"The Energy Department said it has come up with $5 million to immediately restore jobs cut at a renewable energy laboratory President George W. Bush will visit on Tuesday, avoiding a potentially embarrassing moment as the president promotes his energy plan." - Jobs cut at energy lab restored before Bush visit By Tom Doggett Reuters Monday, February 20, 2006
No that isn't embarrassing at all except that they were caught restoring cut funding and it has been published. I think this shows exactly how seriously George W. Bush believes in cutting our energy dependence on oil.
Just as a note to everyone: Articles like this don't usually make it to the front page of Google News. Sometimes you have to click on the U.S. button on the sidebar to find something interesting.
Source
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
Why be Concerned by Homosexual Marriage?
I've always wondered why so many people get so worked up over homosexual marriage. Every time I've asked someone who is against it why they have their position I never get a satisfactory response. The best answer I have received is that marriage is something that is between a man and a woman. This answer is completely unsatisfactory in defending the argument because their position is reduced to arguing over the definition of a word. I have no problem with calling homosexual marriage civil unions for the sake of progress towards decency since the whole purpose of homosexuals being allowed to marry is for them to have the same legal rights contained in the legal definition of marriage as heterosexual couples. It is exceptionally cruel to deny someone’s partner the right to be beside his partner's deathbed just because they are not legally married. In many instances homosexual couples have been together just as long or longer than many married couples. Yet we as individuals, a society, and country do this to people. Homosexual marriage will end this cruelty to people. Denying someone basic decencies such as this over the use of a word makes one a representative of evil. My best clue to a better reason for the position against homosexual marriage is that it is religiously offensive to them. It is conceivably possible that those with this position see homosexual marriage as an offense against God. However, this does not adequately explain why one should oppose homosexual couples having the same legal rights in their unions as heterosexual couples. The rights in question are legal rights not religious ones. The act of marriage that could be construed as offensive is homosexuals performing the marriage ceremony with the Bible and everything. Denying homosexuals legal rights does not stop them from performing this ceremony since they have done it without getting marriage licenses for years. Under the constitution of this country it is unconstitutional to stop homosexuals from taking part in a marriage ceremony with their partners because such a ceremony falls under the jurisdiction of religion and freedom to worship as one sees fit is a cornerstone of this country. All denying homosexuals the legal rights under marriage does is punish people who haven't caused anyone harm. Those seeking to deny homosexuals the right freedom of religion are no better than the clerics in the Arab world who tell their followers to go out and burn stuff because they won't allow freedom of speech when it has to do with their prophet. The advent of homosexual marriage in no way changes anyone's marriage or makes anyone's marriage less strong in the eyes of God or the law. I suggest to all those who are against homosexual marriage that you should go home and spend some quality time with your spouse and children instead of trying to make people who are different suffer. Maybe then the divorce rate wouldn't be so high.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Iran, Nukes, and Hamas
Much of what I read in the news these days centers around Iran and their uranium enrichment program. I have a hard time understanding why Americans should be very concerned about it. Iran insists that it is developing the process for the purpose of cheap abundant energy and not for nuclear weapons. As they have stated before they do have a right to do such a thing. The U.S. telling them not to is arrogant and violates the fact that Iran is a sovereign nation. If for some reason Iran chooses to develop nuclear weapons even though they claim they will not then the U.S. has perfectly good reason to take decisive action. Rather than being arrogant and insulting it would be a much better policy to state that if Iran ever does develop nuclear weapons that those weapons and the facilities for making them will be destroyed in airstrikes. Add to this economic sanctions and everything should work out fine. If for some insanely foolish reason Iran should choose to use a nuclear weapon the U.S. should make it very clear that Iran will be annihilated from the face of the planet by our nuclear weapons. There is no need to take any action now when the U.S. can dictate the necessary consequences for such dangerous behavior in the future.
On another topic, Hamas still refuses to recognize that Israel has a right to exist. This isn't really surprising but I would have hoped that they'd care about their people who will likely end up starving without Western aid. One really has to wonder why Israel and the West fund people who enjoy blowing themselves up in the streets to murder others. I suppose I can't hope that the Palestinians will realize that the aid is long standing proof that the west is actually nicer to them than they think. Is it really too much to ask that they stop the murdering in return?
On another topic, Hamas still refuses to recognize that Israel has a right to exist. This isn't really surprising but I would have hoped that they'd care about their people who will likely end up starving without Western aid. One really has to wonder why Israel and the West fund people who enjoy blowing themselves up in the streets to murder others. I suppose I can't hope that the Palestinians will realize that the aid is long standing proof that the west is actually nicer to them than they think. Is it really too much to ask that they stop the murdering in return?
