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A Catholic Brain Trust
Because I spend quite a bit of my working life talking and thinking about the Catholic intellectual tradition, I was more than a little humbled to read Patrick Hayes excellent new book, A Catholic Brain Trust, which is the history of the Catholic Commission on Intellectual and Cultural Affairs (hereafter the CCICA) during its first twenty years of existence from 1945-1965. Who knew? Certainly not me. Yet this organization, which came into existence immediately after the end of the Second World War and was only finally disbanded in 2007, provided a forum where Catholic intellectual leaders, both lay and clerical, gathered regularly to try to engineer a distinctly Catholic influence on American public life. Hayes book discusses the founding of the Commission in considerable detail and tracks some of its principal interests. At first it is engaged in war relief and interested in the newly-forming United Nations, thennot surprisingly since John Courtney Murray was an early participanttakes up church and state issues, and later turns to the fall-out from John Tracy Elliss 1955 lecture on American Catholic and the Intellectual Life. It also was deeply involved in the plans for a New Catholic Encyclopedia and, towards the end of this very active two decades, with the Kirby Seminars, a venue for young Catholic scholars that in some ways anticipated current programs like Collegium. Hayes lays this all out very clearly and ends his book with a brief look at the later history and demise of the commission.Dont we still need this kind of organization? We periodically hear complaints about the decline of the public intellectual and see articles bemoaning the vacuum left by worthies like Reinhold Niebuhr or John Courtney Murray, but rarely appeals for associations of Catholic intellectuals along the lines of the CCICA. Of course we have some academic organizations of Catholics in theology, philosophy, scripture and canon law, but not the kind of marriage of theological, social, political and economic thought that marked the CCICA. The CCIA was an independent group that owed nothing formally to the bishops, though many clergy participated in it alongside lay scholars and, at least in its later stages, cultural icons like Tim Russert, John Noonan, Walker Percy and Annie Dillard. And here of course is where the Commission helped most with the issue of the public intellectual. Academic silos do not breed intellectuals, though they do produce a fair number of scholars. The mark of the intellectual is the capacity to bridge different realms in the service of public good, and this is the more likely to be aided by associations like the CCICA than the Catholic Theological Society of America (a favorite of mine though it is).
What was it that led to the decline of the CCICA? This seems to have begun to happen after the watershed of Vatican II, though it continued in some form of existence until 2007. Hayes calls the Commission a brain trust and quotes favorably the notion that its work was always done as a constellation of individuals holding to a core belief. Could it be that the core belief isnt there as solidly as it once was, or that it is harder to articulate the core belief in the years after Vatican II than it was before? Maybe the core belief was a phantasm in any case, at least taken for granted without scrutiny. Something certainly seemed to hold the Commission together in those earlier years, though Hayes shows that there was considerable disagreement and not a few shady maneuvers on the part of some of its members. But you dont get the sense of an out-and-out ideological divide the way that Catholic intellectuals today would probably illustrate. What kind of joint endeavor on behalf of Catholic intellectual life could be accomplished today by Catholics from Commonweal and First Things? Perhaps the core belief has itself retreated so far into the hinterland of consciousness that retrieving it takes second or third place to the controversies of the day. And perhaps a worthy contribution of Catholic intellectual life might be to recover the core belief so that our differences can be expressed on the basis of at least some consent about fundamentals.Theres a principle in ecumenical discussions that Ormond Rush has suggested retrieving for theological and ecclesiological discussions in the Church today. Dont debate about your differences. Instead, show how each of your different positions is faithful to the apostolic faith. This seems to be some of what the new wineskins types are pressing for, exchange without entrenchment in ideological wrangling. Surely if the lion can lie down with the lamb, Concilium and Communio ought to be able to manage it. So maybe its time for the CCICA to be resurrected. Its certainly curious that it seems to have gone out of existence just when we needed it the most.
About the Author
Paul Lakeland is the Aloysius P. Kelley, SJ, Professor of Catholic Studies at Fairfield University.
