tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post2316901485626107508..comments2024-03-28T20:04:20.286-07:00Comments on One Cʘsmos: Ask Not for Whom the Trolls YellGagdad Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-14627755531874689772007-06-02T06:46:00.000-07:002007-06-02T06:46:00.000-07:00What I find curious is that Van or Julie or Joan o...What I find curious is that Van or Julie or Joan or Will or any of us, actually, have a distinct "voice".<BR/>But the trolls all sound the same- and I don't think it's just because so many of them are 'anonymous.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-45288429018062178252007-06-01T15:53:00.000-07:002007-06-01T15:53:00.000-07:00hoarhey ~ That's my Dad. He's a rather poor satiri...hoarhey ~ That's my Dad. He's a rather poor satirist. Otherwise, he runs pretty hot; but I'm biased.CARL TOFFLEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02836752184937582883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-83178164503044824692007-06-01T13:47:00.000-07:002007-06-01T13:47:00.000-07:00ronjon, I have a special place of ire for people w...ronjon, I have a special place of ire for people who seek to use flattery as a way to divide me from those whom I choose as my friends. <BR/><BR/>Do you understand?Ephrem Antony Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00032465992619034619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-81302036392232463312007-06-01T11:22:00.000-07:002007-06-01T11:22:00.000-07:00NoMo said "Just because He already knows what all ...NoMo said "Just because He already knows what all our choices will be, doesn't mean we still don't have to make them. "<BR/><BR/>Right you are... (finished my comment for me, thanks!)Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-28088114073270756042007-06-01T10:58:00.000-07:002007-06-01T10:58:00.000-07:00Van - As I said, "I personally have to somehow put...Van - As I said, "I personally have to somehow put it in the context of Romans 8:29-30". Perhaps it is a reflection of God's omniscience. After all, it is His choice that we are even here. Just because He already knows what all our choices will be, doesn't mean we still don't have to make them.NoMohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01100042056270224683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-59765592418711966342007-06-01T10:06:00.000-07:002007-06-01T10:06:00.000-07:00ronjon said "...as you have non-functioning, cauli...ronjon said "...as you have non-functioning, cauliflower ears..." and <BR/><BR/>"Try to go easy on the curious, and ignore the angry. Anger carries its own penalty, the first being denial. It spreads from there."<BR/><BR/>Gottal love such spot on self diagnosis & medication.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-4410591275034539842007-06-01T10:02:00.000-07:002007-06-01T10:02:00.000-07:00NoMo said... Van and Susannah - Of course I agree ...NoMo said... <BR/>Van and Susannah - Of course I agree about free will. But I also personally have to somehow put it in the context of Romans 8:29-30, etc. "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son..." taking that 'predestined', as a 'it is written' and therefore Fate has more to do with your choices, than your choosing does - sorry NoMo, but that's just a little too literal a reading for me.<BR/><BR/>Now I could give it some credence as 'those who conform their lives to follow truth, will eventually lead lives that will make them first-born among many brethren' and so forth. <BR/><BR/>As I think the back and forth between James and Gagdad illustrated, the 'giving up' of accepting, and prayer, versus the mistaken use of zen meditating as a means of attaining satori shows, that which might be called Grace is upon you most often when you've hit rock bottom, stopped striving for it. I think of it as when you are trying so hard to remember a name on the tip of your tongue, straining towards the name... right there... argh! Can't get it! - and then as you give up, and go back to eating - poof! there it is blurting out of your mouth. I think your memory had it right there, but you were seeking after it elsewhere. In seeking for, you are telling your memory 'don't bother me with that now, I'm trying to find something!', it's only when you turn away from the chase, turn back around towards the source, that it can drop what you had given up on finding into your open arms.