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Two of the Three Questions Answered
I am taking a philosophy of religion class. So far, we are going over the three main traits that God is generally thought to possess: omnipotence, omniscience, and omni-benevolence. We've covered some of the problems with each of these and a few possible answers but none of the answers have been satisfactory. Eventually during the class I want to get up yelling "No, no, no. That is not how you should think about it! Look, try this." It doesn't take me long to come up with solutions for the drawbacks to each answer. I don't like in class speaking so I'll just write my solutions here. Maybe I'll print it off and hand it to her one of these days.
The first problem is the nature of God's omnipotence. The classic question about this is "Can God create a stone so heavy even He could not lift it?" The answers given to this are generally paradoxical. Consider that God did make such a stone in our universe. It would have to have some sort of infinite force to oppose whatever force God uses to attempt to lift it. Since both forces would be infinite the stone cannot be lifted. Simple physics. However, God could just change the rules of the universe and make the stone possible lift again. The argument is that since God could lift it by doing this then there is something he cannot do; make an stone He cannot lift. Hence the paradox since omnipotence means He is all-powerful. I disagree with the direction of thought on this. It seems that omnipotence also has a component of will to it. Without God's will no such stone would come into creation in the first place. Until God takes an action that negates his own omnipotence he is omnipotent. Saying he could not negate His omnipotence would mean He is not omnipotent. If he were to commit an action, which negates his omnipotence, then he would not be any less powerful. The stone is a bad example since it does not specifically account for God changing the rules. Lets consider that He makes the rules in such a way that He cannot change them and creates the stone. Is the stone any greater than God who is omnipotent? No, the stone can never be more powerful than God because even with its infinite force it is no more than equal to God's infinite power. By refraining from creating the stone God is merely maintaining his omnipotence. So the definition of omnipotence should mean He could do anything He chooses to.
The second problem is that of omniscience. How can God be omniscient and humans have free will? Being omniscient means He is all knowing. The accepted definition of knowing is to have a justified true belief. Omniscience follows easily from omnipotence since He is all-powerful it would be possible for Him to be omniscient. The answer here is simple. There are a multitude of possible universes. Humans are free to choose so at each decision point they change the universe making it into one of the possible ones. The supposed catch is that if God is all knowing then He must have known which one you would choose. I reject this as foolish thinking because it relies on the idea that there is such a thing as a future. I propose that the only time that exists is the present. The future by its very definition does not exist yet. If something does not exist then there is nothing to be known about it other than its nonexistence. When a person makes a decision God knows what that decision is. There is nothing further he needs to do to show that He is omniscient since there is no future to know. But wait what about the past? If there is a past then we are that past’s future so doesn't that show that a future exists? No, because there is no past. The universe only exists in the present. The memories we have of what we call the past are formed and maintained in the present. They reflect states and changes to those states of the universe. Time equals change. So there is no past and no future only the present and change. God has an infinite memory by virtue of His omnipotence. End of story.
The third problem is the problem of evil. I think I'll wait to discuss this one. It’s a much longer subject than the first two.
The first problem is the nature of God's omnipotence. The classic question about this is "Can God create a stone so heavy even He could not lift it?" The answers given to this are generally paradoxical. Consider that God did make such a stone in our universe. It would have to have some sort of infinite force to oppose whatever force God uses to attempt to lift it. Since both forces would be infinite the stone cannot be lifted. Simple physics. However, God could just change the rules of the universe and make the stone possible lift again. The argument is that since God could lift it by doing this then there is something he cannot do; make an stone He cannot lift. Hence the paradox since omnipotence means He is all-powerful. I disagree with the direction of thought on this. It seems that omnipotence also has a component of will to it. Without God's will no such stone would come into creation in the first place. Until God takes an action that negates his own omnipotence he is omnipotent. Saying he could not negate His omnipotence would mean He is not omnipotent. If he were to commit an action, which negates his omnipotence, then he would not be any less powerful. The stone is a bad example since it does not specifically account for God changing the rules. Lets consider that He makes the rules in such a way that He cannot change them and creates the stone. Is the stone any greater than God who is omnipotent? No, the stone can never be more powerful than God because even with its infinite force it is no more than equal to God's infinite power. By refraining from creating the stone God is merely maintaining his omnipotence. So the definition of omnipotence should mean He could do anything He chooses to.
