I write about a wide subject matter base on this blog (science, philosophy, politics, sports etc) but I am of the impression now that Worldoreason needs a new focus. While I will continue posting on the areas mentioned above - I have made the decision to include more items dealing with my chosen vocation: teaching. One issue that pains me in particular, as an educator, is the dumbing down of the curriculum - I posted a commentary in this regards on my sister blog worldohistory earlier this month. The article postede below is taken from USA today. It is disturbing to read but does an important question: To what extent have we sacrificed meaningful education for the paper product of a high school diploma and university entrance?
Colleges spend billions on remedial classes to prep freshmen
It's a tough lesson for millions of students just now arriving on campus: even if you have a high school diploma, you may not be ready for college.
In fact, a new study calculates, one-third of American college students have to enroll in remedial classes. The bill to colleges and taxpayers for trying to bring them up to speed on material they were supposed to learn in high school comes to between $2.3 billion and $2.9 billion annually.
"That is a very large cost, but there is an additional cost and that's the cost to the students," said former Colorado governor Roy Romer, chair of the group Strong American Schools, which is issuing the report "Diploma to Nowhere" on Monday. "These students come out of high school really misled. They think they're prepared. They got a 3.0 and got through the curriculum they needed to get admitted, but they find what they learned wasn't adequate."
Christina Jeronimo was an "A" student in high school English, but was placed in a remedial course when she arrived at Long Beach City College in California. The course was valuable in some ways but frustrating and time-consuming. Now in her third year of community college, she'd hoped to transfer to UCLA by now.
Like many college students, she wishes she'd been worked a little harder in high school.
"There's a gap," said Jeronimo, who hopes to study psychology. "The demands of the high school teachers aren't as great as the demands for college. Sometimes they just baby us."
The problem of colleges devoting huge amounts of time and money to remediation isn't new, though its scale and cost has been difficult to measure. The latest report gives somewhat larger estimates than some previous studies, though it is not out of line with trends suggested in others, said Hunter Boylan, an expert at Appalachian State University in North Carolina, who was not connected with the report.
Analyzing federal data, the report estimates 43% of community college students require remediation, as do 29% of students at public four-year universities, with higher numbers in some places. For instance, four in five Oklahoma community college students need remedial coursework, and three in five in the giant California State university system need help in English, math or both.
The cost per student runs to as much as $2,000 per student in community colleges and $2,500 in four-year universities.
Jeronimo was hardly alone at Long Beach City College, where 95% of students need remedial coursework, according to President Eloy Oakley.
"It's the number one issue to Long Beach City College and the entire California community college system, easily," Oakley said. "I don't believe that the public in general really understands the magnitude of the problem."
Simply dumping the remedial students into large classes isn't necessarily expensive for colleges, although it's also not very effective. But smaller classes typically require more attention and money. Some states have refused to fund remedial courses at the university level. In California, Oakley said, state funding for community colleges favors credit courses. Remediation (or "basic skills" as he and many educators call it) is typically noncredit.
Educators are working to improve remedial courses. Long Beach is developing "success areas" that give extra time and attention to students. Community colleges in Tennessee have completely redesigned giant introductory and remedial courses where many students were struggling.
Boylan says colleges are learning such courses must also teach study skills to be effective.
Indeed, students often report that the hardest aspect of the transition to college isn't the material. It's the new rhythm and structure of college-level work.
"One of the things that they don't teach in high school is time management," Jeronimo said.
Eric Paris, who earned a 3.8 high school GPA but is finding his freshman year at Virginia Tech much more challenging, says the big difference is "it's all on my own." In class, "it's up to me if I want to sit on Facebook or pay attention." He, too, wishes he'd taken more challenging high school classes but thought a high GPA was more important.
For the rest go to the Source:
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
In the News XLVIII
The Democrats are not to blame for the current credit crisis.........yeah right!!
Read about Jimmy Carter's role in this mess and how George Bush warned the do-nothing Congress 17 times about the problem in 2008 alone.
Thabo Mbeki ousted
He failed to respond rapidly to an escalating HIV crisis, gave political support to the dictator Robert Mugabe and was more renowned for his globe trotting than for tackling the out of control crime in South Africa...I say good riddance...the only problem is his soon-to be replacement Jacob Zuma seems likely to be a lot worse. The feelings in South Africa appear to be of unease.
The Boston Herald is not sold on Obama's economic plan
I would love to know where Barry O has buried the funding for a surge in Afghanistan.
The Latest Polls in the US Presidential Ultra Ultra Marathon
Obama leads by 1% nationally but McCain looks to be slightly strong in Florida and Ohio. Obama has the edge in Pennsylvania and Virginia (surprise........ surprise)
The results are very close. Lets hope it does not come down to the theatrics of 1960 or 2000.
Tzipi Livni is Israel's next prime minister but she is no Golda Meir
What worries me is that she seems to want to continue with the self-destructive policies of her predecessor Ehud Olmert.
British PM Gordon Brown's biggest problem seems to be his own party.
The following is an evaluation of his economic policy.
Tories still ahead in Canadian Election polling
The Conservatives sit at 39%, the Grits at 28%, NDP at 18% and the Greens at 7% (underrated) according to a Nanos research poll. While the lead over the Liberals is extensive this may not translate into a majority in the Commons.
Read about Jimmy Carter's role in this mess and how George Bush warned the do-nothing Congress 17 times about the problem in 2008 alone.
Thabo Mbeki ousted
He failed to respond rapidly to an escalating HIV crisis, gave political support to the dictator Robert Mugabe and was more renowned for his globe trotting than for tackling the out of control crime in South Africa...I say good riddance...the only problem is his soon-to be replacement Jacob Zuma seems likely to be a lot worse. The feelings in South Africa appear to be of unease.
The Boston Herald is not sold on Obama's economic plan
I would love to know where Barry O has buried the funding for a surge in Afghanistan.
The Latest Polls in the US Presidential Ultra Ultra Marathon
Obama leads by 1% nationally but McCain looks to be slightly strong in Florida and Ohio. Obama has the edge in Pennsylvania and Virginia (surprise........ surprise)
The results are very close. Lets hope it does not come down to the theatrics of 1960 or 2000.
Tzipi Livni is Israel's next prime minister but she is no Golda Meir
What worries me is that she seems to want to continue with the self-destructive policies of her predecessor Ehud Olmert.
British PM Gordon Brown's biggest problem seems to be his own party.
The following is an evaluation of his economic policy.
Tories still ahead in Canadian Election polling
The Conservatives sit at 39%, the Grits at 28%, NDP at 18% and the Greens at 7% (underrated) according to a Nanos research poll. While the lead over the Liberals is extensive this may not translate into a majority in the Commons.
Friday, September 19, 2008
26 Signs that the World is insane
1. Millions of Dollars are paid for the Brangalina baby pictures.
2. Jimmy Carter wins a Nobel Peace Prize
3. Academics call for a boycott of the only democracy in the Middle East - Israel. Non-democracies escape criticism from the same voices (who claim to be champions of human rights). 4. Champions of the failed ideologies of Marxist-Leninism (and its history of violent repression) are still considered progressives by many in the MSM.
5. Baseball players earn more money in a week than teachers earn in a year.
6. 'Canadian Left' stakes moral high ground position in arguing for abandonment of Afghanistan to the Taliban.
7. Ideology is substituted for education in many humanities and social science courses in the US and Canada. So much for university being a mind opening experience.
8. Archbishop of Canterbury makes favourable comments with respect to allowing Sharia Law in the UK.
9. Jesse Jackson jokingly claims that he will cut Barack Obama's nuts off...the Left makes barely a whisper.
10. One of the most left wing politician in the senate, Barack Obama, is re marketed as a moderate and half the US buys it.
11. Socialist politicians championing high corporate taxes without acknowledging the obvious reality that such taxes cause mass layoffs and re locations.
12. People continue to buy SUVs.
13. Universities champion free thought but then institute speech codes.
14. Lindsey Lohan is granted so much print space in the press.
15. John McCain nominates a small town rookie for his VP choice after criticizing Obama's lack of experience.
16. Schools respond to falling academic standards by dropping education requirements even further.
17. Medical students accept students with absolutely no Science background into their programs (McMaster U for example)
18. Large portions of Euclidean Geometry - which teaches students reason and logic - is axed from the Ontario Math Curriculum.
19. Ontario Liberals break umpteen different election promises but still win re-election.
20. Reality TV shows dominates the tube.
21. The Olympic Games are granted to Beijing in the first place - so much for human rights meaning anything.
22. Some Politicians not understanding the need for a large border fence between the US and Mexico.
23. The ACLU backing up the politics of Discrimination - aka Affirmative Action.
24. Political Figures acting as if we have infinite resources
25. The existence of a troop of deniers who cannot see the obvious dictatorship ambitions of Hugo Chavez.
26. Noam Chomsky, who has a well documented history of twisting the truth, being taken as a serious scholar on global politics.
2. Jimmy Carter wins a Nobel Peace Prize
3. Academics call for a boycott of the only democracy in the Middle East - Israel. Non-democracies escape criticism from the same voices (who claim to be champions of human rights). 4. Champions of the failed ideologies of Marxist-Leninism (and its history of violent repression) are still considered progressives by many in the MSM.
5. Baseball players earn more money in a week than teachers earn in a year.
6. 'Canadian Left' stakes moral high ground position in arguing for abandonment of Afghanistan to the Taliban.
7. Ideology is substituted for education in many humanities and social science courses in the US and Canada. So much for university being a mind opening experience.
8. Archbishop of Canterbury makes favourable comments with respect to allowing Sharia Law in the UK.
9. Jesse Jackson jokingly claims that he will cut Barack Obama's nuts off...the Left makes barely a whisper.
10. One of the most left wing politician in the senate, Barack Obama, is re marketed as a moderate and half the US buys it.
11. Socialist politicians championing high corporate taxes without acknowledging the obvious reality that such taxes cause mass layoffs and re locations.
