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Comments Posted By Bauart

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Can we talk? What do you say when the person asking is a right-winger?

Kesmarn – I agree with your points, nicely done.

Perhaps you were just trying to speak to your friend directly by tying religious speak into your rebuttal. But I’ve always felt that if you have to rely on quoting Jesus or god to make a political point… you lose. But then again, I know that type of person, maybe that was the only way through?

Nice job.

» Posted By Bauart On September 1, 2011 @ 5:20 pm

AmeRicka

Great job! I enjoyed the story VERY much.

I have to admit the strangest coincidence. I woke-up this morning conceptualizing a similar story (something I rarely do). It came to me half developed and only needing to be placed on the page. (Which I have not yet done). Maybe great minds think alike?

Like your story mine takes place somewhere in the near future, but in mine the U.S. government, led by a vocal right-wing, has freely and willingly legalized indentured servitude and slavery to help solve an unemployment rate that has skyrocketed above 30%.

——

News Bulletin – April 22, 2022: The congress voted today by a 2/3 majority of congress to legalize indentured servitude for a period of 10 years with the following strict and binding guidelines:

1. Basic human dignity rights must be upheld for all servants
2. A servant can break the contract at anytime and return to the work force
3. Room and Board (4000 calories a day) must be provided
4. Emergency medical care will be paid by the master with approved government issued insurance policies
4. All U.S. citizenship and voting rights are nullified for the servant during the duration of their servitude
5. The servant must wear only an approved state issued brown jumpsuit
6. The servant can not claim ANY welfare, medicare, medicaid, or other government support during or for 3 years after their servitude is completed.
7. Indentured Servitude will be again be outlawed after a period of exactly 10 years, and can only be reinstated with another 2/3 approval by congress, and the signature of the president.

I think my goal of the story will be to show that even well intentioned people can do horribly wrong things, and that we should all be vigilant and vocal to help avoid that error.

» Posted By Bauart On August 22, 2011 @ 6:15 pm

Do You Want to Live Forever?

There is a difference between “Immortality” and “Extended Lifespan” KT. Even if our lifespan could be extended to 10,000 years we won’t be immortal. So the fear of death will still be with us.

As for the over population theory… I don’t think it holds up. There would probably be a short-term population gain, but I believe it would eventually even out. There is probably some truth in the theory that procreation is driven by our fear of death. If you could live to be 10,000 years old do you really think you will want to continue to have and raise children? Perhaps it’s as simple as limiting longevity treatments to those who have voluntarily been sterilized?

As for those who do NOT want to live forever, well… don’t. But I bet much of that hesitation to live for hundreds of years will change if you are 500+ years old and still see a healthy 22-year-old face in the mirror every morning.

» Posted By Bauart On August 8, 2011 @ 9:07 pm

The Strategy of Terrorism Government

Excellent article AdLib. I’m tired of the Republican hostage taking tactics and hope Obama calls their bluff (if it is a bluff) and vetoes their lopsided economic plan.

» Posted By Bauart On July 25, 2011 @ 5:20 pm

The President Who Isn’t

I think President Carter was right, and correct to call it out. Many people say they just don’t like President Obama. But if you notice, a great deal of that opposition comes from the Southern states. I believe, whether they even know it about themselves, that the Tea-Party is rooted in racism. It may have evolved since, but that is certainly where it began. It’s just sad that they have hog-tied the GOP and are now considered the Republican base.

» Posted By Bauart On July 27, 2011 @ 1:10 pm

Atheism

Nicely stated!

I have traveled a long road to my current position; beginning as a Christian, then a fundamentalist Christian, then Apatheism, Ignosticsim, Agnosticism, and now finally Anti-theism.

I don’t believe my path is unique. A person leaving religion will seldom jump from belief all the way to anti-theism, but instead most will gradually progress from one stage to another. So, when I find someone who claims one position over another it’s often interesting to learn where they are on their journey and if they are still evolving. Anti-theism isn’t the ultimate destination for all, but I would guess most who hold that position got there gradually.

