Making a long story longer

At long last, I review Revolutionary Strategies in Early Christianity

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:19:57 +0000

I finally wrote my first review on Amazon.com, of Dan Abbott’s Revolutionary Strategies in Early Christianity – I read it about four years ago, wrote a review and never posted it. I came across the book again on my Kindle recently, reread it, and wrote the review. Sorry for the lateness of the review Dan!

A bright side in the education

admin — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:57:02 +0000

Making it more of a factory, or really, splitting out teach/coaching and lecturing

Check out this article on MR

The sunk cost fallacy in it’s most exaggerated form

admin — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:05:06 +0000

I think it’s in the hands of this graduate student, notable quote:

As a man, I felt like I was a failure. I had devoted myself to the world of cerebral activity. I had learned a practical skill that was elitist,” he says. “Perhaps I should have been learning a skill that the economy supports.

On his meager wages, and meager future prospects with his particular degree. The dedication to his field is somewhat remarkable I suppose. On the whole I’m reminded of the first season of Justified, specifically how the cynical Boyd Crowder would recruit skinheads to rob bank for him, bear all the risk for none of the money. In return the skins would get the satisfaction of doing their part for their glorious race, or as a graduate student would call it, “The life of the mind”. An interesting article RTWT.

The capacity of people to keep digging when in a hole (in this case, to keep on plugging away in their chosen field, disregarding all evidence that it is a bad choice) is remarkable.

Commandment #1 – Be Positive At All Times

admin — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:08:00 +0000

My commandments begin!

And by positive I mean no “Venting”, whining, or complaining about things where you have no influence. force yourself to be upbeat if you have to. People have a limited brain capacity and naturally occurring bad thoughts crowd out anything else. After a while you get talented at being negative, which is a road that leads nowhere good. Go ahead and evict bad thoughts and negativity from your head as much as possible. By and large a forced positivity is better than a natural negativity, and will crowd out negativity.

This is very difficult to and I do not always follow through on it, but nonetheless, that’s what you must do.

Number five

admin — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 23:18:28 +0000

While waiting

Two in the morning

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 05:58:40 +0000

Both dogs are laying at the same angle, oddly their feet mirror each other in position. The wife is asleep on the couch at the opposite angle. I check the baby monitor and she is at the same angle as my wife. John Prine plays on the stereo. I feel a sensation of deeper meaning with no cause or specific meaning attached.

The 2012 Circus: My problems with Ron Paul

admin — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 03:51:10 +0000

Not that many really. He’s a bit too rabid on immigration, and he keeps too many of his “paleo con”

crowd

around, but that’s who I will be voting for.

The 2012 Circus: My problems with Romney

admin — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 03:45:49 +0000

Problem 1: A liberal, a moderate and a conservative walk into a bar. The bartenders says “Hi Mitt”. Bring unpredictable is not a good thing for a president.

Problem 2: Mitt had an eye for cutting deadwood, but he doesn’t seem to have a taste for it anymore.

The 2012 Circus: My problems with Gingrich

admin — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 07:48:39 +0000

Problem 1: His magnificent faith in government. Whether it be moon colonies or a costless war with Iran, his optimism towards every government act would embarass most Democrats.

Problem 2: low moral character. Say what you will about the institution of marriage, but the rules are clear. As we’re living in a sluggish police state I would prefer a chief executive who is not talented at rationalization and comfortable living with contradictions. Divorce is acceptable in a candidate, but since his platform is based on making the government bigger and bolder then his adultery disqualifies him.

The 2012 Circus: My problems with Santorum

admin — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 07:36:24 +0000

Problem 1: his primary focus is social issues, and he seems to have no problem running on a “like Sharia, but Catholic” platform.

Problem 2: He lost his election, and then stayed in DC, which is an appalling lack of loyalty to his constituency. Perhaps my mental model of a senator is flawed, but shouldn’t they be their state’s biggest fans? And with enough affection for their home state to return after they’re done instead of cashing in?