Rich Engle

That's tough, for sure. Business as usual over there.

Fred Imus, younger brother of WABC morning host Don Imus and a long-time songwriter and radio host himself, was found dead Saturday at his home in Tucson, Ariz. He was 69.

He was reportedly found in his trailer after he failed to show up for "Fred's Trailer Park Bash," a weekend show he co-hosted with Don Collier and "Missy" on Sirius XM's Outlaw Country channel.

In 1976 he and a fellow railroad worker named Phil Sweet co-wrote "I Don't Want To Have To Marry You," a No. 1 country hit for Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius. It was voted song of the year by Music City News.

Read more: http://www.nydailyne...l#ixzz1UJeZDi5f

Click here to listen to podcasts of Fred on Imus in the Morning and share your memories.

God missed.

This is something Michael Dowd posted that I think is relevant to the discussion, it's over here:

4 Reasons Why Nothing Matters More Than What We Think About Evolution

1. A shared sacred story that honors both objective truth and subjective meaning: For the first time in human history we have a creation story that not only addresses life’s biggest questions—Who are we? Where did we come from? Where are we going? Why are we here? How are we to live?—but helps us answer those questions in ways that are both religiously inspiring and scientifically accurate. No longer are subjective meaning and objective truth isolated from one another in separate domains. Both are conveyed through the same story.Let me explain why this is important: Today, religious peoples throughout the world are still inspired by creation stories that arose thousands of years ago, each specific to a people and its local ecologies. In one story, a snake and a forbidden fruit are featured; in another a turtle and a clump of mud play important roles, or a lotus blossom. These ancient stories are still important, but what unites us as a species today is the deeper, underlying story that could not have been discovered/revealed before the invention of telescopes and microscopes and the worldwide scientific enterprise by which objective truth is discerned from real and measurable data.

Looking inward, the scientific enterprise also helps us value far more than barebones science. Our evolved brains absolutely demand that scientific facts be interpreted in meaningful ways—ways that offer solace for life’s disappointments and guidance for living and shaping a better future. Thus, we see that the language of reason and the language of reverence are as complementary as day and night. Day, or factual, language is measurable. It aims to be objectively true. Night, or interpretive, language is metaphorical. It inspires when it is subjectively meaningful. Both ways of speaking are necessary. A sacred evolutionary worldview helps us celebrate both realms: the day realm of objective truth and the night realm of subjective meaning. (TGFE, chapters 1-7, 16)

2. REALizes religion, sanctifies science, and reveals the true magnitude of both: Many religious and non-religious people alike assume that religion is mostly concerned with otherworldly claims, and that science is devoid of meaning. But when we look at cultural evolution and appreciate the necessity of both day language and night language, we see that science is revelatory—it reveals truth—and that many of religion’s seemingly unnatural or miraculous stories actually have a measurably real, this-world referent.

For example, the biblical story of the fall of Adam and Eve and the concept of Original Sin superbly reveal a deep truth that has only recently been understood in a factual way, thanks to evolutionary brain science and evolutionary psychology. Yes, we all have powerful instincts: instincts that served the survival and reproductive needs of our ancestors in early human and pre-human times, but that are now sometimes very much out of sync with the demands of civilized life.

The ancients sensed this truth and their story conveyed it in powerful, night-language ways: notably, a talking snake and an otherworldly God who punished not only the disobedient couple but all their descendents, and for all time. Today, there is no need to argue whether the supernatural claims in that story trump the data revealed by science today. Rather, the biblical story is a brilliant night-language way to communicate the day-language truths born of science: the suffering we experience as fallible individuals in a challenging world has very, very deep roots. Our ancient instincts are not matched for the conditions of today’s world and today’s societies.

Thus, one of the greatest gifts afforded by religiously nourishing interpretations of the science-based history of the universe is that it becomes obvious how unnatural-sounding (“supernatural”) language can be interpreted in undeniably real, and utterly experiential, ways.

I predict that within the first half of this century, the vast majority of people and throughout the entire world will come to appreciate thatevolution is a gift to religion and that meaning-making is a gift to science.

