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By Jason Miks
GPS digital producer Jason Miks sits down with renowned evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, author of the Selfish Gene and An Appetite for Wonder, to discuss readers' questions on religion, its role in society and whether children can be described as "Christian."
A number of readers noting your skepticism over religion's role in society ask whether an absence of religion would leave us without a moral compass?
The very idea that we get a moral compass from religion is horrible. Not only should we not get our moral compass from religion, as a matter of fact we don't. We shouldn't, because if you actually look at the bible or the Koran, and get your moral compass from there, it's horrible – stoning people to death, stoning people for breaking the Sabbath.
Now of course we don't do that anymore, but the reason we don't do it is that we pick out those verses of the bible that we like, and reject those verses we don't like. What criteria do we use to pick out the good ones and reject the bad ones? Non-biblical criteria, non-religious criteria. The same criteria as guide any modern person in their moral compass that has nothing to do with religion.
So the moral compass of any person is very much a part of the century or even the decade in which they happen to live, regardless of their religion. So we live in the early 21st century, and our moral compass in the early 21st century is quite different from 100 years ago, or 200 years ago. We are now much less racist than they were, much less sexist than they were. We are much kinder than non-human animals than they were – all sorts of respects in which we are labeled with a moral compass. So something has changed, and it certainly has nothing to do with religion.
You've been travelling to the States from the U.K. for a number of years. Have you noticed much of a change in the place of religion in the two countries over that time?
Notoriously, the United States is the most religious of the Western advanced nations. It's a bit mysterious why that is. In Britain, Christianity is dying. Islam, unfortunately, isn't. In Western Europe generally, Christianity is dying. Even in America, the figures show that religious adherence is being steadily reduced, and the people who now record themselves as having no religious affiliation is something like 20 percent. Many people don't recognize what a high figure it is, and so politicians here who feel they have to curry favor with religious lobbies should maybe take a look at those statistics and realize that not everyone in this country is religious.
You say it's a bit of a mystery why America is so much more religious than other advanced countries. Do you have any thoughts on why it might be? Tied to that question of disposition, several readers also wondered if there is a genetic predisposition toward faith?
There probably is, but I don't think that really explains why America is so different from Britain. The least implausible suggestion that I've heard is that Britain and Scandinavian countries, which are also very non-religious, have an established church, and that kind of makes religion boring. Whereas in America, there is constitutionally a bar against an established church, and that could be one reason why religion has become so popular – it has become big business, it has become free enterprise, rival churches vie with each other for congregations and especially tax free ties.
Some readers see you as very evangelical in your atheism. Do you feel it a duty, just as some Christians might to share the word of God, to spread an atheist point of view?
Duty is a funny word. But when you say evangelical, I like to think that I don't shout or shriek, but employ a quiet, sober voice of reason. And reason is on our side.
You've talked about feeling uncomfortable with the impact of religion on children. In fact, one reader asked whether you would prefer to see no under-18s at church. What's your take?
I certainly wouldn't wish to prohibit parents influencing their children. However, for the rest of the world, to label a child a Catholic child simply because its parents are Catholic, seems to me to be a form of child abuse. The child is too young to know.
You can see the absurdity of talking about a Catholic child of four when you think what it would be like if we talked about an existentialist child of four, or a logical positivist of four. In other words, we wouldn't accept the labeling of a child based the parents' belief, so why do we accept it when it's religion? Why does religion get a free pass when it comes to labeling children in this way?
The bible,. and other books based on the supernatural, are cluster-bombs of ill-conceived notions about the natural world and humankind. The correct framing of the argument should be natural versus supernatural and the supernatural is an empty thought.
Yep, you are correct.
Not sure it is the place for religion to ask scientific questions, and likewise science isn't the place to ask moral questions.
Science is the entire reason. No one reads deeply enough about it and most people simply fill in the blanks after being confounded by having to think and grasp profound answers.
Just as Mr. Tyson indicated in his talk – the perimeter of ignorance. Some of the very greatest minds in science have at one time invoked religious explanations when they reached the limits of their knowledge on problems.
Both should be doing both. Actually, morality has been debated among philosophers since the ancient Greeks and many philosophers are atheists. I think we all have a stake in morality. Better to my mind that we at least think about it and talk about it than just have it handed down verbatim from someone's "holy book".
What morals are learned from religion?
Science seeks natural explanations for natural phenomenon! In this context the word "natural" should be taken to mean "natural" as opposed to "supernatural". Because God is "supernatural" by definition, science is a completely atheistic study of the universe. There are no scientific concepts, discoveries or principals that remain unsupported without God as a premise. It just doesn't happen.
Good call. Even Stephen Jay Gould, one of the most respected evolutionary biologists of all time, called science and religion "non-overlapping magisteria," meaning that each has its own internal truths, but that the truths of one could not necessarily be applied to the truths of the other. And, of course, Einstein said, "Science without religion is lame; Religion without science is blind."
Gould tried unsuccessfully to make that claim, but he was wrong. The problem is is that they do overlap. Religion makes scientific claims about how the world/universe work or came into being, only to have Science provide evidence that those claims are wrong. eg. Noah's flood never happened, life on earth evolved and was not individually created in its present form, the earth is not the center of the universe, etc.
In less than 200 years we've gone from candles to electric lights/computers, and from horses to landing on the moon. If there is a deity, religion hasn't provided any new insights into it in a thousand years.
He does not say where and how we get our moral compass. So, his argument is pale,and irresponsible.
These guys have a view that 'rationality' should rule, but my rationality may not be the same as yours.
Of course he does. The man has published a multi.tude of articles, books and speeches, any one of which could easily answer your point. Try google if you really want to know his response to such trivialities. The fact that you can't see where morals come from, does not mean others share in your ignorance.
my question is this, the bilble is the most widely read and most published book the world has ever seen. Your justification is that he has published a few books and journals and we should take his word over God's word in the Bible?
Hey, roy, that's a nice appeal to popularity logical fallacy you have there.
A quick note on what Roy said.
Not only is it irrelevant that the Bible is very popular, it is actually not true that it's the most read and most printed book ever.
It's not the most read. Hardly anybody actually reads the Bible. They may own one. But they don't read it. It's one of the most boring books ever written.
It's also not the most printed. The Ikea Catalog has more copies in print. Hey, maybe the Ikea Catalog is the word of God.
Yep, his best one to date was the interview where he stated "it could have been aliens", my personal favorite Dawkins quote 🙂
A quick note on what Luca said.
"Not only is it irrelevant that the Bible is very popular, it is actually not true that it's the most read and most printed book ever."
According to Guinness, Wikipedia, and almost every other reliable source, the Bible is the most-read and most-printed book in history, with over 2.5 billion copies owned, and sales of over 17 million annually (only a handful of best-sellers reach that number in any given year; the Bible has been doing it for decades).
"It's not the most read. Hardly anybody actually reads the Bible. They may own one. But they don't read it. It's one of the most boring books ever written."
This is mere speculation and opinion.
"It's also not the most printed. The Ikea Catalog has more copies in print. Hey, maybe the Ikea Catalog is the word of God."
Uh, do you know the difference between a "book" and a "catalog?" Even were it true that there are more Ikea catalogs in print than there are Bibles (which is simply ridiculous), Roy specifically said "book." Thus, your comparison to the Ikea catalog is an exceptional example of setting up a straw man.
Nice try, Luca.
Your quote is from the heavily edited interview Dawkins gave for the movie 'Expelled'. The question, which was edited out of the film, was asking him to propose ideas for how life on earth could have started by 'intelligent design' rather than abiogenesis. So he bent over backwards trying to come up an answer, and he certainly didn't believe the idea himself.
I am aware of where teh quote is from, i watched the interview...funny how the Dawkins apologists can claim all kinds of back peddling and excuses for things that THERE IS EVIDENCE that Dawkins says, yet as soon as someone trys to explain scripture it gets poo-pooed.
Ah, well. In this case, I saw him say it.
I am humbled by your intelligence,humor me and answer this trifle itch,where is our bedrock moral source?
Morality is easy. You pick it up on a daily basis from parents, siblings, teachers, and friends. There is no reason whatsoever for religious fantasies to be involved in the process.
If morality was easy, we wouldn't need prisons.
If I maintained the kind of morality that I picked from 'family friends' I would be in jail today, kinda glad I didnt.
Morality does not come from religion. It is understood social norms of the day. My dog has higher morals and characteristics than most church goers. She is loyal, compassionate, obeys, is accountable when she doesn't, and she has never gone to church! I would go so far to say the being religious negates morality and gives approval and a pass on bed behavior. How can something based on deceit do otherwise?
do you believe murder is wrong, adultery is wrong, to hate your brother is wrong, honor your mother and father, stealing is wrong, lying is wrong, coveting is wrong? if you do, then the 10 Commandments must have a moral message to send. Isn't that religious?