12. People continue to buy SUVs.
13. Universities champion free thought but then institute speech codes.
14. Lindsey Lohan is granted so much print space in the press.
15. John McCain nominates a small town rookie for his VP choice after criticizing Obama's lack of experience.
16. Schools respond to falling academic standards by dropping education requirements even further.
17. Medical students accept students with absolutely no Science background into their programs (McMaster U for example)
18. Large portions of Euclidean Geometry - which teaches students reason and logic - is axed from the Ontario Math Curriculum.
19. Ontario Liberals break umpteen different election promises but still win re-election.
20. Reality TV shows dominates the tube.
21. The Olympic Games are granted to Beijing in the first place - so much for human rights meaning anything.
22. Some Politicians not understanding the need for a large border fence between the US and Mexico.
23. The ACLU backing up the politics of Discrimination - aka Affirmative Action.
24. Political Figures acting as if we have infinite resources
25. The existence of a troop of deniers who cannot see the obvious dictatorship ambitions of Hugo Chavez.
26. Noam Chomsky, who has a well documented history of twisting the truth, being taken as a serious scholar on global politics.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
In the News XLVII
The Chavez Madness continues
Venezuela moved closer to Russia as Putin and co. offered Hugo Chavez the chance to travel on one of their bombers. This seems like another sign that Cold War II is approaching. Meanwhile the War of words continue between the US and Venezuela. The Americans have accused the Latin American strongman of aiding rebels in Colombia. I have said this before Chavez is a menace (and a boor ) who will soon impoverish his country. It would be in the best interests of Venezuela if the populace rose up to remove this dictator.
McCain still leading Obama
According to the latest Associated-GfK poll the Arizona senator is ahead by 4%. Its still very close. I myself am favouring McCain, so I will take whatever good news, comes my way, but this will very easily turn if Obama, as expected, shines in the debates (although come to think of it - Al Gore was seen as the great debater but Dubya more than held his own against him in 2000). Mean while Sarah Palin, having come through successfully with a tough interview last week, showed that she too has fight in going after Obama.
Canadian Liberals are in big trouble for Oct 14th election
Not since the John Turner era has the party looked so weak. . Even uber-Leftist
Jack Layton of the NDP has given up on them and is focusing his attack ads on the Conservatives. Meanwhile Elizabeth May of the Canadian Green Party continues to insert her foot in her mouth.
Gordon Brown facing potential banana skin in Scotland.
The problems for Britain's Prime Minister seem to be multiplying but can David Cameron and the 'rejuvenated' Tory's take advantage of this?
Sarkozy and Medvedev agree on Russian troop pull back timetable
It may be good for now but who knows what Putin will say tomorrow...Medvedev is a figure head anyway...
From the Horse's mouth - The Iran/Hamas connection. Ahmadinejad: Iran will support Hamas until collapse of Israel
More proof of the global outreach of Islamofascism.
Politics of corruption continue in South Africa
Mbeki has been less than a stellar leader and it seems as those Jacob Zuma is not much of an improvement. 'Cry the Beloved Country' is a truly a phrase that will start resonating soon.
Venezuela moved closer to Russia as Putin and co. offered Hugo Chavez the chance to travel on one of their bombers. This seems like another sign that Cold War II is approaching. Meanwhile the War of words continue between the US and Venezuela. The Americans have accused the Latin American strongman of aiding rebels in Colombia. I have said this before Chavez is a menace (and a boor ) who will soon impoverish his country. It would be in the best interests of Venezuela if the populace rose up to remove this dictator.
McCain still leading Obama
According to the latest Associated-GfK poll the Arizona senator is ahead by 4%. Its still very close. I myself am favouring McCain, so I will take whatever good news, comes my way, but this will very easily turn if Obama, as expected, shines in the debates (although come to think of it - Al Gore was seen as the great debater but Dubya more than held his own against him in 2000). Mean while Sarah Palin, having come through successfully with a tough interview last week, showed that she too has fight in going after Obama.
Canadian Liberals are in big trouble for Oct 14th election
Not since the John Turner era has the party looked so weak. . Even uber-Leftist
Jack Layton of the NDP has given up on them and is focusing his attack ads on the Conservatives. Meanwhile Elizabeth May of the Canadian Green Party continues to insert her foot in her mouth.
Gordon Brown facing potential banana skin in Scotland.
The problems for Britain's Prime Minister seem to be multiplying but can David Cameron and the 'rejuvenated' Tory's take advantage of this?
Sarkozy and Medvedev agree on Russian troop pull back timetable
It may be good for now but who knows what Putin will say tomorrow...Medvedev is a figure head anyway...
From the Horse's mouth - The Iran/Hamas connection. Ahmadinejad: Iran will support Hamas until collapse of Israel
More proof of the global outreach of Islamofascism.
Politics of corruption continue in South Africa
Mbeki has been less than a stellar leader and it seems as those Jacob Zuma is not much of an improvement. 'Cry the Beloved Country' is a truly a phrase that will start resonating soon.
Its been a great sporting week
Roger Federer wins his 5th US Open in a row and his 13th Grand Slam overall. This puts him one behind Pete Sampras in the all-time Grand slam winners category. As a long time Federer fan I am delighted with the Swiss star's performance - especially since he lost his No.1 world ranking earlier this year to arch-nemesis, Rafa Nadal.
Liverpool, the team I cheer for in the English Premier Football league, pulled off a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Manchester United at Anfield. It was the Red's first win over the Devils in front of the Kop (in a league match) since 2001. The Scousers were full value for the victory which came courtesy of a Ryan Babel strike in the second half. Liverpool are currently sitting second in the league - tied with Chelsea on points - but behind on goal difference. What was important about this win as well is that the Reds did it without superstar Fernando Torres, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury.
England moved a step closer to World Cup Football qualification by defeating Croatia 4-1 in Zagreb. Arsenal's wunderkind, Theo Walcott, chimed in with a hat-trick to complete a sweet night of revenge (The Croats played a major role in preventing England from qualifying for Euro 2008). I was completely blown away by this performance which occured only four days after a lacklustre win (2-0) against minnows Andorra.
Liverpool, the team I cheer for in the English Premier Football league, pulled off a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Manchester United at Anfield. It was the Red's first win over the Devils in front of the Kop (in a league match) since 2001. The Scousers were full value for the victory which came courtesy of a Ryan Babel strike in the second half. Liverpool are currently sitting second in the league - tied with Chelsea on points - but behind on goal difference. What was important about this win as well is that the Reds did it without superstar Fernando Torres, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury.
England moved a step closer to World Cup Football qualification by defeating Croatia 4-1 in Zagreb. Arsenal's wunderkind, Theo Walcott, chimed in with a hat-trick to complete a sweet night of revenge (The Croats played a major role in preventing England from qualifying for Euro 2008). I was completely blown away by this performance which occured only four days after a lacklustre win (2-0) against minnows Andorra.
Monday, September 08, 2008
In the News XLVI
David Frum sees Sarah Palin as an irresponsible choice...I tend to agree with him for the reasons outlined in this article.
Nevertheless at least one poll has McCain ahead of Obama. I don't believe that overall polls mean anything in this election........its the Electoral College that counts and I have yet to see one projection as of late where Obama trails McCain.
Asif Ali Zardari takes over the presidency of Pakistan. He faces a poor economy, riddled with corruption as well as an insurgency in the West. He is a poor choice, who has a history of indiscretions himself, and will likely butt heads with Pakistan's other powerbroker (and fellow scheister) Nawaz Sharif. Expect more fireworks in the future....
Taken at face value this article certainly implies that Tehran is spoiling for a fight with Israel Lets hope that cooler heads prevail. Congrads though to Nicholas Sarkozy for finally realizing who France's real friend is. Makes a change from the reptilian like policies of his predecessor, Jacques Chirac.
Is there a way to punish Putin for his Georgian belligerency? If there is...don't bank on an economic approach.
The Large Hadron Collider (the world's largest particle accelerator) is scheduled to open this week. While lovers of Physics, such as myself are ecstatic, not everyone shares the same sentiment. Will we be at hand to witness a Big Bang II as the linked article suggests? Perhaps. I would settle for the Higgs Boson Particle myself.
The Chavez dictatorship march continues..... Russia and Venezuela will now hold joint military exercises. In further news Chavez moved closer to nationalizing Venezuela's Fuel industry.
Canadian PM Stephen Harper loses weight and calls for an election on October 14th. Stephane Dion, does what most Liberals do when cornered..... invoke the culture of fear and the hidden agenda. I still can't believe that the Grits chose this out-of-touch egghead as their leader. Talk about a compromise.
I had to laugh at this one....now the Independent believes that only Tony Blair (yes that same Tony Blair who was vilified over Iraq) can save Labour from defeat. Tough luck 'Boring Gordon.'
Mbeki continues to spin wheels in Zimbabwe with more accomodation of the rogue Mugabe.
Condoleeza Rice to kiss and make up with Gadhafi.... I guess it pays to say that "I am sorry."
Reminds me of a murderer who accepts Christ as his saviour on his death bed and receives absolution for his crimes. I wonder if the US will push the Libyan strongman to introduce democratic reforms in his country. I wouldn't bet on it.
Nevertheless at least one poll has McCain ahead of Obama. I don't believe that overall polls mean anything in this election........its the Electoral College that counts and I have yet to see one projection as of late where Obama trails McCain.
Asif Ali Zardari takes over the presidency of Pakistan. He faces a poor economy, riddled with corruption as well as an insurgency in the West. He is a poor choice, who has a history of indiscretions himself, and will likely butt heads with Pakistan's other powerbroker (and fellow scheister) Nawaz Sharif. Expect more fireworks in the future....
Taken at face value this article certainly implies that Tehran is spoiling for a fight with Israel Lets hope that cooler heads prevail. Congrads though to Nicholas Sarkozy for finally realizing who France's real friend is. Makes a change from the reptilian like policies of his predecessor, Jacques Chirac.
Is there a way to punish Putin for his Georgian belligerency? If there is...don't bank on an economic approach.
The Large Hadron Collider (the world's largest particle accelerator) is scheduled to open this week. While lovers of Physics, such as myself are ecstatic, not everyone shares the same sentiment. Will we be at hand to witness a Big Bang II as the linked article suggests? Perhaps. I would settle for the Higgs Boson Particle myself.
