“Man’s Search for Meaning”

“The meaning of our existence is not invented by ourselves, but rather detected.”–Viktor Frankl

Co-inkydink? Well, on a macro level, of course it was. But to be human is to see patterns, make connections, sometimes where there are none.

So… there I was, reading a novel by Elizabeth Moon, Rules of Engagement, and took, as I sometimes do, a break to get a snack—in this case an almond butter and strawberry jam sandwich— check email, a couple of blogs. One of the blogs lead me to an article by Chris Rose, “Rules of Engagement.”

Connection? Only the titles. But still… The desire to detect patterns, to see meaning in those patterns—even where there may be no pattern, no connection, no meaning—is a very human thing.

“Man’s Search for Meaning”

“The meaning of our existence is not invented by ourselves, but rather detected.”–Viktor Frankl

Co-inkydink? Well, on a macro level, of course it was. But to be human is to see patterns, make connections, sometimes where there are none.

So… there I was, reading a novel by Elizabeth Moon, Rules of Engagement, and took, as I sometimes do, a break to get a snack—in this case an almond butter and strawberry jam sandwich— check email, a couple of blogs. One of the blogs lead me to an article by Chris Rose, “Rules of Engagement.”

Connection? Only the titles. But still… The desire to detect patterns, to see meaning in those patterns—even where there may be no pattern, no connection, no meaning—is a very human thing.

Character is THE Issue, Part II

In a recent interview in HumanEventsOnline Col. George E. “Bud” Day, the “most highly decorated living veteran officer” America has, outlines why he is campaigning against the election of Jean Fraud sKerry. In short, it’s sKerry’s character. “Bud” Day, who certainly ought to know if anyone does, insists that sKerry does not have the qualities of character to be Commander-in-Chief of America’s armed forces. As a man with over 50 combat-related awards in three wars (WWII, Korea and Vietnam), including the Medal of Honor, Col. Day has both the credentials and the well-earned right to question sKerry’s character.

John McCain has famously said questioning sKerry’s honor is “dishonest and dishonorable.” I wonder what he will say now, since Col. Day was his commanding officer in the North Vietnam prison where they were both held prisoner… Will McCain question “Bud” Day’s honor, too?

Just read the entire interview… and go see the ad at http://www.swiftvets.com (or download the ad and view it). More ads here: Ads page

Character is THE Issue, Part II

In a recent interview in HumanEventsOnline Col. George E. “Bud” Day, the “most highly decorated living veteran officer” America has, outlines why he is campaigning against the election of Jean Fraud sKerry. In short, it’s sKerry’s character. “Bud” Day, who certainly ought to know if anyone does, insists that sKerry does not have the qualities of character to be Commander-in-Chief of America’s armed forces. As a man with over 50 combat-related awards in three wars (WWII, Korea and Vietnam), including the Medal of Honor, Col. Day has both the credentials and the well-earned right to question sKerry’s character.

John McCain has famously said questioning sKerry’s honor is “dishonest and dishonorable.” I wonder what he will say now, since Col. Day was his commanding officer in the North Vietnam prison where they were both held prisoner… Will McCain question “Bud” Day’s honor, too?

Just read the entire interview… and go see the ad at http://www.swiftvets.com (or download the ad and view it). More ads here: Ads page

More Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics

In answer to a question about a “litmus test” for judges, in Wednesday’s debate, sKerry essentially answered “yes”—citing Roe v. Wade elliptically—then he went into some of his trademark weirdness (weirder than Bush bringing up the Dred Scott decision last Friday? yes.). Weird? How does his citation of a “50% unemployment rate for black men in NY” relate to a question about appointing judges? Oh. I see. He’s asserting an unjust society, yada, yada, yada…

But what about his “statistic”? According to an Amsterdam News article (“Part of the BlackPressUSA Network”), yes… and no. Statistic almost right, but very, very misleading. (As Mark Twain famously said, there are three kinds of lies, “Lies, damned lies and statistics.”) sKerry’s “50%” is an exaggeration, and he hides the fact that the actual statistic reflects a major decline in unemployment among black men in New York since Bush took office.

“The unemployment rate for Black men in New York City has hit a new low. Nearly one-half of African American men living in the city are jobless, according to a new study released this week. [so far, sKerry’s comment seems to check out, but wait, there’s more!–D]
In the report, “A Crisis in Black Male Employment: Unemployment and Joblessness in New York City, 2003,” the Community Service Society (CSS) of New York reveals that unemployment rose among Black men during the nation’s recent recession and that only 51.8 percent of Black men between the ages of 16 through 64 were employed.
According to the nonprofit organization, this is a dramatic decline of 12.2 percentage points from 2000…”

[emphases added]

Hmmm… taking a page from the serpent in Eden: twist a truth to tell a lie. sKerry was attempting to use the stat as an indicator of an unjust society which he would address by appointing justices who would ameliorate such woes (although the connection was…weird, even for him, in his comments).
“Oh. Dear. Woe am us that such evil should be perpetrated by the ChimpBush: unemployment among black men in New York has declined by 12.2 percent during ChimpBush’s illegitimate reign. That’s certainly something we Kedwards Kids will remedy in a heartbeat by appointing activist judges who will form an affirmative action employment line at the bench to reverse such trends… “
Makes. No. Sense. But it’s the sKerry position, all right. His doom and gloom and “Let’s see every good thing as a bad thing and undo it” approach earns him the Grimma Wormtongue Lifetime Achievement Award for Lies, Damned Lies and Stab-tistics.

More Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics

In answer to a question about a “litmus test” for judges, in Wednesday’s debate, sKerry essentially answered “yes”—citing Roe v. Wade elliptically—then he went into some of his trademark weirdness (weirder than Bush bringing up the Dred Scott decision last Friday? yes.). Weird? How does his citation of a “50% unemployment rate for black men in NY” relate to a question about appointing judges? Oh. I see. He’s asserting an unjust society, yada, yada, yada…

But what about his “statistic”? According to an Amsterdam News article (“Part of the BlackPressUSA Network”), yes… and no. Statistic almost right, but very, very misleading. (As Mark Twain famously said, there are three kinds of lies, “Lies, damned lies and statistics.”) sKerry’s “50%” is an exaggeration, and he hides the fact that the actual statistic reflects a major decline in unemployment among black men in New York since Bush took office.

“The unemployment rate for Black men in New York City has hit a new low. Nearly one-half of African American men living in the city are jobless, according to a new study released this week. [so far, sKerry’s comment seems to check out, but wait, there’s more!–D]
In the report, “A Crisis in Black Male Employment: Unemployment and Joblessness in New York City, 2003,” the Community Service Society (CSS) of New York reveals that unemployment rose among Black men during the nation’s recent recession and that only 51.8 percent of Black men between the ages of 16 through 64 were employed.
According to the nonprofit organization, this is a dramatic decline of 12.2 percentage points from 2000…”

[emphases added]

Hmmm… taking a page from the serpent in Eden: twist a truth to tell a lie. sKerry was attempting to use the stat as an indicator of an unjust society which he would address by appointing justices who would ameliorate such woes (although the connection was…weird, even for him, in his comments).
“Oh. Dear. Woe am us that such evil should be perpetrated by the ChimpBush: unemployment among black men in New York has declined by 12.2 percent during ChimpBush’s illegitimate reign. That’s certainly something we Kedwards Kids will remedy in a heartbeat by appointing activist judges who will form an affirmative action employment line at the bench to reverse such trends… “
Makes. No. Sense. But it’s the sKerry position, all right. His doom and gloom and “Let’s see every good thing as a bad thing and undo it” approach earns him the Grimma Wormtongue Lifetime Achievement Award for Lies, Damned Lies and Stab-tistics.

Lies, Damned Lies and Lying “Statistics”

Just read Joel Mowbray’s column. He details lies sKerry used in Wednesday’s debate. An example (one of many):

Repeating a populist—and untrue—line from his stump speeches, Kerry said, “The jobs the president is creating pay $9,000 less than the jobs that we’re losing.” This sounds like a devastating indictment, and it plays right into the urban legend that disappearing manufacturing jobs are replaced by burger-flippers. According to the nonpartisan FactCheck.org, “Higher-paid occupations, like managers (who can be in any industry) and health professionals, are growing faster.” This claim is largely based on Federal Reserve of Chicago study released last month.

As Charles Krauthammer said of Edwards, “There is absolutely nothing the man will not say to get elected,” so, too, with sKerry. Any lie is acceptable to him, as long as it serves his short-term ends. (BTW, read the Krauthammer piece, too. WOW! Is Krauthammer rigtheously angry or what?)

Lies, Damned Lies and Lying “Statistics”

Just read Joel Mowbray’s column. He details lies sKerry used in Wednesday’s debate. An example (one of many):

Repeating a populist—and untrue—line from his stump speeches, Kerry said, “The jobs the president is creating pay $9,000 less than the jobs that we’re losing.” This sounds like a devastating indictment, and it plays right into the urban legend that disappearing manufacturing jobs are replaced by burger-flippers. According to the nonpartisan FactCheck.org, “Higher-paid occupations, like managers (who can be in any industry) and health professionals, are growing faster.” This claim is largely based on Federal Reserve of Chicago study released last month.

As Charles Krauthammer said of Edwards, “There is absolutely nothing the man will not say to get elected,” so, too, with sKerry. Any lie is acceptable to him, as long as it serves his short-term ends. (BTW, read the Krauthammer piece, too. WOW! Is Krauthammer rigtheously angry or what?)

Being Themselves

(Thx to Belmont Club for a reminder of the scripture below… and for hinting at an anlogy.)

Matthew 11:7-9

7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

8 “But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

9 “But what did you go out to see? A prophet

Consider this imperfect pictorial analogy, if you will…

Being Themselves

(Thx to Belmont Club for a reminder of the scripture below… and for hinting at an anlogy.)

Matthew 11:7-9

7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

8 “But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

9 “But what did you go out to see? A prophet

Consider this imperfect pictorial analogy, if you will…