Moore is Oklahoma’s “Best Affordable Suburb”

NewsOK.com is reporting that Moore has been designated Oklahoma’s “Best Affordable Suburb” by Bloomberg Business Week magazine.

I keep telling people that Moore is a great place to live (we are a lot more than the birthplace of Toby Keith), maybe now people will listen.

No Wonder I’m Not Climbing the Corporate Ladder…I’m Too Nice

According to this story, people who are courteous, good-natured, trusting, tolerant, and cooperative don’t do well in climbing the corporate ladder.

From the story –

These are the traits your mother told you -- repeatedly -- to embrace. "They'll make people like you." "You'll always have friends." "You'll go far."

Mom was wrong, at least as far as business success is concerned.

My colleagues and I studied the careers of more than 1,500 people over a 20-year period. Sorry, Mom, we found that being too nice won't boost you up the corporate ladder.

Our findings didn't just hint at it, either. The evidence was overwhelming: Being too nice can deter your career progress and muddle your effectiveness as a leader. The degree to which a person is trusting of others as well as likable (good-natured, cheerful, gentle) hurt his or her salary level and number of promotions.

How about nurturing, sympathetic and supportive? These qualities impede management potential. Agreeable? Research indicated it was negatively related to salary, occupational status, involvement in work and whether an individual stood out as a leader.

It's not all bad news. Being affable relates to job and life satisfaction, and people with that quality tend to engage in less counterproductive behavior -- vital in jobs requiring cooperation.

So, why is it a problem for career success? One reason: People with this natural personality trait may be less likely to face confrontation or other difficulties at work.

[...]

A leader must be able to perform in ways challenging for someone who is hard-wired for cooperation. "Let's all get along" just doesn't work in the workplace.

To be a successful manager, you have to manage controversial issues as well as provide constructive (and not always positive) feedback. You'll have to make difficult decisions and help correct poor performance. Added to this, you'll have to be able to deal effectively with conflict and take less popular stands when needed -- challenging for those who want to be liked.

If you are that type of person, you may also be much less likely to stand up for yourself because you don't want to rock the boat, or be less assertive in asking for raises, promotions and career opportunities. Thus, others may take advantage of you or you might not get recognized for your accomplishments.

It has been proved that when "nice" leaders fail to manage conflicts, make hard decisions or deal with problem subordinates or areas, they are often accused of not providing strong leadership, lacking courage or just frankly needing to be tougher.

Well I’m screwed. Also if this last bit is true, I think we have found the reason why Jimmy Carter was such a poor president.

I think part of my “problem” (and I’m not sure that I would consider it a problem personally) is that I am not a yes man. I refuse to bend over and take everything the company hands down with a smile. I question leaders and their policies constantly so from that stand point I do rock the boat, but it is more of the underdog-fighting-the-system type of rocking than internal political in-fighting type of rocking.

I guess I’m just not built for corporate America.

Currently Listening

I’m letting the computer pick the tuneage again today.

1. “Angry Young Man” by The Heartdrops (from This is The Heartdrops)
2. “The King” by Everybody Out (from Struggle & Strife)
3. “Free” by Street Dogs (from State of Grace)
4. “Eye of Fatima, Pt. 1” by Camper Van Beethoven (from Never Mind the Mainstream: The Best of MTV’s 120 Minutes, Vol. 1)
5. “Time of the Apes” by The Riverdales (from Invasion USA)
6. “Time Capsule” by Matthew Sweet (from Time Capsule: The Best of Matthew Sweet)
7. “Alfredo’s” by ALL (from Allroy Sez)
8. “Geek U.S.A.” by The Smashing Pumpkins (from Siamese Dream)
9. “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” by Marvin Gaye (from The Very Best of Marvin Gaye [Motown 2001] Disc 1)
10. “Get a Different Life” by 7 Seconds (from The Music, The Message)

Great Band Alert: Caroline & The Treats

Hailing from Ostfold, Norway, Caroline & The Treats describe their music as “Bubblegum Rock ‘n’ Roll” and from what I can tell that is pretty darn accurate. This band plays fun rock ‘n’ roll in the vein of early Blondie, The Ramones, and The Runaways.

For more information on the band, check them out on MySpace.

I Can’t Wait to Read This Book!!!

Bearers of the Black Staff by Terry Brooks

The Jonas Brothers Like Pop Punk?

Apparently so. Granted, they seem to like bad pop punk but in their defense maybe they've never heard The Methadones, Teenage Bottlerocket, Sinkhole, or ALL and bands like Something Corporate and New Found Glory are all they've been exposed to. I'm not sure how I would react though if I saw a picture of Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato sporting Screeching Weasel and Descendents’ t-shirts on the cover of Tiger Beat.

Video of the Day

"Get Over You" by The Undertones

The Bigotry Against Gays

The blog Classically Liberal has a post entitled “You Ain’t No Son:” The Music and the Reality that illustrates the bigotry that gays, especially gay teenagers, must endure. This kind of stuff makes me sad and sick.

Currently Listening

Today I’m letting the computer pick the songs.

1. “Cementhead” by The Riverdales (from Storm the Streets)
2. “Anything That Way” by Buffalo Tom (from Big Red Letter Day)
3. “Good Feelings” by Violent Femmes (from Violent Femmes)
4. “Nature Without Man” by The Minutemen (from Double Nickels on the Dime)
5. “Radio Havana” by Rancid (from Rancid [2000])
6. “Radio Free Europe [Original Hib-Tone Version]” by R.E.M. (from And I Feel Fine…: The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987 [Bonus CD] Disc 2)
7. “A Day in June” by Gameface (from Gameface)
8. “Footprints on My Ceiling” by Social Distortion (from Sex, Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll)
9. “Sick of Me” by Green Day (from Shenanigans)
10. “Don’t Le the Green Grass Fool You” by Wilson Pickett (from The Definitive Soul Collection Disc 2)

Posts With or Without Pictures: Which Do You Prefer?

From time to time I’ll put pictures with my posts (usually with posts dealing with a specific album or on all of the Currently Reading and Currently Watching posts), but for some reason today I decided to put pictures with most of my posts. But does it add to the overall quality of the post? Are pictures something that should accompany all posts or just some posts. Should they be used sparingly or all of the time? What do you think?

Cover Wars: "Stand By Me"

Ben E. King vs. The Ducky Boys





My Vote: Ben E. King, but The Ducky Boys do a great version.

Ancient Doorway to the Afterlife Unearthed in Egypt

According to this story, a “large red granite false door from the tomb of an ancient queen's powerful vizier has been discovered in Luxor.”

From the story –

The carved stone door -- which ancient Egyptians believed was the threshold to the afterlife -- was unearthed near the Karnak Temple in Luxor and belongs to the tomb of User, a powerful advisor to the 18th dynasty Queen Hatshepsut, Faruk Hosni said in a statement.

The door, 1.75 metres (5.7 feet) high and 50 cm (19 inches) thick, is engraved with religious texts and various titles used by User, including mayor of the city, vizier and prince, antiquities chief Zahi Hawass was quoted as saying.

"The newly discovered door was reused during the Roman period. It was removed from the tomb of User and used in the wall of a Roman structure," said Mansur Boraik, who headed the excavation mission.

These kind of finds are amazing. It also amazes me to no end that civilization was born out of such a harsh environment. How the ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, etc. survived and flourished boggles my mind.

Headline of the Day

Headline: 20 Homemade Things That Should Not Be Home-Made

People never cease to amaze and terrify me. I have to admit though…that waterslide looks kinda fun.

Thanks to Andrew Sullivan for the find (and equally awesome headline – You Are Not MacGyver)

Happy Birthday Dr. Martens

The iconic footwear known for their Bouncing Soles, Dr. Martens, turn 50 this year. Over the years I have had two different pairs of Dr. Martens boots and two pairs of shoes. Why so few? Because these things last forever. I’ve had my current boots for nearly 10 years (admittedly they are on their last leg, but when was the last time you got more then fives years of use out of a pair of shoes/boots, let alone 10). The first column that I ever wrote for my high school newspaper was about Dr. Martens boots and their growing popularity that was going right along with the growing popularity of alternative music (the column was called The Underground Circus, the year was 1992…little did I know the monster that writing that column would create).

Happy Birthday Doc! Thanks for the great shoes and memories!!!

Earth-like Planet Discovered & Other Cool Space Stuff

Headline: 6 Space Oddities of the Year So Far

There is a lot of cool stuff in this story. If you’re into space exploration and whatnot, check it out.