Hey, roy, you don't seem to understand the difference between correlation and causation. The bible did not invent prohibitions against murdering and stealing, and non-christian countries also have those rules.
How about slavery though? We hold that to be quite bad, do we not? Where is that in the commandments? Why is slavery explicitly condoned in the Bible? You're just picking and choosing the parts of the Bible that you like, just like Dawkins asserted.
Your dog probably believes all sorts of crazy things.
@roy: Commandments 6 through 10 codified existing social mores, that exist not just in Judeo-Christian societies but many societies regardless of their religious traditions.
But the ones given greatest precedence in Exodus, 1 through 4, are specifically for the promotion of Abrahamic religious traditions. I personally do not follow them, and object strongly whenever anyone tries to use them as the basis of civil laws. You can't require me to worship your god or any gods. You can't punish my great-great-great-great-great-grandchildren if I keep a graven image or two. I can swear by anyone I please, Yahweh damn it! And I'll probably be working this Sunday too.
You're so right! A dog will display better morals then some "christians" I know. And they don't go to church!
Morality developed because it conferred a reproductive advantage on a species that had adapted to thrive in social groups. When people must live together, they are more successful if they have rules to get along. In other words, morality is a trait that evolves to suit the environment the species finds itself in.
The late and very great Christopher Hitchens said, reasonably enough, that we inherently know right and wrong without religion telling us. That we were moral creatures before any priest, rabbi, imam or other "holy" man crowned by other mortal men shoved their brand of supernatural hooey down anyone's throat. Atheists, as far as I know, don't strap on bombs or shoot innocent men, women or children like those very religious, subhuman Islamists did in Nairobi. I wish all religious fanatics would become martyrs, frankly (taking no one else with them, mind you), and leave the rest of us reasonable people alone. The world would be a better place without religion. Maybe, I don't know, like heaven.
Sounds like you are advocating the position that it is ok for insane people to kill themselves as long as it doesn't impact your life.
Nice. Compassionate. Caring... Oh, wait, it is none of those.
Actually, he does.
He says it's a product of the times.
A logical positivist child of four. Now that does boggle the mind.
Dawkins has spent is entire career simply making the false statement that God does not exist. He'll always be a miserable person chasing his tail because God exists, and He created the universe and Dawkins too.
The fool says in his heart, there is a god.
The non-fool lives out of his hear.
god does not exist, and Dawkins is not miserable. I'm sorry that you wont be happy unless other people validate your delusions.
I wont argue your first point but as for the second, have you seen a recent Dawkins interview?!?! Yes, he most certainly is miserable, sad way to live a life.
{{{{{{ ahem, clears throat }}}}}
Your http://www.GODisIMAGINARY.com ...
... and thank goodness because he emanates from ...
... The http://www.EVILbible.com
Nice site.
it would be nice and he did exist and there was an afterlife for those of us that behaved... however ... there is no proof... and all the religions of the world are the most compelling evidence for that... the golden rule is instinct and humans have followed it in one way or another since the beginning of time. religion was needed to add specifics so that the ignorant among us would adhere to the rule since it can't be enforced unless all men agree to follow it...
Then why is our world so broken? Why are so many in pain? Why are record numbers of people murdering each other?
God, it is over population.
Then why is our world so broken? Why are so many in pain? Why are record numbers of people murdering each other?"
I have an idea about that. Religion and the belief in God I believe are what make people so unhappy. On the surface it all looks rosey and wonderful. We're taught that our lives have a purpose, that God has a plan for us, that if we pray to God he'll hear our prayers and answer them. These are fallacies of course, but we live our lives trying to make the reality we see and live every day fit the fantasy we've been taught. When reality and fantasy collide some of shatter. The truth is the only meaning our lives have is that which we give it. Far better to be taught that as a child, that you can grow up to do and be anything you want, than to grow up thinking some magical being has your life planned out for you. Of course its much more complicated than that, but thats the gist of what I believe to be one of the biggest ills of our society today.
Buster you are a delusional person who believes in a book written by Bronze Age Shepherds and it is so sad to see people waste your entire life thinking that this life is to prepare you for a better one up in the sky If you had never in your life heard of this scenario and I told you it was true you would laugh at me ,so I laugh at you
Your evidence? And dont say you read it in a book written by 15th century monks and soforth LOL
Dawkins is very ugly in that article picture, and needs to comb and shave his eyebrows.
Dawkins: "But 2 + 2 = 4."
Buster: "Yeah, well you're ugly."
How about you have an intelligent, adult conversation.
....that made me laugh out loud. ....I was thinking the same thing.
Dawkins "2+2=blue, because I can hear."
Jim: ROFLMAO! Brilliant! Bravo!
The beautiful thing about 'life' - in this world, beyond this world, beyond what we can even imagine - is that it carries on with, or without our awareness. It surrounds us, sustains us, bringing us into this particular awareness matrix, and then... well, what happens next is up for debate. But no matter what we think happens before or after death, or whether or not we even believe in a 'before' or 'after', the mechanics of life continue to operate. That makes everyone's opinion Just That. One truth cannot POSSIBLY contain the 'answer.' And so, to those who think they know, as well as to those who don't care to think about it, I say it's just who you THINK you are what what it is, and nothing more than that.
As a scientist and a Christian I am surprised at the inaccuracies in Dawkins assumption. To assume that somehow we are more moral today than say 300 years ago is the biggest myth I always hear. We just exited the bloodiest century in humankind. Genocide after genocide Professor Dawkins appears to live a somewhat sheltered life. I do agree with him on the point of the Bible and many people have used it erroneously, but that is not the fought of the central character of Christianity Jesus of Nazareth. Look at who he was and his teachings and you won't see stonings, etc. In fact Professor Dawkins he prevents the stoning of woman. May I suggest you go back to the basics on Christianity and stick to evolutionary biology.
As Dawkins mentions, God told his followers to kill a man because he dared to gather firewood on the sabbath - the fact that God later, in his Christ persona (same guy though), might not have repeated some of his earlier hideous acts, does not absolve God of responsibility for what he did (if he existed).
If you had read my post carefully you would see that I mention I agree with Dawkins on some issues with the Old testament. The point though is that God through Jesus brought in the new convenant. It changed things completely. It does not mean that God changed his mind, only that truth and forgiveness entered the world through jesus. I too have issues (which I am smart enough to acknowledge that some things I leave up to God) with the Old testmanet. I recommend you read posts carefully.
you may have a great deal of knowledge in one area ... but you do not understand humanity... the golden rule is instinct. religion simply added specifics so that ignorant people would behave according to it. it was needed in the lawless days when no governing bodies could hold people accountable. it helped civilize the masses by have a sky daddy watch over them and force them to fear not following the golden rule. now, religion is not needed and the civilized world would be much more peaceful without it... open your mind... and prove you are a scientist... observe children interacting and even they understand the golden rule...
Believe me I have plenty of knowledge in humanity. I am 4'7" a dwarf, with vision issues, still manage to ski black diamond runs, ride my back 70 miles and have traveled all over the world as an employee of NASA. I, with God's grace, have overcome much in my life. I am also adjunct faculty in Earth Science. Your point that the Golden Rule is instinctive (which I don't mention in my post so don't know why it was brought up) I agree with. it is, as nobel Laureate Alexander Solzyhenistyn said proof of the "image of eternity" we are all born with. Be careul about coming to conclusions about people or should I say "judging" people.
Your assumption that YOU understand humanity better than all of us knuckleheads compromises your credibility. Anything and everything after that statement is crap.
You continue to blather as if you had personal perfect knowledge of things no one does.
You claim to be a scientist and christian, at the same time. Well, all you do is extract parts of the bible that you prefer to believe and write about. You totally disregard the bible's directives in the stoning to death of children and the condoning of slavery, which is what "your god" thinks is the norm. Sir, you have mental issues.
Rev, he way you constructed your question is incorrect, not the way I answered. It's kinda like if I asked you to breath without air. Proof of God is through what he has given to us: HIS WORD. The problem is that very few people read and understand the coherent message of the Bible. It's all there, and very simple.
"Proof of God is through what he has given us, HIS WORD." That's the same as "It's true because I say so", which is about as illogical and feeble as you can get.
Huh, seems to be enough for the Dawkins followers. Im relatively sure that not many of them have the same level of education he does, therefore they are believing him because he says so.
I read spider-man comics. It's spider-man's WORD. Spider-man is real. Sound logical?
You state that your god is a "He". Does this imply that he has testicles, and if so, what would he need them for?
I realize you are being "funny," but the point should be made. God is a spirit that includes both genders. We use the pronoun "He" because the Bible was handed down through a patriarchal society. God could just as easily be referred to as "she" or "it," but that simply confuses things even further.
Dawkins is simply mad at religion, as most atheists are, so therefore he cannot be rational and objective about it. Anyone that obsessed with something that he doesn't like may have OCD. He's cold and boring. Tune him out.
Or are religious people simply mad at atheists and projecting that anger? I keep reading references to Dawkins' purported anger. The only anger I'm picking up here is in the comments from those that appear to religious. I'm sure someone is now going to say I'm angry. I know, my rage is so clear from the inflammatory language in this comment.
Angry, or better yet Militant Atheists! Just because we don't hesitate to call a spade a spade and voice our opinion all of a sudden makes us militants.
