The Sultan of Reason

I find Wafa Sultan to be a force unto herself.

She speaks logic, reason and science.

She speaks of the Truth (note the capital "T")... the ONLY Truth that is out there. 

I am glad she speaks... 

Here is a highlight: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WLoasfOLpQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Negt6IzxPTo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYB4pG3kHIY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZXj2shOzkY&feature=related 

(Check out also Shaker Al-Nabulsi - on the third link.).

Are there more Wafa Sultans out there?

Wafa Sultan's "rants" can be taken in two ways... they can either be viewed as an attack (Islam being the means) or they can be viewed as a defense of reason... 

Agenda or no agenda, that's what it all boils down to. 

patRIOTism

Patriotism Shmay-triotism... 

Being Lebanese and living in a volatile and irrational part of the world ... Patriotism fascinates me ... I have yet to understand what makes a patriot a good patriot? 

Granted it depends on which side of the fence you are standing ... in this global village we are living today shouldn't patriotism be undying devotion to this pale blue dot we call Earth? 

In my quest to understand patriotism I came across a few quotes which I have included for you cogitate (that's a word I do not hear often) over... 

“Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious.” – Oscar Wilde

 

“Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.” – Samuel Johnson

 

“Patriotism is a pernicious, psychopathic form of idiocy.” – George Bernard Shaw - Love that one...

 

“Patriots always talk of dying for their country, and never of killing for their country.” – Bertrand Russell - and this one ... 

 

”Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism – how passionately I hate them!” – Albert Einstein

 

“Patriotism is the religion of hell” – James Branch Cabell - ADORE this one

 

“Patriotism varies, from a noble devotion to moral lunacy” – W.R. Inge - interesting.

 

“One of the great attraction of patriotism it fulfills our worst wishes. In the person of our nation we are able, vicariously, to bully and cheat. Bully and cheat, what’s more, with a feeling that we are profoundly virtuous.” – Aldous Huxley

“Ask not what you can do for your country, for they are liable to tell you.” – Mark Steinbeck

“Some people’s idea of patriotism is hating other countries” – Andy Rooney

I guess patriotism is the most overrated quality in humans and common sense the most underrated. 

... and that worries me. 

 

SIns Revisited...

Seriously, The Catholic church has just issued a new series of modern day sins... I guess god just did not have the foresight to predict future human behavior that could be sinful... 

This is the most monumental event since the release of New Coke ... and just as life altering. 

Think of it... the "Classic Sins" ... 

Greed, Envy, Sloth, Gluttony, Wrath, Envy and Pride... 

The "New Sins" (a clear indication of the divine origins of the "Good Book") lists the following: 

Pollution, drugs and genetic manipulation (yes stem cell research is included). 

Did the Catholic church really have to tell the meek that pollution is a sin! Kids learn to recycle before they even learn to read!   

Enlightened to say the LEAST and a sad, sad attempt on behalf of religion to stay relevant in a world lit by reason and science. 

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL109602320080310?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&rpc=22&sp=true

That's Me!

This is a monologue by George Carlin... 

I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. 
Digital and smoke free. 
A diversified, multicultural postmodern deconstructionist 
Politically, anatomically and ecologically incorrect. 
I’ve been uplinked and downloaded. 
I’ve been inputed and outsourced. 
I know the upside of downsizing; I know the downside of upgrading. 
I’m a high tech lowlife; a cutting edge state of the art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond. 
I’m new wave but I’m old school. 
And my inner child is outward bound. 
I’m a hotwired, heat seeking, warmhearted, cool customer, voice activated and biodegradable. 
I interface with my database and my database is in cyber space. 
So I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive. 
Behind the eight ball, ahead of the curve, riding the wave, dodging the bullet. Pushing the envelope. 
I’m on point, on task, on message and off drugs. 
I got no need for coke and speed. 
I got no urge to binge and purge. 
I’m in the moment, on the edge, over the top… but under the radar. 
A high concept, low profile, medium range ballistic missionary. 
A street wise, smart bomb. 
A top gun, bottom feeder. 
I wear power ties. 
I tell power lies. 
I take power naps. 
I run victory laps. 
I’m a totally ongoing, Bigfoot, slam-dunk rainmaker with a proactive outreach. 
A raging workaholic, a working rageholic. 
Out of rehab and in denial. 
I got a personal trainer, a personal shopper, a personal assistant and a personal agenda. 
You can’t shut me up, you can’t dumb me down, cause I’m tireless and I’m wireless. 
I’m an alpha male on beta-blockers. 
I’m a nonbeliever and an overachiever. 
Laid back but fashion forward. 
Upfront, down-home, low rent, high maintenance. 
Super size, long-lasting, high definition, fast acting, oven ready and built to last. 
I’m a hands on, footloose, knee jerk headcase, prematurely posttraumatic and I have a love child who sends me hate mail. 
But I’m feeling, I’m caring, I’m healing, I’m sharing… a supportive, bonding, nurturing primary caregiver. 
My output is down but my income is up. 
I take the short position on the long bond. 
And my revenue stream has it’s own cash flow. 
I read junk mail. 
I eat junk food. 
I buy junk bonds. 
I watch trash sports. 
I’m gender specific, capital intensive, user friendly and lactose intolerant. 
I like rough sex, 
I like tough love. 
I use the F-word in my email. 
And the software on my hard drive is hardcore, no soft porn. 
I bought a microwave at a mini-mall. 
I bought a minivan at a mega store. 
I eat fast food in the slow lane. 
I’m toll-free, bite size, ready to wear and I come in all sizes. 
A fully equipped, factory authorized, hospital tested, clinically proven, scientifically formulated medical miracle. 
I’ve been pre-washed, pre-cooked, pre-heated, pre-screened, pre-approved, pre-packaged, post-dated, freeze-dried, double-wrapped, vacuum packed and I have an unlimited broadband capacity. 
I’m a rude dude, but I’m the real deal… 
Lean and mean. 
Cocked, locked and ready to rock. 
Rough, tough and hard to bluff. 
I take it slow, I go with the flow. 
I ride with the tide. 
I got glide in my stride. 
Driving and moving. 
Sailing and spinning. 
Jiving and grooving. 
Wailing and winning. 
I don’t snooze so I don’t loose. 
I keep the pedal to the metal. 
And the rubber on the road. 
I party hardy and lunchtime is crunch time. 
I’m hanging in… there ain’t no doubt. 
And I’m hanging tough, over and out!' - George Carlin (A.K.A God)

God - An Autobiography

Which book influenced me the most? 

All of them, but the "one" book that got me thinking was "The Life of God (as Told by Himself)" by Franco Ferrucci 

Check the link for a preview: http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/244954.html

It REALLY got me thinking...