The Rant

From Vegabox The Church says that the earth is flat, but I know that it is round, for I have seen its shadow on the moon, and I have more faith in a shadow than in the Church. ~ Ferdinand Magellan - (disputed) I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours. ~ Stephen Roberts Man is certainly stark mad: he cannot make a worm, yet he will make gods by the dozen. ~ Michel de Montaigne Any intelligent fool can make things better, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius, and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction. ~ Albert Einstein Which is it, is man one of God's blunders or is God one of man's? ~ Nietzsche We, on our side, are praying to Him to give us victory, because we believe we are right; but those on the other side pray to Him, too, for victory, believing they are right. What must He think of us? ~ Abraham...

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Envoy's Letters Counter Bush on Dismantling of Iraq Army By Edmund L. Andrews The New York Times Tuesday 04 September 2007 Washingtion - A previously undisclosed exchange of letters shows that President Bush was told in advance by his top Iraq envoy in May 2003 of a plan to "dissolve Saddam's military and intelligence structures," a plan that the envoy, L. Paul Bremer, said referred to dismantling the Iraqi Army. Mr. Bremer provided the letters to The New York Times on Monday after reading that Mr. Bush was quoted in a new book as saying that American policy had been "to keep the army intact" but that it "didn't happen." The dismantling of the Iraqi Army in the aftermath of the American invasion is now widely regarded as a mistake that stoked rebellion among hundreds of thousands of former Iraqi soldiers and made it more difficult to reduce sectarian bloodshed and attacks by insurgents. In releasing the letters, Mr. Bremer...

From a Presidential Speech Jan 10, 2007 Succeeding in Iraq also requires defending its territorial integrity and stabilizing the region in the face of extremist challenges. This begins with addressing Iran and Syria. These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq. Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We'll interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq...... From a Presidential Speech August 28, 2007 to the American Legion ....The other strain of radicalism in the Middle East is Shia extremism, supported and embodied by the regime that sits in Tehran. Iran has long been a source of trouble in the region. It is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. Iran backs Hezbollah who are trying to undermine the democratic government of L...

The Universe as a Hologram Does Objective Reality Exist, or is the Universe a Phantasm? In 1982 a remarkable event took place. At the University of Paris a research team led by physicist Alain Aspect performed what may turn out to be one of the most important experiments of the 20th century. You did not hear about it on the evening news. In fact, unless you are in the habit of reading scientific journals you probably have never even heard Aspect's name, though there are some who believe his discovery may change the face of science. Aspect and his team discovered that under certain circumstances subatomic particles such as electrons are able to instantaneously communicate with each other regardless of the distance separating them. It doesn't matter whether they are 10 feet or 10 billion miles apart. Somehow each particle always seems to know what the other is doing. The problem with this feat is that it violates Einstein's long-held tenet that no communication can travel f...

A student has been suspended from school in America for coming to class dressed as a pirate. But the disciplinary action has provoked controversy – because the student says that the ban violates his rights, as the pirate costume is part of his religion. Bryan Killian says that he follows the Pastafarian religion, and that as a crucial part of his faith, he must wear 'full pirate regalia' as prescribed in the holy texts of Pastafarianism. The school, however, say that his pirate garb was disruptive. Pastafarians follow the Flying Spaghetti Monster (pictured), and believe that the world was created by the touch of his noodly appendage. Furthermore, they acknowledge pirates as being 'absolute divine beings', and stress that the worldwide decline in the number of pirates has directly led to global warming. Pastafarianism gained wide attention when its key prophet, Bobby Henderson, wrote to the Kansas School Board during the height of the controversy over 'Intelligent D...

This poem is called racists by some and has caused some controversy. Is there any truth in it? Note that in response to insults, he lists some alleged "facts" lower down in the comment section. He has a lot of nerve to indict an entire religion, doesn't he? Notice how he defines a "moderate Moslem": basically a Moslem who doesn't practice his religion! bobcat

_______________________________ He who knows not and knows not he knows not, He is a fool - Shun him. He who knows not and knows he knows not, He is simple - Teach him. He who knows and knows not he knows, he is asleep - Awaken him. He who knows and knows that he knows, He is wise - Follow him. -Bruce Lee

Quotes - Science "I don't like it, and I'm sorry I ever had anything to do with it." -- Erwin Schrodinger talking about quantum mechanics. "If I have seen farther than other men, it is because I stood on the shoulders of giants." -- Sir Isaac Newton "As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain, and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality." -- Albert Einstein (1879-1955) "Only two things are certain: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not certain about the universe." -- Albert Einstein (1879-1955) "All science is either physics or stamp collecting." -- Ernest (1st Baron) Rutherford (1871-1937) "The good Christian should beware of mathematicians and all those who make empty prophecies. The danger already exists that mathematicians have made a covenant with the devil to darken the spirit and confine man in the bonds of Hell." -- St. Augustine (354-430) "It is ...

__________________________ Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature Why most suicide bombers are Muslim, beautiful people have more daughters, humans are naturally polygamous, sexual harassment isn't sexist, and blonds are more attractive. Psychology Today 1. Men like blond bombshells (and women want to look like them) Long before TV—in 15th- and 16th- century Italy, and possibly two millennia ago—women were dying their hair blond. A recent study shows that in Iran, where exposure to Western media and culture is limited, women are actually more concerned with their body image, and want to lose more weight, than their American counterparts. It is difficult to ascribe the preferences and desires of women in 15th-century Italy and 21st-century Iran to socialization by media. Women's desire to look like Barbie—young with small waist, large breasts, long blond hair, and blue eyes—is a direct, realistic, and sensible response to the desire of men to mate with women who loo...