The second problem is that of omniscience. How can God be omniscient and humans have free will? Being omniscient means He is all knowing. The accepted definition of knowing is to have a justified true belief. Omniscience follows easily from omnipotence since He is all-powerful it would be possible for Him to be omniscient. The answer here is simple. There are a multitude of possible universes. Humans are free to choose so at each decision point they change the universe making it into one of the possible ones. The supposed catch is that if God is all knowing then He must have known which one you would choose. I reject this as foolish thinking because it relies on the idea that there is such a thing as a future. I propose that the only time that exists is the present. The future by its very definition does not exist yet. If something does not exist then there is nothing to be known about it other than its nonexistence. When a person makes a decision God knows what that decision is. There is nothing further he needs to do to show that He is omniscient since there is no future to know. But wait what about the past? If there is a past then we are that past’s future so doesn't that show that a future exists? No, because there is no past. The universe only exists in the present. The memories we have of what we call the past are formed and maintained in the present. They reflect states and changes to those states of the universe. Time equals change. So there is no past and no future only the present and change. God has an infinite memory by virtue of His omnipotence. End of story.
The third problem is the problem of evil. I think I'll wait to discuss this one. It’s a much longer subject than the first two.
Peon Part IIa: Life would be Simpler if Carriages Lacked Breaks
This is about half of the second part of Peon. I keep delaying on releasing the complete Peon since I've been going back and editing/adding to it. I'm going to start editing and posting it in smaller sections. Enjoy reading.
Peon Part II: Life would be Simpler if Carriages Lacked Breaks
The town was as an amazing site for Peon to see up close as it was from the top of the hill. Townspeople went quickly about their business here and there as a steady traffic of mover drawn carts hauled merchant goods down the main thoroughfare. Peon followed the merchant traffic along the muddy road towards the market at the center of town. As he walked he saw children running between the many mover carts playing or maybe lifting a few items here and there as they occasionally had been known to do. As the path neared the market it became a paved cobblestone street. He saw many more people crossing the path now on their way to and from local shops. A woman was sweeping off the stoop of a little shop off to his right. It was in a nook shoved between the much larger Golgameshe’s Chamber Pots and Alagan’s Wooley Woolerby Rugs. The small sign above the door said Yed’s Assorted Things. Peon took no interest in these stores but noticed the fine quality of the broom the woman was using to sweep the stoop. The handle was made of a sturdy red wood which Peon thought could be from an Yllian tree. Carved in it were beautiful scenes of flying birds and falling leaves. The bristles were tightly packed and wrapped to the handle by a fine red string. As he was about to call out to the woman and ask where he could get such a broom for himself one of the children still playing around the carts bumped into him. Momentarily startled he looked down to see a small brown-eyed child glance up at him then push off and rush into the stream of carts once more. When Peon recovered his composure he turned back to face the stoop only to find that the woman with the finely crafted broom was no longer there. He glanced around him for any sign of her but was disappointed when he could not find her in the mass of carts and people. With a slightly disappointed sigh he continued on his way towards the market to acquire some delicious berries and secretly hoping that he might be able to find one of those brooms there as well. A few short parts of a moon later he reached the market and began perusing the various goods for berries. He saw many interesting things including: glowstone necklaces, a multipole, invisible thread, Salt Coast wine, one merchant was pedaling magic spoons that could shift into forks or maybe it was the other way around. As he continued to search for berries Peon came upon a animal keeper selling rarer fare than one might normally see in such a town. Peon noticed a bird perched on a stand that was changing its colors every few seconds.
“Come closer my friend and have a look at these wondrous creatures. Just make sure not to touch. Some of them can be fairly intolerant at times,” said the keeper as he took a beetle from a bowl he held and dropped it into a cage nearby. Squeaking and squawking sounds emanated from the dense foliage within then the cage shook violently with a few piercing shrieks before going quiet.
“Feeding time,” said the keeper turning to him and smiling broadly.
Peon had read many articles about exotic creatures from his subscription to Palladium magazine and was interested in getting a good look at the selection before him. He approached the keeper’s alcove and peered down at one of the creatures on display. This one was a small lizard lying out across a bed of hot coals. Its scales were a dusty orange color. The lizard did not seem to mind the heat from the coals and even seemed to be enjoying itself. As Peon stared at it intently it raised and cocked its head to the side. Blinking slightly it stared at Peon with a fiery golden eye then turned its head toward him flicking its long wisp of a tongue to taste the air. Peon and the creature stared at each other in this fashion for several more seconds. With a flick of its tongue the lizard shot forth a plume of flame. Being possessed of quick reflexes especially when his life was in mortal danger Peon ducked in time to avoid the majority of the flame. He backpedaled away from the lizard patting franticly at the hair on his head to extinguish the tufts which had caught fire. The keeper looked at the lizard and shaking his head said, “Uh oh looks like somebody has a cold. Maybe we had best put you away for a little while.” The keeper picked up the stand the lizard rested on and moved it to the back of the alcove covering it with a glass bowl. “Every time I bring him here he comes down with something. It must be a bit too drafty even on the coals salamanders prefer lava, you know. If I could just get him some Alchemist’s Fire,” he said turning back to Peon he continuing, “Could I interest you in some of my other creatures. Flick makes a great show item in warmer weather but you wouldn’t want him sitting around your house with a cold. Maybe you’d like a little coo cat? They make excellent pets!”
