:: deep thots

The Cult of 9/11

2011-09-13T17:20:00.000-07:00

On the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I'm going to do the very thing I've been complaining about others doing. I'm going to talk about it. But if you are sensitive about that day, please do not read on. You won't like what I have to say.

I've recovered. Well over nine years ago. I was saddened as I watched it unfold from the comfort of my home in Seattle. Yet, I knew it was nothing compared to what other nations have endured. In the eyes of history, it's a rather small event. I'm not a New Yorker. I don't know anyone who was affected. Nor have I ever met anyone who knew anyone. With that perspective, I got over it. Fast.

I find all the repetitious coverage across the media to be quite tiresome. Rather than be forced to relive the pictures and hear the same old stories, I'm reflecting on the last ten years of our nation's history and the post 9/11 world in which we now live. The event has changed our nation and the world. And it's not a good thing.

In the last ten years, four thousand of our young men, barely out of high school, left home to "defend our freedom" only to return in a wooden box. Our troops who returned alive will never be the same, having hardened themselves to bear the shedding of blood. I watched as two million innocent men, women and children died in the "war on terror". Many of these were in Iraq, a country which had no terrorists before we got there. I want to ask you, were the 3,000 lives that were lost that day worth the killing of over 2 million people?

After the tragedy, most Americans were afraid to fly. I've never known fear and immediately after 9/11 I'd have sat next to the guy in Muslim garb on a jet. Why would I be afraid to fly when I'm many thousands times more likely to die in a car or any number of medical conditions. The odds of another terror attack, both before and after 9/11, are so negligible that our response has been absolutely ridiculous. The last 10 years have seen the erosion of many freedoms in the name of security. We now have a Transportation Safety Board who makes old people remove their diapers. Parents allow their young children to groped in the name of security. We have body scanners which show every curve of your sexy (or not so sexy) ass. If you have a bandage under your bra, they're likely to fondle your breasts.

Air travelers have been burdened by watch lists which included anybody even remotely connected with someone they didn't know they knew. My own brother was yellow tagged by virtue of his name. He was a frequent business traveler and was hassled every time he boarded a plane. The would detain him, examine him and see a much shorter man not matching any of their description and let him go on his way. Despite all the false alarms, it took him several years to get his name removed.

And then there's the Patriot Act, which has destroyed much of the privacy and liberty we treasure as Americans. The list of laws and Executive Orders which have eroded our freedom is exhaustive, and include the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007, Sections 1615 and 1622 of the 2008 Defense Authorization Act, Protect America Act of 2007, Revising the 1807 Insurrection Act and Ending 1878 Posse Comitatus Protection, and The Homeland Security Act, just to mention a few.

Despite the erosion of our Constitutional freedoms, none of these measures have led us to a single terrorist. Every serious threat to our security has been uncovered with standard CIA procedures. The TSA's security procedures have exposed only few low-tech lone wolfs, so it's a bit difficult to justify the abuse of travelers and the heavy restrictions placed upon us.

Loss of freedom aside, that day has changed us. And by us, I mean you. You who will "never forget". I'm bludgeoned 24/7 with your sentiments on social networks. I'm assaulted by the media's never ending coverage and rehashing of the same stories over and over an over again. I change the channel. I change the radio station. I try another site for news. But it's everywhere! I can't escape it. There's no where to run. And it's not just on 9/11. It's been weeks of virtual non-stop rape of my brain. Yes, I said "rape". Don't you realize that once you've healed, reliving all those videos and stories ad nauseum is akin to torture?

Our country has taken on a cult mentality surrounding 9/11. You have not recovered, so I'm not allowed to move on. I am not allowed to seek respite from all the hype. There is no way to escape it save going on safari in Africa. I am forced to endure it. Forced to relive it. And forced to keep my mouth shut or face backlash. Those of us who have gotten over it are damned by the masses. I'm branded as heartless because I got over it. If being emotionally strong is a heartless state, I'll take that label gladly. Whatever you choose to call me, I refuse to give myself over to a state of perpetual mourning and fear. Don't you know that if you "never forget" you will never recover? You'll continue to live in fear. You'll continue to gladly offer yourelf to be groped by the TSA under the illusion that it makes you safer.

Some people take longer to heal. I get that. But should I be forced to mourn with you? Your mourning should be kept private, not cheapened by hype. You should allow those of us who have recovered to move on with dignity.

Election Day, Filipino Style

2011-07-05T18:09:00.000-07:00

On October 25, 2010, local elections were held in the Philippines. I had the privilege of witnessing it first hand in remote province of Agusan del Sur on the island of Mindanao.

Elections are a big deal in the Philippines. I would guess nearly 100% of Filipinos turn up at the polls. Here, election season can also turn violent. During the period leading up to an election, my bags were routinely checked before entering a tiny shop. My hosts also insisted on escorting everywhere, even just to walk down the humble road near the home. Among my hosts was Amelito Cadao who is a Counselor of the Pisaan Baranguay (a local voting district in the Philippines) in San Francisco and was running for re-election. To illustrate the danger present even in this seemingly peaceful place, he told me that as long as I am in his baranguay, he could have armed men at my defense. If I left the baranguay, he could do nothing.

Meet Amelito, Counselor of Pisaan Baranguay

Politicians in the provinces are simple people. Amelito lived with his family in the tiny basement of the home where I stayed. When I entered his home, carrying the dinner Jimmy had bought for me at Jollibee, I had tread carefully over the dips in the unfinished floor. The total square footage was roughly equal to that of my bedroom upstairs. It consisted of a long narrow dining and kitchen area, with two tiny bedrooms along side it which were barely bigger than a large bathroom. There was no toilet, or CR (Comfort Room), as the Filipinos refer to it.

Amelito (left) takes a break from campaigning to enjoy videoke.

On another day, the 21st of October, Amelito joined us at A & E Estrella Store for videoke (the Philippine version of karaoke). Comfortable, with his shirt off, we discussed local politics and his platform of supporting the people and fighting corruption. I talked to him also about the different form of corruption which exists in my own country. Amelito sang a few songs before heading out to attract supporters.

I didn't see much of him for most of the week, as he was busy campaigning. He had no funds and ran his campaign entirely on foot, along with a group of his supporters. In this place, there are no television ads. There are posters everywhere, but they are all the same. Each poster consists of a photo of the candidate and his name. They hang like streamers across the driveway leading up to Pisaan Elementary School, where the votes are caste.

Atoy (in green) and his daughter Joi Joi at the Pisaan Elementary School, where voting took place.

Amelito had no posters, but other candidates had more funding. Corruption is alive and well when it comes to the ballot box. One particular candidate offered my hosts (and many others) money to vote for him. Most will take the money, but cast their vote for their chosen candidate instead. Buying votes is common since most Filipinos are very poor.

Posters of the candidates hang like streamers to greet voters on the driveway of the school.

Election Day

Election day is considered a holiday in the Philippines. Many shops and businesses are closed. The grocery store remained open, but the law prohibits the sale of alcohol on the day of the election.

Langh Langh (in blue) scans for her name outside each classroom to figure out where to vote. Her daughter Joi Joi is in pink.

The voting process here is simple, yet complicated. Each classroom has an alphabetical list of names on the door. Each person must find the right room to vote by looking at the list. Strangely, the rooms themselves are not in alphabetical order, so the "B" classroom is not necessarily next to the "A" room. When asked what I thought of the process, one of my first comments was to note the lack of labeling on the rooms. A simple print out of a big "S-T", for instance, would have greatly facilitated the process and eliminated unnecessary crowding.

Agusan del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines

2011-06-26T18:45:00.000-07:00

A few pics I snapped on my visit to San Francisco, in Agusan del Sur, Philippines. It was a wonderful place, with beautiful people. I couldn't help but shed a few tears as I boarded the bus that would take me to Butuan for the flight back to Manila. I have so many memories of this place and much to share in the weeks to come.

Nanai's kitchen, where my meals were prepared for me.

Filipinos seem to love the camera. I tried to get candid shots of the kids, but every time they saw the camera, they would pose. Other times, they insisted I get out my camera to take shots of them. Beautiful children.

The students in Lahng Lahng's classes (all 4 of them) roared with excitement when we asked to take a picture with them. In one class, the girls where rushing to get closest to me for the pic. I felt like Michael Jackson.

The view from my room includes banana trees, coconut trees and rice fields. The leaves of the banana tree are at least twice as long as I am tall.

The Changing Landscape of Social Networking & the Future of the Internet

2010-12-05T20:30:00.001-08:00

I use Google Reader to subscribe to various news, blogs and podcasts. I also subscribe to many of the same sources via Facebook and Twitter. These days, I've noticed I spend more time on Facebook and less on Google Reader. Facebook puts my social, political and other interests all in one place. Social networking is no longer purely a social experience. The lines between the social, the personal and the private are becoming blurred.

This fact is further compounded by Facebook ingenious use of advertising space. They not only poll your own profile "likes", but also those of your friends. Marketers know their psychology. They understand that it's quite likely you share a common interest with your friends. If your friends are interested in travel, you will probably see advertisements in the margin selling travel gear.

When you use Facebook to monitor news & politics, the article or video is being "shared" with you. It is assumed you will want to "share" that same piece with your own Facebook friends. It is almost like watching TV together. With social media, the world can come to you without any effort of your own.

In the future, I predict the entire shape of the Internet will change completely. Consider also Google's brilliant strategy. Your Google Id can be used on YouTube and even sites not owned by Google. When you buy products from certain vendors, your purchased history is visible on your Google Account page. This OpenId concept potentially means you need only a single login for the entire Internet. It's like your own personal RFID chip.

