|link| Posted 4:13 PM by Brian Linse

Finally Some Good News

It's not much, but I'll take it where I find it... [via: the "relieved" Jim Henley]

|link| Posted 11:52 PM by Brian Linse

New Nest For The Croooow Blog

Henry Hanks has a new home free of Blogspot! H2 is not someone I agree with very often, if ever, but his blog is a good indicator of how the entrenched Right is thinking. Go say hello to Henry and tell him Bad Dude sez he's still wrong about everything.

|link| Posted 4:11 PM by Brian Linse

Simon Interview at the WGA

Go check out a nice little interview with Roger L. Simon over at the Writer's Guild of America website.

|link| Posted 3:57 PM by Brian Linse

A Million Mad Moms

Frequent readers will know that I often disagree with the positions taken by gun control groups like the Brady Campaign, but I'm with them and the Million Mom March organization in opposing the current Senate bill that would immunize the gun industry from lawsuits.

Believe it or not, the bill in question would make toy gun makers more answerable to consumers than the makers of the real thing. Given the success of tobacco lawsuits and the recent NAACP suit that included the testimony of insider Robert Ricker, the gun lobby is obviously running scared and appealing to their "friends" in Congress to save them.

While there are issues to be raised over the legitimacy of using product liability lawsuits to achieve the goals of gun regulation proponents, this move by the Congress is unprecedented and beyond the pale. It is just further evidence that the pro-gun extremists regard the Second Amendment and it's right to keep and bear arms as some special case within the Bill of Rights. This would be like saying that the media should be indemnified against libel because of the First Amendment. It's wrong, it's likely unconstitutional, and it's something that must be stopped. A similar bill has already passed in the House

Go to the MMM website for more information, and write or e-mail your Representatives in Congress.

|link| Posted 11:38 AM by Brian Linse

Kuff Links

Charles Kuffner e-mailed to say that he is having domain problems that have taken him off line for an indeterminate period. Hopefully, he'll be Off The Kuff again soon.

|link| Posted 5:05 PM by Brian Linse

All Atheists Are Not Bright

I've been simmering a post on the new "Bright" movement amongst some atheists for awhile. It's been cooking over a low flame on the back burner, but a recent post by my theistic pal Ben Kepple gives me the perfect link to serve it up with today.

I am an atheist, and have considered myself as such since I was about 14 years old. At first, of course, my position was based on a simple rejection of the various monotheistic dogmas that I had been exposed to until that time. Later, I sought out philosophical and historical information to better sort out and define my personal opinions on the subject. For me, atheism is exactly what the word means: a-theism, the simple rejection of theistic beliefs and dogma, which in practical terms actually means a rejection of the dominant monotheism of our time.

I understand that others may define the term more broadly, but for me it is really very simple: I am not Christian, Jew, nor Muslim, and I don't believe in the philosophy of the monotheistic religions. That's it.

I've never felt the need to offer an alternative explanation for the mysteries of our natural world. In fact, to presume that all we perceive in our natural world could be explained by an advanced version of our human science strikes me as narrow-minded and arrogant -- qualities that are usually ascribed to monotheists by their critics.

"What happens to us when we die?" I have no frickin' idea. And though I'm reasonably certain that we don't line up for an appointment with a long-dead dude named Pete to get checked in to Hebbin, I can't prove, definitively, that this is not the case, or that it at least is not an acceptable fable version of the actual phenomenon. Yet, if someone else chooses to sign up for the theistic view, I have no problem with it, assuming, of course, that I am equally free to hold my atheistic view.

So now come "The Brights". You can follow the link to get the full take, but it really comes down to this, if I may sum it up: "We atheists are smarter people -- thus "Brights" -- than you unfortunate and oppressive masses of ignorant believers. We hereby declare ourselves as such, and encourage all who are "Bright" to go forth and spread the word"

Oh yeah, that'll work.

Look, I'm all for promoting a worldview that doesn't include supernatural dogma, but one thing I have never felt was a useful tactic in debate was to begin by proclaiming my opponent an idiot. More importantly, in this case, it simply isn't true.

I have been fortunate to number amongst my friends many devoutly religious people, including a Jesuit priest, Born Again Christians, several Rabbis, and an Anglican clergyman. They have all known me to be an atheist, all have respected my beliefs as I have theirs, and these friendships have resulted in many fascinating discussions that have furthered my knowledge of religion, and reinforced my personal beliefs.

Some of the brightest people I have known have been believers in some form of monotheism. So I would suggest that if the new wave "Brights" wish to continue their campaign, that they seek out a few people like my friends, learn to respect their beliefs, get educated about the history of monotheism and it's impact on western civilization, and stop acting like arrogant assholes.


I also suggest that all "Brights" go read this post by Ben Kepple.

Most Christians and other religious are by their nature inquisitive folk, and we see the hand of God at work in every new astronomical discovery or scientific breakthrough. On the other hand, when unexplainable phenomena occur either in the historical record or even in the present day, an atheist would by animal instinct write it off as having some natural cause, even if not readily apparent. Their supposed tautology -- God has not been proven to exist, therefore He does not exist -- is a mile wide but an inch deep. And only an uninquisitive sort would write off the possibility that such logic could in fact be flawed.

This is what awaits your silly campaign; he's smarter than you, he has several millennia of history to draw upon, and he won't be bullied by elitist snobs who haven't done their homework.

They're "Bright", so everyone else must be, what, "Dim"?

Oh, that's some clever shit, huh?

|link| Posted 4:28 AM by Brian Linse

Benny Carter 1907 - 2003

A great American artist has passed. Jazz legend Benny Carter is dead at the age of 95.

Carter was a professional musician and recording artist for 75 years, and was always, for every single year of his career, a significant and vital part of American Jazz.

If I recall correctly, it was my prep school music teacher, now infamous Florida blogger, Dave Irwin, who first hipped me to Benny when I was about 15 years old. Carter was never as famous as Miles or Bird, but he was the consummate musician's musician, and his legacy will no doubt take it's place with the other greats of that most American of art forms.



It's a sad day in Jazztown, and all that can really be said is; Thank you, Mr. Carter. Thanks for everything you gave us. Rest in peace.