chuck kottke

If you took 10 billion people, and stood them all in a circle (with plenty of breathing room), that circle would only be 84 miles (or 134 km) across! All singing and dancing so joyfully together - it would be so cool!:P So what's a mere 60 million, compared to that? We could fit them all neatly in Newcastle!

If you took 10 billion people, and stood them all in a circle (with plenty of breathing room), that circle would only be 84 miles (or 134 km) across! All singing and dancing so joyfully together - it would be so cool!:P So what's a mere 60 million, compared to that? We could fit them all neatly in Newcastle!

I found some Moose doing a tango:[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19plF6QLQJ0]YouTube - Sparring Bull Moose Kiss, and Make Up[/ame] Who's Michelle Fatmanmoose?:rolleyes:

Happy Birthday Julia:hat::)! Enjoy your big day with some musical accompaniments...:drummer::guitarist::operator:

If I understand what the biblical scholars are saying, the bible is the codification and retelling, in written form, of the social and ethical norms of the day (of the day when written, that is to say). The basis for our laws are ethical arguments, but they represent what is accepted as ethical and fair in society in general - having them explained in the bible does not mean that the bible was the source-code for our laws, but reading and interpreting the bible did have an affect on those laws. Social evolution reaches a point where what is understood to be fair is then put down on paper, and that becomes the law of the land.

What? No Moose? What kind of Canadian are ye??:P

And I am here to present to you tonight Sam, the American Eagle. Here to explain what good wholesome patriotic American family entertainment is![ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBuDGHd2Qkg&NR=1]YouTube - Sam the Eagle meets Zero Mostel[/ame][ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYUBnHuYm5U&feature=related]YouTube - The Muppet Show - Interview with William Shakespeare[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCVmKN5At_o&NR=1]YouTube - Sam the Eagle[/ame]

Thanks Bryce! I think I have heard the nicene creed a long, long time ago - but it's good to be refreshed! I'll have to do some searching for Sam (one moment please..)

:inquisitive::) Thanks! I found that interesting - hmm.. the Hamburg Sea Devils .. I'll have to remember that! Sorry to hear that they stopped the league - I would imagine it was disappointing.. It's difficult to start a new venue anywhere, and football here started out on pretty shaky ground when it began as well.. And I missed the broadcasts too! Where was I?? That would have been interesting to see! :laugh3:Yes, I can imagine - for a commercial break - must have been quite odd to see that. True - after a while, it would get like that - to stop everything just for a commercial - I can't recall what they do here.. (I went to some exhibition games here, but can't recall anything stopping for commercials. Usually the commercial breaks were during time-outs and such..) Thanks for the heads-up!:):):)

Metaphor: n. [<Gr. meta, over + pherein, to bear] a figure of speech in which one thing is spoken of as if it were another (Ex: "All the world's a stage"). Well, perhaps this is the case in some instances, Ricardo. So, are you saying that if people are acting on a passage, if they misinterpret it, even though they may be thinking they are doing God's will, are actually not? Who's to say what the correct meaning of a given passage is then?

Step 1 of the scientific method is observation. Without curiosity and interest, there is no step 1. But don't we all have that AHA moment, that moment of amazement and fascination with the natural world? Probability is interesting here - it suggests that this is an incredibly low probability event; just that realization should make us all pause for a moment, and consider just how amazing it all is. I tried adding or subtracting a God, and I found that when I change how I perceived God, then one cannot add or subtract the Universe. God=Universe is how I sees it.;) But in the discourse of human social and cultural evolution, religion has always played a role, and affected how we achieve a mindstate capable of discerning how the universe works. We may be discerning truth, but the cultural forces that got us to this point bear some relevance in the conditions necessary to proceed with scientific discovery. I am not spiritualizing atheism, I am considering broader matters - matters of social interactions between us, that leads to the ultimate decipher of the cipher that is the Universe in which we live. (I keep thinking about the Monty Python movie, where in the end they're learning that the Earth was created as the ultimate computer to find the question for the ultimate answer:laugh3:. They may have beaten us to the punch line.:P) Perhaps we cannot contemplate it all individually, so I am considering our collective weltanschauung.;)

Wasser The NFLE? National Football League of Europe?? I didn't even know such a thing existed! What happened??

That's not true! Christmas was always celebrated, but instead it was the festival of the rebirth of the sun. But Jesus represents the compassionate model of humanity to such a good extent - perhaps idealized and embellished, but I like Jesus. Santa is Old Saint Nick, and evolved out of stories and creative thinking from older traditions. Santa represents the generosity, love, and joy dads have for their children without a doubt, but it's interesting how Santa came to be in popular myth. Simple happiness - it's a time honoring the essence of what it means to be human. But hey, first comes Thanksgiving!:P (gobble gobble).