The Chavez dictatorship march continues..... Russia and Venezuela will now hold joint military exercises. In further news Chavez moved closer to nationalizing Venezuela's Fuel industry.
Canadian PM Stephen Harper loses weight and calls for an election on October 14th. Stephane Dion, does what most Liberals do when cornered..... invoke the culture of fear and the hidden agenda. I still can't believe that the Grits chose this out-of-touch egghead as their leader. Talk about a compromise.
I had to laugh at this one....now the Independent believes that only Tony Blair (yes that same Tony Blair who was vilified over Iraq) can save Labour from defeat. Tough luck 'Boring Gordon.'
Mbeki continues to spin wheels in Zimbabwe with more accomodation of the rogue Mugabe.
Condoleeza Rice to kiss and make up with Gadhafi.... I guess it pays to say that "I am sorry."
Reminds me of a murderer who accepts Christ as his saviour on his death bed and receives absolution for his crimes. I wonder if the US will push the Libyan strongman to introduce democratic reforms in his country. I wouldn't bet on it.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
On the environment
I am starting to warm up to the Obama-Biden ticket as of late. Maybe its election fatigue but I suspect it has to do with the more more forward thinking environmental position that the Dems are championing. I still see McCain as the superior leader but I am disturbed that the Republican position on this issue falls far short of the optimum. Offshore drilling, while appealing in the short run, will negatively impact the environment and detract from the much needed effort to promote better alternatives with respect to wind, solar and geo-thermal power.
While McCain initially stood in opposition against offshore drilling - the oil corporation influence within his party (and the fact that his Veep-to-be Sarah Pallin is all gung-ho about the idea) indicates that it is very likely that he will his shift position. Future generations will face the consequence of these actions.
The US has shown throughout its history that it is a nation with a creative zest. I believe that it has within it the brain power to foster workable solutions to critical issues, of which the environment is no exception. Illogical fear mongering linking pro-environmental solutions to economic degradation are short-sighted and detract from this drive.
The Republican party - the same big tent that spawned the Nation's First Green President Theodore Roosevelt - has unfortunately been enveloped by this philosophy. If the maverick side of McCain breaks this stranglehold I will applaud his efforts. However one cannot live on a hope one must act on a plan and Obama-Biden is clearly ahead in this department.
While McCain initially stood in opposition against offshore drilling - the oil corporation influence within his party (and the fact that his Veep-to-be Sarah Pallin is all gung-ho about the idea) indicates that it is very likely that he will his shift position. Future generations will face the consequence of these actions.
The US has shown throughout its history that it is a nation with a creative zest. I believe that it has within it the brain power to foster workable solutions to critical issues, of which the environment is no exception. Illogical fear mongering linking pro-environmental solutions to economic degradation are short-sighted and detract from this drive.
The Republican party - the same big tent that spawned the Nation's First Green President Theodore Roosevelt - has unfortunately been enveloped by this philosophy. If the maverick side of McCain breaks this stranglehold I will applaud his efforts. However one cannot live on a hope one must act on a plan and Obama-Biden is clearly ahead in this department.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
How to spot a Legal Profession Series on TV
1. The divorce lawyer is having an affair with his/her client.
2. The junior lawyer is horribly humiliated in their first case which was clearly over their head to begin with (although I hear this is a truism of the profession).
3. Criminal lawyers will largely have innocent clients.
4. There will be at least one bizarre precedent setting case per episode.
5. Trials always start terribly for the lawyer until the Private Investigator unveils some crucial evidence.
6. The evidence is always released five minutes before the shows end.
7. Clients always hide vital information from the lawyer which the lawyer will find out on their own.
8. There is never any discussion of fees or retainers.
9. Guilty clients will cause an ethical dilemma that will split the firm opinion-wise for at the episode.
10. All lawyers are eloquent.
11. There is always a legal assistant studying at night to be a lawyer.
12. Every will is controversial.
13. Cases are decided immediately after crucial evidence is provided. The origin of this evidence is never really discussed.
14. Everybody drawing up a will is a wealthy eccentric.
15. The Judge will call the lawyers into chambers at least once an episode.
16. Justice is not blind to money. The truth always wins.
17. Legal assistants are either young and pretty or extreme battle axes. There are no 'regular person' type legal assistants.
18. A judge is found to be corrupt at least once every three episodes.
19. A lawyer will resort to court room theatrics at least once every two episodes.
20. A lawyer will find the exact legal precedent they are looking for to win the case with minimal research.
21. Court Cases never drag on…Yeah right!!
2. The junior lawyer is horribly humiliated in their first case which was clearly over their head to begin with (although I hear this is a truism of the profession).
3. Criminal lawyers will largely have innocent clients.
4. There will be at least one bizarre precedent setting case per episode.
5. Trials always start terribly for the lawyer until the Private Investigator unveils some crucial evidence.
6. The evidence is always released five minutes before the shows end.
7. Clients always hide vital information from the lawyer which the lawyer will find out on their own.
8. There is never any discussion of fees or retainers.
9. Guilty clients will cause an ethical dilemma that will split the firm opinion-wise for at the episode.
10. All lawyers are eloquent.
11. There is always a legal assistant studying at night to be a lawyer.
12. Every will is controversial.
13. Cases are decided immediately after crucial evidence is provided. The origin of this evidence is never really discussed.
14. Everybody drawing up a will is a wealthy eccentric.
15. The Judge will call the lawyers into chambers at least once an episode.
16. Justice is not blind to money. The truth always wins.
17. Legal assistants are either young and pretty or extreme battle axes. There are no 'regular person' type legal assistants.
18. A judge is found to be corrupt at least once every three episodes.
19. A lawyer will resort to court room theatrics at least once every two episodes.
20. A lawyer will find the exact legal precedent they are looking for to win the case with minimal research.
21. Court Cases never drag on…Yeah right!!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The Democrat Party Convention
Democratic National Convention Order of Speakers
5:00-6:00 pm – Jimmy Carter
Topic: Lets give Appeasement a Chance (sung to John Lennon tract)
6:00pm-7:00pm – John Edwards
Topic: Standing erect behind my principles
7:00pm -8:00pm – Jesse Jackson
Topic: I am not bitter and if you don’t believe me
I will cut your nut off. (In place of Al Sharpton’s speech
"Do you smell that? It's a race riot, son. Nothing else on the world smells like that. I love the smell of a race riot in the morning. Actually I love the smell of a race riot in the afternoon too.Come to think of it…….)
8:00pm 9:00pm – Arrival of Al Gore’s personal jet followed by speech
Topic: Do as I say not as I do.
(Snacks to Follow)
(Drinks sponsored by the Kennedys)
Concurrent workshops (8:00-9:00pm)
Workshop A: 150 ways of using the word ‘change’ by the Obama Speech writers collective (Thesaurus not required).
Workshop B: Milking the ‘Blame-it-on-Bush-Line’. Can we get another four years out of this? Harry Reid/Nancy Pelosi
Workshop C: Why I plan to go to Cuba for my brain surgery? By Michael Moore
Workshop D: George Soros plays tribute to Obama - background song ‘Puppet on a String’ Sandie Shaw
Workshop E: Some deep thoughts on global politics by Maggie Gyllenhaal/Sean Penn and Scarlet Johansson
(10 minutes only)
9:00 pm -10:00pm – Hilary Clinton: Reciting I could have been a contender from On the Waterfront.
10:00pm – Barack Obama arrives in a chariot to the lyrics of Jesus Christ Superstar
10:00-11:00pm – Barack Obama’s speech.
Special Lottery: Guess the number of references to JFK?
11:00 pm - 'God', one of the few outstanding celebrities, officially endorses Obama (pending ACLU objection). Apparently it was Oprah who swung him over.
Conference Ends. Exit Strategies initialized (except for Hilary who doesn't have one).
5:00-6:00 pm – Jimmy Carter
Topic: Lets give Appeasement a Chance (sung to John Lennon tract)
6:00pm-7:00pm – John Edwards
Topic: Standing erect behind my principles
7:00pm -8:00pm – Jesse Jackson
Topic: I am not bitter and if you don’t believe me
I will cut your nut off. (In place of Al Sharpton’s speech
"Do you smell that? It's a race riot, son. Nothing else on the world smells like that. I love the smell of a race riot in the morning. Actually I love the smell of a race riot in the afternoon too.Come to think of it…….)
8:00pm 9:00pm – Arrival of Al Gore’s personal jet followed by speech
Topic: Do as I say not as I do.
(Snacks to Follow)
(Drinks sponsored by the Kennedys)
Concurrent workshops (8:00-9:00pm)
Workshop A: 150 ways of using the word ‘change’ by the Obama Speech writers collective (Thesaurus not required).
Workshop B: Milking the ‘Blame-it-on-Bush-Line’. Can we get another four years out of this? Harry Reid/Nancy Pelosi
Workshop C: Why I plan to go to Cuba for my brain surgery? By Michael Moore
Workshop D: George Soros plays tribute to Obama - background song ‘Puppet on a String’ Sandie Shaw
Workshop E: Some deep thoughts on global politics by Maggie Gyllenhaal/Sean Penn and Scarlet Johansson
(10 minutes only)
9:00 pm -10:00pm – Hilary Clinton: Reciting I could have been a contender from On the Waterfront.
10:00pm – Barack Obama arrives in a chariot to the lyrics of Jesus Christ Superstar
10:00-11:00pm – Barack Obama’s speech.
Special Lottery: Guess the number of references to JFK?
11:00 pm - 'God', one of the few outstanding celebrities, officially endorses Obama (pending ACLU objection). Apparently it was Oprah who swung him over.
Conference Ends. Exit Strategies initialized (except for Hilary who doesn't have one).
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
9 Irrational arguments
The following is a list of arguments that are often expressed however each one can be very easily demolished.
1. We had a hot summer last year this proves that global warming has occur ed.
DEBUNKING: Evidence for Global Warming is based on long term models - one summer corresponding to one data point is meaningless.
2. The root cause of Anti-Western Islamist terrorism is poverty.
DEBUNKING: Many of the poorest countries in the world (particularly in Africa, South America and Asia) have no record of terrorism whatsoever. Also many Islamist terrorists and sympathizers are products of affluent societies: Saudi Arabia, UK, Gulf States etc. The terrorism is ideologically driven.
