Akkam’s Razor

Before you get all weepy-eyed, and before the "press" heralds him as a divisive but religious force, let's review some of his "highlights" [Positive Atheism via MeFi]:

If you're not a born-again Christian, you're a failure as a human being.
— Rev Jerry Falwell (attributed: source unknown)

Why does the Public Relations industry believe that an apology abdicates or dilutes personal responsibility?  Or that quickly blaming your transgression on some controlled substance, medical affirmity, or psychological disorder somehow absolves you of blame and criticism?

James McGreevy should be pleased.

Via Philly.com, hot off the wire:

TRENTON, N.J. - New Jersey's Supreme Court has ruled same-sex couples are entitled to the same rights as heterosexuals in New Jersey, but that lawmakers must determine whether the state will honor gay marriage or some other form of civil union.

No, not the war, not the 655,000 Iraqi non-combatant deaths, not the torture, record energy prices, domestic spying, the child predators, Katrina, or any one of other innumerable failures will lead to the monumental failure of modern conservatism (and conversely NOT some success of the liberal alternative). It's the moral prejorative that the elitist few attempt to mandate on the masses, with the greater story being how this is actually an emblamatic problem of American culture, ideology, and politics, and not a thin, isolated example.

Placing bets over the Internet was effectively criminalized by the federal government yesterday, as lawmakers work to eliminate an activity enjoyed by as many as 23 million Americans who wagered an estimated $6 billion last year.

How does this happen? Who has pushed for this ban? Who loses, who wins, and why?

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With my not being a sports fan, you might be suprised that I'm following the TO saga.  I was really suprised when Karl on PhillyFuture linked to a Texas newspaper's blog column, where the blogger was being ripped to shreds for basically saying "oh well" to TO.  Also being one to paint with a  broad stereotypical brush when it suits my needs, I find it interesting that these men (and women) so quick to bless and pray for TO can look at this "incident" totally independent of everything they previously know about TO.  I also find it curious that I saw one of the Holy Roller types on late night Christian TV talking about TO's book and how his mother never said she loveed him.  His constant attention whoring and the drama queen spectacle of his non-suicide attempt, especially given the fact that he will be facing the Philly fans in 10-days makes me hesitant to get all weepy eyed for him.

…and he asked me to explain it.  So I emailed him.

There are few things that resonate within webculture at as high a frequency as the original Matrix.

It's a compelling narrative.  Thomas Anderson works all day in his cube, but spends all night trying to answer a question, solve a puzzle, sometimes engaging in illegal activities.  At some elemental level, his knows that his senses are lying to him - the world cannot be as he perceives. 

This search attracts the attention of the Agents, who preemptively seek to discourage him from moving further in his search.  Likewise, Morpheus is also seeking him out, believing that he may be "the one".

I keep wondering to myself why in the world conservatives, including the President, would continue beating the dead horse that is the gay marriage ban.  But immediately after the bans predictable defeat, OpEd pieces started springing up, usually around a prevailing theme - acceptance of gay marriage is an affront and government sponsored suppression of Christianity.  Looks like the "War on Christmas" may get preempted by the War on Christianity (which also does not exist).  From the 6/11/2006 Sunday Inquirer:

Sometimes I wonder if my fear and skepticism over religion is unfounded.  Sometimes I wonder if the professions of faith by elected officials, especially when using religious overtones as "codes" to the faithful of their intent is a subjugation of democracy.  Sometimes I think I'm over-reacting.

Sometime I think when I read obvious tinfoil conspiracy-type sites like PrisonPlanet I'm left with goosebumps when I see something that I would normally regard as ridiculous that I recognize as correlated to other real-world news items.  All emphasis indicated below is mine.

PrisonPlanet had the following:

The next big social and cultural debate in the United States will not be secularlism versus religion, but technology and progress versus antiquity.

Pot, meet Kettle.  Kettle, Pot.  Some background info is here, with this article from the Wichita Eagle via AllspinZone:

State Board of Education member Connie Morris took exception Wednesday to a picture of a made-up creature that satirizes the state's new science standards hanging on a Stucky Middle School teacher's door.