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Vatican II may have set off a split that makes intra-faith dialogue all but impossible. There seem to be several distinct Roman Catholic churches out there these days, most, perhaps, little interested in good-hearted conversation with the despised others. Mutual tolerance may have become impossible in the YouTube age, when "out of sight, out of mind" has become meaningless, since nothing is out of sight for long and no small offense goes unreported.
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I thought something like that was going on in the talks inspired by the late, great Cardinal Bernardin. But there must have been something about ecclesiastical approbation or something, and down the memory hole it went. So may good ideas die because they start at the wrong level -- which is why so may ideas that start at the right level die.I see only one Catholic Church "out there," and if it can't talk to itself some of its members should take a remedial class in deportment. They might learn to stop calling other members names. But intellectuals shouldn't have that problem. And why Vatican II should be blamed, after all it did for dialogue, beats the dickens out of me.
If largely unspoken core beliefs are what hold a distinctive Catholic Intellectual culture together (cf. Edgar Schein) then it seems that the CCICA would have necessarily faced a tectonic shift at the time of Vatican II. The emergence of that Council's more pastoral and humans-as-species vision of Church would clearly seem to contrast with the humanity-as-intellect precepts that come through the leading-edge thought that embraced modernism despite the strictures of Vatican I.The collapse of Newtonian certainty in the new physics of the budding 20th Century has presented problem after problem for both the sophisticated and the fundamentalist preservers of the Enlightenment/Protestant paradigms. Messy fuzziness in the form of non-linear complexity (ala evolution to name one example) is hard on the civility that marks what we've been inclined to take as the best of West's intellectual cultures.A re-invigorated tradition of independent thought and critical self-assessment will serve any generation or era well, but what that looks like in the 21st Century may require an unprecedented voyage of discovery. How such a discovery is to be Chartered and provisioned is an important first question.
The ideal, which Cardinal Bernardin attempted, would be to bring such folks together, face-to-face. Unless the Gates Foundation would like to fund it, costs would be prohibitive and thee would be the question of who gets asked, who doesn't and who decides? Although this is my first timid venture into the blogosphere, isn't this a logical meeting-place for a 21st Century CCICA? Most of my personal nominees already write for Commonweal anyway! Perhaps you should follow the adage: "If we build it, they will come." Of course today's Hierarchy will have to get permission, and get their posts cleared by Rome.....
Ronald --Welcome to the blog.Are you suggesting that Commonweal sponsor a conference on dotCommonweal of those favorite thinkers of your or some other group? Sounds like a good idea. But I wouldn't invite this crew to comment. Too nasty :-)The conversation could be set up for a particular time, and the rest of us could tune in, so to speak. There could be more than one conference with various topics.
I'm curious: what percentage of the CCICA brain trust were female?
The demise of the CCICA is unfortunate. I certainly have no inside information; until now, I was unaware of its existence, though imagined that some such structure probably existed. My own "take" on its demise is that the Vatican's latest round of anti-intellectualism (the fourth, by my count, in just over a century) probably put the final nail in the coffin. As noted by others, the current cast of episcopal characters have largely been chosen for their pliancy and capacity for "obedience", and as the case of Bishop Morris of Australia shows, failure to toe the line can have a very high price. Few are willing to risk it. Worth noting: This case was not even about doctrinal dissent, but rather about the mere possibility of discussing various solutions to actual, real problems facing the Australian Church. It was a matter of discussing disciplinary matters which are, by their nature and history, subject to change. Imagine what sort of reaction might have met some doctrinal question? In many ways, we seem to be re-living the tortured post-war world of the French Dominicans (and many others), forbidden to publish or teach -- but thankfully, not forbidden to think, or write down their thoughts. The controls are less formal now, but certainly just as effective. It is also unsurprising that intramural "ecumenism" is so difficult, given that extramural ecumenism has been all but abandoned -- not formally, mind you, but by insensitivity, snubs, and a general ignoring of the thoughts, opinions, or feelings of our "separated brethren". Many of them are now very pleased to be separated. And some Catholics share that view for a different reason -- at least there might be someplace else to go if the Roman Catholic fold becomes much more stifling than it has already become. The Catholic Church's withdrawal from real engagement with the actual world as it exists is truly terrifying. Consider the case of Rep. Bart Stupak, now retired from Congress. He has impeccable pro-life credentials; he assured the bishops that the new healthcare bill would adequately protect life. And the Bishops (not experts in legislation) blew him off, let him "twist in the wind". We have a long and respectable (mostly) intellectual history and we have valuable things to contribute to contemporary culture; but we are now insisting once again that ONLY we have the truth, and that it must be "our way or the highway". We are even retreating from our own time-tested principles of moral theological reasoning; it simply defies belief. Many of us hope (against all foreseeable contingencies) for a new springtime, a new openness to the world (and to our own rich and diverse tradition) like that which followed Vatican II. My regret is that it probably won't happen on my watch. But the online version of something like CCICA deserves encouragement, at the very least.
