"OTTAWA — Canada could face an Arab Spring-style “uprising” if Prime Minister Stephen Harper doesn’t give a clear indication in his meeting with aboriginal leaders here Tuesday that he’s prepared to take their concerns seriously, a B.C. native leader warned Monday."
Over what, exactly? The endless billions in perpetual hand-outs from Canada?
Or the fact that Indians get to have all the fruits of western culture handed to them while remaining flash-frozen in their own pre-industrial culture?
Fine. Throw out your eyeglasses, medicines, cars, snowmobiles, and iPhones and we'll end all our oppressive subsidies.
Wouldn't it be better to, you know, ditch the reserve, join Canada and get jobs and live productive lives like the rest of us?
We would welcome you with open arms.
And that's the way the Ball bounces.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Mark Steyn Asks...
"What First World jurisdiction needs over a fortnight to count a hundred thousand votes?"
Good question. And the answer is?
Good question. And the answer is?
Saturday, January 07, 2012
Mark Steyn: Politics trumps Left's empathy
I'm at an African internet cafe. Chewing up some valuable i-time to post this from Mark Steyn.
Well worth reading.
Sorry I've been late approving comments etc. I have been deeply unavailable. May post some pictures from our trip to Kruger National Park if I get a good connection.
Well worth reading.
Sorry I've been late approving comments etc. I have been deeply unavailable. May post some pictures from our trip to Kruger National Park if I get a good connection.
Sunday, January 01, 2012
The Ball Bounces... To Africa
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Fearless Predictions For 2012
Image via Wikipedia2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on earth.
3. The Holy Spirit will still be moving over the earth and among God's people.
4. God will still honor His promises to His people.
5. Faithful people will still suffer persecution for righteousness' sake and their faithful witness to Christ.
6. God's people will still sing praises to God.
7. God will still provide room at His cross for drowning men who seek Him.
8. God's people will still receive God's blessings in abundance.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. We will be one year closer to the coming of the Lord.
"The Word of the Lord endures forever." I Peter 1:25.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Merry Christmas 2011 From Boko Haram
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| Countries in which Islamist terrorist attacks have occurred on or after September 11, 2001.Image via Wikipedia |
The Boko Haram Islamist sect, which aims to impose sharia law across Africa’s most populous country, claimed responsibility for three church bombings, the second Christmas in a row it has caused carnage at Christian houses of worship.Meanwhile, over at Macleans they are bravely taking on Christian fundamentalists who have apparently squashed a Muslim TV show in the US. I posted the following comment:
"carping", "pandering", "zealots", "fanaticism"? Comes across as cheap bigotry rather than reasoned argument.Which got me the following response: "Christians have been massacring Muslims on Christmas Day for a long time...also during Ramadan, Eid and the Haj."
Plus it seems a bit insensitive of Macleans to have this still posted on a day -- Christmas Day no less -- when Muslim extremists have freshly massacred 39 Christians.
Christmas marks the entry of God into fallen creation. It is book-ended by the cross, where the Son of God took evil's best shot and rose victorious over it. So, come on, militant Islam and Christian-haters, give us your best shot -- our victory in Christ is guaranteed. Death is swallowed up in victory. Evil's days are numbered. The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And he shall reign forever and ever.
Those who love Christ affirm the truth of the resurrection; those who hate him, the truth of the cross. God has come and done something and there's nothing you can do about it and even your unbelief and enmity testifies to God's truth.
So merry joy-to-the-world Christmas to all, including those who hate Christ, Christmas, and Christians.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Caledonia Verdict: Justice, Canadian-Style
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| Image via Wikipedia |
"CAYUGA, Ont. — For beating a non-native builder to within an inch of his life during the fiery native occupation in nearby Caledonia, a young aboriginal man was sentenced to less than two years in jail, plus time served – a punishment that leaves the victim’s family demanding an inquiry into how the courts treat First Nations offenders."Some Canadians are more equal -- a lot more equal -- than others.
