Comments on: Big Blue Balls and Other Stuff

By: Brad

Brad — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 05:16:16 +0000

The pictures of the relative scale of the planets is great. The scale of the Solar System is equally awesome: If the sun were the size of a basketball the earth would be the size of a dime, and it would be 2 miles from the basketball (err..sun).

Speaking of dimes, one of my favorite books (of my youth), Hugh Ross’s “The Creator and the Cosmos” had the following to say (paraphrased):

“The chances of the 26 parameters governing the small forces of being what they are and providing the universal conditions amenable to life are the same as if the entire United States were covered with stacks of dimes reaching to the moon and you reach into that pile and retrieve the one red dime.”

Atheists can’t dispute the odds of the nuclear values happening so they dispute the importance of the values themselves (why not carbon based life, for example). These are red herrings though as without the finely balanced nuclear values the universe would fly apart like a 747 without rivets. Another problem for atheists is where was all the matter of the universe before the big bang? How was it created?

By: Thespis Journal

Thespis Journal — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 18:34:37 +0000

Fabulous Sunday Reading

Here’s a list of the things we are reading today, ENJOY!

The Carnival of the Insanities-Special Middle East Edition. Dr. Sanity has done it again! There’s lots of laughs, and other great posts!

Michelle Malkin has the Black-out in Queens covere…

By: Your Code of Ethics

Your Code of Ethics — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 03:47:12 +0000

Bob Parsons’ Philosophy of Life

Although the following “rules” were designed by Bob Parsons (the founding CEO of GoDaddy.com) to be rules for business success, they also represent a declaration of generally good ways to be. After all, true success in life is among the

By: PoliticalCritic

PoliticalCritic — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 22:49:08 +0000

I’m also sick about bloggers blogging nasty stuff about each other. Can’t we all focus on larger issues? Just wondering.

By: The Right State

The Right State — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 13:59:12 +0000

I found this news from the Pew Research Center on blogs fascinating. Among their findings…

By: Unite Later

Unite Later — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 09:58:27 +0000

Lazy linkarage

I have several domesticated peeves. Some of them are of the longhaired variety, while a few others are free-range organically raised peeves. I’ve been known to feed a few feral peeves, but I’ve got to be careful… once you feed a wild peeve, it’s v…

By: Cindy Swanson

Cindy Swanson — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 21:54:20 +0000

Out of the rules you listed, La Shawn, I think “always find a reason to smile,” because you’re right–there always IS a reason, no matter how bleak things may appear. That’s the difference between happiness–which circumstances give–and true joy, which only God can give.

As far as my own life rules, one stands out: Everyhing you do has consequences.

EVERYTHING…good and bad. So I’m trying to sow good things.

As General Maximus said in “Gladiator,” “What you do in life echoes in eternity.”

By: Tate

Tate — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 20:04:36 +0000

Hey La Shawn,

How did your interview go with the national newspaper? Inquiring minds want to know.

Perhaps we’ll find out about it in your next blog…

By: mj

mj — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 13:41:01 +0000

A lot of bloggers complain about the media, but they’re getting their information from them! If the media didn’t put out stories, then the bloggers would have nothing to write about because stories require a lot of research, interviewing, etc.

By: RedBeard

RedBeard — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 01:22:40 +0000

A few additional survival tips:

From Satchel Paige: “Don’t look back: Something may be gaining on you.”

From John Wayne as John Bernard Books in The Shootist: “I won’t be wronged. I won’t be insulted. I won’t be laid a-hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.”

And from Winston Churchill: “Never give in–never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

By: Axinar

Axinar — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 23:42:42 +0000

Uh … did you miss the transit of Venus back in June, 2004?

Since Venus is about the same size as the Earth, you could pretty much make out that the Earth would be even SMALLER if it were right up against the sun.

The sun of course is a fairly small star as far as stars go.

Kind of makes your feel a tad insignificant, doesn’t it?

By: suek

suek — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 21:02:26 +0000

Cassandra…
I don’t envy you…it’s a tough time. I think if I were doing what you’re doing, I’d ask a lot of questions…”What do _you_ think we should be doing? What specifically is wrong with the country, and what do you think I as xxx(whatever you’re running for) can do to change things?” Leading questions, with plenty of room for _their_ answers. I’d do this for a couple of reasons: first, you’ll never win an argument with them, so arguing isn’t smart and I guarantee they think they have the answers. Second, if you can follow their lead and draw them out with more questions, you may get to the heart of the problem – though if you do, you should also run for president! I especially don’t understand the focus on Bush hatred simply because he won’t be running in ‘08. What’s the point? Still, it would be a good thing if you can figure out what’s important to people. I suspect that you’re going to be farther ahead asking people what _they_ want you to do for them than telling them what _you_ think you should be doing for them…but that’s just me. I send emails to my conressman all the time. Every now and then I get letters back…but I know _he_ probably doesn’t read them. Still, venting makes me feel better. Probably why we all comment here and other places, too, don’t you think?

By: Shack

Shack — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 18:37:52 +0000

Thank you for that. It was refreshing and made my day.

By: FL Mom

FL Mom — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 17:24:54 +0000

#18 Cassandra- Good luck in your political efforts. I don’t think the ranting is so much an all-purpose release, but because most people don’t get to talk directly to their representatives, they vent their frustrations to anyone with any sort of political affiliation. Maybe they’re hoping the message will reach the “higher-ups” if they scream enough at the “underlings.”

And there’s nothing wrong with you for not being angry. I’m watching Star Wars right now. “Don’t give in to anger. Anger leads to the Dark Side!” heehee.

By: cassandra

cassandra — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 17:03:47 +0000

Running for local office as a Republican, I’ve been going door to door and taking a lot of heat for the WOT, Bush-Cheney-Halliburton etc., and I admit I do NOT understand the level of hatred–people swearing he’s “ruined” our country blah blah. Sometimes I think something is wrong with ME because I’m not angry. Am I just too happy personally? My husband goes off on him too–do some people just use ranting about national politics as an all-purpose pressure valve for personal frustrations?