:rolleyes::laugh3: Bear arms and legs! Or Arm Bears. Or something like that..:P I think though it's not the pledge that's wrong, it's forcing everyone to say it as an indoctrination. Also, if we look at our basic cherished values (speaking as Sam, the American Eagle Here from the Muppets), the values we hold dear are the natural rights of all humans, regardless of their place on the planet. Let's take a look at that basic pledge: "We pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. One nation, under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all" I see the problems as well. We should be pledging allegiance (if we so choose) to the principles of liberty and justice, and to our nation as a protector of those principles. One nation - that's fine, and the indivisible part makes us all feel united (recalling the states' squabbles), but the 'Under God' part was added more recently - I think during WWII. I think the 'Under God' part would be better left off as in the original version. But that would be like trying to change rail sizes for the trains we have, so it would be mighty contentious to do so.. Anyhow, good for the young man to stand up and assert his right to choose!! Freedom of speech also means having the right to not speak, if one so chooses. And forced recitals of oaths is akin to totalitarian thinking - good point! Yes, I understand Spain's hardships during Franco - hard to believe it went on so long! Glad you're free!! PS - Bryce, what's the nicene creed?

Perhaps in an ideal world, this would work, but in the world I see, the general trend is for the John Pierpont Morgans to control with an iron rod if left unchecked, because they would monopolize things quickly, and bribe officials to prevent all corrective measures from happening. If there was a real market, in a Utopian world it might work - but as things stand, the need for honest government and checks are essential. Getting that government to function correctly once again is the challenge I see, and while impossible to achieve perfection, I'm aiming mainly for correction. ;)

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-K7zO3VIl0]YouTube - Supertramp - Bloody Well Right (Studio Version)[/ame] Most people are good basically - it's those who are overly selfish, myopic, and egotistical that do the real damage. Normal people don't suck, but mean people do! I think checks and balances can be re-established - our governments are due for a long overdue overhaul.

I'm still waiting for TV to vanish, and by golly, it's still there too!:laugh3: Yes, Twitter really allows for such in-depth conversations, and it's oh so easy to think, respond intelligently, and mentally digest information on-the-go with Twitter. And what about books? They're still around too!! I've read from 'books on-line', and given the option, I'll gladly read from a real book, any day.;)

:stunned:Is that it? You've got something against chocolate then??:P Brown is cool man, cool..:cool:

San Diego, I'm tellin' ya!:rolleyes::laugh3: But I agree - often I don't think of the Beach Boys, but yes, their music is very uplifting, and more innocent and pure than a lot of todays music is..

LAST:P

Sure, it's a good motivator, and works fine - but like any game, it needs an honest referee; to get the honest referee is the issue - and I would start by electing honest representation. Begin with organizing for numerous small contributions, so elected officials represent the will of the citizens. Then set up carefully crafted checks and balances, restore the 4th estate, and insulate representatives from lobbyists. Pass an amendment guaranteeing the Right to Fair Elections and Fair Contests for Office, and get some honest people on the bench.

Have you tried finding a job working for the Obama administration, Lore? As their foreign ambassador to Chile? (you wouldn't even have to move far, and think of the prestige!):scholar: Jeans might have to go, though.. Dress slacks at the very least, or a suit.:P Concerts would get more affordable - the ambassador should be able to swing some free VIP seats right up front..

:rolleyes:Such presumptions, Jay! Immigrants generally are the physical labor force!! The real answer is to help get the economies of those other countries growing smoothly, so we can all move there.:P

Perhaps what is wrong is forced recital at such an early age, since it is an indoctrination into loyalty without first offering the choice to understand the oath, and allowing students the right to considering if they want to swear allegiance to it (as symbolically represented by the flag). But the" with Liberty and Justice for All" part is the ideal we should all try and live up to as Americans - falling short of that is the real problem! This is what we need to reach for, and the gap between reality and ideal is where the problem is. I think it's good to recite that part, as it does reinforce what our ideals are, and that we need to fight for equal justice then when corruption and inequality corrodes the scales of justice.

No Democratic state can exist for long without the formation of a vibrant Middle Class, and that Middle Class requires nurturing by a government of the people, which promotes the common good, and secures the blessings of liberty. Capitalism requires no central planner, but does need a good referee, and a stable class with enough leisure time to consider correct measure for the improvements necessary to build a better society. (and by leisure time I mean time to study, think, interact, and participate as citizens). Are we seeing Adam Smith at work above, or Alexander Hamilton?