http://www.imdb.com/OnThisDay?day=31&month=May
Sharon Gless (64)
Joe Namath (64)
John Bonham (59)
Johnny PayCheck (69)
Peter Yarrow (69)
Kenny Lofton (40)
Brooke Shields (42)
Corey Hart (I) (45)
Darryl McDaniels (43)
Lea Thompson (I) (46)
Clint Eastwood (77)
Colin Farrell (I) (31)
Pope Pius XI (150)
Me
Categories: Birthday
They’re all together ooky. The AGENDA family. (snap snap)
******the original article
Ky. Creation Museum opens to thousands
Tue May 29, 5:06 PM ET
PETERSBURG, Ky. – A museum that tells the Bible’s version of Earth’s history — that the planet was created in a single week just a few thousand years ago — attracted thousands to its opening as protesters rallied outside.
The dozens of demonstrators argued Monday that the Creation Museum’s central tenets conflict with scientific evidence that the Earth is several billion years old. Overhead, an airplane pulled a banner with the message: “Thou Shalt Not Lie.”
The privately funded museum had more than 4,000 guests on opening day, said Mark Looy, a co-founder of the $27 million facility 20 miles southwest of Cincinnati. The parking lot was filled with license plates from dozens of states.
“The guests were very happy with the museum experience,” Looy said. “Of course, we had some naysayers come through and engage us in conversation, and that’s fine — we want them.”
Lawrence Krauss, an author and physicist at Cleveland’s Case Western Reserve University, decided to view the museum firsthand.
“It’s really impressive — and it really gives the impression that they’re talking about science at some point,” Krauss said. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being best, “I’d give it a 4 for technology, 5 for propaganda. As for content, I’d give it a negative 5.”
The museum features high-tech exhibits designed by a theme-park artist, including animatronic dinosaurs and a wooden ark at least two stories tall, plus a special effects theater and planetarium.
Some exhibits show dinosaurs aboard Noah’s Ark and assert that all animals were vegetarians until Adam committed the first sin in the Garden of Eden.
*********
Several things stand out in this article:
1) “Thou Shalt Not Lie” appears to be featured in the presentation of this Creationist museum. Since neither Darwinism nor Creationism has been definitively proven, I find it not only pointless to use here and also rather antagonistic. Seeing as Christianity is taken on faith (proof wouldn’t make it a religion then now would it?) and has that “love thy neighbor” thing, I see that as two potential strikes against this place before even setting foot in it. Scientists without proof, on the other hand, is what we call job security. The tone of this exchange is obvious, which makes the later offer to “engage us in conversation” rather pointless.
2) $27 million was collected, set aside and used to build this shrine of nervous antagonism. I wonder how many homeless people this money would have sheltered, clothed, fed, treated and educated had it been spent for more altruistic things. Normally to see such wasteful spending, you have to go to Washington.
The reality is that science and religion aren’t in conflict. They never were. It’s all a matter of perception. Science isn’t always that exact and that you sometimes have to start with theories. Theories that prove to be not accurate are not clung to, but still documented and taught so we can appreciate how far we have come. It’s not trying to strong-arm its way into anything. It’s on the discussion table as a starting point.
Science also has the concept of unknowns, but seem to be more comfortable with their presense. Both can be taken at face value or literally interpreted, as well as be subject to personal agenda.
Scientists who can’t appreciate the possibility of a divine hand in the creation of the universe are myopic. Believers who think science could possibly unravel the concept of religion reveal their own weak faith.
just my opinion, of course……
p.s. This reminds me of the spiritual version of that old Reese’s peanut butter cup commercial. One person holding a jar of peanut butter collides in a hallway with someone holding a chocolate bar. They first curse each other. You got your chocolate in my peanut butter. You got your peanut butter in my chocolate. Then, upon tasting the new combination are both pleasantly surprised how well they go together. Only in this case, it was “you got your religion in my science.” Isn’t rather prophetic about how that old commercial was?
I am going to build shelves in the basement. It will require operating a circular saw, hammer and possibly a drill. I have one of those leather belts that I can put stuff in.
To top off the day, I may just have to have a cold beer and demand a potpie for dinner. If there is time later, I probably should squander a natural resource.
Categories: Family · Work · family stuff · packing wood
While cleaning the house today with my family, my children wanted to listen to a Kids Bop CD.
The only thing more painful that listening to this might possibly be having your wisdom teeth removed by needle nose pliers with no anaesthetic.
No one should ever be subjected to pre-teens howling along to popular songs. I think the only thing worse is singing Chipmunks (Alvin….Alvin…..ALLLVIIIIIIIIINNNNN!!!)
1) Use (trusted) anti-virus software. Install it. Update it regularly. Run regular scans. Commercial choices include Symantec (Norton), McAfee, and TrendMicro. Free choices for personal use include AVG and ClamVir. Check PC World Magazine or C-Net (or any other trusted computer source) for more suggestions. Pick one. Any one. They are all better than nothing.
2) Use (trusted) spyware removal programs. Ad-Aware, Spybot Search & Destroy and Arovax are good (and subsequently free for personal use). AVG also has a spyware removal program that is free, too. Once again, install – update regularly – run scan regularly.
3) Be careful how and what you click. Not just installing software (purchased in person or downloaded), but through pop-up messages too. Avoid purchasing software through spam or strange e-mail links you click on through mail. Often times, those lead you to foreign countries and chances are good that it’s illegal software. All piracy issues aside, it is also likely that the software could be compromised.
