/courtenay1.htm

Inhofe - the hoe!!

Regarding:

Sen. Inhofe Trying to Freeze Out Al Gore's "Live Earth" Concert -- A BuzzFlash News

It's all about money," he told Fox News. "I mean, what would happen to the Weather Channel's ratings if all the sudden people weren't scared anymore?"

Now isn't that ironic- Inhofe telling the Faux noise machine that the Weather Channel is trying to scare people into believing that Global Warming is real. Perhaps he forgot that manipulating people's behaviors by scaring the crap out of them is Faux news forte!! Here are a couple of examples:

Fox's "Business" Anchors Try to Scare Their Audience: The Alberto Gonzales "Witch Hunt" Could Cause a Stock Market "Sell Off"

Cavuto turned to Buttner, Fox's "senior business correspondent," who elaborated:

Yeah, I think this could be a big problem. Look first there's the drama of Gonzales stays, or he goes. Whatever happens Bush will be painted as either weak or as intransigent. Next we have these hearings that could go on forever and just drag out everything. Bottom line, the Dems are not, are just not satisfied with the legislative body. They want to erode the presidential powers and I think that's a real danger and that's what Wall Street is focused on.

http://www.newshounds.us/2007/03/20/foxs_business_anchors_try_to_scare_their_audience_the_alberto_gonzales_witch_hunt_could_cause_a_stock_market_sell_off.php

and

FOX News rearranging weekend line-up to air terror film, scare jaded voters to polls

FOX News Channel has announced that it will air "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West,"

"(a) frightening new documentary by filmmaker Wayne Kopping ....

What he found, is something FOX News believes every American should know."

The film, which is actually a year old, will be shown four (4) times this weekend to help Republicans scare their base to the polls. Along with plenty of footage accusing Democrats of not getting it (an O'Reilly favorite) and Dick Morris' sickening new anti-Democrat smear commercial, FOX is pulling out all the stops to support their party.

http://www.newshounds.us/2006/11/02/fox_news_rearranging_weekend_lineup_to_air_terror_film_scare_jaded_voters_to_polls.php

Or how about this:

FOX News Scare: Terrorists Driving School Buses

Fox News continues their "scare Ameri... Fox News continues their "scare America" campaign with "news" of terrorists who drive school buses. (more) (less) ...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Pr6r-m0WQ - 91k

The list is endless. And did someone mention money? Hmmm.

The BBC reported that Fox News saw its profits double during the Iraq conflict. By some reports, at the height of the conflict they enjoyed as much as a 300% increase in viewership, averaging 3.3 million viewers daily.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_News

So it is about the moolah for Fox News. Interesting enough:

In August 2006 figures were released showing that in the period August 2005 - August 2006, Fox news lost 28% of its prime-time viewers and 7% of its total day viewers. This loss in viewers occurred during a time where rival networks CNN and MSNBC gained 35% and 26% respectively in their total day viewers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_News

I guess there is only so much crap that people are willing to take. Now coming to Sen.Inhofe voting record:

Vote 42: H R 2: This bill would increase the federal minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour over two years.- Did not vote

Vote 118: H R 4297: Extended the Bush tax cuts.- Yes

Vote 363: On the Motion: Cut nearly $40 billion from the federal budget by imposing substantial changes on welfare, child support and student lending programs.- Yes

Vote 213: H R 6: Offered tax breaks and incentives in what supporters said was an effort to spur oil and gas companies to provide innovative wasy to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil, conserve resources and reduce pollution.- Yes

Vote 44: S 256: Made it harder for people to erase debt by declaring bankruptcy.- Yes

Vote 9: S 5: Sought to curtail the ability of plaintiffs to file class-action lawsuits against corporations by making cases that were filed in multiple states the responsibility of federal courts.

Ok, he is obviously pro big business, but he doesn't seem to like the little guy. And he believes that despite record profits oil companies deserve tax breaks to reduce pollution, never mind the fact that the same companies fund scientists/ quacks who say global warming does not exist, and that humans have no hand in the climate change.

Vote 249: H R 2863: Supported a ban on cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of detainees held by U.S. forces and to requires the military to follow the Army field manual for interrogations.- No.

Vote 163: On the Cloture Motion: A Senate cloture vote on the gay marriage amendment failed, effectively killing the amendment.- Yes

I guess the Senator also believes in torture, and does not like gay people. Thats about par the course for most Republican senators.

Sen. Inhofe Trying to Freeze Out Al Gore's "Live Earth" Concert

"Then again, maybe Inhofe is right that global warming is all a vast conspiracy orchestrated by... the Weather Channel. "It's all about money," he told Fox News. "I mean, what would happen to the Weather Channel's ratings if all the sudden people weren't scared anymore?"

