Just the facts ma'am
Out of all U.S. universities, UCLA is ranked #7 in Philosophy (just behind Harvard University). Did UCI make the top ten? Top fifteen?
UCLA is #1 in Medieval Philosophy. Is there any philosophy more interesting?
UCLA is #1 in philosophy of language. UCI isn't even ranked.
UCLA is #1 in Logic (Tied with M.I.T.) Is there any philosophy more important than logic?
UCLA is #3 in philosophy of mind. Where's UCI?
UCLA is #3 in Metaphysics.
UCLA is #4 in Ethics (Tied with Berkeley and Yale). Where's UCI?
UCLA is #4 in the History of Ethics. Where's UCI?
In philosophical problem solving, UCLA is ranked #6 (tied with Harvard). UCI is 16th.
Hey, He asked for it. :-)
Go Bruins!
Let me get this straight. This man may be jailed for 6 months for shooting a bear on his property, while a woman who stabbed to death her newborn baby will face no punishment at all? It seems the logical conclusions of abortion are starting to rear their ugly head. After all, if it is okay to kill a "fetus," and it is okay to kill a baby, partially-delivered, through partial birth abortion, then what is so bad about killing a baby once it has been fully delivered? Ask this woman.
I thought people are born homosexual; it's not a choice.
Here's a talented writer I'm proud to know.
Delgado has some great words to share about reading. Unsurprisingly, I'm reminded of Dostoyevsky (The Author), and the reading thereof it inspires. How can one avoid such emersion into reading, as Mike speaks about, when one is reading words such as the following.
"He amasses wealth in solitariness, thinking: how strong I am now and how secure, yet he does not know, the witless one, that the more he amasses, the further he will sink into suicidal impotence. For he has become accustomed to relying upon himself alone and has isolated himself from the whole as an idividual, has trained his sould not to trust in help from others, in human beings and mankind, and is fearful only of losing his money and the privileges he has acquired. In every place today the human mind is mockingly starting to lose its awareness of the fact that a person's true security consists not in his own personal, solitary effort, but in the common integrity of human kind."That was taken mid-paragraph on page 349 of Brothers Karamazov. Hundreds of quotes equally sublime, equally insightful, equally poetic, could be found without the slightest hint of difficult searching. Indeed, if you yearn to read as Mike recommends, grab a pen, grab Brothers, and dive head first into genius.
news to some
So why isn't polygamy considered just another "alternative lifestyle"? Here's a great commentary that sheds some bright light on the issue.
So we want to fix the schools huh? Ought we start with teacher education?
O'Reilly's advice to us graduates. Here's his argument for God's existence:
"The reason I believe in God is because of this talent business. If there were no God, there would be a couple of slugs running into that wall over there. People who could not do anything. But that doesn't happen. Everybody can do something well."Not exactly a "knock-em down" argument, but interesting enough.
Praise God for another beautiful, healthy convenant child added to Grace Presbyterian! Robert and Kate's baby girl,Lena Olson, born on May 6th-- (be sure to see the picture of Rob shooting innocent birds in his spare time) lol.
Speak the truth to all we come in contact with
Sunday, Pastor Gleason reminded the congregation of our imperative to preach the gospel to all those we come into contact with. This message was, in many ways, a difficult message to hear. When I stop to think of the numerous evangelistic oportunities that I have in a given week, in relation to my failure to act on such oportunities-- it gives me reason for shame.
How many people do I come into contact with would have no idea, after leaving our conversation, that I am a Christian? I am afraid to answer this question.
Who would have thought that a woman as opposed to Christianity as Jane Fonda (the wife of blatant atheist Ted Turner) would be brought to faith by the preaching of her chauffeur?
"Without immortality, there can be no virtue." ~~Dostoyevsky
Isn't this indeed it all? Cannot all the issues of life be seen for what they are: failures to realize that the grave is not the end, though our bodies may return to dust, our souls shall indeed be in heaven or hell? If man could but see God in creation, if man could but believe that Christ is THE messiah, then "issues" would be so few.
How far are some nations from Nazi-esque tactics? Not far: Hindus will be required to wear an identity label on their clothing in Islamic Afghanistan to distinguish them from Muslims. Interestingly enough, this week at my school there have been "Islam Awareness" booths up-and-about Bruin Walk; one of their signs read, "teach peace, teach Islam." Who's fooling who?
