tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post3344903143729761411..comments2024-03-29T06:03:45.545-07:00Comments on One Cʘsmos: Identity and EternityGagdad Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-28702235386320338342010-07-24T07:38:21.395-07:002010-07-24T07:38:21.395-07:00GB wrote: "Therefore, sacred history does not...GB wrote: "Therefore, sacred history does not consist primarily of events, people, and objects, but of words that we may unpack and understand. And this is, of course, why the Gospel narratives are "historical," but if they are only historical fish stories, then I think you're missing the bait, since they are the quintessence of divine history and therefore susceptible to inexhaustible layers of meaning.<br /><br />Think of the difference between history and a great novel: the former attempts to simply describe "what happened," while the latter creates the happenings in order to convey a much larger point."<br /><br />Getting to the point:<br /><br /><i> Now since our eternal state is as certainly ours, as our present state; since we are as certainly to live for ever, as we now live at all; it is plain, that we cannot judge of the value of any particular time, as to us, but by comparing it to that eternal duration, for which we are created.</i><br /><br />-William Law (1686-1761), A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life [1728]<br /><br />May I be given patience in the knowledge that He is preparing me for life eternal. . . uh, " except without [my] self intact. D'oh!" Amen. <br /><br />Personally, the thought of "remaining as a bio-psychic hypostasis" just doesn't ring my poetic chime...cause the ole bod jest ain't what she use to be.Mizz Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02325435271880036807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-82528165427427505632010-07-24T06:26:35.313-07:002010-07-24T06:26:35.313-07:00now THAT'S a swell song
who knew there was a...now <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR3xcZ-osqE" rel="nofollow">THAT'S</a> a swell song<br /><br />who knew there was a vid?<br /><br />in a NY cab one afternoon my spirits were lifted by this 'square' unprofound hip-hoplessest tunegehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02015936407999495181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-13173786540563875392010-07-23T16:14:46.414-07:002010-07-23T16:14:46.414-07:00I didn't wanna go all Jackie Mason on those sc...I didn't wanna go all Jackie Mason on those schmucks but they forced my hand.<br /><br />BTW, I wonder if they'll ever discover a schmuck neuron? And if they do will they finally be struck speechless when they realize they have more schmuck neurons than the average schmuck?USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-3565426128072312942010-07-23T16:07:34.292-07:002010-07-23T16:07:34.292-07:00"Eagleman explains that Frances Crick, the No..."Eagleman explains that Frances Crick, the Nobel laureate biologist whom he got to know at the Salk Institute, once told him, “What we lose in mystery we gain in awe,”..."<br /><br />Smock n' awe. <br /><br />Or, to be more accurate: schmuck n' awe.USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-40568465938615966362010-07-23T16:05:02.152-07:002010-07-23T16:05:02.152-07:00Bob-
Precisely! LOL!
...Hey! That's one of...Bob- <br /><br />Precisely! LOL! <br /><br />...Hey! That's one of them triple entendre's ain't it?USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-61338967497982840552010-07-23T12:52:38.938-07:002010-07-23T12:52:38.938-07:00NB said "Finally, it is the responsibility of...NB said "Finally, it is the responsibility of all ethical business people to resist the depredations of Obama and his socialist cabal, even to the extent of moving to another jurisdiction (temporarily). Nothing is worse than firms (like BP) which collude and connive with socialists in order to produce a poisonous mockery of economic freedom.<br /><br />I.e., I don't want no stinkin' "stimulus" dollars. I want low tax rates, honest, diligent workers and a sound legal system which has not been co-opted by those palling around with terrorists."<br /><br /><i>Amen, and say it loud!</i><br /><br />quote, <br />"...and take pleasure in entertaining multiple hypotheses.”<br /><br />Translation: We delight in contradictions and other ideas which reject reality in favor of whatever we want it to be."Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-64422991451627347872010-07-23T12:26:05.499-07:002010-07-23T12:26:05.499-07:00More from the above link:
Eagleman explains that ...More from the above link:<br /><br /><i>Eagleman explains that Frances Crick, the Nobel laureate biologist whom he got to know at the Salk Institute, once told him, “What we lose in mystery we gain in awe,” and the phrase stuck with him. “Our goal in some sense is to reduce the mystery, but that doesn’t reduce the awe,” Eagleman says. If scientists could <b>produce a neural map that explains why chocolate ice cream tastes good</b>, it would still taste just as good. The mystery would be gone, but the experience wouldn’t be diminished.</i><br /><br />Now, this Eagleman guy is by all accounts a hyper-IQ neuroscientist out of U of Texas. So why do people like this so often make such a fundamental error immediately recognizable by even the most junior raccoon: <i>the map is not the same as the territory!</i><br /><br />This fallacy was debunked about 200 years ago (earlier?) yet no matter how smart these people are they still seem to be missing a massive swathe of a normal, healthy human intellect.Stephen Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13474300559219020772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-5197680227256949482010-07-23T12:17:09.609-07:002010-07-23T12:17:09.609-07:00A final note on business in the world of Obama:
I...A final note on business in the world of Obama:<br /><br />I want the freedom to start a business quickly and efficiently. I also want a system whereby my new business crashes and burns without further ado if people simply don't want to buy my product.<br /><br />Europe for decades has stymied both of these. Dreadfully hard to start a new business; old moribund ones are propped up by government for decades to avoid "job losses".<br /><br />Creative destruction is where it's at, baby. Many, many Americans no longer understand this (it certainly isn't taught in "higher" education).Stephen Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13474300559219020772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-40536747633928491702010-07-23T12:12:34.190-07:002010-07-23T12:12:34.190-07:00A neuroscientist imagines life beyond the brain.
...<a href="http://killingthebuddha.com/mag/witness/the-struggle-for-the-possible-soul-of-david-eagleman/" rel="nofollow">A neuroscientist imagines life beyond the brain.</a><br /><br />Exerpt:<br /><br /><i>Eagleman rejects not only conventional religion but also the labels of agnostic and atheist. In their place, he has coined the term possibilian: a word to describe those who “celebrate the vastness of our ignorance, are unwilling to commit to any particular made-up story, and take pleasure in entertaining multiple hypotheses.”</i>Stephen Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13474300559219020772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-27090698119657963202010-07-23T12:09:29.013-07:002010-07-23T12:09:29.013-07:00Julie:
Thanks (re baptism). Your earlier comment ...Julie:<br /><br />Thanks (re baptism). Your earlier comment seemed fine to me. To clarify, I certainly didn't mean that the US should copy other nations in major ways. All I meant was that smaller nations have always had the advantage of comparing their performance to the US, and thereby having a useful metric indicating how well they are doing.<br /><br />The problem for the US is that when things <i>really</i> go pear-shaped as I believe they are under Obama (I'm much more convinced and concerned than even 4-5 months ago) then it is sometimes hard to understand just how bad things are unless you can look at other nations to get a sense of how fast you're falling. My example of Canada and IPOs is about as radical a change as can be imagined under a new President. The result has been the worst unemployment crisis in 75 years, and at least 50% of the population is actively working to make it worse (by supporting "progressive" solutions).<br /><br />Finally, it is the <i>responsibility</i> of all ethical business people to resist the depredations of Obama and his socialist cabal, even to the extent of moving to another jurisdiction (temporarily). Nothing is worse than firms (like BP) which collude and connive with socialists in order to produce a poisonous mockery of economic freedom.<br /><br />I.e., I don't want no stinkin' "stimulus" dollars. I want low tax rates, honest, diligent workers and a sound legal system which has not been co-opted by those palling around with terrorists.Stephen Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13474300559219020772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-54578253288287981792010-07-23T09:47:05.069-07:002010-07-23T09:47:05.069-07:00Yes, Ben, a little hard work never killed anyone. ...Yes, Ben, a little hard work never killed anyone. But why take a chance?Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-52247749755102391792010-07-23T09:11:10.953-07:002010-07-23T09:11:10.953-07:00I've been catching up also.
