Evidence and Logic
Here, author and neuroscientist Sam Harris explains why it’s useless to argue with the MAGA crowd.
Tagged with: Evidence and Logic
Christianity and Moral Progress
I believe this was true when Bertrand Russell said it in 1926, in his lecture that was later transcribed into the essay “Why I Am Not a Christian.” It’s certainly less so today, given the statements and actions of Pope Francis.
After 1600 years of hellish behavior, the Roman Catholic Church is now led by a true humanitarian, who’s heading the charge toward tolerance, peace, inclusion, compassion, social justice, and environmental responsibility.
A Better Planet
From Clint Eastwood: People say that we must leave a better planet to our children. The truth is that we must leave better children to our planet.
I would say that both are true. Of course, as a true right-winger, Eastwood doesn’t believe in things like climate change mitigation or environmental stewardship in general. That level of ignorance is, simply, a shame.
But he’s certainly right about better children. I hope in earnest that my children will turn out to be more empathetic, more involved, and tougher fighters for justice than I have been. Of course that’s not what Eastwood meant, but who cares?
The Meaning of Life
FWIW, I side with the existentialists on this matter. I.e., I hold that there is no purpose or meaning to our lives other than that which we convey onto it.
Obviously, many people disagree. Some believe God has a plan for them, while others think that life actually does have a purpose, and that it’s up to them to find it.
Throughout my life, friends have told me that my view is horribly gloomy and dismal, but I counter that I create a great deal of purpose to my daily activities and that I maintain a high regard for the value of my life.
Tagged with: meaning of life
Wordle, Anyone?
The word of the day in yesterday’s Wordle was USURP, and a young friend wrote: Usurp???? Lol what the heck is that?My response:
To usurp is to seize something illegally, usually power. “By trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election, Trump is attempting to usurp the U.S. presidency.” You can quote me on that, BTW.
Tagged with: Trump is attempting to usurp the U.S. presidency
Assault and Battery
Here’s a challenge: look at this video, and then try to imagine a context that makes this anything other than aggravated battery.
Assuming that the victim survived, these people should serve 10-year prison sentences.
Tagged with: assault and battery
Jared Kushner’s Company Pays Damages
(Kushner’s company) hounded low-income tenants with a barrage of lawsuits, eviction notices, and late fees, and a court has determined that $3.25 million in damages should be awarded to the plaintiffs.
I can’t imagine how much the defendants spent in their desperate moves to make those civil charges evaporate, and, further, to prevent this news from surfacing.
If I were hearing this case, and if there was a significant amount of legitimate compensatory damages, as there seems to be here, I would have crippled them with the punitive kind.
Making scum like these people disappear from American society won’t be easy, but it’s obligatory on our part.
Tagged with: Jared Kushner's Company Pays Damages
Celebrating the Defeat of a Bill that Would Have Accelerated the Consumption of Fossil Fuels
Dozens of grassroots environmental groups exerted enough pressure in Congress such that West Virginia senator Joe Manchin was forced to abandon his bill that would have propped up Big Oil for another decade or so.
From this:
Manchin’s bill would have “streamlined” the permitting process for energy projects, implementing the fossil fuel industry’s wish list—undermining the protections of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Clean Water Act (CWA), undercutting opportunities for public comment and Tribal consultation, and setting obstacles to those seeking legal redress. It was an attempt to further silence frontline communities, who even under the current regulatory system bear the inequitable burden of health impacts from fossil fuel pollution.
We’re teetering on the edge. From all of us, thanks to those who invested their money and time into making sustainability a little bit closer to reality.
Tagged with: fossil fuel industry
Congressional Republicans Jumping Ship from the “Stolen Election” Narrative
No one expects 100% candor from American politicians, but some people consistently amaze us with their bald-faced lies.
The latest phenomenon is jumping ship from the “Stolen Election.” Here we have people like Dr. Oz in his Pennsylvania senate race, who, in exchange for Trump’s endorsement, were backing the former president’s claim that the 2020 presidential election was rigged in favor of Biden, driven by massive voter fraud. Now they find that they’re alienating too many independent voters, so they’re changing direction.
If I were trying to decide between Oz and his opponent, I might be thinking to myself, “Look, dude, either there is evidence that the election was stolen or there isn’t. What you’re telling me is that you stood behind Trump’s position knowing goddamn well that there was zero evidence of these outrageous lies. You convinced millions of the American people that our democracy had failed, and that the election should be handed to a pathological liar, in particular, someone you knew had lost. Call me woke, but that doesn’t work for me.”
Tagged with: Stolen Election
Trump Supporters Happily Paying Trump’s Astronomical Legal Bills
There are many peculiar aspects to Trump and the adoration he receives from his supporters.
As indicated at left, one of the most bizarre elements at play here is that Trump, a billionaire, is aggressively putting the bite on his base to pay for his legal fees, a large group comprised mostly of poorly educated working class white people.
Note that this is unusual, if not unique, even among cults. You will fail to name a cult leader, living or dead, who has successfully pulled off a move like this.
Tagged with: Trump Supporters
