Fristies!

Thanks to Steve, the Yellow Doggerel Democrat, the Pith Stop has a great new product.

You know you want the t-shirt.

Posted by Hello

Name That Comedian

...and I want the letter M striken from the English language...

So Three Existentialists Walk Into a Bar....

Thanks to CultureGhost I know my philosophy style. Really the only thing that surprises me is the high score on Hedonism. What's wrong with saying that everyone SHOULD be happy? I didn't say they should fiddle while Rome burns. You didn't give me options. I never said it was the MOST important thing. Oh well. As for Existentialism I've known that since I was about 13 and drawn to Camus.

You scored as Existentialism. Your life is guided by the concept of Existentialism: You choose the meaning and purpose of your life. “Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.” “It is up to you to give [life] a meaning.” --Jean-Paul Sartre “It is man's natural sickness to believe that he possesses the Truth.” --Blaise Pascal More info at Arocoun's Wikipedia User Page... Existentialism 95% Hedonism 80% Utilitarianism 70% Justice (Fairness) 45% Kantianism 30% Strong Egoism 20% Divine Command 5% Apathy 5% Nihilism 5% What philosophy do you follow? (v1.03) created with QuizFarm.com

"For your purposes, 'existential' means pseudo-intellectual poseur with accessories from the Street Faire." - [Daria Morgendorffer from Daria]

How Did I Miss This?

So I was just wandering through life today when something hit me. Jon Stewart has no blog (that I'm aware of and I'm on his freaking stalker fan mailing list). Why doesn't Jon Stewart have a blog? Shouldn't something be DONE about this? Isn't this a great big NEED? Don't you want Jon to blog live-time while he's watching CNN?

Why is the Congress piddling around with professional sports steroids use when we have a problem like this on our hands? Better yet, the Daily Show could have a blog and ALL of the reporters could post. How cool would THAT be? I'm already a fan of the Colbert Report (It's French. Get Over It.) and it hasn't even broadcast yet. (Yes I remain eternally hopeful that they will take themselves seriously and turn it into a show.) And what about Ed Helms? He could audioblog some of that banjo playin' for us, maybe with some "overview of today's news" lyrics. Wouldn't it have been easier to have heard about the Pope's death that way? Come to think of it, if he starts to offer that service I might get all of my news that way...

Liberal Values Part V: Protection from Arbitrary Authority

Our multi-part series to explore liberal values based on the definition from dictionary.com that we promote here at TTGSIMH:

Liberalism: A political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority. [Also a] 19th-century Protestant movement that favored free intellectual inquiry, stressed the ethical and humanitarian content of Christianity, and de-emphasized dogmatic theology

So what do we mean by "protection from arbitrary authority"? You know me, I like to start with definitions before I get too far.

arbitrary
adj.

1. Determined by chance, whim, or impulse, and not by necessity, reason, or principle: stopped at the first motel we passed, an arbitrary choice.
2. Based on or subject to individual judgment or preference: The diet imposes overall calorie limits, but daily menus are arbitrary.
3. Established by a court or judge rather than by a specific law or statute: an arbitrary penalty.
4. Not limited by law; despotic: the arbitrary rule of a dictator.

authority
n.

1. 1. The power to enforce laws, exact obedience, command, determine, or judge.
   2. One that is invested with this power, especially a government or body of government officials: land titles issued by the civil authority.
2. Power assigned to another; authorization: Deputies were given authority to make arrests.
3. A public agency or corporation with administrative powers in a specified field: a city transit authority.

Ok, so protection from unneccessary, unreasonable, unprincipled, despotic laws, governments, and government officials.

Well, duh. Who doesn't want that? No, no, don't answer that question. We're here to discuss the intrinsic values in the words liberal and liberalism. Let's not get sidetracked.

To me the phrase "protection from arbitrary authority" brings to mind the protection of the essential freedoms and the Bill of Rights. Is it any wonder that Thomas Jefferson (liberal) was such a proponent of that bill? This is a classic American "value" and is liberal through and through.

