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A list of the wagers that have been made, their status, and the results. The Wagers Page
Amir Taheri is always worth reading. This latest seems apt -
I'm sure I'm not the only one here who has been following this, but for those who haven't, Andrew Sullivan and Sam Harris have been having what is in my opinion one of the more intelligent debates on religion and issues of faith I've ever witnessed. Here is the link. Specifically, the debate focuses on athiesm vs. religious moderates, rather than arguments against religious extremism (which both participants denounce.)
I'm not sure that there's anything meaningful I can add to the discussion that's already taken place there, but I'll offer a few snippets with the caveat that they are not wholly representative, and those interested should really read the conversation in it's entirety.
The children of Fatah supporters now scream insults at their Hamas counterparts in the streets of Gaza, calling them Safavid and Shiites. The Safavid Empire is a footnote in history, and its people were not Arabs. The Hamas are not Shiites, they are Sunnis. These insults require more explanation: the Arabs are great students of history, if we are not.
Within sight of the mysterious Kaaba, holiest and most central point of all Islam, the Saudis are angrily gripping the sleeves of Hamas and Fatah’s representatives, attempting to put an end to the current infighting within the Palestinian communities. I use the plural, for there is no single Palestinian community.
ORLANDO, Florida (CNN) -- A NASA astronaut was arrested Monday on battery and attempted kidnapping charges after allegedly trying to subdue a romantic rival with pepper spray and abduct her from a parking lot at Orlando International Airport, police said.
Navy Capt. Lisa Marie Nowak, who was a mission specialist aboard the space shuttle Discovery in July, and Colleen Shipman were both reported to be "in a relationship" with astronaut Bill Oefelein, a Navy commander, according to a police report of the incident.
Nowak, 43, has been charged with battery, attempted kidnapping, attempted burglary to a vehicle and destruction of evidence. Police have recommended Nowak be held without bond.
While googling up "hobbes all against all", I came upon Hobbes' treatise, De Cive, of which I had seen references, but never read.
Reading which, of course, gave rise to a fit of pontification. If I am repeating myself, skip a bit, Brother Maynard.
The faculties of Humane nature may be reduc'd unto four kinds; Bodily strength, Experience, Reason, Passion. Taking the beginning of this following Doctrine from these, we will declare in the first place what manner of inclinations men who are endued with these faculties bare towards each other, and whether, and by what faculty, they are born apt for Society, and so preserve themselves against mutuall violence; then proceeding, we will shew what advice was necessary to be taken for this businesse, and what are the conditions of Society, or of Humane Peace; that is to say, (changing the words onely) what are the fundamentall Lawes of Nature.
There are two arguments for withdrawal from Iraq.
After some months back here on Forvm, I now conclude many of the Conservatives hereabouts do not truly understand the belief structure of modern Liberal thought. Until the War on Iraq sucked all the oxygen out of the room, the Conservative won elections by clearly enunciating his beliefs. The progressive Liberal has done a remarkably bad job of explaining his own. Allow me then to present a relatively new Liberal statement of belief: the Euston Manifesto.
The Euston Manifesto began in the UK, but has gained considerable traction in the USA.
(I know, I know, in my dreams ...)
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released it's report today. Their website is here, unfortunately I could not find a copy of the entire report but the "Summary for Policymakers" is here (pdf).
A few items from the summary:
- With at least 90 percent certainty, the IPCC's "Summary For Policymakers" concludes human-generated greenhouse gases account for most of the global rise in temperatures over the past half century
In one of the recent diaries William McDonough was incorporated into the conversation as an "excellent" example of why environmentalists are not strong advocates of state regulation but rather prefer incorporating "sustainable design" as the key driver in the pursuit of commerce. William is rather well spoken and has been true in his pursuit of design to faciliate sustainable processes.
How does William differ from the likes of Rudolph Diessel whose engine was first designed to run on peanut oil or Henry Ford and his romantic notions about beans? What constrained Diessel's and Ford's efforts at innovation?
Dates certain, Mr. President, are not the criteria here. What is the criteria and what should be the criteria is our immediate, orderly withdrawal from XXXXXXX. And if we do not do that and other Americans die, other Americans are wounded, other Americans are captured because we stay too long--longer than necessary--then I would say that the responsibilities for that lie with the Congress of the United States who did not exercise their authority under the Constitution of the United States and mandate that they be brought home quickly and safely as possible. . . .
Who said this and when?
More to come.
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