Actually i susect they are ferring to one of his many interviews as opposed to this article, only have to see the guy once to realize he is a very unhappy person.
the golden rule is instinct and we have lived by it since we interacted with each other. religion simply added specifics for the simple minded and ignorant people who don't understand the simplest rule of all... a child can understand it and if you opened your mind and watched how they behave towards each other you would understand as well...
David You can not be mad or angry at something you do not believe in. How can you be mad at Santa or the Tooth fairy ?
"You cannot be angry at something you do not believe in." Really?! I would have loved to hear Chris Hitchens' response to that! He was as angry about – and at – the God he did not believe in as anyone is ever likely to be.
Hitchens was angry at those who turned off their brains, blindly followed their religious teachings, and claimed both a divine knowledge and right to oppress others. If the religious didn't try to force their beliefs on others, no atheist would care what they believed in. However if there actually was a god, we would certainly have a right to be angry at the incompetent fool (eg. Our eye is designed backward with the blood vessels in front of the retina instead of behind like it is in the octopus, the recurrent pharyngeal nerve, knees, lower back, hernias, prostate, etc. etc.), and his ineffective method of getting his message out to us.
One doesn't need a moral compass to follow the Blinding Light.
Talk about irony – implying that religion offers people a moral compass when history clearly shows it does just the opposite – religion gives too many people an excuse not to have morals at all.
Well put, Mac, well put.
Umm, what history actually shows is that people will use religion for ends that religion does not necessarily support. Someone saying "I am doing this because of my religion" does not really mean they are, some people actually lie to get what THEY want.
Is the agreement that life is futile in the universe worthy (fundamentally the leftist compass)? Yes??? Really? Torrents will flood against your convictions.....
All of your rants are useless drivel. Neither side can prove its position. Mother Earth created you and will reclaim you in due time. I have moved from being a radical believer to an atheist and back again several times in my 70 years. What ever you believe will not alter the end result. It's all folly!
Do you think, at this point in your life, that life futile in the universe? Just curious.
hope you are there.... I would like to hear....
I would love to hear what you think....
The futile are barking!!!
Speak English so we can converse.
Do you think, at this point in your life, that life futile in the universe? Just curious.
Do you think, at this point in your life, that life futile in the universe? Yes or no?
Do you thin life is futile in the universe or not? It is the fundamental question. Yes or no?
Do you think life is futile in the universe or not? It is the fundamental question. Yes or no? Last request....
Why is this man always so angry? He needs Jesus.
{{{{{{ ahem, clears throat }}}}}
Your http://www.GODisIMAGINARY.com ...
... and thank goodness because he emanates from ...
... The http://www.EVILbible.com
{{{{{{ ahem, clears throat }}}}}
Your http://www.GODisIMAGINARY.com ...
... and thank goodness because he emanates from ...
... The http://www.EVILbible.com
The only labeling that is provably bad for children is that which comes from the Bible or the Koran but that which comes from psychiatry and the DSM. Label a child as ADHD or bipolar and his/her brain will be damaged for life with psychotropic drugs. That's the real scandal here.
Rev, I hate to tell you this, but the Biblical Pi is more accurate than your estimate. Sorry. Also, if there are four INDEPENDENT autonomous version of the Gospel of Christ, that's awesome! In reality, Mark, Luke and Matthew are probably connected, but John is its own unique account.
DOnt be silly Buster, clearly teh Rev. is the type of guy who would dismiss all testimony in a trial unless it was all entirely identicle...oh, wait a minute, that gets dismissed as false tesitimony.
No under 18's at church was most likely my question.
Does this mean I get a party favour ?
It is an interesting question. Religions do convey some morals and to say otherwise is just dishonest, but unfortunately they convey some immoralities as well. No one knows where we would be without religion, and it is pure speculation to say we do know, either way. For those who are more interested in Nascar, Monday Night Football, the Kardashians, Survivor, etc., who don't spend their time intentionally reading philosophy and furthering themselves, where would they get their morals? Are we really better off?
Aside from this question, another one is, "does religion cause people to pay less attention to the problems of this world because they know the here-and-now is not as important as the afterlife? Does religion cause people, on the average, to walk through life in a strange sort of trance to our current dilemmas?
Neil DeGrasse Tyson, as usual, brings up a point worth considering. I feel a great many people care very little about serious issues such as overpopulation, the climate crisis, the pollution of our oceans and air etc. because their religion tells them life in this world is just a passing phase, a test to decide who gets to go to heaven. As such, the problems of this world are just not that important to the religious person who has his eye fixed on the prize at the end of the road. If you want to meet someone who cares about the world we're leaving our children, talk to an atheist.
Umm, thats just silly. I can likely offer as many caring Christians as you can atheists, I would hope more but I have no data on the numbers. I can say that the people who work with me regularly at the food bank as more likely to be Chrisitian than atheist.
Your comment represents a fundamental misunderstanding of Christianity. There are two parts to it. Yes, one part is the "afterlife"; i.e., salvation and redemption. But the other part is the "temporal"; i.e., what we do, how we live our lives, in THIS world. Jesus' ministry was comprised of eleven basic precepts: love, peace, compassion, forgiveness, humility, patience, charity, selflessness, service, justice and truth. But these are virtues that apply HERE, in THIS world, since they automatically exist in the next. And our salvation and redemption is based partly on the "works of faith" that we do HERE, NOW.
So it is not all about "pie in the sky, by and by." In fact, if Christians do not live "Christ-like" lives HERE, in the temporal world, there may not BE a "by and by" for them at all.
Well then. I guess we best just turn into atheists since the silly religion thing has never been a moral compass.
if you are too simple minded to understand the golden rule then you have no moral compass. religion simply added specifics since no government could enforce the golden rule... a child can understand it and if you have ever opened your mind and watched their behavior... you would too
A moral compass starts somewhere. Where does it start? Mr Dawkins is not unbiased. He starts with some assumptions. The assumptions and his answers will tickle the ears of those that have the same assumptions and bias'.
the golden rule is instinctual and religion simply added specifics since no governments could enforce it so people embraced religion in order to adhere to it. now we don't need religion since we have governments to enforce the golden rule... its so simple a child can understand it... why can't you...
Dr. Dawkins' hateful polemic is becoming tiring. Who cares what he says about theology or the Bible. He clearly has no idea what he is talking about; he should stick to writing about the other thing he knows nothing about... evolution.
What morality he have left on this planet has come to us from the holy writings of the ancients... most Western law come directly from the Bible. Most Eastern laws come directly from the Qur'an.
Its time for Dr Dawkins to back off. His seething polemic is vitriolic and hateful.
Just say'in...
sadly you are the one with no intelligence. humans have always followed the golden rule. it is instinct. if some is good to you, you are good to them and vice versa. religions simply added specifics since no governments existed to enforce the golden rule. religion had its place to civilize society, but now we have governments that can enforce the golden rule... open your mind and learn history and learn to think...
Hey Jason, appreciate the interview for sure but why isn't it longer (like by 3 times)?
Dave In Sacramento
Your moral compass is guided only by your environment PERIOD.
I look at it this way- If there is a god who created everything, then it would be reasonable to say that he/she/it did so according to his/hers/its own rules. If that is the case, then there should be no religion vs science- they would be one and the same, truth as truth and science as the fingerprint of god. From that perspective I cant find much relevance or truth in today's organized religions, and it seems more and more people are adopting a similar viewpoint on the matter...
the reason america is more religious is partly because we used religion as a rallying cry against the soviets. Also america has much more rural/small town areas that are essentially cutoff from cities where different people interact and you experience other religions that make you question why yours can be absolute. In Europe you have much higher population densities and more people live closer to others and their differences and it fosters understanding and destroys the rigid faith that a single preacher has on a small group of like minded raised to fit in. Now that we are essentially all connected and see that people with completely different backgrounds and faiths are the same as us yet somehow our belief is right and there's is wrong makes no sense. Simple close minded unintelligent people can rationalize their faith and cling to it out of fear yet those with intelligence, understanding and an open mind accept the fear that is the unknown and realize why religion was created and why it is false.
Neil DeGrasse Tyson, as usual, brings up a point worth considering. I feel a great many people care very little about serious issues such as overpopulation, the climate crisis, the pollution of our oceans and air etc. because their religion tells them life in this world is just a passing phase, a test to decide who gets to go to heaven. As such, the problems of this world are just not that important to the religious person who has his eye fixed on the prize at the end of the road. If you want to meet someone who cares about the world we're leaving our children, talk to an atheist.
Your comment represents a fundamental misunderstanding of Christianity. There are two parts to it. Yes, one part is the "afterlife"; i.e., salvation and redemption. But the other part is the "temporal"; i.e., what we do, how we live our lives, in THIS world. Jesus' ministry was comprised of eleven basic precepts: love, peace, compassion, forgiveness, humility, patience, charity, selflessness, service, justice and truth. But these are virtues that apply HERE, in THIS world, since they automatically exist in the next. And our salvation and redemption is based partly on the "works of faith" that we do HERE, NOW.
So it is not all about "pie in the sky, by and by." In fact, if Christians do not live "Christ-like" lives HERE, in the temporal world, there may not BE a "by and by" for them at all.