Question: If a native whacks another native does he a) get a reduced sentence because he's a native, or b) get charged extra -- with a hate crime -- because he whacked a native?
In Canada, the soft racism of diminished expectation is alive and well.
My ancestors lived through the Irish potato famines. Does this buy me anything?
Christmas Countdown: Christmas Myths From Paul Copan
Myths, and mythunderstandings, that is.
Here’s a true-false quiz:
1. Mary and Joseph had to travel as quickly as possible to Bethlehem because Mary could have given birth at any moment.
2. The Bethlehem innkeeper was fully booked, and so Mary had to give birth to Jesus in the barn/stall nearby/behind the inn.
3. Initially, this experience must have been frightening and lonely for Mary and Joseph.
4. “The little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.”
5. The angels who appeared to the shepherds had wings.
Here.
Here’s a true-false quiz:
1. Mary and Joseph had to travel as quickly as possible to Bethlehem because Mary could have given birth at any moment.
2. The Bethlehem innkeeper was fully booked, and so Mary had to give birth to Jesus in the barn/stall nearby/behind the inn.
3. Initially, this experience must have been frightening and lonely for Mary and Joseph.
4. “The little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.”
5. The angels who appeared to the shepherds had wings.
Here.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Breaking: Soccer Goalie Kicks Fan: NDP Demand Foot Registry
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| Image via Wikipedia |
The NDP, viewing the video during a Question Period time-out, were outraged at the assault of this soccer field Occupier and stormed the Canadian legislature demanding the immediate institution of a Foot Registry.
Estimated cost, based on past cost estimates for similar endeavours, is not expected to exceed two million dollars.
The nation's pundits were abuzz. Will this give the NDP a leg-up on the ruling Conservatives, or will PM Harper put his foot down, telling them they don't have a leg to stand on?
The best video of the event is at the 2:40 minute mark. Put the video on, go grab a coffee, and come back for it.
Original news link here.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Urgent Canadian Etiquette Question of the Day
If the FedEx guy tosses your package over the fence into your yard, do you still have to tip him?
Another Urgent Canadian Etiquette Question brought to you by the friendly folks at the Ball Bounces.
Another Urgent Canadian Etiquette Question brought to you by the friendly folks at the Ball Bounces.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Flash: Educator Arrested For Hash (Brown) !!!
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| Image via Wikipedia |
It's enough to give the title "Educator" a bad name.
Now That Jong's Dead, Who Is The Worst Person On The Planet?
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| Image via Wikipedia |
Ding Dong, K-Jong Is Dead
What a wretched man -- he brought misery to millions. Was he the worst man alive? Is there anyone else on the planet who has done more to bring misery, starvation, and death to more people? Mugabe, maybe?
What do you think? Now that Jong's been gonged, who is the worst human being on the planet?
(Leftist votes for George W. Bush who cruelly shovelled hundreds of millions of US dollars towards the AIDS epidemic will not count.)
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Sunday Psalm 18: "In my distress I called upon the Lord"
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| Image via Wikipedia |
1I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
2The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
3I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
5The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
6In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
7Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
8There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
9He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.
10And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
12At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
13The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
14Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
15Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
16He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
17He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
18They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
19He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
21For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.
23I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
24Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
26With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
27For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
28For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
29For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
30As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
31For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
32It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
33He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
34He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
35Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
36Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
37I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
38I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
39For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
41They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
42Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
43Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
45The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
46The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
48He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
49Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
50Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.
Now for the Ball Bounces erudite commentary: wow!
source: biblegateway.com
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Canadian Immigrants Want Their Money Back
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| Image via Wikipedia |
Money back? We all want our money back.
Welcome to Canada.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Trying To Make A Driving Complaint With The Toronto Police
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| Image via Wikipedia |
OK. Here's my minor brush with "the law".
I'm trying to make a driving complaint to the Toronto police. Trucks and/or cars have been mounting the curb and driving along a sidewalk and grass at Byng/Kenneth Avenue in North York.
