Won't Get Trumped Again

 Here we go again.  We managed to get rid of him in 2020 but he's not going to give up.  

He's a convicted felon now, yet still the race is nearly even. 

He's a convicted rapist (in common terms, not legal) yet still the race is nearly even.

He encouraged an insurrection and sat by for hours before lifting a finger to stop it... yet still...

He caused Roe to fall and abortion has been prohibited in multiple states... yet still...

He's not supportive of Ukraine in their defense from invasion and praises Russia yet...

In a national debate he stated that Haitian immigrants were stealing and eating pets yet...

Hundreds of Republicans from the last few administrations (including his) endorse his opponent, yet...

That's just a few of the problems with him as a candidate.  There are many, many more.  Yet...

But, you know, Kamala Harris is black.  Maybe.  Maybe not, if you listen to Republicans.   And she's a WOMAN!

Her support has continued to grow, if the polls are accurate (uh oh).  So there is hope. I refuse to give up that hope.

Get out and vote, people.  

"Life is a Fatal Disease"

We've all heard that the only thing certain in life is death and taxes, right? Well, you may be able to avoid taxes, I suppose, but as of now there is no way to avoid death. It comes for us all.


Yes, this sounds like a fun post, doesn't it?


Well, it's not as morbid as it may sound. This all comes from a line in a song by one of my favorite artists, Nuno Bettencourt. The song is "Swollen Princess" and it was written, from what I've heard, as he was contemplating his child's birth. It seems he was thinking about what could be going through the child's mind at that moment and the terror that a birth must instill.

And if I tell you all the truth
Would you promise not to cry
I prefer it back inside
It's nothin' that you did or said
I'm just kinda scared
I've just heard life is a fatal disease

Something with this song resonated with me. It was written in 1997, 11 years before the birth of my own "Swollen Princess", Shannon. Yet that last line, especially, connected with me when I first heard it. Not as a pessimistic view but as a slight dark, slightly comical take on reality. But even more so as a reason to make the most of life. From the day we are born, we're counting down til the end.


So don't act as the newborn in the song wishes to... don't hide from life; don't let the fear drive your decisions. Go out, leave your comfort zone from time time. Try something new and experience your life. I don't always (or often?) take that advice, I'll admit. But I'm trying to do so more often. And you know? I'm finding that I often like the results.


The day we are born, a doctor would be able to diagnose us, unfortunately, with that ultimately incurable disease, life. But so what? It's your life, make the most of it!

Trumped!

I wasn't going to dive right into this topic.   I thought I would do some lighter posts first before I came around to the President but not a day goes by that he doesn't do something idiotic so here we are.

I still am dumbfounded by the fact that this unqualified, ignorant, disrespectful, failure managed to lock down the Republican nomination much less the Presidency of the United States of America.  I know there are many reasons people voted for him.  They wanted change.  They thought electing someone who was not a politician might bring the change they wanted.  They thought running America like a business would be a good thing.  Some voted for him simply because they were Republicans and he was their candidate.  And yes, I am convinced that some liked his less appealing qualities.  He objectifies women.  He is a racist.  He's a moron.  You may not agree with all of these, but I am confident they are all true (and disgusting behavior for anyone, let alone a president).

I can forgive people who elected him the first time around, but if you still feel he is worthy of that position and plan on voting for him again... I just don't know what to say.  How could you?  Why would you?  Is it just because you like how he "owns the libs"  Seriously.  We've seen that he doesn't know what he is doing in any arena.  He cozies up to Russia and refuses to take action against them.  He is trying to make Kim and South Korea his bestest friend.  He's not likely to succeed in his trade war with China, he can't be bothered to keep up on the weather and forces others in his administration to lie when he gives out incorrect information on a hurricane, when primary challengers arise to run against him he shuts down primary elections in several states, he calls the press his primary opponent and constantly accuses them of lying even when it is easily proved they are not, he lies about his crowd sizes over and over,  he feeds visitors to the White House fast food, he constantly spreads rumors from conspiracy theorists while at the same time saying his own intelligence agencies are lying to make him look bad, while he is shown evidence again and again that foreign nations are trying to influence our elections, he refuses to do anything to counter the influence, and lets not forget that he has (on multiple occasions) stated that he wants to expand gun control, only to back down each time after meeting with the NRA. 