<BR/><BR/>At the root of our souls, in it's first principles, the 'answer' the 'key' is there, sometimes when we seek, we do so by turning away from the source, and it is only when we've given up trying to find it out there, turn back towards the humus at our roots, that it can say 'Good to have you back, here you go'.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-41349662312315231732007-06-01T09:49:00.000-07:002007-06-01T09:49:00.000-07:00ronjon said... "Humans get a pass for this also, u...ronjon said... "Humans get a pass for this also, unless you're talking to a fundy christian, who's adamant that the penalty for not falling into step with him and his party (hook) line (and sinker) is...eternal damnation."<BR/><BR/>Problem with your attempt at thought there (it's an inbred lefty thing, not completely your fault), is that he's telling you you need to make a choice - he's not forcing you to do it - as for instance the islambies do, and (cue the sound bite):<BR/><BR/>"All you gotta do is make someone overly concerned with "not" thinking like you do with some trumped up fear, and you stand a good shot at getting them ..." worked up into pushing something like enforced recycling? genocide via banning DDT? Kyoto anybody? (actually you can insert any leftist policy proposal of your choice here - all work on forcing others to do as you would choose).<BR/><BR/>"Look out! Here comes a leftist!"<BR/><BR/>Duh.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-6750940502833304632007-06-01T08:48:00.000-07:002007-06-01T08:48:00.000-07:00Everyone's too busy defending the trail of dung th...<I>Everyone's too busy defending the trail of dung this "church" leaves behind. The water of life served up here in the blog&comments taken as a whole has begun to stink, consistently.</I><BR/><BR/>Thanks River & the always projecting & insightful Hoarhey,for proving my point. I will certainly try to take your advice and not come back. Unfortunately or fortunately, the need to point up another's faults is often stronger than the desire to rid myself of my own. We both know Hoarhey I am not talking to you, as you have non-functioning, cauliflower ears from all the beatings you've taken over the years, and besides have no further need for either self-reflection or inner work. Nor, apparently, inner peace. So I'm only talking <I>at</I> you. Never mind, go back to the heavy bag. <BR/><BR/>River, you are another story, a genuine work in progress and unafraid to show it. I admire you even if I don't always agree with you. (take another look at that 100% part, for example). God's shine be within you.<BR/><BR/>Personally, the rancor here has begun to draw me more than the succor. Yes, that's my specific problem and I admit it. I suggest I'm not alone. Try to go easy on the curious, and ignore the angry. Anger carries its own penalty, the first being denial. It spreads from there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-6844554495865171182007-06-01T08:28:00.000-07:002007-06-01T08:28:00.000-07:00"Everyone's too busy defending the trail of dung t..."Everyone's too busy defending the trail of dung this "church" leaves behind. The water of life served up here in the blog&comments taken as a whole has begun to stink, consistently."<BR/><BR/>Whereas this individual leaves behind such a *pleasant* odor wherever he goes. :)<BR/><BR/>Talk about irrational prejudice...how could anybody read this blog and walk away with "fear as motivator" ringing in his ears? Only if it's already between his ears to begin with and he can't see anything else.<BR/><BR/>I think it's incontrovertible proof that they're not actually *reading.* Just spewing.Susannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16381272662339466736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-82900466177340855422007-06-01T08:05:00.000-07:002007-06-01T08:05:00.000-07:00Ronjon;Saver of souls, defender of humanity.I thin...Ronjon;<BR/>Saver of souls, defender of humanity.<BR/>I think whomever is going to get your tediously circular message already has. Get a life or fix the skip in your brain and come up with something new.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-56479322665396397022007-06-01T07:52:00.000-07:002007-06-01T07:52:00.000-07:00News flash:Humans get a pass for this also, unless...