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San Diego Coalition of Reason
On the evolution of religion: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/weekinreview/12… Josh, my debating pal, I think you'll agree that there are many theories about this world. Here are two of those theories: 1. The world was created by an invisible entity. He created us in his image. Dismayed by our disobedience, he punished us by removing us from eden, and introducing plagues, war, and work into our lives. Some versions of this theory go on to claim that the invisible entity manifested itself as a human, shared a new message of love and peace, died in atonement for our sins, and allows us eternal life if we believe in this message. 2. The world we live in is like many others in the universe. They are all subject to the same physical processes and laws. These well understood processes include photosynthesis, chemical reactions, and natural selection, where traits that aid survival tend to survive and propagate over time. These simple processes lead to complex results, and in the case of homo-sapiens we are able to observe great complexity and ability. These theories are not mutually compatible. So we have to weigh the evidence supporting them. Centuries ago, our ability to observe was not as advanced as today. When we didn't know about photosynthesis, leaves and flowers were simply attributed to that invisible entity. Now we know better. Sulphur, mercury and phosphorus, with their unusual qualities, used to be explained with magic, satan, or God. Now we understand through chemestry how these things work. The intellect, spiritual abilities, and morality of man used to be attributed to the divine. We were uniquely created in "His" image. Yet every year, for over a century now, we find more and more evidence not only of our evolution from earlier forms, but for how this process worked. So in light of this, which theory has better evidence? Josh, I could present a dozen other theories of the world from other cultures around the world. They're all as plausible as the biblical theory. None of them stack up with what we've discovered in the last century. When a theory no longer matches the evidence, what do you do? Cling to it in respect for "tradition"? Go along because it's comfortable? Tell the people who are willing to change their minds and accept the evidence to shut up? Religion is explainable through evolutionary theory. The opposite is not true. It comes down to how gullible people are, and whether or not they're strong enough to look at the world as it is. Rejecting magical thinking is what adults do. Religion, simply put, is a theory so easily disproven that it's childish to believe in it. It's time for the world to put away childish things and grow up.— November 19, 2009 8:20 p.m.
East Village like ghost town after Padres season
San Diego government still claims the Ballpark District and East Village are a stunning success. Does anyone in San Diego believe them anymore? How can they expect us to believe them about their newest gifts to the wealthy and well-connected -- * Another stadium for the Chargers * Another convention center expansion for the hotel owners * Another gift to John Moores in the form of a huge library with a "school" grafted onto it * A vast new City Hall Malin Burnham, a business partner of John Moores, notorious Peregrine fraudster and corrupt owner of current and former public officials, tells the world that only the elite 1% can understand how these deals work. Yes. It's true. That one percent, of which Malin is a born member, stuffs their pockets with gobs of taxpayer money, while the ninety nine percent will be paying off development bonds for the next thirty years.— November 18, 2009 9:27 p.m.
Obama taps Alan Bersin to oversee the border
Malin Burnham was right after all. He scoffed that only 1% of us peasants could ever understand what goes on in these kinds of complex real estate development projects.— November 18, 2009 9:16 p.m.
Loosening Family Ties
Re: #38 Eric (or should we call you "George"?) I admit that after searching for ten minutes online I didn't find evidence for my claim. However I remember very clearly reading that Heinlein did have a son who later became a professor of political science. It stuck in my head because I loved Heinlein's books when I was younger and also studied political science. But since I can't come up with proof, I'll provisionally concede. ...and agree it doesn't really matter. Ten minutes searching was enough. Finally, Eric, I don't understand your second sentence. You're using "JB" as a verb? Huh? I don't get it at all. How does one "just JB well"?— November 16, 2009 8:43 p.m.
