Friday, May 24, 2013

Compassion at the Point of A Gun

According to the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds at the Waisman Center of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, compassion can be learned and trained in adults.

Brain Can Be Trained in Compassion, Study Shows

Keith Burgess-Jackson notes the study and makes the following comment.

This is truly frightening. How long before progressives force it onto people? Remember: to a progressive, the end justifies the means.

I think Keith’s observation is correct, and note that the first thought that occurred to me as I read through the article on training brains in compassion was the insincerity of Amon Goeth’s “I pardon you” scenes in the film Schindler’s List.

Posted by John Venlet on 05/24 at 12:41 PM
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Thursday, May 23, 2013

Pope Francis Wants to be Friends Too

Back in January 2011, I noted that pastor/columnist Chuck Baldwin had arrived at the point in his life where he was reaching out to unbelievers, atheists, also intent, like him, on retaining American liberty, in a post I titled Now He Wants To Be Friends, gently berating Baldwin for previously supporting Christian cliques, to the exclusion of all others.

Today I see that Pope Francis is also now reaching out to atheists, or at least admitting that they can be good.

Pope Francis says atheists can be good

Both Baldwin’s and Pope Francis’ realizations are positive developments for individuals living the life of faith, though rather belatedly offered for consideration to the Christian community.  As I said back in 2004, I Enjoy My Atheist Friends A lot.  A subject I reconsidered later in 2004 in a post titled Hanging Out with the Wrong Crowd? or The Same as Me?, and then offered further thoughts on in 2010 in a post titled Go To Hell - Don’t Be To Certain.

Posted by John Venlet on 05/23 at 07:52 AM
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Sunday, May 12, 2013

On Muddleheaded Brilliance

Yesterday, Rico put up a post at Theo Spark’s place titled Ann Barnhardt.  Brilliant.

Having a measured admiration for Ann Barnhardt myself, I decided to click over to Ann’s place to see what was so brilliant about her recent post.

Rico did not name the specific post of Ann’s which he considered so brilliant, but I am fairly certain Rico was referring to the post titled America is over. OVER. Here’s how I can tell., though my choice for the brilliant post would have been the post titled The Van Down by the River is very comfortable., wherein Ann provides some details on her withdrawing her monetary support from the state by minimalizing (Barnhardt does not utilize permalinks, so you’ll have to scroll her site to read the posts).

While Miss Barnhardt does not parse her words in her post American is over.  OVER.  Here’s how I can tell., as Rico acknowledges, and there is clarity in her words, I think Ann exhibits a muddleheadedness in her struggle, and advocacy for struggle, against the state when she makes this statement.

When abortion is a capital offense and sodomy is a felony, you let me know. Otherwise, I’ll be in the van down by the river praying for God’s Perfect Justice to rain down upon the U.S. This evil has to end. This cannot go on.

The above statement of Miss Barnhardt’s clearly displays the disconnect in Ann’s thinking.  One cannot advocate for starving the state, or withdrawing yourself from the state, while at the same time advocating for a powerful state with the coercive power to kill and/or imprison individuals whose behaviors personally displease you.  Her view, in the above quote, is not brilliant, but muddleheaded.

Posted by John Venlet on 05/12 at 11:00 AM
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Friday, May 10, 2013

Philosophize or Chop Wood?

I recently read an essay by Michael Gibb, lecturer in philosophy at University College, Oxford University, titled Armchair woodsmen.

Gibb’s essay waxes eloquently and philosophically on Lars Mytting’s recent book Hel Ved which explores the many aspects of sourcing, chopping, storing, drying and burning wood, though, unfortunately, in the Norwegian language.

In large part in his essay, Gibb ponders whether just his knowledge of the subject of chopping, storing, drying and burning wood is an adequate substitute to being an actual woodsman.  Philosophize or chop wood?  That is the question.  A question I’m fairly certain Sam Harris would advocate strictly philosophizing on.

While I would be very interested in reading Mytting’s recent book, if it was available in the English language, the only philosophizing I’ll be doing about chopping, storing, drying and burning wood will be around a wood fire,

Fireside philosophizing

or, as the following image illustrates, putting any philosophy inherent in chopping, storing and drying wood into living action.

Woodpile

Woodpile image credit.

Posted by John Venlet on 05/10 at 09:04 AM
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Django Goes to Texas, or, More Precisely, Pulp Fiction Defined in Photos

DjangogoestoTexas

Django

Posted by John Venlet on 05/10 at 08:00 AM
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Thursday, May 09, 2013

A Family Track Standout

Congratulations to my niece, Sarah, for being named MIAA’s most valuable female runner, and a for being a record setter at that.

Posted by John Venlet on 05/09 at 07:54 AM
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Saturday, May 04, 2013

Rehab and Fishing Reports

Since I went into rehab mode, on March 25th, I’ve diligently been attacking the many things which need doing at the house the Lovely Melis and I are ensconcing our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter in.  Fortunately, most of what needed doing at the rehab house was cosmetic.  Unfortunately, the cosmetic condition of the house was similar to the personal hygiene habits of the 18th century.

