The Never Ending Story

Church.

My wife and girls love to go. My mom and dad go. Both of my Grandfathers go.

But..........to me religion, christianity, god, and faith all ruin the experience of being human.

We share a common ancestor with other apes. It is a fact.

The earth is 4.6 billion years old (+ or - 10%). It is a fact.

Demons don't possess humans. It is a fact.

Witchcraft is make believe. It is a fact.

Your life isn't affected by God's divine intervention. It is a fact.

God doesn't change the number of protons in an element. It is a fact.

People are the saviors that religion only allows you to read about. Put your faith in them.

You make your own demons. Put your faith in yourself.

Nature has true laws. Put your faith in them.

Have faith in hard work.

The beauty of life is here and now, don't let it slip by waiting for something better.

I have a memory that I cannot let escape. I was sitting in church at long hollow baptist when the preacher brings out 2 religious leaders from Haiti. These are the guys that are helping LHB distribute their funding for relief. One of these leaders begins to talk about Voodoo in Haiti, and how 85% of Haitians are Catholic and 90% of the Catholic population practice Voodoo. He proceeds to tale stories of Voodoo Queens being struck down with lightning and how he personally exorcised a demon from one of the Voodoo leaders, and the church CHEERED and the church LAUGHED and the APPLAUDED this guy. Never once did they factor in the fact that he was lying. Not once did they think about their personal beliefs. Last time I checked Baptists think that Pentecostal churches are crazy for faith healing, exorcisms, and speaking in tongues. So I don't know, maybe people in Hendersonville can't be possessed but people in Haiti can be.

Let's be honest. It's not that this congregation actually went home and thought about it. It's not that the Voodoo leaders are actually practicing witchcraft. It's that they both need a better education. If people at LHB understood fetal biology they would know that we have tails in the womb. If people in Haiti knew that bacteria actually causes cholera then they wouldn't blame the Voodoo leaders. If the voodoo leaders in Haiti actually learned modern medicine then they wouldn't kill chickens and drink the blood (or whatever).

In the new movie "Seasons of the Witch" the viewer is shown that a witch really did cause the black plague, not Yersinia pestis, a potent bacteria. This feeds our need to believe that supernatural forces cause the hurt and pain. Modern health guidelines and cleaning methods would solve the whole issue, why isn't LHB and it's affiliates helping to teach these principles instead of archaic religious practices like exorcism and faith healing. I saw on CNN yesterday that some voodoo priest was murdered by a group swinging machetes, because they felt like the black magic was responsible for the cholera. If these people are willing to kill in the name of religion surely they will clean in the name of science.

One other example. My wife had an argument with 2 of the other teachers at the preschool where she works. Instead of addressing the issue it was decided by the head administrator that Satan was trying to infiltrate the school. Of course, all the other teachers jumped on that band wagon. The discontentment was caused by the evil lord, until everyone got home and called Renee to thank her for calling out the 2 teachers with the problems. These are the people that are teaching my children.......yet I let it go on because I don't want them to be the weird kids in class. Life has enough hurdles without being the White House Witch sisters with the father thats going to hell. Besides, my girls are smart. They'll figure out these things on there own one day. No wonder adolescents sucks, it's just a shame that it has to continue throughout life with some people.

I wonder what religious people would think if they understood Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, and Astrophysics. Notice I capitalized the sciences and lowercased the religions.

Haven't Posted in a long While

So it is October. I haven't posted anything in a long time. Oh well, sue me.

This year I was super pumped about Bonnaroo and then the flood happened and I was so busy that I had to give my ticket away. Then, I had tickets to see Sir Paul McCartney, and I had to work again so my dad went in my stead. Now that we have a family vacation all planned to ride in east Tennessee, I receive a call needing me to consult in Illinois. Thank God that I have great co-workers that are going to go in my place so that I can finally have a little Daniel fun (Not that I'm not grateful for good work).

My 8 year anniversary was yesterday and I have to say that I love my wife more now than ever before. The last 8 haven't been the easiest years, and I've had to compromise a lot (Bridgette and Annabeth are in private Christian school where Renee is a preschool teacher), but I am a much better man for it. Looking back over the last 8 years I now know what it means to grow together, as opposed to drifting apart.

Through life you will always change, but with the kind of love that Renee and I have you can choose to change so that you're closer with your lover. I can tell Renee that she's being a total crazy bitch, and if she knows that I'm serious, she'll actually think about that and try to calm down. She can tell me that I'm acting like an sour old man that doesn't know how to have fun, and I will actually stop and consider the fact that I might be acting unreasonable. It takes a special kind of relationship to make you lean on another person to help you to be better. Renee tells me that I'm fat, and I tell her if a pair of pants makes her butt look big. It's just life and we both know that we love each other so we try to accept the truth.

And I think that our love has a very positive effect on our children. Our girls are confident, funny, silly, active, outgoing, considerate, emotional, positive people. They are smart and we treat them with respect and honesty. I can almost talk to Bridgette like a grown up and she'll listen and do her best. I tell them that Daddy's not perfect but that I've been around a lot longer then they have and I'm doing my best.

Along with Renee they are the #1 priority in my life. 8 years ago Renee and I got married and it was the singular best thing that ever happened to me. Through that single act I moved out on my own, kept a job, had children, and in the end became a better man. She loved me through stupid times when I acted like a fool, she had enough faith in me to let me be the father of her children, and she forgives me daily for my short falls instead of exploiting them.

I sure do love that woman.