Not of This World
NOTW: So how's your life? Me: It's not so great. You see, about six thousand years before I was born, someone did something naughty. As a result, I was born in sin and have to repent...or else I'll burn in hell for eternity. NOTW: But God loves you! Me: Why do you say that? Look at the evidence. He likes to kill people. Have you read the story of the flood? Lot? Job? God's a real ***hole. NOTW: That's why Jesus died for your sins. To intervene with God on your behalf. Me: But isn't Jesus, along with the Holy Spirit, actually God too? NOTW: Well, yes... Me: So he created a copy of himself to commit suicide so...that somehow mollified him enough to allow some people not to be tortured for eternity. NOTW: Uh, yeah. That's what we believe. Me: Uh huh. And anyone who doesn't believe it is ineligible for public office. NOTW: Well, we wouldn't want atheists running things. They're crazy you know. Me: But it's okay for believers in a homicidal psychopathic deity and his suicidal "son" to run the country? Have they done a good job? NOTW: We have these wonderful bumper stickers for sale...— November 16, 2009 4:57 a.m.
Loosening Family Ties
Re: #9, Heinlein's son is a professor of political science. Re: #32 Your invisible friend, the one who allegedly turned water into wine, and his maniac "Father", are highly unlikely to even exist...it's an interesting theory, that we're all just the experiment of a psychopathic deity who created us with original sin and then "saves" us from alcohol and drugs while personally intervening on the side of the football team that prays the hardest...but this strange theory is highly speculative to say the least. Better to go with a theory that has some evidence behind it. Alcohol addiction involves genetic and social factors. By looking at evolutionary biology and psychology, we can identify some of these factors. Some can be mitigated against. John needs to focus on those factors he can mitigate. He knows what they are. He knows how to do it. Adding an invisible angry sky daddy and his mythical suicidal son does nothing more to advance the cause of sobriety than sugar pills or any other placebo. And placebos are less likely to work on smart people than dunces. Since John is smart, he doesn't need your placebo Jesus to help him...and he especially doesn't need spiritual advice from someone who cannot even quote his own scripture accurately.— November 15, 2009 8:43 p.m.
Sacred Surf
Sorry I can't respond to Fumber. No time. I have a whole truck load of surfboard waste and fecal matter to deliver to Swami's right away.— November 15, 2009 8:23 p.m.
"Crisis of Unprecedented Proportions" Coming in Commercial Real Estate
Anyone who thinks we're at the end, or even middle, of this economic crisis...they're not paying attention. We're still at the beginning. A year after the Wall Street bailout nothing has changed. The scammers were rewarded, the honest people were punished. Commercial real estate is overpriced, overbuilt and overleveraged. A lot like the rest of our economy. Until there are fundamental changes to our system, changes that give everyone a fair chance instead of rigging the game to benefit only the oligarchs at the top, our economy will continue to slide. Nobody in power at the local, state, or federal level has any incentive to make these kinds of changes. In the bubble they inhabit, this is all a little blip we'll endure until things return to "normal". Well, what we were taught is "normal" has actually been a long-term ponzi scheme, impovershing all but the few. The oligarchs sucking up the power and the money have become multi-generational entities, well along the path of upgrading themselves to aristocrats. Plato described the cyclical changes in government: going from anarchy to despotism, then oligarchy, democracy, and back to anarchy again. Somehow we have reversed this. We've gone from democracy to oligarchy. It's no wonder some fear despotism is next for America. So long as both the economy and the government remain in the hands of the oligarchs, they may be right.— November 15, 2009 7:08 p.m.
Lobby lucre
Corruption laid out plain to see. The CCDC uses tax money to persuade tax payers to spend tax money on CCDC projects. Why isn't this illegal? Insiders like Haddad and Benedetto stuff their pockets quietly while out campaigning for these expensive projects. They are paid to lie to us, using our money. It's disgusting. Anyone opposing these projects now faces huge campaign warchests...of public money...arrayed to fight against the public interest and in favor of the wealthy few who have a history of ripping-off San Diego, deceiving voters, and denying any responsibility when things turn out badly. It's disgusting. Each and everyone one of the individuals highlighted in this article deserve the contempt, ridicule, and rejection of San Diegans. Tax payers of our city should be stopping these jerks in the street, grabbing them by the shoulders, and spitting right into their faces. They've already spit in our faces.— November 15, 2009 6:55 p.m.
A Fear of Cold and Dark
I just looked in the mirror, Goatttfish. You're right. I'm fake and phony. So I'm off to focus on the means whereby I'll autotelate myself, which for me is really an end in itself...thanks for the new vocabulary.— November 14, 2009 7:52 a.m.