A universal login does present problems. The majority of people share their passwords with their friends and many use passwords which are easy to guess. Spybots scour for open ports and can very easily hack into your account, especially is weak passwords are used. In the future, this problem will go away. Biometrics is a well-developed field. The ability to log in to a personal PC with a finger print has been around for more than a decade. I find it surprising that computer manufacturers and system integrators have not siezed upon this technology to market a more secure business machine. Once biometric readers become standard equipment, web site operators will quickly adopt the technology themselves, requiring your finger print be used for authentication combined with other measures.

While these things sound a bit scary, I don't believe "big brother" is the goal. Your surfing and purchasing habits will be like a personal identity card. It will be primarily machines which will access your information and only the information authorized for a specific site. Users will be able to access their entire web history in one place. The Internet itself is becoming social. As the technology becomes more finely tuned, users will increasingly come to rely on fewer and fewer sites for the information and needs. There will no longer be thousands of websites, but only a few hundred. These few hundred will be uniquely able to provide finely tuned services to meet the needs of a large, diverse audience.

Security issues will become a thing of the past--unfortunately, along with anonymity. Before accessing the Internet, every user will be issued an ID by a global authenication board. This ID will be used along with a biometric scan just to access the Internet. We will no longer need anti-virus software. Hacking and the spread of viruses will become a tool for only a small group of high-tech global elites with very big goals, such as International terrorism.

Using the Internet in the future, will be much more efficient and less time consuming. You will need only to login in one place to see everything that is relevant to you personally. You will not be bothered by annoying pop-ups and banner ads. No longer will you need Favorites and Bookmarks. Everything will be simple and streamlined.

Advertising "bots" will use your Internet history to target advertising, as they already do. In the future, this software will become highly specialized with the ability to do complex profiling. The day is coming when you will no longer need to go shopping. The products you need will come to you. When you post on Facebook that you've taken a new job in New York, apartments in your price range will be displayed as you surf. The apartments advertised will also fit your lifestyle. This same technology will be used to deliver only news stories and other content which interest you.

Economy: Singapore vs. US

2010-08-18T11:04:00.000-07:00

Just a quick commentary. I arrived in my second home of Singapore roughly 3 weeks ago. Since then, I have been working non-stop--literally 12-16 hours a day--on a software development project with an overly ambitious deadline. Therefore, you must excuse the simplicity of this post. It is late, and I'm lucky to have a thought in my head.

En route to Singapore, I had a stopover in Japan. My first observation was the obvious: the yen had strengthened quite a lot against the mighty US dollar. My overall experience in Japan has confirmed the value of a production-based economy.

Working so many hours, I've had little time for socializing. Nevertheless, it is more difficult now to spend time with the friends (locals) I have met here during my previous projects. Why? They all have jobs. Yep. Most of them average jobs, with average paychecks. These are women who've been stay-at-home mom's or homemakers who decided to boost the family income. They have spouses whose income is still adequate.

The economy seems to be booming here. Universal Studios and the Sands Hotel recently opened to sold-out crowds. Construction projects abound all across the city state, accounting for the roughly 500,000 (cheap) foreign laborers from Bangladesh and elsewhere. Singaporeans still have their nanny's and maids. The demand for domestic workers remains high. Few, Singaporeans have lost their home or livelihood. Of those who have, most have been able to supplement their income taking on other work.

In stark contrast lies my first home--the supposed economic giant--the United States of America. In US, finding a job is almost impossible. My last query of the job sites for PHP/MySQL developers turned up 2 results--both the same position. Even IT contracts have dwindled to virtual nothingness.

I've long believed that the US was a sinking ship. The more I experience Asia, the more confident of that opinion I become. Asia is a thriving continent with many growing and stable economies. If I have a choice, this is the place I want to remain. Singapore is certainly not a cheap place to live, but it is a stable economy which offers conveniences Americans can only dream of--without the usury level of taxation.

Regardless of what statistics say (they confirm what I have stated), the best way to judge an economy or culture is to experience it first hand. From such experience we can develop a more accurate and broader perspective on reality than what statistics have to offer.

If This Were Your Universe . . .

2010-07-16T23:47:00.000-07:00

Suppose you were a wealthy and powerful parent. How would the world perceive you if these facts were discovered:

On the day they are born, you tell them they are already a bad person.

Some of your children are poor or happened to be born in a dark corner of the room, so you allow them to go without health care and suffer horrible diseases.

The diseases they suffer from were of your own invention.

You decide to create chaos to "test" them, and send an earthquake to destroy their home.

One of your daughters and son in law move away, become rich and happy while failing to adore you, so you destroy their entire city with a volcanic eruption.

You tell you favorite children to make war with your least favorite children.

When you get angry with your favorite children, you kick them out of their home and send them to a foreign land as slaves.

In your anger, you have your daughter stoned to death for suspected adultery.

You refuse to speak to them directly. Instead, they must meditate and attempt to read your mind.

In your genius, you created the brain to use psychology so they can't tell whether you are talking to them or they are imagining it.

Rather than guiding him directly, you give your sons a book written in an ancient language containing rules which can be interpreted several ways. Despite the confusion it creates, he is expected to follow it to the letter.

You allowed many of your children to be enslaved by the others and told them to obey their masters, even though they treated them badly.

You force your favorite children to give you a portion of their earnings, even when they lack food to eat.

You use the profit to promote yourself to your least favorite children, so you'll get to take their money also.

You label some of your kids worthy of love and tell the others they are evil for swearing.

The children have never seen your physical form, but are forced to idolize you and love you without every having physical contact.

If they don't honor you as you feel they should, you throw them into the fire pit to suffer forever.

You say your purpose is to teach them to be more like you. They all learn to follow in your footsteps, and teach their children as you have taught them.

Imagine, you had the wealth and power to stop all of the hatred, poverty, disease and war, yet you did nothing. Would you deserve the respect, admiration and love of anyone?

The debt you don't know you have

2010-07-01T23:31:00.000-07:00

You don't need to buy a home or a car to be in debt. You can be indebted without a loan or a credit card. Listen up!

Rent is debt if you sign a lease. Most landlords require you sign a six to twelve month lease.

Most people buy a cellphone through the service provider and sign a two year contract. That is debt. (That's why I bought an unlocked GSM phone in Asia and use always prepaid service). BTW, it is impossible to buy an iPhone in US without a contract.

You can't set up a new Internet or television service in your home or flat without a contract. Period.

The US market is designed to force people into debt slavery by its system of service contracts. When you have a contract, you're obligated for that period of time even if your circumstances change. That's debt.

I strongly encourage anyone who reads this to think twice before signing the dotted line. Do you really need an iPhone so badly you'd enslave yourself to it? It is your master for the duration of the contract. You are enslaved for two years to pay for a phone that will be outdated before the contract expires.

Think about it.

Is Singapore Truly a Police State?

2010-06-24T14:58:00.000-07:00

I keep hearing various comments from media outlets, blogs, etc. proclaiming Singapore to be a police state. Just this morning Thom Hartmann sated that as the reason for it's low crime rate. It's system of "fines" for such things as gum chewing, jaywalking, etc. is supposedly keeping its population in line. Having spent several months in Singapore, I've never felt restrained by its alleged police control. Nor do I think its legal system keeps Singaporeans in check. I have a much different theory about Singapore's low crime rate.

In the first place, police sightings in Singapore are rare, though I've heard there are plain clothes officers about. Cameras are heavily used, but most Singaporeans know where they are. Many have commented to me that they can get away with breaking traffic laws at certain intersections, where the cameras do not see. I have always avoided jaywalking, except in cases of low traffic with no crosswalk nearby. However, I've seen scores of natives cross very busy roads to avoid climbing the stairs to cross the road. Cameras have little benefit here, since people don't wear license plates.

There are many laws which are routinely violated in Singapore without consequence. Everything from landlords illegally renting HDBs and fake designer labels being sold in Chinatown to illegally touting tissues at the hawker centers is routinely tolerated. The latter offense is a matter of survival for the very poor. Littering is also heavily fined, but--although generally cleaner than any other city in the world--Singapore is definitely not litter free. I passed quite a bit of it every day en route to the and from the MRT station. And although it is illegal to drink on the train, I've often sipped water without apparent notice. The prospect of a fine deters little in the face of extreme thirst. But, to be honest, I think that law is intended to keep the trains clean and a few sips of water is harmless. I think if Singapore were a true police state, such a minor offense wouldn't be overlooked.

The crimes you don't see much of in Singapore are violent crime and theft. Such crimes are most likely to happen at night, yet no police are out roaming the streets. It's a good bet a camera is of little use after darkness falls. Walking through and underpass alone can be done safely, even in the wee hours. There are never even security guards in these tunnels. So, why don't would-be felons take advantage of this opportunity to lure an innocent victim?

Based on my observation, it seems Singaporeans aren't governed by law enforcement so much as they are by self-discipline. They appreciate structure and order. Unlike in the US, Singaporeans are very collectivist in their thinking. They understand that the good of the many works in favor of the individual. I believe they take pride in their great city and want to maintain the status quo. I've heard it said they've been indoctrinated against committing crime, but that makes little sense. Such heavy-handed brainwashing would more likely lead to dissidence.

Singaporeans love to shop, but loathe credit. They generally don't buy what they can't pay for. People are contented with much less. Most Singaporeans have basic necessities of life and very few are homeless. Even the homeless manage to eat without stealing. This is significant, because the major driver of violent crime in any society is poverty. Poverty (often indirectly), with its threat of starvation, sickness & homelessness, is at the heart of most crime. The greater the competition for essential goods, the higher will be the crime rate. The environment of intense competition found in US creates a lower class who often lack self-esteem. They feel shunted by society and lose pride in themselves, not because they are poor, but because they are unable to fairly compete. For such individuals, the mythical American Dream may seem a hopeless prospect.