3. We should expect a different standard of behaviour from Islamists as there religion is over 600 years younger than Christianity.
DEBUNKING: The Islamist form of behaviour is a regression to a pre-enlightenment stage that is a characteristic of Wahhabihism and its ilk. Also other forms of Islam, such as the Ismaili version, have standards of behaviour that are in line with modern western thought. Supporting the regression notion is the observation that the predominant Islam of the Middle Age dynasties - the Umayyads and Abbasids - was substantially more progressive than the Islamist ideology of today.
4. Obama represents a force of change and therefore we should vote for him.
DEBUNKING: Perhaps he does but change in and of itself is meaningless. Remember deterioration is a change as well. This slogan carries no weight.
5. Leftists are progressives
DEBUNKING: Depends on what you define by progressive: Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot were all leftists. I doubt whether their victims would consider them progressive.
6. Western Civilization is a failure.
DEBUBKING: Western Civilization is successful. It has unsurpassed levels of scientific, cultural and artistic achievement. Also its populations enjoy the highest standards of living, the best healthcare, the greatest freedom of speech, the most individual rights in comparison to any other civilization on this planet.
7. Michael Moore reports what the Mainstream media fails to cover.
DEBUNKING: Well in that case he should do a documentary on the success of the Iraqi surge and the defeat of Al Qaeda in Iraq. Moore reports what fits his selective bias, makes commercial sense and advances his own political agenda. He is a propaganda machine not a documentary maker.
8. There is evidence of design in nature
DEBUNKING: There is evidence of organization in nature. Organization need not require a specific designer. Systems can gravitate to what appears to be an organized state as a result of various intrinsic factors - chaos mathematics has demonstrated this.
9. Intelligent Design is scientific
DEBUNKING: Since it cannot be falsified through any conceivable experiment Intelligent Design is not a valid scientific theory.
1. We had a hot summer last year this proves that global warming has occur ed.
DEBUNKING: Evidence for Global Warming is based on long term models - one summer corresponding to one data point is meaningless.
2. The root cause of Anti-Western Islamist terrorism is poverty.
DEBUNKING: Many of the poorest countries in the world (particularly in Africa, South America and Asia) have no record of terrorism whatsoever. Also many Islamist terrorists and sympathizers are products of affluent societies: Saudi Arabia, UK, Gulf States etc. The terrorism is ideologically driven.
3. We should expect a different standard of behaviour from Islamists as there religion is over 600 years younger than Christianity.
DEBUNKING: The Islamist form of behaviour is a regression to a pre-enlightenment stage that is a characteristic of Wahhabihism and its ilk. Also other forms of Islam, such as the Ismaili version, have standards of behaviour that are in line with modern western thought. Supporting the regression notion is the observation that the predominant Islam of the Middle Age dynasties - the Umayyads and Abbasids - was substantially more progressive than the Islamist ideology of today.
4. Obama represents a force of change and therefore we should vote for him.
DEBUNKING: Perhaps he does but change in and of itself is meaningless. Remember deterioration is a change as well. This slogan carries no weight.
5. Leftists are progressives
DEBUNKING: Depends on what you define by progressive: Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot were all leftists. I doubt whether their victims would consider them progressive.
6. Western Civilization is a failure.
DEBUBKING: Western Civilization is successful. It has unsurpassed levels of scientific, cultural and artistic achievement. Also its populations enjoy the highest standards of living, the best healthcare, the greatest freedom of speech, the most individual rights in comparison to any other civilization on this planet.
7. Michael Moore reports what the Mainstream media fails to cover.
DEBUNKING: Well in that case he should do a documentary on the success of the Iraqi surge and the defeat of Al Qaeda in Iraq. Moore reports what fits his selective bias, makes commercial sense and advances his own political agenda. He is a propaganda machine not a documentary maker.
8. There is evidence of design in nature
DEBUNKING: There is evidence of organization in nature. Organization need not require a specific designer. Systems can gravitate to what appears to be an organized state as a result of various intrinsic factors - chaos mathematics has demonstrated this.
9. Intelligent Design is scientific
DEBUNKING: Since it cannot be falsified through any conceivable experiment Intelligent Design is not a valid scientific theory.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
In the News XLV
Benazir Bhutto's widower to stand for President
Asif Ali Zardari was held in custody on various charges (including murder) from 1997 to 2004 . He was also found guilty by a Swiss court of money laundering in 2003. The fact that this guy is even being considered for the presidency is an insult to the population. For more on the back dealing in Pakistani politics go to the following source. Meanwhile the Islamists are back to their old tricks with a bomb blast that has left over twenty dead.
Obama picks Joe Biden for Veep
He brings the foreign policy experience that Obama so needs. I guess all is for given after this earlier remark from Biden. Talk about selective use of the racism card. Now if a Republican had said this........
More capitulation by Israel
199 Palestinian prisoners to be freed by Monday.
More give, give, give from Olmert and his appeasers. Apparently Israel may receive captured soldier Gilad Shalit in return....lets hope its not in a coffin as was the case a month ago with Hezbollah's two kidnapped Israeli soldiers.
Asif Ali Zardari was held in custody on various charges (including murder) from 1997 to 2004 . He was also found guilty by a Swiss court of money laundering in 2003. The fact that this guy is even being considered for the presidency is an insult to the population. For more on the back dealing in Pakistani politics go to the following source. Meanwhile the Islamists are back to their old tricks with a bomb blast that has left over twenty dead.
Obama picks Joe Biden for Veep
He brings the foreign policy experience that Obama so needs. I guess all is for given after this earlier remark from Biden. Talk about selective use of the racism card. Now if a Republican had said this........
More capitulation by Israel
199 Palestinian prisoners to be freed by Monday.
More give, give, give from Olmert and his appeasers. Apparently Israel may receive captured soldier Gilad Shalit in return....lets hope its not in a coffin as was the case a month ago with Hezbollah's two kidnapped Israeli soldiers.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Trip Down Memory Lane II - Coe and Ovett
As a child of the late 70's and a teen of the 80's I was fortunate to witness the running rivalry of Britain's Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett. Together with countryman Steve Cram (who was still more of the other guy) the three dominated middle distance running during this time period. Coe (now Lord Coe) was the greatest of the three rivals. Here is a list of his achievements:
1979 - Coe sets world record in 800m, 1 mile and 1,500m. He holds all three records simultaneously.
1980 - Wins 1500m at Moscow Olympics and is runner up to Ovett at 800m. Each won each other's speciality at this Olympics.
1980 - Breaks World Record in 1,000m.
1981 - Betters time on 1,000m. New Record will stand for 18 years. Breaks record for the mile twice. Sets time of 1 minute 41.73 seconds for the 800m. This record will stand until 1997 (it was broken by Danish/Kenyan Wilson Kipketer) but still remains as of today as the second fastest time in the history of the 800m.
1982 - Is part of relay team that sets the world record in the 4 x 800m. The record will stand for 24 years.
1984 - Wins silver in the 800m (behind Joaquim Cruz of Brazil) and takes gold in the 1500m at the Los Angeles Olympics.
1986 - Wins 800m at European Championships. Is voted best athlete for the fourth time in his career.
To see Coe's amazing 800m world record run go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0e1yaMIM08
Ovett's achievements should not be scoffed at either.
1976 - Finishes fifth at the Montreal Olympics in the 800m behind legendary Cuban runner,
Alberto 'the horse' Juantorena (who won both the 400m and the 800m that year)
1977 - Wins gold at the IAAF World Championships in the 1500m defeating the favourite New Zealand's, John Walker.
1978 - Takes 1500m Gold at the European Championship. Sets World Record in the 2-mile.
1980 - Wins Gold in Moscow in the 800m but only finishes third in the 1500m. Breaks mile world record and equals Coe's time at 1500m. Breaks world record in 1500,
1981 - Exchanges world records with Coe in the mile - three times in 10 days.
Here is some footage of Cram vs Ovett in their inspiring duel at Crystal Palace in 1983.
ww.youtube.com/watch?v=X87JPlY8TkU
1979 - Coe sets world record in 800m, 1 mile and 1,500m. He holds all three records simultaneously.
1980 - Wins 1500m at Moscow Olympics and is runner up to Ovett at 800m. Each won each other's speciality at this Olympics.
1980 - Breaks World Record in 1,000m.
1981 - Betters time on 1,000m. New Record will stand for 18 years. Breaks record for the mile twice. Sets time of 1 minute 41.73 seconds for the 800m. This record will stand until 1997 (it was broken by Danish/Kenyan Wilson Kipketer) but still remains as of today as the second fastest time in the history of the 800m.
1982 - Is part of relay team that sets the world record in the 4 x 800m. The record will stand for 24 years.
1984 - Wins silver in the 800m (behind Joaquim Cruz of Brazil) and takes gold in the 1500m at the Los Angeles Olympics.
1986 - Wins 800m at European Championships. Is voted best athlete for the fourth time in his career.
To see Coe's amazing 800m world record run go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0e1yaMIM08
Ovett's achievements should not be scoffed at either.
1976 - Finishes fifth at the Montreal Olympics in the 800m behind legendary Cuban runner,
Alberto 'the horse' Juantorena (who won both the 400m and the 800m that year)
1977 - Wins gold at the IAAF World Championships in the 1500m defeating the favourite New Zealand's, John Walker.
1978 - Takes 1500m Gold at the European Championship. Sets World Record in the 2-mile.
1980 - Wins Gold in Moscow in the 800m but only finishes third in the 1500m. Breaks mile world record and equals Coe's time at 1500m. Breaks world record in 1500,
1981 - Exchanges world records with Coe in the mile - three times in 10 days.
Here is some footage of Cram vs Ovett in their inspiring duel at Crystal Palace in 1983.
ww.youtube.com/watch?v=X87JPlY8TkU
Thursday, August 21, 2008
A Quick Guide to Leftist Hatred
Leftism as a political philosophy is very much driven by a pathology of hatreds. While a vast proportion of the hatred is directed against opposing ideologies, much of the hatred arises from an inability to tolerate success in others. John Ray of Dissecting Leftism goes into great detail with respect to this issue in his various blogs.Having debated Leftists on many an occasion (more times than I care to remember) I have a compiled a list of ten hatreds that are notoriously common to the leftist mentality.
