Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Bacon time?
the White House quits the battle on Davis-Bacon. aw, Shucks, did fighting a stupid ass war, nominating a toady to the Supreme Court and undermining national security for partisan purposes take too much energy for you boys? Well, we may be stuck with the war, for now, but you're losing your toady, and your puppetmaster, Chimpy. Enjoy.
Monday, October 24, 2005
Intelligent Design, a debate
The only debate on Intelligent Design that is worthy of its subject
Moderator: We're here today to debate the hot new topic, evolution versus Intelligent Des---
(Scientist pulls out baseball bat.)
Moderator: Hey, what are you doing?
(Scientist breaks Intelligent Design advocate's kneecap.)
Intelligent Design advocate: YEAAARRRRGGGHHHH! YOU BROKE MY KNEECAP!
Scientist: Perhaps it only appears that I broke your kneecap. Certainly, all the evidence points to the hypothesis I broke your kneecap. For example, your kneecap is broken; it appears to be a fresh wound; and I am holding a baseball bat, which is spattered with your blood. However, a mere preponderance of evidence doesn't mean anything. Perhaps your kneecap was designed that way. Certainly, there are some features of the current situation that are inexplicable according to the "naturalistic" explanation you have just advanced, such as the exact contours of the excruciating pain that you are experiencing right now.
Intelligent Design advocate: AAAAH! THE PAIN!
Scientist: Frankly, I personally find it completely implausible that the random actions of a scientist such as myself could cause pain of this particular kind. I have no precise explanation for why I find this hypothesis implausible --- it just is. Your knee must have been designed that way!
Intelligent Design advocate: YOU BASTARD! YOU KNOW YOU DID IT!
Scientist: I surely do not. How can we know anything for certain? Frankly, I think we should expose people to all points of view. Furthermore, you should really re-examine whether your hypothesis is scientific at all: the breaking of your kneecap happened in the past, so we can't rewind and run it over again, like a laboratory experiment. Even if we could, it wouldn't prove that I broke your kneecap the previous time. Plus, let's not even get into the fact that the entire universe might have just popped into existence right before I said this sentence, with all the evidence of my alleged kneecap-breaking already pre-formed.
Intelligent Design advocate: That's a load of bullshit sophistry! Get me a doctor and a lawyer, not necessarily in that order, and we'll see how that plays in court!
Scientist (turning to audience): And so we see, ladies and gentlemen, when push comes to shove, advocates of Intelligent Design do not actually believe any of the arguments that they profess to believe. When it comes to matters that hit home, they prefer evidence, the scientific method, testable hypotheses, and naturalistic explanations. In fact, they strongly privilege naturalistic explanations over supernatural hocus-pocus or metaphysical wankery. It is only within the reality-distortion field of their ideological crusade that they give credence to the flimsy, ridiculous arguments which we so commonly see on display. I must confess, it kind of felt good, for once, to be the one spouting free-form bullshit; it's so terribly easy and relaxing, compared to marshaling rigorous arguments backed up by empirical evidence. But I fear that if I were to continue, then it would be habit-forming, and bad for my soul. Therefore, I bid you adieu.
Moderator: We're here today to debate the hot new topic, evolution versus Intelligent Des---
(Scientist pulls out baseball bat.)
Moderator: Hey, what are you doing?
(Scientist breaks Intelligent Design advocate's kneecap.)
Intelligent Design advocate: YEAAARRRRGGGHHHH! YOU BROKE MY KNEECAP!
Scientist: Perhaps it only appears that I broke your kneecap. Certainly, all the evidence points to the hypothesis I broke your kneecap. For example, your kneecap is broken; it appears to be a fresh wound; and I am holding a baseball bat, which is spattered with your blood. However, a mere preponderance of evidence doesn't mean anything. Perhaps your kneecap was designed that way. Certainly, there are some features of the current situation that are inexplicable according to the "naturalistic" explanation you have just advanced, such as the exact contours of the excruciating pain that you are experiencing right now.
Intelligent Design advocate: AAAAH! THE PAIN!
