This Blog Is Rated...

It seems that I am a rather tame fellow.

Go here to get your blog rated.

Animal Of The Day

Strix aluco

Some images and movies of this owl species can be found here.

Today's Word

Periphrasis

1-800-MAGIC

The folks who brought you Red v. Blue have created a new machinima series based on Shadowrun. The first episode can be found here. It has some of the same humor as the original series, but it is a bit early in the series to say anymore.

Hume On Miracles

The plain consequence is (and it is a general maxim worthy of our attention), 'That no testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous, than the fact, which it endeavours to establish; and even in that case there is a mutual destruction of arguments, and the superior only gives us an assurance suitable to that degree of force, which remains, after deducting the inferior.' When anyone tells me, that he saw a dead man restored to life, I immediately consider with myself, whether it be more probable, that this person should either deceive or be deceived, or that the fact, which he relates, should really have happened. I weigh the one miracle against the other; and according to the superiority, which I discover, I pronounce my decision, and always reject the greater miracle If the falsehood of his testimony would be more miraculous, than the event which he relates; then, and not till then, can he pretend to command my belief or opinion. - Sir David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748)

In other words, which is more miraculous, that someone might be speaking a falsity or the miracle itself?

How The Matrix Revolutions...

Should Have Ended?*

Though the final installment of the series left much to be desired, I didn't think it was terrible. Still, it could have been improved.

*Fixed the link.

Heidegger

One can no longer deny Heidegger's relationship with National Socialism as a short-natured gaff. It seems to bug people because Heidegger was quite clearly a brilliant man whose thoughts were in some way a culmination of a pattern inquiry, etc. stretching back to Kant. Indeed, in many ways Heidegger remains an influential presence despite his association with the Nazis.

Anyway, recently I ran across a statement by another influential 20th century philosopher (Leo Strauss) that I found useful in describing Heidegger's thinking. Namely - to paraphrase - that Heidegger was more interested in being than human beings.

Animal Of The Day

Talking Cat

First They Came For The Qibla

John Safron talks about God and Guns.

Don't Call It A Comeback

With 303 preliminary orders also revealed this week [on top of 425 orders at the Paris Airshow], "Airbus has more than doubled the record for previous air shows set in 2005," said Leahy, chief operating officer for customers. Airbus won a total of 280 orders and purchase commitments at the last show in Paris, two years ago.

So much for the demise of Airbus. I wonder if Airbus will now still go forward with the cuts proposed earlier this year.

Seafood & Your Eternal Soul

This is something a cheap shot at fundamentalist Christians, but it is a funny one nonetheless.

Back in the 1990s when the Oregon Citizens Alliance was pushing a number of anti-gay constitutional amendments* the measures that they undertook to pass were often met with literature which not only quoted Leviticus' prohibitions against homosexuality, but also its statements on shellfish, cutting facial hair, etc. Indeed, in the voter information booklets** which are published prior to an Oregon election, groups "officially" arguing "in favor" of the OCA's amendments would quote the language on shellfish, etc. as well, much to the consternation of the OCA I am sure.

* I am sure that the OCA would likely characterize them otherwise.

** I tried to find a 1992 or 1994 voter guide online but to no avail. The measures were 9 (1992) and 13 (1994) respectively. If I recall correctly, the OCA also sponsored a measure in 1996 but it failed to get enough signatures to get on the ballot.

Army's Top Gear For 2006

The top ten list can be found here.

Note how anti-IED related items top the list. It tells you something about the nature of the conflict in Iraq.

El Chupacabra

This may be actual footage of an el chupacabra. It looks quite convincing.

Oh, and don't forget the Chupacabra Macarena.

House Update

We finally have the crown moulding up in the office and we're doing the finishing touches on the trim.

As for the bathroom, the wallpaper is finally stripped (and the walls covered with primer), the toilet has been removed and the old linoleum (three layers thick) has been removed. Oh and bathroom was partly replumbed as well. Now we just have to wallpaper and put in the floor tile. Should be a cinch. ;)

"Post-Traumatic Iraq Syndrome"

Defeat in war damages societies quite out of proportion to what a rational calculation of cost would predict. The United States absorbed the loss in Vietnam quite easily on paper, for example, but the societal effects of defeat linger to this day. The Afghanistan debacle was an underrated contributor to Soviet malaise in the 1980s and a factor in perestroika, glasnost and eventually the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Defeats can have unintended, seemingly inexplicable consequences.

Or so says Prof. Fettweis of the Naval War College (he's apparently something of a "military strategy wonk" there). I've noted on a number of occassions that whetever else this war brings it will surely be one of the dominant themes of American politics for a generation. Which I think is rather unfortunate, since it is likely that its dominance will be more about fingerpointing than any actual discussion of the war itself. Which is why we need to take Prof. Fettweis' advice seriously (though I doubt that we will):

Either way, the Iraq syndrome is coming. We need to be prepared for the divisiveness, vitriol, self-doubt and recrimination that will be its symptoms. They will be the defining legacy of the Bush administration and neoconservatism's parting gift to America.