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Les Paul, Chet Atkins, John Lennon, B. B. King, Ace Frehley, Dickey Betts, Earl Scruggs, Sam Bush and Bill Monroe... all pioneers of their instruments. And all of them play Gibson Strings. Because they recognize that Gibson manufactures the finest strings for virtually any playing style, using the highest quality alloys. Gibson pays close attention to every detail of manufacturing, so that the strings they make will satisfy the most demanding players.
All legendary series strings feature the distinctive silk wrap at the ball end helps to eliminate any undue wear and harmonics. Whether it's Blues, Rock, Jazz or Country, you won't find better strings for your musical needs. If you want to use the strings that the professionals use, then Gibson Strings are the choice for you!
Gibson Vintage Reissue Electric Guitar String Specifications
Individual Gauges

subset: commoncrawl


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I have been to Jamaica and come back with a pound (454g for the continentally based amongst us) of roasted beans labelled "100% Blue Mountain, product of the Blue Mountain small coffee farmers, Portland, Jamaica WI," which cost me the princely sum of $20 US.
While I am prepared to accept that this is probably not the best quality Blue Mountain, as I presume that all gets exported to Japan, I would like to do it justice.
I haven't opened the pack yet (BBE 1 Sep 2013!!) but I am hoping that the roast is a medium. That is not indicated on the packaging.
So -
the advice I need is, what is the best way to prepare my little cache regarding grind and brewing method? I presume grinding it to powder and
sticking into the Gaggia Classic would be frowned upon.
All suggestions gratefully receved.


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KONI Shock Absorbers and the SCCA have a very strong history from the 1950s all the way up to the present day. KONI views the SCCA as a strategic partnership in the history and future of the company and of motorsports. KONI adjustable shocks and struts have for decades been a cornerstone and often starting point for performance suspension refinement and tuning.
KONI is proud to support the SCCA and its members in many ways including being a supporter of regional and national autocross and club programs like road racing. For nearly 20 years, KONI is the only manufacturer to provide free on-site damper service at the SCCA Solo National Championships. A charter supporter of the SCCA's Track Night in America program, KONI is title sponsor of the TNiA KONI Novice Experience. New for 2018, KONI joined as a supporter of the SCCA's Member Retention and Referral program offering a discount on all KONI apparel. Looking for ways to build on your shock tuning knowledge? KONI provides free seminars and technical assistance to help members and competitors excel through improved suspension control, better consistency, and durability. KONI is the sole shock and strut supplier for SCCA's popular new Solo Spec Coupe (SSC) autocross class making their Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nationals debut next week in Lincoln!
KONI is proud to have been selected many times over many decades as the #1 damper brand of choice in the SCCA membership surveys (thanks members!). Automotive enthusiasts like SCCA members know that shock absorbers and struts can make a significant improvement in street and racing car performance, handling, comfort and longevity and they trust KONI as their supplier.
Founded in 1857 in Oud Beijerland, The Netherlands, KONI was originally a horse saddle and leather goods shop. When automobiles and trucks were first introduced after the turn of the century, KONI (the company name was drawn from the middle of the founding de Koning family name) started making many products to support and improve their performance, reliability, and longevity. KONI began making automotive friction dampers in the 1930s and started making adjustable telescopic hydraulic shocks absorbers right after World War II.
KONI entered motorsports in 1955 with the international Dutch Tulip Rally and soon worked with Ferrari in 1956 to improve their suspensions. KONI began officially participating in Formula 1 with Ferrari in 1958 and has been involved in Formula 1 every year since then. In that time, KONI has won over 250 Formula 1 races and 13 World Championships. KONI's performance products have competed and won in all of the world's major motorsports venues and races including LeMans, the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500, the Dakar Rally, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, etc. and innumerable wins and championships at every level of amateur and professional motorsports in autocross, road racing, drag racing and oval track.
Although KONI is best known to the public for Automotive and Motorsports dampers, KONI is also a world leader in suspension damping solutions for Light and Heavy Duty Trucks and RVs, city buses and motor coaches, military vehicles, railway locomotives, and industrial applications. Anywhere that motion control is important, KONI offers world class damping solutions.
The KONI North America team is proud to have staff members who are SCCA members who are active in club racing (both as drivers and workers), autocross, road rally and elected regional leadership. For more information regarding KONI products and activities, please go to www.koni-na.com (North American site) or www.koni.com (European site) or visit them on social media at Facebook (KONI Shock Absorbers) and Instagram (@konishocks).
SCCA members who refer a friend to membership will be entered to win a set of KONI shocks! For full details, go to https://www.scca.com/pages/membership-referral-program


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This page has information about some of the families in my tree.
Here's a link to an index of names in an early version of my family tree uploaded to Family Tree Maker Online. I can't remember how long ago this version was uploaded but it does need updating when I get chance.
This is my paternal line. The earliest ancestor I have traced so far is John Dawson (born about 1768), my 4xgreat grandfather. I was brought up believing that I came from good Yorkshire stock. Although most of my early ancestors were born and lived in and around Cowling – between Keighley in West Yorkshire and Colne in Lancashire – it seems that John Dawson (c1768) may well have been born near Clitheroe in Lancashire. I haven't yet been able to confirm this with any certainty but there is some evidence that this is indeed the case. Watch this space!!
John Dawson (c1768 – 1832) and Ann Watson (c1772 – 1846):- Priscilla, John, James, Thomas, Alice, Elizabeth, William, Watson and John
Thomas Dawson (c1799 – 1874) and Margaret Snowden (c1800 – 1879):- John, Ann, Priscilla, William, Esther, Elizabeth, Thomas, James and Margaret
John Dawson (c1819 – 1881) and Ellen Gawthrop (c1824 – 1892):- Thomas, Martin, Isaac, William, John, Ann, James, Ellen, Margaret, Joseph and Matthew
James Dawson (1857 – 1931) and Emma Buckley (1863 – 1935):- Sarah Ellen, Annie, Harry, James, George Isaac and Joseph
Joseph Dawson (1903 – 1978) and Alice Hurtley (1900 – 1987):- Harry and Graham
Graham Dawson (1930 – 2008) and Alice Musgrove (1930 – )
I have my paternal grandmother's line going back to my 9xgreat grandfather, John Hurtley, born about 1590. I must admit that I haven't actually done all of this research myself and I haven't yet checked it for accuracy. However there are quite a few "trees" on http://www.ancestry.co.uk where other people have this same information and I have just added their research to my own tree. If the information is correct then the Hurtley's originate from the Kirkby Malhamdale area of Yorkshire(http://www.kirkbymalham.info/KMI/malhamdale.html). My own branch of the family moved south through the generations to the area around Skipton and Cononley.
John Hurtley (c1590):- Thomas
Thomas Hurtley (1609) and Elizabeth Deane:- William
William Hurtley (1633):- James
James Hurtley (1654) and Agnes Lawson:- Henry
Henry Hurtley (1700) and Jane Unknown:- William
William Hurtley (c1722 – 1800) and Elizabeth Clark (c1730):- Thomas
Thomas Hurtley ( – 1855) and Hannah Braidley (1778 – 1858):- Martha, John, Thomas, Hannah, Mary and James
James Hurtley (1819 – 1887) and Hannah Dinsdale (1821 – 1900):- Thomas, John, Mary E, James, Esther Hannah, Ann and William D
James Hurtley (1858 – 1917) and Ellen Paley (1859 – 1934):- Rhoda, James, Jessie, Maggie, Nellie, Tom, Alice
Alice Hurtley (1900 – 1987) and Joseph Dawson (1903 – 1978)
My mother's parents were both called Musgrove. So first here is my Grandads side of the family – starting out in Kendal, Westmoreland.
Joseph Musgrove (c1791 – 1858) Jane Dewhurst (c1803):- John
John Musgrove (c1833 – 1884) and Catherine Ainsworth (1837 – 1887):- Susannah, George, Thomas Ainsworth, Joseph and James
Thomas Ainsworth Musgrove (1860 – 1928) and Ellen Stowell (1861 – 1933):- Ellen, Robert, Mary Alice, Joseph Ainsworth Stowell, Harry, Annie and Fred Ainsworth Stowell
Fred Ainsworth Stowell Musgrove (1898 – 1975) and Florrie Musgrove (1897 – 1971):- Kathleen, Thomas, Joseph Harry, Hazel, Elizabeth, Stowell, Alice and Mary
Alice Musgrove (1930 – ) and Graham Dawson (1930 – 2008)
Next is my Nanny's side of the Musgrove clan. From what I can gather they came from the Hawkshead area of Lancashire – at least it was in Lancashire back in the 17th and 18th centuries. Hawkshead is near to lake Windermere which is now in Cumbria. Also the family name has changed over the generations – from Musgreave to Musgrove. I still have much more research to do to get a better understanding of the family.
Joseph Musgreave (c1703):- Alice, Robert, Thomas and Joseph
Joseph Musgrave (c1736):- Joseph, William and John
William Musgrove (c1760):- Betty, George, Joseph, Ellin, William, Anthony, Sarah and John
William Musgrove (c1795 – 1861) and Harriot Francis (c1795 – 1866):- Eliza Francis, Anthony, George, William, Harrison, Anthony and Elanor
Harrison Musgrove (c1834 – 1868) and Jane Rooking (c1833 – 1873):- Agnes, Harrison, William, George Albert, and Joseph
Joseph Musgrove (1866 – 1933) and Elizabeth Ann Turner (1873 – 1946):- John Robert T, Thomas, Florrie, Mary Elizabeth, James, Joseph, Leah, Isabel, Alice and Joseph
Florrie Musgrove (1897 – 1971) and Fred Ainsworth Stowell Musgrove (1898 – 1975)