Scientist: Frankly, I personally find it completely implausible that the random actions of a scientist such as myself could cause pain of this particular kind. I have no precise explanation for why I find this hypothesis implausible --- it just is. Your knee must have been designed that way!
Intelligent Design advocate: YOU BASTARD! YOU KNOW YOU DID IT!
Scientist: I surely do not. How can we know anything for certain? Frankly, I think we should expose people to all points of view. Furthermore, you should really re-examine whether your hypothesis is scientific at all: the breaking of your kneecap happened in the past, so we can't rewind and run it over again, like a laboratory experiment. Even if we could, it wouldn't prove that I broke your kneecap the previous time. Plus, let's not even get into the fact that the entire universe might have just popped into existence right before I said this sentence, with all the evidence of my alleged kneecap-breaking already pre-formed.
Intelligent Design advocate: That's a load of bullshit sophistry! Get me a doctor and a lawyer, not necessarily in that order, and we'll see how that plays in court!
Scientist (turning to audience): And so we see, ladies and gentlemen, when push comes to shove, advocates of Intelligent Design do not actually believe any of the arguments that they profess to believe. When it comes to matters that hit home, they prefer evidence, the scientific method, testable hypotheses, and naturalistic explanations. In fact, they strongly privilege naturalistic explanations over supernatural hocus-pocus or metaphysical wankery. It is only within the reality-distortion field of their ideological crusade that they give credence to the flimsy, ridiculous arguments which we so commonly see on display. I must confess, it kind of felt good, for once, to be the one spouting free-form bullshit; it's so terribly easy and relaxing, compared to marshaling rigorous arguments backed up by empirical evidence. But I fear that if I were to continue, then it would be habit-forming, and bad for my soul. Therefore, I bid you adieu.
Hands Down: The best commercial playing now
http://www.bestadsontv.com/ad_details.php?id=634
really. Guinness rocks.
really. Guinness rocks.
David-Bacon strikes again
Taken 10/15 at a dormitory for LVI, inc. laborers on the Gulf Coast (Santa Rosa, LA). Ahh, look at all those grateful poor people!
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Is this the best the VRWC can do?
Jeanne Pirro, running against Senator Clinton, "That's a difference between Democrats and Republicans _ we don't want them next door molesting children and murdering women," said the Westchester County prosecutor, according to Wednesday's Elmira Star-Gazette newspaper.
Good thing here spokesman clarified that this was 'taken out of context' not sure, even from reading the article, what sort of context this could ever make sense in. whatever. It's nice to have one republican sacrificial lamb for 06, no?
you know, for the most hated woman in America, Hillary sure gets lucky in the people who oppose her, doesn't she? I mean, if she's so bad, there's gotta be someone interested in running against her. I love wingnuts.
Good thing here spokesman clarified that this was 'taken out of context' not sure, even from reading the article, what sort of context this could ever make sense in. whatever. It's nice to have one republican sacrificial lamb for 06, no?
you know, for the most hated woman in America, Hillary sure gets lucky in the people who oppose her, doesn't she? I mean, if she's so bad, there's gotta be someone interested in running against her. I love wingnuts.
Monday, October 17, 2005
John Brown's body lies a molderin' in his grave
Dateline Harper's Ferry. Today a wacky fundamentalist preacher and his followers stormed a US government armory seeking to spur a violent insurrection against the US Government by workers. he failed.
Just a thought. In 1859, I hope I would have sympathized with the religious nutcases (and yes, John Brown was a religious nutcase in any sense of the word) if not with his methods, then with his ideology. Brown was a violent man, in a violent time, and used the tools of slavery against the slavers. He certainly didn't start the violence that led to the civil war, but he (sorry) kicked it up a notch. A reminder that people can do wrong things in the pursuit of good, and that people we all consider nuts may have some good points. No, not you, James Dobson, you're just an asshole.