I might disagree with your description of Anti-theism. Instead of calling believers stupid and child-like, I tend to think of them as misinformed, or more often they are just careful about not challenging their own beliefs. Nudging that complacency to not question their own beliefs is where most anti-theist get the bad rap. We know, usually first hand, that if you can get a person to truly ask themselves, “Why do I believe?” that the only truthful answer is [usually] not strong enough to keep believing.

I find the strongest argument against religion is the sheer volume of different beliefs. It has been estimated that there have been about 3000 different religions. Of those about 2870 claim their god(s) to be a deity. So, most religious believers are quite comfortable with Atheism and actively reject 2869 other religions. I just go one god further.

» Posted By Bauart On April 29, 2011 @ 9:25 am

Americans Can Lose Weight By Doing Nothing (Really!)

Escribacat,

The Nubian Spider-Monkey Diet is still in its trial phase. It may continue as a trial for a considerable amount of time.

Also, once it reaches market you should expect it to be quite pricey. (You know… Spider-Monkeys and all).

Please watch Oprah’s OWN Network for full details as they emerge. (Channel 279 on DirecTV).

» Posted By Bauart On April 7, 2011 @ 8:49 am

Dear Paradise

You have clarified even further what I was attempting to say. I started my diet plan with a fancy online company, paid for their “special” food every month and lost weight. But what I ultimately realized was, their food didn’t matter. It REALLY TRULY is about just eating less. For me the number is about 1100 calories a day, (but then I sit on my ass all day and only exercise by lifting the remote).

Yeah I was attempting a bit of humor… BUT I get so tired of hearing about the fancy expensive overly complicated diet plans, that I wanted to bring it down a notch and explain the basics of what I learned.

I’m now down 40 lbs. from my previous unenlightened top weight, and finally in the lower third of my healthy BMI.

Congrats on your weight loss! Keep it up!

» Posted By Bauart On April 7, 2011 @ 7:16 am

Dear CRHW,

Sorry but this diet plan is strictly for losing or maintaining your weight. Perhaps you should take the opposite approach and eat your troubles away? I understand this has a short-term positive effect for many. Once your waves of hormonal rage have ebbed, you could return to my 10-Word Diet plan above to lose the hundreds of extra pounds you gained during your turmoil.

Just a thought… Best of luck!

» Posted By Bauart On April 7, 2011 @ 7:03 am

Yes I think you make a valid point. I struggled at length with what to say that would not, could not, be perverted. Alas… the Repubs are too snarky and devious for me. I finally decided that nothing could remain un-bashed by their dislogical logication machine “The Newt”.

I surrendered greed for this in lieu of simplicity. I will leave it to others to push-the-envelope and make a buck off of those unwilling, or unable, to follow a simple 10-word plan to become and remain thin.

Viva la Dupes!

» Posted By Bauart On April 6, 2011 @ 9:07 pm

It works most excellently…. If you’re willing to put up with the constant begging for food from Miss Piggy. Our feline friends do not voluntarily participate in ANY weight loss programs. Sounds like her activity level is first rate (bravo) but you will have to focus on reducing what she ingest. So… best of luck with that.

» Posted By Bauart On April 6, 2011 @ 8:35 pm

The Heart of Lisa Ling

Actually I have never watched the OWN network. I’m judging this article completely on its own. (No pun intended). I haven’t even seen a promo for it, at least that I’m aware of?

Other than being associated with Oprah, I don’t know anything about OWN.

If her network presents truthful journalistic pieces, I’m all for it. If this was an example, I think she is just pandering to a specific demographic and could have, should have, done much much better. (Although, unfortunately, I’m sure it will be enormously successful).

» Posted By Bauart On February 16, 2011 @ 1:24 pm

Thank you, that is exactly what I’m trying to say… Ling completely ignored the side of the story that showed this as nothing but a scam that feeds on the emotions of the sick and dying. To do that would have obviously run counter to the OWN networks religiously-centered target demographic.

» Posted By Bauart On February 16, 2011 @ 8:23 am

Because to just rephrase the proclamations of those you are interviewing, and hand it back to them on a golden platter, is not.