If you can't compete and you feel worthless, stealing ones food may seem justified and drugs may serve as escape. Drug-addiction is followed by violent crime to sustain the habit. Women may seek a way out through prostitution. These "criminals", even after being reformed, are branded permanently by society. To make matters worse, these individuals also have children who are raised to think nothing of illegal behavior. They are taught to think that society is against them. It is therefore no surprise that the cycle is repeated another generation.

Because Singaporeans are less consumed by excess consumption, the sting of being a "have not" is far less intense. They have no "American Dream" to live up to. Certainly there is a great deal of social competition, but it doesn't come even close to that of US. There is no crime, because the financial and psychological drivers which lead to it are virtually absent by comparison.

The Psychology of "Unfriending"

2010-04-16T23:31:00.000-07:00

On Facebook there is a feature which allows users to remove people from their list of friends, dubbed by users as "unfriending". I wish Facebook would enhance this feature. Unfriending someone is childish and cowardly. It allows people to silently end a friendship without having to confront the offender (or victim, as the case may be). Such a tool is used primarily for petty and emotional purposes and rarely for logical reasons.

I consider myself quite fortunate. Despite my controversial nature, my list of friends has been steadily growing. There have been a few casualties on the way up, but I can count them on one hand. In no case was I unfriended by someone I had any emotional connections to (that I've noticed anyway). While I don't miss them, I can't help but wonder what the catalyst was. Such things are important to know. Why? When you run a business, and customers drop away, you try to identify the cause in order to improve your business. I regard social networking friendships, blog subscribers, etc. in the same fashion. My goal is to generate discussion on difficult topics, while not driving people away. It would be nice to identify the exact post or cause of such an extreme action.

It's silly really. I hear stories of people getting unfriended after a spat with their spouse, or because they become friends with someone the other friend doesn't like. People also unfriend because they misinterpret the written word, which is necessarily brief, blunt and bereft of body language. In 99% of cases, unfriending is a psychological issue, e.g. hurt feelings, anger, insecurity.

I have never personally unfriended anyone. If I have an issue with someone (which is rare and hasn't happened on Facebook), I generally try to talk to them. More often than not, it's a simple misunderstanding. I have found through previous confrontations that such misunderstandings often lead to friendship. Yes, I have made friends with acquaintances simply by confronting a problem (albeit, these confrontations were in person, not via messages, which lack emotion and are easy to ignore).

Many people are easily offended. The slightest disagreement with their political, religious or other sentiments can result in immediate "unfriending". Unfriending for this reason is a direct result of insecurity. It doesn't make you look good if you do this. Call me arrogant, but if I'm unfriended due to mere controversy, I regard the unfriender as insecure and feel a sense of superiority over them. Maybe they unfriended me for other reason that was more noble, but if they don't tell me why, I assume they didn't want me to know (cowardly).

In the remote chance I were genuinely offended (hasn't happened yet), I still wouldn't unfriend someone. Eventually they will notice and most likely will feel hurt or angry. Why do I want to do that to someone? Will they be less hurt if I silently removed them without confronting them? Not likely. People are so afraid of confronting other people, they'd rather cowardly unfriend them and hope they won't notice--something I never quite understood.

I think Facebook should implement a change to the unfriend feature. Stop letting people wuss out. Facebook should require you to give a reason for ending the friendship and notify the "ex-friend". Of course, people will lie, but at least it will give them pause if they know their friend will be notified.

There is something else Facebook can do to prevent reactionary unfriending. Why not make the "Hide" feature more obvious so users will know it's there? I mean, unless you happen to hover over the top far right edge of the post, it's completely invisible. If you hide someone from your feed, you won't see their posts anymore. Therefore, they won't offend you or clutter your stream with garbage. Yes, they can still comment on your status, but at least this is real dialogue. No cowardice in that.

Other opinions:

Friendship and Burgers

Unfriend: Not a simple verb by any means

Why I Didn't Give Up Facebook for Lent

Should Churches Host Easter Egg Hunts?

2010-04-11T16:26:00.000-07:00

This topic came up in a recent Facebook post. My friend posted that she felt it appalling that churches would hold an Easter egg hunt. She and her husband felt the church should avoid anything whose origins were pagan. They reasoned that Satan uses these rituals, even today, to distract people from God and should not be practiced.

I am from an agnostic family, but frequently went to church with friends. I attended Assembly of God, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist and Disciples of Christ Churches during my youth. Not one of them held such an attitude regarding Easter. In fact, I don't recalling knowing that any Christian's were opposed to these traditions.

It wasn't until I became older and moved to the south end that I began to encounter a new breed of Christian. I met believer's who were against Christmas Trees, the Easter Bunny, and even Harry Potter. Has Christianity become more extremist or has the south end always been this way? I really don't know, but I never agreed with such insanity. To me, this is the kind of thinking found more among extremist Islamic societies, not mainstream Christianity.

What could possibly be "Satanic" about Harry Potter? It quickly became obvious to me that this view was held ONLY by Christian's who had not actually read it. Obviously, this is a work of fiction--a fantasy. No one reading it would ever confuse it with reality. Why don't these Christian's also oppose the Wizard of Oz or The Chronicles of Narnia?

My favorite Halloween costume has always been a witch. I love witches, magic, and making the cackle. Note I am NOT a Wiccan, do not practice magic, and do not believe in magic. My love for ghost and witch stories has not turned me into a witch (which these particular Christian's would brand 'Satanic').

Much like Halloween, many of our Easter traditions stem from ancient pagan rituals. These rituals were practiced by the ancients who knew nothing of science. They developed complex myths to explain the world around them. These myths attempted to answer questions, such as, "Why is there death?", and, "Why didn't the crops grow?". In such a society, people make connections between events and prior actions. So, if a spouse cheats and there's a thunderstorm afterward, the superstitious minds of the ancient people would perceive that as the wrath of a god or gods.

These societies would always be attempting to guess what the gods wanted from them to ensure their survival and happiness. Naturally, the ultimate deciders were those in authority. The practices which developed ensured the survival of the community by forging a common mindset among the people.

The ancient rituals have nothing to do with Satan, but are based on these myths. Just because these myths are disagreeable to our modern way of thinking doesn't mean that Satan inspired them. People are quite inventive on their own. This was a culture who didn't understand science and didn't have a supernatural being to guide them. These religions evolved over thousands of years as a way to explain what the ancient's didn't understand. They had no knowledge of science, so they were naturally superstitious and developed their 'theology' as a way to explain the universe. This is a well-known socio/psychological phenomenon.

This celebration preceded the resurrection of Christ. Christ did not resurrect on that day. Rather than abolish a celebration that was deeply rooted in the culture, the church decided to invade the holiday and take it over. They took old traditions and put a different spin on them. They "Christianized" them. The church redefined these symbols and rituals. Easter Sunday (or whatever you prefer to call it) NEVER had anything whatsoever to do with the resurrection.

Who cares what these rituals meant to the ancient societies? They are completely devoid of any superstition today. They have been "purified" by their association with Christ and, nowadays, secular fun. If people want to engage in innocent fun on Easter, it doesn't detract from Christ, since he has nothing whatsoever to do with in the first place. That being the case, there's no reason for hundreds of 'once a year' Christians to go to church that day.

If Santa Claus is Real, Why Not the Flying Spaghetti Monster?

2010-03-13T02:00:00.000-08:00

A thought occurred to me tonight. Young children believe in Santa Claus. They really do! Why? Because Mommy and Daddy tell them he is real.

Why is this significant? It testifies to the malleability of a child's brain—their thoughts, attitudes and religion. Yes, religion.

A child's idea of religion comes from his/her parents. As with Santa Claus, a child will believe whatever their parents tell them is true. If you can convince a child that a fictional elf at the North Pole flies around the globe in a single night with a sleigh pulled by reindeer, then certainly you can convince them to worship the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

"But children outgrow Santa Claus", you might argue. Well, yes, they do. But there is a very big difference between Santa Claus and religion. As parents, we allow our children to mature and give up the myth of Santa Claus. We know he's not real, and therefore, we would never allow our children to carry this fantasy into adulthood, since doing so would have disastrous consequences as the child grows into adulthood.

When it comes to religion, parents set an example by their own practice of it. Religious parents expect and demand their children attend church and obey the doctrines it embraces. The child who questions or rebels against the faith is regarded as a wayward son & a troublemaker. Because parents and fellow parishioners make such an issue out of such behavior, the child's self-esteem becomes shattered. They quickly "learn" that if they want to "fit in" in their most dominant social circle, they must fall in line. Other children in the church grow up witnessing these reactions. Because the young mind is so malleable, children will not question faith unless given the same freedom to question religion as they would Santa Claus. Because it is reinforced with such frequency, and by so many people, the child will grow up believing whatever myth(s) they were taught. If you don't believe me, you need to take Psychology 101. It's a no-brainer.

Most religious parents will deny that their children are not free to explore other options. For most people, it is very difficult to recognize our own actions for what they really are. Parents do not realize the effect their words, ever so brief, can have on their child. As a Christian for many years, I have witnessed this very thing. Well meaning parents cannot hide their bias, however much they would like to think they do.

The National Debt , The Federal Reserve & the State of the Monetary System

2010-03-12T22:26:00.000-08:00

I've had many conversations on Facebook about our government's spending and the indebtedness of Americans. The most common point people bring up is that the government should start spending less and reducing the debt. Unfortunately, this reflects a very superficial view of the how the economy operates. Most people think getting out of debt would solve the world's problems. The reality is no so simple to explain and I will barely scratch the surface here.