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Police in Central Texas say an intoxicated 22-year-old man has been arrested after knocking on the doors of strangers and demanding he be let in to sleep.
Zakry Ernest Zapata remained in the Brazos County jail Monday on charges that include public intoxication and making a terroristic threat causing fear of serious bodily injury.
The Corpus Christi man was arrested in a Bryan neighborhood Saturday. The Eagle newspaper reports he threatened to get a gun and harm the residents of a home when they declined to give him a bed.
U.S. & World
Authorities say Zapata was fighting with another neighbor when police arrived. Arresting officers found no weapon.
Making a terroristic threat is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in prison and a fine of $10,000.
Copyright AP - Associated Press


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University of Maryland basketball coach talks of son's cancer fight
Brenda Frese's son battles leukemia
The University of Maryland women's basketball team takes on Wake Forest Friday in the ACC quarterfinals in Greensboro, N.C. The Lady Terps are coached by Brenda Frese.
Over the last few years, Frese has faced some difficult challenges off the court. Her son, Tyler, has leukemia.
Frese has been guiding the women's basketball team for the past 11 seasons.
Her strength was tested more than ever about two and a half years ago. Mom to twin boys, Markus and Tyler, Frese said she was on a recruiting trip in Indiana when she got a devastating phone call from her husband, Mark.
"He asked me if I was driving and I said, 'Yes,' and he told me to pull over," Frese said.
Her husband told her their pediatrician had run some blood tests on Tyler and the 2-year-old's diagnosis was leukemia.
Tyler needed treatment and he needed it now.
For the next two and a half years Tyler would make regular trips to Johns Hopkins to undergo routine rounds of chemotherapy, along with steroid treatments and countless pills. Frese still marvels at Tyler's courage.
"Kids are just resilient. They don't understand what's happening to their body. At that point, he didn't have a lot of the communication skills to tell us how he was feeling, but it is just inspiring to see what he went through and to see just what a fighter he is," Frese said.
She said it wasn't until after Tyler's first surgery that she realized how much of a balancing act it would be.
"You know, as a parent, you know you're like, 'OK, I have a sick son and I have to handle that situation' and I have a healthy son who also needs my love and attention equally as much," Frese said.
Support would come from all around her. She refers to her husband as her rock and her team still designates certain games as Team Tyler Games. Her boys are often seen in the stands and in the locker room. Their extended family is grateful for Tyler's presence.
So, after over two years of an emotional roller coaster ride, Brenda, Tyler and her family will finally be able to get off this ride. December is what they look forward to most.
"That's the first real benchmark for us is when he completes the medicine. He'll have the port taken out of his chest soon thereafter, and then he'll continue to go to Hopkins for checkups for a year and a half after that," Frese said.
In December, Frese said she plans a small celebration for Tyler and their closest family. Until then, they remain focused on the fight. Every month, the tests on Tyler's little body have come up cancer free.
"At the end of the year and a half from there, the 5-year cycle, it's going to be a big bash. It's going to be Disney. It's going to be with cousins and friends. It's going to be with extended family. We're going to celebrate when this is all finished," Frese said.
On Thursday, Frese was voted ACC Coach of the Year by the league's coaches.


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Basement Windows and Safety: Things to Consider
Keeping Basement Windows Safe
Basement windows create two common safety concerns. An unsecured basement window offers an easy way for intruders to enter a home undetected and a small basement window can trap victims inside or keep emergency responders from entering. Both safety concerns are something to consider when purchasing a home or replacement windows, but they easy to remedy.
Securing your basement windows
A number of safety options for basement windows that won't compromise sunlight or fresh air are available. To secure your basement windows you can add:
- Security bars: Security bars are made of metal and they can't be disassembled from the outside. You don't have to worry about obstructing your escape route, though: security bars come with a quick release mechanism from the inside.
- Window security film: Window security film is made of polyester and metal alloys. The materials are held together with an adhesive that will stand up against rocks and bricks, gale-force winds, and explosions. The window may shatter, but the tough film will hold the pieces together.
- Polycarbonate sheeting: Polycarbonate sheeting is 250 times stronger than glass and as clear as glass, so it still allows sunlight to enter. Polycarbonate sheets are sold under the trade names Hyzod, Tuffak, Lexan, and Makrolon.
If you have an alarm system, don't assume that it's automatically wired to your basement. The alarm panel is wired to several zones, so make sure the basement windows are included or equipped with sensors.
Creating a code-friendly escape route
If your basement is being used for extra living space such as a home office, game room, or bedroom, the International Residential Code (IRC) requires two forms of escape: an exit door and a window large enough for an emergency responder to enter and an exit for people trapped inside. To bring your basement windows up to code, you'll need to add an egress window with a minimum opening of 5.7 square feet, with a width of at least 20 inches and height of 24. To allow for easy escape, the window's sill height must be within 44 inches of the basement floor.
Casement, double-hung and sliding window styles work well for this requirement. You can install the windows yourself in four steps or you can hire a contractor. In both cases, you need to secure a building permit.


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Income gains with racial equity
Actual and projected average annual income, percentage income gain, and shares of gain attributable to increased wages (income per hour) versus increased employment (hours worked) under a scenario of racial equity in income for the population ages 16 or older. Income gains were estimated by assuming that each racial/ethnic group had the same age-adjusted average annual income (and income distribution) and hours of work as non-Hispanic whites. Asian subgroups with average incomes higher than the average for non-Hispanic whites were assumed to experience no gains or losses in income. Data for 2010 represent a 2006-2010 average while data for 2015 represent a 2011-2015 average. All dollar values are in 2015 dollars. For more information, see the data and methods document. | National Equity Atlas Data & Methods: Technical Documentation
United States
Income by race/ethnicity:
What are the economic benefits of inclusion?
Why it matters
Wage and employment gaps by race (as well as gender) are not only bad for people of color—they hold back the entire economy. Closing these gaps by eliminating discrimination in pay and hiring, boosting educational attainment, and ensuring strong and rising wages for low-wage workers is good for families, good for communities, and good for the economy. Rising wages and incomes, particularly for low-income households, leads to more consumer spending, which is a key driver of economic growth and job creation.
Grow an equitable economy: Policies to close the racial income gap
- If wages are a predominant source of your racial income gap, focus on raising the floor on low wage work by increasing the minimum wage or enacting living wage laws, requiring paid sick days, ending wage theft, strengthening workers' rights to organize, and ensuring fair scheduling and equal pay
- If employment is a predominant source of your racial income gap, focus on growing new good jobs, investing in education and workforce training pathways, dismantling barriers to employment such as conviction history questions on job applications, employer credit checks, and racial discrimination in hiring, connecting unemployed workers to the jobs created through new development, and increasing transportation access to jobs
Tulsa Proves Universal Pre-K Brings Major Economic and Social Returns
Investments in early childhood education have strong, proven economic and social benefits. In 1998, Oklahoma passed legislation offering free high-quality pre-kindergarten to every four-year old in the state. Its enrollment rate is 74 percent, while only 28 percent of all four year-olds nationally are enrolled in a state-funded pre-K program. An in-depth study of Tulsa's program found that children who enrolled in pre-K would increase their future earnings by tens of thousands of dollars. Low-income students, in particular, would see an earnings increase. For students of all income levels, the benefits of pre-K far outweigh the state's investment. Read more.