I Thought Coke Went Out with the 1980s…

I guess I was wrong.

Albums That Shaped My Life: Walk Together, Rock Together by 7 Seconds

Artist: 7 Seconds (MySpace, Wikipedia, Amazon)
Album: Walk Together, Rock Together (Amazon, InterPunk)

There is probably only one album that has had more of an affect on my life than 7 Seconds’ 1985 classic Walk Together, Rock Together. I was first introduced to the band when I was a junior in high school. At the time I was strongly against drinking and drug use and someone at lunch said that I was straight edge (Side note: As much as I hated the way that my friends and I were treated in the high school that I attended in Lakeland, FL, there is a part of me that misses the camaraderie of that group. It was us against the world and I haven’t felt as accepted or as much a part of something as I did in those days.). I had no idea what that meant at the time (I was still new to the scene and trying to learn everything that I could about it and its history) but was told by another friend that 7 Seconds was a straight edge band. Shortly after that, the Wednesday night edition of the local alternative radio program out of Tampa (which was the Chuck Wagon edition The Underground Circus) did an all covers episode and the show ended with 7 Seconds cover of “99 Red Balloons.” I already liked the song, but the cover knocked my socks off and I HAD to hear more from this band. Not too long after that I went out and picked up Walk Together, Rock Together and in a lot of ways, music hasn’t looked or sounded the same since (incidentally, I also got a copy of the first Ramones album on that trip to the record store and while I still like that album, it didn’t affect me in the same way).

Not only were the songs on this record blisteringly fast and catchy, the lyrics were powerful and positive (you can read the lyrics to most of the band’s albums here). 7 Seconds was the first band that I had heard since U2 that tackled the themes of hope and unity. These songs spoke so straight to my heart that I became a lifelong fan of the band (I also think that it was my love of the lyrics and themes that made it easier for me to accept the changes in style the band went through over years). And I truly think it is the lyrics that have stuck with me over the years because I can go back and listen to this album (and the Live: One Plus One record) and reengage with those feelings of hope and that making the world a better place really is possible. Sadly I wish those feelings would stick around a bit longer after the music is over.

Currently Listening

Today we’re doing a 7 Seconds shuffle.

1. “Catching” (from Live: One Plus One)
2. “Change the Key” (from Good to Go)
3. “Trust” (from Live: One Plus One)
4. “Out of Touch” (from Walk Together, Rock Together)
5. “Young ‘Til I Die” (from The Crew)
6. “Big Hardcore Mystery” (from Take It On, Take It Back, Take It Over!)
7. “Expect to Change” (from New Wind)
8. “Not Just Boys Fun” (from The Crew)
9. “This Is Temporary” (from Take It On, Take It Back, Take It Over!)
10. “Punk Rock Teeth” (from The Music, The Message)

Sadly I’ve Never Been to the Medieval Fair…

This weekend is the 34th annual Medieval Fair in Norman and sadly as long as I’ve lived here, I’ve never attended the event. I’m sure that has something to do with the fact that both my wife and I have a great distaste for crowds, but I have to wonder what I might be missing. Maybe I’ll take my kids this year…okay probably not but maybe next year.

Saving the World, One Font at a Time

According to this story, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay has found a way to save money, ink, and the environment by making a simple change.

From the story –

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is actually making headlines this week by switching the font it uses in its emails. The school says that printing out documents in Century Gothic rather than its old font, Arial, uses 30% less ink.

The move is part of the school's five-year plan to go green -- and save money. Printer ink costs about $10,000 per gallon. But there's just one problem: Who prints emails from colleges? It's possible that if everyone in America were to start using Century Gothic instead of Arial for all correspondence that is printed, meaningful savings could be achieved. And perhaps this is a start to that. News websites could start by making all print versions of stories appear in a green-friendly font, and readers would appreciate the savings in ink.

Call me a tree huger (which I am so go ahead and call me one) but I think this is a great idea. It is the little things like this that can really make a big difference!

Albums That Shaped My Life: A Juvenile Product of the Working Class by Swingin’ Utters

I’ve decided to do a series of posts on the albums that had a major impact on my life. In some cases these are not my favorite album by said band/artist but they were my introduction to not just the band but often an entire genre of music.

Artist: Swingin’ Utters (Official, MySpace, Wikipedia)
Album: A Juvenile Product of the Working Class (Amazon, Fat Wreck Chords)

I distinctly remember my introduction to the Swingin’ Utters. I walked into Music Dimensions and told Jim (now a co-owner of Size Records) that I wanted to check out some oi. He immediately walked over to the racks and grabbed the Swingin’ Utters’ tape (yes I was using tapes) A Juvenile Product of the Working Class. He said “this is the album that Social Distortion should have released.” I bought it and a few 7 inches and headed home. On the way I popped A Juvenile Product of the Working Class in my cars tape deck and was blown away. Here were extremely catchy and poetic songs about the life of the working class, love, growing up, and anti-bigotry plus they used an accordion! From that moment I was hooked.

A Juvenile Product… opened me up to the world of oi and street punk, which dominated much of my musical life for a good seven or eight years. In fact, to this day a good number of the bands in my rotating top 20 favorite bands fall into (or at least have been labeled as being part of) the oi/street punk genre. Thanks to the Swingin’ Utters and this record specifically, I got into Dropkick Murphys, the Hudson Falcons, The Staggers, The GC5, The Ducky Boys, and a slew of other bands.

Since that fateful day in 1996 when Jim handed me this tape, I have followed the Utters closely and while I think that they have put out better albums since A Juvenile Product… this is the one that changed me. A Juvenile Product… is also an album that I can go back and listen to now and not only relive the past but find something new and most of all, enjoy some great songs.

Currently Listening

1. “Strongman” by Dropkick Murphys (from Untitled 21: A Juvenile Tribute to Swingin’ Utters)
2. “Smoke Like a Girl” by Swingin’ Utters (from More Scared)
3. “Bad Guys” by The Smugglers (from Selling the Sizzle!)
4. “Far and Away” by Sinkhole (from Core Sample)
5. “Teenage Strangler” by The Riverdales (from Invasion USA)
6. “Hey Emily” by The Mr. T Experience (from Alcatraz)
7. “Fight to Live” by The Hudson Falcons (from Desire to Burn)
8. “Only Chance We Get” by Gameface (from Three to Get Ready)
9. “Early Sunday Morning” by Filthy Thievin’ Bastards (from Our Fathers Sent Us [EP])
10. “Speak Up” by Everybody Out (from Struggle & Strife)

Video of the Day

“Love Me I’m a Liberal” by Jello Biafra & Mojo Nixon


This is a song that these two covered on their 1994 collaboration Prairie Home Invasion. This is a live version of the song with some updated lyrics. Their original version can be heard here.

10 for 2010: Green Day

I’ve decided to drop the idea of doing one of these posts every Wednesday because it’s just no going to happen. So back to randomness…

For this edition of 10 for 2010 I’m tackling the pop punk machine that is Green Day. So here are my 10 favorite Green Day songs, in no particular order and with videos when possible. You can see Steve’s version here.

1. “80” (from Kerplunk)
2. “Going to Pasalacqua” (from 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours)
3. “Stuart and the Ave.” (from Insomniac)
4. “Christie Road” (from Kerplunk)
5. “She” (from Dookie)
6. “2000 Light Years Away” (from Kerplunk)
7. “Nice Guys Finish Last” (from Nimrod)
8. “Stuck With Me” (from Insomniac)
9. “Jesus of Suburbia” (from American Idiot)
10. “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” (from Nimrod)

Video of the Day

"Songs About Girls" by Catherine

Potential New Species of Ancient Human Discovered

In what could become an earth-shattering find, scientists may have discovered a new species of ancient human.

From the story –

Ancient humans, Neanderthals and the now-famous hobbits may have had another human-like neighbor about 40,000 years ago. Thanks to a bone fragment discovered in Siberia's Altai Mountains, scientists may be on the cusp of adding a new species to our hominin family.

The researchers, led by Johannes Krause and Svante Pääbo of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, are hesitant to make that claim just yet, but their follow-up work could remove the uncertainty. Krause tells AOL News that the real importance of the finding, and the research to come, is what it says about what makes modern humans unique. "This new form of hominin can help us to identify what has changed in our genome in the last few hundred thousand years -- what defines us as a species," he says. "That is the big question."