I caught a guy in a black pick-up doing it Tuesday.
Today I logged on to the Toronto Police website and accessed the Driving Complaint screen. Got about 20 minutes into this when, near the end of the whole thing, it asked for perp vehicle identification information. It was a full-size black truck. I got the license plate number. You would think that would be enough, right? Wrong. The site demands that I enter the Make. Frustrated, I finally enter GMC as a guess. Then it demands that I enter the Model. Without Make and Model, it will not allow you to enter a complaint.
Apparently it's a new system. Had many complaints registered yet, boys? Did you do any testing on the system before you went live?
I phoned the number associated with the screen to seek website assistance. All the person I got could do was tell me she knew nothing about the website, didn't know who I could talk to about the website, and suggested I go into the police station and report the driving complaint directly.
I told her I had tried by phone and they weren't interested. What I didn't tell her was this: t got passed along the police chain twice. The third person I spoke to told me to call 311 and report it to the City of Toronto. Which I did. The next day I got a call from the city of Toronto saying they'd had a swing by and determined it was not their problem, they were passing it off to the transportation dept.
Meanwhile there's some guy in a black truck out there wilfully destroying city property. And somewhere inside the Toronto Police Dept. there's some guy reporting on the successful implementation of a new online citizen reporting system.
And that's the way the Ball bounces.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Sunday Psalm 17: All I want is to see you as you are
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| Image via Wikipedia |
Psalm 17
(A prayer by David.)
The Prayer of an Innocent Person 1I am innocent, LORD!
Won't you listen as I pray
and beg for help?
I am honest!
Please hear my prayer.
2Only you can say
that I am innocent,
because only your eyes
can see the truth.
3You know my heart,
and even during the night
you have tested me
and found me innocent.
I have made up my mind
never to tell a lie.
4I don't do like others.
I obey your teachings
and am not cruel.
5I have followed you,
without ever stumbling.
6I pray to you, God,
because you will help me.
Listen and answer my prayer!
7Show your wonderful love.
Your mighty arm protects those
who run to you
for safety
from their enemies.
8Protect me as you would
your very own eyes;
hide me in the shadow
of your wings.
9Don't let my brutal enemies
attack from all sides
and kill me.
10They refuse to show mercy,
and they keep bragging.
11They have caught up with me!
My enemies are everywhere,
eagerly hoping to smear me
in the dirt.
12They are like hungry lions
hunting for food,
or like young lions
hiding in ambush.
13Do something, LORD!
Attack and defeat them.
Take your sword and save me
from those evil people.
14Use your powerful arm
and rescue me
from the hands of mere humans
whose world won't last. [a] You provide food
for those you love.
Their children have plenty,
and their grandchildren
will have more than enough.
15I am innocent, LORD,
and I will see your face!
When I awake, all I want
is to see you as you are.
Jesus said, "he who has seen me has seen the Father".
Have a good Sunday. Do something different. Ditch work and worry. Play with the kids. Notice nature. Give thanks. Be grateful.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Swiss Chalet's Festive Special... I do the math
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| Image via Wikipedia |
But, the festivized chicken special also comes with a two-for-one coupon on the inside lid of the candy box -- ostensibly worth another $10 or so, but you have to buy two drinks to get it, so lets make it worth $5.00.
I'm eating and drinking for free!
That's great, but doesn't Swiss Chalet realize calling it their Festive Special offends all of us who don't celebrate Festivus? Where's their sensitivity? They dropped Christmas for Festivus??!!
And that's the way the festivized Ball bounces.
Friday, December 02, 2011
Ontario School Replaces Christmas With Multiculturally-Friendly Mush
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| Image by cassie_bedfordgolf via Flickr |
A country that is ashamed of its culture -- a culture upon which its freedoms and laws and institutions historically rest -- deserves to be taken out or over.