Busy week. My love...I've been catching up also.<br />Busy week. My lovely taskmaster, I mean wife, thinks that good weather indicates more opportunities to work.<br /><br />I concur there is certainly more opportunities to work, however this doesn't mean one should take those opportunities all at once.<br /><br />So today I'm gonna tell her I'll get to it when I get to it. I'm gonna lay down the law. <br />Then I'm gonna bask in Oly Slackitude and rebrainwash my brain in an OC Bobblebath while soaking up Raccoon lore.<br />I don't wanna be known as just anoher chore whore. <br /><br />Yep. A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.<br /><br />Oh, hi dear. What? The trash needs dumped? And you have a grocery list? Say, is there beer on there? There is? Okay, I'll get right on that. <br /><br />What? Don't look at me like I sold out. You heard her, there's beer on the list! <br />I can't very well rule with an iron fist without beer now can I? <br /><br />Outstanding series, Bob!USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-22909689272739114382010-07-23T08:31:07.387-07:002010-07-23T08:31:07.387-07:00Hm; looking back at my comment from last night, th...Hm; looking back at my comment from last night, the tone could be read as unnecessarily antagonistic. Sorry about that, NB - it wasn't meant to be, I simply disagreed. Probably could have said it better, though.<br /><br />Congrats on the baptism! I don't have any insights, but I hope it's a beautiful ceremony.juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-40253578993856584542010-07-23T05:37:30.160-07:002010-07-23T05:37:30.160-07:00heard this in a while?
[live ]heard <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWnRMAVWVjk&feature=related" rel="nofollow">this </a>in a while?<br />[<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO3Y4W5xJdI&feature=related" rel="nofollow">live</a> ]gehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02015936407999495181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-56555449381798213062010-07-22T17:17:00.457-07:002010-07-22T17:17:00.457-07:00One problem in the US today is that Americans are ...<i>One problem in the US today is that Americans are not in the habit of looking to other nations as yardsticks for anything</i><br /><br />I'm gonna have to disagree with you there, NB. It's partly because so many Americans romanticize Europe and all things European that we've dug ourselves into this hole, or have you forgotten the whole "the world will like us once Obama is president" meme. Or the "everybody else has socialized medicine, why can't we?" meme. Or the "British people aren't allowed to carry guns. Gun-toting Americans are so violent!" meme.juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-41625797529024096692010-07-22T14:31:02.017-07:002010-07-22T14:31:02.017-07:00Our daughter is getting a Catholic baptism this we...Our daughter is getting a Catholic baptism this weekend. I loved the revelation (and for me it was revelatory) in today's post re the virgin birth. I'd be curious if anyone has any similar insights into any of the sacraments, including baptism.Stephen Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13474300559219020772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-15684276939620829512010-07-22T14:22:06.510-07:002010-07-22T14:22:06.510-07:00Just to put the above IPO numbers in perspective: ...Just to put the above IPO numbers in perspective: the US is roughly 10X the size of Canada population-wise. Historically the US has had about a 15-20% higher standard of living. The US ALWAYS had a far more productive business sector, so that in 2008 for example there was 40X as much new activity in the US (not 10X as population would suggest). Today that has dropped to around 3X. This is <i>staggering</i> and means that lowly Canada is vastly outperforming the US in job and wealth creation. Let's hope this is an anomaly. If not, the North American wealth equation is about to be profoundly altered. (Annexation, anyone?)Stephen Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13474300559219020772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-77207219055670603062010-07-22T14:12:42.546-07:002010-07-22T14:12:42.546-07:00OT:
During my travels this week through various v...OT:<br /><br />During my travels this week through various venture capital precincts I was reminded of how countries in Europe and especially next-door Canada have for many decades used the US as an economic yardstick. It was hard for Canada to go too far off the rails since Canadians could easily see that their more dynamic and less socialist neighbor to the south was significantly more prosperous. It was tough to sell socialism when the alternative gleamed so brightly right across the border.<br /><br />Things have changed, to say the least. One problem in the US today is that Americans are not in the habit of looking to other nations as yardsticks for anything (it's never been necessary). That may have to change, and fast.<br /><br />It is beyond doubt that in order to get out of a serious recession new growth is required in the form of new small companies. Historically these startups have created around 90% of new US jobs following a downturn. That engine has stalled under Obama to a degree under-appreciated by almost everyone. For example, Canada has not made the horrific mistakes in the past 10 years that America has (in Canada mortgages are now and have always been issued only to those able to make the payments). In the past few years the value of US initial public offerings (a rough metric used to judge new business growth) has plummeted while simultaneously expanding rapidly in Canada.<br /><br />I had to double-check these figures because at first they seemed almost impossible to believe. This represents the size difference between the US IPO market and that of Canada over the past few years. So, in 2008 US offerings were valued at $28B while those of Canada were $682M. <br /><br /> 2008 41X<br /> 2009 12X<br /> 2010 3.2X (to date)<br /><br />Never in the history of either country has this equation changed even remotely as quickly. Five years ago nobody in my position would dream of starting a high tech company in Canada or Australia or Hong Kong. Today that situation has changed so radically that for our new company we will be hiring about 50% of our workforce from the US (i.e., Americans who will move to Toronto). <br /><br />While in NY I listened again to NPR and heard people whining about extending unemployment benefits. Talk about fiddling while Rome burns!<br /><br />The Democrats have to be removed from office, and another Reagan found or it's <i>sic transit gloria mundi</i> baby.Stephen Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13474300559219020772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-60233418868136967602010-07-22T13:50:50.388-07:002010-07-22T13:50:50.388-07:00"No post tomorrow."