1.Hatred of the US: The US is an economic, scientific and culturally successful free market driven country. It also led the fight that ultimately culminated in the defeat of the Soviet Union (a leftist tyrannical regime - and the main horse that leftists backed during the Cold War). Hatred of the US is a very useful mechanism in uniting conflict leftist ideologies. The leftist extension of its hatred of the US carries over to a vile disdain of other US influenced organizations such as the IMF, World Bank and NATO. This was most recently observed in leftist support for Russia’s invasion of the prospective NATO and Western Ally, Georgia.
2. Hatred of Global Capitalism (GC): GC stands in the way of the world wide spread of International Socialism and its variances (Trotskyism, Maoism, Marxism, Eco-fascism etc) which Leftists seek to promote. It is important to note that it is not globalization that leftists detest - their ideologies hinge on a global outlook as well – but in the proliferation of the free market mantra.
3. Hatred of the Nature View Point: Leftists for the most part detest genetic explanations especially in the field of psychometrics, as it undermines the relevant nurture based constructs that they believe can be manipulated to create the respective nirvanas. Such a bias has manifested itself in such leftist dominated academic fields as sociology and psychology.
4. Hatred of Organized Religion: In Leftist thought the organized traditional religions need to 'fade away' or be annihilated (depending on the urgency) so that the collectivist vision predominates. Organized religions also have a nasty habit of undermining leftist totalitarianisms. Nevertheless Leftists will however tolerate organized religion, if it too opposes a greater threat - such as that of the US. Leftist sympathy for Islamism is an outcrop of such thinking (Despite the fact that Islamism and Leftism would ‘rip each other apart’ in a world devoid of the common bogeyman of Classical Liberalism ).
5. Hatred of Tradition: Leftism centers on the twin notions of destruction and re-building. Tradition represents that which has to be destroyed as it is the product of the ‘old order’ (which in leftist eyes can never be ‘good’). Leftists, from the early days of the French Revolution Jacobins have been hostile to tradition seeking to replace existing structures and establishments with those of their own making.
6. Hatred of Standards: Standards throw a wrench into the workings of leftism and its adherence to moral and intellectual relativism. Standards also provide additional support for the ‘old order’ and validate the tradition that leftists wish to dismantle. It is no wonder that Post-Modernist thinking with its emphasis on anti-establishment rhetoric is so popular with leftists in university settings.
7. Hatred of Individuality: Leftists are ultimately opposed to individuality, although they will tolerate it in the short run as bait for the creative class. Individuality contradicts the group think creed inherent in leftist ideology. In the West this sentiment is evident in education where it manifests itself in an opposition toward home/private schooling and voucher systems.
Elsewhere where leftist regimes have power this extend to state control and censorship of the arts and literature (remember the bourgeoisie art hysteria of the old Soviet Union). With this in mind it is puzzling how so many in the arts continue to back leftist anti-market causes when historically the free market system has provided the best platform for the promotion of artistic self-expression.
8. Hatred of Debate/Counter Thought: Leftists are quick to complain about their voices being marginalized, yet once power is achieved are quick to negate free speech. Leftist championing of university speech codes, human rights tribunals and ‘offense directed’ litigation are testament to this reality in the west.
9. Hatred of Corporations: Leftists see corporations as the face of capitalism and it would therefore suffice, in the Leftist mindset, to loathe them on this aspect alone. However corporations exist at the brunt of this hatred (regardless of their nature of service) as they represent an external challenge to the statism that so many leftists crave. Furthermore like the US, Israel and the establishment; corporations also provide a useful avenue for hate venting that can be utilized in enhancing the footprint of the revolutionary movement.
10. Hatred of Israel: Israel is a successful country, for the very same reason that the US is, in that it values economic and personal freedom. It is also a reliable ally of the US. Leftism’s extreme hatred of Israel is motivated by an opposition to Judeo-Christian values (suffused in many cases with an unhealthy dose of anti-semitism), the ever present leftist hatred of success in others and a pragmatic need to win allies, this time from within the Arab/Muslim world and the anti-Jewish diaspora.
1.Hatred of the US: The US is an economic, scientific and culturally successful free market driven country. It also led the fight that ultimately culminated in the defeat of the Soviet Union (a leftist tyrannical regime - and the main horse that leftists backed during the Cold War). Hatred of the US is a very useful mechanism in uniting conflict leftist ideologies. The leftist extension of its hatred of the US carries over to a vile disdain of other US influenced organizations such as the IMF, World Bank and NATO. This was most recently observed in leftist support for Russia’s invasion of the prospective NATO and Western Ally, Georgia.
2. Hatred of Global Capitalism (GC): GC stands in the way of the world wide spread of International Socialism and its variances (Trotskyism, Maoism, Marxism, Eco-fascism etc) which Leftists seek to promote. It is important to note that it is not globalization that leftists detest - their ideologies hinge on a global outlook as well – but in the proliferation of the free market mantra.
3. Hatred of the Nature View Point: Leftists for the most part detest genetic explanations especially in the field of psychometrics, as it undermines the relevant nurture based constructs that they believe can be manipulated to create the respective nirvanas. Such a bias has manifested itself in such leftist dominated academic fields as sociology and psychology.
4. Hatred of Organized Religion: In Leftist thought the organized traditional religions need to 'fade away' or be annihilated (depending on the urgency) so that the collectivist vision predominates. Organized religions also have a nasty habit of undermining leftist totalitarianisms. Nevertheless Leftists will however tolerate organized religion, if it too opposes a greater threat - such as that of the US. Leftist sympathy for Islamism is an outcrop of such thinking (Despite the fact that Islamism and Leftism would ‘rip each other apart’ in a world devoid of the common bogeyman of Classical Liberalism ).
5. Hatred of Tradition: Leftism centers on the twin notions of destruction and re-building. Tradition represents that which has to be destroyed as it is the product of the ‘old order’ (which in leftist eyes can never be ‘good’). Leftists, from the early days of the French Revolution Jacobins have been hostile to tradition seeking to replace existing structures and establishments with those of their own making.
6. Hatred of Standards: Standards throw a wrench into the workings of leftism and its adherence to moral and intellectual relativism. Standards also provide additional support for the ‘old order’ and validate the tradition that leftists wish to dismantle. It is no wonder that Post-Modernist thinking with its emphasis on anti-establishment rhetoric is so popular with leftists in university settings.
7. Hatred of Individuality: Leftists are ultimately opposed to individuality, although they will tolerate it in the short run as bait for the creative class. Individuality contradicts the group think creed inherent in leftist ideology. In the West this sentiment is evident in education where it manifests itself in an opposition toward home/private schooling and voucher systems.
Elsewhere where leftist regimes have power this extend to state control and censorship of the arts and literature (remember the bourgeoisie art hysteria of the old Soviet Union). With this in mind it is puzzling how so many in the arts continue to back leftist anti-market causes when historically the free market system has provided the best platform for the promotion of artistic self-expression.
8. Hatred of Debate/Counter Thought: Leftists are quick to complain about their voices being marginalized, yet once power is achieved are quick to negate free speech. Leftist championing of university speech codes, human rights tribunals and ‘offense directed’ litigation are testament to this reality in the west.
9. Hatred of Corporations: Leftists see corporations as the face of capitalism and it would therefore suffice, in the Leftist mindset, to loathe them on this aspect alone. However corporations exist at the brunt of this hatred (regardless of their nature of service) as they represent an external challenge to the statism that so many leftists crave. Furthermore like the US, Israel and the establishment; corporations also provide a useful avenue for hate venting that can be utilized in enhancing the footprint of the revolutionary movement.
10. Hatred of Israel: Israel is a successful country, for the very same reason that the US is, in that it values economic and personal freedom. It is also a reliable ally of the US. Leftism’s extreme hatred of Israel is motivated by an opposition to Judeo-Christian values (suffused in many cases with an unhealthy dose of anti-semitism), the ever present leftist hatred of success in others and a pragmatic need to win allies, this time from within the Arab/Muslim world and the anti-Jewish diaspora.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
In the Name of God(lessness)
Dennis Prager (one of my favourite political commentators) has an excellent article in Front Page Magazine. I am reprinting most of it.
For the full article go to the Source
So, while it is not possible to prove (or disprove) God's existence, what is provable is what happens when people stop believing in God.
1. Without God there is no good and evil; there are only subjective opinions that we then label "good" and "evil." This does not mean that an atheist cannot be a good person. Nor does it mean that all those who believe in God are good; there are good atheists and there are bad believers in God. It simply means that unless there is a moral authority that transcends humans from which emanates an objective right and wrong, "right" and "wrong" no more objectively exist than do "beautiful" and "ugly."
2. Without God, there is no objective meaning to life. We are all merely random creations of natural selection whose existence has no more intrinsic purpose or meaning than that of a pebble equally randomly produced.
3. Life is ultimately a tragic fare if there is no God. We live, we suffer, we die -- some horrifically, many prematurely -- and there is only oblivion afterward.
4. Human beings need instruction manuals. This is as true for acting morally and wisely as it is for properly flying an airplane. One's heart is often no better a guide to what is right and wrong than it is to the right and wrong way to fly an airplane. The post-religious secular world claims to need no manual; the heart and reason are sufficient guides to leading a good life and to making a good world.
5. If there is no God, the kindest and most innocent victims of torture and murder have no better a fate after death than do the most cruel torturers and mass murderers. Only if there is a good God do Mother Teresa and Adolf Hitler have different fates.
6. With the death of Judeo-Christian values in the West, many Westerners believe in little. That is why secular Western Europe has been unwilling and therefore unable to confront evil, whether it was Communism during the Cold War or Islamic totalitarians in its midst today.
7. Without God, people in the West often become less, not more, rational. It was largely the secular, not the religious, who believed in the utterly irrational doctrine of Marxism. It was largely the secular, not the religious, who believed that men's and women's natures are basically the same, that perceived differences between the sexes are all socially induced. Religious people in Judeo-Christian countries largely confine their irrational beliefs to religious beliefs (theology), while the secular, without religion to enable the non-rational to express itself, end up applying their irrational beliefs to society, where such irrationalities do immense harm.
