The holy month of Ramadan is soon to begin which will require all muslims to fast for four weeks during the daylight hours. In support of our muslim brothers, perhaps folks who are not muslims might want to join them. I certainly hope that our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, if they do eat during the day, do not do so within sight of muslims. After all, we must respect all religions, especially Islam. Of course Ramadan does not officially start until it has been officially announced by the proper Muslim authorities, and that requires careful observations of the sky and the appearance of the moon. According to this article, thankfully the benefits of modern science – powerful telescopes – make these lunar observations more precise. We certainly would not want to offend God by starting Ramadan a day too early or a day too late.
What bulllcrap this all is. A religious tradition started almost 14 centuries ago is still in wide practice today. If anything, the tradition is more widely practiced today then it was centuries ago because the number and percentage of muslims in the world has increased, and because the religious fervor of these people has increased. Of course some christians can’t complain much about this. When I was a youngster, most Roman Catholics “fasted” during Lent; you could eat during the day, but only small amounts. Only one meal per day, usually the evening meal, was a meal where you could eat your normal amounts of food. Good gosh, this adherence to ancient, often harmful and certainly bizarre traditions is a disgrace to modern society. For western civilization to give any credence to Ramadan is to deny our progress as a civilization.
Archive for August, 2008
Get ready to start fasting !
Sunday, August 31st, 2008Good gosh – Zeus descended from the Heavens !
Friday, August 29th, 2008I live in a moderately-expensive apartment complex for senior citizens, (although about one-third to one-half of the apartments are subsidized, and thus not expensive). In the heat and humidity of the Houston summer, I seldom go outside. The last time I went outside yesterday was just before noon, for a quick trip to the clubhouse and to the mailbox to get my mail. After 12:30 PM I never went outside again for the rest of the day. I did not even open my front door.
Early this Friday morning I placed my trash just outside the door. Maintenance men come by before 9 AM to pick up my trash, thus saving me the trip of going to the dumpster, which is two hundred yards away. I noticed a green paper attached to a clip near the outside of my front door. I removed the green paper, took it inside, and looked at it. Below is what I saw:
This notice absolutely astounded me ! For two reasons. First of all, only about once every three to four weeks is a “notice” of some kind placed in the clip outside the doors of these apartments, and when they are, these notices always deal with apartment business. For example, the notice might inform you that the city is going to shut off the water for a few hours later that day in order to do repair work. As another example, the notice might inform you that your apartment may be inspected one or two days later. Or the notice may inform you that your maid will be on vacation the coming week, so she will not be cleaning your apartment that week. (Yes, we have maid service in the non-subsidized apartments.) There are other examples that I will not list here. But notices that have nothing to do with apartment business are never posted outside apartment doors. Now I see this !
And here is the second reason I am astounded. Not only is the notice not at all related to apartment business, but it is clearly political in nature. And definitely a notice in favor of Barack Obama! (Notice the phrase in the notice – “HISTORY MAKING EVENT”.) Notices can not be put outside apartment doors unless they are either put there by apartment management or else approved by apartment management for reasons related to apartment business. And the latter almost never happens. So what is going on here? I do know that an increasing number of residents are African-Americans; could that be a contributing factor? I just do not know. The apartment manager is not African-American. The majority of the residents are not African-American. Now I have to wonder just what the heck is going on. I wonder if a similar notice will appear to announce the acceptance speech of John McCain at the Republican Convention. I say no, and I am willing to take bets. This notice is insulting to me. It is a notice which tells me, in no uncertain terms, that Obama’s acceptance speech is a “HISTORY MAKING EVENT“. I did not watch his speech, but I did see some video clips. Good gosh, what with all the Greek columns and the elaborate staging, with fireworks, one would have thought that Zeus was descending from the Heavens. Or perhaps even Jesus Christ himself was returning to earth to save us all ! Stop this nonsense ! In fact I personally like neither presidential candidate, and so far I had not planned to vote because I