4) Avoid using P2P filesharing programs like Kazaa, Morpheus, LimeWire, et al. Look over checkboxes and default installations to avoid extra or unwanted software to be installed. Some file extensions can be compromised and made to look like legitimate files. Others might have extra code added to them to make them able to infect or crash your computer.
5) Don’t believe that using a Mac (non-Windows computer) or Firefox (non-Internet Explorer internet browser) will protect you. They can just as vulnerable. They have not been big targets in the past because their were so few of them. As the numbers grow as even Firefox is approaching the usage as Internet Explorer; the risk of the program-specific vulnerabilities will grow, too. Oh, and do yourselves a favor and use a software firewall. Windows XP Service Pack 2 includes one, or you can also get a free one at zonelabs.com called Zone Alarm. It’s not the user-friendliest for the non-technical, but if you have a high speed connection to the Internet; you should consider it.
It must be some latest trend for malware to be foisted onto computer that says it fights spyware, but installs regardless of your consent. I clicked on a link to a forum and my computer brought up an Outlook 2000 add-on install. I “X”-ed out of it, then it brought me a cascade of pop-up errors that were looking for the following files in TEMP files on my computer (a sign that it has been compromised).
xpre.exe
yazzlebundle-1281.exe
is66953.exe
I then notice:
1) Software to remove spyware called MyCleanerPC is now referenced on my computer with pop-ups. Once again, I wasn’t given a choice to install it. It just appeared.
2) My computer starts running really slow. Internet Explorer takes a minute or two now to load pages, even ones cached that should load instantly.
3) I run one of the three trusted spyware removal programs I have on my computer (www.arovaxantispyware.com) which identifies MyCleanerPC as spyware. (Spybot Search & Destroy (www.safer-networking.org) is another. So is Ad-Aware (www.lavasoftusa.com)
4) I google the files added and find that they are associated with trojan horses, which also causes my Norton Anti-virus to catch something now.
What I did:
1) Updated and ran the spyware removal program, www.arovaxantispyware.com - it found and removed the program. I rebooted my computer and it worked.
2) I did a WHOIS search for mycleanerpc.com domain and found it was registered with domainsbyproxy.com. I have seen their work before. They obscure the name and address of those who register domains through them.
3) I came to the conclusion that MyCleanerPC is evil. I feel sorry for those who don’t understand or appreciate the risks of being on-line. This may inspire me to create some tech-related posts.
Categories: fighting spyware · stinkpalm · venting
I had received this spam this week at work. It feels so up close and personal. I feel a connection. Personally, I like how the phrase, “I am a girl” makes it even more believable. Reading this made my heart “mbeet” faster.
Looks like Clair save lots of money by not using programs with spellchecking.
**************
From: Clair [mailto:hlgjqymk@ev.net]
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2007 8:39 AM
To: (edited for my privacy)
Subject: Re: Photo
Hi there lovely,
This kbind of opportunity comes ones in a life. I don’t want to maiss it. Do you? I am coming to your place in few days and I though may be we can mbeet each other. If youa don’t mind I can send you my pictucrce. I am a girl. Ybcou can correspond with me using my email mofhd@SpringMailSite.info
Categories: Spam
The Sci-Fi channel described him as an ‘actor.’ Isn’t that like trying to use the word ‘comedianne’ to describe Julia Louis Dreyfus?
I guess that’s why I love the Sci-Fi channel. Those guys really know how to put the fiction in science-fiction.
Categories: Celebrities · Sci-Fi
The first step is to deny there is a problem.
Thank you. Be sure to tip your waitresses.
Categories: Government · Shrub · politics
1) The key to finding the right religion is finding the right God. Luckily, it’s not a matter of inventing a God because the divine essense exists in many forms. However, you should probably pick a self-confident God whose P.R. campaign doesn’t include grilled cheese sandwiches on E-bay. Gods that tacitly prove their existence with mountain ranges and sunset are your best bet.
2) Don’t worry about who has the most documentation or that has been around the longest. Religions that have little to no documentation aren’t necessarily invalid. History shows that if you ostracize,torture and kill those who practice non-mainstream faiths; subsquently, those religions tend to have less future adherents.
3) Avoid religions that have too much ‘middle management.’ There’s nothing wrong with having structure, or even a hierarchy. However, some middle management styles involve interceding on issues well outside their control. As a rule, people wearing expensive suits with bad comb-overs tend to have their own agendas. Gods, as a whole, have a tendency to be omniscient and omnipotent, so if they have to get a message to you; they shouldn’t have much of a problem doing so directly.
4) Rituals can provide meaning in any religion, as well as strengthen faith. Supplementing those rituals with nice outfits and ritual tools is a nice touch. However, these rituals should have meaning to you personally. Here’s a little spiritual tip. When practicing transubstantiation, don’t worry about counting calories. Live a little.
5) Choose a religion with a healthy ‘big picture’ focus. Providing food and clothing to the homeless is fine. Working to become a better person is good too. Examples of not-so-good ideas include supporting the marriages of 14 year olds to perverted old men, pointing full automatic weapons at Federal agents or flying your congregation to Guyana to separate them from family members.
Categories: Gods · Relationships · Religion · reality · untested theory