As the religions come to embrace the science-based history of the cosmos, each tradition’s core insights will be accessed in larger, more realistic ways than ever before. Cultures in conflict will find common ground that today seems inconceivable.The science and religion war ends when we get that science is revelatory and facts are God’s native tongue. (TGFE, chapters 4-10, Appendix A, Appendix B)

3. Unmasks the powers of manipulation and clarifies our way forward: When we understand our brain’s creation story and its deep structure we can easily see how the media and advertising industry manipulate us by appealing to instincts related to sex, safety, sustenance, and status. An evolutionary worldview is essential for unmasking the powers of manipulation and for inspiring and empowering us to channel our instinctual energies in ways that serve our higher purpose and the common good.

Only by knowing how we really got here and the trajectory we’re undeniably on can we possibly respond to global issues like climate change and terrorism without making things worse. Indeed, trying to solve any large-scale problem without an evolutionary worldview is like trying to understand disease without microscopes or the structure of the universe without telescopes. It’s not merely difficult; it’s impossible. To use religious language: only by understanding the major breakthroughs in evolution—how God actually created everything, how it measurably occurred—can we possibly know what God is up to today or what God’s will is for humanity and for the body of life as a whole.

Without realistic answers to life’s biggest questions, religious and non-religious people alike will think poorly and vote short-sightedly and self-destructively on issues as diverse as the economy, health care, global warming, and terrorism. (TGFE, chapters 9-10, 14-17)

4. Key to alleviating suffering, living life fully, and loving the life you live: So much suffering in the world today can be traced to people and groups being out of integrity—that is, living day by day in ways that just don’t square with Reality, with the way the world actually is. Individuals and families suffer, communities and organizations suffer, and nations and ecosystems suffer when we’re out of integrity. But here’s the catch: without understanding our place in the universe and life's trajectory, we won’t even know what integrity is, much less know how to live in it.

A deep-time worldview is essential for abiding in deepest integrity. More, integrity is where we find common ground. Whatever else religions are, they are a call to integrity. Whatever else ecology is, it is a call to integrity. And whatever else evolution is, it is a call to integrity.

Here are four things that we know about human nature: (1) we’ll always need answers to life’s biggest questions, (2) we’ll always interpret our experience using metaphors, (3) we’ll always be challenged by our evolved instincts, and (4) integrity will always be our way home.

From a personal standpoint, this last point—that integrity is our way home—is really great news. Compost happens. Life is not fair. Yet when we see all that has been revealed in recent centuries through the full range of sciences, we find unmistakably clear guidance for how to live a really great life and have thriving relationships, and how to leave a positive legacy, no matter what hand life deals us. The key is choosing integrity and incorporating deep integrity practices into one’s life until they become habitual. (TGFE, chapters 11-15, 18, Epilogue)

For a printable pdf version of this post, click HERE

I thought this was the rant forum? My God, since when are rants not able to include lapses in judgement and logic. There should be a clause on this fourm. How about "rants subject to scrutiny by politically correct windbags".

Hey, I ranted out the Mormons some more for you, at least I did that.

Here's one:

"My curfew was lightning bugs. My parents didn' call my cell, they yelled my name. I played outside with friends, not online. If I didn't eat what mom cooked, then I didn't eat. Sanitizer didn't exist but you COULD get your mouth washed out w/soap. I rode a bike w/o a helmet. Getting dirty was ok and neighbors cared as much as your parents did. Re-post if you drank from a garden hose and survived."

Generally, these things don't bother me that much, but I never repost them on FB as that's not my thing. The first time you see these, they are fine, but when you see them over and over, it is nauseating. Sometimes they tick me off... like when Bin Ladin was killed, people were cheering and then they did a 360 and started posting up the Martin Luther King Jr. quote, implying that we were in the wrong for taking him out. I just wanted to delete all those idiots!

Kat

Yup, variations on the same old theme. For some reason or another, there is a new flare-up of this mounting. Nauseating. And I started putting out fake ones, making fun of it, all kinds of mayhem. You know what I got? Stuff like "Some of us aren't that good with words, it is easier to just copy and paste." Crap, my wife even said that. Fuck's sake.

rde

Yeah and a buddy of mine at work showed me a website where you would come up with a topic and it spews out proverbial sounding garbage...

Incidentally, my boss was working on internet addiction on kids and asked for my opinion on what could be a/the possible cause of this phenomenon. To which my answer was,most people don't know what they have on their hands. If the parents don't understand it, the internet's a dangerous place for a kid or anyone for that matter. Problem is, they aren't even making an effort to know it... just use it and abuse it and let it run as well as ruin their lives in the process.