Liberal Values Revisted

Just in case you have anything to add on the exploration we've had so far, here's the definition and original posts...

Liberalism: A political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority. [Also a] 19th-century Protestant movement that favored free intellectual inquiry, stressed the ethical and humanitarian content of Christianity, and de-emphasized dogmatic theology.

Liberal Values Part I: Natural Goodness
Liberal Values Part II: Autonomy of the Individual
Liberal Values Part III: Favoring Civil and Political Liberties
Liberal Values Part IV: Government by Law with the Consent of the Governed

Will Rogers

Good ole Will Rogers lived from 1879-1935 and many of his quotes go to prove that the more things change - the more they stay the same.

"Democrats never agree on anything, that's why they're Democrats. If they agreed with each other, they would be Republicans."

"Now if there is one thing that we do worse than any other nation, it is try and manage somebody else's affairs."

"Make crime pay. Become a lawyer."

"You can't say civilization don't advance... in every war they kill you in a new way."

"If we ever pass out as a great nation we ought to put on our tombstone 'America died from a delusion that she had moral leadership'."

"I am not a member of any organized party - I'm a Democrat."

"There ought to be one day - just one - when there is open season on senators."

Why was Will so funny? As he said, "It's easy being a humorist when you've got the whole government working for you."

Liberal Values Part IV: Government by Law with the Consent of the Governed

Our multi-part series to explore liberal values based on the definition from dictionary.com that we promote here at TTGSIMH:

Liberalism: A political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority. [Also a] 19th-century Protestant movement that favored free intellectual inquiry, stressed the ethical and humanitarian content of Christianity, and de-emphasized dogmatic theology

So what do we mean by "government by law with the consent of the govered"?

Obviously, the first step is a belief that government should be by law (enacted legislation). Second, that the system for creating those laws not be high-jacked from the citizens being governed. You know, by things like gerrymandering, voter fraud, etc.

"Voters don't decide issues, they decide who will decide issues. " ~ George F. Will

I'm too tired to really explore this idea right now, but I wanted to make my "Deep Thoughts Wednesday" deadline. So if you have ideas on this, please post them.

Don't Give Me No Olde Time Religion

Apparently I'm a gluttonous (somewhat violent and malicious) Virtuous Non-Believer.

Hey, it's not my fault that chocolate is good and some people just need killin'...

The Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to the First Level of Hell - Limbo!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Very High
Level 2 (Lustful)	Low
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Very Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Low
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very Low
Level 7 (Violent)	Moderate
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Moderate
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Very Low

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

Exploration of Principles and Purposes

So, in case you were curious about the Universal Unitarians (like I was when I discovered I'm supposed to be one) here are their principles and purposes. Yeah, they're pretty liberal.

Yeah, I'm a Joiner...

You’re stuck inside Fahrenheit 451, which book do you want to be? I would want to be Fahrenheit 451, so that there was this weird cascading open window effect of book within book within book...

Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character? No doubt! For instance, there is my obsession with Spock. And since I'm a writer I have to obsess over my own characters. It's required. I always had a soft spot for Kyzar with his, "I like my scars. They remind me of who I am."

What are you currently reading? A ton of stuff. Most recently Start Late, Finish Rich by Bach (no, not that Bach).

The last book you bought is: Sahara by Cussler. :)

The last book you read: The Orchid Hunter by Sandra K. Murray

Five books you would take to a deserted island: Whatever seemed to be the most buoyant.

Dammit, People, Be REASONABLE!!!

Now I know who Jon Stewart wants to be when he grows up. He just had Robert Reich on the Daily Show, stumping for his book Reason.

Buy two, they're small.

Is There a Lawyer In The House?

Along with it being unethical and deranged that Bill Frist adopted shelter cats to do medical experiments, it was probably also illegal. Our local animal shelter, at least, has you sign a ream of papers that includes a pledge of humane treatment and actually specifies that they cannot be used for scientific experiment. Since this is a business contract, if you break it you break the law.

