Random Observations about...
December 2004

Gaia's Deeper Purpose

Among others, Michael Crichton has postulated that environmentalism is a proxy religion for secular humanists who reject the JudeoChristian metaphysic....

Metablogging Notes

Sorry for the infrequent, long, and ranty articles lately. I'm not begging or pandering for readership -- if I were, you'd see more scantly-clad girly pictures here.

NY Times: No Anti-Americanism Here

Mona Charen: The [New York] Times does not tell readers that the United States is the world's largest food aid...

Christmas's Pagan Origins?

A number of people have argued that the December 25th date for Christmas has pagan origins. But it looks like...

EU Environmental Insanity

In 2000, Scotland implemented a clever scheme which would both be environmentally friendly and generate useful byproducts. The EU, it turns out, will have none of it. Worse, the final outcome is nothing less than insane.

The Polar Express: One Christian's Take

Saw Polar Express this afternoon. Technically, not bad. Theologically, far from Christian. Or at least, that's how I saw it.

Be On The Alert...

For thieves with a huge stomach ache: A Seattle patrol officer discovered a 30-foot Dreyer's Ice Cream truck in South...

Yes, That's the Point, Isn't It?

Helen: The structure of the European Constitution, its size, detailed instructions and necessary vagueness about details is essential to the...

Entrance/Exit Ticket

Andy: "My own flirtation with liberal Christianity began out of a desire for a faith with honesty and intellectual depth....

'Tis the Season...

La Shawn: Kwanzaa was invented in 1966 by Dr. Maulana “Ron” Karenga, a former black militant, Marxist and convicted felon....

Quixtar: Fake Capitalism

Recent, we're seeing a new trend in Quixtar discussion on this blog -- a trend which harkens back to the...

The Pretenders

Perhaps the left is something quite different than I'd imagined -- perhaps it's just the tip of an historical iceberg.

Up-Armored Humvees, Part 2

What is "constructive criticsm"? Constructive criticism is that which is aimed at improving things, not destroying them. There are three...

Anthony Flew's 'Conversion'

I originally wrote about this subject much closer to the news itself -- that Flew, a llifelong defender of atheism,...

Macromedia Flash MX 2004 Professional Sucks

I'm using Macromedia Flash. And I'm extremely unhappy about that. I rant at you. As if you cared.

Unintended Consequences

James Bartholomew via John Ray: State education began in 1870 with the Forster Act, which allowed the creation of government...

Air Marshals: Making the Skies... Dressier

In the business world, I learned that marketing copy would be of higher quality if it were written while wearing...

Metaphysical QC

John Ray: "I am myself an atheist but I am always pleased to deal with Christians. I think that having...

The UN: What is it all about?

The New Yorker: Just before Thanksgiving, John Danforth, the United States Ambassador to the U.N., expressed his frustration with the...

Sleep, Obesity Linked

Worried about losing weight? Get enough sleep: We found that people who slept for shorter durations have reduced leptin and...

Barring Black Lawyers

Jacob Hornberger: By limiting the supply of attorneys through a rigorous and expensive system involving getting into and attending law...

Crime Notes: UK and US

Stories of crime and punishment from at home and abroad, united by a common ironic theme.

People Don't Kill People...

Pencil Sharpeners Do! Belmont Club: Pencil sharpeners have been banned from a primary school after a pupil dismantled one and...

Review: John Carpenter's "They Live"

A long review of John Carpenter's late-80s movie about aliens. Or is it Republicans? Or is it really about himself?

Rumsfeld in Kuwait: Hearing Part of the Story

Rumsfeld blows off important questions from the troops. Or does he? The media spins the story, and some parts of the blogosphere fall for it.

Political Motivations

Derek Draper: Although politics does not necessarily provide excitement or power, it does provide a ready-made identity, one where your...

UCC Ad Misleads About Race

If you've been paying attention, you've heard the flap about the United Church of Christ ad rejected by several TV neworks as being too controversial. It's also contrary to the facts.

Democrats Gain in Washington Recount

AP: More than 700 previously uncounted ballots were added in [Democratic-leaning] King County after election workers, under the close watch...

Spong attacks John Stott

John Shelby Spong, perhaps apoplectic that a single orthodox Christian received a tiny bit of positive media coverage, takes it...

O'Reilly: Crypto-Liberal?

I've argued before that O'Reilly is note actually a conservative. And this thought from "Rightwingsparkle" raises the question again: I...

How to Create a Violent Society, Part 2

Theodore Dalrymple: Intellectuals propounded the idea that man should be freed from the shackles of social convention and self-control, and...

Interpol Crime Data Lockdown!

It makes the France, Germany, the UK and Canada look bad. It makes the US look good. You paid for it. But you can't read it anymore. What's going on?

Injected Food

I'm visiting my mom. She's in her 60's. She seems to have picked up a new term lately: mainline. I...

Another Living Liberal Caricature

Been a bit behind on keeping caught up with other blogs, but noticed that last month Deb had attracted a...

Stupid Lexus Commercials

Eric Berlin: The inverse of the Visa commercial is the annual barrage of Lexus commercials, in which a husband or...

Al Franken: "Racist"

I just caught onto the Al Franken/David Horowitz fight. Seems Al called one too many conservatives "racist", as usual without any justification. Unlike so many others, Horowitz didn't take it lying down...

Bono & Jesus

I was a U2 fan way back before they were hugely popular. I liked their message of faith and peace in the face of the the Irish conflict. Sadly, Bono seems have gone over to the dark side lately...

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