While the house’s rehab is not 100% complete, it is now clean and livable, and we have moved the kids from our home into the rehabbed house.  I put in the last of 6 new windows, yesterday, and now my list of things which need to be done at the house is much more manageable, at least from a pressed for time standpoint.  Good thing, too, because the season of rising trout is in full swing here now, and will be beckoning me daily.

The opening of trout season, here in the State of Michigan, was last Saturday, April 27th, and for the 18th year in a row I was north for the occasion at my little trout camp, Two Arrows.  I spent six days in camp, and experienced a plethora of weather conditions, including snow, and while the catching of trout left a bit to be desired, for a variety of reasons, the fishing was excellent.  I’ll be headed back in the not too distant future.  Here’s a few pics to enjoy.

Top of the Hill

Snowy Thursday Morning

Streamside TU

Wizard and I Sittin'

Landing a small brown

Posted by John Venlet on 05/04 at 07:45 AM
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Friday, May 03, 2013

Happy Birthday Jeep Wagoneer

The conveyance known as the Jeep Wagoneer has turned 50 years old.  Happy Birthday.  Many manufacturers have copied the idea behind the Jeep, but none have really matched its popularity over the years.

Jeep’s Wagoneer, progenitor of the modern SUV, turns 50

Here’s a photo of the rear end of my Jeep Wagoneer, affectionately referred to as Woodrow.  She’s a mere 31 years old.

Woodrow

Posted by John Venlet on 05/03 at 08:25 AM
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Have the Chinese Been Reading Clavell’s “King Rat?”

Rat meat sold as mutton: Crackdown sparks dozens of arrests in China

It seems a number of individuals have been as enterprising as the King in Clavell’s King Rat.

Posted by John Venlet on 05/03 at 08:14 AM
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Thursday, May 02, 2013

I Don’t Hate, I Despise

I recall a number of occasions when I said, more like shouted, “I hate you, mom,” or dad, or one of my brothers or sisters, or some other person close to me, in a fit of anger, or disappointment, or plain old foolishness.  It appears, that if one lives down in Palm Beach, Florida, if someone overhears you saying you “hate” the government, or some government flunky now, you could very well receive a visit from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office newly formed prevention intervention unit, courtesy of Floridian’s own tax dollars, state and senate members, and the oh so progressive Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.  I despise them all.  Is that alright, or should I expect a visit from Palm Beach Florida’s prevention intervention unit?

Palm Beach County sheriff gets $1 million for violence prevention unit amid questions about civil liberties, care for mentally ill

Posted by John Venlet on 05/02 at 06:39 PM
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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Picture Test

Holding Court

Posted by John Venlet on 04/30 at 07:57 PM
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Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Boston Bombing Commentary

Mr. Rogers knows.  The good outnumber you, and we always will.

Posted by John Venlet on 04/16 at 07:38 AM
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Friday, April 12, 2013

Good Plumbing in 9mm

I’m still involved in rehabbing the house I’ll be ensconcing my kids in shortly, and while I’ll willingly tackle most carpentry problems myself, and all the painting, I leave major plumbing issues to the professional plumbers, because it seems that most plumbing fixes require at least half-a-dozen trips to the hardware store.

Here’s a plumbing project, though, I think I would enjoy tackling.  9mm BSP Machine Gun (29 pg pdf).

The following design drawings illustrate the construction of a 9mm submachine gun utilizing off the shelf ‘British Standard Pipe’ (BSP) Fittings.  BSP fittings, commonly known as ‘Malleable Iron Fittings’, are readily available from most good trade plumbing outlets.

Via Theo Spark.

Posted by John Venlet on 04/12 at 07:43 AM
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Abortion Isn’t Funny

On Tuesday of this week, Drudge put up a headline link which read “Media ignores abortionist’s murder trial,” said abortionist being Dr. Kermit Gosnell.  Drudge’s link led to a Washington Times article on the subject of Gosnell’s murder trial titled Abortion doctor on trial, but media not interested; pro-lifers see bias in Philadelphia case, and I’d have to say that, in large part, the media is ignoring Gosnell’s murder trial, and the news of the snipping of live birth babies’ necks as an abortion practice.

Granted, the snipping of live birth babies necks as an abortion practice is not pleasant news to read, or hear about on the teevee news, as this is not funny stuff.  But abortion has become (sadly) so accepted a cultural norm, jokes are being written about abortion practices, such as the snipping of live birth babies’ necks, which is a type of retroactive abortion, on shows as obscure as The Red Green Show, and receiving not just polite laughs, but laughs.  Abortion isn’t funny.

Posted by John Venlet on 04/12 at 06:52 AM
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Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Just Another Chink In The Wall

In January 2004, I wondered If I Build a Cabin, Will I Still be Able to Chink the Logs? (original article at link is now behind a pay wall) in response to the alleged racial controversy over the name of the famous Philly cheesesteak restaurant Chink’s Steaks.

It seems that after 64 years of being known as Chink’s Steaks, Chink being the original owner’s nickname, Chink’s has changed its name to “Joes Steak and Soda Shop” in order to be the paragon of political correctness..  How sad.  I guess they’ll have to change their website name too.

When I build my cabin, I’m still going to chink the logs.

Cheesesteak Shop Renamed, Slur Dropped

Posted by John Venlet on 04/02 at 04:53 PM
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