Still, in the best tradition of Canadian artistic creativity (except for the no-government-grants bit) I've written a theme song for the great new winterfestivus for the restofus:
Hey, it's that meh time of year
With it's Feb-ru-ary cheer
It may not be May, but it's certainly meh
It's the time between
We'd mention the two-of-'em, but we ain't got the guts...
It's a most, it's a most, it's a most meh-time-of-year!!!
Our new motto: "To make sure we're inclusive we exclude everything!"™
Or, maybe,
Canada. Whatever.™
And that's the way the Ball bounces.
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Oh, This Is Beautiful...
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| Image via Wikipedia |
Quebec's $7-a-day daycare program faces corruption probe.
Oh, this is beautiful.
Two of Quebec's distinguishing characteristics in one headline. The vaunted $7/day daycare -- held up as an exemplary model of socialist Quebec and made possible because the rest of Canada shovels, what is it, seven or eight billion dollars a year in eternal subsidies Quebec's way while Quebec is up to its eyeballs in debt.
Plus, of course, world-class corruption.
Why Quebec puffs itself up and thinks it's something special is beyond me.
It's honest, tax-paying working stiffs who first pay their own way and then the way of others that make Canada great -- not the loads and loads of movers and takers.
And that's the way the Ball bounces.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Rex Murphy
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| Image via Wikipedia |
To be a serious Christian in modern Western culture is to be the favoured easy target of every progressive thinker and every half-witted comedian. It is to have your sensibilities and your deepest beliefs on perpetual call for taunts, mockery and desecration. At a time when all progressives preach full volume for inclusivity and sensitivity, for the utmost care in speech when speaking of others with differing views or hues, Christians, as Christians, are under a constant hail of abuse and disregard. There is nothing too low or too vulgar.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Lucid Canadian Comment of the Day: Falling Asleep In A Tent Is Camping, Not Protesting
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| Image via Wikipedia |
“... falling asleep in a tent in the middle of a park is camping... not protesting.” -- Rachel Young, here.
Meanwhile, overheard at Occupy Toronto: "We're not leaving 'til we put the park back in the condition we found it in!".
OK, I made that one up.
And that's the way the Ball bounces.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Sunday Psalm: 16 - In your presence is fullness of joy
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| Image via Wikipedia |
Psalm 16
A Michtam of David.
1 Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.2 O my soul, you have said to the LORD,
“You are my Lord,
My goodness is nothing apart from You.”
3 As for the saints who are on the earth,
“They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”
4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god;
Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer,
Nor take up their names on my lips.
5 O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You maintain my lot.
6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Yes, I have a good inheritance.
7 I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel;
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the LORD always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.
10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
11 You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
New King James Version (NKJV)
I confess: the Lord is my portion, my cup, my inheritance, my counsel, my instructor, my Rock, my Redeemer, my assurance of life beyond the grave.
How sure am I that Jesus is alive? 100.0%.
Have a good day of down-time rest from whatever you do the rest of the week.
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
* * *
How sure am I that Jesus is alive? 100.0%.
Have a good day of down-time rest from whatever you do the rest of the week.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Aborting Children Gives Chris Selley A Warm Fuzzy Feeling
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| Image via Wikipedia |
Obliterating unborn humans does, Chris?
Thursday, November 17, 2011
It's Samaritan's Purse Week In Canada
Our kitchen table is full of stuff collected over the last two years for the Samaritan's Purse kids. What a glorious sight! We got busy last year and didn't get any shoe-boxes done. We're making up for it this year! My wife is in charge of the operation. I contribute "stuff" as I come across it. My biggest coup this year was getting these little floating rubber ducky things from a pool/patio store in Phoenix. They gave us one every time we visited the store. Don't worry, we bought $1,000 in patio furniture, so they did OK by us.
It's Samaritan's Purse week in Canada, because "Next Week is Collection Week!".
Christmas shoe-boxes for the kids. The words of Jesus never cease to inspire.
Are you filling a Samaritan's Purse shoe-box this year?
It's Samaritan's Purse week in Canada, because "Next Week is Collection Week!".
