The Sun emerges yet again
Topic: Mysteries of Life
Well, except for a couple of History Channel and A&E programs about the devil and all of that there wasn't anything major happening. By major I mean a bunch of kids, shoppers or drivers killed by a madman or madmen. However, evil was there making it's usual appearance as witnessed by the video shots of the bald headed, neck tattooed, bikini top murderer as he was brought in front of a judge and having his mug shot taken again. He looked shocked that he was receiving so much attention. A blinking, confused, everyday garden variety personification of evil who didn't appear to have the presence of mind to look evil beyond the evil that was defined by his deeds. Sometimes you wonder what is going on in the head of someone like that. Doing the evil, committing the crimes he did commit, naturally lead you to the handcuffs and the police. That behavior leads to the striped pajama clothes and confinement and loss of every choice ever again. There he was, seemingly surprised by his surroundings and uncomfortable. I don't see how he didn't know he would end up back in jail and I don't understand how he could even look surprised. I just don't get any of it. Like trying to imagine in five or six dimensions, I just can't form a framework in my mind to understand why a person would kill another or why some claim to even get pleasure from doing it. It's just beyond me. I start to pass out at the first sign of injury, blood or anyone or anything is in pain. Heck, the idea of someone boiling a crab or lobster even if they are frozen bits, makes me have to lie down. This guy they keep showing on the news was supposed to have driven around looking for random victims which although I know it happens, still boggles my mind. Here's a big cheer for DNA as well as fingerprints as part of the records for every sex offender. It made for a quick identification and a quick capture. Now if only all the surveillance cameras were of high quality then we'd be able to catch every child molester and rapist and murderer out there. Here's hoping.

666 - Numerology Gone Wild
Topic: Mysteries of Life


Well it's that time of year, it's those numbers adding up and down and across to form the number of the beast. The beastly number of fear, that number by which he shall be known. The antichrist. June 6, 2006. Or 6-6-06. Please try to ignor that number zero in there, it's zero after all and therefore doesn't exist. It's 666 time! Woohoo. A new Omen movie opens on 6/6/06 and the new book in the "Left Behind" series goes on sale on the same date. Time to get your numerologically driven, Book of Revelations based fear of the unknown and unknowable on and party like it's the time of judgment. As Yul Brenner says to Charleston Heston in the Ten Commandments, "Where is your God now Moses?" Prepare to have the fiery pit of doom open up and brace yourself for the mewling, howling demons of Cthulhu to chew on your flesh. Doom is at hand. Dante's Inferno has just had a number of new circles built and ready just in time for the tourist season. Heck, if you didn't make the last comet out of here with the rest of the Heaven's Gate bunch you've missed your last ride out. Yes indeed, great fun for one and all. I of course plan to stay up all night so I don't miss the start of it all. Well, maybe not actually. The mini hype for this date is rounding up and it'll be like any other day when it's all said and done.

Perhaps somebody might mention that you shouldn't worry and be nervous since well let's see, where to begin. Ah let's start by saying that the calendar isn't and wasn't a thing set in stone at the time of Christ or even at the time that the Book of Revelations was written. So, all things being equal you really really aren't here on 6/6/06. Who knows what day it really is based on the calculations of the writers of the Book of Revelations. That part doesn't even really matter anyways since nobody is really certain what the dudes writing the Book were talking about. Perhaps they were talking about the Roman leader of the time, doesn't matter which time, they were mostly quite nasty to Christian folks and other nonroman folks. I mean, long before black folk in Africa were keeping slaves and selling other black folk to white folk on ships or to arabs or wherever they could find a market the Romans were carting people of all colors off as slaves to you know, slave away, die in mines, die in the gladitorial ring and the like so to folks who weren't Roman citizens life ws pretty spotty. Spotty enough so that when your local mystics and writers of holy books got together they would naturally make their version of the most evil person on the earth the antithesis of Christ and probably make him a Roman leader. But it's all a matter for a good argument which you can see on the History Channel tonight or in the near future.