Krause and his group, who describe their findings in the current issue of Nature, used new sequencing technology and methodologies to analyze the DNA in the bone fragment -- believed to be a chip off the pinky of a 5- to 7-year-old child -- which was uncovered in material dated to 30,000 to 48,000 years ago. Once they had sequenced the DNA, they compared it to that of modern humans and Neanderthals, both of which were living in the Altai Mountains in that time period, and found a surprising number of differences. "It really looked like something that I'd never seen before," Krause says. "It was a sequence which was similar in some way to humans but is still quite distinctive."

Marvel Finds Their Captain

Actor Chris Evans has been selected for the role of Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America. Evans has reportedly signed a nine movie contract starting with 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. This is a big deal in the world of comic book movies, especially since there has never been a successful, live action Captain America film.

Captain America is in a lot of ways to Marvel what Superman is to DC. Granted the two universes are dramatically different but they are both, in many ways, based around a core character.

Hopefully for Evans donning the shield won’t be the career kiss-of-death that the cape has brought to so many actors over the years.

BNN OK Has a New Editor

Congratulations to Jimmie Martin of Fried Green Onions / Pundant.com fame for procuring what I’m sure is a thankless job as the editor of Blog Net News Oklahoma. I have nothing but faith that Jimmie will be a good and fair editor of BNN OK and I suggest to any OK based bloggers who haven’t yet joined BNN, to get with the program, shoot Jimmie an email, and join in the fun.

Talk About an Odd Couple

Headline: Photos: Larry King Drives Snoop Dogg Around Town

Currently Listening

Today we’re doing a Me First & the Gimme Gimmes shuffle.

1. “Over the Rainbow” (from Are a Drag)
2. “One Tin Solider” (from Have a Ball)
3. “Where Do Broken Hearts Go” (from Take a Break)
4. “Stepping Out” (from Are a Drag)
5. “Hello” (from Take a Break)
6. “I’ll Be There” (from Take a Break)
7. “Sweet Caroline” (from Have a Ball)
8. “Goodbye Earl” (from Love Their Country)
9. “On the Road Again” (from Love Their Country)
10. “Nothing Compares 2 U” (from Take a Break)

I Want the Utopia Too

One of the criticisms put on liberals is their desire for a utopian society. I have to admit that I want us to live in that utopian society. I mean who wouldn’t? A society without greed, corruption, pollution, hatred, and bigotry is something that we should all desire and strive for, but to some the idea is a joke and to others it is a threat.

The problem often comes from how to attain utopia. Some believe that the government is the best way to bring about this peaceful and wonderful society and that is what many see as a threat. Admittedly I don’t think that the government should or could bring about a utopian society. The government should provide for equality of opportunity, equality under the law for all citizens, security, and a safety net to make sure that the common people are not overrun by those in power. Now in order for that last one to work, the populace needs to be engaged and educated and sadly that’s not what we have at the moment. The things that we should be working towards are ensuring that everyone has the same opportunities through the best education possible and ensuring that everyone is treated equally under the law. I think that those two can help bring about and ensure that the safety net works, works well, and provides a hand up and not a hand out. Some will say that the idea of a safety net goes against that of liberty. I couldn’t disagree more. There is nothing that is anti-liberty about having provisions and systems set in place to help those in need.

While government can ensure that people have the same opportunities and will all be treated equitably under the law, it cannot ensure results. That is the responsibility of the individual.

So how does one then bring about the utopia if not by government mandate? I believe that it is to be done through education and good parenting. We much teach our kids that things like greed and corruption are wrong. We must show our children that love is stronger than violence and that doing the right thing actually matters. We must impart on our children the love of learning for the sake of learning and not just to get the highest paying job. We must convey to our kids the ideals of liberty, freedom, equality, fairness, and hard work. We must also communicate the importance of the individual along with the importance of taking care of and living in service to our fellow man and society.

Despite all the cards stacked against a potential utopia, I still believe that it is possible, just not in my lifetime. Someday humanity will grow and evolve out of the childish adolescence that we now find ourselves in and when we do, maturity will prevail and utopia will happen through natural succession and not by the barrel of a gun.

Blast from the Past: Doubt by Jesus Jones

Artist: Jesus Jones (Official, Wikipedia)
Album: Doubt (Amazon)

In a record that was very much born of and a sign of its times, Doubt captured the mood of things in that era that was the end of the 1980s and beginning of the 1990s. For me, this was an album (at tape actually) that was a mainstay for my sophomore and junior years of high school and expressed so much of the hope and doubt that I was feeling. In fact I think that the liner notes summed up this record pretty well –

The songs on this album are primarily about doubt, hope, optimism and enjoying everything around you.

This record and band will always be known for the mega-hit “Right Here, Right Now”, which is not only a great pop song but an anthem of hope for a brighter today and tomorrow. Unbeknownst to many though the entire album is filled with potential anthems and pop gems that speak continue with the themes of “Right Here, Right Now.” Admittedly I’m not sure if this is a record that the youth of today, or anyone who wasn’t part of that moment in history that bore this music, would be able to get into. While I listen to it now 20 years later, Doubt still sounds fresh but I could be hearing it through the ears of nostalgia. Whatever the case, this is an album that from time to time I take out and dust off because to get back to the optimism of my youth even if just for a song or two.

Poll: Americans Loathe Wall Street, Bankers, and Insurance Companies

According to this story, the majority of Americans hold an unfavorable view of bankers, Wall Street, and insurance companies. Interestingly though, the same poll shows that people don’t seem that interested in more regulations on the financial industry.

From the story –

A new Bloomberg poll of 1,002 U.S. adults conducted March 19-22 by Selzer & Co. shows that 57% of Americans have a mostly unfavorable or very unfavorable view of Wall Street and that 60% of those polled have an unfavorable view of insurance companies. Much of the ire comes from the way that respondents view Wall Street firms. 56% of those polled said, "Big financial companies are more interested in enriching themselves at the expense of ordinary people."

What may be astonishing is that people don't want more government regulation of the financial industry. 70% of those surveyed believe that existing consumer protection and banking regulations are adequate. In other words, they don't want the massive regulations packages proposed by the White House.

The desire to keep regulations as they are may be rooted in a distrust of Congress since the study also showed that two-thirds of respondents have an unfavorable view of Congress. It's hard to imagine that an institution that's viewed so poorly can do a sufficient job of protecting the voters and taxpayers.

What can be taken away from the survey? Probably that Americans don't trust most large institutions, whether they're part of the government or private enterprise. That mistrust means they don't want to add regulation on top or regulation because politicians and regulators have done an remarkably poor job of using the many tools and laws that are already in place to keep executives and bankers on the straight and narrow and protect the average citizen.

I too distrust the government and large corporations. At times I despise both of them, but I think that a combination of deregulation, greed, and Congress pushing Fanny and Freddie to offer home loans to folks that shouldn’t have gotten them, created the mess that we are in. Of those three factors that I mentioned, I think that greed is by far the biggest culprit.

Greed, hubris, and the striving for the lowest common denominator are destroying this country and society. Sadly this isn’t something that we can regulate or pass laws to fix. This is a deep problem with society and it resides in each and every one of us. Unfortunately large organizations tend to amplify these flaws.

Why we settle for so little when we could have so much more is beyond me. Why do we settle for mediocrity, complacency, and the cheapest way out? Cheaper isn’t always better and sometimes the best solution to a problem is the simplest one. Too bad CEOs, executives, politicians, and managers are blind to this fact. Then again it is usually those who are the greediest and guilty of hubris that seek out those positions, so what should I expect.

Maybe I Should Just Get a Liberal Studies Degree

I’ve been looking at the OU Course Catalog again and as always I’m finding tons of classes that I’d love to take in a lot of different subjects. But this morning, the Liberal Studies made me think again about joining that program. Here are a few of the courses that jumped out to me –

1323 Governing Ourselves. An analysis of the differing ideologies governing autocratic vs. democratic systems of government, the structure of the United States government, and the role of extra-governmental elements such as lobbyists and the pacs on the process of governing. (F, Sp, Su)

2233 Evil Acts, Religious Reasons. Examines the ways in which religious faith has been used to rationalize war, terrorism, ethnic cleansing and other evil acts. Using comparative religious study as a basis for inquiry, students will learn the five warning signs of imminent evil in the name of religion. This is an interdisciplinary course, drawing upon perspectives from religious history, sociology, education and religious philosophy. (F, Sp, Su)

4453 Stars: Science and Myth. Prerequisite: junior standing. A study the entire life cycle of stars through a descriptive point of view. The cultural impact of stars, shaping mythology and ritual, will also be examined. (F, Sp, Su)

4673 Mediation: History, Theory, and Practice. Prerequisite: junior standing. The course provides an overview of the history of mediation as well as an introduction to substantive mediation theories and models. The practice of mediation will be introduced by examining its origins in both the court and community-focused movements. Contemporary applications and trends in mediation also will be examined. (F, Sp, Su)

I’m just not sure how worthwhile a BA in Liberal Studies would be for me in the long run. I’m really leaning towards wanting to focus my studies on mythology and folklore in the long run, but there are just so many really cool looking course that it is really hard to decide.