Side note:

Confessions - I like the Dave Matthews Band. Seaweed salad is good. When I have sex, every time isn't earth shattering. I still have lots of penned up angst even though I'm nearly 30. I miss spending time with Derek now that we're grown. I really do love my job. I don't have as much money in the bank as I always thought that I would at 30. I don't listen to metal much anymore. I'm overweight. I love America but sure do hate some Americans. And this is the big one..........I'm a little disappointed with Obama - oh well sure beat the alternative.

Evolution

On November 24, 1859 Charles Darwin first published "On the Origin of Species." It first introduced the theory that populations evolve through a process known as natural selection. Natural Selection in layman's terms is reproduction of the fittest. Over the next 150 years this book has become the cornerstone for the science of biology today.

I feel I should probably define science as I am referring to it above. Science: The systematic study of any phenomena with the purpose of creating a correct repeatable prediction, usually through use of the scientific method (Question, Research, Hypothesis, Experiment, Conclusion, Communication). In other words,

1.What happens if I throw a ball in the air?

2.History shows that it will fall to the ground.

3.My guess is that when I throw a ball into the air it will fall to the ground.

4.I do my experiment.

5.The conclusion is that the ball fell to the ground.

6.Then I should call all my friends and tell them what just happened.

Now, for anyone that doesn't know, natural selection has been one of the best examples of predictive science that the world has ever known. Our genetic research has confirmed its predictions, our radiocarbon dating has confirmed its predictions, and our psychology has confirmed its predictions, just to name a few. In fact every realm of natural science involves evolution on some level; geology, oceanography, astronomy, meteorology, biology, psychology, radiography, biophysics, chemistry, etc.

Now I get to the point of this post.

The overarching theory of natural selection modifying the characteristics of a population over time is called evolution.

Evolution is a Fact.

And just for those of you out there that may want to argue the point now I will define the word fact. Fact: something that has been tested or observed so many times that there is no longer a compelling reason to keep testing or looking for examples "ex: you can make electricity by turning a magnet inside a coil of wire". This is in contrast to the other definition which is a verifiable observation (ex: "the pen is on the desk").

And just to drive the point home, natural selection is a fact (verifiable observation) the same way that the earth is round.

We have to educate in order to overcome our ignorances. There was a time when people thought that the earth was 6000 years old and flat. I urge you to teach evolution to your children, it won't condemn them to Hell, in fact it might save our planet. And if you don't know how to, read this book.

Release the Hounds

Today I plan to release the Hounds. I am going to invite anyone interested on facebook to start reading this blog.

This should be interesting.

I believe that it's time to muddy the waters.

Political Accountablility

In the past it was much easier to hold your local political leaders accountable for their actions, than to be properly informed about national policies and political leaders motivations. For example, the local news paper might be a persons only news source for federal policy changes. Where as, your great grandfather might have rode to town for a meeting with the Mayor concerning city ordinances or tax changes. At that meeting he would have gotten many viewpoints from the townspeople at that meeting and he would have been able to make a better informed decision about his personal stance on an issue. So, back then I would have been very much in favor of states rights vs. large federal government.

I suppose that I should mention that this type of political involvement is seldom seen today. While The Tennessean still reports on national debates and local controversy, we now have an overwhelming number of "news" sources, as well as "opinion" sources. Our national leaders are under a much larger microscope than our local aldermen and Mayors. I wonder how many people know the name of the Mayor of Portland and White House (Ken Wilber and John Decker respectively). BTW, I had to look it up. Do you think that there character has been put through the same rigorous testing that President Obama's has? Which position is under the highest scrutiny from news and opinion organizations?

My point is this: In the information age; with Twitter, Blogging, 14,000 cable news channels, and everyone with there opinions, let us all make sure that we get the facts before muddying the water. Don't spread rumors just because you heard it on Glenn Beck. Let us all separate fact from fiction the best that we can. And Also, know that everyone that can sell an advertisement is watching our federal government (not our local government), looking for a skeleton to make a story out of. I'm not saying to put up your blinders, I'm just saying consider the source. If you get your news from John Stuart, Steven Colbert, Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly, or anyone else trying to make a buck; you might want to reconsider the "Facts" that you are hearing.

I have no issue with idealogical differences, it's how democracy works. If the American people didn't vote in a Democratic President and a super majority congress then health care reform would not have passed. It is a fact that the American people wanted this law, whether it is a good idea or not. The same way that they voted in a Republican President and Congress a few years ago, meaning that they wanted a war in Iraq and Afghanistan (no matter what the fiscal cost). I have an issue with some Americans that I see who are blindly following their television leadership, and being manipulated to anger and in some cases bigotry/racism - when in fact, they (most likely) don't even know which political party there Mayor is a part of.

CHCHCHCHCHChanges!

Thought #1

You know, whether it's a volcano releasing pressure from the center of the earth, a new baby being born (You've all either seen a video or been in the room!!!!), or something less significant like applying for a new job; Change makes us uncomfortable! That's why its called change. You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet.

Thought #2

Somebody, somewhere, said "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". - BUT - What if it is broke? What if it hasn't worked in a couple of years?

Thought #3

I value my family first and foremost. That's a pretty easy priority to have in line. And anything, AN-Y-THING, that's going to jeopardize our happy little future has to be repaired. I don't care if it pisses off the Pope. I think that anyone would feel the same.

Conclusion

Sometimes people get too comfortable; and ,by no fault of there own, they jeopardize the future of not only themselves, but everyone around them that they respect. And some good old fashion uncomfortable change is just what the doctor ordered. If they knew all the facts, they would volunteer to help, anyway that they could. And if they wouldn't help, we wouldn't want them around anyhow.

You might be comfortable digging with a spoon, but if you're job depends on you digging a river, its time to invest in a backhoe!!!!!!!

You gotta be smarter than the tools that you're workin' with.

One of My Favorite Pictures

Enough Said