Christmas shoe-boxes for the kids. The words of Jesus never cease to inspire.
Are you filling a Samaritan's Purse shoe-box this year?
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Quote of the Day: "The dispute between atheism and theism is at bottom a philosophical dispute, not a scientific one"
Image via WikipediaContinuing our look at Alex Rosenberg’s The Atheist’s Guide to Reality, we come to Rosenberg’s treatment of the question “Where did the big bang come from?”...."[T]he dispute between atheism and theism is at bottom a philosophical dispute, not a scientific one." -- Edward Feser, in the combox of the above post, here.
Monday, November 14, 2011
A Question For The Occupiers...
Image by Kimberlyki via FlickrWhat plans do you have to restore the occupied grounds back to their original conditions?Wouldn't most corporations -- the ones you despise -- have a plan in place?
What's yours?
* * *
And wouldn't those same corporations you despise expect to pay for taking over a public space, or otherwise compensate the residents who have been deprived of the use of public space?
What's your plan, Stan?
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Sunday Psalm: 15 - Who may dwell in God's holy hill?
Image via WikipediaPsalm 15
A Psalm of David.
1 LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle?Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
2 He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart;
3 He who does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised,
But he honors those who fear the LORD;
He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 He who does not put out his money at usury,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
source: Biblegateway.com
Centuries later Christ came as the "son of David" and gave us an interpretive key to the Old Testament Scriptures: they speak of Him. Who is the man of Psalm 15 who ascends God's holy hill and abides in his temple? Who is this righteous man? To ask this question is to answer it. It is Christ. Christ ascended the hill of God and abides in his temple.
Those who would do the same must do it through him. Whether you be Jew or Muslim or Hindu onew-age, or nothing-much-of-all hear his whisper: "I am the way... no man comes to the Father but by me".
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Here's The 1% The 99% Should Be Going After
"I followed the law," he said. Using the system as it was available to him "was only the prudent thing to do."
Ah, yes. Similar to the "I was only following orders" excuse.
h/t Mark Steyn
Ah, yes. Similar to the "I was only following orders" excuse.
h/t Mark Steyn
The Mark Steyn Word of the Day™
Image via WikipediaOK, Mark Steyn is not Bill Buckley, but he is, er, Mark Steyn. So in honour of the fact that Mark Steyn is not Bill Buckley but is indeed Mark Steyn, the Ball Bounces is inaugurating the Mark Steyn Word of the Day™. You too can learn to think, write, and even (gasp) speak like Mark Steyn!tchotchke
Used here.
Mark Steyn. Well worth reading.™
Friday, November 11, 2011
Pardon Me While I Throw Up...
Image via WikipediaCalifornia Mayor Snubs Veterans to Attend Occupy Rally.
Ah, yes. Because Occupiers represent all that's brightest and best in our society. Is that it?
Do they even have a viable plan to pay for the damage they are causing to public spaces?
Darwinism Defined...
Image via WikipediaThe term darwinism has both scientific and metaphysical dimensions. Metaphysically, it assumes materialism is true and then posits a theory consistent with this assumption. The problem arises when, because of this assumption, arguments are made to the effect that because materialism is true, we know darwinism is surely true and the only truth possible. Because it is true, we know it happened, and when inconvenient facts contradict it (like the demonstrably feeble creative power of undirected random mutation, the improbability of the butterfly, or the exquisite intelligence-laden complexity of the cell), it is because we don't know enough yet. In other words, a belief in Darwin of the gaps.At any rate, here is cute definition of darwinian evolution designed by Tom Gilson over at Thinking Christian. You may design a clever response.
"Naturalistic Evolution (def.): the marvelous (presumed) capacity of nature to create the appearance of design, and to produce beings who have the ability to design and to detect design; but which itself has no ability to design, or if it does have that ability, it is forever undetectable."The last bit is presumably a nod towards theistic darwinian evolutionists. Well done, Tom.
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