To Michael Cassidy. I am full agreement with your insightful observations.
Has the world of theology become too complex, specialized, globalized etc. with the attendan tproblem of authority to deal withe issue?Lacey and Oakley have some perspective to offer, bu the current "flux" iMO is likely to perdure.
At the present moment, I am reading the recent publication "Absolute Monarchs" by John Julius Norwich. This is not my first book on the subject of Catholic Church history. Over the past fifty years, I have had the great pleasure of reading a variety of books on English, Irish, American, Italian, German, etc. church histories. During these many years I have read historical novels based on persons involved in church history, such as, "Q." It has been a pleasure to have the time to read such books as, "Radio Priest", "Life of Arch-Bishop John Ireland", "Joseph Patrick McQuaid", Bouyer's book on John henry Cardinal Newman, Life of St. francis of Assisi, "Journal of a Soul", etc.The common thread through all of these books of history, biography, novels, etc., is controversy. It seems to me no matter what we do; no matter what the pope, peasant or prince do, we will have controversy. It seems to me that most of the struggles seem to be between those who want conformity as opposed to those who seek unity in society and the Church.I think that the late great Cardinal Bernadine was attempting unity. According to some of the "hearsay" surrounding his life and endeavors his successful opponents where his peers in the American Church. People who try to bring unity, instead of conformity usually, their lives end in tragedy, e.g., MLK, Ghandi, JXXII, JPII, etc. How can this ending be avoided?


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I am looking for a simple degree conditon that ensures the existence of a k-factor in a graph. The k is supposed to be relatively high and I don't mind the condition being a bit strict. Ideally, something of the form $\delta(G) \geq f(k)$. Any suggestions? 10x!
To clarify a bit what I'm after: there is a theorem by Nishimura that ensures a k-factor for k not larger than n/4 or so. But I want a k-factor with k approaching n.

subset: commoncrawl


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Fulham drew their last game 0-0 away at Chelsea in the West London derby.
Martin Jol did well when he was Spurs manager and Dimitar Berbatov will also face his old side.
Tottenham beat Liverpool 2-1 at home in their last game and have now won their last 2 in a row.
Mousa Dembele and Clint Dempsey coulf both line up against their old team and be in for a tough reception on their return
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BROCKTON – Brockton Police are pursuing several leads after a 48-year-old man was stabbed in the upper torso near the intersection of Green Street and Warren Avenue at about 8:20 p.m. on Wednesday.
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Joe Biden sets the record straight here, and I know of no intelligent argument that refutes what he says.
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Wednesday, December 5, 2012
On the fundamental question--evolution or creation?--Americans are on the fence. According to one survey, while 61% of Americans believe we have evolved over time, 22% believe this evolution was guided by a higher power, with another 31% on the side of creationism. For some, modern science debunks many of religion's core beliefs, but for others, questions like "Why are we here?" and "How did it all come about?" can only be answered through a belief in the existence of God. Can science and religion co-exist?