Currently Listening

Today we’re doing a Green Day shuffle.

1. “80” (from Kerplunk)
2. “Extraordinary Girl” (from American Idiot)
3. “Scumbag” (from Shenanigans)
4. “Restless Heart Syndrome” (from 21st Century Breakdown)
5. “Basket Case” (from International Superhits!)
6. “Bab’s Uvula Who?” (from Insomniac)
7. “Minority” (from Warning)
8. “Jesus of Suburbia” (from American Idiot)
9. “Dry Ice” (from 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours)
10. “Walking Contradiction” (from Insomniac)

Coming Unglued

The vile, rhetoric, and what I can only describe as hate-filled rage that has come boiling to the surface since Sunday’s vote has been unnerving to say the least. I totally understand why people are upset, but the things that are being written and said do truly make some of the opponents look like racist, bigoted, xenophobes.

Case in point – Yesterday while he was going off, Glenn Beck (who I like mind you) went into a tirade mocking the “Obama cash” people from Michigan. The point that he was trying to make is that the only people who are going to support this system are ones looking for handouts, thus the use of the clip of the “Obama cash” lady. But instead of using the clip to drive his point home (which it could have easily done) he went on imitating the individual on the clip, at which point I had to change the channel. I have a feeling that he was just extremely upset and expressing his rage, but the segment made him sound like a raging racist.

These reactions are not at all unlike the reactions that many on the Left had to various things done by the Bush administration, but they looked like idiots at the time too.

I think at this point everyone needs to take a few deep, calming breaths and then focus on finding a game plan to move forward instead of screaming like psychotic banshees. But then again when has common sense ever prevailed?

Liam Doesn’t Like Bono

Apparently former Oasis singer Liam Gallagher isn’t much of a fan of U2.

From the story –

"With all the money they've made, they just bought a load of people and every time they do a gig they get a shovel and pile them into their gigs to make them look good," the voice behind 'Wonderwall' told Contact Music.

"I have never seen a U2 fan," Liam added. "I have never seen anyone with a U2 shirt or been around someone's house that has a f---ing U2 record. Where do their fans f---ing come from?"

Why do I get the feeling that deep down, Liam is a bit jealous?

Cover Wars -- "Ring of Fire"

Johnny Cash vs. Social Distortion





My Vote: Johnny Cash

So, It Passed

So the House passed the health care reform bill last night. So will call it a great victory and some will call it the death of the nation. In all likelihood it is probably neither but only time will tell.

Currently Listening

I’m working on this idea for a post on the voices that I think defined Generation X musically. Today I’m listening to some of those artists.

1. “The Unforgettable Fire” by U2 (from The Unforgettable Fire)
2. “You Are the Everything” by R.E.M. (from Green)
3. “Androgynous” by The Replacements (from Let It Be [Deluxe Edition])
4. “Subbacultcha” by The Pixies (from Trompe Le Monde)
5. “Look Back and Laugh” by Minor Threat (from Complete Discography)
6. “Sour Grapes” by Descendents (from Enjoy!)
7. “The New American Way” by Dropkick Murphys (from Sing Loud, Sing Proud)
8. “Nice Guys Finish Last” by Green Day (from Nimrod)
9. “Our Only Weapons” by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones (from Don’t Know How to Party)
10. “Express Yourself” by N.W.A. (from Straight Outta Compton)

How to Make the Melting Pot Actually Melt

MOTW has an interesting post dealing with how to make the melting pot of America melt entitled Listen to Pat. In the post he states the following –

But (you knew the "but" was coming) for the "melting pot" to work, something has to provide the "heat." There has to be something, some overriding thing in common, that overcomes ethnicity and cultural division. I submit to you that a more-or-less common religious faith--and Christianity was once professed by the overwhelming majority of the inhabitants of this country--is the best candidate, followed closely by a burning desire for liberty, liberty having its strongest foundation in the view of man and God to be found in the Scriptures. For many decades, we had a more-or-less homogeneously Christian, government-phobic, liberty-loving population. That is sufficient to make the "melting pot" concept work. But now? Though the majority of Americans profess to be Christian, polling them on the details reveals that most don't quite understand the basics of the Christian faith and fewer and fewer attend church services or show other signs of a living Christian faith. More and more Americans have gradually been lured onto the government teat in one way or another and are loath to give up what they mistakenly perceive as security in exchange for more liberty. We are rapidly losing the very things that made the "melting pot" work, and it seems to me that the day is coming when this nation might very well fragment. It might not be within my lifetime (though it wouldn't shock me if it were), but unless things change soon, I think it is coming.

While I completely agree with MOTW that we need some heat in this country to get the pot melting again, I don’t think that Christianity, or any religion for that matter, is the thing to get the job done. Liberty on the other hand could. Last year I did a couple of posts that I think relate to this idea pretty well: in April I did a post on the idea of liberty replacing religion (okay it was actually a post that reacting to a post on another blog but it fits here) and in June I did a post on entitled The Kingdom of Heaven or The American Dream.

In this day and age the thought of one religion uniting a country like the United States is a bit antiquated (no offense). While America was one a primarily Christian nation, those days have long since passed. All religions are well represented in the American populace and some studies even show an increase in deism over traditional religions. This is a good thing IMHO but it creates a dilemma in using religion as the heat to get the pot melting (at least it does based on how so many people view religion and the “I’m right and you’re wrong” dogma that pollutes so many religions). The concepts of liberty and freedom though I think could unite people. Will it happen? Honestly I’m not sure. I too could see this great nation dividing into fragments if things don’t change. I guess only time will tell.

Quote of the Day

In a poke at Obama's combative chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, the former president said, "I found Rahm. I created him. I made him what he is today. I am so sorry."

-- Former President Bill Clinton at the Gridiron Club’s annual dinner.

Currently Listening

Today were doing a shuffle of songs by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

1. “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” (from Where’d You Go?)
2. “Do Somethin’ Crazy” (from Devils Night Out)
3. “The Cave [Cognita Fiesta Version]” (from Devils Night Out)
4. “A Man Without” (from Don’t Know How to Party)
5. “They Came to Boston” (from More Noise and Other Disturbances)
6. “What Was Was Over” (from Don’t Know How to Party)
7. “Haji” (from Devils Night Out)
8. “What’s at Stake” (from More Noise and Other Disturbances)
9. “Illegal Left” (from Don’t Know How to Party)
10. “It Can’t Hurt” (from More Noise and Other Disturbances)

So True

I have totally taken this call before.

Oh Lord…

Just read it.

If You Don’t Already…

You really should start reading JenX67’s blog. Since I starting reading it a few months ago, it has quickly become one of my favorite blogs.

Generation X and Job Stress

JenX67 has an excellent post for those in my generation entitled Why is the Workplace Stressful for Gen X?.

Money Quote –

You know what has stressed me out more than anything in my career? Being bored. So much has been written about a lack of commitment Generation X has to the organization. Bailey writes that Xers are "willing to migrate from one job to another without regrets or a sense of obligation."

That may be true, but Generation X's lack of loyalty is not the genesis of the problem. It is merely symptomatic of a much larger issue, one that is corrosive and negatively impacts the long-term success of organizations.

Based on nearly two decades in the workplace, I think Gen Xers disconnect and move on because they lack sufficient career-building opportunities. They may have the job title and the job description, but their careers can be summarized as collection of cameo appearances (small, non-speaking, uncredited roles) in the Boomer career trajectory. The walk-on roles get very old, very fast. As if anybody wants to spend years as a brooch - some "lowlife carving of a person's head or bust." Eventually, Xers leave for opportunities to be the doctor, not just play one on TV.

I think another part of the problem is the complete lack of loyalty to the employee by so many companies out there today. At every job I’ve ever held, it was abundantly clear by the policies of the company and the actions of the management that I was completely replaceable and not an asset to the business. That creates an unbelievable amount of stress, knowing that at any given moment, for any given reason, your job could be gone. How companies expect employees to be loyal when they have no idea what loyalty is, is beyond me. It’s about time that major corporations starting living a bit more by the Golden Rule than the rule of greed and the almighty dollar.