“Ummm….no, no…no thank you….I’m afraid my house isn’t big enough for another creature.” Responded Peon shakily. With that Peon turned away and continued searching through the market for berries. Peon had no idea how much sense his comment made. Having never seen a coo cat or read of them in Palladium Magazine he would not know that coo cats can grow to a rather large size. In fact, the average fully-grown coo cat could reach a couple times the size of peon’s small house. Coo cats are known for making a distinct cooing sound that is very pleasing for people to hear. Many traders sell kittens to unsuspecting patrons though these traders seldom every trade in the same area again. A trader who returns usually finds an angry mob of villagers complaining of how he sold them cats that ate them out of everything they had. A returning trader may also find that the villagers had found an inventive use for their overly large pets.
One such merchant, by the name of Bartholomew Woodard, sold a number of kittens to the town of Waterman’s Knoll in the fifty-first Moon Year of the Wintry Moon; while passing through on his way to the capital city of Iron Holm. Upon his return voyage in the spring he made a second stop at Waterman’s Knoll with the belief that he could charge whatever he wished for the food stores he possessed. At the marketplace the town’s mayor greeted him and demanded that he make restitution for the expense of feeding the gigantic coo cats. Bartholomew Woodard was not a simple trader but owned a large merchant fleet and had several guards to ensure that he and his precious cargo made it safely to and from his destination. Not afraid of a few angry villagers he refused the mayor’s demands. It came as a complete surprise when the mayor gave him a little smile and then whistled a high-pitched note. What followed was the demise of Bartholomew Woodard and the destruction of a great merchant fleet as two-dozen coo cats rushed out from behind the town’s buildings trampling Woodard and his guards. The cats then proceeded to play in the harbor with Woodard’s fleet. The surprised merchant captains attempted to flee but unlike normal felines coo cats enjoy water. Each ship sank with all hands due to the coo cats pouncing on them as if they were giant floating mice.
It so happens, that while Bartholomew Woodard had been in Iron Holm selling his goods the townspeople of Waterman’s Knoll had been starving to death as the growing coo cats had eaten all their winter stores of food. Having no other choice the townspeople began sending parties to hunt the local forest for any creature that would pass as edible. On one expedition a coo cat had followed one of the hunters out into the forest. The hunter had tracked a small herd of wild woolerby to a clearing and was about to shoot one with his bow and arrow when the coo cat lumbered out of the forest and swatted the woolerby breaking its neck. It then set about to eating its meal as the surprised and frustrated hunter looked on. The hunter stormed out of the bushes he was hiding behind and yelled furiously at the coo cat to get away from his woolerby. The coo cat looked up at the hunter then slowly backed away. The hunter surprised the large beast had listened to him stood there stupidly for a few small parts of a moon. Once he recovered his wits he quickly grabbed the woolerby and dragged it back to town with the coo cat following serenely behind. After returning to town and sharing the woolerby meat with the other townspeople the hunter began to think about the strange way the coo cat had responded to him. An idea occurred to him that it might be possible to train the coo cats to help with hunting. It was soon realized, once a few attempts to train the cats had been made, that they were very intelligent and learned quickly. With the help of the coo cats the village hunted a steady supply of food for the winter and in the spring were able to deliver the merchant Woodard’s comeuppance.