<I>News flash:<BR/>Humans get a pass for this also, unless you're talking to a fundy christian, who's adamant that the penalty for not falling into step with him and his party (hook) line (and sinker) is...eternal damnation. The "fear as motivator" angle works so well even cavemen can do it. And did. And it's still being worked hard by unscrupulous salesman today, in selling anything from global warming to life insurance. ... (etc)</I><BR/><BR/>100% wrong, man. The law of necessity is beneath God; he judges only to correct and only in love. If there is a condemnation it is we who do it, "I have not come to condemn the world, for it has condemned itself already"? If we speak against leftism it is for the same reason that Christ spoke against the Pharisees - we speak against what we see is wrong. If you think we fear leftists or are trying to promote a fear of them you are misled. <BR/><BR/>Bob writes, more or less, the way a jazzman plays. This is similar to how many of us comment. So, why not just leave? <BR/><BR/>Humans get no pass for it. God demands that we be just. This is no justice, and thus is due for castigation in the least. Fear mongering is a base tactic unless there truly is something to fear.<BR/><BR/>etc. <BR/><BR/>Phew. Just don't comment if you don't have something to add, or some kind of entertainment. You're neither.Ephrem Antony Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00032465992619034619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-59645401595677396602007-06-01T07:46:00.000-07:002007-06-01T07:46:00.000-07:00I believe Kalomiros said, "We are to become what w...I believe Kalomiros said, "We are to become what we always were"? That is his interpretation of predestination; that we are something essentially, and that our temporal life sort of reveals that thing. Kind of like we're all seeds, and until we're placed in the soil no-one will know if we will germinate and burst forth from the surface of the earth.Ephrem Antony Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00032465992619034619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-65989815878373144442007-06-01T07:45:00.000-07:002007-06-01T07:45:00.000-07:00101. I like that.Ricky Racloon said:"Alan Mackenzi...101. I like that.<BR/><BR/>Ricky Racloon said:<BR/><BR/>"Alan Mackenzie,<BR/>Have you noticed the bunnies do not take pictures of you.<BR/>They never will.<BR/>Don’t take that personal.<BR/>They could never grasp why you take pictures of them no better than you won’t, at the moment. Similarly they do not want to know why.<BR/>There is no need for pictures.<BR/>So they just go munching along.<BR/>Animals get a pass for this."<BR/><BR/>News flash:<BR/>Humans get a pass for this also, unless you're talking to a fundy christian, who's adamant that the penalty for not falling into step with him and his party (hook) line (and sinker) is...eternal damnation. The "fear as motivator" angle works so well even cavemen can do it. And did. And it's still being worked hard by unscrupulous salesman today, in selling anything from global warming to life insurance. All you gotta do is make someone overly concerned with "not" thinking like you do with some trumped up fear, and you stand a good shot at getting them to at least not realize you're selling something. Kind of, for example, like mixing spiritual insights with fear of "leftists". You're gonna sell some books.<BR/> <BR/>Look out! Here comes a leftist! Quick, to the OC blog, where the assembled chorus will help you toss...whatever you find at hand!<BR/><BR/>Step back out into the real world, kits. Daddy has shown you the world, now get off his back and start "seeing" for yourselves. Daddy's got his own work to do. This audience factor is just weighing him down. Even a caveman can see it. There's no room for enlightenment here. Everyone's too busy defending the trail of dung this "church" leaves behind. The water of life served up here in the blog&comments taken as a whole has begun to stink, consistently.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-38378805674425457472007-06-01T07:23:00.000-07:002007-06-01T07:23:00.000-07:00Van and Susannah - Of course I agree about free wi...Van and Susannah - Of course I agree about free will. But I also personally have to somehow put it in the context of Romans 8:29-30, etc. "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified." <BR/><BR/>For me, there was always some kind of "drawing to Him" going on. At least that's how I describe it.NoMohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01100042056270224683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-45877953506612121392007-06-01T06:49:00.000-07:002007-06-01T06:49:00.000-07:00Lisa, that was a gut-buster!Why does A.M. bother w...Lisa, that was a gut-buster!