The real issue isn't what the government owes or how much money it spends. It is the fact that ALL money is created by creating debt. New money is created in the amount of the debt, but interest is still owed. Therefore, if every person & nation paid off all debt, the global economy would still be in the red by trillions, because the money to repay it doesn't exist. Even much of the debt would go unpaid as well, due to the "multiplier affect" (another topic). By design, new money—debt—must always be created so that interest can continue to be paid, ad infinitum. It's a trillion dollar Ponzi scheme conceived by a small group of influential men on Jekyll Island in 1910.

At the moment, the increased spending is keeping things somewhat stable—softening the blow for the entire world. The US dollar is the currency standard for the entire global economy, therefore, it is the US who must bear the burden of debt. Our consumer economy has created wealth (and poverty) around the globe at our own expense.

The gap between the wealthiest 10% and the rest of the world is increasing exponentially because of the debt-based system. The middle class is getting poorer and more indebted, while the rich are getting richer. This is a direct result of our debt-based economy. If you are wealthy, you have no need for debt. Instead (for example), the wealthy will put 1,000,000 in the bank to draw interest, making them even richer. Where does the money come from to pay the interest? Those of us who are not wealthy and must borrow money just to survive. When you get an auto loan, a mortgage, or a credit card, you pay interest on the debt. That interest pays the interest of the wealthy man's investment. The ones getting richer are the very same who control the global economy.

Did you ever notice that the interest you earn is very low, while the interest you pay is very high? If you manage to save money, you will still be in the red, because you can never earn enough interest to cover the interest on your debt. In reality, there is no such thing as savings. A savings account is an illusion. You are just saving money now to pay your debt later.

So, you see, people must become increasingly debt-ridden in order to sustain the current system. If everyone were able to buy a home or a car without debt, there could be no economic growth. The money supply could not expand to serve a growing population. The higher the price of real estate, the more interest is paid to the very wealthiest by the very poorest. Economic growth is driven by making debt a requirement for our survival. Until the system is reformed, middle class incomes will continue to stagnate and its numbers will continue shrinking.

When a money system is based on debt, the Fed has no choice but to perpetuate the system to keep it going. Otherwise, the entire house of cards will collapse. Unfortunately, a monetary system based on debt is unsustainable. It will collapse regardless of our national debt. People in the United States have an innate loathing for socialism. Nevertheless, it will be socialism to which our nation must resort to prevent a total collapse of society when the economic bomb hits.

The Federal Reserve (a privately held company whose true owners remain anonymous) and our government are not stupid—they know more than we do about the state of things. They know the system has reached its peak. You can bet a drastic change is in the works. Unfortunately, it will be another global system which preserves the wealth of those who control the money and it will continue to create poverty. That fact will not change until society is awakened from their complacency to see the system for what it is. As poverty increases, more eyes will be opened. The more people become aware of this, the sooner we can fight to change the system. Real change can only happen from the bottom up.

I am personally excited to be living at this pivotal point in history. My generation will witness a global shift the likes of which have never been seen in history. It will be a time of pain and suffering, but people will endure. Out of the human suffering will come a new age of global enlightenment, spurred on by the digital age and technological progress. If you are prepared and keep free of debt, you will fair better in the coming storm than those who refuse to understand reality.

If you want to know more about how the system works, check this video.

Also see The Venus Project: beyond politics, poverty & war .

DREAM Act: We Don't Punish Children of Murderers, Why Punish Those of Immigrants?

2010-03-12T16:51:00.000-08:00

Many children of illegal immigrants grow up to attend top colleges despite the odds stacked against them.Imagine living in fear of a knock on the door, or seeing your neighbortaken away in a raid. They lived a life of relative poverty. In manycases, they have excelled beyond that of our own children. If anyone isworthy of naturalized citizenship, it is these young Americans.

Weshouldn't punish children for the so-called "crimes" of their parents.In this case, the only "crime" was the desire for a better life. Howmany of our ancestors risked everything to come here? What everhappened to "Give us your weak, your tired, your huddled masses"?

TheUS is the only home they've ever known. They live the Americanlifestyle, play American baseball, eat American food, hang out withAmerican friends, and strive for the same illusion of the AmericanDream. They are as American as apple pie and baseball. Deporting these kids to a strange land for which they are unprepared is a gross violation of human rights—especially when they've done nothing at all to deserve it. Is our country not above that way thinking?

Iam sure that 99% of my countrymen will agree that these young adultsare as American as our own children. Opponents of the DREAM Act willsay that by allowing these young adults to stay, we are rewarding thecrime of the parents. The parents are punished for their "crime"(struggling for survival) when they see their sons and daughters beingdeported. This is a grossly—almost wickedly—perverse argument based on a flawed ideology. We don't send the son to prison when his father commits armed robbery. If the father gets away with murder, we don't punish him later by incarcerating his daughter. Arenot the crimes of armed robbery and murder far worse than illegalimmigration? To punish the parents who risked their lives to enter theland of promise is an incredibly warped idea. To punish the children—when we don't punish the children of murderers—is nothing short of evil. Yet this is the most common argument in favor of destroying the lives of these young Americans.

"TheDREAM Act is a bipartisan proposal, which would create a pathway tocitizenship for thousands of young students who were brought to theUnited States years ago as children. If Congress fails to act thisyear, another entire class of outstanding, law-abiding high schoolstudents will graduate without being able to plan for the future, andsome will be removed from their homes to countries they barely know.This tragedy will cause America to lose a vital asset: an educatedclass of promising immigrant students who have demonstrated acommitment to hard work and a strong desire to be contributing membersof our society."

Show your support for the DREAM Act by signing the petition at dreamact.com.It takes only a few seconds. If you care what happens to these youngmen and women, don't let this quick task get lost in your In Basket. Please join nearly 26,000 supporters and sign it now.

"If all unauthorized immigrants were removed from Washington, the state would lose $14.5 billion in economic activity, $6.4 billion in gross state product, and approximately 71,197 jobs, even accounting for adequate market adjustment time, according to a report by the Perryman Group." (Immigration Policy Center)

Resources:

This Could Be You

2010-03-08T16:32:00.000-08:00

You're an average man, with an average family and a comfortable income. You aren't extravagant and have worked hard to save money and live frugally. You have $1000 left to pay on the car and then it's yours. You have no other debt, save a credit card you pay off every month.
Then, things get bad very fast. You lose your union job due to massive cuts at the factory. The family cuts back and lives off your wife's part time income of $600/mo. and savings. You do alright for awhile, but are totally unprepared for the events which follow.
Finding work is difficult since you have no skills. You get an offer which pays half your former salary. It's a tough decision. Taking a job at half the pay will prevent you from actively seeking more appropriate work. If you take such a job, the cost of commuting will make your income less than it is on unemployment. Even worse, the job offers no benefits. You figure if you don't find work before the unemployment runs out, you can find a similar job quite easily. So you decide to keep looking.
Then, after a month or two, the health benefits expire. You can't afford to pay $900 a month for COBRA benefits because your unemployment is only $1200 and the mortgage is $960. Several family members require prescription drugs which now cost your family $100 a month. You wife goes to the doctor to get her meds refilled, and you get a bill for $95—$15 more than the total charge when you were insured. You can't pay it all up front, so they agree to an installment plan, which includes a monthly fee of $3.
Things are starting to get tight. The brakes need replacing on the car and you put it on your credit card, though you've stopped paying it off every month. Your wife is also looking for work. She must be able to earn enough to compensate for childcare expenses, but her job skills can only get her minimum wage.
You are still looking for work after several month. The entire economy is in a downturn and jobs are becoming increasingly scarce. You have a hard time finding the 2 jobs a week the state unemployment office requires you to apply for.
Even though your unemployment benefits continue, your family has exhausted their savings and you now have credit card and medical debt. You begin to feel depressed with no work in sight. You do your best not to sit around and let the situation get the best you.
Bill time again. You paid the credit card bill one day late last month and a $35 late fee has been added to your balance. As an additional penalty, the interest rate has risen from 6% to 19%. Your minimum payment has doubled.
You've been paying the mortgage late as well and you are worried about paying the extra $50 a month late fee. Then you get a disconnect notice for your electricity—that also has a late fee. The garbage collector is threatening to cancel your service. If that happens, they will charge an additional $12 reconnect fee to resume service again.
Despite paying on time every month for nearly 5 years, your auto the lender refuses to work out a payment plan. After you've worked hard and payed nearly $18,000 on your truck, the lender repossesses it with only $500 remaining on the debt! You feel as though they have stolen it from you, and in a very real sense, they have.
When you are finally able to find work, it doesn't pay your former union wages. The health benefits are substantially less and premiums are now taken from your salary. You have accrued nearly $15,000 in debt between credit cards and medical bills and facing the foreclosure of your home. You will be struggling to catch up for years. Worst of all, you must now borrow thousands of dollars at high interest, so you can buy car to get to work each day. To save your home, you cash in the last of your 401K and now you also owe a few grand in penalties to the IRS.
Now you know what it is to struggle. You've lost everything you've worked for. Now that you're poor, the odds are stacked against you and your children as well. Since you can no longer afford a private tutor, your daughter is failing math. She will not get into college. You apply for various grants and special programs, but you are told your income is too high to qualify. Your son no longer plays in the band, because the rent on his drums is too high. Music was his life. Without his music, his behavior takes a turn for the worse and his grades begin to fall. With both parents working full time, they lack energy are unable to notice he has begun using drugs.
You long for the days when life was good. You turn on the news and they're talking about investing for retirement. Now you are fighting tears. Retirement? Eking out a living and buying your car all over again leaves little left to invest. Retirement is a dream you will never get to realize.