The list goes on and on.  Pretty much any one of these issues would have destroyed another candidate.  How is it that so many people, apparently at least about one third of the American public, DO NOT CARE?  When did we decide that party Trumps country?  I don't expect that he will be able to win re-election.  But then again, I didn't expect that he had a chance of even winning his parties nomination and here we are.  For the sake of our nation, I hope sanity prevails.  I sincerely hope we are not Trumped again.

It lives!

Time.

Passes.

Too.

Quickly.



I don't know where it has all gone!  I suppose that is what happens as your life grows.  Kids.  Family issues.  Job issues.  They all take time away from your previous interests.   I never imagined that I would allow this blog to sit idle for nearly a decade, but here we are.  Not that I haven't spent time online and kept sharing some of my life in one manner or another.  Technology has changed and the face of social media has as well in this decade.  Microblogging via posts on twitter and facebook have become much more the norm than full blogs on sites such as this.  Smartphones and tablets have replaced laptops for many of us.  And face it, the keyboards on those devices just aren't conductive to lengthy posts.  Besides, who has time to read paragraphs or pages of stories from friends.  It's a new era.  But I miss this format.  So I'm considering ways for me to re-approach it.

My kids are growing.  Six and ten.  They don't need my constant attention anymore.  So yes, IT LIVES! 

You're Kidding Me, Right?

Lawsuit Filed Against Evolution

Tom Ritter, who taught physics and chemistry for over a decade, has filed a federal lawsuit against The Blue Mountain School District in the Middle District of Pennsylvania (13:11 – CV – 116), where he resides.

Great, a semi-local school for me.  A great way to waste taxpayer money.  And I know that there are many people who will agree with him who will disagree.  The problem is, his argument is so simplistic, and so wrong, that I could win the case against him.  If you are going to take this to court, at least have a reasonable case that has a chance of winning.  This is more likely meant to be a publicity stunt than a case that he actually thinks he cn win, hence it is a waste of taxpayers money.

Biology studies organisms. It can also explain how organisms got that way, but studying organisms does not require explaining how they got that way, and the theory of evolution is bad science

Interesting that he seems to understand that there is a difference between biology and evolution.  Keep that in mind for a later point.  Now I'm not sure of his logic in this paragraph.  Is he trying to make an argument or just stating his premise.  I'll assume the latter since he doesn't make any cogent argument at this point.  I take it he is basically trying to say he is not anti-biology, just anti-evolution. Here is his actual argument:

Evolutionists cannot demonstrate that three critical points are even possible, let alone that they actually happened:

(1) No one has demonstrated that life can be created from non-life.  (Reports of artificial DNA do not alter this fact. Life is still required.)

(2) No one has demonstrated that a new "sexual species" can be created. (Since the definition of species is contested, for these purposes it is defined as an organism that can breed with its own kind and produce fertile offspring, but cannot breed with its ancestors.)

(3) Evolutionists theorize the human brain evolved from lower forms. Over 50 years into the age of computers, machines can crunch numbers far better and faster than humans, recognize and use language and tools, and beat us in chess. Yet science has yet to build even a rudimentary computer that can contemplate its own existence, the hallmark of the human brain. (Contemplating your existence is best understood as imagining what will remain after your death.) And no animal, no matter how "intelligent," can do this either.

Wow.  That's it, huh?  I truly can't even say nice try.  Now remember, I have no more experience in biology than basic high school and college classes from 15+ years ago.  These arguments are just off the top of my head and I am certain that the people who actually argue this case will have much more expertise.  The fact that I can so easily explain his objections does not bode well for his case.

(1) This is a common mistake by those arguing against evolution.  Evolution is a process that explains how one living organism changes into a new living organism, it does not address the origin of life from non-living substances.  This is where i bring up his earlier point that biology and evolution are not the same.  He seemed to understand that earlier, but he obviously doesn't understand specifically what the topic of evolution covers. Furthermore, the lack of an explanation for one process does not mean that the explanation provided for other processes is wrong, it has no impact on the processes described by evolution.  His first argument has absolutely no detraction to evolution.

(2) New species discovered in 2010.  Ok, the evolution of these species was not observed, but that is not likely to happen.  In the first place, evolution does not happen in hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades, or centuries.  It takes thousands of years for observable changes to occur.  Longer for speciation to happen.  However, I'll grant him this.  Of his three arguments, this is the one that could actually apply to the issue.

