Either Jan Brewer is a Political Genius or the Public and the Media are just Fools

Fool me once, shame on you . . . fool me twice . . . well . . . I knew this was coming. So the same strategy that Arizona Governor Brewer employed during the last mid-year cycle is holding up just as well the second time around. It’s an ingenious strategy when you think about it at first. Then when you realize the public has such a short memory and the media is completely driven by actions in the now, nobody does their research. Even if we are talking about events in the last few years.

Rewind to 2011: Remember when the obsession with Obama’s birth certificate was reaching high visibility? How do you propel yourself to the top of the daily news cycle over and over again? Have your far-right cronies play the bad cop so you can come in at the last minute and play good cop – or rather – the voice of reason. You can be the epitome of the “cooler heads will prevail” mentality.

Back then, the very social conservatives in the Arizona state legislature – fueled by the upcoming presidential election and the obsession with Obama (also helped by long term Arizona character Joe Arpaio) passed legislation that would have required presidential candidates to provide documentation showing that they were born in the United States in order to be allowed on the state’s presidential ballot. The process was dragged out in the legislature and the duration between passage and her final action was also dragged out for dramatic effect. When she finally made the decision, she came across as the moderate rational hero. The good cop. The voice of reason. The bill, she said in a letter about her veto, was a “distraction” and “a bridge too far” that would have created “significant new problems while failing to do anything constructive for Arizona.”

Fast forward to 2014. Here we go again. The Obama obsession has been played out. What’s another socially conservative firestorm that can energize the base yet allow her to look like a moderate leader? Let’s capitalize on the hatred of homosexuals. She was smart enough to have her staff be sure to purge all references to this from her Wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Brewer) since she knew this would be the extent of any historical research on her (especially since going deep into a search engine required too much diligence. But a simple query of the phrases “Jan Brewer” and “bridge too far” would have brought it all back.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53710.html

For the past two weeks, Jan Brewer has been in the news. I have no doubt this was orchestrated where the idea was created with the end in mind. Beautiful politics exploiting both sides of the political spectrum. Another reason why I don’t participate in the game. Some say Jan Brewer is old and winding down. I think she is looking for higher office. The question is, how long will she continue to reuse this strategy?

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The World is not ending any time soon (and what I believe to be the “Atheist’s Creed”)

It doesn’t matter who – they are ALL WRONG! The Mayans, the preppers, the Y2K’ers, the Fatalists, etc. Stop worrying and enjoy your life, people. Do we have to go through this for every archaic end-of-world prediction? – http://www.examiner.com/article/ragnarok-end-of-the-world-norse-apocalypse-passes-world-still-here

The world is not coming to end any time soon. Not in our lifetime – not in our children’s or grandchildren’s lifetime (sorry Al Gore.) So enjoy your life people. Worry about your health, yes – but do something about it so you can live longer. But yes, you will die – and I have news for you. That will be it for you most likely. I am afraid there is no heaven. BUT – the good news is there is no hell. That was created by the religious establishment to use fear to keep you both in line (if you had a lack of morality) and/or more importantly – to keep you coming to church and TITHING!

If you are looking for a creed to center you. To reconcile religion and morality. You can’t. You do not have to have religion to have morality. Religion is not true morality. Take a read here:

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/01/22/is-atheism-a-religion/atheism-should-end-religion-not-replace-it

A sample: ”

Religion cannot and should not be replaced by atheism. Religion needs to go away and not be replaced by anything. Atheism is not a religion. It’s the absence of religion, and that’s a wonderful thing.

Religion is not morality. Theists ask me, “If there’s no god, what would stop me from raping and killing everyone I want to.” My answer is always: “I, myself, have raped and killed everyone I want to … and the number for both is zero.” Behaving morally because of a hope of reward or a fear of punishment is not morality. Morality is not bribery or threats. Religion is bribery and threats. Humans have morality. We don’t need religion.”

Go, I love Penn Jilette (yes, irony intended.)

Revisiting the Reality Distortion field.

I think it is time to remind people of Steve Jobs and the RDF (Reality Distortion Field)

From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_distortion_field

“RDF is the idea that Steve Jobs is able to convince himself and others to believe almost anything with a mix of charm, charisma, bluster, exaggeration, marketing and persistence. RDF is said to distort an audience’s sense of proportion or scale. Small advances are applauded as breakthroughs. Interesting developments become turning points, or huge leaps forward. Impossible-seeming schedules, requirements or specifications are acceded to. Snap judgments about technical merits of approaches are sometimes reversed without acknowledgment. Those who use the term RDF contend that it is not an example of outright deception but more a case of warping the powers of judgment. The term “audience” may refer to an individual whose attitudes Steve is intending to affect.”