In Illinois, for the first time in 80 years, the graduates of Washington Community High School were not allowed to have a public prayer during their commencement ceremony. The graduating senior responsible for the prohibition of prayer said that she didn't want her atheist friends to be offended. It appears the "feelings" of atheists are more important than the feelings and faith of Christians.
Thanks to Blake for this one (yes, they seem to be serious).
I didn't write it!
The other night Kate and I had a good laugh after reading this quote from The Author's masterpiece Brothers Karamazov: (One brother talking to another)
"God preserve you, dear boy, from ever asking a woman you love to grant you forgiveness for your guilt! Especially, especially a woman you love, no matter how guilty you are before her! Because women, women, brother, are the devil only knows what, and after all they, at least, are something I know about! Well, just try admitting to a woman your guilt, say something like: 'I am guilty, please forgive me, I'm sorry' -- immediately you will receive a hail of rebukes! On no account will she forgive you in a simple, straightforward manner, no, she will degrade you to the level of a floor-cloth, she will find things that never even happened, will take everything, forget nothing, add things of her own, and only then forgive. And I speak of the best, the best of them!"**The opinion of Dostoyevsky is not necessarily the opinion of this station or this station's advertisers. *smile*
When I first saw this, I thought that it must be a joke. Yikes.
14-year-old convicted of 2nd degree murder.
Most people know the story. The boy, after being suspended by another teacher, went home, got a gun, loaded it, and brought it back to school. When he saw another of his teachers, he pointed it at him and shot him through the head. The teacher died right there. The boy claims that he "didn't mean to kill the teacher;" he says, "he thought the gun's safety-button was engaged." As a result of the 2nd degree conviction the boy can expect to spend about 25 years behind bars. If he would have been convicted of 1st degree murder, he would have spent the rest of his life behind bars.
Exodus 21:12 reads as follows: "Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death..." Numbers chapter 35 has very similar language, "If anyone has a stone in his hand that could kill, and he strikes someone so that he dies, he is a murderer." From these passages it seems very clear that justice was not found. The boy ought to have been put to death under 1st degree penal sanctions.
Perhaps there is a response however. Some may read the remainder of Exodus 21:12, which reads, "However, if he does not do it intentionally...he is to flee to a place [God] designates," and think that even a 2nd degree conviction is too harsh, for the boy acted without the intent to kill. It seems clear to me that this latter understanding of the text in relation to the Florida case would be incorrect-- those who view the 14-year-old's actions as unintentional are mistaken.
The idea of "unintentional" as found in the Exodus passage, would be better translated "accidental." An example might be if someone were in the forest chopping wood with an ax, and the ax head flies off, killing a bystander (Deut. 19). This ax head example would be a biblical "accident." If this scenario were applicable to the school shooting above, the boy ought to go free. This is not the case however.
Going to school with a gun, that he took the time to load, and then pulling the trigger while it was pointed at someone is certainly not the same thing as an ax-head flying off. Furthermore, notice that biblically there doesn't seem to be any question of age. The boy's age is seemingly near irrelevant.
We need to allow God's word to speak for itself, and do our best to avoid misleading emotions that may cause us to second guess His authority.
Writing a philosophy paper?
Here are some helpful links.
guidelines on writing a philosophy paper.Oh, if I could re-learn grammar! (It used to be so boring. Now I wish I knew it better.)
Scott writes:
~~~The whole concept of taxes kind of bother me - I can't get around the fact that it just seems like a form of legalized theft.~~~
Although, I, like anyone, dislike paying taxes; I cannot agree with the notion that taxes are even a form of "legalized theft." It seems to me if taxes are legalized theft, then it would also be legalized theft anytime someone was asked to pay for a service or services, e.g., paying to have one's car washed would be a form of legalized theft on the part of the car washing agency or person.
Government performs services, therefore government is obliged to receive payment for those services. Granted government, by and large, performs services inefficiently, slowly, and sometimes donwright ineptly, but this does not change the fact that government does do things for us.
The government, I believe, has an obligation to do at least three things.
1. Protect us from enemies foreign and domestic. This task is carried out by not only our military forces, but also local police and firefighters. (this takes money)
2. Government ought to punish evil doers. This task is carried out by our court system. (this takes money).
3. Government oversees the general well-being of the nation through legislation-- here, the rules of conduct are established (standards for proper behavior), and the rules of commerce are established (standards to interact with other states, companies, countries, etc). This task is carried out by the Congress, and President. (this takes money).