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/alerts/214

Isnt that ironic? I believe his last comment is applicable to the Faux noise channel. Faux has used fear to generate ratings and keep viewers in a zombie like fearful state. Here are a few examples:




FOX News Channel has announced that it will air "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West,"

"(a) frightening new documentary by filmmaker Wayne Kopping ....

What he found, is something FOX News believes every American should know."

The film, which is actually a year old, will be shown four (4) times this weekend to help Republicans scare their base to the polls. Along with plenty of footage accusing Democrats of not getting it (an O'Reilly favorite) and Dick Morris' sickening new anti-Democrat smear commercial, FOX is pulling out all the stops to support their party.

http://www.newshounds.us/2006/11/02/fox_news_rearranging_weekend_lineup_to_air_terror_film_scare_jaded_voters_to_polls.php

Cavuto turned to Buttner, Fox's "senior business correspondent," who elaborated:

Yeah, I think this could be a big problem. Look first there's the drama of Gonzales stays, or he goes. Whatever happens Bush will be painted as either weak or as intransigent. Next we have these hearings that could go on forever and just drag out everything. Bottom line, the Dems are not, are just not satisfied with the legislative body. They want to erode the presidential powers and I think that's a real danger and that's what Wall Street is focused on.

http://www.newshounds.us/2007/03/20/foxs_business_anchors_try_to_scare_their_audience_the_alberto_gonzales_witch_hunt_could_cause_a_stock_market_sell_off.php

I could go on, but there really is no point. Keep the voters scared, make sure they tune in to fox all the time, crank it up around the election cycle, support the republicans, spread lies and propaganda, parade closet conservatives as liberals to try and project an image of being balanced to the gullible. Sorry Fox, but I do believe your viewership is down and people are not buying the vitriol anymore!!

The case for teaching the Bible- and effectively dumbing down public schools

After reading "The case for teaching the Bible" in the Time Magazine, I was reminded of the following quote:

"It is no measure of good health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society." -- Jiddu Krishnamurti

The author of the article says that the Bible is the most influential book ever written. I think it can be safely said that a couple of billion Muslims would reject that statement. He also mentions that it is not possible to be educated and have not read the Bible. That's easily refuted - I have a Masters degree, and I have never read the Bible. One could go on about the article, but I am short on time, so let's leave it at this.

1984, Hillary Clinton

The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power. . . . Power is not a means; it is an end . . . not power over things, but over men. . . . In our world there will be no emotions except fear, rage, triumph, and self-abasement. . . . There will be no loyalty, except loyalty toward the Party. There will be no love, except the love of Big Brother. . . . Always, at every moment, there will be the thrill of victory, the sensation of trampling on an enemy who is helpless. If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face forever.
George Orwell (1903 - 1950)
Source: 1984, 1948

The Real March Madness

The following quote was attributed to Sen. Kay Bailey on C&L:

"We are fighting for the freedom of our children more than any war we have ever been in."

Really? Assuming that the above is true, at what cost to the Iraqis?

"The number of deaths in Iraq since the start of the conflict could be as high as one million, according to new figures released on the war's fourth anniversary."

Iraq war dead 'could be as high as one million' (24dash.com)
and ...

Zina Abdulhameed Rajab, a Shiite doctor, is so alarmed by the children she has treated who were injured on their way to school that she is keeping her 2- and 4-year-old sons at home. Her mother has moved in to help babysit.

"Whenever I watch my kids laughing or playing, I can't be so happy from inside my heart because I don't know what the next day will bring," she said. "I really regret the birth of my kids here."

and ...

Even some of those whose sect suffered under Saddam recall that time fondly. "I miss those good old days," said Jasim Mahmood Rajab, 60, a Shiite businessman. "I had my work and my social life, and now -- nothing. I'm ready to pay everything I have to sit at Abo Nowas Street and eat fish at night."

Iraqis see hope drain away (USA Today)

So now Iraqis are not human? I suppose in her little world, they're just expendable roaches or something. Remember how they found roaches at Walter Reed? And how they keep saying that we are fighting them over there so that we don't have to fight them over here? Maybe those Iraqis morphed into roaches and are already here. F**king ridiculous!!

Oh, and don't forget that so far this invasion has cost us $409,691,941,404, and 3,216 soldiers, and more in tangible measures. W has made such a mess of there that people actually remember Saddam fondly. Now that's one hell of a feat to accomplish.