The antichrist has been variously named throughout history and you'll recognize many of these guys. Napolean, Hitler, Stalin, Mao, George Bush. Yup, anyone who has done anything has been called the antichrist once or twice. The fact of the matter is that people like to have labels for things. They want to know who the bad guy is and they want to feel that there is some order in the world. So labels and stories about the end of world and how it'll turn out alright in the end for the good guys is all anyone every really wants. So we get to scare ourselves with stories of devils and demons and antichrist dudes and we device ways to identify him and them. Some folks, usually of the mentally ill variety even claim to be the devil, a demon, the antichrist, santa clause. It's all about being not right in the head.

Now June 6, 2006, which isn't as potentially evil as was June 6, 1966 or even June 6, 666, anyways, that day would be a good day to not go to the Mall or the subway or be hanging around in any gathering of people. Seems to me that it's the sort of day and idea that might prove too tempting to your random crazy person or deluded bunch of crazy people. It wasn't that long ago that some nutjob thought he could be a vampire if he killed somebody and drank their blood. So the idea that some folks might go into a Mall and start shooting people in the name of the devil isn't that far fetched. So, a day to stay home. Perhaps I'll even see if any of the news networks will even remember that June 6, 1944 was D-Day, the day that the Allies invaded Hitler's Europe. Probably be a day where the 'news' will talk about the new Omen movie, the new book from the Left Behind series and the party in Hell, Michigan. Such is life.

Orderly Disorder

Morality of Mountain Climbing
Topic: Mysteries of Life


I've been reading the ongoing story about the people who climb Mount Everest and their collective decision to leave another climber to die while they made their way to the top of the mountain. It's a shocking thing to hear the rationalizations for leaving a man to die on his own and alone in a cave and it's even more remarkable to consider that some people think it is or was in any way morally justifiable to do so.

Sir Edmund Hillary said there is no question that the life of another human being is worth more than an ascent up a mountain, even if that mountain is Mount Everest. Hillary came to that conclusion without having to think too much about it. He comes from an age and a time when moral decisions were thought of as more black and white than they are now. It's always been my thought that morality changes with the times and the search for an ultimate morality that can be applied universally can never be formulated. People's and civilizations have survived thousands of years with beliefs that included slavery, human sacrifice, death penalties for all manner of crimes and so forth. That's sort of a moral relativism which many folks adhere to these daus which leaves them unable and unwilling to pass moral judgement on other peoples and other cultures.

The more than fourty people who passed by the dying climber and went on to the top of the mountain can be judged for their actions. Every one of them is a selfish, self absorbed human being without an ounce of compassion for other human beings except when pressured by the society in general. Every one of them could explain away why it was perfectly okay to leave the man to die alone so their petty ambitions could be achieved. Every one of them made the decision that even the compassion of being with a man as he died was too much of a sacrifice for them. Instead of being admired for their efforts and basking in the glow of adulation and respect they are all villians and despicable characters whose character was shown to the world in total. Sure you can begin to pile up excuses, - the air is thin, the temperature is cold, the climbers spent 100,000 dollars each to get to the mountain, the man was dying and we couldn't have saved him even if we stopped to help. Excuses, and lame selfish ones at that.

Many people claim to be moral people and many people claim to have moral guidance in their lives. You can see them praying or preaching or simply identifying themselves as belonging to this religion or that religion. Many people fool themselves into thinking they are good people and whether you are a mountain climber or a student or a lawyer you cannot escape your own actions and inactions as proof of your character and real morality. If you left a man to die, or if you otherwise abandoned a person in need and you could have helped, comforted or just been there and you decided it was too much trouble then you are what you are. And even if nobody else knows about what you did or only knows your version of the events and believes your carefully rationalized story - well, you know better don't you. Somewhere, under the story you've told yourself, you know better. These climbers happened to have their moment plastered all over BBC news and their cold hearted decisions are there for everyone to see.