Just a thought. In 1859, I hope I would have sympathized with the religious nutcases (and yes, John Brown was a religious nutcase in any sense of the word) if not with his methods, then with his ideology. Brown was a violent man, in a violent time, and used the tools of slavery against the slavers. He certainly didn't start the violence that led to the civil war, but he (sorry) kicked it up a notch. A reminder that people can do wrong things in the pursuit of good, and that people we all consider nuts may have some good points. No, not you, James Dobson, you're just an asshole.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
I hate to link to the Times
so I won't. If you have TimesSelect (I don't) go over and read John Tierney's latest diatribe on the paucity of conservatives in higher education. I wonder, is there any connection between the 20 year crusade by conservatives against higher education and the claimed declining numbers of conservatives in that same profession? Do they somehow think that demonizing professors will convert them to their cause? really? honestly? or that by calling the instutitions corrupt and biased will somehow convince conservatives to become professors?
come on, people, get over it. The more you complain, the less likely it is that people who actually respect you will enter the profession. or is that maybe the whole idea? it can't be that cynical, can it?
come on, people, get over it. The more you complain, the less likely it is that people who actually respect you will enter the profession. or is that maybe the whole idea? it can't be that cynical, can it?
Friday, October 14, 2005
Is it winter already?
what do carrier catapaults, snowmobiles, helicopters and people with more testosterone than common sense have in common? oh yes, it must be time for a new Warren Miller film. A childhood tradition in my family. If you've never seen one, you really should try it, the production values and the absurd mountain tricks are well worth the price of admission. My favourite line of all time was the instruction on how to get into his movies. "start with a ten foot drop. Keep adding ten feet until the height equals your IQ. then give me a call."
Joke of the Day`
George Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld are flying on Air Force One. The President looks at the Vice President, chuckles, and says, "You know, I could throw a $1,000 bill out the window right now and make somebody very happy."
The Vice President shrugs and says, "Well, I could throw 10 $100 bills out the window and make 10 people very happy."
Not to be outdone, the Secretary of Defense says, "Of course, then, I could throw 100 $10 bills out the window and make a hundred people very happy."
The pilot rolls his eyes and says to his co-pilot, "Such arrogant asses back there. Hell, I could throw the three of them out the window and make 56 million people really happy."
The Vice President shrugs and says, "Well, I could throw 10 $100 bills out the window and make 10 people very happy."
Not to be outdone, the Secretary of Defense says, "Of course, then, I could throw 100 $10 bills out the window and make a hundred people very happy."
The pilot rolls his eyes and says to his co-pilot, "Such arrogant asses back there. Hell, I could throw the three of them out the window and make 56 million people really happy."
Back to the future?
Just when you thought nostalgia for the 'good old days' of the 40s and 50s and a nice easy, homogenous society was taking over, two things come along to remind us of the not-so-good. First, Good Night and Good Luck (watch the trailer) to remind us of McArthyist witchhunting, and the cruel reality of polio making an appearance in the US for the first time since 1979.
Not so much fun any more, is it? Quick, name the two countries that have had polio cases in 2005. If you guessed the US and Nigeria, you win the gold ring. Take the bloody vaccine, huh people? Strange that people will ignore the extinction of mammalian, amphibian and reptilian species, but won't lift a finger to actively pursue the extinction of something as onerous as Poliovirus. take the shot, and let's get rid of the damn thing, once and for all, shall we?
By the way, to remind us of some of the good old stuff, Studs Terkel was on Nightline tonight. Go out, buy one of his books and think of what the Left is supposed to be about: people.
Not so much fun any more, is it? Quick, name the two countries that have had polio cases in 2005. If you guessed the US and Nigeria, you win the gold ring. Take the bloody vaccine, huh people? Strange that people will ignore the extinction of mammalian, amphibian and reptilian species, but won't lift a finger to actively pursue the extinction of something as onerous as Poliovirus. take the shot, and let's get rid of the damn thing, once and for all, shall we?
By the way, to remind us of some of the good old stuff, Studs Terkel was on Nightline tonight. Go out, buy one of his books and think of what the Left is supposed to be about: people.
looking at the world
from the bottom of a well...Mike Doughty.
Looking at the World from the Bottom of a Well
just cause it sounds good today. why not?
Looking at the World from the Bottom of a Well
just cause it sounds good today. why not?