Peon passed more colorful stalls filled with goods as he searched the market for berries. He was extremely glad to be away from the fire breathing lizard and quixotic animal keeper. The crowd was becoming thicker in the section of the market he had just entered. He had to push his way through the throng of people to continue onward, hoping to find what he was looking for at the market’s center. After what seemed like several parts of a moon longer than it was Peon broke out of the crowd of people. Peon stood where he was taking in the wonderful sight he had come here to find. Across from him and the gap in the crowd was a stand covered with every kind of berry imaginable. There were blueberries, red berries, white berries, orange berries, blackberries, multihued berries, and the shapes and sizes varied from tiny to the size of Peon’s fist. It was while standing there struck dumb he had found what he was searching for, that a passing mover cart passed over his foot. Peon let out a bloodcurdling scream and began hopping around wildly. Heads turned in his direction to see what all the commotion was about. The onlookers were perplexed to find a peon holding his foot while hopping up and down in a lane of traffic as a mover cart prepared to make him a useful roadway. While continuing to hop away the reawakened pain in his right foot Peon noticed all the people staring at him and behind him. Curious to find out what was of interest behind him he hopped around and noticed the fast approaching mover cart. Having no intention becoming a new coating of pavement Peon made a large hop to the side and rolled out of the way just in time to avoid the mover cart. Unfortunately, as the mover cart passed leaving Peon unscathed it hit a badly placed pothole and kicked up muddy water drenching him to the bone.
The onlookers laughed at the soaking wet peon still laying in the road holding his foot, and went about their business. Peon climbed to his feet gingerly setting his throbbing right foot on the ground. He decided that he would not let being in pain and soaking wet ruin the moment. He proceeded to hobble toward the merchant stand with the assorted berries. The shopkeeper, an old woman with frizzy white hair and inordinately large spectacles, looked at him giving a slight grimace at the sight of a muddy peon visiting her establishment. But being the successful business woman she was she asked “What can I get for you today, sir? I have this fine collection of berries available here before me and a stock of preserves in back.”
“I’ll have some blackberries, blueberries, red berries, orange berries, and some multihued berries…..ummmm…..make that a double helping of the multihued,” he replied.
The shopkeeper quickly put the berries Peon selected into a complementary basket and extended it toward him. She then asked, “What do you have as payment, sir?”
Peon quickly dug in his pockets for the watch he was carrying and handed it to her smiling. The shopkeeper looked at her hand and scowled then flung the ball of mud Peon had handed her to the ground saying, “I’m afraid mud doesn’t cover the cost of delicious berries such as these.”
Startled, Peon looked at the ground where lay the ball of mud he had mistaken for the watch. “I’m terribly sorry madam I thought that ….well….. it was something else….just a moment….” He said digging through his pockets once again.
But try as he might he could not produce the watch. The shopkeeper a bit miffed at receiving no payment withdrew the basket full of succulent berries saying, “Well, I thought my berries were worth more than mud to you but I can see that I was wrong. Come back when you have something that isn’t dirty. That includes yourself!”
Peon stunned and defeated wandered away aimlessly from the berry stand eventually sinking to the ground. Having come so close to his goal and failed he laid there for many parts of a moon pondering how he could have lost the watch.
THIS WORK MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE EXPRESSED PERMISSION OF THE
AUTHOR(S). PLEASE CONTACT THE AUTHOR(S) FOR REPRODUCTION RIGHTS.
Peon Part II: Life would be Simpler if Carriages Lacked Breaks
The town was as an amazing site for Peon to see up close as it was from the top of the hill. Townspeople went quickly about their business here and there as a steady traffic of mover drawn carts hauled merchant goods down the main thoroughfare. Peon followed the merchant traffic along the muddy road towards the market at the center of town. As he walked he saw children running between the many mover carts playing or maybe lifting a few items here and there as they occasionally had been known to do. As the path neared the market it became a paved cobblestone street. He saw many more people crossing the path now on their way to and from local shops. A woman was sweeping off the stoop of a little shop off to his right. It was in a nook shoved between the much larger Golgameshe’s Chamber Pots and Alagan’s Wooley Woolerby Rugs. The small sign above the door said Yed’s Assorted Things. Peon took no interest in these stores but noticed the fine quality of the broom the woman was using to sweep the stoop. The handle was made of a sturdy red wood which Peon thought could be from an Yllian tree. Carved in it were beautiful scenes of flying birds and falling leaves. The bristles were tightly packed and wrapped to the handle by a fine red string. As he was about to call out to the woman and ask where he could get such a broom for himself one of the children still playing around the carts bumped into him. Momentarily startled he looked down to see a small brown-eyed child glance up at him then push off and rush into the stream of carts once more. When Peon recovered his composure he turned back to face the stoop only to find that the woman with the finely crafted broom was no longer there. He glanced around him for any sign of her but was disappointed when he could not find her in the mass of carts and people. With a slightly disappointed sigh he continued on his way towards the market to acquire some delicious berries and secretly hoping that he might be able to find one of those brooms there as well. A few short parts of a moon later he reached the market and began perusing the various goods for berries. He saw many interesting things including: glowstone necklaces, a multipole, invisible thread, Salt Coast wine, one merchant was pedaling magic spoons that could shift into forks or maybe it was the other way around. As he continued to search for berries Peon came upon a animal keeper selling rarer fare than one might normally see in such a town. Peon noticed a bird perched on a stand that was changing its colors every few seconds.