Director, Origins Project and Foundation Professor, ASU
Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine and author
Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering, MIT
Author, What's So Great About Christianity
Author & Correspondent for ABC News
Director, Origins Project and Foundation Professor, ASU
Lawrence Krauss is an internationally known theoretical physicist. He is the Director of the Origins Project and Professor of Physics at the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University. Krauss has written several bestselling books including A Universe From Nothing: Why There Is Something Rather Than Nothing (2012). Passionate about educating the public about science to ensure sound public policy, Krauss has helped lead a national effort to defend the teaching of evolution in public schools. He currently serves as Chair of the Board of Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.Learn more
Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine and author
Michael Shermer is the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine and Editor of Skeptic.com, a monthly columnist for Scientific American, and an Adjunct Professor at Claremont Graduate University and Chapman University. Shermer's latest book is The Believing Brain: From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies—How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them as Truths (2011). He was a college professor for 20 years, and since his creation of Skeptic magazine, has appeared on such shows as The Colbert Report, 20/20, and Charlie Rose. Shermer was the co-host and co-producer of the 13-hour Family Channel television series Exploring the Unknown.Learn more
Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering at MIT
Ian Hutchinson is a physicist and Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He and his research group are international leaders exploring the generation and confinement (using magnetic fields) of plasmas hotter than the sun's center. This research, carried out on a national experimental facility designed, built, and operated by Hutchinson's team, is aimed at producing practical energy for society from controlled nuclear fusion reactions, the power source of the stars. In addition to authoring 200 research articles about plasma physics, Hutchinson has written and spoken widely on the relationship between science and Christianity. His recent book Monopolizing Knowledge (2011) explores how the error of scientism arose, how it undermines reason as well as religion, and how it feeds today's culture wars and an excessive reliance on technology.Learn more
Author, What's So Great About Christianity
A New York Times bestselling author, Dinesh D'Souza, has had a distinguished 25-year career as a writer, scholar and intellectual. A former Policy Analyst in the Reagan White House, D'Souza also served as an Olin Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute as well as a Rishwain Scholar at the Hoover Institution at Stanford. Called one of the "top young public-policy makers in the country" by Investor's Business Daily, he quickly became a major influence on public policy through his writings. In 2008 D'Souza released the book, What's So Great About Christianity, the comprehensive answer to a spate of atheist books denouncing theism in general and Christianity in particular. D'Souza is also the former President of The King's College in NYC,
62% voted the same way in BOTH pre- and post-debate votes (31% voted FOR twice, 24% voted AGAINST twice, 8% voted UNDECIDED twice). 38% changed their mind (6% voted FOR then changed to AGAINST, 2% voted FOR then changed to UNDECIDED, 7% voted AGAINST then changed to FOR, 2% voted AGAINST then changed to UNDECIDED, 13% voted UNDECIDED then changed to FOR, 8% voted UNDECIDED then changed to AGAINST) | Breakdown Graphic
By Darwin's own admission "irreducible complexity" disproves his theory. Think ribosomes, flagella etc. -- Darwinism is more akin to a religion than any type of scientific theory. Science can neither prove nor disprove it. The same can be said for intelligent design.
However, when you kick astronomy into the equation, our solar system, the function of the moon, elipitcal orbits versus circular, the unique attributes of the sun the idea of chance and other earths out there just waiting to be found seems the expectation of a fool.
Was disappointed with the debate. The audience reflected a Darwinist convention with no appreciation whatsoever of what science of the last 50 years has added to the arguments for or against intelligent design.
Religion, more than likely, was created to answer what mankind has always been unable to answer because he had not the technology or knowledge, and training, to discover the answers when religion was used as the substitute for the then unknowable.
The real question is whether humans are smart enough not to ruin the plant, destroy it, or make themselves extinct from their pick-and-choose knowledge used for their own self interest.
Quite a few apparently confused cleverness with wisdom when casting their votes.
I by accident watched this debate late last night. This was a non-debate because the opponents of "does science refute God" were representative of a premodern 19th century theology. The proponents were versed in modern quantum physics. The opponents had no familiarity with modern 20th Century theology and its existential approach to religion. I doubt that the producers of this show sought good thinking theologians. They ohly wished to create a specious debate. The great 20th Century theologians are of course dead: Paul Tillich, the Niebuhr brothers, Bultman, and Bonhoeffer. A few of their adherants are living - Marcus Borg, a few seminary professors, Rob Bell and some others like myself. Ciao,
Man made god
A very big deception of the devil is to get you to debate God, Christianity and other religions. This is one of the surest ways to ensure, that you will never experience real salvation and eternal life, and all the wonderful things God has predestined for you.