» Posted By Bauart On February 16, 2011 @ 8:03 am

What she did was a not much more than a promo for the OWN network. It was warm and fuzzy with very little substance.

How can you say she “allowed the viewer to draw their own conclusions” when she ended the piece with an interview of the evangelist proclaiming the ineffectiveness of modern medicine, and with video footage of her [the “journalist”] participating in the religious ceremony of “laying on of hands”?

If Faith Healing, or prayer for that matter, is sought out as their legitimate last hope… then the question should be answered, “Why has god never healed an amputee?”

Having no medical options shouldn’t mean these poor people must resort to the religious equivalent of a Barnum & Bailey sideshow as their last hope.

It was really very sickening to me.

» Posted By Bauart On February 16, 2011 @ 7:41 am

Thanks KQuark, I stand corrected… But I would not have approached this topic with either empathy or an open mind. Perhaps the poor duped followers of these sham artist deserve our empathy, but certainly not the evangelist themselves, and none of them have given me any reason to have an open mind about faith healing. Every true journalistic investigation into faith healing reveals nothing but deceit and corruption.

» Posted By Bauart On February 16, 2011 @ 12:44 am

I completely disagree. Vehemently disagree.

I didn’t find a link in your article to the story or video, so I did a Google search and found a video snippet titled, “Will Steve Walk” by Lisa Ling for the OWN Network.

http://www.oprah.com/own-our-america-lisa-ling/Faith-Healers-Will-Steve-Walk

I strongly believe Faith healing should NOT be approached with dignity OR sympathy. It is a fraud, and should be called out for what it is, and the preachers that still practice this bronze age mumbo jumbo should be held criminally liable for the snake oil remedies they are pushing to the detriment of their followers. Passing off faith healing as a treatment for illness is just as wrong as if they were filling empty medicine capsule with sugar water and selling it for cash. Worse yet it is often perpetrated on those in our society who are both mentally and physically incapable of helping themselves.

Ling’s approach, from the snippet I saw, was just pandering to Oprah’s OWN audience, and giving a marginally digestible story that neither supported or repudiated the faith healers claims.

In the video Steve did NOT walk afterwards (of course) but was still afflicted with the same illness, and to the same degree, he had had before attending the faith healing service. Instead of doing some actual reporting and using that opportunity to reject the whole notion of faith healing, Ling instead redirected the story and told how “Steve reached out to her [Lisa Ling] to give her comfort”. (Really?) The video even showed Steve (still in his a wheelchair) physically doing what evangelicals call, “Laying on of hands” on to Ms. Ling. (Pathetic.)

So, in the end, Lisa Ling’s final conclusion was that maybe she [Lisa Ling] had been the one “expecting too much?” (Oh please!)

“That room” was EXACTLY the place into which someone should have tossed some doubt, and Ling completely missed her opportunity to do so.

I’m not sure what she set out to do with this piece? But it sure wasn’t journalism.

» Posted By Bauart On February 16, 2011 @ 12:16 am

American Exceptionalism, American Nightmare

Well said. Unfortunately “American Exceptionalism” isn’t the Tea Party’s only adventure into the untrue. They seem to be very skilled at finding things to be wrong about.

Regarding Huffington: I agree she doesn’t qualify to be listed as a rags-to-riches Horatio Alger story, but I do respect her continued success, regardless of her political leanings.

We can only judge people two ways, by their actions and by their words. Perhaps she has an internal struggle that creates the dichotomy in her public image? Or perhaps, as I believe you are suggesting, it is a ploy to straddle the fence and ride it into the sunset? Either way, she does seem to have a clear grasp of how to play the American media to her advantage. Certainly a rare skill these days.

» Posted By Bauart On February 8, 2011 @ 9:06 am

KO: The Sacrificial Mutton

Not sure I agree with anything you said here, (other than the fact that he was extremely well paid and doesn’t really need my sympathy). I take all pundits with bag of road salt, and Keith Olbermann is no different. He does however faithfully present his opinions from the left side of the field and can occasionally, when it’s his turn at bat, knock it out of the park.

Most recently his comments about Gabrielle Gifford and the blood bath in Arizona were on target, well delivered, timely and probably the most well spoken of any commentator on-air.

