Comments Posted By Random10
Displaying 1 To 10 Of 14 Comments
ENJOYING THE ACADEMIC FREEDOM TO BE AN IDIOT
Living in Madison I have been aware of Kevin Barrett for a couple of years. Barrett declared himself a Muslim in 1992 and now, with the certainty of the convert, he is proclaiming Osama bin Laden a liar for taking credit for 9/11. Barrett is a product of the College of Letters and Science, and more specifically the Department of African Languages and Literature. UW-Madison awarded Barrett his Ph.D. so they are not hiring an unknown who subsequently reveals unexpected reasoning flaws. I suppose the UW is taking the position there are no meaningful scholarship guidelines in the professional study of fiction.
Comment Posted By random10 On 12.07.2006 @ 22:42
WHO DO YOU BELIEVE ON GLOBAL WARMING?
Rick: A quick test to assess the validity of anything written about global warming is the presence or absence of discussion about the role of water vapor. Both carbon dioxide and water vapor are triatomic molecules and it is the electron dispersion across this three atom geometry that allows absorption of radiant energy. This ability to absorb energy may be the reason the chemical combination of carbon dioxide and water underlies all organic chemistry, and thus life itself. Of the two molecules, however, water vapor can variably comprise up to 4% of the molecular atmosphere, while carbon dioxide makes up less than a half percent. Water vapor is what enables the essential natural green house effect and CO2 activity is little more than background noise.
Comment Posted By random10 On 27.05.2006 @ 13:03
"GETTING AMERICA RIGHT:" IS IT THE GOVERNMENT'S BUSINESS?
How can it be determined if a proposed piece of legislation is the business of government? I don’t understand how this is a meaningful question without tighter definition, because any answer depends on how the words business and government are understood. Both words have multiple and varied meanings so is this an exact equivalent question: How can it be determined if a proposed piece of legislation is the rightful concern of social authority?
Comment Posted By random10 On 17.03.2006 @ 19:50
"If the administration had done the job right in Tora Bora we might not be having discussions on Hardball about a new Bin Laden tape." – John Kerry.
Just to echo and agree with prior commentators, the left continues to believe Bin Laden is a criminal who has committed criminal acts. If America is dealing with a criminal, then the capture of the culprit solves the danger to society. On the other hand, if Bin Laden is a leader of armed and hostile movement, then capture of a single leader leaves the bulk of the danger in place. Capturing Bin Laden at Tora Bora would have been like blasting the top off an iceberg. If the goal is to make the iceberg disappear, it would have been a good first step but not a final solution.
Comment Posted By Random10 On 21.01.2006 @ 16:52
The City of Green Bay Wisconsin denies all rumors that the Packers are for sale, however, if San Antonio, New Orleans or any other interested party wants to discuss leasing the Packers for the next four years, proposals including financing packages should be addressed to:
Robert E. Harlan
Comment Posted By random10 On 26.12.2005 @ 14:00
President & CEO
Green Bay Packers
1265 Lombardi Avenue
Green Bay, Wisconsin 54304
IRAN'S MAIN MAD MULLAH: " WE CAN WIN NUKE WAR WITH ISRAEL"
I suspect the problem is that western MSM really don’t have the conceptual ability to understand people who don’t believe in logic. The essence of radical Islam is the absolute belief that everything is the will of Allah, and cause and effect as understood in the west is at best an illusion. Clausewitz and Sun Tzu have no meaning when the battle is between the will of the divine and those who would deny the divine. When Rafsanjani asserts that Iran would win a nuclear exchange with Israel he speaks with a certainty of belief that there are forces more powerful than nuclear weapons behind the theocracy.
Comment Posted By random10 On 18.12.2005 @ 20:14
Rick: I personally prefer ad-less blogging in the same way I prefer non-commercial music radio. This is preference and not right and wrong, but adding money into an endeavor changes the endeavor. Think for example of adding a single drop of chocolate syrup to a vanilla milkshake. Is it now a chocolate shake? If not then how much chocolate does it take be become a chocolate shake?
That said it is inevitable that commercialization will emerge from any human activity that is perceived as having value to other people, and some commercial endeavors will add value and succeed while others won’t and will fail. You are a great wordsmith and I don’t believe that will change going forward.
Comment Posted By random10 On 10.12.2005 @ 14:33
Rick: I am increasing convinced that large percentages of the left believe that humanity is functionally disconnected from the rest of nature. In some ways the conceptual place human life plays in the leftist view of the environment mirrors the thinking of those who believe that mankind was uniquely created to have dominion over nature. The difference being the left tend to believe people have evolved beyond or transcended nature. So much of progressive thought make sense only if the biology and ecology of human populations are ignored as irrelevant, and only the moral consequences of human decisions have any merit.
In the Robert Jensen writings you reference, the epidemics are morally neutral because bacteria and viruses are non-human and thus natural, and thus irrelevant to right and wrong. The moral guilt of America derives from human decisions to conquer rather than co-exist. Since it is also an article of faith that the Europeans came to conquer and plunder, the contributions of those who came across the Atlantic for individual freedom and economic opportunity can not escape the overall cultural sins. I used to believe liberal guilt was shallow political charge but I increasingly understand it to be a true core value.
Comment Posted By Random10 On 25.11.2005 @ 00:34
DEMS WANT TO TRASH THE WAR WITHOUT GOING ON RECORD OPPOSING IT
I hope all the Republican reticence in the face of the emotionally disingenuous outrage and deliberate disregard of history and logic has been ‘rope-a-dope’. I really want to see the vacuous Democratic leadership emotionally bruised and whimpering softly in dark corners.
Comment Posted By Random10 On 18.11.2005 @ 23:58
Rick: I’ve always assumed the White House was engaged in more of a ‘turn the other cheek’ and ‘love thy enemy’ acceptance of the anti-war criticism. As you rightfully note, ‘rope-a-dope’ is at least a strategy, which implies there will come a time to cease dancing away from conflict.
I won’t be convinced that one speech demonstrates understanding of the strategic need to counter domestic disinformation until the Administration shows me a continuing willingness to engage his domestic critics. Turning the other cheek is a legitimate way to demonstrate submission to earthly authority, but it is inappropriate when you are the earthly authority. Especially when engaged in battle with the idea that divine authority permits the killing of innocent humans.
Comment Posted By Random10 On 12.11.2005 @ 20:42
