In an earlier post, I argued that people need to better appreciate that dollars are fungible (see here and here). Why is it important to understand that dollars are fungible? A case in point is the new American enthusiasm for turning food into fuel. Consider this report from Fortune Magazine:…
It seems to me that Darwinism is to this election cycle as Family Values and Abortion have been to previous ones. There has been a recent rash of books and now a movie all pointing out how a conspiracy of elites are following the Darwin manifesto to create a facist atheist state.
Am I overstating it? Read this criticism (including their own release blurb) of Ben Stein’s new movie, “Expelled”. This movie about how bully tactics are what keeps the theory of evolution uncontested is scheduled for a mid-April release. But is already playing to mega-churches and closed-door sessions of school boards and state legislatures. Mainstream press has not yet officially had access to it.
Legislatures? According to NowPress.com in this short article:
The invitation to “Expelled” is just for legislators and their spouses, along with legislative aides. The press and public is excluded.
House Minority Leader Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, asked House general counsel Jeremiah Hawkes if that’s legal — since Florida law requires open meetings whenever two or more lawmakers meet to discuss pending business. Hawkes replied that, as long as they just watch the film and don’t discuss the issue or arrange any future votes, it’s technically legal.
Why? Because Florida just modified its education policy to require the Evolution to be mentioned in biology classes as a Scientific Theory. Two representatives have now introduced bills that would allow teachers to present discussion of “Intelligent Design” in science classes. The Florida Family Policy Council (one of …
National Geographic has just published a terrific article summarizing the many ways in which animals think. Here’s the article. You can watch a short accompanying video on this topic of animal cognition here. I like the approach to both the article and the video. They are both centered around large beautiful portraits of many…
I am a wealthy person, but not in the way most people understand “wealthy.” I don’t drive an expensive car (I drive a 9-year old Saturn). I don’t own a vacation house. I don’t expect to retire for many years.
I am wealthy because I am a survivor. I have repeatedly escaped adversity and I’ve repeatedly stumbled into enough lucky situations. These unplanned events add up to an undeniable and compelling form of wealth.
When most people consider how “fortunate” they are, they engage in some form of “accounting.” For starters, they add up their savings and they subtract amounts they owe to others. That gives them a financial base line. There’s more to figuring wealth, of course.
Some people consider their health when they assess their wealth. If their bodies are in tolerable working order, that’s something well worth noting, especially for those over thirty. Among people discussing age, I often assert that after thirty, “age” is mostly about health rather than chronological age. Young adults snicker at this (I used to). But imagine a room full of forty-year olds. Everyone in the room is about forty, but just look how different they are! Some of them look and act like they’re 25 and others are functional 75 year olds, often due to obesity, history of injury or illness, lack of exercise, poor nutrition, lack of sleep or various detrimental addictions. The bottom line is that if you’re body is working even tolerably, that’s a big plus when figuring …
Here are some of my favorite quotes on this ultimate topic of the meaning of life. I pulled many of these quotes from my favorite quote site: The Quotations Page, where you can find hundreds more quotes on the meaning of life” and thousands of quotes on numerous other topics.
…Is there life before death?
Graffito, in BelfastLife does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh.
George Bernard Shaw (1856 – 1950)Life is a long lesson in humility.
James M. Barrie (1860 – 1937)Life is a sexually transmitted disease.
R. D. LaingLife is something that happens when you can’t get to sleep.
Fran Lebowitz (1950 – )
– More quotations on: [Life] [Sleep]Life is just one damned thing after another.
Elbert Hubbard (1856 – 1915)It’s not true that life is one damn thing after another; it is one damn thing over and over.
Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892 – 1950)A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.
George Bernard Shaw (1856 – 1950)If I had to live my life again, I’d make the same mistakes, only sooner.
Tallulah Bankhead (1903 – 1968)Not a shred of evidence exists in favor of the idea that life is serious.
Brendan GillThe greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.
Walter Bagehot (1826 – 1877)A life