The quote is quite appropriate given subjects covered previously:
" Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable in their disinclination to do so."
Today's quote is from Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I have only seen the film which I enjoyed, although I believe the books are better as is usually the case.
The quote is quite appropriate given subjects covered previously:
" Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable in their disinclination to do so."
The quote is quite appropriate given subjects covered previously:
" Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable in their disinclination to do so."
My wife gave me a diary last christmas. I have kept three diaries in the past: one was a diary of a trip to Europe when I was 11, the second was from a trip to New Zealand when I was 15, and the final one started on my OE to England, it didn't last.
To date I haven't used the diary from my wife but I thought now might be a good time to start. I was reminded of the diary by a quote a friend of mine posted on facebook this week "It isn't that I'm not a people person, I'm just not a stupid people person." Why does that remind me of the diary? See the front cover of the diary below for a hint.
Each day in the diary has a quote from an historical figure including scientists, philosophers and musicians. All quote are in the theme of the title of the journal. I think I might try and post one each day, or at least as often as I write in the journal. Who knows? I might publish my memoirs including statements from the journal which themselves will be pyblished in a similar journal in the future.
Todays quote comes from Jean-Paul Sartre. It is rather simple and straight to the point although it does seem a bit too general and I'm not sure how much I agree with it.
To date I haven't used the diary from my wife but I thought now might be a good time to start. I was reminded of the diary by a quote a friend of mine posted on facebook this week "It isn't that I'm not a people person, I'm just not a stupid people person." Why does that remind me of the diary? See the front cover of the diary below for a hint.
Each day in the diary has a quote from an historical figure including scientists, philosophers and musicians. All quote are in the theme of the title of the journal. I think I might try and post one each day, or at least as often as I write in the journal. Who knows? I might publish my memoirs including statements from the journal which themselves will be pyblished in a similar journal in the future.
Todays quote comes from Jean-Paul Sartre. It is rather simple and straight to the point although it does seem a bit too general and I'm not sure how much I agree with it.
Hell is other people
Saw this video over at Pharyngula and it initially made me proud to be a New Zealander.
Same sex civil union has been legal in New Zealand since 26 April 2005. A civil union basically affords the same rights to each member of the partnership in the same way as marriage does. As is said I was proud of being a New Zealander and it is because we have the Civil Union Act. However, a little reading reminded me of the controversy that surrounded the implementation of the act. The parliamentary vote was close, 65 for and 55 against. What I find more shocking is that only three of the nine parties voted predominantly yes. The three parties that voted predominantly yes were the Labour Party (45 yes, 6 no), who were leading the government, the Green Party (9 yes, 0 no) and the Progressive Party (2 yes, 0 no). The Act Party did have 5 for and 4 against surprisingly. The National Party, our current government, voted 3 for and 24 against. We have an election soon and it is likely that National will remain the governing party. I hate the thought of bigots being in charge and that is without considering their formal policies per se.
This year the election campaign has been cut quite short because of a certain event that will remain unnamed. However, there have been several campaign videos as well as the usual signs placed on street corners. I haven't watched most of the videos all the way through. I find them quite boring and I have already made up my mind so John Key talking to a fake audience and answering fake questions, or Labour harping on about the past is going to change it. My vote is firmly with the Greens.
Same sex civil union has been legal in New Zealand since 26 April 2005. A civil union basically affords the same rights to each member of the partnership in the same way as marriage does. As is said I was proud of being a New Zealander and it is because we have the Civil Union Act. However, a little reading reminded me of the controversy that surrounded the implementation of the act. The parliamentary vote was close, 65 for and 55 against. What I find more shocking is that only three of the nine parties voted predominantly yes. The three parties that voted predominantly yes were the Labour Party (45 yes, 6 no), who were leading the government, the Green Party (9 yes, 0 no) and the Progressive Party (2 yes, 0 no). The Act Party did have 5 for and 4 against surprisingly. The National Party, our current government, voted 3 for and 24 against. We have an election soon and it is likely that National will remain the governing party. I hate the thought of bigots being in charge and that is without considering their formal policies per se.
This year the election campaign has been cut quite short because of a certain event that will remain unnamed. However, there have been several campaign videos as well as the usual signs placed on street corners. I haven't watched most of the videos all the way through. I find them quite boring and I have already made up my mind so John Key talking to a fake audience and answering fake questions, or Labour harping on about the past is going to change it. My vote is firmly with the Greens.
Inspired by the arrival of my fellow apomorphic hominid over at Still Monkeys (read it) I return from my hiatus. My reason for not posting over the last few months is that I haven't had any pressing deadlines like a thesis for example. I used blogging as a tool for procrastinating in the months leading up to submission followed by a complete halt weeks out from submission and nothing since then. I can quite confidently say that the last few weeks of working on my thesis was the most stressful time in my life. Nonetheless, I came out alive and I was happy with what I produced.