8. If there is no God, the human being has no free will. He is a robot, whose every action is dictated by genes and environment. Only if one posits human creation by a Creator that transcends genes and environment who implanted the ability to transcend genes and environment can humans have free will.
9. If there is no God, humans and "other" animals are of equal value. Only if one posits that humans, not animals, are created in the image of God do humans have any greater intrinsic sanctity than baboons. This explains the movement among the secularized elite to equate humans and animals.
10. Without God, there is little to inspire people to create inspiring art. That is why contemporary art galleries and museums are filled with "art" that celebrates the scatological, the ugly and the shocking. Compare this art to Michelangelo's art in the Sistine chapel. The latter elevates the viewer -- because Michelangelo believed in something higher than himself and higher than all men.
11. Without God nothing is holy. This is definitional. Holiness emanates from a belief in the holy. This explains, for example, the far more widespread acceptance of public cursing in secular society than in religious society. To the religious, there is holy speech and profane speech. In much of secular society the very notion of profane speech is mocked.
12. Without God, humanist hubris is almost inevitable. If there is nothing higher than man, no Supreme Being, man becomes the supreme being.
13. Without God, there are no inalienable human rights. Evolution confers no rights. Molecules confer no rights. Energy has no moral concerns. That is why America's Founders wrote in the Declaration of Independence that we are endowed "by our Creator" with certain inalienable rights. Rights depend upon a moral source, a rights giver.
14. "Without God," Dostoevsky famously wrote, "all is permitted." There has been plenty of evil committed by believers in God, but the widespread cruelties and the sheer number of innocents murdered by secular regimes -- specifically Nazi, Fascist and Communist regimes -- dwarfs the evil done in the name of religion.
For the full article go to the Source
So, while it is not possible to prove (or disprove) God's existence, what is provable is what happens when people stop believing in God.
1. Without God there is no good and evil; there are only subjective opinions that we then label "good" and "evil." This does not mean that an atheist cannot be a good person. Nor does it mean that all those who believe in God are good; there are good atheists and there are bad believers in God. It simply means that unless there is a moral authority that transcends humans from which emanates an objective right and wrong, "right" and "wrong" no more objectively exist than do "beautiful" and "ugly."
2. Without God, there is no objective meaning to life. We are all merely random creations of natural selection whose existence has no more intrinsic purpose or meaning than that of a pebble equally randomly produced.
3. Life is ultimately a tragic fare if there is no God. We live, we suffer, we die -- some horrifically, many prematurely -- and there is only oblivion afterward.
4. Human beings need instruction manuals. This is as true for acting morally and wisely as it is for properly flying an airplane. One's heart is often no better a guide to what is right and wrong than it is to the right and wrong way to fly an airplane. The post-religious secular world claims to need no manual; the heart and reason are sufficient guides to leading a good life and to making a good world.
5. If there is no God, the kindest and most innocent victims of torture and murder have no better a fate after death than do the most cruel torturers and mass murderers. Only if there is a good God do Mother Teresa and Adolf Hitler have different fates.
6. With the death of Judeo-Christian values in the West, many Westerners believe in little. That is why secular Western Europe has been unwilling and therefore unable to confront evil, whether it was Communism during the Cold War or Islamic totalitarians in its midst today.
7. Without God, people in the West often become less, not more, rational. It was largely the secular, not the religious, who believed in the utterly irrational doctrine of Marxism. It was largely the secular, not the religious, who believed that men's and women's natures are basically the same, that perceived differences between the sexes are all socially induced. Religious people in Judeo-Christian countries largely confine their irrational beliefs to religious beliefs (theology), while the secular, without religion to enable the non-rational to express itself, end up applying their irrational beliefs to society, where such irrationalities do immense harm.
8. If there is no God, the human being has no free will. He is a robot, whose every action is dictated by genes and environment. Only if one posits human creation by a Creator that transcends genes and environment who implanted the ability to transcend genes and environment can humans have free will.
9. If there is no God, humans and "other" animals are of equal value. Only if one posits that humans, not animals, are created in the image of God do humans have any greater intrinsic sanctity than baboons. This explains the movement among the secularized elite to equate humans and animals.
10. Without God, there is little to inspire people to create inspiring art. That is why contemporary art galleries and museums are filled with "art" that celebrates the scatological, the ugly and the shocking. Compare this art to Michelangelo's art in the Sistine chapel. The latter elevates the viewer -- because Michelangelo believed in something higher than himself and higher than all men.
11. Without God nothing is holy. This is definitional. Holiness emanates from a belief in the holy. This explains, for example, the far more widespread acceptance of public cursing in secular society than in religious society. To the religious, there is holy speech and profane speech. In much of secular society the very notion of profane speech is mocked.
12. Without God, humanist hubris is almost inevitable. If there is nothing higher than man, no Supreme Being, man becomes the supreme being.
13. Without God, there are no inalienable human rights. Evolution confers no rights. Molecules confer no rights. Energy has no moral concerns. That is why America's Founders wrote in the Declaration of Independence that we are endowed "by our Creator" with certain inalienable rights. Rights depend upon a moral source, a rights giver.
14. "Without God," Dostoevsky famously wrote, "all is permitted." There has been plenty of evil committed by believers in God, but the widespread cruelties and the sheer number of innocents murdered by secular regimes -- specifically Nazi, Fascist and Communist regimes -- dwarfs the evil done in the name of religion.
Monday, August 18, 2008
In the News XLIV
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf resigns
I never liked Musharraf - he overthrew an elected government (albeit a corrupt one) - and failed to take the initiative in sealing his border from Taliban insurgents thereby enhancing the problems faced by NATO in neighbouring Afghanistan. He talked tough but failed to deliver. However I have my reservations as to whether his successor will be an improvement. Nuclear armed Pakistan is very much a concern especially if such weapons were to fall into the hands of a rogue group (of which there are no shortages thereof in Pakistan). Musharraf's successor needs to clamp down with rigour against the Islamist threat. Whether they will (I believe they can - Pakistan has a strong military) is the critical question? If not NATO may have no choice but to act in a manner which facilitates such neutralization.
US will protect Poland with anti-missile shield
The US is correct in supplying Poland with a missile system to defend against external belligerency. The West failed once at the end of World War II when it allowed Eastern Europe to be taken over by the Soviet/Russian Bear. Repeating the mistake would be an insult to generations past.The fact that the Ukraine is willing to follow the same pathway as Poland is also a favourable development.
More yammering in Africa to save Mugabe's hide
So far its only tiny Botswana that seems to be taking a strong line in defense of Democracy. South African President Thabo Mbeki's pro-Mugabe stance is an insult to the Freedom Charter that the ANC claims to champion.
The Chinese take on Olympic Protests - not bloody likely
As expected China has turned down all 77 applications for protest.
McCain/Cameron better choice than Obama/Brown when facing International threat
Its all about decisiveness and courage to act with conviction.
I never liked Musharraf - he overthrew an elected government (albeit a corrupt one) - and failed to take the initiative in sealing his border from Taliban insurgents thereby enhancing the problems faced by NATO in neighbouring Afghanistan. He talked tough but failed to deliver. However I have my reservations as to whether his successor will be an improvement. Nuclear armed Pakistan is very much a concern especially if such weapons were to fall into the hands of a rogue group (of which there are no shortages thereof in Pakistan). Musharraf's successor needs to clamp down with rigour against the Islamist threat. Whether they will (I believe they can - Pakistan has a strong military) is the critical question? If not NATO may have no choice but to act in a manner which facilitates such neutralization.
US will protect Poland with anti-missile shield
The US is correct in supplying Poland with a missile system to defend against external belligerency. The West failed once at the end of World War II when it allowed Eastern Europe to be taken over by the Soviet/Russian Bear. Repeating the mistake would be an insult to generations past.The fact that the Ukraine is willing to follow the same pathway as Poland is also a favourable development.
More yammering in Africa to save Mugabe's hide
So far its only tiny Botswana that seems to be taking a strong line in defense of Democracy. South African President Thabo Mbeki's pro-Mugabe stance is an insult to the Freedom Charter that the ANC claims to champion.
The Chinese take on Olympic Protests - not bloody likely
As expected China has turned down all 77 applications for protest.
McCain/Cameron better choice than Obama/Brown when facing International threat
Its all about decisiveness and courage to act with conviction.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
9 Possible World War Three Scenarios
This is more of a brainstorming exercise than anything else but it is worth thinking about nevertheless.
1. China against the US - A war of ideology and Economic influences. Principal theaters of conflict would be the Pacific, South East Asia and Eastern Russia/Manchuria.
2. China allied with the Islamic World against the West - similar to scenario #1 but with more parties involved.
3. US against Russia - The original Third World as envisioned by Cold Warriors. Less likely to happen than in the time before the 1990s (collapse of Communism) but nevertheless it is still a possibility. Would be apocalyptic as both countries still possess the largest nuclear arsenals on the globe.
4. West and India against China and Russia - China and Russia fighting to avoid encirclement by their enemies. Could occur if Totalitarianism is resurrected in Russia.
5. US and China against India and Russia - Would be a possibility if Russia reasserted itself and realigned with India, Another Cold War Scenario come to life.
6. The Americas against Asia - A late 21st century war possibility that could occur as both continents strive for domination of the mining rights to the Planet's largest Ocean.
7. War of the Corporations - A war situation in a post-nation state world where corporations battle one another for control of the planet's resources. This war could quite likely move into the region of space near Earth.
8. The War of the Next ideology - A war in which the next counter-capitalism ideology raises its head, spreads out across the border and challenges the existing capitalist infrastructure. Counter-capitalism culture could take the form of rejuvenated Marxism or a totally new ideology (perhaps New Age) that has yet to be synthesized.
9. The Oil Wars - Decreasing energy resources may force the West to take matters into their own hands and force OPEC to hand over its assets.
1. China against the US - A war of ideology and Economic influences. Principal theaters of conflict would be the Pacific, South East Asia and Eastern Russia/Manchuria.