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Moderators: Birdwatcher, Cassie, patoco, Senior Moderators
Atlantamary wrote:Hi,
I had the same problem (large pseudo tumor) on one of my legs. Check out this forum's Personnel Stories section (My Battle with Lymphedema, posted Feb 19, 2010) to see how I was able to deal with it.
Here are my thoughts on some of the issues you raised. Just a caveat—I'm a patient, not a trained therapist.
--Make sure you truly have lymphedema. Do you have swelling in one or both legs, other than the pseudo tumor?
--I found that surgeons would not want to try removing a tumor like this while it was inflated. The recommended course of treatment was MLD (wrapping, massage, etc) to deflate the tumor. Once it was deflated and has stabilized, cosmetic surgery might be done to remove the excess skin (could further damage the lymphatic system and cause more problems.)
--Dealing with a large tumor isn't the most common issue for lymphedema therapists. May damn sure you have an excellent one who's successfully handled this kind of thing before spending your $$
--Getting your lymphedema under control with probably take between 2 to 6 weeks (probably the high end of the scale)
--You may be able to get away with seeing the therapist 3 times a week after the first few weeks if your wife (or other family member, friend, etc) is training to bandage your leg(s).
--If the lymphedema is only in 1 leg, treatment should take less than 1 ½ hours per session
--Try scheduling appointments before or after work. See if your work will let you adjust your hours during your course of treatment.
--You should be able to wear pants during treatment (larger size). Shoes…probably not. You may have to wear cast shoes.
--If the lymphedema clinic you're attending is associated with a public hospital, see if they offer any sort of financial assistance…many do.
I hope this helps. My last piece of advice is deal with this now. It will only get worse and be a bigger and more expensive problem if you wait.
brendaluvsgarth wrote:My husband is currently suffering from a lymphedema on his leg that is roughly 75 pounds. It keeps him from moving easily, he can barely fit in the car and clothes are difficult to find. He weighs approx 600 pounds and needs gastric bypass, but they wont do it until he is down to at least 550. The quality of his life is nothing at this point and we can not find anyone that will/can help. Sorry you are suffering, but hope it helps to know you are not alone. How the heck did the guy on tv get his removed??
patoco wrote:Wow...another Person in our Atlanta area.
If you decide to have it surgically removed, I have a surgeon that has done all the work on my lung tubes, gall bladder, biopsies, removal of those leg nodules etc.
He is a great guy and a great doctor with a super personality and wonderful staff.
Dr. Robert Fritz
Terrace Farm Medical 7771 Old Norcross Road, Suite 300
Lawrenceville (just down the road from the hospital)
770 476 7047
You may want to meet with him and see if he is comfortable in doing this.
brendaluvsgarth wrote:his lymphedema is only in his right leg. Fortunately. Doctors dont seem to know how to deal with it and dont want to take risks on people his size. (which is how it got to grow to this size) Definitely not an easy situation for any of us
brendaluvsgarth wrote:My husbands lymphedema is only in one place on one leg (his right) the mass extends from kind of behind his knee, kinda thigh area, to almost his ankle. It is huge. It needs to be surgically removed, but no one will do anything until he has stomach stapling surgery. It grows. He loses weight. It grows more. He is almost house bound. We are so discouraged
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The long-awaited day is finally here! The second YA book in my Dani Spevak Mystery Series, Pointe of No Return, is now available exclusively for the NOOK! And there is much dancing and shouting through the land!
Or at least in my house.
As a result, I agreed not to make the book available in any other format or from any other retailer until June 13. So print readers and Kindle owners, you'll just have to wait. Sorry!
But here's what the book is about:
Aspiring ballerina Dani Spevak's visions of sugar plums are dashed when she's assigned to understudy her nemesis, Hadley Taylor, in the Nutcracker. Pretty, popular, and rich, that girl has all the luck. Or so she thought.
When Hadley mysteriously disappears with opening night just around the corner, Dani can't sit idly by, even if it means losing the part. Now she's running all over Phoenix in a race against the clock. From reality TV trophy wives to sleazy real estate developers to a possible drug ring, the cast of suspects begins to add up. Will she find Hadley before the curtain rises?
"From the authentic atmosphere of a ballet boarding school to the recognizable humor and angst of teenage girls, POINTE OF NO RETURN hits all the right notes and kept me turning the pages."
- Former professional ballerina Miriam Landis-Wenger, author of GIRL IN MOTION and BREAKING POINTE
"POINTE OF NO RETURN had me anxiously watching the mystery unfold. Amanda Brice provides a fresh voice and bouncy writing style that will have you entertained from the get-go."
- Marley Gibson, author of the popular GHOST HUNTRESS series and RADIATE
Sound good? Leave a comment no later than Mother's Day at noon EST (Sunday, May 13, 2012) and you'll be entered to win one of 3 copies in the e-book format of your choice. This is the only way to get a non-NOOK version before June 13!
Tell your friends!


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Man wants to attend an Apple event so bad he's willing to change his name to do it-Today in Tech,Yahoo News- April,27'12
I never thought one could be addicted on apple. Granny Smith, Elstar and Golden Delicious are all fine and a breakfast with an apple to sink your teeth into at the end is a pleasure I can still enjoy. But now I see people can lose their head over Apple.
Here is the current news:
Have a ticket to Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) this June 11 that you're just not going to be able to use? Well, there's a man in San Francisco who wants to take that ticket off your hands — a man so desperate to attend the event that he'll undergo a legal name change just to be able to use your ticket.
The anonymous buyer posted an ad on Craigslist, offering a whopping $1,600 for a ticket to Apple's WWDC. The only catch is that tickets to the conference are non-transferable. That means that if the buyer wants to use someone else's ticket, nothing short of a legal name change will do."
Apple is some kind of religion, no doubt. In olden days religion was not good for some and 'sudden conversions' made them change their way of life and name as well. It could be said these days for Apple some are willing to change their name even for Apple experience.Tech. jargon must make them 'speak in tongues' and clap their hands looking at the style and feel of it.


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Great interview! Ed's blog is one of my fav's and I read it regularly. As for ramen being healthy...I'll just say this. I ate 17 bowls of ramen in 8 days when I was in Japan and still managed to lose 5 pounds. But that was overkill. I wouldn't say ramen is health food, but it's definitely not junk!
For the Love of Ramen: An Interview with Ed from RamenRamenRamen.net
When I brainstorm for cheap eats I often think of packets of ramen. Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Ed from ramenramenramen.net. Ed reviews hundreds of types of ramen on his website and I consider him to be a folk hero to ramen lovers everywhere. Ramen is usually more than just a flavor packet and dried noodles and Ed has a great ramen glossary to explain the complexities in real ramen. Read on for some interesting ramen facts!
Are you a ramen lover because you like to save money? How much do you think you have saved by eating lots of ramen?
Actually, the instant ramen I usually eat isn't cheap. I love "real" ramen, and I tend to prefer some of the more expensive "Japanese imported" instant ramen. The cheap stuff is great too, but once you've had the better instant ramen, it just doesn't compare.
What is the most expensive ramen you ever bought? Was it worth it?
I think the most expensive instant ramen I've bought was around $4-5. It was one of the "bowl ramen" from Japan and it even had a piece of pork! Seriously! I don't remember which one it was exactly, but I can dig up my post on it. Was it worth it? Even the best bowl ramen I've had doesn't compare to a good bowl of real ramen, but yes, it was darn good.
What stores are your best sources for acquiring ramen?
There are a few Japanese supermarkets in my area that I check out on a regular basis. There's a Mitsuwa and Marukai, big supermarket chains. Those tend to be the best sources.
How much ramen do you eat each week?
I try to eat ramen about once a week or every other week. This week, my wife is on vacation so I've been eating ramen more often. Shh...don't tell...hahaha
What is the most disgusting or scary ramen ingredients you have ever seen? What is your favorite?
I've never seen it in person, but there's a picture of ice cream ramen on my blog: http://www.ramenramenramen.net/2007/10/28/ice-cream-ramen/ . But that doesn't sound nearly so bad as natto ramen. Natto, if you don't know, is really an acquired taste. It's a sticky bean dish that tastes like...I don't know...spider webs and dirt? My favorite ramen is boring old shoyu or chashu ramen (which is just shoyu ramen with extra pork). I still think it's the best.
Do you think ramen is a healthy food? What could you add to ramen to make it extra yummy and healthy?
Real ramen is definitely healthy. It's a Japanese fast food and much healthier than the fast foods we Americans eat. Instant ramen is not too bad, though it usually has a lot of sodium. I like throwing in mushrooms when I'm cooking instant ramen, especially enoki mushrooms because it's healthy and so easy. I also make hard boil eggs to go with my ramen. You could just as easily add some bamboo, green onions, corn, assorted veggies, or if you're really ambitious, roast pork!
When you dated your wife did you share your love for ramen with her?
Yes! My wife also enjoys ramen, but she doesn't quite like to eat it all the time like I do. We went to Japan for our honeymoon and I actually took her to the Ramen Museum in Yokohama. Haha.
What did she think?
She's a great sport about it. She's actually the one that encouraged me to start a web site about ramen.
Did you design that yummy looking lapel pin on your site? Have you seen anyone wear it?
Yes I did. Thanks for the compliment. Some of my friends wear it but I haven't been lucky enough to see anybody else wear one :(
Well, that's all now. Next time you come to San Mateo you should definitely go to Santa Ramen. They have a larger location now so it fits 65 people. The wait isn't so bad anymore! I just had the always sold out stewed pork topping for the first time last weekend and it was super yummy!
Thanks for the interview! I will definitely check out Santa Ramen the next time I'm in the area! Thanks for the heads up!
Disclaimer: The links and mentions on this site may be affiliate links. But they do not affect the actual opinions and recommendations of the authors.
Wise Bread is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Somehow, I'd never heard of this particular blog. Instant fan, though, because not only does it cover the 6/$1 instant types, but also my beloved "real" ramen! I found out recently just how difficult it can be to convince people that ramen is actually a legitimate dish, not just a cheap college hack. And really, nothing can beat a big bowl of spicy ramyeon!
Hey Xin Lu,
Funnily enough, I just stocked up on packages of Ramen at my local Winco last week. 9 cents a package. With gas and food prices the way they are, I needed something cheap I can make fast, take to work, and to which I can add other cheap ingredients (like cabbage and onion, from this website: http://ourfourpenceworth.com/fast-frugal-recipe-yaki-soba-japanese-chow-...)
http://www.rameniac.com/ is what I check. You know your reviewer is hardcore when he lists the 22 styles of ramen...I didn't even know they had that many. I've been reading in anticipation for the jpn trip.