"Fourteen Things That It Took Me Over 50 Years To Learn" by Dave Barry 1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night. 2. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings." 3. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." 4. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them. 5. You should not confuse your career with your life. 6. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. 7. Never lick a steak knife. 8. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip. 9. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time. 10. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant un...

___________________ Congressional Democrats today failed to include a provision in homeland security legislation that would protect the public from being sued for reporting suspicious behavior that may lead to a terrorist attack, according to House Republican leaders. Washington Times

Bob: Earlier I recommended reading Kite Runner. Well I just started Khaled Hosseini's new book A Thousand Splendid Suns. Put it on your summer reading list. Us in the land of opportunity might gain some insights about the world we live in.

______________________________ P olitics Imitates Art; Gordon Brown is Cornelius Fudge. [ Lisa Schiffren ] The struggle between good and evil, freedom and enslavement is, of course, an eternal literary theme. Still, one can't help but notice the astonishing manner in which Gordon Brown has taken a page directly from Harry Potter — and the just released film of Book Seven, [Actually, Book Five] at that. Specifically, Brown's strong desire not to call Islamic terrorism by name echoes the insistence of the head of the Wizard government, the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge — to refer to their mortal enemy, Voldemort, as "he who must not be named." So, even greater kudos to J.K. Rowling, who understood back in the 90's that the world's youth needed a rousing tale of heroism in the face of evil. Whatever her politics — and I believe she has not indulged in a discussion of them — she has made the point again and again in her books, that, in the face of the grav...

______________________________ T he evil Davey Jones, in the last two Pirates of the Caribbean movies, before he commences negotiations, asks a key preliminary question: "Do you fear death?" The majority of ordinary mortals who fear death are willing to listen to his proposal: death or enslavement. The answer to this question is also what distinguishes violent religious fanatics from ordinary people, and what makes religious fanatics so dangerous. If my enemy is an ordinary mammal, I am protected by his own self interest. He wishes to gain some benefit from me in this material world, and as long as I offer him some reasonable bargain, there is a basis for compromise and peace. He will not easily risk his own life for some small material gain, as he fears death. He thinks in terms of cost benefit analysis on a rational basis. But when my enemy is a Moslem bent upon Jihad, his mind has been convinced that if he does the bidding of his religious master, he will be benefited, not...

______________________ When the U.S.S.R. imploded, many essays were written speculating on the topic: "Who will be our next big enemy?" Some talked about how the 21st century was the century of China and China would be our next enemy. Some imagined that the Eurpean Union would swell into a potential rival and enemy. But China is one of our biggest trading partners, necessary to our standard of living. China needs us as much as we need China. Europeans are our friends and where we love to visit on vacation. Europeans are virtually pacifists and hardly a threat to our country. Some, (showing a slight improvement in the Vision thing), point to the axis of evil: North Korea, Iran and Iraq. Bush, perhaps believing this story, went to war with Iraq, and rattles sabers at Iran. But the outcome of our victory against the political state of Iraq points out with startling clarity that our real enemy today is not one of these poor, pathetic states in the Mid-East, such as ...

_______________________ by Diana West Q: Who is winning the really important war of ideas — the one between the West and itself? A: Not the side that understands jihad as a foundational Islamic institution. This is nothing new. From September 11 onward, the yeoman effort of elites has been to wrench "Islam" away from all acts of jihad. But now, particularly after the London and Glasgow attacks, their efforts have achieved a deeper level of denial, and, worse, broader consensus. The new British prime minister, Gordon Brown, has directed ministers to omit "Muslim" when discussing (Muslim) terrorism. And forget the generic "war on terror"; even that pathetic phrase is off limits. (This has absolutely nothing to do with Mr. Brown's unctuously stated goal to make Britain "the gateway for Islamic finance.") The new Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith (love that "i" ending) refers to British Muslims as "communities" — maybe a prelude ...

__________________________________ I don't claim to have followed the trial for "Scooter" Libby carefully. But this is another case where no crime was found or charged except the crime of lying to the investigator, in this case a "Special Prosecutor". (Another one like this was Martha Stewart). Perhaps they should change the Special Prosecutor's name to the Divine Inquisitor. An attorney in my office was called to jury duty. He was advised that the trial was about a person being in the vicinity of a prostitute, where prostition activity was known to be going on, although there was no evidence that he actually had sex with the prostitute. Apparently this is now a crime in the good city of Santa Ana. Mike advised the Prosecutor that he thought the prosecution of such "crimes" was a waste of taxpayer money. You should not have to go to jail if you didn't even get laid. I feel the same about these special prosecutions for "lying" to ...

George Mason, a distinguished Virginian who refused to sign the Constitution because of its lack of a bill of rights, noted that “the President of the United States has the unrestrained Power of granting Pardon for Treason; which may be sometimes exercised to screen from Punishment those whom he had secretly instigated to commit the Crime, and thereby prevent a Discovery of his own guilt.” Luther Martin, a somewhat less distinguished but extremely interesting non-signatory from Maryland (who also raised questions about the collaboration with slavery), also objected to the potential “attempt [of the President] to assume to himself powers not given by the constitution, and establish himself in regal authority; in which attempt a provision is made for him to secure from punishment the creatures of his ambition, the associates and abettors of his treasonable practices, by granting them pardons should they be defeated in their attempts to subvert the constitution.”