Since handing my thesis is I have been doing some work at the university working on a couple of papers, one of which has been submitted to Ecology and is currently in review (fingers crossed). Having a paper published in Ecology would be fantastic and hopefully be the beginning of a lifetime of publishing research, but who knows. I have be thinking about several lines of future work that seem fruitful but I will divulge more about that in later post. In fact, I haven't posted about my current/masters research although I might wait until the paper is published before I do. Until then you will have to deal with my maniacal ramblings about trees, birds and other things.
Since handing my thesis is I have been doing some work at the university working on a couple of papers, one of which has been submitted to Ecology and is currently in review (fingers crossed). Having a paper published in Ecology would be fantastic and hopefully be the beginning of a lifetime of publishing research, but who knows. I have be thinking about several lines of future work that seem fruitful but I will divulge more about that in later post. In fact, I haven't posted about my current/masters research although I might wait until the paper is published before I do. Until then you will have to deal with my maniacal ramblings about trees, birds and other things.
I became vegetarian about 5 years ago. Very shrtly afterwards I became a vegan. I have since fallen off the wagon and eat cheese and eggs. I LOVE CHEESE. Nonetheless vegansism and vegetarianism are the best way to reduce you consumption of fossil fuels among other things. There is a doco coming out soon called PlanEAT about how the food we eat impacts the planet. Watch the trailer below.
It's been ages since my last post (sounds like confession to the priest). I have been writing my thesis so have not had much time for blogging lately.
Here is something that I read today. It explains how I felt in my last post about the disparities within christianity. Again I stress the point about god's infallible nature. If god were all powerful, with complete power over the universe there is no way this could happen. His word should not lead to confusion. All people who read it should interpret it the same way. And, if they don't god should magically make them understand it in the same way.
Here are some bits that I like from the above link
Here is something that I read today. It explains how I felt in my last post about the disparities within christianity. Again I stress the point about god's infallible nature. If god were all powerful, with complete power over the universe there is no way this could happen. His word should not lead to confusion. All people who read it should interpret it the same way. And, if they don't god should magically make them understand it in the same way.
Here are some bits that I like from the above link
Some of us, on the basis of our relationship with God, knew him to be loving, compassionate, generous, always reaching out to us, pitying our mistakes rather than condemning them. Others, on the basis of their relationship with God, knew him to be angry, jealous, punitive.
Some of us knew that God had more important things to worry about than our sex lives; others knew that human sexual impurity was deeply offensive to him.
Some of us knew that God wanted us to respond to other people’s shortcomings with tolerance and forbearance and humility; others knew that he wanted sin to be made an example of, to be held up and publicly rebuked.
Some of us knew that God was offended by conspicuous consumption when so many people had nothing; others knew that God showered wealth along with other good things on those of whom he approved.
Some of us knew that God saw all religions as different expressions of people’s yearning for him; others knew that traditional, orthodox Christianity was the only route to him.
Some of us knew that the devil was just a myth to explain the existence of evil; others knew that the devil was very real and a genuine threat to our souls.
Some of us knew that there was no way God could ever allow such a thing as hell; others knew that hell was very much a part of God’s ordained order.
I have often heard the argument that religion or belief in the supernatural does not harm, from religious and non-religious alike. I have also had a discussion in which it was suggested that people are free, and should be free to interpret their particular holy texts in the way that 'suits' them. These two points are both fallacious, the first being completely, and the second is not in line with fundamental and underlying elements of the current large, popular religions.
I have recently thought quite a bit about these two points, but this morning, while scanning the news paper (dangerous I know) I noticed two articles that reminded me of the first point. The first article 'Church and and state war over condom plan' relates to the archaic and completely irrational doctrine contraception in the catholic church. People have sex. Sex makes babies. Sex is also a 'vector' for disease, most frighteningly HIV/AIDS. Condoms can prevent both of these things. Sure babies are great for those who can afford to have them, and I mean afford in a broad sense not just financially. The world is overpopulated and we are struggling to provide even the most basic human needs in some cases. Yet clowns like the ex-boxing champion Manny Paquiao make stupid statements like this: 'God said go forth and multiply. He did not say just go and have one or two children.' What an idiot! The Filipino catholic church want to excommunicate the president because he wants to give out free condoms. He should be grateful that the church want to publicly separate themselves from him. Who would want to be associated with idiocy like that?
The second article I saw related to a suggestion to introduce sharia law to Australia. I know very little about sharia except that it is a set of principles or a code of conduct for muslims. Also, it covers much of the same areas of law as secular laws with some other inclusions. There are apparently four schools of sharia that vary in their level of conservatism among other things. Nonetheless, I do not want to discuss sharia since I am largely ignorant of it. I do however, want to point out the impact the above suggestion in Australia has had. Given the events of recent history regarding terrorism and the demonisation of Islam, it is unsurprising that the crazies have come crawling out of the woodwork in opposition of the idea including: right wingers, jews and christians according to the article. The christian outcry is the most hypocritical. If you have time watch the video to see why. Otherwise go to pharyngula to read a brief summary. While agree that it might not be the same group or people opposing the idea of sharia in Aus, they still represent a collective who identify themselves with a common core philosophy. The same way that extremists tar all muslims with the same extremist brush.