It's still going on, too. We're definitely seeing a spike in the current contagion. Apparently there is no stopping it. I applied a few countermeasures and can, happily, report that I was able to block some of the infection on a local level. But they started back up almost before I applied the vaccine. This thing mutates, folks.

rde

The Terror

Yawn.

It is so easy to go off on spirituality. Effortless, really. And a lot of them deserve it, for their rigidity alone.

Now, I do know that some people don't like hearing a lot of cursing. I know that because I have a foul fucking mouth and am very good at the art of swearing, fuck yeah I am.

But, I am also a religious person, obviously--Unitarian Universalist. Crap, I did over sixty performances last year playing on various praise teams. I took the Summer off, except for playing at a pagan animal blessing coming up next week, which is just fun anyway you look at it.

Praying is a lot harder than making fun of prayer.

There are many people that pursue the spiritual path that you can't dump into this bucket, which gets created over, and over, and over (because it is easy).

So go ahead, have at it. But realize you aren't doing anything very profound. Shit, I bust on Mormons all the time. How can you not? Their founder alone--Joe, who was a goddamn psycho. I dug up metal tablets and read them through special glasses. Rightio! I'm married to one. Technically, she is a Mormon, actually, she's more along the lines of a pure pagan--that is her practice. So, is my wife an asshole, too? Am I? Just because you say so?

There are a lot of religious dicks out there. There are a lot of atheist dicks out there, too, you know? It is a non-denominational, open-source-code practice, being a ding-dong.

Need I provide you with glaring examples? Fuck's sake, they're everywhere on both sides of the fence. Here, I'll go ahead. Perigo--atheist, douchebag. Peikoff--atheist, devout douchebag. Why? Because I say so. And I do not speak alone. Call me a relativist, call it a matter of opinion, but I know a douche when I'm around one. For that matter, you can call ME a douche, for all that will get you.

So one thing we need to consider is that you don't immediately become douchebag-safe if you convert to atheism. It's just a matter of switching what flavor/scent of douche you want to be around.

Namaste,

rde

What will happen to Objectivism when the only people who are left alive are those who knew not Rand?

Will it undergo changes similar to changes in religions after the founders have passed from the scene?

Ba'al Chatzaf

What will happen? It's already happened. Objectivism is dead as a unified movement, religious or otherwise. It's an artifact to study and get what things of value you can from it. I fully expect ARI to wither away. Not that I'd bet money on it, but it's doing all the right things to insure that happens. And without ARI, there is no Objectivism, since per Ayn Rand, Objectivism is either official Objectivism or it's not Objectivism.

Shayne

Well yeah, but I'll never be sure about that last part.

This is frikkin' hilarious. If you haven't seen, do it!

J.G. Bennett: If you know you have an unpleasant nature and dislike people, this is no obstacle to work.

I think he most likely is big-hearted. Letting it out the box a little more often might be good.

He's a good writer, too.

Just agree with him. He'll like that.

rde

The spectacle of Peikoff, even glimpsed second-hand and sideways, would inspire anyone to quaintness. Wouldn't it be gloriously integrated full-circle if the housekeeper is actually an immigrant intellectual of hitherto unrecognized genius, who springs full-grown from the forehead of Objectivism when revealed to be the standard-bearer?

There would be an irony. Or, maybe he knows a loyal diaper-changer when he sees one. Planning for the future.

Regardless, putting down the microphone would surely be in his best interest. But he won't.

rde

I think that after Leonard Peikoff is gone <...>

Who is the hottest candidate as his successor?

If a top secret project funded by ARI proves successful, there will be no successor. . .

Don't be coy DH. We know who's the dark horse in this race....

The abduction and fusion of Hsieh/Peikoff:

At this point, a lot of things would be better--he could hike up to the North Pole and sit there, or something.

Isn't that what Superman did to regain his super powers? I'm afraid he'll just freeze to death.

--Brant

you got a worse idea?

I was thinking more like the ending of Frankenstein.

He was quite productive, younger, and smarter, younger, and brighter, younger--just the facts. Original? Not even originally, unless you think DIM is original. Unfortunately, someone should take away the keys to his podcast before he really hurts himself. It's gone beyond embarrassment.