The Worst Part About Living in Oklahoma…

…is without a doubt the Weather. Yesterday it was gorgeous, I’d even venture to say that the weather was nearly perfect, and today we have snow. And by Monday it’s supposed to be in the 70s. ARGH!!!

It Was Easier When They Were Younger

Last night at dinner I noticed that my son was having a hard time using his utensils and I realized two things: 1) that we hadn’t really taught the kids how to properly use forks and knives (it seems like we eat so much finger type food that I’m not surprised that I missed giving this lesson) and 2) that I was utterly ill-equipped to provide this lesson. I tried showing my son how you are supposed to use a fork, but it’d didn’t go that well. For one thing I am left handed and he is right handed and for another thing, I use things like forks and knives differently than most seeing as I have one hand and all. So I was sitting there and getting frustrated at the fact that my son was not understanding what I was trying to show him and more so at the fact that it was more my fault than his (talk about feeling inadequate). I love my children more than anything in the world and we have been extremely blessed with two healthy, smart, and (overall) well behaved kids, but times like last night make me miss the days when they were in diapers and all you had to do was hold and cuddle them.

Currently Listening

1. “It’s Not Unusual” by Tom Jones (from Gold Disc 1)
2. “How Am I To Be” by The Watson Twins (from Fire Songs)
3. “A Day Without Me” by U2 (from Boy [Deluxe Edition] Disc 1)
4. “Take Me Back” by Tinted Windows (from Tinted Windows)
5. “St. Rosa and the Swallows” by The Thermals (from the Body, the Blood, the Machine)
6. “Crawling Back to You” by Teenage Bottlerocket (from Warning Device)
7. “Hyper Enough” by Superchunk (from Here’s Where the Strings Come In)
8. “Going Home” by Sugar (from Believe What You’re Saying)
9. “Nowhere Is My Home” by The Replacements (from Tim [Expanded Edition])
10. “Sweet Caroline” by Me First & the Gimme Gimmes (from Have a Ball)

RIP Alex Chilton

Alex Chilton, leader of the Box Tops and Big Star, died on Wednesday. Chilton himself may not be a household name, but he influenced such artists as R.E.M. and The Replacements. Rest well Alex, heaven is now going to sound that much better with you joining the band.

My Dream Set: Dropkick Murphys

Continuing with my Dropkick Murphys kick here is the list of songs that I would want to see the band play if I was creating the set list. This list would probably change if I created it in a week and I know that there will be songs that I miss, but in a way I can’t expect a band to get up and play their entire catalog, can I?

“Famous for Nothing” (from The Meanest of Times)
“The Legend of Finn Mac” (from Sing Loud, Sing Proud)
“Perfect Stranger” (from The Gang’s All Here)
“Tomorrow’s Industry” (from The Meanest of Times)
“Gonna Be a Blackout” (from Blackout)
“Walk Away” (from Blackout)
“Road of the Righteous” (from Do or Die)
“Going Strong” (from The Gang’s All Here)
“Thick Skin of Defiance” (from The Meanest of Times [CD/DVD] Disc 1])
“The Gauntlet” (from Sing Loud, Sing Proud)
“On the Attack” (from Singles Collection, Vol. 2)
“Captain Kelly’s Kitchen (Courtin’ in the Kitchen)” (from The Warrior’s Code)
“A Few Good Men” (from Sing Loud, Sing Proud)
“Sunshine Highway” (from The Warrior’s Code)
“Black Velvet Band” (from Blackout)
“Your Spirit’s Alive” (from The Warrior’s Code)
“The Warrior’s Code” (from The Warrior’s Code)
“(F)lannigan’s Ball” (from The Meanest of Times)
“10 Years of Service” (from The Gang’s All Here)
“Worker’s Song” (from Blackout)
“Never Alone” (from Do or Die)
“Vices and Virtues” (from The Meanest of Times)
“Time to Go” (from Blackout)
“The State of Massachusetts” (from The Meanest of Times)
“Barroom Hero” (from Do or Die)

(Break)

“Cadence to Arms” (from Do or Die)
“Do or Die” (from Do or Die)
“God Willing” (from The Meanest of Times)
“Wicked Sensitive Crew” (from The Warrior’s Code)
“Last Letter Home” (from The Warrior’s Code)
“Fields of Athenry” (from Blackout)
“Far Away Coast” (from Do or Die)
“Fairmount Hill” (from The Meanest of Times)
“Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya” (from The Meanest of Times)
“Forever” (from Sing Loud, Sing Proud)
“World Full of Hate” (from Blackout)
“Curse of a Fallen Soul” (from The Gang’s All Here)
“Bastards on Parade” (from Blackout)
“As One” (from Blackout)
“The Green Fields of France (No Man’s Land)” (from The Warrior’s Code)
“Amazing Grace” (from The Gang’s All Here)
“The Auld Triangle” (from The Warrior’s Code)
“The Wild Rover” (from Sing Loud, Sing Proud)
“Kiss Me I’m #!@* Faced” (from Blackout)

(Break)

“The Gang’s All Here” (from The Gang’s All Here)
“Caps and Bottles” (from Sing Loud, Sing Proud)
“The Dirty Glass” (from Blackout)
“Get Up” (from Do or Die)
“This is Your Life” (from Blackout)
“Devil’s Brigade” (from The Gang’s All Here)
“Finnegan’s Wake” (from Do or Die)
“We Got the Power” (from Singles Collection, Vol. 2)
“Front Seat” (from Boys on the Docks)
“Tessie” (from The Warrior’s Code)

(Break)

“I’m Shipping Up to Boston” (from The Warrior’s Code)
“It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)” (from Singles Collection, Vol. 2)
“Rude Awakenings” (from The Meanest of Times)
“Pipebomb on Lansdowne” (from The Gang’s All Here)
“Road of the Righteous” (from Do or Die)
“Fortunate Son” (from Singles Collection, Vol. 2)
“Boys on the Docks” (from Mod Mentality)*
“Skinhead on the MBTA” (from Do or Die)
“Nobody’s Hero” (from Singles Collection, Vol. 2)
“John Law” (from The Singles Collection)

*Note – I selected this version because it is the closest to how they perform the song live.

10 for 2010: Dropkick Murphys

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, this week’s edition of 10 for 2010 is Boston’s favorite sons, the Dropkick Murphys. For this list I am on purpose only including DKM originals (my favorite covers will be listed below as well). Here are my 10 favorite DKM songs, in no particular order and with videos when available. You can see Steve’s version here.

Top 10 Originals –
1. “Boys on the Docks (Murphys' Pub Version)”* (from Do or Die)
2. “The Dirty Glass” (from Blackout)
3. “God Willing” (from The Meanest of Times)
4. “Curse of a Fallen Soul” (from The Gang’s All Here)
5. “A Few Good Men”** (from Sing Loud, Sing Proud)
6. “World Full of Hate” (from Blackout)
7. “As One” (from Blackout)
8. “We Got the Power” (from Singles Collection, Vol. 2)
9. “Front Seat” (from The Boys on the Docks or The Singles Collection, Vol. 1)
10. “Tomorrow’s Industry” (from The Meanest of Times)

Honorable Mentions –
“The Gang’s All Here” (from The Gang’s All Here)
“Sunshine Highway” (from The Warrior’s Code)
“The Gauntlet” (from Sing Loud, Sing Proud)
“Going Strong” (from The Gang’s All Here)
“Get Up” (from Do or Die)
“Wicked Sensitive Crew” (from The Warrior’s Code)
“Road of the Righteous” (from Do or Die)

Top 10 Covers –
1. “The Green Fields of France (No Man’s Land)” (from The Warrior’s Code)
2. “Fields of Athenry” (from Blackout)
3. “Finnegan’s Wake” (from Do or Die)
4. “The Auld Triangle” (from The Warrior’s Code)
5. “Cadence to Arms” (from Do or Die)
6. “Worker’s Song” (from Blackout)
7. “Amazing Grace” (from The Gang’s All Here)
8. “Fortunate Son” (from Face to Face vs. Dropkick Murphys Split EP or Singles Collection, Vol. 2)
9. “Nobody’s Hero” (from Singles Collection, Vol. 2)
10. “Black Velvet Band” (from Blackout)


* This song was recorded on three different occasions in the studio. The Boys on the Docks EP version can be heard here and the Mob Mentality version can be heard here.