Let us just suppose (for those who do not have faith), that even if you argue and debate, and finally, even if it is a long shot, and you finally are logically convinced (by the way, there are many books,eg by thomas equinas that logically prove the christian faith) that there is a God, and that He is the christian God. Does it mean you are going to heaven, just because you are mentally or intellectually convinced that Jesus is God??????
Not at all. Not unless you have a spiritual experience called being born again.A logical belief in Christianity will prevent you from experiencing the Real Deal, that is a Spiritual Salvation in Christ in the following ways:
The devil was once a mighty archangel, and presently with billions of demons, evil spirits, unclean spirits, etc with a far superior intelligence than humans.Each human being is assigned to tens, if not hundreds of evil spirits and demon hordes, that would love for you to deny their existence. For if you deny their existence, then surely you will deny God's existence. It is extremely easy, 1,2,3 steps for Satan to deceive humans in more than a thousand ways.
Don't even think you can compete with satan intellectually. However, he has no control over your heart, and what you choose to believe.And that is the loophole, which God has opened up for you. The faith route is the only way you can bypass Satan,and his cronies who guard the intellectual gates of the human mind.
When you get in to the logic debate about God, few important things to consider in SPIRITUAL WORLD which is what actually matters:
1) You could be tempted to fall into the dungeon of SPIRITUAL PRIDE, as you are tricked into judging Almighty God, which is a fool's folly.Spiritual pride was the reason, for satan's downfall. Also for man's downfall, in garden of eden, as eve sucumbed to the temptation about being as knowledgeable as God.
This could also result in the person who is logically convinced that Jesus is God, as an intellectual knowledge of the truth, will become a STUMBLING BLOCK for a real SPIRITUAL SALVATION experience.
2) It could also lead to DECEPTION as the person, cannot find God in the intellectual domain, but only in the Spiritual domain. God's thoughts are far higher than yours, mine and the devil's, so you have to trust Him at His word. As it is written in the bible:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
God is spirit, only a spiritual born again experience can save the person, and the first thing to do is to humble ourselves. Second, we need deliverance from demonic spirits of unbelief that hold people as captives. This can be done if the person humbles himself/herself and receives Jesus Christ into the heart. Deliverance can be done even online, and specific prayers can set the captives free.
I speak from experience. Not here to argue with anyone.
Simple challenge for those who are sincere: Ask God to open your eyes, and to reveal Himself to you.Ask in JESUS name.Simple. Try it. IT WORKS
I didn't realize until watching the debate how shallow the iqsquick process is. It'd have been a more valuable experience to watch the panel questioned by a skilled interviewer such as Charlie Rose. Viewers don't need 'bread and circus' before and after polling to indicate which side of a simplistic proposal is more believable.
God? What defines god?
The concept of god doesn't require eternal life. It's probable that when we die we'll return to the state that existed before our birth, no matter what our personal virtues and failings may have been.
Science knows a great deal but can only speculate on parameters which define the limits of reality. God is one of many names for the universal process from which our existence stems.
Humans are likely never to fully understand that process. For practical purposes everything that exists is part of a scientific miracle.
Scientists propose! God doesn't.
I'm uncomfortable with the question... because of its right/wrong win/lose nature... and the emotional baggage attached to the "God" word. I'd prefer more win/win explorations into the forces that impact life... including the mystical aspects of life.
Most of you are missing the point. A (nondescript) god/deity cannot be proven to exist or not exist because that god/deity is a non-falsifiable hypothesis, as easily dismissed as it is asserted. Think of satirical examples such as the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Celestial Teapot, etc. However, if one is intellectual honest with oneself, one MUST admit that the god/deity they follow IS well described and DOES have characteristics and attributes that ARE falsifiable. Especially when talking about the Christian/Muslin/Jewish god(s). That particular god has attributes, widely accepted by its followers, and those claims such as physical manifestations, miracles, prayer answering, historicity of religious text and the contradictions and atrocities found within. These are all falsifiable, testable claims that when challenged, DO NOT stand up. That is why when it comes to the god of the bible and koran, he CAN be proven not to exist.