“Come closer my friend and have a look at these wondrous creatures. Just make sure not to touch. Some of them can be fairly intolerant at times,” said the keeper as he took a beetle from a bowl he held and dropped it into a cage nearby. Squeaking and squawking sounds emanated from the dense foliage within then the cage shook violently with a few piercing shrieks before going quiet.
“Feeding time,” said the keeper turning to him and smiling broadly.
Peon had read many articles about exotic creatures from his subscription to Palladium magazine and was interested in getting a good look at the selection before him. He approached the keeper’s alcove and peered down at one of the creatures on display. This one was a small lizard lying out across a bed of hot coals. Its scales were a dusty orange color. The lizard did not seem to mind the heat from the coals and even seemed to be enjoying itself. As Peon stared at it intently it raised and cocked its head to the side. Blinking slightly it stared at Peon with a fiery golden eye then turned its head toward him flicking its long wisp of a tongue to taste the air. Peon and the creature stared at each other in this fashion for several more seconds. With a flick of its tongue the lizard shot forth a plume of flame. Being possessed of quick reflexes especially when his life was in mortal danger Peon ducked in time to avoid the majority of the flame. He backpedaled away from the lizard patting franticly at the hair on his head to extinguish the tufts which had caught fire. The keeper looked at the lizard and shaking his head said, “Uh oh looks like somebody has a cold. Maybe we had best put you away for a little while.” The keeper picked up the stand the lizard rested on and moved it to the back of the alcove covering it with a glass bowl. “Every time I bring him here he comes down with something. It must be a bit too drafty even on the coals salamanders prefer lava, you know. If I could just get him some Alchemist’s Fire,” he said turning back to Peon he continuing, “Could I interest you in some of my other creatures. Flick makes a great show item in warmer weather but you wouldn’t want him sitting around your house with a cold. Maybe you’d like a little coo cat? They make excellent pets!”
“Ummm….no, no…no thank you….I’m afraid my house isn’t big enough for another creature.” Responded Peon shakily. With that Peon turned away and continued searching through the market for berries. Peon had no idea how much sense his comment made. Having never seen a coo cat or read of them in Palladium Magazine he would not know that coo cats can grow to a rather large size. In fact, the average fully-grown coo cat could reach a couple times the size of peon’s small house. Coo cats are known for making a distinct cooing sound that is very pleasing for people to hear. Many traders sell kittens to unsuspecting patrons though these traders seldom every trade in the same area again. A trader who returns usually finds an angry mob of villagers complaining of how he sold them cats that ate them out of everything they had. A returning trader may also find that the villagers had found an inventive use for their overly large pets.
One such merchant, by the name of Bartholomew Woodard, sold a number of kittens to the town of Waterman’s Knoll in the fifty-first Moon Year of the Wintry Moon; while passing through on his way to the capital city of Iron Holm. Upon his return voyage in the spring he made a second stop at Waterman’s Knoll with the belief that he could charge whatever he wished for the food stores he possessed. At the marketplace the town’s mayor greeted him and demanded that he make restitution for the expense of feeding the gigantic coo cats. Bartholomew Woodard was not a simple trader but owned a large merchant fleet and had several guards to ensure that he and his precious cargo made it safely to and from his destination. Not afraid of a few angry villagers he refused the mayor’s demands. It came as a complete surprise when the mayor gave him a little smile and then whistled a high-pitched note. What followed was the demise of Bartholomew Woodard and the destruction of a great merchant fleet as two-dozen coo cats rushed out from behind the town’s buildings trampling Woodard and his guards. The cats then proceeded to play in the harbor with Woodard’s fleet. The surprised merchant captains attempted to flee but unlike normal felines coo cats enjoy water. Each ship sank with all hands due to the coo cats pouncing on them as if they were giant floating mice.