strongly dislike both candidates. But given the above insulting notice, maybe I will rethink this, and go ahead and vote for McCain only in order to vote against Obama. This is especially so given a recent opinion piece which appeared in Newsweek magazine and on a few web sites, such as this one. The writer of that piece makes it quite clear that he believes that electing Obama will show the world that the United States is a great country. To quote this writer, “We would finally be able to see our legacy of slavery, segregation, and racism in the rearview mirror. Our kids would grow up thinking of prejudice as a nonfactor in their lives. The rest of the world would embrace a less fearful and more open post-post-9/11 America. But does it not follow that an Obama defeat would signify the opposite? If Obama loses, our children will grow up thinking of equal opportunity as a myth. His defeat would say that when handed a perfect opportunity to put the worst part of our history behind us, we chose not to. In this event, the world’s judgment will be severe and inescapable: The United States had its day but, in the end, couldn’t put its own self-interest ahead of its crazy irrationality over race“. So if Obama is not elected, then the United States has proven itself racist? Note the sub-title of the opinion piece as it appeared on the Slate web site: « If Obama loses – Racism is the only reason McCain might beat him ». What nonsense! Sure, I think that a few voters will probably not vote for Obama because of his race. But to essentially indict the whole country because of that is not only wrong, it is nonsense, and even harmful to our country. The author mentions a book which he calls “vile”. I say it is clear that this writer’s opinion piece is vile. Yep, now maybe I will go and vote for John McCain, even though I think he will make a bad president. (But then so will Barack Obama.)
By the way, in case you were wondering, there is a large-screen television upstairs in the clubhouse, and occasionally “events” are scheduled there by apartment management. But never for political reasons, and in any case no notices are posted outside apartment doors. Instead such television events are published in the monthly newsletter, and also announced on notices which are posted inside the clubhouse. For example, before the Super Bowl, notices were posted inside the clubhouse telling residents that there would be a “Super Bowl Party” held in the largest room upstairs in the clubhouse, where the large-screen television was located. Management would have the Super Bowl on the TV, and refreshments would be provided. But no notices were placed outside apartment doors.
Keep those things away from me !
Thursday, August 28th, 2008Several years ago on a local TV news program there was a short segment which showed some apparently charitable people bringing a few dogs into a nursing home for elderly people. The intent was to have the dogs interact with these old folks for an hour or so. It was said that the dogs made these old folks happy, and some of the old folks were even able to hold some of the dogs in their laps since the dogs were small enough. I just read an article with the title “Nursing Home Visits from Fido Have Lasting Benefit“. The article said that if dementia patients living in a nursing home are visited by a dog, they tend to laugh, smile, and respond more for weeks to come. The article was a report based on some medical research. Well, as for me, keep those dogs away from me !. Dogs stink. They smell. They often bark. The very small ones often yap, yap, yap away instead of really “barking”, but that noise is also very, very annoying. Although I am not living in a nursing home, if I ever find myself in one and someone brings in a dog or two, heaven help me! My blood pressure will go up and I might have a heart attack or a stroke. If you want to bring in anything, bring in a cat.
I no longer know how or where to live
Wednesday, August 27th, 2008According to the results of a recent medical study, folks who breathe incense fumes, inadvertently or otherwise, have a slight risk of getting lung cancer because of those fumes. Well, I no longer know what to do, where to live and what places to visit or not to visit. We already supposedly know that even mild exposure to second-hand smoke increases your risk of getting cancer, even if only slightly. And the local TV weather news does not fail to remind me about the quality of the outside air, reminding me not to spend much time outside, if any, due to such things as elevated levels of ozone, smog and various other atmospheric contaminants. Also, do not forget to pay close attention to what you eat due to the possibility of food contaminants that may lead to health problems, such as arsenic, lead, dioxins, fecal matter, and so on, even if they are present only in very minute amounts. Even some food containers are suspect, especially plastic containers. Gosh, it is getting more and more difficult to know how to lead a really safe and healthy life. Just what is a person to do !