2. China allied with the Islamic World against the West - similar to scenario #1 but with more parties involved.
3. US against Russia - The original Third World as envisioned by Cold Warriors. Less likely to happen than in the time before the 1990s (collapse of Communism) but nevertheless it is still a possibility. Would be apocalyptic as both countries still possess the largest nuclear arsenals on the globe.
4. West and India against China and Russia - China and Russia fighting to avoid encirclement by their enemies. Could occur if Totalitarianism is resurrected in Russia.
5. US and China against India and Russia - Would be a possibility if Russia reasserted itself and realigned with India, Another Cold War Scenario come to life.
6. The Americas against Asia - A late 21st century war possibility that could occur as both continents strive for domination of the mining rights to the Planet's largest Ocean.
7. War of the Corporations - A war situation in a post-nation state world where corporations battle one another for control of the planet's resources. This war could quite likely move into the region of space near Earth.
8. The War of the Next ideology - A war in which the next counter-capitalism ideology raises its head, spreads out across the border and challenges the existing capitalist infrastructure. Counter-capitalism culture could take the form of rejuvenated Marxism or a totally new ideology (perhaps New Age) that has yet to be synthesized.
9. The Oil Wars - Decreasing energy resources may force the West to take matters into their own hands and force OPEC to hand over its assets.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
What are the goals of Leftism?
Leftism as a political movement carries with it a drive that is ultimately destructive. In my numerous debates with leftists I have noticed many commonalities that are worrisome, in the way that they reflect this belief. These have been outlined in an earlier post. While not all players who fall under the leftist label can be described asuch, the overall intended direction and ambition of the movement, is unmistakingly characterized below.
1. The end of Free Markets - Free Markets create income differentials which run in antithesis to the leftist ideal of monetary equality. The fact that income differentials are a key driving force to the overall wealth of all does not concern leftists. In leftist thought it is better that all are poor than that some are wealthy. I believe that this may be guided by a pathology of inferiority that underpins the philosophy of leftism as a whole.
2. The eradication of the Judeo-Christian ethos - Judeo-Christian philosophy, work ethic and initiative fostering has been vital in driving and sustaining Western Civilization. This is anethma to Leftists whose underlying Radicalism is driven by the notion of 'destroy, clear out and recreate'. Such a truism defined the two most influential 20th century Leftist Philosophies - Communism and National Socialism. Leftists in short detest Judeo-Christian philosophy as it has a proven record of success in historical terms and this ultimately invalidates Leftism itself.
3. The creation of a new elite - The new elite will carry through the necessary programs of social engineering. Leftists believe that the environment is the key variable that can be manipulated to establish their specific utopic scenario. In Leftist thinking the elite must be stern in their manipulation of the environment. They must furthermore act with no recourse to the opinion of the masses whom leftists ultimately believe are in the dark about the truth anyway. Leftist fondness for re-education training (a common policy in Communist nations), sensitivity training in the West and opposition to private education (a milieu where the elites are more easily challenged) colours such thinking. Leftist claims of support for non-hierachial structures (a popular misconception) is nothing more than a smokescreen to encourage resistance to current hierarchies that they seek to destroy. It is important not to forget that in every case that leftists have succeeded in destroying a hierarchy (Nazi Germany, Soviet Union and Cambodia etc.) they have replaced it with another hierarchy that has been far worse.
4. A Single World Government - Leftists claim to detest globalization but what they
actually loathe is the spread of global capitalism not globalization itself. Leftists actually are arch globalizers as they wish to see the whole world recreated in their utopic ideal - and a single world government providing one source of action certainly facilates this approach. Communism, Trotskyism and Anarchism all have a global outlook as do the radical faces of environmentalism and feminism (these two movements have moderate forms as well that are not necessarily leftist). In the US an ever present leftist ideology overwhelmingly advocates making US foreign policy subservient to the United Nations (the closest example to a body of potential World Government that exists today). The fact that the UN is more of a collection of dictatorships than democracies is of no importance to leftists as leftism itself ultimately abhors democracy.
1. The end of Free Markets - Free Markets create income differentials which run in antithesis to the leftist ideal of monetary equality. The fact that income differentials are a key driving force to the overall wealth of all does not concern leftists. In leftist thought it is better that all are poor than that some are wealthy. I believe that this may be guided by a pathology of inferiority that underpins the philosophy of leftism as a whole.
2. The eradication of the Judeo-Christian ethos - Judeo-Christian philosophy, work ethic and initiative fostering has been vital in driving and sustaining Western Civilization. This is anethma to Leftists whose underlying Radicalism is driven by the notion of 'destroy, clear out and recreate'. Such a truism defined the two most influential 20th century Leftist Philosophies - Communism and National Socialism. Leftists in short detest Judeo-Christian philosophy as it has a proven record of success in historical terms and this ultimately invalidates Leftism itself.
3. The creation of a new elite - The new elite will carry through the necessary programs of social engineering. Leftists believe that the environment is the key variable that can be manipulated to establish their specific utopic scenario. In Leftist thinking the elite must be stern in their manipulation of the environment. They must furthermore act with no recourse to the opinion of the masses whom leftists ultimately believe are in the dark about the truth anyway. Leftist fondness for re-education training (a common policy in Communist nations), sensitivity training in the West and opposition to private education (a milieu where the elites are more easily challenged) colours such thinking. Leftist claims of support for non-hierachial structures (a popular misconception) is nothing more than a smokescreen to encourage resistance to current hierarchies that they seek to destroy. It is important not to forget that in every case that leftists have succeeded in destroying a hierarchy (Nazi Germany, Soviet Union and Cambodia etc.) they have replaced it with another hierarchy that has been far worse.
4. A Single World Government - Leftists claim to detest globalization but what they
actually loathe is the spread of global capitalism not globalization itself. Leftists actually are arch globalizers as they wish to see the whole world recreated in their utopic ideal - and a single world government providing one source of action certainly facilates this approach. Communism, Trotskyism and Anarchism all have a global outlook as do the radical faces of environmentalism and feminism (these two movements have moderate forms as well that are not necessarily leftist). In the US an ever present leftist ideology overwhelmingly advocates making US foreign policy subservient to the United Nations (the closest example to a body of potential World Government that exists today). The fact that the UN is more of a collection of dictatorships than democracies is of no importance to leftists as leftism itself ultimately abhors democracy.
Olympic Watch II
The Olympics have reached their half-way point and these have been my three personal highlights.
1. Michael Phelps' 7 Gold medals - he now has 13 Gold Medals overall in his Olympic Career. Phelp's last race the 100-m Butterfly was won by a hairs breadth but such is the nature of the swimming. What is not impressive though is how poorly the archdeacon's of the US Olympic Committee have treated all-time great Mark Spitz - whose seven gold medals at a single Olympics Phelps has just tied. Blogger Debbie Schlussel has more on this.
2. Kristy Coventry from the troubled nation of Zimbabwe winning the 200-m backstroke - she had already won three medals in other events.
3. 9.69 seconds........... Usain Bolt the 21 year old Jamaican literally runs away with the 100m Mens Final and it wasn't even close (he was 2/10ths of a second faster than second place Richard Thompson of Trinidad). World Champion American Tyson Gay failed to qualify for the final - he was carrying an injury - but I doubt whether he even at full health would have been able to stop Bolt (who looked as though he was cruising at the end and could have easily run a sub 9.6 seconds). Bolt can add to this Gold by winning the 200m (his speciality) and the 4 x 100m relay. Here is some old footage of Bolt's earlier world record time of 9.72 seconds that he has of course eclipsed.
4. Roger Federer recovers from an upset loss in the singles to lead Switzerland to Gold in the Men's Tennis Doubles.
5. Swimmer Rebecca Adlington of the UK breaking Janet Evans' 19 year old mark in the 800m freestyle. Evans is arguably the greatest female swimmer of All-Time.
1. Michael Phelps' 7 Gold medals - he now has 13 Gold Medals overall in his Olympic Career. Phelp's last race the 100-m Butterfly was won by a hairs breadth but such is the nature of the swimming. What is not impressive though is how poorly the archdeacon's of the US Olympic Committee have treated all-time great Mark Spitz - whose seven gold medals at a single Olympics Phelps has just tied. Blogger Debbie Schlussel has more on this.
2. Kristy Coventry from the troubled nation of Zimbabwe winning the 200-m backstroke - she had already won three medals in other events.
3. 9.69 seconds........... Usain Bolt the 21 year old Jamaican literally runs away with the 100m Mens Final and it wasn't even close (he was 2/10ths of a second faster than second place Richard Thompson of Trinidad). World Champion American Tyson Gay failed to qualify for the final - he was carrying an injury - but I doubt whether he even at full health would have been able to stop Bolt (who looked as though he was cruising at the end and could have easily run a sub 9.6 seconds). Bolt can add to this Gold by winning the 200m (his speciality) and the 4 x 100m relay. Here is some old footage of Bolt's earlier world record time of 9.72 seconds that he has of course eclipsed.
4. Roger Federer recovers from an upset loss in the singles to lead Switzerland to Gold in the Men's Tennis Doubles.
5. Swimmer Rebecca Adlington of the UK breaking Janet Evans' 19 year old mark in the 800m freestyle. Evans is arguably the greatest female swimmer of All-Time.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Some Realizations about Life
1. I believe that there are many ways to relate to G-d and that any group/or person who claims that 'mine/ours is the only path' is guilty of a narrowest and possibly deceptive outlook.
2. It is important to evaluate progress towards one's life goals to ensure that the correct focus is maintained. Don't be afraid to be self critical (although not to excess) for its through personal self-analysis that we grow.
3. G-d's creation is revealed with science. There is also nothing in theistic belief that makes it mutually exclusive from science (despite the best efforts of biblical literalists and scientific materialists). I am an integrationist in this sense.
4. It is important to have faith in G-d who endowed us with reason as a tool to make sense of the universe. Reason and logic can solve many a problem.
5. Keep an open mind although there is nothing wrong with a healthy dose of scepticism.
6. Be weary of groups/organizations that are centered around the thoughts and actions of one person. They too often have a tendency to take on Cult-like characteristics.
7. Take with a grain of salt anyone who describes themselves as the ' foremost expert in...' . Real 'experts' need not use such hyperbole.