It so happens, that while Bartholomew Woodard had been in Iron Holm selling his goods the townspeople of Waterman’s Knoll had been starving to death as the growing coo cats had eaten all their winter stores of food. Having no other choice the townspeople began sending parties to hunt the local forest for any creature that would pass as edible. On one expedition a coo cat had followed one of the hunters out into the forest. The hunter had tracked a small herd of wild woolerby to a clearing and was about to shoot one with his bow and arrow when the coo cat lumbered out of the forest and swatted the woolerby breaking its neck. It then set about to eating its meal as the surprised and frustrated hunter looked on. The hunter stormed out of the bushes he was hiding behind and yelled furiously at the coo cat to get away from his woolerby. The coo cat looked up at the hunter then slowly backed away. The hunter surprised the large beast had listened to him stood there stupidly for a few small parts of a moon. Once he recovered his wits he quickly grabbed the woolerby and dragged it back to town with the coo cat following serenely behind. After returning to town and sharing the woolerby meat with the other townspeople the hunter began to think about the strange way the coo cat had responded to him. An idea occurred to him that it might be possible to train the coo cats to help with hunting. It was soon realized, once a few attempts to train the cats had been made, that they were very intelligent and learned quickly. With the help of the coo cats the village hunted a steady supply of food for the winter and in the spring were able to deliver the merchant Woodard’s comeuppance.
Peon passed more colorful stalls filled with goods as he searched the market for berries. He was extremely glad to be away from the fire breathing lizard and quixotic animal keeper. The crowd was becoming thicker in the section of the market he had just entered. He had to push his way through the throng of people to continue onward, hoping to find what he was looking for at the market’s center. After what seemed like several parts of a moon longer than it was Peon broke out of the crowd of people. Peon stood where he was taking in the wonderful sight he had come here to find. Across from him and the gap in the crowd was a stand covered with every kind of berry imaginable. There were blueberries, red berries, white berries, orange berries, blackberries, multihued berries, and the shapes and sizes varied from tiny to the size of Peon’s fist. It was while standing there struck dumb he had found what he was searching for, that a passing mover cart passed over his foot. Peon let out a bloodcurdling scream and began hopping around wildly. Heads turned in his direction to see what all the commotion was about. The onlookers were perplexed to find a peon holding his foot while hopping up and down in a lane of traffic as a mover cart prepared to make him a useful roadway. While continuing to hop away the reawakened pain in his right foot Peon noticed all the people staring at him and behind him. Curious to find out what was of interest behind him he hopped around and noticed the fast approaching mover cart. Having no intention becoming a new coating of pavement Peon made a large hop to the side and rolled out of the way just in time to avoid the mover cart. Unfortunately, as the mover cart passed leaving Peon unscathed it hit a badly placed pothole and kicked up muddy water drenching him to the bone.
The onlookers laughed at the soaking wet peon still laying in the road holding his foot, and went about their business. Peon climbed to his feet gingerly setting his throbbing right foot on the ground. He decided that he would not let being in pain and soaking wet ruin the moment. He proceeded to hobble toward the merchant stand with the assorted berries. The shopkeeper, an old woman with frizzy white hair and inordinately large spectacles, looked at him giving a slight grimace at the sight of a muddy peon visiting her establishment. But being the successful business woman she was she asked “What can I get for you today, sir? I have this fine collection of berries available here before me and a stock of preserves in back.”
“I’ll have some blackberries, blueberries, red berries, orange berries, and some multihued berries…..ummmm…..make that a double helping of the multihued,” he replied.
The shopkeeper quickly put the berries Peon selected into a complementary basket and extended it toward him. She then asked, “What do you have as payment, sir?”
Peon quickly dug in his pockets for the watch he was carrying and handed it to her smiling. The shopkeeper looked at her hand and scowled then flung the ball of mud Peon had handed her to the ground saying, “I’m afraid mud doesn’t cover the cost of delicious berries such as these.”
Startled, Peon looked at the ground where lay the ball of mud he had mistaken for the watch. “I’m terribly sorry madam I thought that ….well….. it was something else….just a moment….” He said digging through his pockets once again.
But try as he might he could not produce the watch. The shopkeeper a bit miffed at receiving no payment withdrew the basket full of succulent berries saying, “Well, I thought my berries were worth more than mud to you but I can see that I was wrong. Come back when you have something that isn’t dirty. That includes yourself!”
Peon stunned and defeated wandered away aimlessly from the berry stand eventually sinking to the ground. Having come so close to his goal and failed he laid there for many parts of a moon pondering how he could have lost the watch.
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The Foolish Cleric
"This is not violence, this is the right of every Muslim to fight for the prophet," said Ali Allameh, a bearded cleric whose hair was tied back with a bandanna. "Those who insult the prophet are not people, are not human beings. They're pigs and chimpanzees. Even pigs are better than these people."- From: Beirut Rioters Attack Church
Notice the absurd and utterly vile nature of this man's words. He and those like him are the reason the cartoons depicting Muhammad were printed in the first place. For a cleric he lacks wisdom. Even animals strike back when they are attacked.