Pen Turning fun
Topic: Physical Well Being
There's something comforting and mystical about working with wood. You have something that was once alive in your hands. You can shape it and create things with it and you leave part of yourself with the wood. I look with admiration at the work other people do either making furniture or carving or inlaying or otherwise shaping wood into something new but familiar. It's all good and I'm beginning to step into that sort of activity myself. Nothing major yet. I haven't carved the Piata yet but I have made some wood pens.

Very nice stuff and very interesting to work with. The spinning lathe and the act of shaping the wood is both intimidating and fascinating. Learning how to operate the machines used, the lathe, the drill press, the band saw and other tools is also a bit new to me. But I pick things up quickly and I do have a healthy respect for power tools so I should be alright with it all. No fingers lost as of yet. :-) Anyways, these are the two pens I've made.

How to find criminals in your own neighborhood or elsewhere
Topic: Law
You know, the world is a dangerous place. Yes indeed, all you have to do is turn on the local news and see stories of murders, rapes, beatings, robberies, domestic violence, child abuse, etc. How do you know if the neighborhood you live in is safe or even if that guy next door is wanted by the police. Well, online fortunately you can find out a great deal of information about someone and about lots of someone's. Obviously, if you are a lawyer, policeman, judge or NSA official you can just query the computer attached to Lexis Nexis or Westlaw or the equivalent for the police. Put in a name and a few details and there you have it, the complete life history of someone. For the rest of you there is Google and there is Yahoo and A9 to consider. The problem with that is that many of the information sites will not index through the search engines. Newspapers and the like only provide a limited ability to search through their records - unless you pay the fee. Likewise many of the more useful sites which claim to be able to provide you with the low down on that person you are wondering about also charge a fee. All well and good if you are thinking of a particular person. Feel free to pay the fee if you want but most of those sites are bogus. And some of them use purloined information. So take that with a grain of salt.

However, you can check on the neighborhood you live in by searching for your local police department. They often have lists of sexual predators information available. Check on sex offenders I've seen those lists linked to Google Maps to include address and pictures. You can see how many houses down the closest child molester lives. I've seen lists and maps of where the meth lab houses were found. If you'd like to do a bit more research you could go to Corrections Connection here to begin research through the various prison systems. Often times they have lists not only of who is in prison but also of who was in prison. Just the thing if you want to dig up some dirt on someone. This process will be lengthy and many of the states don't really allow you to peruse those records but some do.

You can also watch America's Most Wanted, if it's still on somewhere. or alternately you can watch episodes of Cops to see if you recognize anyone. The FBI still puts out a Top Ten list (not just David Letterman) and I understand there's a no good rotten polygamist on it now. There's also 'Cheaters' which you can only hope to find someone you know and there's also Maury's show where many criminal types are known to sport their gap toothed smiles to the cameras. You could be inventive and make someone a criminal by making some crap up and using your connections to get them put in jail. That only works if perhaps your dad is a lawyer and you have no conscience or soul.

Of course, if you are one of those people who is wanted by the police then you live in fear every day. Every police car that goes by gives you a start and every knock on the door could be your time being up. Heck, I've been a few car lengths behind cars that crash into each other for no other reason than that the drivers have seen a police car. And I doubt those folks were dangerous criminals but I bet those folks thought the police were going to catch them for going too fast. Personally I'm at peace as I happen to see a police car or motorcycle on the side of the road or even coming up behind me. No heart palpitations, no sudden braking. It's amazing what driving the speed limit and not being wanted by the police can do for your heart rate. Of course, if I suddenly see some East German police rolling up beside me I might get a little concerned. I've never been picked up for that incident in West Berlin when I threw some marbles at a East German guard tower, way back when I was eleven or so. Does that answer you question 72-226-147-249.twcny.res.rr.com ?