Probably a well-tim..."No post tomorrow."<br /><br />Probably a well-timed pause for most of us. As per mushroom, I'm catching up with what was a stunningly lucid series of posts this week. A day to re-read and reflect certainly can't hurt.Stephen Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13474300559219020772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-48640891169912061832010-07-22T13:35:22.371-07:002010-07-22T13:35:22.371-07:00It's been awhile. You sure have a knack for g...It's been awhile. You sure have a knack for giving voice to the unknowable. Interesting as usual- how we keep trying in spite of that. Faith and reason struggle constantly with one another. To me, it suffices to say that the Deity, needing eyes and ears and the rest, in order to have self awareness, creates creatures so 'he' can be 'alive'. Ever hear the statement "dead I can't be born, living I can't die?"John Hindshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05654010029465940318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-5456881404017566432010-07-22T13:19:30.056-07:002010-07-22T13:19:30.056-07:00This has been a powerful series of posts this week...This has been a powerful series of posts this week. I'm just catching up. <br /><br />It should not be new to Christians, but I'm afraid it all too often will be. Recently I was looking for a graduation present for one of our neighbors' son. My wife insisted on going to the Christian bookstore. He's a good kid; however, I'm not sure he's ready for <i>OCUG</i> and indoctrination into the cult. I was content to look for something a little more traditional, but I searched in vain.mushroomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07651027035577798096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-25514463586797460312010-07-22T12:23:33.120-07:002010-07-22T12:23:33.120-07:00"No post tomorrow."
(blink)
Would it h..."No post tomorrow."<br /><br />(blink)<br /><br />Would it help if we brought a shrubbery?Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-26768509944002126682010-07-22T12:22:26.773-07:002010-07-22T12:22:26.773-07:00There it is,
"You might say that the second ...There it is,<br /><br />"You might say that the second birth activates our latent or potential hypostasis as authentic person..."<br /><br />, revisited upon today,<br /><br />"... Looked at this way, we might say that there was a kind of "general immanence" of God in creation. But with the incarnation, it becomes very particular to mankind and, more importantly, to the person."<br /><br />... and makes it possible to tell Fish stories that are true.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-42117008373318155872010-07-22T12:11:11.422-07:002010-07-22T12:11:11.422-07:00"So, the second birth from above allows one t..."So, the second birth from above allows one to overcome the infirmities of createdness and to participate in the divine existence. For the Christian, this is only possible because God became man -- and not just a man, but Man. In other words, the effect was to undo a problem that afflicted man as such, so that all men could participate in the accomplishment of the one man."<br /><br />Harkening back to yesterday (?), through Truth, lies the way back to Personhood?Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-47151599281321822362010-07-22T12:06:59.309-07:002010-07-22T12:06:59.309-07:00"And I hope this doesn't totally alienate..."And I hope this doesn't totally alienate non-Christian readers, because I believe there is something here for everyone, if you can only grasp the deeper principles involved."<br /><br />Not at all, and yes indeedy.<br /><br />"When Christianity is presented only as a historical narrative, then it's quite difficult to abstract anything more general..."<br /><br />Yep.<br /><br />"Therefore, sacred history does not consist primarily of events, people, and objects, but of words that we may unpack and understand. And this is, of course, why the Gospel narratives are "historical," but if they are only historical fish stories, then I think you're missing the bait, since they are the quintessence of divine history and therefore susceptible to inexhaustible layers of meaning."<br /><br />Yes, though I'd amend it to "...but of words, assembling imagery, conveying concepts, which we may then unpack and understand."... but that may be just me and my method acting.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.com