Kansas Bob

Interesting thoughts. I'm reminded of the form...

2012-02-13T20:21:53.641-06:00

Interesting thoughts.
I'm reminded of the former, sad state of Yugoslavia and the ethnic tensions that were deliberately inflamed so that a few could rise to power. Or, 'power via polarization'. The US is nowhere near that point but you might take some notice of how some leaders seek to create 'enemies' or exploit and elevate small differences to create blocks of power. And it's nothing new: More recently we've seen it at its ugliest in McCarthyism. It shows up in the various 'culture wars' today (see also GOP Southern Strategy, Neo-Atheism, and the most recent nuttiness, 'contraception wars').

I think this is more an effect of quicker media turnaround. When it took several days or even a week to report movements, there was a natural buffering and moderating effect. Now it's less buffered and the competition for attention and eyeballs is fierce. The processing and deliberation steps are being compressed too much.

One thing that really worries me is the way scientific information gets parsed along partisan lines. Whether it's global warming, evolution, pollution or even fisheries management, I'm still amazed how much spin and baloney gets injected into presentations to the lay public on the basis of purely partisan motives. Science isn't perfect and scientists are not apolitical but science provides one of the most objective means of understanding how our world operates. And if many can't even agree on the basic science in an argument, there's no good point in trying further. Psychology stands a better change of punching though the cognitive barriers.

Thanks for the note Mike! Not sure what you mean b...

2012-02-13T10:17:07.148-06:00

Thanks for the note Mike! Not sure what you mean by "over-arching belief system that everyone adheres to". Can you elaborate?

I think a lot of it is we no longer have any over-...

2012-02-12T21:27:40.078-06:00

I think a lot of it is we no longer have any over-arching belief system that everyone adheres to. As a result we end up differing not only on conclusions but on premises. This makes it much harder for one side to convince or even understand the other and easier for them to just vilify each other.

I added this comment to the FB thread: "...

2012-02-12T14:27:33.110-06:00
I added this comment to the FB thread:

"I sometimes wonder if a lot of it is how Americans are encouraged to have opinions. I find that I am less opinionated now (I know that it is hard to believe) than when I was younger. Sadly, most of my opinions are usually unfounded and misinformed. Except for this one of course."

Thanks Cindi! It is so great to get actual feedbac...

2012-02-12T13:02:07.326-06:00
Thanks Cindi! It is so great to get actual feedback from hybrid owners.

Thanks for that great insight Cindi! The interesti...

2012-02-12T13:00:17.843-06:00
Thanks for that great insight Cindi! The interesting aspect of the conversation is that God allowed his very own son to come into the world and die the way that he did. And when He did, in a sense, the ultimate good was crucified by man. Perhaps the issue is not whether God is good but whether He is Love?

I'm saving your reply in my quotes file. The ...

2012-02-12T05:15:21.364-06:00
I'm saving your reply in my quotes file. The micro / macro level thing. And speaking of quotes, when I think of evil and suffering...theodicy...I think of the scene in the Brothers Kromanov where one brother is railing at the other brother about evil in the world...honing his focus mainly on the suffering of children. He found that suffering...the suffering of an innocent child...the most horrible. Quote follows:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tell me yourself, I challenge your answer. Imagine that you are creating a fabric of human destiny with the object of making men happy in the end, giving them peace and rest at last, but that it was essential and inevitable to torture to death only one tiny creature—that baby beating its breast with its fist, for instance—and to found that edifice on its unavenged tears, would you consent to be the architect on those conditions? Tell me, and tell the truth."

"No, I wouldn't consent," said Alyosha softly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Most of us cannot imagine how God can consent to evil/torture/suffering either...no matter how wonderful the final result will be. Yet, we know in our heart that God is good...and there's the rub. Theodicy in a nutshell. If God is good how can he allow suffering? If God allows suffering how can he be good?

Cindi.....

I have a Prius too. I love it. Overall for the l...

2012-02-12T05:01:45.291-06:00
I have a Prius too. I love it. Overall for the last 7000 miles we've averaged about 43 mpg. 75% of that is city driving. (The vehicle has about 31000 miles on it...total) On a trip we get about 50 mpg. I also like the fact that the engine shuts off at stops....not continuing to spew exhaust into the air. It was Keith's idea to buy the Prius. We have a 2010 Prius. It was about 25,000 which really is not that much over a comparable new gasoline engine car. We got the "middle" model. Not the cheapest and not the one with the most options. The one in the middle.