Long time no see me
The way time flies is always a wonder to me. Turn around and a year has zoomed by. People you remember as babies are teens, teens are adults and adults are older and grayer. An amazing thing. Of course, we feel that we haven't changed one bit, we are the same as we ever were at least in our own minds. But somehow we know the lie of it all, our legs don't have as much spring in them as they seem to have had previously. Eyes aren't focusing as well, hair perhaps even seems different, perhaps thinner and with even more white hairs in it. Of course, I contend that I've always had white hairs so that isn't quite the indicator it is for others. It doesn't stop me from spending way too much time trying to pluck them or cover them up. Vanity. But those white hairs are pretty darn obvious in dark hair so there is that. Humm. Well, anyways, thought I'd check in. I know some folks keep track of me. Hey ya JJ. Well, gotta restart firefox some update or the other has been loaded up. :-)

Pressdanistas Roll On
Now Playing: Monteverdi - Scherzi Musicali a Tre Voci
Topic: Politics
This last week in political news it has been another exciting foray into the ongoing battle between the liberal Pressdanistas and the United States government. A week of nonsense concerning the Vice President and a hunting accident where the Washington Pressdanistas got themselves up in a righteous frothing madness over the fact that VP Cheney didn't immediately notify the New York Times of the incident. Amazing. In that week a Hamas has been preparing to take over the government in Palestine amid great interenational worry and consternation, a number of the escaped terrorists in Yemen, including Jamal Badawi, mastermind of the Oct. 12 2000 bombing attack on the USS Cole in which 17 US sailors perished - were captured, struggles in Congress over the reauthorization of the Patriot Act have gone forward and it's not looking good for libraries,the Bill of Rights and freedoms in general, nearly 2000 men women and children were killed in a mudsline in the Philippines, Author David Irving an English historian and general right wing looney, is on trial in Austria for the thoughtcrime of denying the holoucast and could get 19 years for it, people are still dying over cartoons and bird flu is on the march, killing untold numbers of chickens, swans, ducks and about five people. Each one of these stories is worthy of attention and a certain level of outrage and moral indignation. But to spend all of this time over a hunting accident where the VP shoots his friend with some birdshot is really a new low in the lack of civic responsibility and moral responsibilty that the press has to all of us.

Now it goes without saying that members of the press, like members of the government, all think they know what is good for us and what we should worry about but in this case it's a bit of a personal grudge against Cheney for not 'being more accessable' to them. Really, they are upset since they have been used to belittling the Vice President whoever he might be as long as he's a Republican. With Cheney they haven't been able to lay a glove on him and it knaws at their souls. Really, who could care less. There are actual stories out there to be put on the cover of Newsweek and Time. Something besides Dick Cheney and 'sex and the 40 something baby boomer' - but we won't get the real news, the stuff that really matters. Not as long as there is a breath left in Brittney Spears, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise and the other of fake news stories for FOX, CNN and the morning news shows to pimp. Oh geez, why bother.

Happy Early Valentine
Topic: Mysteries of Life

Islamic Priorities
Now Playing: Gordon Lightfoot - Songbook
Topic: Politics

I've been watching as this 'controversy' has bubbled up in Europe. A newspaper in Denmark published a number of political cartoons which depict the religion of Islam and Muhammed their prophet in a bad light. This has of course outraged the Muslim community, a great rising 'moral outrage' by this otherwise silent community when it comes to all of the murder and killing done in the name of Islam. A poll over at MSNBC shows that over 80% of people think that this sort of outrage over political cartoons is misplaced and frankly it's absurd. There isn't even a level of moral equivalence here, they simply ignore the murder, torture and killing done in their name. This outrage is coming from a religion that does not suffer any other religion. This coming from a religion that destroyed an ancient Buddha in Afghanistan a few years ago. This coming from a religion that puts people in jail for having a Bible out in public. And this coming from a religion that sponsors Madras schools throughout the world where young Muslims are taught to hate nonmuslims and who are taught a human rights stifling strict interpretation of their Koran. A full list of Saudi horrors is here Saudi realities
There is also now a online Dutch photoshop contest with tons of Muhammed images guaranteed to upset many many people. Dutch Response