The motion requires that God is within the rational grasp of methodological materialism. If a god is outside of empirical invalidation then there's no point in talking about whether or not God is refuted by science.
It should be established by the opposition to the motion whether or not God can be invalidated. If God can be invalidated, then there are some important logical questions that comes to the forefront. A falsifiable God has to answer to some profound logical contradictions before we can even talk about empirical invalidation.
How can you have a debate, which by definition means using rational argument, to discuss "God" or religion, which depend, by definition, strictly on faith, which is the opposite of rational argument. No rational argument will win over people who believe in something based on faith, disregarding any evidence to the contrary.
I think that the phrase "the incredibly shrinking god" (or gods) says it all. At one time god or the gods were incredibly powerful and in control of everyday life. As science began to provide explanations for things that had been unknown, those things were taken from the province of the gods and placed in the province of understanding.
One rational approach to this discussion is to decide that questions with unknown answers (e.g., is there life after death) are neither evidence for god nor science, simply unknown. If that is done, it is not difficult to assign things that are known to the province of understanding, leaving nothing for god(s).
"Refute: To prove wrong by argument or evidence"
Krauss and Shermer don't prove anything.
In fact, Krauss starts off by saying:
"We will show that Science refutes god, not that Science disproves god... which is two different things"
No it isn't!
And Shermer's statements "what seems more likely...." does nothing to prove anything.
Perhaps we might say science is the ongoing but fabulously incomplete search for causality which may someday discover evidence for the tenets of belief on a deity.
Science is the accumulation of evidence that attempts to de- mystify what we do not yet understand. Belief shortcuts the process and provides comfort and structure without the pain of discovery.
Neither refutes the other.
This was a very interesting debate. It is very refreshing to have people talk about opposing views without necessarily personally attacking each other. I do however feel that the topic of this debate is flawed. There should be a debate on whether scientific evidence can support the Creation theory. If you can determine that there is scientific evidence for Creation, then you can intellectually decide for your self if Science does or does not support the possibility of God. You can do this easily by having a section of time specifically used to talk about one type of science at a time. Examples being Biology, Genetics, Geology. Then each side produces their evidence for or against the proof of Creation and Intellectual Design.
Here is the main problem I continually see. I am constantly reading about peoples opinions concerning weather a God/Creator exists. I find it hard to believe people denying a creator since science and medicine can not explain how you could be born with no parents and still be thought of as it being scientific and not magical.
You don't need a magical God to have a creator. You don't have to believe He is magical. You do however have to know that when you look at a t.v. or a cellphone that someone someplace had the knowledge to do it and it wasn't done using magic.
If you look at nature and the cycle of life two sexes are needed to create new life. Where did the cycle start? Where did life come from but life. Do you really think that it magically appeared as some scientists believe?
I have read also some scientists refer to being able to recreate certain kinds of life in labs and use this as evidence for no need for a creator. Why did they need to do it if it didn't require a lab or scientist? Why not just say see life just appeared right in that bottle? The reason being is because it would not be science.
I remember a story that I heard I won't go into it and just give a quick summary. It takes place in a bakery. The baker has a cake on the counter with a sign on it saying proof of evolution 10 million dollars. When asked about the cake the baker states that the cake has been there on that counter since his grandfather opened this store and no one has ever bought it. When asked why is it proof of evolution the man said "My grandfather opened this shop and the next day there was a cake on the counter that he didn't bake.
To this day no one has tried to prove if the cake really did make itself. No one would believe him and he knows all about cakes.
Why do people fall fools too fools?
Evolution is real, although using it to disprove God is totally off the wall, as I feel it only shows us how the universe/God works....the same as scientists today, trial and error!
This planet was the one that was capable for life to grow and sustain itself. For all we know those other planets could have once been like our own but due to some force ended up as frozen or too hot or filled with poisonous gases...we don't know and I doubt we ever will for many of thousands of years, if ever at all!
If this planet is the sole unique one with complex lifeforms on it, was it by random chance and events or all part of some predetermined plan?
Which if it's the latter then who came up wih the blueprint/designs?