** The live version of this song that was recorded on the Live on St. Patrick’s Day From Boston, MA is outstanding and can be heard here.

Wow…this was nearly impossible.

Video of the Day: St. Patrick's Day Edition

"Katie at the Races" by The Tossers

Smithsonian Opening Evolution Exhibit

In a move that is sure to anger some, the Smithsonian is opening a new permanent exhibit dealing with human evolution.

From the story --

The nearly $21 million Hall of Human Origins opens Wednesday. It will include more than 285 fossils and artifacts, including the only Neanderthal skeleton in the United States.

Curator Rick Potts says the exhibit tracks major milestones of human development, including when we started walking upright and speaking. He says the science can be compatible with religious perspectives.

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Are Signs…

And some of them are funny.

Obama Talks One-on-One with Dissenter after Health Care Speech

Just when my opinion of Mr. Obama was getting pretty low, he goes and does something like this.

Martin said she opposes Obama's health care plan for philosophical, not parochial reasons, and after his speech, she caught the president's attention.

"I didn't clap and I didn't smile, and I just sort of held firm to my beliefs and held my tongue so I didn't get into any trouble," she recalled. "And I think that, being in the front row, he noticed that because when he came down off the stairs and started shaking hands, when he got to me, he said, 'Thanks for coming,' and he looked at me and said, 'Are you OK?' And I said, 'Yes sir, I just don't support your bill'."

Martin said she then entered into about a 2-minute debate reminiscent of Obama's meeting with another Ohioan, Joe Wurzelbacher (aka "Joe the Plumber"), telling him she worries about the long-term implications of his sweeping legislation. She told the president he was focused on insurance reform, as opposed to the rising cost of health care, which she believes to be the fundamental problem. Martin stressed her view of the need for tort reform. She also noted: "He said things like, 'Medicare is not going to be affected by this bill,' which is not right."

When Obama said that his bill addressed her concerns, "I just kind of shook my head and said, 'I don't believe it does' -- oh my gosh, I'm calling the president a liar," she added with a nervous laugh. Obama then took Martin's business card and promised to send her information on the bill. While she was not persuaded to change her mind and support Obama's policy, she was impressed with him for engaging her. "He took the time to stop and listen, which I appreciated," she said.

Top 25 SFX Books

What are the 25 greatest science fiction and fantasy books? Well that is exactly what SFX wanted to find out, so they asked their readers. Thus we have the Top 25 SFX Books list.

I think that the list includes a lot of what one would expect, while also some unexpected choices. I’m glad to see The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy coming in at # 2.

Thanks to A Dribble of Ink for the find.

Currently Listening

1. “Black Velvet Band” by Dropkick Murphys (from Blackout)
2. “Finnegan’s Wake” by Dropkick Murphys (from Do or Die)
3. “The Gang’s All Here” by Dropkick Murphys (from The Gang’s All Here)
4. “(F)lannigan’s Ball” by Dropkick Murphys (from The Meanest of Times)
5. “The Wild Rover” by Dropkick Murphys (from Sing Loud, Sing Proud)
6. “The Auld Triangle” by Dropkick Murphys (from The Warrior’s Code)
7. “Rebels of the Sacred Heart” by Flogging Molly (from Drunken Lullabies)
8. “Man with No Country” by Flogging Molly (from Float)
9. “Every Dog Has Its Day” by Flogging Molly (from Swagger)
10. “Screaming at the Wailing Wall” by Flogging Molly (from Within a Mile of Home)

Complete Buddhist Shrine Goes on Display in Washington

According to this story, a Buddhist shrine is going on display in Washington.

From the story –

A complete Tibetan Buddhist shrine room, including a silver Buddha, gem-encrusted adornments and silk scroll paintings, goes on display for the first time in Washington on Saturday.

The shrine room has been set up in a religiously accurate manner with ritual implements, including some blessed by the Dalai Lama, and a shrine loaned by a private collector to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.

"The experience of entering the room is really quite profound and moving," said Debra Diamond, curator of South and Southeast Asian Art at the Freer and Sackler galleries in the US capital.

"You have a sense of a powerful presence. It's an aesthetic experience."

The exhibit features beautifully decorated pieces, including a gilded bronze statue of the goddess Tara with a gem-encrusted crown, sacred musical instruments and multiple Buddha statues adorned with seashell and coral pieces.

The shrine that forms the centerpiece of the exhibit was loaned to the museum by Alice Kandell, a New York collector who has amassed dozens of stunning Buddhist artifacts, many in gold and set with turquoise, rubies and coral.

Before loaning the six-by-4.5-meter shrine measuring six by 4.5 meters (20 by 15 feet) out for the exhibit, Kandell had kept it in her New York apartment living room.

A child psychologist by trade, Kandell is not a Buddhist, but she said the spiritual value of the shrine made it priceless.

"It doesn't have a value," she said. "How much is your spiritual experience worth?"

This is something that I would love to see.

Two Amazing Finds

Two science related stories caught my eye this morning.

First -- Scientists go 'gaga' to find creatures beneath 600 feet of ice

In a surprising discovery about where higher life can thrive, scientists for the first time found a shrimp-like creature and a jellyfish frolicking beneath a massive Antarctic ice sheet.

Six hundred feet below the ice where no light shines, scientists had figured nothing much more than a few microbes could exist.

That's why a NASA team was surprised when they lowered a video camera to get the first long look at the underbelly of an ice sheet in Antarctica. A curious shrimp-like creature came swimming by and then parked itself on the camera's cable. Scientists also pulled up a tentacle they believe came from a foot-long jellyfish.

[...]

The video is likely to inspire experts to rethink what they know about life in harsh environments. And it has scientists musing that if shrimp-like creatures can frolic below 600 feet of Antarctic ice in subfreezing dark water, what about other hostile places? What about Europa, a frozen moon of Jupiter?

"They are looking at the equivalent of a drop of water in a swimming pool that you would expect nothing to be living in and they found not one animal but two," said biologist Stacy Kim of the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in California, who joined the NASA team later. "We have no idea what's going on down there."

The part of this story that jumped out to me was the possible implications for life on Europa. I’ve often thought that if other life was to be found in our solar system, then it would be on Europa.

Second -- 3,400-year-old statues unearthed in Egypt

A team of archaeologists unearthed two large red granite statues in southern Egypt at the mortuary temple of one of the most powerful pharaohs, who ruled nearly 3,400 years ago, the Culture Ministry said Tuesday.

A ministry statement said the team discovered a 13 foot (4 meter) statue of Thoth, the ancient god of wisdom and the top part of a statue of Pharaoh Amenhotep III standing next to another god.

Both were found buried in the pharaoh's mortuary temple on the west bank of the Nile in the southern temple city of Luxor.

On Feb. 28, archaeologists discovered a massive red granite head of Amenhotep III at the same temple. The head, which is about the height of a person, is the best preserved sculpture of Amenhotep III's face found to date.

Amenhotep III, who was the grandfather of the famed boy-pharaoh Tutankhamun, ruled from 1387-1348 B.C. at the height of Egypt's New Kingdom and presided over a vast empire stretching from Nubia in the south to Syria in the north.

It really makes you wonder what else could be burried in the desert.

The Mess in Texas: The Board of Education Votes to Remove Thomas Jefferson from History Books

The Texas State Board of Education, one of the most influential in the nation, has voted on a series of controversial and partisan overhauls that would essentially skew the state’s social studies textbooks to the right. The vote on the measure was right down party lines but has yet to be fully ratified (that happens in May). Some of the changes include –

- A greater emphasis on “the conservative resurgence of the 1980s and 1990s.” This means not only increased favorable mentions of Schlafly, the founder of the antifeminist Eagle Forum, but also more discussion of the Moral Majority, the Heritage Foundation, the National Rifle Association and Newt Gingrich's Contract With America.

- A reduced scope for Latino history and culture. A proposal to expand such material in recognition of Texas’ rapidly growing Hispanic population was defeated in last week’s meetings—provoking one board member, Mary Helen Berlanga, to storm out in protest. "They can just pretend this is a white America and Hispanics don’t exist," she said of her conservative colleagues on the board. "They are rewriting history, not only of Texas but of the United States and the world."

- Changes in specific terminology. Terms that the board’s conservative majority felt were ideologically loaded are being retired. Hence, “imperialism” as a characterization of America’s modern rise to world power is giving way to “expansionism,” and “capitalism” is being dropped in economic material, in favor of the more positive expression “free market.” (The new recommendations stress the need for favorable depictions of America’s economic superiority across the board.)