Prepare to be annihilated
Tuesday, August 26th, 2008Well folks, those scientists are doing it again. Their first huge and unpredictable “scientific test” was held in the desert of New Mexico in 1945 – the “test” of the first atomic bomb. At that time even a few of those scientists were very concerned since they did not know what the disastrous effects of that bomb test would be. A few even thought that the “bomb test” might result in the immediate destruction of the entire planet, or at least the entire atmosphere around the world. Lucky for us it did not. But now they have completed construction of the largest underground collider machine near Geneva, an extremely powerful machine which will accelerate sub-atomic particles to speeds near the speed of light, in an attempt to get them to collide with one another and produce, as a minimum, a new never-before-discovered sub-atomic particle. But some scientists are concerned that some of the tests might even result in a “big bang” which would destroy not only our planet, but perhaps also our solar system, galaxy, and maybe even our universe. Others think that some of the tests could even produce one or more “black holes” which might swallow up the earth, or even our solar system. According to this article, the first “big” test will probably be conducted late this year. Well, at least it will happen so quickly that we probably won’t feel a thing. Goodbye world.
Oh gosh, what an example !
Thursday, August 21st, 2008Almost everyone in the United States should know by now that the swimmer Michael Phelps won eight olympic gold medals, all in swimming events. Much has been made of the fact that he eats between 10,000 and 12,000 calories per day, which most folks would say is way too much. But that is because he uses a heck of a lot of calories due to the long and intense physical efforts that he makes while training. Such long and arduous training burns a lot of calories. Even the fact that much of the food he eats is not supposed to be “good” for you, such as eggs, meat and cheese, is often mentioned. But that does not bother me.
What does bother me about Michael Phelps is his taste in “music”. It is known that he often wears an iPod, and except when actually in the water, he seems to be wearing an iPod most of the time. This has raised the question, “What is he listening to on his iPod”? Well, while watching the olympics on television, I heard one of the announcers say that he often listened to rap “music”. And sure enough, an Internet search on this subject brings up many web sites which say that Michael Phelps usually listens to “rap” or “hip-hop” on his iPod, one site here and another one here. I find this disgusting. I personally find “rap” or “hip-hop” not even worthy of the name “music”. What, some guy loudly and quickly shouts some “verses”, with no musical notes at all, and that is supposed to be “music”? Give me a break! At most some of the verses very vaguely ressemble musical notes when the “rapper” changes the vocal register with which he shouts words. This is similar to the difference in the vocal register between words spoken by a young woman and the same words spoken by a grown man. No, that is not music, despite the background “beats”. And I have not even mentioned the contents of the verses, many of which are ridiculous at best, totally obnoxious at worst. And given one of the Internet references I made above, some of what Phelps supposedly listens to contains four-letter words. I personally am in no way a prude, but too much is too much. Shame on you Michael Phelps for listening to that garbage.
Two people – an idiot, and a member of the elite
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008I’ve always thought that most of the words and actions of Michael Moore were off-base, if not actually damaging. His latest goof-ball words are found in a public open letter to Caroline Kennedy. He praises her for her charitable work, and calls her one of the most beloved and respected women in this country. He says that she would be the best candidate for vice-president as the running mate for Barack Obama, and he asks her to come forward and say that she is willing to accept that mantle of “public service”. Well, Mister Moore, Caroline Kennedy may be a generally nice woman, who has done much charitable work. However, she sometimes does that at the expense of the United States’ taxpayers, and one example of that follows:
Caroline Kennedy is one of the founders of the Profiles in Courage award, named after the book her father president Kennedy had published. According to this web site, the award is given annually to a person who exemplifies the type of courage examined in her father’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book. The award is generally given to elected officials who, acting in accord with their conscience, risk their careers by pursuing a “larger vision” of the national, state or local interest in opposition to popular opinion or powerful pressures from their constituents. Caroline Kennedy usually participates in the actual award ceremony, and is one of the few people who select the award winner. I have always been appalled by the selection of most of the award winners because many of the elected officials got the award because, as mentioned above, they took action which was contrary to the wishes of their constituents ! Talk about hubris and the elite! One of the award winners was Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr. of