To call it a form of Jedi Mind Trick is insulting to the Star Wars Universe. The Jedi Mind Trick is fiction and based on tricking people who are not otherwise easily persuaded. RDF, on the other hand, is real and predatory and only requires highly suggest-able people who desperately want to be part of a group to the point of drastically changing their lifestyle to fit the groupthink.

In other words, you all belong to a cult.

Now that Jobs has passed on, his cult-like following has blossomed into a religion where Steve Jobs now seems to get sole credit for all of the technological developments and advancements of the last 40 years. Talk about the revision of history. All for a man who literally believed his own bullshit to the point where he ignored is doctor’s advice and lived off a fruit diet and bypassed all advanced medical treatments until it was well too late. Who knew someone who lived off fructose would ultimately get pancreatic cancer? LOL.

Now the reality distortion field is trying to insist that people want to carry around a phone, tablet, *AND* a Laptop.

http://www.businessinsider.com/apples-view-of-the-future-of-personal-computing-2014-1

Another Example of Natural Selection Irony

I guess he didn’t have enough faith . . .

Reality show snake-handling preacher dies — of snakebite

http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/16/us/snake-salvation-pastor-bite/index.html

PS: Yes, this doesn’t just happen in Will Ferrell comedies. This stuff is real! Is Darwin somewhere  laughing? No, probably not. What’s scary for me is I was once married to someone who had very close relatives who attended these churches. And to think, it is all based on a couple of Bible versus (likely taken out of context at best.)

You see churches, like everything else in social society, love to find ways to make their group unique. We don’t just have religions, but each religion has denominations, and each denomination has sects, and sects may differ on *laugh* doctrine. Even if the doctrine is the same, sometimes, churches separate simply because they do not like the preacher or the location – (hence such items such as 1st Baptist Church, 2nd Baptist Church, etc.)

 

Here come the Student Athletic Unions!!!

As Northwestern Players Pursue Unionization, a Voice in the Wilderness Gains a Chorus

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/09/sports/ncaafootball/as-northwestern-players-pursue-unionization-voice-in-the-wilderness-gains-a-chorus.html?_r=0

As the sanctions continue to oppress programs, punishing mostly poor and minority students – the NCAA and many academics yielded no quarter to the plight of the student athlete juxtaposed with the booming big business of college sports. Yes, Shane Battier asking for NBA-style salaries was ridiculous over a decade ago. But Shane Battier was one guy. What most of these athletes need, they cannot get because it will cost them their careers and colleges their programs.

Is it too much to ask to provide student athletes with the following:

• Full Room and Board
• 1000 a month stipend
• Scholarship insurance
• Transportation back and forth home
• Health/Medical Care fully covered while playing
• Graduation Financial Bonus

Why do Universities take sponsorship’s, merchandise deals, and TV deals allowing coaching staff to make millions. The Officers of the NCAA make millions as well – yet they will not even allow the above for the students.

The NCAA should have seen this coming. As the Internet says, “You should have expected us!”

15 Things That Emotionally Strong People Don’t Do

I like how Web sites like Elite Daily and Business Insider has moved into parallel behaviors of successful people. in addition to being good with money and well-focused on their careers, successful people are often emotionally strong. They have published 15 things that emotionally strong people DO NOT do.

15 Things That Emotionally Strong People Don’t Do

Great Agnostic Responses to Creationism

So, the big debate of Science (Evolution) vs. Creationism finally took place. Bill Nye (The Science Guy) debated Ken Hamm in a very academic and civil forum. With no sarcasm or smugness, Bill Nye went against the arrogant grain and debated the points of how science and faith are different with an engaging professional manner emulating the very outreach style the opponents often use.

After the debate, several followers of creationism were given the opportunity to ask questions by posing for pictures holding cards containing the handwritten questions. I’ve posted two links that contain the individual responses as well as commentary on how Bill Nye may have finally turned the tide by giving Ken Hamm and the Creationists what they wanted – attention and a forum. After all, this is America and they have the right to be heard. They’re wrong but just because they are wrong does not mean they are not worthy of the 1st amendment or worthy of debate. Thank God (haha) that Bill Nye was willing to step forward.