Now, the question comes must be asked, "does government do too much, and take too much of our money?" My answer to this question is a resounding, "YES!" I would like to see the day when our government performs ONLY those three functions I list above.
If the three functions above were government's only functions we could lower taxes across the board to as low as 7 to 8 percent (some economists claim it could be even lower).
(Currently 50% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product goes straight to the beast, otherwise known as government).
Life After Darla
Life After Darla Live! For Free: This Friday night! Come see. The show is getting underway at about 9pm. The band will do two sets, the second set starting around 10:30pm. 21 and over! Bring $5 to purchase the new disc.
In the news
Unmarried cohabitation up 72% in just the past ten years! Yikes. And we thought the 60's were the sexual revolution years!
Can anyone tell me why gay veterans would need their own memorial? Should we set up separate memorials for scuba-diving veterans, basket-weaving veterans, tan veterans, khaki-wearing veterans, and bashful veterans? I mean, come on, where do we stop? My answer? Let's not get started.
Here's an interesting one. 13-year-old boy caught with over 300 paedophilia pictures on his computer. Anybody curious where his parents were? Me too. This does however, yet again, confirm my conviction that the internet, by and large, is evil. It brings all sorts of sordid "things" right into the living rooms of unsuspecting families across the world. It seems to me that the computer is just impersonal enough to allow people to feel a sense of separation from their activities online. A man who might never be caught dead in a porn-shop on 3rd street, would all too easily willingly view the very same material on his home computer. I would like to see very soon, some legislation to curtail the availability of porn websites. It's not going to be an easy road. Heaven help us.
Life After Darla
Life After Darla Live! For Free: This Friday night! Come see.
Backwards.
I read an article the other day that told of Arizona's governor who signed into law a repeal of what were considered by some to be "outdated" laws. Some of these now former-laws are prohibitions against sodomy and unmarried cohabitation. Under these laws the civil authorities had the right to prosecute and, if found guilty, punish the persons involved in those activities. But, that was then, those are outdated laws: this is NOW. Did somebody say National Organization for Women? That's right, I forgot to mention that the governor of Arizona is a woman; guess she doesn't spend much time as a housewife, you think?
Anyway, the key reason the governor said she signed the law was that she didn't think "government belongs in the lives of people." I wonder how she justifies upholding laws such as prohibitions against child-molestation or polygamy? I mean, isn't it her riding principle that government should stay out of our lives? It seems to me that if she values consistency she would repeal all laws that have anything to do with "our lives." Wouldn’t doing that entail abolishing nearly all laws including prohibitions against murder and theft? In other words, it seems her “principle” stated above is grossly too general to a real reason at all for signing the law. So what do we have here?
What we have here is a failure to understand biblical principles. Predictably, in the vacuum that ensues is whimsical human folly, and I think the governor’s decision is an all-too-perfect example. To demonstrate, the governor also said that moral instruction is to come from families and churches, not government. What she says here is only half right, even though it sounds really nice. Yes, moral instruction is to come from the home and church, but that does not mean that punishment is reserved only for the church and home. The Bible clearly expects the civil authorities alone to punish evil doers with the sword, not fathers and not pastors. It is the role of fathers to instruct their children in the way they should go, this obviously includes some forms of punishment, but it does not include the sword. Similarly, the role of the church is to enhance and support the father’s teaching, as well as exercising discipline, which is a form of punishment, yet the church also does not punish with the sword.
The governor of Arizona was correct when she said that moral education was to be left to the families and churches, but she failed to realize the important distinction between “teaching” and “punishment.” Teaching may be necessary for punishment, and punishment may be necessary for teaching, but teaching is not always a sufficient form of punishment, and punishment is rarely sufficient for teaching. For instance, when the civil authorities rightly put someone to death for a capital offence, the civil authorities’ goal is not to educate (though some education may occur at the time); the civil authority’s goal is to punish. To put it yet another way, the governor’s want to limit the punishing power of the civil authorities on account of her notion that it is not their job to educate in morality, fails to properly assign purpose to both the civil authorities and families.