(3) Huh?  So the fact that we have not created sentient computers in 50 years is evidence that evolution is junk science?  This makes absolutely no sense.  In the first place, computers aren't evolving.  In the second place, 50 years is very little time compared to the millions of years that it has taken humans to evolve.  This argument again has no relation to the validity of evolution.  Also, the little quip thrown in about no other animals being able to contemplate their own existence is debatable.  It is definitely a claim he cannot prove.  It is also irrelevant to the claim that evolution is not scientific.

Ask anyone who espouses evolution if these three points are not true.

Ask anyone who espouses evolution (or just general logic) if these three points have any impact on the validity of evolution.

If evolution is unscientific, why teach it? Because no Creator means no God. In other words, evolution taught without a possible alternative is Atheism.

Well, evolution is scientific and you have done nothing to cast doubt on that with your arguments.  As I said above, evolution does not describe the origin of life, just the EVOLUTION of one for of life into another.  So evolution on its own does not absolutely rule out a creator.  Also, there are many Christians that believe in both God and evolution so these statements are obviously untrue.  Evolution my cast doubt on the creation myth of the Bible but it does not absolutely negate it, at least not for all people.

Now Atheism rests on an article of faith (A strong belief that cannot be proven but is nonetheless believed). 

Therefore Atheism is a religion

No, Atheism rests on the fact that the existence of a god is not proven and that acceptance of a claim should be based on evidence and proof, not faith.   Atheism is the lack of belief in a god, not the claim that a god does not exist.  Again it seems that you are discussing a subject that you misunderstand.  Atheism, in and of itself, is not a religion anymore than lack of belief in aliens or ghosts is a religion.

So there you have it.  A lawsuit based on misunderstandings of the subject matter and bad logic.  But the school will need to spend money to defend itself and the courts will spend time hearing the case.  What a waste.

Happy New Year!

I survived 1/1/11 and all I got was this lousy blog entry.

The holidays are over (except for one more neighborhood party).  The freezing weather took a break for the weekend.  I managed to take down the lights on the house yesterday, the tree is the goal for today.

I've struggled with determining what the holiday season means for me (being an atheist) and what should I do to celebrate.  I don't begrudge others their "reason for the season" and have no problem wishing a Merry Christmas to anyone, even though I don't believe myself.  I have a Christmas tree in my home and it is called that, not a holiday tree or some other phrase.  I love the season, I don't have a war on Christmas.  To me the Christmas season is obviously more than Jesus' birthday or I wouldn't partake.  To me it is the spirit of the season, perhaps exemplified by the stories of Jesus, but not limited to Jesus or Christians, that I look forward to.  Not presents, I could do without those.  But the feeling of family, hope, love, goodwill.  That is what Christmas means to me and that is what I look forward to every year.

I generally avoid proselytizing about atheism during the season, out of respect for those who believe.  But I have found, at least in the last year or two, that at least one or two believers make it clear to me that they feel I don't have the right to share in the festivities.  If I'm an atheist I should be sad, lonely and Scroogelike during this season, apparently.  I honestly believe this is a result of the supposed "War on Christmas."  It seems that those who treat me this way are also the ones who complain about stores labeling things as "holiday" rather than "Christmas" or people wishing them "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas".  Yet they are upset if I wish them "Merry Christmas" or that I have a Christmas tree because I am an atheist and don't believe so my wishes or participation are basically sacrilege.  So, basically there is no making them happy, unless I cower in my home and communicate with no one during this time of the year, apparently.  Damned if I do, damned if I don't.

Well, anyway... I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and I hope your new year is simply incredible.  Happy Holidays everyone!

Hello blogger!

Bye Vox! With Vox closing I needed a new host. Figured I might as well condense my blog into my Google presence. Wasn't straighforward, but here it is.

For anyone else looking to do so, I had to use Wordpress as a blog layover. Wordpress has a tool that imports Vox blogs. That went fine. Then export your Wordpress blog and you'll get their custom .xml file. Nope, that won't import here. I used http://wordpress2blogger.appspot.com/ to convert the file and that seemed to work well. The resulting file imported to blogger easily.

Not too terrible. Four steps and you're here. Of course you need to create a temporary Wordpress blog. I deleted it after I successfully imported here. Good luck!