- A more positive portrayal of Cold War anticommunism. Disgraced anticommunist crusader Joseph McCarthy, the Wisconsin senator censured by the Senate for his aggressive targeting of individual citizens and their civil liberties on the basis of their purported ties to the Communist Party, comes in for partial rehabilitation. The board recommends that textbooks refer to documents published since McCarthy’s death and the fall of the Soviet bloc that appear to show expansive Soviet designs to undermine the U.S. government.

- Language that qualifies the legacy of 1960s liberalism. Great Society programs such as Title IX—which provides for equal gender access to educational resources—and affirmative action, intended to remedy historic workplace discrimination against African-Americans, are said to have created adverse “unintended consequences” in the curriculum’s preferred language.

- Thomas Jefferson no longer included among writers influencing the nation’s intellectual origins. Jefferson, a deist who helped pioneer the legal theory of the separation of church and state, is not a model founder in the board’s judgment. Among the intellectual forerunners to be highlighted in Jefferson’s place: medieval Catholic philosopher St. Thomas Aquinas, Puritan theologian John Calvin and conservative British law scholar William Blackstone. Heavy emphasis is also to be placed on the founding fathers having been guided by strict Christian beliefs.

- Excision of recent third-party presidential candidates Ralph Nader (from the left) and Ross Perot (from the centrist Reform Party). Meanwhile, the recommendations include an entry listing Confederate General Stonewall Jackson as a role model for effective leadership, and a statement from Confederate President Jefferson Davis accompanying a speech by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.

- A recommendation to include country and western music among the nation’s important cultural movements. The popular black genre of hip-hop is being dropped from the same list.

There is a lot going on here, but the one that tops the list to me is the removal of Thomas Jefferson as an influence on the nation’s intellectual origins. Are these people out of their every-loving minds?!? Sure Jefferson borrowed heavily from John Locke, but that doesn’t take away his importance to the shaping of this country. This was part of an amendment brought up by board member Cynthia Dunbar, who also wanted all references to the Enlightenment sent to file 13 along with Jefferson –

9:30 – Board member Cynthia Dunbar wants to change a standard having students study the impact of Enlightenment ideas on political revolutions from 1750 to the present. She wants to drop the reference to Enlightenment ideas (replacing with “the writings of”) and to Thomas Jefferson. She adds Thomas Aquinas and others. Jefferson’s ideas, she argues, were based on other political philosophers listed in the standards. We don’t buy her argument at all. Board member Bob Craig of Lubbock points out that the curriculum writers clearly wanted to students to study Enlightenment ideas and Jefferson. Could Dunbar’s problem be that Jefferson was a Deist? The board approves the amendment, taking Thomas Jefferson OUT of the world history standards.

[...]

9:45 – Here’s the amendment Dunbar changed: “explain the impact of Enlightenment ideas from John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Voltaire, Charles de Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Thomas Jefferson on political revolutions from 1750 to the present.” Here’s Dunbar’s replacement standard, which passed: “explain the impact of the writings of John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Voltaire, Charles de Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin and Sir William Blackstone.” Not only does Dunbar’s amendment completely change the thrust of the standard. It also appalling drops one of the most influential political philosophers in American history — Thomas Jefferson.

It looks like the enemies of Jefferson in the Religious Right have returned from the campaign of 1800. This is kind of pathetic honestly. Local blogger Dr. Bruce Prescott, a.k.a. Mainstream Baptist, summed up the Jefferson situation quite well –

Obviously, the Republican members of Texas Board of Education have little appreciation for the political and intellectual achievements of Thomas Jefferson. Their ideology clearly has more affinity with the Roman and Genevan theocracies that were championed by Aquinas and Calvin than for the American political union separating church and state that Jefferson championed.

Now on to some of the other things addressed by the board.

I’m not sure how the board will address the Presidential Election of 2000 without talking about Ralph Nader. There are many who believe that he was a large factor in the outcome of that race. The same can be said with Ross Perot and the race of 1992.

And while I think the inclusion of country and western music as an important cultural movement is a good idea, it is ridiculous and possibly even racist to drop hip-hop from that same list. Like it or not, hip-hop have had a huge impact on American culture.

Obviously history and social studies books can’t include everything and thus choices must be made and lines drawn, but many of these changes proposed by the Republican members of the Texas Board of Education are just over-the-top. Textbooks should be balanced and highlight all sides of history and society, so the conservatives have a point that the faith of America’s founders should be included but that does not mean that the Enlightenment should be excluded. One board member summed things up pretty well –

“We have been about conservative versus liberal. We have manipulated the standards to insist on what we want to be in the document, regardless whether it's appropriate,” said Mavis Knight, D-Dallas. “We are perpetrating a fraud on the students of this state.”

Currently Listening

1. “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by The Bouncing Souls (from Before You Were Punk, Vol. 2)
2. “That’s Youth” by The Bouncing Souls (from BYO Split Series, Vol. 5)
3. “Say Anything” by The Bouncing Souls (from The Bouncing Souls)
4. “For All the Unheard” by The Bouncing Souls (from The Gold Record)
5. “Kid” by The Bouncing Souls (from Hopeless Romantic)
6. “Headaches” by The Copyrights (from Learn the Hard Way)
7. “Unsatisfied” by The Copyrights (from Make Sound)
8. “California Sun” by Dead To Me (from African Elephants)
9. “Goodbye Regret” by Dead To Me (from Cuban Ballerina)
10. “What’s Wrong” by Dead To Me (from Little Brother)

Cover Wars -- "Proud Mary"

Creedence Clearwater Revival vs. Ike & Tina Tuner





My Vote: This one goes without saying...Ike & Tina.

RIP Peter Graves

Long time actor Peter Graves passed away Sunday of a heart attack. Rest well Peter.

Currently Listening

Today I’ve picked songs by bands that I feel that I have a lot in common with either politically, religiously, philosophically, etc.

1. “Trust” by 7 Seconds (from The Crew)
2. “What Are You For?” by ALL (from Problematic)
3. “Hopeless Romantic” by The Bouncing Souls (from Hopeless Romantic)
4. “Planet Earth Nineteen-Ninety-Four” by The Copyrights (from Make Sound)
5. “Special Professional” by Dead To Me (from Cuban Ballerina)
6. “Memories Remain” by Dropkick Murphys (from Do or Die)
7. “Out of Step (With the World)” by Minor Threat (from Complete Discography)
8. “Back Then” by One Man Army (from Dead End Stories)
9. “Message” by The Pavers (from Wrecking Ball)
10. “I Think About You During the Commercials” by The Riverdales (from The Riverdaes [Bonus Tracks]
11. “Fall Into Line” by Roustabouts (from The Only One)
12. “The Science of Myth” by Screeching Weasel (from My Brain Hurts)
13. “Don’t Fail Me Now” by Sinkhole (from Core Sample)
14. “Abducted by Nazis in Hollywood” by The Staggers (from One Heartbeat Away from Hell)
15. “The Next in Line” by Swingin’ Utters (from A Juvenile Product of the Working Class)

A Rose by Any Other Name or My (Somewhat) Final Thoughts on God

I’ve come to realize that I am not doing a very good job of expressing myself when it comes to certain issues of religion. Because of that I have decided to refrain from most religious discussions for the near future (at least the ones pertaining to my view/opinion of God, I will continue to do posts relating to stories in the news that I find interesting or on things like mythology from time to time).

Before I do though, I’d like to clearly lay out my views on God, divinity, religion, and salvation. The following are my opinions based on my research and experience. I am going to state these opinions bluntly and to the point without pulling any punches.

1. God is real.
2. The true and complete nature of God and the universe in unknowable.
3. Humanity has interpreted the divine (i.e. God) in countless ways over the millennia. Thus no one religion is superior to any other. No religion holds a monopoly on salvation or God. Or to put it another way, God has taken different forms for different people throughout the centuries. Some people find God in Jesus, some find God in Buddha, some find God in Brahma (or any of the thousands of other Hindu deities), some find God in the Tao, some find God in faiths like Shinto, Wicca, Sikhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, and some find God in Muhammad. They key is finding the name for God that works best for you.
4. Belief in God and/or the name that one ascribes to God have no affect on one’s salvation or life after death. The only thing that determines one’s fate is his/her actions in life.

That’s it in a nutshell. The name that one gives to God (i.e. the rose) is not important, it is what one actually does in life that matters.