And for those naysayers who are skeptical about the technology...check out this article about consumer report who tested a 2002 Prius with over 200,000 miles on it. http://autos.aol.com/article/toyota-prius-reliability/

Excerpt follows:

They found that there was very little difference in battery performance, fuel economy and acceleration in the used '02 model when compared to a nearly identical 2001 Prius they tested 10 years ago when it was new.

Cindi...

Love your comment to Eddie. Gave me a smile.

2012-02-11T13:37:54.289-06:00
Love your comment to Eddie. Gave me a smile.

That's why I'm taking Dramamine.

2012-02-11T12:49:48.983-06:00
That's why I'm taking Dramamine.

I would there is already enough drama in the middl...

2012-02-11T12:47:42.795-06:00
I would there is already enough drama in the middle east Eddie. :)

I am looking forward to retirement someday...I thi...

2012-02-11T12:41:17.970-06:00
I am looking forward to retirement someday...I think.
Right now, teaching drama at an American School in Kuwait fits me like a glove.
I can act crazy and get paid for it.
Thanks for the post. (blogging will keep me busy in the retirement center)

I thought that you might be able to relate sue. :)...

2012-02-11T11:52:48.880-06:00
I thought that you might be able to relate sue. :)

We were "forced" into retirement when al...

2012-02-11T11:49:52.986-06:00
We were "forced" into retirement when all the companies we contracted with either were sold or they went in-house for their tradeshows.
It was a good long run and we got to see a lot of the country on Their dime. Wouldn't r\trade it for the world, but now our list looks just about like yours.
Just last night I said to my Hubby is this Thursday or Friday? Sometimes the days just blend together. HaHa...
We love being able to do things on the spur of the moment or just plain do nothing at all.
Dave loves being able to wear shorts about 9 months of the year. Never happened before we moved to the greater Sacramento area.
Love the cartoon you posted too.
That's about it in a nutshell.

I transitioned to retirement by working 3.5 days a...

2012-02-11T10:01:54.187-06:00
I transitioned to retirement by working 3.5 days a week. It was enjoyable.

I am with you Linda. I sometimes substitute blog r...

2012-02-11T09:59:52.954-06:00
I am with you Linda. I sometimes substitute blog reading for the newspaper.

I did 1-2 days volunteering at the grade school. I...

2012-02-11T09:29:55.624-06:00
I did 1-2 days volunteering at the grade school. I decided I didn't like it at all. Linda still works one day a week and then I meet her it town for lunch.

Lana is my sister, and we have days just like your...

2012-02-11T09:11:14.433-06:00
Lana is my sister, and we have days just like your! I read more blogs than actual blogging!

Thanks for the comment Lana! I think that people e...

2012-02-11T08:41:48.718-06:00
Thanks for the comment Lana! I think that people either retire or stay in the workforce as volunteers. Nice when a person has that choice.

Your retirement sounds a lot like mine.

2012-02-11T08:37:55.944-06:00
Your retirement sounds a lot like mine.

I agree Ma. I suspect that moderation is one of th...

2012-02-11T08:12:59.194-06:00
I agree Ma. I suspect that moderation is one of the keys to living well.

I say everything in moderation. Coffee is a gift f...

2012-02-11T06:55:14.761-06:00
I say everything in moderation. Coffee is a gift from above:)

Thanks Sue for the comment and for posting the &qu...

2012-02-10T19:04:24.276-06:00
Thanks Sue for the comment and for posting the "I Am Second" video.

So glad you posted this too, Bob. We met Scott whe...

2012-02-10T18:55:27.627-06:00
So glad you posted this too, Bob.
We met Scott when he was appearing in San Francisco many years ago. He came off the ice and sat on the stairs beside my boys. Such a gentleman.
His spirit is contagious. I do love his sparkly eyes and smile. There is no guile there.

On that we agree Alex! Have a great weekend!

2012-02-10T15:47:23.757-06:00
On that we agree Alex! Have a great weekend!