Wisdom? Whimsey? Or Merely Dogma?

PZ Myers wrote:

One of the terrifying properties of fundamentalist religions is the way they demand conformity: they lay down strict rules to regulate how people are allowed to think and behave, and often how they are allowed to dress and speak. Questioning the dogma is forbidden. Getting into situations where they have to think for themselves is dangerous. The community must be policed so that odd notions do not pollute the minds of their children or themselves.

Biologist, PZ Myers

Associate Professor

University of Minnesota, Morris

Mr. Myers also wrote:

Perhaps the cruelest aspect of conservative religions is the way they insist that all people must follow one straight and narrow path, regardless of the fact that people are diverse, and they impose endless misery on so many people by fostering fear of deviation.

While I do not agree with all of PZ Myers' ideas, I certainly agree with the above.


Speaking of Organized Religion's (radicals?) fervent believers, there is a thought-provoking Youtube video that illustrates how and why so many human beings are so easily led to believe that mankind's penchant for polluting the atmosphere is the sole cause of global warming, or climate change.

Ignorance is as ignorance does.
--Forest Gump's Mama

You can view the short clip if you click here.

. . .

Saturday evening Mike served as Chef and cooked up one of his hugely successful specialties: Grilled Bison Burgers, Cheesy Roasted Potatoes, Grilled Veggies, and for dessert, Whipped Cream topped Fresh Fruit Shortcake. I sneaked a peek at him in the kitchen while he was preparing the potato dish and discovered his secret ingredient -- "Mmmm mmmmm, good! -- Mmm mmm good!"

. . .

Since I am home alone at this writing (Sunday morning) today's lunch is going to be Golden Walnuts in Creamy Sauce over Butternut Squash Ravioli with mixed vegetables. It's one of those delicious two-dollar Eating Right frozen dinners that cooks in five minutes in a standard microwave oven.

(Yes, I wrote the above paragraph yesterday (Sunday)

. . .

Recently in The Atlantic I read this sentence: No one's talking about significantly curtailing corn subsidies and replacing them with fruit and vegetable subsidies; even the USDA has not gamed out precisely how such scenarios would affect the average farmer.

That was the first time I'd encountered the term 'gamed out'. The context indicates the meaning, but why not just say 'worked out' or 'figured out' instead of perhaps confusing a large share of readers? Does it perhaps make the writer feel young and modern?

Hm . . .

. . .

Remember this guy?

You do? You don't?

. . .

I read the following quotation somewhere... don't remember where or when. But it seems particularly relevant to the current situation facing citizens of the United States of North America.

I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: "O Lord make my enemies ridiculous." And God granted it.
--Voltaire