<BR/><BR/>Why does A.M. bother with us? We're hopeless. :D<BR/><BR/>Van...<BR/><BR/>"Personaly, I think it has to do with free will - if awareness of God could be communicated, given, triggered, it wouldn't be what it is - a personal opening up, not a passive reaction."<BR/><BR/>I think you are absolutely right. The "evidence" is external change resulting from inner transformation.<BR/><BR/>I'm married to a former pot-head who skipped school at every opportunity, would rather work on his dirt bike, and had zero concern for what "authority" thought. He just plain didn't care about grades, responsibility, etc.<BR/><BR/>What would cause a person like him to start applying himself, carrying a Bible around, singing hymns with other Christians in a church, facing rejection from his former friends, voluntarily going to Bible school...eventually getting a doctorate in systematic theology and teaching others about God?<BR/><BR/>What effected the inner transformation? People who knew him then do not believe it when they hear what he's doing now. <BR/><BR/>That's the part that's difficult to convey. He says it was like being "placed under arrest" by the Holy Spirit, and that was the result of some simple, ordinary words spoken to him, something to the effect of, "It's not too late today."<BR/><BR/>Believe me, if it weren't a reality, a man like my husband would have nothing to do with it. He is a good judge of truth, and a skeptic when it comes to emotional hoodwinking. He doesn't follow the crowd. It was exactly like you described, an "inner door opening."<BR/><BR/>I don't have a then/now experience, but there's the experience of divine love in a time of utter brokenness, enveloping, tender, so undeserved. It could melt the hardest heart. But you are so right, it's not easy to convey. There's the experience of deep conviction--not condemnation, but that sense of being "under arrest" by the ultimate Authority, a sense of "choose ye this day," that my husband described. How can you describe that to someone else?<BR/><BR/>I can see how someone living on the horizontal plane could easily designate it insanity.Susannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16381272662339466736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-30145918971630321082007-06-01T05:40:00.000-07:002007-06-01T05:40:00.000-07:00The Great White Raccoon...!but then again I did fa...<A HREF="http://www.calusanature.com/Animal%20Facts/Raccoon.htm" REL="nofollow">The Great White Raccoon...!</A><BR/><BR/><I>but then again I did fall for that tick scam! ;)<BR/><BR/>hee hee~!</I><BR/><BR/>No! Bad Lisa! *eyes cross*<BR/><BR/>She's makin' trouble again!Ephrem Antony Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00032465992619034619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-1898711884836428902007-06-01T05:00:00.000-07:002007-06-01T05:00:00.000-07:00Alan Mackenzie,Have you noticed the bunnies do not...Alan Mackenzie,<BR/>Have you noticed the bunnies do not take pictures of you.<BR/>They never will.<BR/>Don’t take that personal.<BR/>They could never grasp why you take pictures of them no better than you won’t, at the moment. Similarly they do not want to know why.<BR/>There is no need for pictures.<BR/>So they just go munching along.<BR/>Animals get a pass for this.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589423819039764711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-78115525677258780632007-06-01T04:50:00.000-07:002007-06-01T04:50:00.000-07:00Speaking of laundry, Plato’s cave reminded me of ....Speaking of laundry, Plato’s cave reminded me of ..well.. a Three Stooges episode I watched a very long time ago. Funny how things stick with you.<BR/><BR/>Sorry, ladies, for the 3S flashback.<BR/><BR/>The episode begins with the Stooges in their new business venture.<BR/>This time it’s a laundry service.<BR/><BR/>Larry is furiously trying to remove a stain from a pair of pants.<BR/>He’s scrubbing and scrubbing and he can’t make a dent.<BR/>Except I think now he has cleaned a hole right through the pants to the table.<BR/><BR/>He lifts the pants and there is the same spot on the table!<BR/><BR/>He turns around and sees the same shaped spot as a hole on the window curtain.<BR/><BR/>Son of a gun.