Listen for yourself. http://youtu.be/k_ypNCrufp4

» Posted By Bauart On January 22, 2011 @ 3:40 pm

The Pond

A few photos of our pond. (This is on Facebook, but I believe the images are set for public viewing).

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5802737&id=625057246

» Posted By Bauart On July 1, 2010 @ 12:35 pm

Great post! I completely understand the thrill.

Early this spring my wife and I built a small Koi / Turtle pond in our very typical urban backyard. (We live about 5 minutes from downtown Dallas). I wish our space could be as natural as yours. (We had to settle for circulating pumps and had no fresh water springs we could use).

The previously tank bound fish and turtles love the new space, (our little pond is about 7′ x 10′ x 3′ deep), but the surprise was the increase in wildlife. We have see toads and frogs, and a huge increase in dragon flies, butter flies and lightening bugs. Our wooded neighborhood already had hawks, owls and large variety of texas birds, but this really added a whole new dimension.

Our only problem has been fortifying the little pond to keep the turtles contained. Even though we have built wooden-stake fences and rock ledges, they manage almost daily (somehow) to climb out and head to our swimming pool.

» Posted By Bauart On July 1, 2010 @ 12:13 pm

An Atheist/Technologist Envisions the Afterlife

I’ve always found the Anthropic principal a bit meaningless. To say, “I exist, therefore there is a god”. Is just a straw man statement that leads to nothing.

It’s pointless to say, “We can only exist in this exact universe, at this exact time, only if the laws of physics are tuned exactly the way they are”. My answer is, “Well yeah of course… so what?” We evolved in this particular universe tuned the way it is.

The religious view of the anthropic argument just places humanity at the center and assumes it was all made *for* us… it was not. If the laws of physics were different, and our type of carbon based life was not possible, then another creature in a different universe *might* be possible and could use the same misguided logic for himself… and so on across the theoretical multiverse.

So to your question, “Does the Anthropic principle account for an afterlife?” I think it is just mute on the point. If an afterlife does exist, then the answer is yes.

My article basically says that who and what we are is, in the end, just information. And that information exists for those both living and dead. I was just hypothesizing that perhaps, somehow, someday, there will be a scientific way to retrieve information from the past. If so, then an afterlife for all living creatures becomes possible.

Regarding Shrodinger’s cat… I suppose he has no need of an afterlife because he is both dead AND alive. (At least until someone opens his box). 🙂

» Posted By Bauart On July 1, 2010 @ 7:54 am

Dear Whatsthatsound,

You make a VERY good point.

A representative of the Post-Human Overlords has recently sent word that no puppies, kitties, or other domesticated animals will be harmed during their epoch.

They have assured us, in writing, that a vast host of cleaner-bots will be released across the planet, on a 100-year mission, to purge earth of the mess we human 1.0’s have created.

All oil wells will be sealed, concrete, steel and other metals gathered cleaned and recycled, all plastics in the oceans and across the planet will be gathered and properly destroyed. Buildings, bridges, paper, fences, roadways, and all the other man-made clutter littering the earth, under the waters, in orbit, on the moon, the outer-planets, and everywhere else we have left debris, will be carefully gathered and recycled. Most usable raw materials will be archived in bulk storage for future needs.

The basic plan is to clean-up our filthy mess and let all of nature, including the animals, have their planet back.

About 5% of the earth’s surface will then be used for newly-constructed, solar-powered, self contained, 100% green, “Overlord Cities”. Also, it has been decided that a small percentage of that land area, about .025%, is to be set aside for a “nature preserve” to house a representative sample of the Human 1.0’s.

The human preserve is tentatively title, “Holocene Park”.

» Posted By Bauart On June 27, 2010 @ 6:10 pm

Kalima,

I SO understand. That special place does exist, the one I’ve found has happy hour from 5 to 7 on weekdays. On Thursdays, ladies drink for free!

» Posted By Bauart On June 26, 2010 @ 4:54 pm

Thanks Kesmarn!

» Posted By Bauart On June 26, 2010 @ 8:56 am