Only when you have felt the sting of reality, will you be able to dream of an alternate future for society—and to understand that there is a better way for all humanity.

Other publications of interest:

You're full of s**t, but you're not stupid

2010-03-08T02:11:00.000-08:00

In every culture and many households, there are words which are considered taboo. What exactly is a bad word? In some households, using exclamations such as "Oh my god!" or "Jesus Christ!" would be unthinkable. In others, you can't say pee pee. Because you have to call it something, cute ways are found to use the same word—wee wee.

In my home growing up, swearing was by no means encouraged. There was one word we were absolutely forbidden to say to anyone—stupid. In my family, calling anyone stupid was worse than telling them to go to hell. In high school, I did find a way around this using my sense of humor along with some medical terminology. I once told my younger sister that the doctor called to schedule her annual pneumoencelphalectomy. She then asked me to spell it so she could look it up! If you know medical terminology, you will be able to figure out I was cleverly calling her an airhead.How come I can say poo and crap, but not shit? Do they not mean the same thing? Perhaps instead of saying, "You're full of shit", I should say, "You full of excrement". Personally, I think the former makes the point a bit better, don't you?

Why is intercourse okay, but fucking is equivalent to a bomb? "I want to fuck you" sounds much better than "I'd like to have intercourse with you". The guy who said the former is the one I'd pick. Isn't an explosive climax better than ending it by conversing with each other?

Vagina is okay, but not pussy. If pussy meant vagina in French, would it still be a bad word?

Are these laid out in the Bible? The Koran?

What or who determines which words are acceptable and which are not?

Seriously, words are not inherently evil. Please, if you're the one who determines which words are okay, and which are not, please enlighten me as to the determining formula.

An inquiring mind wants to know—word police, clue me in!

The "Real Reason" for Unemployment: Laziness?

2010-03-08T01:00:00.000-08:00

Today on CNN, Tom Delay had this to say about the "real reason" for the high unemployment rate:

“There is an argument to be made that these extensions, the unemployment benefits, keep people from going and finding jobs.

In fact there are some studies that have been done that show people stay on unemployment compensation and they don’t look for a job until two or three weeks before they know the benefits are going to run out."

Candy Crowley asked: “People are unemployed because they want to be?”

Delay responded: “Well, it is the truth. And people in the real world know it.”

Delay is trying to support his argument that unemployment benefits cause laziness or apathy. Hmmm. As one of the "people in the real world", I seriously question that assessment.

Unemployment benefits don't pay the bills Unemployment benefits rarely come close to matching one's former salary. It is extremely difficult to pay the mortgage with so little coming in, especially if you have children to feed. If you are paying COBRA to keep your family's health benefits, there's nothing left at all.

Unemployment benefits provide the means to look for work I have been on unemployment in the past. Though it couldn't replace my salary, it did allow me to hunt for a job more effectively. I was able to keep my Internet connection, print resumes, put gas in the car to go to interviews and pay for parking. Without unemployment, I wouldn't have been able to do that—I wouldn't have found a job either.

No time required to look for nonexistent jobs In the present economic climate, job seekers may be spending less time looking for work. This is true whether or not one is collecting unemployment. The fact is, there are very few jobs posted in many skill sets. There are fewer jobs to apply for, so of course, less time is needed to spend. How do I know this? I went to several mega sites, such as CareerBuilder, and did a search for my own profession. First, I looked within 50 miles of my home. There were TWO jobs posted that weren't temporary positions. I expanded my search to the entire US and didn't fare much better. Two years ago, I was spending several hours a day looking for work. There were at least 10 postings a week I could apply for.

I heard a myth the other day about the unemployed spending 20 minutes a day job hunting. This is too ridiculous a figure to believe. Even if you apply for only 1 job, the online application process in most cases requires a minimum of 30 minutes to complete.

Job hunting is a skill If it is true the many are spending so little time searching, it is most likely due to a lack of education. If you've never had to look for work in a slow economy, you may not know how to look for work, especially in the digital age. I personally know people who haven't looked for a job since the 80's. Rather than an accomplishment-based resume full of action-oriented language, their resumes contain a list of skills and job duties. At the top is their career objective. Their cover letters are even worse.

Teach them, they will learn Perhaps what is needed—along with unemployment benefits—is more funding for mandatory programs which actually teach job seekers how to look for work—and I don't mean the watered-down version you currently receive at the unemployment office. What is needed are classes on how write an effective resume, the importance of a cover letter for making a good first impression, how to follow up properly, and interviewing skills. Many job seekers may need help using a Word processing application to write their resume. Job seekers must learn how to build a resume that is electronically searchable so it will be found among the hundreds of others in the database.

Assessing one's skills It also helps to know what jobs you are qualified to do. Many jobs have skills which overlap. It may not be obvious due to the variety of job titles. Job titles, more often than not, sound more complicated than the job actually is. Job descriptions often make the job sound more highly skilled and have unrealistic requirements.

There is more to looking for a job than simply sitting down and doing it. Not doing it doesn't make one lazy any more than not pulling you own tooth. If you don't know where to start, the task seems overwhelming. The issue is not laziness—you have to know how to effectively look for work. For many, it's a difficult thing to do.

Thieves Watcheth with the Dogs

2010-03-05T15:18:00.000-08:00

"Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, a former chief economist at the World Bank, said that if a country had applied for World Bank aid during his tenure, with a financial regulatory system similar to the Federal Reserve's—in which regional Feds are partly governed by the very banks they're supposed to police—it would have raised alarms."
—Stiglitz, Nobel Prize-Winning Economist, Says Federal Reserve System 'Corrupt'

Stiglitz, author of Freefall: America, Free Markets, and the Sinking of the World Economy, has it right. You can't be a watchdog over yourself. This is a huge conflict of interest. The Federal Reserve recommended massive bail outs to the banks whose officers sit on its board of directors. I have no doubt this is just the tip of the iceberg. The real story is likely far more complicated and far deeper.
Our financial system is seriously flawed. It should be no surprise to anyone. After all, we are talking about an institution with the power to create money out of thin air. No man can be given such god-like power and be free of greed and corruption. The system is faulty by design.
Here's a simplified illustration of how the Fed works. Until you understand the nature of the problem, you can't truly appreciate its magnitude.

Let's start from zero: No money in circulation.
The Federal Reserve enters a few strokes on the keyboard and creates $1,000 digital money. It then loans that $1,000 to Bank of America at an interest rate of, say, 2%. Do you see a problem here? There is now $1,000 in circulation and $1,020.00 of total debt. That is $20 which can never be repaid.
The interest rate set by the Fed is used to control the amount of money it lends banks. When rates are low, banks borrow and lend more money, increasing the amount in circulation. When rates are higher, the amount of money available to the economy is reduced.
Next, Bank of America loans $1,000 to Joe, a small business owner, at 5% interest. Joe then puts the money into a deposit account at the same bank. Now, BoA uses that deposit to fund additional loans, which also get deposited and loaned at interest, ad infinitum.
So you see, so far, 100% of the banks money doesn't really exist. They have created an empire without any investment on their part. But—wait—it gets worse.
The bank loans Joe this contrived currency to purchase a home—a tangible asset. But the Federal Reserve's attempt to artificially manage the economy has caused a recession. Joe's customer's begin defaulting on their debt to him and his business goes under. He's now unable to pay his mortgage. The bank could go easy of Joe, after all, he's been paying on time every month for 10 years. But do they?
No, they don't. You see, unlike Joe, who's unable to benefit from repossessing the carpeting he installed, the banks now have a real asset. The bank did virtually nothing to obtain it. They created the fake money and shuffled a few papers. Joe, on the other hand, worked hard for 10 years for that house. His wife spent time grooming the lawn while Joe make repairs and improvements. He even built a tree fort for his son in the back yard. The bank has now ripped his heart and soul from him.
So, you see, it's the Fed's fault you can't pay your mortgage, along with the poor lending decisions by the bank. But it is Joe consumer who takes all the risk. The bank took Joe's house. Then—it gets worse—the government bailed them out and put it on Joe's tab!
Are you angry yet? Change can happen only at the grass roots.
Watch Zeitgeist ADDENDUM to learn more

Every Man for Himself, No Matter the Cost?

2010-03-03T13:57:00.000-08:00

Conservatives love to say they don't want to pay for the health care of another. Everyone should take care of themselves. The "every man for himself" philosophy might work well in an ideal world. In our current environment, this is an unobtainable and unrealistic goal.

"Insurance was designed to help in times of catastrophe. When we apply it to everyday health care, it becomes the catastrophe."

Here's the dilemma: Insurance premiums are high because you're already paying for everyone else. Insurance is, by definition, a cooperative instrument. Forcing all to buy it is the same as making them pay for everyone else. Those who can't afford insurance can't afford doctor visits, so they go to the ER where they can't be turned away. So, instead of a visit to the family doctor, the hospital loses a $1,000 or more to treat a common ailment. Hospitals require government assistance to offset these losses. Here again, everyone pays for everyone. Since there is no question this is the case, I think the objective is quite clear: Find a way to provide equitable and affordable health care for everyone.

Stein's Law: "If something cannot go on forever, it will stop".

Our level of access to affordable, quality care shouldn't depend on how good our job is. Insurance was designed to help in times of catastrophe. When we apply it to everyday health care, it becomes the catastrophe. Insurance companies have become the master of your health, instead of your doctor. Now it's the insurance company who decides which treatments you can have. The insurance model for primary care is crippling the industry and Americans.