--Brant

Agree with you 360, especially the podcast. No matter how much punishment er, some of us , put him on, it gets to that inhumane feeling that can start to happen. There's painfully funny, then there is just pain. He's making me wince once in awhile, and that is no way to do business.

I have all this mad production gear and it would have been just another training exercise to grab some voice samples, and then and then and then. . . And I really thought about that, until hearing the last couple of his deals. I will say that they even translate quite well to print--Oh yeah, baby, yeah they do. He's really doing fine on his own, there's not much more any of us can do to enhance perfection.

At this point, a lot of things would be better--he could hike up to the North Pole and sit there, or something.

rde

A piece about the mystique of mail order self-defense courses.

Black Dragon Society Secret Training Manual

rde

A just-for-fun thing I fool with on the side:

The Strange Curse of Trailer 356

rde

Men losing their erections? We live in the Age of Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. The problem is getting the damn thing to go down.

If it does not go down after 4 hours, call 911.

Ba'al Chatzaf

And if she doesn't, call Escorts Go Out Service [EGOS]...

Yeah, get out the metro white pages and start dialing as fast as you can.

rde

Any Port In A Storm

Happy Birthday Robert Campbell!

May you live long, prosper, have great health, and be a royal pain-in-the-ass to hypocrites everywhere!

You have no idea what an honor Kat and I feel at knowing you.

I, personally, feel a spiritual kinship with you that's hard to explain. I don't recall us ever disagreeing on any fundamental issue. And when something new comes up, I often marvel at how similar we see it. I have noticed a few times that we have even made similar mistakes.

(OK... I'm gonna' stop before this gets weird... )

Do have a wonderful celebration all day and every second of it.

Once again, happy birthday, friend.

From the heart.

Michael & Kat

I couldn't agree more. Bob, you're a treasure. It's been great interacting with you over the years. Savor the day!

Rich E.

I agree with all of you about the book's literary skill and entertainment value, but the plot ultimately turns on a device I find ethically objectionable. Maybe I'd buy it in a story built on symbolism or fantasy, but not in a realistic, contemporary work. If you haven't read it, do so and decide for yourself.

How did I just so know that one was coming?

Back in the 1970s a rumor was afoot in West Coast circles to the effect that Rand had pressured LP to take some kind of voice lessons in order to mitigate his -- How shall I put this delicately? -- unmanly manner of speaking. I believe Roy Childs was the source of this rumor; and though Roy was well-connected and had lots of accurate details about the Split before they became widely known, I have never found any substantiation for this particular story.

Ghs

Karaoke night would have been good. I might even pay money to see shit like that.

rde

I've got this book loaded on my Kindle. Gotta find time to read it. The book is getting great reviews on Amazon and has 4 stars.

Hunter at Amazon

Kat

Yeah, me too. I'm part way into it and I haven't gotten around to more reading, but I will. It is a real roller coaster ride. I think you'll enjoy it, Kat. Bob can really, really write.

Cheers!

rde

Happy Birthday, Rich

Rich Engle, you're a rare gem in our subcommunity.

Someone who speaks his mind and takes big chances on pushing the envelope too far--but with a good spirit and no malice.

That makes you colorful as all get out.

It's an honor to know you. May this birthday be wonderful and may many more follow.

Rock on.

Michael and Kat

Does that mean I'm a colored person? Does that mean I have to stay in the back of this bus? I think we're all bozos on this bus.

Thanks so much. Such a warm blessing to have in my life, y'all.

Rich Engle, celebrating his BD along with adopted Thomas Jefferson love grandchild Roscoe.

The Ralph Goldberg Story

It's got all the good primate stuff.

Best,

rde

This is interesting news, hadn't noticed. Christian Slater, too! Here's the writeup:

Freaky Deaky 2012 movie

Best,

rde

I was corresponding with Bob today and said I'd love to review his new novel on my blog, as well as share on OL, so I did! I am not even done with it yet and I am very, very impressed at the quality (for what that is worth).

Here is the review, which includes a link to Bob. One of our kind is doing excellent!

Hunter: A Thriller review

Best,

rde

Nice review, Rich!

REB

Thanks, R. Miss hearing from you--getting too lazy in the retired life? Growing flowers in your bone-bell?

rde