Connecticut. He ran for governor of Connecticut in 1990. At that time, according to this article, the most volatile issue facing Connecticut was the attempt to implement a broad-based state income tax. Connecticut traditionally had no state income tax except for a fairly steep one imposed on “unearned income” such as interest and dividends. Weicker ran on a platform of solving Connecticut’s fiscal crisis by not advocating the broad-based income tax, to include the taxation of earned income. He won the election, and it was said that he won it mostly because he was publicly against this proposed tax. However, shortly after his inauguration, Weicker reversed his position and became an advocate of the tax that he had campaigned against. Liberal forces applauded his “political courage” and his willingness to “face reality,” while conservative forces were equally quick to denounce him in no uncertain terms as a “liar” and a “traitor.” And it was for that “courage” that Caroline Kennedy awarded him the “Profiles in Courage” award. What absoulte elitism ! Yep, an elected official wins election because he promises not to implement a proposed tax, and yet once elected he pushes for the tax, and in effect through his efforts succeeds in getting the tax implemented, despite the wishes of the majority of the voters. And that is called “courage”? For which Caroline Kennedy thinks he merits an award? I call that hubris. What absolute nonsense ! And at that time many Connecticut voters were outraged. I have never lived in Connecticut, but I too found this outrageous. Yes, by all means, let us have Caroline Kennedy as vice-president. Should Barack Obama become president and then have the misfortune to die, Caroline Kennedy would become the president. And boy will she know exactly what is the really correct thing to do, the voters be damned. Heck, she can even bring Michael Moore into the White House as an advisor! !
I must admit that, in my opinion, many voters often do not know what is really the “best thing for them”. Sometimes most of the voters are off-base. But to the extent that causes problems, that is usually because the government itself just tries to do too much. The government should often not even attempt anything, and just keep their noses out of our business. For that reason alone, there will be fewer things for the voters to think about during elections, fewer things for the voters to actually know and study.
An Almost Absolute Abomination
Sunday, August 17th, 2008On Saturday evening, August 16, 2008, the two presumptive presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain appeared on a widely-publicized and widely televised forum. As the presidential election campaign shifts into high gear, this was the first major forum of the campaign where both candidates appeared. This forum was held in Saddleback Church in Forest Lake, California, with the somewhat renowned pastor Revered Rick Warren as host. I am very disturbed that such an important forum in which the two candidates appeared was a forum in which the main topic was clearly religion, and where the interviewer was a pastor asking questions related to religion, and a mixture of religion with politics. And yes, the two candidates claimed not only to be religious people, but also christians. Hey, we are not electing a Pope here, or a new Archbishop of Canterbury. Instead we will eventually elect the next president of the United States !!
A posting by a “chris” on a Washington Post web site hit the nail on the head when he wrote: « Rick Warren [the pastor] said: “I just want to remind you that one of the greatest freedoms we have in America is the freedom of speech, even the freedom to protest this meeting.” The problem is that no one in the Main Stream Media seems to be protesting this meeting! Can’t anyone – except for Barry Lynn at American United for Separation of Church and State – raise questions about the premise of last evening’s event? In a country of laws and freedoms – not of ethnic or religious heritage – how is it appropriate to have a pastor host presidential candidates for a conversation at his church about their personal faith and the relationship of faith to their political policies? First the Compassion Forum, and now Saddleback. It’s looking more and more like religious litmus tests for political office are ruling the day. And that is troubling. »
More of my comments on this can be found here on my web site.
An inconsequential, arrogant and dull man
Monday, August 11th, 2008Yep, I am talking here about President Bush. As a “lame duck” he is for that reason alone practically inconsequential. But he is also in that state due to his actions and comments over the past few years. His latest public comments, most of which are slightly dull at worst, obviously stupid at best, were made in China during his attendance there for the Olympic Games. He just recently castigated Russia for Russia’s military intervention in the breakaway province of South Ossetia, next to Georgia. Yeh, as though Russia is going to heed his remarks. On my own web site I recently pointed out some other ridiculous statements that Bush made while in China.
Actually, it is probably a mistake for me to say that Bush’s comments are inconsequential. That’s because they are probably of real consequence since they show the world even more just how foolish is the president of our United States, and, perhaps by extension, the United States itself.