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Hype this look on Lookbook
These pictures were taken at my Grandmother's house. Usually the field behind her house is empty but this time there were 4 horses. I was so excited I got to take pictures with them. One of them was camera shy, he stayed in the back so you can't see him.
I'm wearing a Zadig & Voltaire dress.


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Civilian Public Service Camp (Gulfport, Mississippi, USA)
The Camp Landon Voluntary Service Unit near Gulfport, Mississippi, sponsored by the Mennonite Central Committee Voluntary Service Section, had its beginning with Civilian Public Service (CPS) Camp #141. The Civilian Public Service camp was opened in February 1945 to assist in the control of environmental diseases. In 1946 with the aid of a summer unit of eight young women and a number of year-round volunteers such additional projects as community recreation, Bible school, and home welfare were undertaken. The transition in March 1947 from CPS to Voluntary Service was therefore effected without difficulty. A few months following the close of CPS the unit was requested to vacate Camp Bernard, the CPS unit site. To provide a new site the Mennonite Central Committee secured a 25-year lease on six acres of land, purchased surplus government buildings, and moved them on this acreage. The unit was renamed Camp Landon because of its location in the Landon community.
Following the transition from CPS to Voluntary Service additional projects undertaken included home, school, and church building and repair, and the building of church and Sunday school equipment. About 60 families, 15 churches, and 15 schools received volunteer help. Shop and sewing classes were conducted for white and African American children for a number of summers. A program of weekly religious instruction and recreation was launched in most of the African American schools of the county. The total enrollment in these classes in 1954 was approximately 1,000 pupils. The summer Bible school program was expanded, the enrollment in 1954 reaching over 1,200.
In the summer of 1953 the first retreat for African American children was held, with 30 in attendance. In the fall a community center was opened for African Americans in the North Gulfport community.
The unit was well received by the community from the beginning. It was able to maintain good community relationships while working with both white and African American people. The contribution to improved race relations is difficult to measure but has been appreciated by the African Americans. The summer Bible schools, which now are largely conducted in cooperation with existing churches, have been highly appreciated. The work with the young people in the retreat, the schools, and the community center has promise of making a significant contribution to the young people and youth organizations in the churches.
|Orlo Kaufman
|Date Published
Cite This Article
MLA style
Kaufman, Orlo. "Civilian Public Service Camp (Gulfport, Mississippi, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1957. Web. 9 Jul 2020. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Civilian_Public_Service_Camp_(Gulfport,_Mississippi,_USA)&oldid=79629.
APA style
Kaufman, Orlo. (1957). Civilian Public Service Camp (Gulfport, Mississippi, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 9 July 2020, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Civilian_Public_Service_Camp_(Gulfport,_Mississippi,_USA)&oldid=79629.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, pp. 283-284. All rights reserved.
©1996-2020 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.


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One-man mock draft: "The League"
When FX debuted "The League" in 2009, my first reaction was: What took so long? With how popular fantasy football has become over the last decade, I'd been waiting for someone to do a movie or TV show about a bunch of degenerates in a fantasy league. Granted, "The League" is not without its warts, but it fills a growing and rabid niche while also being careful to not exclude people who aren't into the game. As it says on the show's official website, "To be a fan of 'The League,' you don't need to know much about fantasy football, or sports at all. You just need to have friends that you hate." Well put.
In honor of the show's third season kicking off this week (Thu 10/6 on FX) and Season 2 now being available on Blu-ray and DVD, I decided to stage a one-man mock draft under the following premise: Something has made it impossible for me to manage my team in a long-running fantasy football league this season, and I need to pick my replacement owner from one of the show's six main characters. From left to right in the photo above, there's Pete Eckhart, the league's most successful owner and a shrewd trader who divorced his wife in season 1; Andre Nowzik, the butt of so many jokes who earned a bit of revenge by winning the league's Shiva Bowl at the end of the first season; Rodney Ruxin, reigning league champ and owner of the well-deserved nickname "The Herdsman"; Kevin MacArthur, lawyer and league commissioner who is still looking for his first title; Jenny MacArthur, who used to co-manage a team with husband Kevin before taking over her own team last season; and Taco MacArthur, Kevin's younger brother who knows surprisingly little about fantasy football but a considerable amount about weed, women and hooking up. I didn't include fan favorite Raffi, a no-brainer choice for the last pick, or Raffi's buddy Dirty Randy, who will be played by Seth Rogen this season in what promises to be a memorable guest appearance.
The commissioner has stepped to the podium and it's nearly time to make my picks. Check out the quick trailer for Season 3 below and then follow my draft, from #6 to the top pick at #1.
6. Taco
I've got nothing against stoners, but I wouldn't let Taco anywhere near my fantasy team. He's an idiot, which is usually great for the show but not so much for sustained fantasy success. I'd definitely, however, hire Taco to record a victory song to post on the league message board after I take home the title.
5. Kevin
The first thing to know about Kevin is that he's the only owner in the group never to play in the Shiva Bowl. Ouch. Aside from Taco (and Raffi), everyone in the league knows more about the game, and wife Jenny actually dumped him to take control of her own team when Raffi was replaced late last season. Kevin is more trustworthy than the slimier Ruxin (below), but playing it safe rarely results in league championships.
4. Ruxin
To be clear, not much separates Kevin and Ruxin in this draft. Ruxin knows what he's doing when it comes to fantasy football, and he's ruthless, which is a great quality for any successful fantasy owner. But I just don't trust the guy. Case in point, near the end of the first season, he let Jenny blackmail him into trading Peyton Manning to Kevin for pennies on the dollar. Still, Ruxin is coming off a Season 2 league title, whereas Kevin has never even sniffed the championship game. I may not trust Ruxin, but I'd choose the upside knowing my team would be competitive with him at the helm.
3. Andre
This guy gets a bad rap. Well, okay, he deserves most of it, but you've got to love an underdog. After being the group's punching bag for so many years, maybe all Andre needs is for someone to believe in him. A case could be made for Andre to go after Kevin and Ruxin, but keep in mind that Andre not only won the Shiva Bowl in the show's first season, but he also at the time was sleeping with Shiva, the trophy's namesake and the hot former valedictorian of the group's high school class. Sure, he took home the dreaded "SackO" as the league's worst team last season, but I'm playing a hunch and banking on a rebound at #3.
2. Pete
Winning the league three times really beefs up your résumé, but that's not all Kevin has going for him in this draft. He's ruthless but not as slimy as Ruxin, he's mastered the art of lopsided trading, and he arguably knows more about the game than anyone else in the league. He eats and breathes fantasy football, so I know winning would be priority #1 with Pete. Plus, he's recently divorced and is a notorious slacker at work, so he'll be more focused on my team than the other guys. So why isn't Pete my #1 pick? Because he's not Jenny.
1. Jenny
Like a career backup running back finally getting a chance to shine, Jenny seems destined for stardom now that she's out of Kevin's shadow. For years, Jenny made her husband look good with her behind-the-scenes counsel and maneuvering (like the aforementioned Peyton Manning trade with Ruxin), and now she'll flash her skills while managing her own team. She's already proven her ability and willingness to get a sweet deal worked out, and after so many years in a supportive role, she's hungry and ready to thrive. Pete is probably the safer choice but, in more ways than one, Jenny is the hot up-and-comer.
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Posted in: Entertainment, Humor, Television, Videos
Tags: Andre Nowzik, Dirty Randy, Jenny MacArthur, Kevin MacArthur, new season of The League, Pete Eckhart, Raffi, Rafi, Rodney Ruxin, SackO, Seth Rogen, Seth Rogen Dirty Randy, Seth Rogen on The League, Shiva Bowl, Shiva Cup, Taco MacArthur, The League, The League FX, The League new season, The League photos, The League Season 3, The League trailer