Somebody go get him. I think that a fitting end would be a Stephen King-esque scene where he is locked in a small room with 30 hungry, demonic tabbies....

Beliefs That Get Stuck In My Head

I've mentioned before that I've taken Belief.net's Belief-O-Matic test. Have you? The results are fun. Give it a spin and tell me how you come up.

Breath of Fresh Air

Tonight's Daily Show has John Avalon promoting his new book Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics. Thank you Jon and John.


Remember to take to the streets this week and scream, "BE REASONABLE!!!"

Liberal Values Part III: Favoring Civil and Political Liberties

Our multi-part series to explore liberal values based on the definition from dictionary.com that we promote here at TTGSIMH:

Liberalism: A political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority. [Also a] 19th-century Protestant movement that favored free intellectual inquiry, stressed the ethical and humanitarian content of Christianity, and de-emphasized dogmatic theology

So what do we mean by "favoring civil and political liberties"?

Liberty

1. 1. The condition of being free from restriction or control.
   2. The right and power to act, believe, or express oneself in a manner of one's own choosing.
   3. The condition of being physically and legally free from confinement, servitude, or forced labor. See Synonyms at freedom.
2. Freedom from unjust or undue governmental control.
3. A right or immunity to engage in certain actions without control or interference: the liberties protected by the Bill of Rights.

Therefore, those things that are "of or relating to citizens and their interrelations with one another or with the state" (civil) and "of, relating to, or dealing with the structure or affairs of government, politics, or the state" (political) should be "free from restriction or control". And they definitely should be "physically and legally free from confinement, servitude, or forced labor."

Why do we believe in so much freedom? Well, look back at the autonomy of the individual. Since we believe that you will act like a responsible adult, there is no reason to treat you like a child.

Trekkily Bloglicious

My customized Google News kicked up another good thing that I would have missed otherwise. The (Un)Official Trek United Blog. You know, so we can SaveEnterprise.

Go forth. Do good bloggie things.

The Shotgun of Sweet Reason

Through Electrolite I found the Unitarian Jihad Name Generator.

My name?

The Sword of Reasoned Discussion

(Although the reload was cool, too: Sister Spikey Mace of Desirable Mindfulness. But that sounds more like CmdrTal.)

History Will Teach Us Nothing

by Sting

If we seek solace in the prisons of the distant past
Security in human systems we're told will always always last
Emotions are the sail and blind faith is the mast
Without a breath of real freedom we're getting nowhere fast

If God is dead and an actor plays his part
His words of fear will find their way to a place in your heart
Without the voice of reason every faith is its own curse
Without freedom from the past things can only get worse

Sooner or later just like the world first day
Sooner or later we learn to throw the past away
History will teach us nothing

Our written history is a catalogue of crime
The sordid and the powerful, the architects of time
The mother of invention, the oppression of the mild
The constant fear of scarcity, aggression as its child

Sooner or later

Convince an enemy, convince him that he's wrong
Is to win a bloodless battle where victory is long
A simple act of faith
In reason over might
To blow up his children will only prove him right
History will teach us nothing

Sooner or later the world first day
Sooner or later we learn to throw the past away
History will teach us nothing

Know you human rights
Be what you come here for

I'm Paying for the Insult

The Bush administration has spent millions of dollars in the past two months on its campaign to overhaul Social Security, narrowly skirting laws that prohibit spending of taxpayer funds to indirectly lobby Congress.
"Bush lobbying effort skirts law: Administration has spent at least $2.2 million so far"
By Rex Nutting, MarketWatch

Delightful.

The Star Wars odyssey - 50 years into the future

"George Lucas announced that he'll convert all six 'Star Wars' movies to 3-D and re-release them one per year starting in 2007."
2005-04-10 / Knight Ridder / By Mark Bazer

In addition to the 3-D versions, the following is the "Star Wars" re-release schedule for the next 50 years:

2014: "The Empire Strikes Back" is re-released with all footage of Harrison Ford as Han Solo digitally removed. This necessitates certain plot changes. For example, instead of Han Solo being frozen, the film's climax has Darth Vader filling up an ice-cube tray.