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589423819039764711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-76865983994984500572007-06-01T04:46:00.000-07:002007-06-01T04:46:00.000-07:00I figure that A. Mack gave his atheism thing his b...I figure that A. Mack gave his atheism thing his best shot, but seeing that none of it "stuck," opted to try to convince us of our foolishness by <I>telling stories.</I> (Bless his <I>concern</I> for us, for when he hit "publish," it was the middle of the night in England!)<BR/><BR/>Personally, I am forever prejudiced toward non-fiction -- so my preference for Will's caveman stories came easily.walthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388218390016612051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-25789239907323263082007-06-01T04:16:00.000-07:002007-06-01T04:16:00.000-07:00Ah, but Van. You did get the memo, didn't you? Sev...Ah, but Van. You did get the memo, didn't you? <BR/><BR/>Several neuropsychologists have proven that there's no such thing as free will. I read it in the NYT -- and maybe here, too.<BR/><BR/>As I recall, their method was exquisitely simple and ingenious. They just got into a cage, locked it, and concluded that they were locked in a cage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-48903198068267773012007-06-01T01:55:00.000-07:002007-06-01T01:55:00.000-07:00Honig:It's on my desert island short list too, alo...Honig:<BR/><BR/>It's on my desert island short list too, along with Turando featuring Renata Tebaldi, a boxed set of Gregorian Chant, a complete set of Carlos Gardel, an OP Flamenco dated '56, Hawaiian Steel Guitar Classics 1927-1934 (or so) & something titled 'Music Goes Round' that's a mixture of American Standards from the '20s, '30s & early '40s recorded at those times.<BR/><BR/>Have both the early & later GVs, but not State of Wonder. Just might have to get it, especially if '81 sounds even better & comes with nifty liner notes.<BR/><BR/>Tell me they have NOT engineer out GG's humming. Know some find it annoying, but I love hearing what went on in his head while he played. An unexpected bonus, if you will.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-68912734703368832682007-06-01T01:06:00.000-07:002007-06-01T01:06:00.000-07:00About all the consternation about our not giving t...About all the consternation about our not giving the trolls the keys to the kingdom, did you notice that they really seemed to think that we would be able to if we had opened the door ourselves? Like sneaking someone into a theater by the back door?<BR/><BR/>They don't seem to get that it doesn't work that way. Personaly, I think it has to do with free will - if awareness of God could be communicated, given, triggered, it wouldn't be what it is - a personal opening up, not a passive reaction. In the world of scientific knowledge, it isn't knowledge - information that can be reliably acted upon, unless it is reproducable and communicable from one person to another. But knowledge of the spirit, is interior knowledge, personal - able to be felt, absorbed, reveled in, pondered - within you. The door opens up on the inside to an inner outside (that ought to rile the goons up). It is real and tangible to you, but only for you. You can describe it - somewhat, give clues on how you experience it, and how you go about it - but they don't have the same landscape to match it up to, each person has to blaze their own inner paths.<BR/><BR/>Funniest moment today? Taking a quick gander at the a.m. rude-eu's blog, and seeing in the comments his refering to "The poor form they demonstrated on my blog, Austin's blog, and Bob's carried forth a message that they were not prepared to engage in rational argumentation". Talk about ISS!<BR/><BR/>Speaking of which, In-Laws here, beer o'clock tracking with scotch o'clock means up stupidly late o'clock - night (hmm morning?)all!Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-78334137068922088192007-05-31T22:21:00.000-07:002007-05-31T22:21:00.000-07:00The hot and cold running guy in the hat and dark g...The hot and cold running guy in the hat and dark glasses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-33500661112524335082007-05-31T21:05:00.000-07:002007-05-31T21:05:00.000-07:00Mac does take nice pictures of butterflies and bun...Mac does take nice pictures of butterflies and bunnies. Perhaps his introduction to God will come via a metamorphing insect.<BR/><BR/>Nomo, fine piece by Roper, btw. He would be a great role model if I were capable, so for now I hold him as an ideal man. He can tie a mean fly, I can attest to that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com