Suggested Reads:

The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care
Washington Post correspondent Reid (The United States of Europe) explores health-care systems around the world in an effort to understand why the U.S. remains the only first world nation to refuse its citizens universal health care. -Publishers Weekly
Money-Driven Medicine: The Real Reason Health Care Costs So Much
Mahar's diagnosis: our privately managed yet mainly publicly funded system produces the worst of both worlds—high costs, rampant inefficiencies and intense competition among providers that doesn't benefit patients. -Publishers Weekly
The Only Prescription For Healthcare Reform: A Physician's Inside Perspective of the Real Problems Plaguing the System
Instead of wasting time discussing the secondary and peripheral features of the chaotic ways of the Healthcare system, this "Insider" strips away the "nonsense" and simply educates the reader about the few "core issues" that are the REAL causes of the Healthcare mess.
Howard Dean's Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform: How We Can Achieve Affordable Medical Care for Every American and Make Our Jobs Safer
"Dean makes an excellent and extremely readable case for why substantive, structural reform isn't just necessary, it's imperative for the nation's economic recovery in the short term, and for establishing an economic base to build a sustainable future." -Mcjoan, DailyKos.com

Crossword Solving Hacks, Part I

2010-02-26T14:33:00.000-08:00

As a passionate crossword solver—or cruciverbalist—I am amazed by the number of people who remark how smart I must be. They are right—I do have above average intelligence—but they are wrong about the difficulty of solving a crossword puzzle.

After completing hundreds of puzzles, I have noted many common trends which making solving the puzzle much easier for those who are aware of them. I have decided to post a series of articles that will help you look like a genius to your friends who don't are unaware of the tricks of the trade. If you follow these tips, you will be on your way to becoming a highly regarded cruciverbalist.

The clues provided here are deliberately easy with obvious answers, such as you'd find in the easiest of puzzles. Many of these examples are taken directly from puzzles I have solved. You will notice that most of the hacks covered related to finding clues hidden in the clues themselves. If you understand that, you already know the biggest secret of successful solvers.

HACK # 1. Know the days of the week

1.1 If you just starting out, don't rush out and buy a book of Sunday crosswords. You might associate Sunday with relaxing leisure, but the Sunday puzzles are the most difficult. Puzzles published on Monday are the easiest and they get progressively more challenging as the week progresses. Amazon.com has a great selection of puzzle books to choose from. The New York Times Easy Crossword Puzzles 8: 50 Monday Puzzles is a great volume to get you going.

HACK # 2. First names, surnames and multiple names

2.1 If the clue contains a first name, the answer may likewise be a first name.

Clue: Family Guy Peter

Peter is a character on a TV show called "Family Guy". The expected answer here is going to be the first name of the actor who plays the role of Peter, Seth.

2.2 Some clues may contain tricky surnames

Clue: Trek's Kirk

Kirk is both a first name and a last name. If you answer too quickly, you may be tempted to answer William, instead of Shatner. In this example, the first and last name have the same number of characters, making it a bit trickier.

2.3 A pair of surnames hints at a shared first name

Clue: Malden and Marx

Here many unpracticed solvers will be tempted to look for something else these two men have in common, like a title or role. Instead, they share a first name, Karl.

HACK # 3. Abbreviations and acronyms

3.1 If the clue contains an abbreviation, the answer is also an abbreviation.

Clue 1: Pt. of NASA

Clue 2: Agcy. once headed by Bush

Depending on the number of spaces and the letters surrounding it, possible answers to Clue 1 could be Natl or Admin. The answer to Clue 2 is CIA.

3.2 An acronym in the clue often means the answer is an acronym

Clue 1: S & L protector

Clue 2: J.F.K terminal

The answer to the first clue is FDIC. The second is TWA.

3.3 An acronym is not always an acronym

Clue: The "G" in T.G.I.F.

It's a bit difficult to make an acronym out of the word god.

HACK # 4. Heteronyms

4.1 Be mindful of words with more than one meaning

Clue: French bread, once

Given the word "once", you may think the clue is hinting at an edible French bread of old. The answer, however, is Franc. This clue does assume you have some knowledge of foreign currencies and the euro, which the majority of educated people do.

HACK # 5. The plurality of plurals

5.1 The clue below contains both a play on words, as in HACK # 4, and a plural

Clue: Dairy airs?

Naturally, the expected answer—moos—is also plural.

Get solving!

Mastery is achieved only through experience.

Why Lawmakers Won't Fix the Economy . . . and How to Prepare for Coming Collapse

2010-02-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

Few realize that the rising deficit and decrease in production are by design. Politic decisions are influenced by central bankers to an extreme, even godlike, degree. In order for a state in increase it's capital account, it must create debt and outsource production. In addition, every time a new consumer or mortgage loan originates, new money—debt—is created.

Wealth is an illusion. Truth wealth is complete ownership of an asset. A homeowner does not own their home as long as there is a mortgage. That mortgage is considered an asset by the bank, even though the loaned money did not even exist prior to the mortgage being created.

According to economist Peter Schiff, who predicted the current crisis years before it happened, "Our government for many years has been successful at hiding the problem and buying time". (Crash Proof 2.0: How to Profit From the Economic Collapse). Why hide the problem? Why "buy time"?

A proper set of reforms would be fought vigorously by the Wall Street. It will reduce the value of everyone's stock portfolio, stripping virtually everyone of their hard-earned retirement. It will break the majority of banks, possibly forcing the nationalization of many.

The only to restore the dollar and the US economy to increase production and decrease consumption. The initial impact will be terrifying. Borrowing opportunities will virtually dry up, with fewer credit cards offered, fewer car loans and fewer mortgages. Cut out these things, and you SIGNIFICANTLY lower the lifestyle of the EVERY American. Our appliances and cars are deliberately constructed for planned obsolescence—they are designed to need replacing after a number of years. When your vehicle dies, you will not be able to finance another quite so easily. Every nickel will be micro-managed in your household. Fewer trips to Walmart. All of this means unemployment will reach proportions never seen in the history of modern civilization. Everyone with a job will take a pay cut. Millions will be unable to pay their debt. As poverty increases, fewer will seek treatment for preventable diseases. More will die from the flu than ever before. Conditions once eradicated in the US will begin to reappear. Churches will close their doors and will be forced to meet in homes or even in the street.

This trend will not limit itself to the US. It will be felt across the globe. Poor nations will become even poorer. Charities will be unable to raise money and ship food to these impoverished nations, let alone help those at home. Throughout the world, millions will die from starvation and untreated medical conditions.

When the above scenario happens, everyone will curse the President and Congress, blaming them for the calamity facing our nation. It will be extremely difficult to convince the populace that these changes are necessary to save our nation. There will be rioting in the streets. The crime rate will rise to epidemic proportions. Your home will no longer be secure from thieves. (Assuming you are able to keep you home through the crisis). In response, government intervention in our lives will increase an hundred fold in an attempt to manage the chaos. We could very well experience martial law for the first time in America. Eventually, society will adjust, as we rebuild America from the ground up. We would live in a very different America.

No one likes change. Change which lowers the standard of living is especially difficult. For lawmakers initiating such reforms, it's guaranteed political suicide. Because they have been successful for so many years at masking the problem and delaying the inevitable, our lawmakers naively think they can continue this trend indefinitely. They are not willing to risk a complete breakdown of society—which would all but guarantee they will not see another term. In any event, this breakdown WILL eventually occur. Officials cannot continue to "buy time" forever.

The other issue is that reforms need to be systemic and long term. Lawmakers will consistently try to usurp the healing process and prevent a true recovery. Our lawmakers need to be fully committed and passionate about rebuilding our nation. We need a plan that government will stick with for many years, despite political pressure from lobbies and their constituents. In a country with democratic elections, this is a virtual impossibility.

My advice to everyone is to become aware of how our economy actually functions. Pay off your existing debt and save your money. Life will be much more difficult for those steeped in debt

Don't rely exclusively on your investment portfolio for your retirement. Be prepared and have a backup plan. In addition to your 401K, buy physical commodities such as silver, and gold (not gold funds, which are speculative—hold only physical bullion). Begin purchasing some of the new private, bullion-backed currencies becoming increasingly available (another topic). Consider the Liberty Dollar, e-gold, GoldMoney and others.

If you are debt free and have skills or assets to exchange, you will be better able to sustain yourself during the complete economic collapse which will inevitably occur. Don't rely on elected governments to fix the problem—they won't. It's every man for himself.

The Story of Noah's Ark

2010-02-24T01:16:00.000-08:00

I don't normally like to post 3 videos in a row, but this one says everything I wanted to include in a blog entry. He exposes some critical scientific facts about the possibility & consequences of a worldwide flood. If you are not a scientist of a particular field of study, you probably don't know that if it rained for 40 days and 40 nights, the chemical reaction would cause all life in the sea to perish. It is also discusses the biggest problem I have with the whole ark story: Inbreeding. A brilliant piece by TheThinkingAtheist.

Pale Blue Dot

2010-02-22T00:46:00.000-08:00

Pale Blue Dot: A beautiful Carl Sagan classic.

A Letter to Strict Tithe Payers

2010-02-22T00:34:00.000-08:00

When you accept a mortgage loan, utility service, or other obligation, you are bound by God to meet your obligation. It is a contract. To not live up to the contract is dishonest. If you want a service or asset, you must pay for it.

If you choose to donate ten percent to your church when you cannot meet your contractual obligations, the result is deliberate dishonesty, because you deliberately choose to donate rather than live up to your contractual promise. When you deliberately break a promise, that is sin! To say otherwise is to say that God allows sin in order to support his church operations. So, in essence, you are saying it is okay to break a legal contract in order to make a voluntary payment. You are defaulting on your word, so your word means nothing.