People spend countless hours debating, fighting, killing, and dying in the name of God and all of it is a waste. Live your life the best way that you can and let others do the same. If I am wrong then a lake of fire awaits me after death and I am fine with it because I cannot believe for one instant that the God that created this wonderful universe is as childish as so many people and doctrines think he/she/it is. I have more respect for the divine than that.

*UPDATE* March 15th 10:05AM – I wrote and typed up this post while at work and on my lunch break yesterday and after reading some of the comments I realized that I needed to add a little bit more to # 2 in my list. I also had to fix a typo.

*UPDATE # 2* March 15th 10:40AM – One last thing that I forgot. Screeching Weasel wrote a song that I think fits in beautifully with this post and my thoughts on God and religion. The song is called “The Science of Myth” and the lyrics are below (emphasis mine) --

If you've ever question beliefs that you hold you're not alone
But you oughtta realize that every myth is a metaphor
In the case of Christianity and Judaism there exist the belief that spiritual matters are enslaved to history
The Buddhists believe that the functional aspects override the myth
While other religions use the literal core to build foundations with
See half the world sees the myth as fact
While it's seen as a lie by the other half
And the simple truth is that it's none of that
And somehow no matter what the world keeps turning
Somehow we get by without ever learning
Science and religion are not mutually exclusive
In fact for better understanding we take the facts of science and apply them
And if both factors keep evolving then we continue getting information
But closing off possibilities makes it hard to see the bigger picture
Consider the case of the women whose faith helped her make it through
When she was raped and cut up left for dead in a trunk
Her beliefs held true
It doesn't matter if it's real or not
Cause some things are better left without a doubt
And if it works then it gets the job done
Somehow, no matter what, the world keeps turning

Even More Books for My Library

I’ve found a couple more book that I want for my library.

The Fantastic: A Structural Approach to a Literary Genre by Tzvetan Todorov (Amazon, Wikipedia entry of fantastic, Wikipedia entry on Todorov)

The Book of Imaginary Beings by Jorge Luis Borges (Amazon, Wikipedia)

At the moment I am doing a lot of thinking about a class that I hope to teach some day on fantasy literature. I’ve put together a preliminary outline for things that I would want to cover in the class and have been looking for books on the topic to bring into the class. If anyone has any ideas, I’d love to hear them.

What is Christian Apologetics?

Recently I was told that I do not know enough about the Bible or Christian apologetics to understand the arguments made against certain aspects of Christian doctrine or the history of the Bible. Well to be fair, I have not read the Bible cover-to-cover nor have I read any of the works of Christian apologetics. I’ve always had a vague idea of what Christian apologetics was/is but I wanted to see if I was right or not because lord knows that I don’t want to be guilty of putting forth recycled hash.

According to the HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion, Christian apologetics is defined as –

Apologetics, or defense of faith on intellectual grounds, is usually considered a branch of theology, but the term may be more generally applied to any other-directed communication of religious belief that makes certain assertions about knowing and serving God and claims the truth of this knowledge. Whereas apologetics for faith in Christ have existed as long as there have been Christians, formal apologetics began in the second century with writers like Justin (d. ca. 165) and Tertullian (d. ca. 220) who used the classical apology as a genre of testimony of the superiority of Christianity to non-believers or a defense of Christianity in the period of persecution. Soon apologetics took on the task of defending orthodox teaching against errors and dissent from within. In the Middle Ages apologetics was directed against Judaism and Islam, but Thomas Aquinas (ca. 1225-74) developed a positive defense of belief in God based on Aristotelian theories of a first cause of the universe. Post-Reformation apologetics often focused on polemics and controversial issues within Christianity. Modern apologetics became more comprehensive as theologians defended revealed religion, Christianity, or perhaps a particular form such as Roman Catholicism, as true. […] As twentieth-century theologians deal with evolution, Marxism, psychoanalysis, postmodern philosophy, and global concerns, the nature and function of apologetics becomes problematic. Current hermeneutical theory offers important insights for the reformulation of apologetics.

The Wikipedia entry on Christian apologetics states –

Christian apologetics is a field of Christian theology that aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defend the faith against objections, and expose the perceived flaws of other world views.[1] Christian apologetics have taken many forms over the centuries, starting with Paul of Tarsus, including writers such as Origen and Augustine of Hippo, and continuing currently with the modern Christian community, through the efforts of many authors in various Christian traditions such as C.S. Lewis. Apologists have based their defense of Christianity on historical evidence, philosophical arguments, scientific investigation, rhetorical persuasion and other disciplines.

And for one last source, Dictionary.com defines apologetics as –

–noun(used with a singular verb)
the branch of theology concerned with the defense or proof of Christianity.

The long and the short of it seem to be that apologetics use scholarship and research specifically to defend the Bible and Christian doctrine. In other words, it is the job of the apologetic to fill in the gaps. It’s not too unlike authors who are brought in to correct errors or gaps within the stories of a fictional universe (Star Wars is a great example of this; since the prequel trilogy there have been entire books written to make the stories in novels that were written prior to the release of Episodes I – III, mesh with the events of the films). If I am understanding these definitions correctly (and the bit that I have gleamed from scanning some Christian apologetics websites), the apologetics go into their research with a conclusion that they want to try and prove and look for any data that supports their conclusions, ignoring other data that may refute their conclusions. This is not at all unlike the scientists that are hell bent on believing in global warming, despite the fact that there is data that refutes their conclusions.

IMHO this is poor scholarship and sadly far too many people are guilty of it. Sure we all have a tendency to gravitate towards those things that reinforce our beliefs. That’s a part of human nature. But the key is to try and look past that. Those who don’t are intellectually dishonest at best and flat out frauds at worst. Does that mean that the apologetics are incapable of doing valid research? No. But if the entire point of the research is to “prove” a conclusion without an honest look at all available information/data, then it is faulty research (and that goes for any research done by anyone). The point of research should be the discovery of the truth, even if (or especially if) said research contradicts ones predetermined conclusions. Anyone going into research or experimentation of any kind will have some hypothesis that he/she is trying to prove. The difference is being intellectually honest enough to recognize when the hypothesis is wrong.

Currently Listening

1. “Road of the Righteous” by Face To Face (from Face To Face vs. Dropkick Murphys [Split EP])
2. “Don’t Change” by Face To Face (from Standards & Practices)
3. “Take Her Down” by The Lemonheads (from Creator)
4. “Sad Girl” by The Lemonheads (from Lick)
5. “No Sense” by The Riverdales (from The Riverdales [Bonus Tracks])
6. “Riverdale Stomp” by The Riverdales (from Storm the Streets)
7. “Two Angry Kids” by Street Dogs (from State of Grace)
8. “When It Ends” by Street Dogs (from Savin Hill)
9. “American Nightmare” by Tiger Army (from The Early Years)
10. “Cupid’s Victim” by Tiger Army (from Tiger Army II: The Power of Moonlight)

Currently Watching

Title: V for Vendetta (IMDB, Wikipedia)

For some reason I didn’t see this film when it came out, even though I thought it looked good. I finally got around to checking it out from the library this week and boy was I not disappointed. What is most frightening about this film is that I could totally see this country ending up like England in the film. This isn’t an Obama-is-taking-us-to-a-socialist-tyranny attack because I think that the Republicans could take us to that type of authoritarian system as quickly as the Democrats. I have no trust or faith in our government or leaders so the idea that we could slide into an Orwellian state is not much of a stretch at all.

Currently Listening

1. “Loveless City” by The Heartdrops (from This is The Heartdrops)
2. “Gonna Be Around” by The Heartdrops (from East Side Drive)
3. “I Fell for You” by The Mr. T Experience (from Alcatraz)
4. “Ready Set Go” by The Mr. T Experience (from Milk Milk Lemonade)
5. “Donut” by Sinkhole (from Core Sample)
6. “Don’t Fail Me Now” by Sinkhole (from Core Sample)
7. “Pick ‘Em Up Truck” by The Smugglers (from Selling the Sizzle!)
8. “Someone” by The Smugglers (from Rosie)
9. “Unpopular Again” by Swingin’ Utters (from Five Lessons Learned)
10. “Looking for Something to Follow” by Swingin’ Utters (from Dead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass, and Bones)

Great Band Alert: Deadly Sins

Hailing from Boston, MA, the Deadly Sins play high energy punk rock that fans of everything from Dropkick Murphys to Hole could really get into.

For more info on the band check them out on MySpace and PunkNews.org.