Islam's True Legacy
This cartoon, this political cartoon along with 11 others have created a major firestorm of controversy and rage in the Islamic community. As a test of freedom of the press the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten invited over 40 artists to create works depicting Islam's prophet Muhammed. You can see the images here along with other images, both historical and political. Now imagine a world where Muslims would get emotionally upset when thugs, in the name of their religion, take hostages, torture, execute and blow innocent people up. Imagine a world where Muslims got as upset about that as they are getting over accurate depictions of their religious leader. Yah, I can't imagine it either. They ask for respect for their religion when their religion clearly does not respect anyone or anything else. They ask for respect for their religion to include never criticizing their religion when in countries where their religion is predominant they imprison Christians for saying anything about their own religion and where their sharia law in antithetical to western ideals of equal protection and equal rights for women, freedom of religion (to include freedom from religion) and the rights of individuals. Anytime the west, whether it's the Danes or the Germans or Americans, kowtows to this sort of one sided 'respect' we lose our rights and our freedoms and the tyrannical vision of a Islamic based world comes closer to reality.

Happy New Year
It's Chinese New Year, year of the dog. There are a few interesting Chinese traditions. One of them being the leaving on of your lights through the New Year's celebration time in order to keep away angry spirits. Spirits are thought to naturally be angry because they are no longer alive. There is the idea that particular angry spirits might come to you and cause trouble. I've personally got a few angry spirits who would like to cause me trouble so I think I'll be keeping my lights on for a bit.

Beyond Good and Evil
Topic: Mysteries of Life
Every once in a while you wake up and you learn something that you didn't know before. A bit of information that gives you pause. Someone you know dies. A shock, a tragedy, something not expected. You feel bad, shaken and upset. What if somebody dies that you don't like. Do you cheer? If you are religious do you think about the will of god or the workings of karma? Would you feel smug about it as the death of someone you don't like confirms your vast and secure theories of the universe? That would certainly be arrogant and self delusional of you to think. What if that person who dies is someone you wished was dead. What if the level of dislike and distaste you have for the person is as high as can be, would you feel happy, vindicated, triumphant over the death of the person you despise? What kind of a person would that make you then? Would that make you an evil person? If you felt your life had been destroyed by that person, now dead, would you be an evil person if you felt happy with that knowledge? What is the level of harm that one person can do to you that makes you alright with being happy they are dead? What if you believed that the dead person wished you dead? An eye of the beholder sort of determination? What if you knew all of that and had fleeting feelings of happiness or whatever you might want to call it and then seeing yourself in that instant, felt remorse and afterwards felt bad for feeling good. Perhaps you could then detatch yourself from any feelings and you went beyond good and evil over it. How on earth would that even be possible? Is it possible to feel enough Buddhist detatchment over the whole thing that you could remove yourself from judgment over it?

When I post information about people who are executed or shortly to be executed my feeling is that nobody should kill another nor participate in the death of another human being. You'll find many anti death penalty websites desperately making up reasons why this person or that person shouldn't be executed. A bad childhood, bad things having happened to that person, the person is too old, too young, retarded or reformed. Rarely do they focus in on the sufferings those people to be executed have caused. The women, children, old people they've raped/tortured and killed hardly have a voice in the attempts to save their killers. I don't feel bad when those people are executed. I sometimes think about how frightening it must be to go through the whole process but then I think of the victims who went to agonized deaths and I think about Karma and cosmic retribution. Two Thai fishermen have just been sentenced to death in the brutal rape and murder of a young woman and as I look at their pictures I see their fear. I don't feel bad for them, I think of their victim and I hope that really is fear in their eyes and I know that their Karma has fully wrapped around them. I don't know that this makes me a bad person, I hope it doesn't make me a bad person.

I don't know. I'm still digesting. Still trying to wrap my mind around it.

Bronco Football win over Patriots
Topic: Mysteries of Life
Watched the Denver Bronco's beat the New England Patriots this evening. A nerve wracking event which came out in a way I wanted. Much too much emotional investment in a football game but I've always followed my Denver Broncos and I don't think I'll stop anytime soon. The best part of it will be hearing those who didn't even think the Broncos had a chance try to backtrack and change their tunes. All I heard was how the Patriots were going to win the game and how the first game where the Bronco's won didn't have this player or that player and blah blah blah. Broncos won, get over it.