22 Responses To Questions From Creationists

http://www.businessinsider.com/22-responses-to-buzzfeeds-22-messages-from-creationists-2014-2

No Snark, No Sarcasm: How One Scientist Engaged Creationists

http://bigthink.com/think-tank/no-snark-no-sarcasm-how-one-scientist-engaged-creationists

 

10 Things to Emulate from Japan

A few years ago, I was spending some time in India for work. After a busy week concluded, I had one remaining day to explore the city of Bangalore (or Bengalaru as it is supposed to be called.) I saw the dichotomy that comes with a rapidly emerging nation: High-tech development juxtaposed with third-world squalor. While walking through a market, I came across what appeared to be a cardboard advertisement. These 9×12 sheets were there for the taking. The title read “Ten things to emulate from the Japanese.” This was a few months after the earthquakes and tsunamis obliterated the Japanese coast. At first it reads like the old scout mottoes but it ultimately, speaks much deeper.

While I discovered this in India, the message seems easily targeted for Western culture, but it wasn’t. A lady working at the market told me the message was from the East – for the East – reminding them of virtues they already know but not to forget in spite of the rapid growth and industrialization. Even a nation as advanced as Japan can hold true to its moral roots.

And here they are . . .

1. THE CALM

 Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.

2. THE DIGNITY

 Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.

3. THE ABILITY

 The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn’t fall.

4. THE GRACE

 People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.

5. THE ORDER

 No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.

6. THE SACRIFICE

 Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?

7. THE TENDERNESS

 Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.

8. THE TRAINING

 The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.

9. THE MEDIA

 They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.

10. THE CONSCIENCE

 When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly.

10 Ways Poor People Waste Money

1.)    Lottery Tickets: You are not going to win the lottery. The odds are not in your favor. Even with the small victories, those are designed to keep you buying more. In the end, the best you can hope for is breaking even – and what do you have to show for it? If you spend 5 dollars a week on lottery tickets, that will equal to $250+ dollars a year that could have been spent on a car payment or the utility bill for a month.

2.)    Unsecured Payday Loans: Besides the obvious questions revolving around planning and budgeting, have you ever looked at the interest rates on these things? You are better off pawning that Guitar you never play, or getting rid of that expensive 4-track (you’re not going to be the next Macklemore.)

3.)    Unsecured High Interest Credit Cards: Look, I know you need to build credit, but there are banks who will help you build credit with SECURED credit cards. Ask your bank. True, you will have to save 500 or 1000 dollars to open one, but it will be good practice for something you have not been doing: SAVING.

4.)    Expensive Accessories for Cheap Cars: Why do poor people spend more money on car accessories (Rims, seat covers, etc.) than THE CAR IS WORTH? I know this speaks to insecurity, but nothing you do to accessorize your car will hide the fact you are driving a piece of shit. Who cares? It runs, right? What happens when the car breaks down? The accessories become worthless at that point.

5.)    Refund Anticipation Loans: You lose 20-40% of your refund on these simply because you can’t wait 6-8 weeks for your money. You are better off doing your taxes online for FREE or simply rejecting the rapid refund.

6.)    Bars and Clubs: Did you know, you can drink much more cheaply (drastically) by buying your spirits at the local grocery or liquor store? Besides, you don’t need to be out at clubs blowing your money, risking DWI’s or burning gas. You can work your game for free at the local bookstore, on social networks, or on-line dating sites. Then you can meet up at his/her place for a little BYOB.

7.)    Not Cooking Your Own Food: You are not on an expense account for a Fortune 500 company. Stop eating out like you have one. For less than 30 bucks, you can cook a dinner for two that rivals a $200 dollar dinner for two at Mortons (including the wine – ever seen the markup on wine?)

8.)    Not Buying Condoms: Knocking her up (or getting knocked up) is much more expensive. No amount of government aid will offset the cost of not using birth control.

9.)    Tithing: I know – the church keeps you whole. The church keeps you on the right path. If you are making minimum wage, the church better be glad you still believe in God and are still showing up on Sunday.

10.) Moving in with your significant other to save money: Not a good idea. This leads to marriage and/or pregnancy – which you have no business being a part of. YOU’RE POOR, REMEMBER?? Find a roommate you have no interest sleeping with!