8. I see the matter world as the condensation of the spirit counterpart. The two are the same and are defined by the 'milieu of the existence framework'. This is not the same as the strict dualism of mind/body but may be related (I am working in this) with principles of complementary superposition (such as the quantum particle/wave divide).
9. There is a design to the universe but this transcends the simplistic as envisioned by the Intelligent Design Movement. This higher design incorporates the notion of chance - so apparent randomness is an illusion.
10. Evolution is consistent with belief in G-d, so is natural selection. It is not necessary to envision a low level designer as championed by the ID movement. The direction from G-d can very easily be defined by a mechanism that appears 'random' to us. Also keep in mind that scientific empiricism and rationalism are ultimately limited at the extremes of the material periprhery.
11. A person should aim for the highest level of pleasure - the spiritual. Aspiring to such pleasure involves many routes - for some its prayer, for others its good deeds, for many its both. I elevate myself to the spiritual by helping others as a teacher, acting with a goodness and communicating to G-d.
12. It is important to better oneself. Improving my skills as a teacher, expanding my knowledge in various subjects and a constant litany of self correction techniques are paramount to my life.
13. One should not be afraid to think and allow one's mind to wander. Society often frowns on the latter - which is unfortunate as 'Mind Wandering' is a great mechanism for the initiation of useful thought.
14. Acknowledge one's weaknesses - work to improve these shortfalls - but don't let it dominate your lives. Imperfection is not necessarily a 'bad' phenomenon.
15. Exercise Free Will with informed thought.
16. A dialectic approach can further cultivate our understanding of the universe - it is vital to synthesize contrasting points of view- but this need not be a symmetrical synthesis. Critical thinking and logic must be used to reject aspects of the inferior position (whether it be thesis or antithesis).
17. Most problems have multiple solutions.
18. The worst output of any one of our passions is indifference to mediocrity.
19. No Book has all the answers.
20. Live by your own standards not others.
21. There is nothing wrong with pleasure but there are different levels of pleasure.
22. The universe is dynamic - adjust with purposeful thought.
23. Do not confuse Relativism with Dynamics - the former attaches itself to nothing which leaves itself further adrift and lost in a continual sea of change.
24. People have a natural tendency to gravitate towards the lowest level of pleasure, the physical. It is impossible to renounce the physical (doing so is a meaningless exercise - asceticism - a failed philosophy) what is achievable is to manage the physical keeping it in perspective - with a lower priority to that of the intellectual and spiritual.
2. It is important to evaluate progress towards one's life goals to ensure that the correct focus is maintained. Don't be afraid to be self critical (although not to excess) for its through personal self-analysis that we grow.
3. G-d's creation is revealed with science. There is also nothing in theistic belief that makes it mutually exclusive from science (despite the best efforts of biblical literalists and scientific materialists). I am an integrationist in this sense.
4. It is important to have faith in G-d who endowed us with reason as a tool to make sense of the universe. Reason and logic can solve many a problem.
5. Keep an open mind although there is nothing wrong with a healthy dose of scepticism.
6. Be weary of groups/organizations that are centered around the thoughts and actions of one person. They too often have a tendency to take on Cult-like characteristics.
7. Take with a grain of salt anyone who describes themselves as the ' foremost expert in...' . Real 'experts' need not use such hyperbole.
8. I see the matter world as the condensation of the spirit counterpart. The two are the same and are defined by the 'milieu of the existence framework'. This is not the same as the strict dualism of mind/body but may be related (I am working in this) with principles of complementary superposition (such as the quantum particle/wave divide).
9. There is a design to the universe but this transcends the simplistic as envisioned by the Intelligent Design Movement. This higher design incorporates the notion of chance - so apparent randomness is an illusion.
10. Evolution is consistent with belief in G-d, so is natural selection. It is not necessary to envision a low level designer as championed by the ID movement. The direction from G-d can very easily be defined by a mechanism that appears 'random' to us. Also keep in mind that scientific empiricism and rationalism are ultimately limited at the extremes of the material periprhery.
11. A person should aim for the highest level of pleasure - the spiritual. Aspiring to such pleasure involves many routes - for some its prayer, for others its good deeds, for many its both. I elevate myself to the spiritual by helping others as a teacher, acting with a goodness and communicating to G-d.
12. It is important to better oneself. Improving my skills as a teacher, expanding my knowledge in various subjects and a constant litany of self correction techniques are paramount to my life.
13. One should not be afraid to think and allow one's mind to wander. Society often frowns on the latter - which is unfortunate as 'Mind Wandering' is a great mechanism for the initiation of useful thought.
14. Acknowledge one's weaknesses - work to improve these shortfalls - but don't let it dominate your lives. Imperfection is not necessarily a 'bad' phenomenon.
15. Exercise Free Will with informed thought.
16. A dialectic approach can further cultivate our understanding of the universe - it is vital to synthesize contrasting points of view- but this need not be a symmetrical synthesis. Critical thinking and logic must be used to reject aspects of the inferior position (whether it be thesis or antithesis).
17. Most problems have multiple solutions.
18. The worst output of any one of our passions is indifference to mediocrity.
19. No Book has all the answers.
20. Live by your own standards not others.
21. There is nothing wrong with pleasure but there are different levels of pleasure.
22. The universe is dynamic - adjust with purposeful thought.
23. Do not confuse Relativism with Dynamics - the former attaches itself to nothing which leaves itself further adrift and lost in a continual sea of change.
24. People have a natural tendency to gravitate towards the lowest level of pleasure, the physical. It is impossible to renounce the physical (doing so is a meaningless exercise - asceticism - a failed philosophy) what is achievable is to manage the physical keeping it in perspective - with a lower priority to that of the intellectual and spiritual.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
In the News XLIII
Soviets...oops Russians....expanding Empire
The Russian invasion of Georgia (which apparently took the US by surprise...so much for satellite technology) is extremely worrisome. Not only has the sovereign territory of an independent nation being violated but Georgia is a democracy and a pro-Western Ally (didn't the US go to war for less in liberating the autocratic Kuwait from the Iraqi invaders in 1991?) that deserves our support in the fight against Putin's thuggery. The WSJ has an article where it likens Putin to Napoleon Bonaparte. This may be the case - Russia is certainly acting in a manner that resembles the Soviet Union, who invaded Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia 1968 (both during Olympic Years .......co-incidence ?) to re-affirm its authority. In addition Russia has been meddling for some time in former Republics of the Soviet Union especially Ukraine, Belarus and the Baltic States.
Anyway at least lame duck president George W. Bush seems to be talking tough with the Russians. Will this help? I doubt it. What the US needs to do is exert its economic clout.
Ezra Levant defeats Enemies of Free Speech in Canada
Levant, who is a strong opponent of Islamofascism, went to great lengths to fight off this phony human rights charge. His effort has been somewhat justified (as was Mark's Steyn) but he suffered severe financial ruin in the process. If Free Speech is a priority in Canada (which it should be in any democracy) the government ought to take steps in abolishing the plethora of Human Rights Commissions who have grown into unnecessary watchdogs and stiflers of reasonable opinion.
Cuban Baseball players defect from leftist 'paradise'
Sorry but I couldn't resist the sarcasm.
More sniping in the US Presidential Election
It seems as though McCain's celebrity taunts have hit a nerve with Obama. As understood Hollywood endorsements can be more of a curse than a blessing.
Hamas tries some fuzzy logic
According to Mahmoud al-Zahar, a senior Hamas spokesman, 'the militants that fired rockets at Israel on Monday are collaborators with Israel
Mugabe enabler Thabo Mbeki racks up additional frequent flyer miles
and so the saga continues........more yakking as the country chokes
The Average Poll has Obama ahead of McCain by an average of 4.8%
I don't have much faith in polls as a rule but there seems to be an unusual consistency amongst these.
Here is a question I would love pollsters to ask:
If the Russia/Georgia situation does erupt onto a larger scale which candidate would you rather have as Chief-of-Staff?
The Russian invasion of Georgia (which apparently took the US by surprise...so much for satellite technology) is extremely worrisome. Not only has the sovereign territory of an independent nation being violated but Georgia is a democracy and a pro-Western Ally (didn't the US go to war for less in liberating the autocratic Kuwait from the Iraqi invaders in 1991?) that deserves our support in the fight against Putin's thuggery. The WSJ has an article where it likens Putin to Napoleon Bonaparte. This may be the case - Russia is certainly acting in a manner that resembles the Soviet Union, who invaded Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia 1968 (both during Olympic Years .......co-incidence ?) to re-affirm its authority. In addition Russia has been meddling for some time in former Republics of the Soviet Union especially Ukraine, Belarus and the Baltic States.
Anyway at least lame duck president George W. Bush seems to be talking tough with the Russians. Will this help? I doubt it. What the US needs to do is exert its economic clout.
Ezra Levant defeats Enemies of Free Speech in Canada
Levant, who is a strong opponent of Islamofascism, went to great lengths to fight off this phony human rights charge. His effort has been somewhat justified (as was Mark's Steyn) but he suffered severe financial ruin in the process. If Free Speech is a priority in Canada (which it should be in any democracy) the government ought to take steps in abolishing the plethora of Human Rights Commissions who have grown into unnecessary watchdogs and stiflers of reasonable opinion.
Cuban Baseball players defect from leftist 'paradise'
Sorry but I couldn't resist the sarcasm.
More sniping in the US Presidential Election
It seems as though McCain's celebrity taunts have hit a nerve with Obama. As understood Hollywood endorsements can be more of a curse than a blessing.
Hamas tries some fuzzy logic
According to Mahmoud al-Zahar, a senior Hamas spokesman, 'the militants that fired rockets at Israel on Monday are collaborators with Israel
Mugabe enabler Thabo Mbeki racks up additional frequent flyer miles
and so the saga continues........more yakking as the country chokes
The Average Poll has Obama ahead of McCain by an average of 4.8%
I don't have much faith in polls as a rule but there seems to be an unusual consistency amongst these.
Here is a question I would love pollsters to ask:
If the Russia/Georgia situation does erupt onto a larger scale which candidate would you rather have as Chief-of-Staff?
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