2015: To ensure the films remain packed with the most state-of-the-art technology, all six "Star Wars" movies are re-released with new scenes featuring C-3PO bickering with the Sharper Image Faux Suede OttoMan 2.0 Human-Touch Calf and Foot Massager.

2017: "Star Wars" is re-released in an environmentally friendly version: The gas-guzzling Millennium Falcon is replaced by a Toyota hybrid Prius, the locale of the trash-compactor scene is changed to a recycling center, and the legion of Storm Troopers are replaced by college kids with clipboards badgering people to give money to Greenpeace.

2018: After breaking into Mike Nichols' home, Lucas re-releases "Attack of the Clones" incorporating the nude footage of Natalie Portman cut from "Closer."

2019: Peeved that "Titanic" is still the top-grossing movie of all time, Lucas replaces John Williams' "Star Wars" score with a continuous loop of Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On."

2021: Deciding to have Yoda reject the concept of the Force in favor of Kabbalah in "Attack of the Clones," Lucas digitally adds a red-string bracelet to the Jedi master's left wrist.

2025: He hardly cares what you think now, and he'll care even less in 2025: Lucas re-releases "Return of the Jedi" with every character dressed in the bikini Princess Leia wore at Jabba the Hut's place. Including Jabba.

2030: "The Empire Strikes Back" is re-released 100 percent in its original form, with the exception of a one-second scene featuring 350 new characters standing around in an intergalactic tavern chatting idly. (Action figures available from Hasbro.)

2032: Worried that people now view the kiss on the lips in "Stars Wars" between siblings Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker as incestuous, Lucas digitally inserts himself in Luke's place.

2034: Concerned that the quality of the acting wasn't quite how he'd initially envisioned it in the first trilogy, Lucas re-releases "Star Wars," "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" with Mark Hamill replaced by Jared from the Subway commercials.

2037: To booster his claim that he's an independent filmmaker, Lucas re-releases "Return of the Jedi" with a new 30-minute subplot of Han Solo and Chewbacca tasting wine, meeting women and enjoying each other's company on a trip through the Santa Barbara wine country.

2041: While denying he's privy to any percentage of the merchandising profits, Lucas re-releases "The Empire Strikes Back" featuring a scene of Boba Fett announcing he's quitting the bounty hunter life and then whipping up a batch of Hasbro Easy-Bake My Little Pony cookies.

2048: Thanks to new holographic technology, "The Phantom Menace," "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith" are re-released in versions that allow Jar-Jar Binks to sit next to theatergoers and talk over all the scenes he's not in.

2055: The 111-year-old Lucas, realizing that all special-effects, 3-D and actors of any sort have diluted his original vision, re-releases "Star Wars" now simply featuring himself shouting out random lines from the script as he's fitted for a straightjacket.

Tribune Media Services

Nothing's Sacred

I love Lewis Black. I've been one of Lew's Legionnaires for awhile now. He's a thinking man's comedian, and definitely ascribes to the Culture of "Get a Life!"

Liberal Values Part II: Autonomy of the Individual

Our multi-part series to explore liberal values based on the definition from dictionary.com that we promote here at TTGSIMH:

Liberalism: A political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority. [Also a] 19th-century Protestant movement that favored free intellectual inquiry, stressed the ethical and humanitarian content of Christianity, and de-emphasized dogmatic theology

So what do we mean by "autonomy of the individual"? To start from the basics I went back to the dictionary.

Autonomy

1. The condition or quality of being autonomous; independence.
2. 1. Self-government or the right of self-government; self-determination.
   2. Self-government with respect to local or internal affairs: granted autonomy to a national minority.
3. A self-governing state, community, or group.

Synonyms: freedom, liberty, self-determination, self-government, self-rule, sovereignty

To me freedom is not some willy-nilly escape from responsibility and authority. My basic belief about the nature of freedom was captured in this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt. "Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility. For the person who is unwilling to grow up, the person who does not want to carry his own weight, this is a frightening prospect."