Abrahamic religions have monotheistic beliefs, and this one god is regularly purported to be just, unchanging and infallible. However, apply a little scrutiny and these characteristics fall apart. God is just. I have discussed this in another post about morality and religion, and atrocities at the hand of god in the bible, most of which fall in the old testament and thus the torah. God is unchanging. I also mentioned this in the morality post. Here we see an old testament god hell bent on destroying huge numbers of enemies in genocides, not to mention flooding the entire earth killing every human being, except Noah and his family. And then in the new testament Jesus claims that if we are struck on the cheek, rather than killing the enemy, we should turn the other cheek. God is infallible. This can be developed from the last point about extremists and different groups within religions. God had a direct hand in influencing those who wrote religious texts, yet so often these texts are interpreted in vastly different ways. Extremist muslims and their acts of terror against infidels is one example. Another is immediately relevant. According to a group in the US that have done some excellent calculations based on dates or numbers (not too sure and not interested in reading about it) gleaned from the bible, Saturday 21 May is Judgement Day. The surprising thing is that other churches or groups haven't picked up on this, despite it being clear as day in the bible - according to Mr. Harold Camping at least. How does an all powerful, infallible god allow this to happen? Who is right and who is wrong? Will I still be here on Monday? I hope, and suspect i probably will, that I am because my wife and I are finally moving out of my mum's place.
I have recently thought quite a bit about these two points, but this morning, while scanning the news paper (dangerous I know) I noticed two articles that reminded me of the first point. The first article 'Church and and state war over condom plan' relates to the archaic and completely irrational doctrine contraception in the catholic church. People have sex. Sex makes babies. Sex is also a 'vector' for disease, most frighteningly HIV/AIDS. Condoms can prevent both of these things. Sure babies are great for those who can afford to have them, and I mean afford in a broad sense not just financially. The world is overpopulated and we are struggling to provide even the most basic human needs in some cases. Yet clowns like the ex-boxing champion Manny Paquiao make stupid statements like this: 'God said go forth and multiply. He did not say just go and have one or two children.' What an idiot! The Filipino catholic church want to excommunicate the president because he wants to give out free condoms. He should be grateful that the church want to publicly separate themselves from him. Who would want to be associated with idiocy like that?
The second article I saw related to a suggestion to introduce sharia law to Australia. I know very little about sharia except that it is a set of principles or a code of conduct for muslims. Also, it covers much of the same areas of law as secular laws with some other inclusions. There are apparently four schools of sharia that vary in their level of conservatism among other things. Nonetheless, I do not want to discuss sharia since I am largely ignorant of it. I do however, want to point out the impact the above suggestion in Australia has had. Given the events of recent history regarding terrorism and the demonisation of Islam, it is unsurprising that the crazies have come crawling out of the woodwork in opposition of the idea including: right wingers, jews and christians according to the article. The christian outcry is the most hypocritical. If you have time watch the video to see why. Otherwise go to pharyngula to read a brief summary. While agree that it might not be the same group or people opposing the idea of sharia in Aus, they still represent a collective who identify themselves with a common core philosophy. The same way that extremists tar all muslims with the same extremist brush.
Abrahamic religions have monotheistic beliefs, and this one god is regularly purported to be just, unchanging and infallible. However, apply a little scrutiny and these characteristics fall apart. God is just. I have discussed this in another post about morality and religion, and atrocities at the hand of god in the bible, most of which fall in the old testament and thus the torah. God is unchanging. I also mentioned this in the morality post. Here we see an old testament god hell bent on destroying huge numbers of enemies in genocides, not to mention flooding the entire earth killing every human being, except Noah and his family. And then in the new testament Jesus claims that if we are struck on the cheek, rather than killing the enemy, we should turn the other cheek. God is infallible. This can be developed from the last point about extremists and different groups within religions. God had a direct hand in influencing those who wrote religious texts, yet so often these texts are interpreted in vastly different ways. Extremist muslims and their acts of terror against infidels is one example. Another is immediately relevant. According to a group in the US that have done some excellent calculations based on dates or numbers (not too sure and not interested in reading about it) gleaned from the bible, Saturday 21 May is Judgement Day. The surprising thing is that other churches or groups haven't picked up on this, despite it being clear as day in the bible - according to Mr. Harold Camping at least. How does an all powerful, infallible god allow this to happen? Who is right and who is wrong? Will I still be here on Monday? I hope, and suspect i probably will, that I am because my wife and I are finally moving out of my mum's place.
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