"Do not be scared by the word authority. Believing things on authority only means believing them because you have been told them by someone you think trustworthy. I believe there is such a place as New York. I have not seen it myself. I could not prove by abstract reasoning that there must be such a ... Continue reading
Are You Being Influenced?
Some pastors are known for their controversial political views, others for their less-than-orthodox teachings, but it’s hard to beat the Rev. Sheryl Ruthven when it comes to making attention-getting claims: she believes herself to be a prophetess who is the reincarnation of Mary Magdalene, one of ... Continue reading
What others have to say
In between fixing recalcitrant computers and answering my phone, I've been reading some great stuff on other blogs. BTW, I use Bradbury Software's excellent Feed Demon to collect the latest posts. Much faster than clicking down through a list of bookmarks. Julana writes at Life in the Slow Lane. ... Continue reading
Martian perspectives
The Mars Exploration Rover Spirit is about to get down and dirty on the Red Planet, and what I want to know is, who's driving? Suppose you were the NASA engineer assigned to put that 400-million-dollar dune buggy through its paces. Imagine that it's your job to tool around a rock-strewn planet 38 ... Continue reading
Beauty and truth
A thing of beauty is a joy forever: Its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness. —John Keats The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives. —Albert Einstein A few weeks back, while California was burning to the ... Continue reading