Therefore to me, inherent in the definition of liberalism is the belief that we should take responsibility for ourselves as individuals. The wingnuts may preach the word accountability but to me it is essential to the definition of my beliefs.

************************************************************************************
Archiving the Comments
************************************************************************************
If liberals are synonymous with "taking responsibility for ourselves", why the adamant liberal support for welfare programs?

Just something to think about.
Novan | 07.28.05 - 9:35 am

I believe in welfare programs to the extent that there are those who CANNOT take care of themselves. The issues come from people who WILL NOT take care of themselves, and that is really the area of greatest curiousity for me.

The thing that is interesting about this belief in independence/responsibility to me is that my conservative friends and I agree right up to the point where I interject that I/we have some responsibility for those who cannot take care of themselves. Then I really stagger them when I propose that for some of the ones who will not, they may need some help - training, etc. I think I see the word "responsibility" as being much bigger than they do - it is my responsibility to society as well my responsibility to take care of myself.
CmdrSue | Homepage | 09.06.05 - 9:59 am

And from the September 6, 2005 revisiting post Reflections on Autonomy, Fixer weighs in.

We care about what happens to our fellow man and our society as a whole. The Republicans don't. Period.
The Fixer | Homepage | 09.07.05 - 4:30 pm

During the January 2006 redux - StealthBadger

Just my own way of putting this, I suppose: There is substantial difference between responsibility for your own life, and responsibility for things you do not control.

The former is appropriate and necessary, the second is responsibility without authority or control. Which is the surest way to drive people bat-shit.
StealthBadger | Homepage | 01.18.06 - 10:50 pm

Bribbit

There was so much discussion of Loooney Tunes trivia in the comments that I thought I should try to dig out a Looney Tunes character test. Which Looney Tunes character are you?

My top result for the SelectSmart.com selector, Looney Tunes character quiz, is The Singing Frog

You can visit my website.

It's Only Temporary

I sang the praises of customized Google News last week, and I have to continue in my adoration. My "science fiction" section has coughed up a new author that I probably would have missed otherwise. Check out the website for It's Only Temporary by Eric Shapiro. He has Chapter One posted which is quite nice of him. I look forward to the book coming out in July.

(Of course, as Cmdr Tal knows, if I could just make it on Chapter Ones I'd be a rich and wealthy miser...)

Weather or Not You Care

by J.D., posted by CmdrSue

Ah, weather, the 100% chance that there is likely to be an atmospheric event somewhere at sometime involving water.

I've always been curious about the change from the days of rural back porch conversations: "Yep, Matilda-May, that was sure one heckfire t'rruble storm last night. Why I saw Burt Wilkin's barn blow clean past the co-op, and people way out 'cross th' state will be werin' old Lady Crickenberger's laundry this summer. Guess I'll head out yonder an' locate our youngin's what didn't make 'er to the root cellar in time."

Now, with the advent of CNN, the Weather Channel, and Weather Alert Radios, those good old spring showers have been upgraded to "RAIN EVENTS". Makes me feel like I should run out to the local Ticketron to get seats - front row, center. Those wonderfully spectacular summer thunderstorms now set off bells, sirens, and almost require a state of martial law. Fall frost and mold counts are delivered like the coming of an apocalypse, and winter snowfall has become the reason for people (especially in the Mid-Atlantic states) to flee to the local grocery to stock up on supplies like we are preparing for nuclear sheltering.

Last year's barrage of hurricanes and tornados was the BEST prime time viewing for almost 3 months. Iraq what?? We have WIND, by golly! As a "Disaster Action Team" volunteer (REAL title & still waiting for my red cape and tights), I can tell you that the scramble and panic to "respond" was at an all-time pique. At first, we committed many of our human resources, then recruited new volunteers, later drafted community members, and finally just tackled people (sticking a vest, volunteer badge, and clipboard on their prone struggling forms) to meet the demand (a fact still hotly disputed by many who are still waiting for that return phone call...).