Source
Notice the absurd and utterly vile nature of this man's words. He and those like him are the reason the cartoons depicting Muhammad were printed in the first place. For a cleric he lacks wisdom. Even animals strike back when they are attacked.
Source
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Ideology Is Less Flammable Than Flags
This idea comes from a comment Tom made regarding flag burning under the previous post. Here in the U.S. there is a divide between those who support flag burning as freedom of speech and those who find it offensive and think it should be illegal. I do not find flag burning the least bit offensive. I can understand that to certain people the flag represents what they have fought for or believe in in other ways. To some others it represents things they wish to change. The burning symbolizes the doing away with the old order. If your church burns down, do you lose your faith? One would hope not or else your beliefs are very weak. I think of flags in the same way. If one's beliefs are so weak as to be challenged by the destruction of a material thing then one should not have those beliefs. It is foolish to be concerned over the burning of a flag itself but far more logical to be concerned with the reasons and ideology of someone burning a flag. On an end note, according to the U.S. regulations regarding proper disposal of the U.S. flag the accepted method of destruction is to burn it.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Unreasonable Gunmen
I think it is unusual that I have to write an update to a post so soon but for the sake of keeping up to date and furthering my points I will do so. In another bout of complete lack of reason, masked gunmen surrounded the European Union offices in Gaza on today. This is in reaction to a French newspaper publishing a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad to remain in solidarity with the Denmark newspaper, which published a selection of cartoons earlier this week. I have to say that it is completely absurd to involve something that represents the entirety of Europe in a threatening demonstration when only two newspapers are involved in the offensive behavior. What could possibly be going through their minds that lead them to believe all of Europe is behind the publication of two newspapers? That question isn't really relevant anymore since because of this demonstration of force they've caused even more European newspapers to publish the cartoons that were offending them. I have often wondered what leads people to such senseless courses of action. Fortunately, I think I've got my answer.
Source
"We are angry — very, very, very angry," said the legislator, Jamila al-Shanty. "No one can say a bad word about our prophet."- From Temperatures Rise Over Cartoons Mocking Muhammad By CRAIG S. SMITH and IAN FISHER
This seems to be a philosophy that would lead to many conflicts since the majority of the people on Earth do not follow the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Since they do not follow his teachings it is logical to assume they do not hold him in any great esteem. Therefore, they have valid reason for saying less than flattering words about him, if they say anything at all. Waving guns around at those who do not believe the way you do is a very poor way of convincing others that they should follow your beliefs. It is more likely to make them angry and do the same to you, in turn. This is another reason the Muslim world is submerged in illogical thought. Maybe if Muslims or at least their leaders were more reasonable people and did not anger so easily there would be less negative cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.Source
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
No Freedom of Speech In Congress
Note: This post contains some carefully chosen strong language. You have been warned so read at your own risk.
At the State of the Union address Cindy Sheehan was arrested by capitol police for wearing a shirt with the number of people killed in Iraq on it. Beverly Young the wife of Florida Representative C.W. Young(R) was also removed from the visitor's gallery for wearing a shirt with the slogan "Support the Troops — Defending Our Freedom."
The capitol building is the one place in this "Land of the Free" where we should have "Freedom". I would have whole-heartedly supported both of these women if they had grabbed the security guards' balls and twisted. They are deserving of the pain for their unpatriotic actions. This is a case where the capitol police should have stopped "just doing their jobs" and started being people again. When and who wrote this unpatriotic law that says the police could do this? If it was congress, which it probably was, I suggest the next time they are all assembled the police should manhandle them out the door and toss them on their fat behinds. It is time those who are sent to the capitol stop thinking they can get away with violating the rights of those who sent them there.
At the State of the Union address Cindy Sheehan was arrested by capitol police for wearing a shirt with the number of people killed in Iraq on it. Beverly Young the wife of Florida Representative C.W. Young(R) was also removed from the visitor's gallery for wearing a shirt with the slogan "Support the Troops — Defending Our Freedom."
The capitol building is the one place in this "Land of the Free" where we should have "Freedom". I would have whole-heartedly supported both of these women if they had grabbed the security guards' balls and twisted. They are deserving of the pain for their unpatriotic actions. This is a case where the capitol police should have stopped "just doing their jobs" and started being people again. When and who wrote this unpatriotic law that says the police could do this? If it was congress, which it probably was, I suggest the next time they are all assembled the police should manhandle them out the door and toss them on their fat behinds. It is time those who are sent to the capitol stop thinking they can get away with violating the rights of those who sent them there.
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