----------------------

I think it is fitting I come back to add this given her recent statement regarding staying in the race:

To invoke death
when someone's life
is about to blossom
reveals much

it goes beyond cynicism
a misunderstood reference
tiredness
or any other excuse

it is said in eastern mythology
that enlightenment
requires spiritual death
and rebirth

but that is not
what this woman had in mind
physical death
is an entirely different matter

is it not possible
that this person
is hanging on to a corpse
which may be referred to as status quo

and the price
to continue these games
would require the death
of an individual

who if successful
could lead to the spiritual rebirth
of politics
as we know it

but this rebirth
would cause the political death
of a woman
who places her ambition over all

this tangled web
staggers the mind
to her supporters
i ask

what is the endgame
when will the goal posts stop shifting
what outcome would you like
do you see not the rovian playbook

what blinds you
the hope for power
from one who is known not to share
and cries crocodile tears

what ideal are you fighting for
more death in the middle east
people of power staying entrenched
in their current position

do you not see
a lack of principle
do you not observe
depravity akin to a vulture's

or have you decided to be blind
the same way
those who support the incumbent are
sans logic, empathy, ethics and compassion

you're willing for the country to pay a price
any price
to ensure that you could look back
and say i told you so

to a nation
torn apart and ruined
by a third term
of a president

you claim to hate

Liberal Intolerance - An Oxymoron- There They Go Again!! Reframing the Debate

I came across the following when I was reading an article on Romney, his faith, and Fox News posted at Media Matters.

"But going back to the Mormon question," Barnes said, "his [Romney's] problem is liberal intolerance which has a great deal in this country. It's not bigotry on the part of conservatives."

Liberal Intolerance...hmmm.

Also mentioned in the same article is Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network test for a cult:

"One test of a cult is that it often does not strictly teach that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God who Himself is God manifested in the flesh."

Now who is intolerant? Liberals? As for the conjugation of the word liberal with intolerance seems to be an oxymoron. The word liberal by its very definition means open-minded or tolerant, esp. free of or not bound by traditional or conventional ideas, values, etc. Unfortunately, the same word has almost become synonomus with flaky, pseudo, shallow, wimpy, unpatriotic etc., and that is due to the fact that liberals have allowed conservatives to literally hijack the meaning of the word itself. Instead of meaning something positive, cons use it to ridicule people who identify themselves to be the same. S**t, if it were up them, we would still be in the dark ages. Those morons would probably mandate going to church, or do something equally or even more insipid. And yet, for most part, they get away with it because we let them. Let's not forget that we communicate using words, and when a word has been hijacked, demonized to such an extent that it is used in the exact opposite context of its meaning, then we have a problem. A serious problem.

I think it's time that we start reframing the manner in which we address issues. Take slogans like "cut and run", "stay the course", "stay and pay" (good job there Dems, you may just have won the stupidity contest, which is not a small feat, considering that the "leader" of the other group is W - a man whose IQ is probably lower than the boiling point of water in degrees centigrade) - they are nothing but an empty concatenation of words, but have a certain picture, an image associated with them. Now just because W is a retard, and unable to speak coherent English, does not mean that we have to dumb down our discussions to ensure that he and his band of merry men grasp what we are talking about. I mean if English is really to be made the national language of the United States, how about learning it first!

By reframing I mean the first thing that Democrats need to do is the next time some pundit utters something like "we are fighting them there so we don't have to fight them here", call it like it is - stupid, retarded. It may not be the nicest thing to do, and maybe it trivializes the next person, but I think that's far better than letting our soldiers getting blown up in Iraq. Next, speak the truth about the war. Every aspect of this illegal, immoral occupation is so devastating that there is no need to spin any part of it. Finally, play the blame game, because it is not a game - it's called accountability. Assign blame exactly where it lies - at the doorstep of every individual who was for this war. I understand that there are millions of people who have reversed themselves on this, and now are against the war, but they are not our elected representatives, and ultimately are only responsible to themselves. Everyone who was a part of the propaganda machine responsible for this war needs to have their feet held to the fire. Expect and offer solutions. Viable ones. Let's talk timetables - they do not embolden the enemy. As long as American soldiers are in Iraq, they will be targets. If the discourse of this country can be changed, if the debate can be framed the way it should be, we would have taken the first step in bringing our troops back home.

I'll leave you with something I came across on the net. Readers should keep in mind that the following is not directed at them, and if I may suggest, direct it towards those who still support George:

"I cannot believe how incredibly stupid you are. I mean rock-hard stupid. Dehydrated-rock-hard stupid. Stupid so stupid that it goes way beyond the stupid we know into a whole different dimension of stupid. You are trans-stupid stupid. Meta-stupid. Stupid collapsed on itself so far that even the neutrons have collapsed. Stupid gotten so dense that no intellect can escape. Singularity stupid. Blazing hot mid-day sun on Mercury stupid. You emit more stupid in one second than our entire galaxy emits in a year. Quasar stupid. Your writing has to be a troll. Nothing in our universe can really be this stupid. Perhaps this is some primordial fragment from the original big bang of stupid. Some pure essence of a stupid so uncontaminated by anything else as to be beyond the laws of physics that we know. I'm sorry. I can't go on. This is an epiphany of stupid for me. After this, you may not hear from me again for a while. I don't have enough strength left to deride your ignorant questions and half baked comments about unimportant trivia, or any of the rest of this drivel. Duh."

http://www.richardlowe.com/ultimateflame/