All in all, I am thrilled!! I love to watch our Ken & Barbie "Climate consultants" and meterologists (which used to require significant physics and atmospheric science study, but now means you look great in a rain slicker and push-up bra) relating the day's weather news. Rain is now precipitation (so is snow, ice, etc. making the prediction SO much more accurate), fog is a limited visibility period, and every form of natural phenomenon can be rated on some scale with "We're all gonna die" stuck at the top. Still waiting for the inception of the NGF Scale (Noah Global Flooding).

Our tools have gone from looking at a mercury themometer, watching the reactions of animals that have survived millions of years with limited shelter, and just plain looking up, to techno toys of an epic proportion. Now, we bring our Doppler Radar stations, a barrage of space based satellite arrays and equipment, stream gauges, snow pillows, tipping buckets, and millions of internet based live feed "Home Weather Staions" to bear on the problem. Yes, WE ARE DOING IT RIGHT!! However, you can still take bets on any given day as to whether you have a 40% chance for rain, 8% chance for snow, and .003% chance of frogs falling from the sky. See your fave meteorologist at Denny's? Ask them what the weather will be like in 4 hours, and watch him/her break into a cold sweat like an 6th grader called in front of the class and required to define anti-disestablishmentarianism. So, perhaps watching for squirrels gathering nuts is not that bad an idea ...

I am REALLY not bitter. I am actually comforted that we still have a hard time with weather and predicting nature or other higher power's "plan" for the day. Makes me feel comfortable and helps me maintain that child-like fascination when you hear that first rumble of thunder or see the first few stray snowflakes. Yep, I'm in for the show ... bring it on! Oh, and remember to take an umbrella when you head out today ... it might rain ;-).

So That's What They Meant By Kissing Cousins

I was a little surprised by this article because I thought that, well, marrying your first cousin was sort of bad. Or at least ooogie. I know I'm supposed to be a liberal, but, ewwwwww.

Granted, the only first cousin I have within ten years of my age is female so we could bust all sorts of taboos by getting married. The other first cousins are twins about twenty years my junior. Maybe marry both of them? That would be nice and shocking.

Oh well. As Jon Stewart said about gay marriage, "Once I figured out that it wasn't mandatory..."

Phenomenal Cosmic Powers! (Itty Bitty Living Space)

One day they are going to run out of words. Or maybe we will just have the InfiByte chip. But for now we will just have to settle for the 1TB (yes, as in terabytes) desktop coming out in 2007.

That's What I Call GQ

I think that my geek quotient just went up. I found this page and thought it looked like a lot of fun.

When I die, I'm leaving my body to science fiction.
Steven Wright

His Brain is Gone!

You know what a Star Trek fanatic I am, so I couldn't help but to follow a link to Spocko's Brain.

Friday Tunes

1. Itsy Bitsy - Johnny Deluxe
2. The Right Thing - Simply Red
3. "Mom, if you're going to reminisce, I'll be forced to call Social Services." - Daria Morgendorffer from Daria
4. Inside - Sting
5. Shameless - Garth Brooks
6. "Suck gas, evil-doers!" - Darkwing Duck (Jim Cummings)
7. The Safety Dance - Men Without Hats
8. Forever and Always - Shania Twain
9. Uninvited - Alanis Morrisette
10. Don't Cry - Seal
    

Shameless Self Promotion

Thoughts That Get Stuck In My Throw Pillow

Posted by Hello

What Light Through Yonder Window Breaks?

I think I've seen the wrong side of 4am a few too many times in the past couple of weeks. What am I saying? Any side of 4am is a bad side. It reminds me of what a buddy in retail used to call early mornings. "The ass-crack of dawn."

Yes, I am still up coming in to 4am in an awake state from yesterday. Yes, I work today. Color me ecstactic.

I think I'm getting too old for this....

At least it's the Day of Foolishness. And my twin nephews are four years old today. No foolin!