Furthermore, when you support your church, you are supporting its operations and its membership. When you do so at the expense of your wife and child—whom god has obligated you to support and protect are you really doing what God wants? Does he rather you support the church budget or those you have promised to feed and protect? If church members could no longer afford tithing, would the church cease to exist? No! The church would meet in homes, and members would lovingly give to each other of their excess. Tithing would be unnecessary. So, this bears the question: Why is the church more important than your family?

You say that when you are tithing you are giving to God. Isn't giving to your family giving to God? Does God appreciate it more when you support your church operations than your family? Think about it this way: Would God rather you provide shelter and food for your family, or pay the expenses of day to day operations of an organization? Food or an organizational budget? Cutting operations expense does no cause physical or emotional harm. Cutting food and/or shelter can have dire consequences. If you can honestly say church operations are more important than shelter and food for your family, you are choosing legalism and sin over love. You are putting your family second and church expenses first! God put people first. That's why he overturned the tables in the temple. The church was making a killing selling at the expense of the church. It was unnecessary for the church to make more money, as they could easily have made do with a smaller budget. People come first.

When tithing was commanded in the Bible, it was not to support church expenses. Tithing was used to support its people and make life better for the less fortunate. In those days, the "church" did not have electricity bills & office expenses. When a church has enough documented wealth to equal a Fortune 500 company (like the LDS church), tithing of its poorer membership is equivalent to bankers charging exorbitant interest. Like the doves being sold on the tables overturned by Jesus.

I was a Christian for many years, and I understand what tithing is. I also understand that you do not tithe at the expense of your own family! Tithing was not intended to be a legalistic decree (such a thing would be contrary to a loving God). It was intended to protect the poor and helpless who would be otherwise taken advantage of. Tithing originally came out of one's excess, not one's wages. Tithing was ordained as the top ten percent of one's profit. Profit, by definition, is the amount of income which exceeds your expenses. Wages are not profit, they are an exchange of services—your time and skill in exchange for something you yourself need (in this case, money). If you can't shelter your family, there is no profit.

You cannot love you church expenses more than you love your family. That is not God's way. When Jesus talks about hating one's own family, this is what he meant. If you choose to make a voluntary donation in lieu of meeting contractual (legal) obligations or providing for your family, is nothing less than sin. To feel otherwise is to put ideology ahead of love.

Imagine

2010-02-21T13:43:00.000-08:00

A brilliant piece by John Lennon! A classic favorite.

Perhaps if the world were like that he imagined, he would not have been killed.

From his 1971 album, Imagine.

	John Lennon - Imagine .mp3

	;

Download the Imagine single

Facts Of Evolution: Universal Common Descent - The Best of Science

2010-02-21T00:05:00.000-08:00

Why the US is Not a Free Market

2010-02-20T23:23:00.000-08:00

Lawmakers in Congress receive significant rewards from corporate lobbyists. Big corporations and industries spend big bucks wooing our representatives. The goal of these lobbyists is to convince Congress to enact laws which are favorable to the them. The lobbyist will court lawmakers with fancy charts summarizing various statistics which support their case. Of course, such statistics are biased to favor the industry in question.

In addition to official corporate lobbies, there are non-profit organizations pleading for support. We must avoid judging these groups without first doing our research. Many of these "non-profit" organizations are funded by commercial enterprises. This gives the illusion of an independent lobby, when in fact it quite biased.

Here are some clear examples (just to name a few) of how US corporate interests have been able to usurp monopoly regulations. As a result, the free market has become so eroded it can no longer function properly.

Cell Phone Service

When you buy a cell phone, you have a choice between pre-paid service or a 2-year contract. In either case, your phone ONLY works with the original service provider. Your selection of phones is also limited to what the provider sells. Such a phone is said to be "locked". Suppose you buy a T-Mobile phone on a contract. 3 months later, you are transferred to a different location where T-Mobile service is sporadic. You are stuck for the duration of the contract. The contract is a legally binding debt.

Let's say your contract period has almost lapse and you wish to modify your service package. Guess what? The provider will extend your contract another year.

If you travel to a foreign country often, you may want to use the same phone. You can't do that without first getting your provider to "unlock" the system board. When you ask about this, they will first try to sell you a special "international" plan, with international calling rates charged at over $1 a minute.

I can buy a GSM phone abroad, say, in Singapore, at 7-eleven or an electronics store which is unlocked by default. To activate it, I simply stick in a pre-paid SIM card for the provider I wish to use. When I go to Thailand, I can walk into a 7-eleven and get a pre-paid SIM card for the local provider and swap cards until I return. In either country, the local per-minute dialing rate is between 5 and 7 cents a minute.

Health Industry

Insurance
Most people believe we have a free market system of health care. In a free market, you are able to choose your insurer. Your choice of providers would be based on the innovation, treatment style and price. In fact, you have no choice in these matters.

Your insurance plan is negotiated by your employer and that is the plan you get. Your wages are reduced to compensate for the employer-paid portion of the premium. If you opt for another, you must pay the full premium out of pocket. Your employer will not alter your wages to give back their share of the premium.

Because the insurance market is a monopoly dominated by a handful of companies, there is no real competition in the insurance market. Premiums and co-pays has increased steadily and significantly. Overhead for your provider has risen to nearly 50% of the cost of providing care. Regardless of your insurer, regardless of your provider, the insurance company dictates the process your doctor must follow in order to get paid. This limits how a doctor approaches your treatment plan. The physician is not allowed to innovate or follow their "gut".

Because admin costs are so high, and because insurance companies deny so many claims, your doctor now crams too many patients into their day. You are likely to wait an hour or more before seeing the doctor for only 10-15 minutes.

Malpractice lawsuits are another destroyer of the free market. Malpractice claims can be quite lucrative for patients with a grudge, but particularly for lawyers. Because of this, too many false claims are made before the court—forcing doctors to carry huge liability insurance. In a free market, there would be no motivation for such frivolity. Instead, a doctor would earn profit solely by his reputation.

Big Pharma and the FDA
The purpose of the Food and Drug Administration is to protect consumers from fraud and dangerous products. The FDA has a staff of scientists and researchers to review and test products before they are approved to market, which can be a lengthy process. Pharmaceutical companies for years had complained about this lengthy process. Because it is limited in resources, the FDA can do only so much. Enter the current system: allow drug companies to pay big bucks to expedite approval.

This turned out to be a serious problem. The FDA began to regard "paying" drug companies as "customers"--rather than the people it has sworn to protect. In addition, many of the FDA executives are appointed temporarily, only to return to private industry when their term is complete. Ergo, they don't want to appear unfavorable to the very industry which guarantees their employment. The end result has been a virtual monopoly of drug companies, who now spend twice on consumer advertising than they spend on R & D.

In it's November 2007 report, "FDA Science and Mission at Risk" the Subcommittee on Science and Technology outlined these and other issues impacting the FDA's ability to perform it's mission.

A Managed Economy

The Federal Reserve Undermines Free Market Corrections
Without getting into the details of how the Fed works (an novel in itself), it is fairly to understand it's impact on the free market.

We've all heard of bubbles, recessions, and depressions. Many of us have faced the effects of a slow economy. These are symptoms of a free market gone awry. If stock values become overinflated, the market will crash. In a free market, this is the logical outcome when assets become over valued. The result is recession, which is the market correcting itself.

This self-correction of the market is a natural and expected reality in a free market economy. It should not be feared, but embraced as proof of a healthy economic environment. To the Federal Reserve and commercial banks, its effects are more disastrous.

The primary role of the Central Bank is to control the supply of money in circulation. They increase the money supply by lowering interest rates, while raising rates to retract it. This increases or reduces the amount of new debt that is created. In the banking system, debt is it's only asset. When the economy sours, defaults on debt occur, reducing the assets of all banks.

Again, this is to be expected in a free market system. It should be factored in to any bank's business plan. Today's banks do not follow the models of successful enterprise. They don't have to. If a bank has problems, the Fed routinely lends money to troubled banks without requiring approval from Congress. To prevent banks from failing the Fed will alleviate the recession by lowering interest rates. In doing so, they undermine the free market's attempt to correct itself.

The repeated cycles of expansion/retraction has compounded to the point where the free market can no longer fix our economic problems.

The FDIC

The FDIC insures individual bank deposits and prevents consumers from losing their life savings. This is a great concept meant to protect consumers and I would not recommend getting rid of it in the current environment. Even good banks can fall victim to economic conditions it cannot control, therefore the FDIC it is a wise protection to have in place. It is also necessary due to flaws in the current monetary system.

The existence of the FDIC, however, can contribute to bad decisions made by some banks. A bank whose deposits are insured can be more tempted to mismanage their assets and put deposits at risk. Again, this interferes with the free market.

Why the Fed and the free Market Are Incompatible

2010-02-19T23:47:00.000-08:00

Since the before the bank bailouts, I have been studying to understand the myriad of conflicting info. It's complicated. Both government regulation & deregulation have contributed, along with utter irresponsibility of wall street. It seems clear now that the biggest contributor to this whole economic mess is the Fed itself. The private Federal Reserve Bank is the sole determinant of monetary policy and its actions require no approval from Congress. Congress members do not understand the complicated workings of the money system. Therefore, they look to the Fed and it's advice as the best course of action. When a bill is needed, Congress generally does what the Fed wants (though they try to give the appearance of listening to their constituents at home). In addition, the Fed acts on its own to bailout banks for pennies on the dollar, etc. without any discussion with congress.