What's the most important date in Western History?
many are arguable, but in Western Europe, October 14, 1066 is pretty high up on the list. Yes, that'd be the Battle of Hastings, of course. also known as the last successful foreign invasion of England. That's a 961 year successful record, not too shabby.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
I should be doing homework
just how much of an easterly variation will the Coriolis Effect have on a missile fired due north, from 10 degrees N at 1000m/s after 1000 s? if you know, can you give me an idea? thanks. anyway, for some strange reason, I can't get work done, Flashdance is on Telemundo. They dubbed the songs. why? I'm not sure, but I can't take my eyes away from the really, really bad dubbing and sound mixing. If there is a prize for dubbing a movie en espanol, this one didn't win it, although I guess you don't really watch the movie for Jennifer Beal's catchy dialogue, right?
more intelligence on design
Over at TPMCafe Dr. Jeremy Gunn (that ain't a degree in Theology, I bet) of the ACLU talks about the new National Academies report on Science education and the importance for future economic growth. Got some time? download the whole shebang here Somewhat suprisingly, it points out that ID is total and complete bunk, and belongs in science classrooms about as much as alchemy (speaking of alchemy, even Sir Isaac Newton, a not too shabby mathmetician, was a crypto-alchemist, although he was wise enough to keep it a secret his entire life. it may have been his private passion, but he knew what other scientists thought of it and that it wasn't ready for Prime Time, if only the IDers had the same sense)
I just had a brainstorm. Maybe, just maybe, this is all a plan to stop immigration! There seems to be a strong correlation between the anti-immigration folks and the IDers, maybe the plan is to run ourselves down to such an extent that the flow of immigrants dries up. After all, it's not like people were flooding into Rome around 600, right? Actually, it's a perfect defense mechanism as well, even better than Star Wars! I notice the Goths and Visigoths stopped sacking Rome roughly the same time the lead in the waterkicked in. hmm...
I just had a brainstorm. Maybe, just maybe, this is all a plan to stop immigration! There seems to be a strong correlation between the anti-immigration folks and the IDers, maybe the plan is to run ourselves down to such an extent that the flow of immigrants dries up. After all, it's not like people were flooding into Rome around 600, right? Actually, it's a perfect defense mechanism as well, even better than Star Wars! I notice the Goths and Visigoths stopped sacking Rome roughly the same time the lead in the waterkicked in. hmm...
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
my weekend: the blog list
total miles driven: 1147.3
estimated hours: 23 driving, 8 loading/unloading
songs played on my ipod: 387
states travelled: 6, plus DC.
cups of coffee drunk: 21
cereal bars consumed: 9
victories by my fantasy football teams while I was away: 1
losses:1
chicken wings consumed: 7
liters of diet coke drunk: 3
minutes on my cell phone: 256
visits to dunkin donuts: 4
washer/dryers illegally rewired: 1
chandeliers uninstalled: 1
Chandeliers installed: 1
hours of sleep since wednesday morning: 26
traffic citations received: shockingly, 0
family members seen: 7
number of people in Pennsylvania rest area wearing Steelers t-shirts: all of them.
number of squished pennies purchased:1
number of times the aformentioned squished penny machine failed to deliver: 2
commercially non-valuable family heirlooms delivered: priceless.
estimated hours: 23 driving, 8 loading/unloading
songs played on my ipod: 387
states travelled: 6, plus DC.
cups of coffee drunk: 21
cereal bars consumed: 9
victories by my fantasy football teams while I was away: 1
losses:1
chicken wings consumed: 7
liters of diet coke drunk: 3
minutes on my cell phone: 256
visits to dunkin donuts: 4
washer/dryers illegally rewired: 1
chandeliers uninstalled: 1
Chandeliers installed: 1
hours of sleep since wednesday morning: 26
traffic citations received: shockingly, 0
family members seen: 7
number of people in Pennsylvania rest area wearing Steelers t-shirts: all of them.
number of squished pennies purchased:1
number of times the aformentioned squished penny machine failed to deliver: 2
commercially non-valuable family heirlooms delivered: priceless.
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