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It was the game college football lacked all opening weekend and didn't get until Monday night -- but boy, did it deliver.
Miami defeated Florida State in Tallahassee, 38-34, in a nationally televised wild one featuring 6 lead changes, the obligatory botched FSU field goal, and a heart-stopping moment for 'Canes fans when sophomore QB Jacory Harris appeared to sustain an injury to his throwing arm in the 4th quarter.
"This one here is probably the [third] greatest football game I have seen," said Bobby Bowden, "and we lost."
U.S. & World
The game also served as the coming out party of Florida State's freshman corner Greg Reid and the unveiling of the clinical toss-bot Christian Ponder 2.0.
But Harris did what Ponder could not -- win -- and he did so by following up a hard, injurious hit from Reid and its resulting interception return by going 7-for-9 for 122 yards and setting up a Graig Cooper rushing touchdown with just 1:53 remaining.
After that, it was up to the 'Canes defense to keep Florida State from scoring on five opportunities from the Miami 2-yard-line with :23 left. When a last-second, low pass from Ponder to Jarmon Fortson hit the ground as Fortson attempted to scoop it up, Miami's victory became the 10th of 11 games between the two schools in the last decade to be decided by a touchdown or less.
Harris was the undisputed, icy-veined star of the show. His 386 passing yards were the most by a UM quarterback in a first start against FSU, and the most since Ken Dorsey threw 422 against West Virginia in 2002.
"The best thing to hit UM since Ed Reed," raved ESPN's Bruce Feldman. "[The] 'Canes haven't had a presence like this in a long time. Born winner."
As for that arm? "I still don't have any feeling in [two fingers]. I've never had anything like that before," Harris reported of his "funny bone incident."
"[But] I had to fight through. I had to help this team win."
What was good: the Hurricanes' patchy offensive line protected Harris pretty well, after all. And vastly improved junior wideout Leonard Hankerson saved the day with a crucial first down on 3rd-and-15 the second-to-last drive, which led to a touchdown.
What wasn't: the defense took care of the run issue that killed them last year (down to 110 yards from 281 in 2008), for the most part, but couldn't stop Ponder and the Seminoles as they racked up 294 yards in the air. Also: Lou Holtz. It's time, ESPN. Time to let him go be an old crazy man.
What it means: the 'Canes still face three top twenty teams in September, and the win goes only as far as conference positioning. National implications remain to be earned.
Janie Campbell thinks FSU kickers are the best running gag in football. Her work has appeared in irreverent sports sites around the Internet.


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UH Hilo students to participate in SF Federal Reserve Bank Symposium
UH Hilo Home > News and Events > UH Hilo Press Releases
Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Contact: Alyson Kakugawa-Leong, (808) 974-7642
For Immediate Release
On April 14, seventeen students from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo will meet with professionals from the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank in a symposium hosted by the economics department of UH Manoa.
Students in ECON 394 were awarded competitive grants based on the class examining the changes in the Federal Reserve policy and presenting their findings to professionals from the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank and other participants from universities throughout the state.
Led by Dr. David Hammes, UH Hilo professor of economics, the UH Hilo group includes majors in Economics, Business Administration, Accounting, Communication, and Sociology. The students, forming three groups, will represent the views of three members of the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee—the policy-making body within the Federal Reserve System.
Ten of the students will have their travel funded by a Diversity and Equity Initiative grant administered through the UH Systems Office of Student Equity Excellence and Diversity (SEED). Seven of the students will be financially supported by Ambassador Scholarships through UH Hilo's student government, UHHSA. Ground transportation in Honolulu will be supported by UH Hilo's Center for Economic Education.
"This is the second time this event has been held in Hawaiʻi," Hammes said. "We sent two teams to the previous event in 2008 and the students expressed that this was the highlight of their economics education. We are extremely fortunate and grateful to have such substantial support this year from SEED and UHHSA.
"Their support allows us to take twice as many students as we did in the past. I am extremely impressed with this year's students, their understanding of the inner workings of the Federal Reserve, and their industry and creativity in arranging the financial support," he added.
Disclaimer: The University of Hawaii at Hilo is not responsible for the contents, links and/or materials presented in any web site listed above that are not of the "hilo.hawaii.edu" or ".uhh.hawaii.edu" domains. All comments, complaints and grievances should be filed with the author, host and/or owner of said site.


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Page One
New: Albany Bulb Again Threatened
After 14 years the Albany Bulb is in the news again. The Albany City Council has voted to begin the process of transferring the Bulb over to California State Park system. It will be a long and complicated process involving the Park system and East Bay Regional Park administrations as well as numerous other interested parties. And it will involve the difficult and painful issue of providing for some 55 people who have long been camped there and will be made homeless. They set October as a time to begin evictions. At Monday's Council meeting they voted for a $30,000 contract with Berkeley Food and Housing Project for a Homeless Outreach and Engagement Program to connect with the campers.
The Bulb is a landfill created from rebar, concrete building materials and landscaping material. It belongs to the city of Albany but over the years appears to have been more of a problem than an asset.
In 1985 the city signed a lease agreement with state parks but nothing ever came of it. There are specific rules for state parks. Camping is not permitted, any structures or art works are not permitted nor are off leash dogs. In the 1990's homeless people began moving into the Bulb. They set up tents and built simple structures, artists constructed fantastic art works from scrap materials and one long time camper set up a lending library in his shack. Before the state can take over everything will have to be removed. The removal of the rebar, concrete and other solid waste is also an issue. The campers, too, have to be permanently banned.
In 1999 the city tried. It was a disaster. They ordered the campers to move out. Campsites were bulldozed. Attorney Osha Neumann came to the defense of the campers pointing out to the city that they cannot evict them without providing shelter. And Albany had – and still has – no homeless shelters. (Sending them to Berkeley was not an acceptable alternative.) The city contracted with an agency, Operation Dignity which brought in in a trailer to provide temporary shelter but promises to find permanent housing went unfulfilled. (An aside: Neumann also created some of the fantastic works of art.)
The Bulb was soon reoccupied. Word was out and homeless folk, wanderers and people just looking to party drifted in and out. But a core of people made it their home. The city appeared to have neither the will nor the resources to take any interest. Occasionally the police patrolled but more often they actually told homeless people they encountered in the city streets to go out to the Bulb.
Amber Whitson has lived at the Bulb since 2006. She talked about Bulb residents' accomplishments and contributions since they moved there (or) were told to move there by the police. "Wider site trails have been created, we've been doing maintenance on them, we do trash pickup. We've done cleanup of abandoned camps, shoreline cleanup – in 2007 people who lived out here helped take care of oiled birds during the Cosco Busan oil spill. We've done metal and re-bar hazard mitigation, we were the first to respond to the fire in the castle set by kids from the town, we created a freebox out here, we arranged for pickup of the shopping carts ourselves without help from the city, we planted fruit trees out here, we built and do our best to maintain the castle which was finished in '99 and the library both of which are not only local treasures but are also major tourist attractions. In '99 the day before the threatened eviction date one of the people who lived out here rescued a guy out of the water and out of the 4 people who showed up for the cove enhancement volunteers work that the city is doing, 3 of the 4 were people from out here, only one person was a resident of the city of Albany. We jump when they want us to jump, we reach out and help."
In spite of all this city officials apparently have not seen fit to communicate directly with the campers. Nor is it clear what consideration, if any, they are giving to a very extensive report from the Homeless Task Force, "Options for Ending Homelessness in Albany". Several of the campers representing the homeless community regularly attend and participate in Task Force meetings and have high praise for the Task Force members and their work. Various agencies and friends have been supporting the campers for some time. Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless comes out regularly, Homeless Action Center helps people apply for benefits they might be eligible for, East Bay Community Law Center offers help, some folks from a local church bring pizza once a week, others bring food or help haul in water.
The campers themselves are organizing, getting together from time to time for community meetings and to work on maintenance and improvements on the Bulb. They are concerned about metal scavengers and outsiders who come just to party and have on occasion set fires or done serious damage. They are hoping to smooth out the road where there is rebar and concrete jutting out. And they are trying to keep informed on the action the city will take affecting them.
To prepare for questions from agencies or interested parties Amber has carried out a needs assessment and demographic survey of the 55 campers for whom the Bulb is home. She cites some numbers: 21 people have been homeless for a year or more, 23 are disabled, at least 13 want a job, 34 "actively interested in housing", 21 with pets, 25 have an income, 21 no income at all. These are all factors affecting their needs and potential for obtaining appropriate housing for the people who will be displaced from their current residence at the Bulb.
Though the City Council has announced an October date for enforcing the no camping rule, it is clear that actually making it happen is not possible. Osha Neumann points out that "(I)t has taken many years to bring about this situation and it's not going to get resolved over night. And they will not find placements for the people there all at once."
He also suggests that "Apart from constitutional issues I think there are people who are concerned on a human level with what is going to happen to people. They have some level of responsibility. They permitted and in some cases encouraged people to go out there. So now all of a sudden to close it down is not fair, not the right thing to do. I think people care."