Bill's Notes

OK, I'll weigh in. Jane Galt has a discussion here, which some commenters and I think misses the point. The issue is not the target of Amanda Marcotte's ire. She can make fun of Catholicism and Catholics all she wants. It doesn't offend me — after all, if I'm truly faithful, I know that one day she'll come into the presence of God's great love and mercy and realize the full nature of her blasphemy. Just like I will when I face God.

She can also insult pro-lifers all she wants. I no longer argue with pro-choicers — pro-choicers don't have to explain it to me, they'll have to explain it to them. Just like I'll have a lot of explaining to do on a wide range of issues.

And the issue really isn't First Amendment or censorship. She can write what she wants, and no one wants to stop them. But if she is full of contempt for those who disagree — and she is — and is not just gratuiously insulting (which is all right by me) but full of seething hatred, bigotry and paranoia, well, then you're talking about someone who is not fit yet to come into the company of civil individuals and is outside the Overton Window.

Edwards tried to "manage" the situation. Essentially, he tried to clean them up a bit so they may enter into mainstream politics — Marcotte and McEwan had to disavow they meant anything insulting, Edwards said he'd take them at their word, and voila! — they know that to speak in a mainstream forum, they can't speak that way.

Whether they've learned something by this or have merely sold out their deepest beliefs for power is known only by God and in their own hearts. Whether they'll self-destruct, who knows?

Anna Nicole Smith has died. [sigh] A moment of silence in honor of their passing.

While I don't agree with every word of this article (particularly the part about unanimity=wrong), I think David Warren raises an alternative viewpoint.

The two most relevant points:

* solar flares may better predict global warming (reasonable), and
* if there is a problem, capital markets are the best solution. (In other words, the best way out is through.)

That said, we all have problems believing things when "the wrong people" believe it. People often choose sides in an argument merely because someone they often disagree with has taken one position. The question of global warming needs to be depoliticized.

This could be part of a natural cycle. It could be the result of man. If the former, enjoy it. If the latter, we've got a big, big problem and I can't imagine any other solution but technology (most likely, geothermal/electric).

Or it could be Gaia considers the human race out of balance and is trying to kill us off.

Just saying ...

UPDATE: Alternative theory here.

UPDATE II: Maybe the global warming alarmists can try this method. LOL.

For most of my youth, I thought God's answer to Job was the greatest cop-out ever. God won't tell Job why bad things happen to good people, and vice versa. His answer boils down to, when you can make a whale, starting from nothing, maybe we'll talk. I hated that answer, thinking that God, after all, owes us an explanation.

The older I get, the more I realize the arrogance of my own response and the wisdom of God's answer: The truth is, God doesn't have to explain Himself to me. Or any of us. At best, we can hope that He explains Us to Ourselves.

While I admit this blog is occasionally sloppy in its writing, I should caution readers against excessive inferences. If I say one thing and then don't say something, often that means that the point I'm making goes up to the edge of what I've said, and not beyond. When I put a period at the end of the sentence, I mean it.

I think LA Confidential is a great movie. I didn't say it was the greatest movie ever, or the greatest movie of the past 25 years, or better than your favorite movie. I only mean it's a great movie.

Like that.

Here are mugshots of two Seton Hall dorm fire-starters, not looking so cocky.

Joey LePore

Sean Ryan

Right now they are in the Central Reception and Processing Facility in Trenton. Perhaps they can say hi to this guy (Michael Collazo), who was a journalism professor of mine back at The Hall (I had him for broadcast news) and also in CRPF in Trention. Strangely enough, all are doing five year sentences. The professor is in for embezzling money from the college radio station.

Good ole Hall. I should note that there are quite a few non-felons among the Seton Hall staff and alumni :)

UPDATE: Drat! The NJ Police State :) doesn't allow direct linking. Plug in the names in the Inmate Locator Search Engine if you're really that interested.

Congratulations to the Baltimore Indianapolis Colts!

Before the game, I thought the Bears had a chance, though I suspected the Colts would win because (1) they've won when they haven't played well, and (2) Chicago's quarterback looks lost. Now, it seems obvious the Colts were the much better team, and the game was not as close as the 29-17 final score.

How come these things are so much clearer after they've happened? :)