I am convinced that the Fed is at the heart of the entire economic crisis. Despite being the authors of a brilliant monetary scheme, they no longer know what they are doing. The Fed artificially manages the economy by manipulating interest rates & engages in many other practices aimed at managing the economy. Because of the Fed, there is NO free market in banking. We cannot have both a free market and a Federal Reserve Bank—the two are incompatible. Either the Fed manipulates the market or the people do—otherwise they are at odds with each other. One of them must go. End the Fed or end the free market.

How do we end a system which has been in place since the 1913 passage of the Federal Reserve Act? The US Constitution gives congress the responsibility to create money, which it has delegated to the Fed. We are paying interest on imaginary money created by a wholly private institution whose ownership is a mystery. There is no reason for this. Congress needs to get some balls and retake their constitutionally mandated authority to coin money. The easiest way to do this is to nationalize the Federal Reserve Bank. A national cannot be in debt to itself. If the US nationalizes the Fed, it will owe no debt to the Fed and no interest payments will be required. Such a course of action is not contrary to the "free market". In fact, it returns us to the money system set by our forefathers in the Constitution. By nationalizing the Fed, we could eliminate the practice of artificial economic manipulation by setting a fixed, permanent interest rate on the money it loans.

If you want to truly understand how the Federal Reserve works, read The Creature From Jekyll Island: A Second Look At the Federal Reserve. Or, for a quick overview, read this article from DissidentVoice.org. To unravel the complicated nature of the economic crisis & its future impact, a good place to start is with the book Meltdown: A Free-Market Look at Why the Stock Market Collapsed, the Economy Tanked, and Government Bailouts Will Make Things Worse by Thomas E. Woods, Jr. You can get the book or audio book from the library.

Sheep

2010-02-18T20:35:00.000-08:00

The shepherd keeps the flock together. He watches for the sheep that go astray and quickly brings them back into the fold. When the wool gets too long, the shepherd will shear it. The sheep cannot choose the length of their wool. The sheep will go along with anything the shepherd demands, and do not question the shepherd. The shepherd brings them security. They know if they follow him, they will be taken care of. The sheep will continue follow the herd even when the shepherd is away.

There are many different folds of sheep and each has its own shepherd. A single shepherd may have several folds or "sheep who are not of this fold". The same shepherd can guide different folds of sheep in a different way, depending on the landscape. Likewise, a sheep may be in a different fold with a different shepherd who's way is also different.

Regardless of the shepherd or fold to which they belong, a sheep is not free to choose his own path within the fold. A sheep that looks or thinks differently from the other sheep is called a "black sheep". If a sheep questions the shepherd, he is considered divisive, weird or a trouble maker. The black sheep is not accepted by the rest of the flock. A sheep has no free will. If he senses his shepherd is leading him astray, he cannot tell the other sheep, or he will be ostracized or ignored.

Sheep will follow their shepherd knowing they are secure and provided for. They will sacrifice free will and freedom of thought for the sake of security. They trust their shepherd implicitly. Their world view is limited to within the borders the shepherd has set for them. Unlike other animals who roam the countryside or hunt prey, the world of the sheep is very small.

Since sheep are unable to see beyond the borders of the fold, they don't realize they are in prison. They are so blind to the outside world. They fail to notice the fattest sheep which disappear from the fold, never to return. The don't recognize that the goal of the shepherd is their destruction.

Out of Thin Air

2010-02-18T01:00:00.001-08:00

"Give me control of a nation's money and I care not who makes its laws." ~ Mayer Amschel Rothschild

Imagine you were given the ability to create money out of thin air. To increase your assets, you need only key in an imaginary deposit. Now, suppose you were the only person granted this authority. In order for anyone else to get money, they must borrow it. So you create money out of nothing and lend it out at interest. The entire economy is based on debt owed to you, from money you created out of thin air. You are now the most powerful person in the world, wielding the power of a God. Governments bow to you.

Citizens must now pay income tax to cover the interest payments on the debt. They are your slaves! A special revenue authority is created by the government to collect taxes from the people. It doesn't matter the highest law of the land has ruled taxation of wages to be "unconstitutional". Three times the high court has declared wages to be an exchange of goods and services—a form of barter.

Since you control the world's money supply, your power and influence over the world's governments and politics is supreme. You really don't care who wins the election. In the words of Mayer Amschel Rothschild, "Give me control of a nation's money and I care not who makes its laws." Why should you? You have the power to withhold the money a nation needs to maintain its sovereignty. If a nation dares to print its own money, whether it be fiat "greenbacks" or a "silver certificate", you will do anything to prevent your empire from collapsing, even if it means the assassination of a world leader.

You are wealthy beyond belief. The entire world is your slave. You control and manipulate governments. As the tax burden of average citizens increases, the middle class decreases, and you become even wealthier. Since the value of your assets is based on nothing, you decide upon a commodity to give it stability. Since you control the world's governments (behind the scenes), you manipulate them to reach an agreement. All oil must now be sold only in your nation's currency. Now, your nation's money is the "gold standard" for the entire world. Brilliant!

Everything has been progressing wonderfully. But now, another nation is threatening to crush your financial house of cards. It begins selling oil for a new currency called the "Euro". The Euro soon climbs from .75 to 1.25. Your nation's economic stability is now seriously at risk. You must act quickly to prevent the collapse of your civilization. With your power to control the money of many nations, you are able to execute a plan to save your empire. Lies are constructed to create an excuse to make war on the nation who dared usurp your monetary authority. Now, a nation stands accused of harboring "Weapons of Mass Destruction".

The WMD story is not a total fabrication. After all, selling oil for Euros is quite "destructive" to your economic empire. It threatens your very existence.

The initial invasion goes without a hitch. You capture the capital city with ease. Once inside the city walls, the first thing you do is set up a new monetary system—using your own imaginary money to fund it. The captured nation is now in your debt. You are the privately-owned Federal Reserve Bank, to whom all nations bow.

After years of artificially creating wars and financial crises, your greed is leading to the destruction of the beautiful empire you created. There is nothing you can do to prevent the inevitable. You do everything you can to delay the inevitable—the complete annihilation of your empire and the collapse of the entire world economy. It is just a matter of time. Your grandchildren—and perhaps even your children—may call upon the rocks to fall upon them and save them from the unbearable pain that awaits.

The Evolution of Christianity

2010-02-17T13:09:00.000-08:00

When I was growing up, Christianity was a much different creature than today. Today's brand of Christianity has become increasingly fundamentalist in nature. This is a disturbing trend, and—I'll admit—has drawn me away from many Christian individuals and organizations. Christians are increasingly becoming mindless, intolerant ideologues. They don't seem to question what they hear on Faux News. They supported George W. Bush long after the facts were revealed (before his re-election in 2004). They rarely speak up when Pat Robertson calls the an entire culture "evil" and deserving the wrath of God. They choose not to believe the truth, perhaps because it threatens the foundations of their faith. They believe what they read in Christian publications and WorldNetDaily. Very few get their perspective from AlterNet. They appear to be not smart enough to "be a Berean" and test what hear and read, or, they just don't question it (Out of fear? Brainwashing? I don't know.).

If they were to genuinely take an interest in Christian history, they would realize the the church fathers had a much different interpretation of scripture. Theology and interpretation have evolved over time, despite an "unchanging" God.

No Christian I knew as a young adult would have had any problem whatsoever with Harry Potter. In contrast, today, I have met many Christians who think Harry Potter bad because it contains "witchcraft". But, in fact, real witchcraft bears no resemblance to Harry Potter. What many seem to forget, is that Harry Potter is a work of fiction. No one by virtue of reading it came to believe in Wizardry. Perhaps adults lose their sense of imagination as they age. Another point: Every single parent I spoke to that disapproved of Harry Potter had not actually read it! How can you judge what you haven't read? My brother in law was against his children reading it. After reading it himself, he was okay with it. In the minds of many Christians, ideology takes precedence of knowledge.

The Bible Without Adam & Eve

2010-02-17T12:37:00.000-08:00

The scientific facts supporting evolution are overwhelming. Proponents of intelligent design tend to distort/misunderstand the facts, and make reference to rumors which have long ago been debunked in an attempt to refute the evidence. This is understandable when you consider that, should evolution become accepted as fact, the consequences to the religious community will be nothing short of devastating. Darwin's On the Origin of Species threatens the very fabric of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.Why?

If humans evolved over time, then—strictly speaking—there was no "first" man and woman. Adam & Eve didn't exist.

Without Adam and Eve, there could be no "fall of man".

If there was no original sin, there was no curse on the human race.

Without the curse, we have no need of redemption.

No need for a "savior".

If we don't need a savior, Jesus as the Messiah is a complete fabrication.

Jesus could not have been born of a virgin and there was no resurrection.

No "second coming". No battle of Armageddon.

The biblical prophets are reduced to philosophers.

If mankind "evolved" over thousands of years, the "God" of the Bible cannot exist.

If creationist's wish to properly debunk the theory of evolution, they must become more educated and avail themselves of the full spectrum of research available on this issue. It is not enough to say "faith" is all the matters. Lack of research creates fools who lack credibility, which is of great importance in drawing others to their faith. Those who lack credibility gain few followers and the number of adherents will slowly decline. Ultimately, this is a death sentence to any religion espousing the creationist point of view.

I call upon those who are educating others on the creationist perspective to 1) dig a little deeper through the mountains of research, 2) read The Origin of Species (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) and other scientific works on evolution, such as The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution by Richard Dawkins, and 3) look more closely at your arguments to ensure they are not based on old rumors and data that is not factual. Careful & unbiased study is the only way to provide the "proof" an intelligent thinker requires.