Without a biblical foundation this improper assignment of roles is practically unavoidable. God’s word happens to consider things like homosexual sex, and unmarried cohabitation to be crimes; those guilty of such acts are to face not only potential “punishment/education” from their parents and church, but also very serious punishment (without education) from the civil authorities. This idea may indeed seem outdated to many non-Christians, but God’s word (and law) never goes out of date. The governor of Arizona ought to have more carefully thought through her “reasons” for signing the law, because as it stands, her legislature now represents a law contrary to God’s. Any such human “law” is lawless.
Act Now
Not very many people are aware of this but Radiohead at Santa Monica Bowl tickets go on sale/ went on sale this morning 10am. Santa Monica Bowl is a fabulous place to see live performances: it's even smaller than The Greek (and the Greek is small)! Unfortunately, I'm going to be in Houstin Texas for both of the shows taking place in June, but they are coming back in August to the Hollywood Bowl. You can bet your little muffins I'll be there for that (Lord willing). Anyway, check out ticketmaster for more details. why do I miss all the fun?
Mothers day banned! Guess that saves me having to buy a gift.
Just a couple interesting links-- busy day.
law stuff
education statistics (don't get depressed)
Russ' very interesting blog. Run DMC is a Christian band? Don't laugh.
I was told that Mtv aired at midnight Radiohead's new video for "Pyramid Song." Did anyone have a chance to catch it? I hope to be able to see it soon. Though I rarely am able to gaze into a television, I have had the opportunity to view the video for "Idioteque" and I love it. Their new album, amnesiac, is set to be released June 5th! Beware...Their baaaack-- Oh yeah, Radiohead's "Kid A" was up for "alternative album of the year:" guess they never left! Long live Radiohead.
On a related note, by the advice of Flood the Void's, Jeremy, I decided to take a listen to Jeff Buckley's album "Grace." (Jeff Buckley is probably Radiohead's favorite current artist). Needless to say, I was very impressed and I highly recommend this album.
If you care here's what's been in my music box lately:
1. Depeche Mode's Music For the MassesOnce I find some money, "somewhere somehow," I'll buy DM's newest, and Tool's latest.
2. A compilation CD that Gregory-Allen made for me, it has songs such as Tori Amos' cover of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," Ben Folds Five's "Brick," and Trash Can Sinatra's "Best Man's Fall" (one of the greatest songs of all time).
3. Life After Darla's newest release. I can honestly say that I listen to LAD's music "all the time" and I absolutely love it. I am very proud of the work we've done and I hope that more people will be able to hear the recorded music soon. My "must listens" are "Negative Zero" and "Fading."
4. Los Lobos' phenominal album "This Time."
and 5. Radiohead's "Kid A."
Too bad Dostoyevsky didn't try his hand at music.
Yesterday I filled up my tank to the token of $2 per gallon. I didn't like it. If anyone has any questions as to why gas prices are so extraordinary you might want to thank our local environmental lobbyists, and read this informative article.
In addition to the beautiful landscaped gardens, and their formidable athletics programs, UCLA also has two former presidential candidates as professors, Michael Dukakis, and Al Gore. My heart beams with pride. Oh did I mention UCLA also boasts a regular column in our school paper dedicated only to discussing sex in which one of the articles was titled "to swallow or not to swallow"?
Such a shame, because in so many other ways the school is a fine institution of higher learning.
Such is life.
Friday Night, May 18th at 9pm
Life After Darla makes their second appearence at the Back Alley in Fullerton.
Directions:
Exit Harbor North from either the 5 or 91 freeways.
Turn Left onto Amerige
First right into parking lot.
116 1/2 Wilshire Unit B in the city of Fullerton.
714-526-3032
This show is 21 and over, but there is NO Charge to get in.
Again, this is a free show; we want to see everyone there. Things get underway no later than 9pm. Rock On. Any questions? Call: 714-897-2505 or email us at writedarla@hotmail.com.
Prayer Chain
Doctors urged to allow women to keep the "morning after" pill "stockpiled" in their medicine cabinets. San Fransico board of supervisors voted Monday to pay for sex changes for city employees (guess my earlier blog didn't have much affect). Rome is very concerned about the number of gay men who are becoming priests. Your son or daughter has a tatoo; they're 4x as likely to have had sex, and partake in other wonderful things.
Let me get this straight. We should be allowed to stockpile abortion pills, have our taxes pay for others' sex-changes, and just smile when the "priest" down the street is quite possibly frequenting gay bars, yet we ought to be outraged at the audacity of city hall when it fails to tear down the Ten Commandments?
Heaven Help Us.