Anger

I’ve been reading Billy Beck’s stuff since his days on usenet (remember alt.philosophy.objectivism?) . I know that there are some people in the blogosphere who chide him for the tone of some of his posts, especially when he focuses on current events. Those folks think he’s too antagonistic, too angry. However, when I look at the current state of affairs, I can’t help but think his tone is just right. People who are out to steal your money, your time, your life, should be treated with disdain and anger. On those rare occasions when I listen to some candidate wax eloquent on how they want to regulate and control my life,  I check to see that my shotgun is loaded. And on those occasions, I think Billy isn’t angry enough.

Successful life

In reading Sunni’s post on this topic and the comments people made, I find myself nodding in agreement with most of what was written. I would like to note, however, that it would all come to naught without maintaining a certain level of awareness, what the Russian Rage - thanks for that characterization, Billy - sometimes called focus. It’s a constant struggle in a society where the average person watches several hours of television a day and where the siren call of the computer sucks untold hours, to pull away and actually think. Many people exist in a state of semi-consciousness for most of their lives. Can you really be happy when you aren’t totally aware?

Curious

I’m listening to German radio over the internet and I note that their traffic reports include announcements of where speed traps and cameras are set up.  I wonder how long  a U.S. station could get away with doing that?   On a similar note, while I was in Germany last month I saw a television report that showed that the cameras wouldn’t function when cars were driving faster than 251 km/hour.

Gay scientists isolate Christian gene

Put down your drinks before watching this video:

Gay scientists isolate Christian gene by Glumbert - RichardDawkins.net

Greatest Albums of All Time?

The following link is what the people who listen to WTMD (Baltimore-area) think are the 897 greatest:

WTMDs Radio For Music People Blog: WTMDs 897 Greatest Albums of All Time Countdown

I do wonder about people who put 2 Radiohead albums in the top 40, however.

Report: 32% Of Prayers Deflected Off Passing Satellites

Report: 32% Of Prayers Deflected Off Passing Satellites | The Onion - Americas Finest News Source. ‘Nuff said.

Another one bites the dust….

Athur C. Clark, RIP.

Read it and weep

NSA shifts to e-mail, Web, data-mining dragnet | The Iconoclast - politics, law, and technology.

More reading goodness

How did I miss the start of L. Neil Smith’s new story? I must be slipping…..

Bit of humor

From Ernie The Attorney:

“The word politics is derived from the word ‘poly’ meaning ‘many’, and the word ‘ticks’ meaning ‘blood-sucking parasites.’” —Larry Hardiman

And the word ‘media’? Perhaps, it’s short for ‘mediocre.’