Firstly I must say I enjoy the show and embrace the need for intellectual debate, however I don't agree with declaring a winner in them. I understand that's how the show and debate works, although I'm more interested in just the imformative talk going on.
Now pertaining specifically to this topic, I feel that neither side can completely prove or disprove the existence of God or a God/Creator/Almighty Being for that matter.
In fact, personally I feel that there is no one thing or person who will ever be able to show us where the universe came from! While I accept the vast majority of claims that science provides us with, the one that would undoubtedly change my beliefs towards the possibility of there being a "higher being" would be proof of where matter originated. I feel that science has come a long ways from where it once was, hidden in secrecy because of religious persecutions. Yet, science can not explain or show how or what existed before the big bang happened. From what I understand which is limited I'll be honest with you, is that science agrees with the big bang theory and how that led to our known Universe that we still are trying to grasp and understand.
What was there before? Its size is uncomprehensible that's for sure but what was it? Perhaps it was God himself? Regardless though, science can show us this matter seperated over billions/millions/however many years of time and space and led to our present.
The old testament of the bible tries to explain this by saying how God created things and in the order in which he did so. However when I read it and came to that part the question that arose in myself was, "what or how long is a day to God?" Surely not the amount of time it takes for earth to rotate on its axis.
Now the thing I find most interesting is the idea of morals and how suffering sort of parallels alongside them. Where or when these came about would be something interesting to find out. Why do we still base our laws off of morals and ideals? Apparently we must feel as if there could be something better than what we currently have in our "material" world.
All I know is that one day I will die, as everything that is "alive" will eventually do, including things that are in "outer space" like stars. Science says that energy can't be lost or destroyed only transfered elsewhere, so where will my energy go? I obviously haven't the slightest of clue.
I will admit that without the idea of a God or at least the morals instilled in my mind that its wrong to cause harm or suffering to other living things, that I would be inclined to acquire the marvelous achievement of science(a nuclear warhead) and blow this piece of rock to tiny pieces. Very possible if you drill and detonate deep underground btw!
Like the one guy said who was for the motion, there is no purpose just randomness haha. If that were the case then you believe that everything that ever happened was all just random chance and result of the previous random events before it. But like I said already, what was there before the beginning of time/space/the known universe which is all we know? We know something was always there, some just choose to name it...God.....
As you can see I believe in Intelligent design which means to me that everything has a purpose and nothing is "random"
Science can neither prove nor disprove the existence of a 'God'
which I feel to be more inclusive as a statement that should have
in my opinion been considered as one of the options available to
us in this debate voting. Otherwise people get herded into this
'undecided' category revealing the glaring fault of either or
thinking so prevalent in this society which imposes "you're not
white you must be black, if you're not a Republican you must be
a Democrat, and on and on it goes neurotically into infinity!
Erick Dean Tippett
Retired Musician/Teacher
Chicago, Illinois
The moderator started the debate by saying that Sir Isaac Newton, among others, was a believer. I understand that he only said he was a believer because that was a requirement for his position at Oxford.
That could have been the case with many others at the time. Certainly in Pepys's time one was obliged to attend church and pretend belief.
Make sure you enter the (*) required information where indicated. HTML code is not allowed.


text: Yesterday I posted screenshots of 127 websites that "blacked out" to protest the SOPA and PIPA legislation before the US Congress. Another site I came across reported that 7,000 sites had gone black. There was no citation, but I believe it if you include every blog that WordPress enabled to... Read more


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Pretty much the moment I started at Berroco we've been talking about GIFTS. It started way back in September with tiny holiday sweaters and gift sets you could make on a budget. There was a bit of a debate over the propriety of verbing a noun (I maintain that it is okay in the case of 'gifting' and Dictionary.com agrees). This week we've decided to give our KnitBits subscribers a gift–a chance to win one of four baskets specially selected by members of the Berroco design team. No worries if you're not already a subscriber, you can enter until 12 p.m. PST on December 15th (your entry will also sign you up for the KnitBits newsletter).
Our baskets are totally idiosyncratic, though mine was a little conservative to begin with. It contained the yarn to knit Crotona in a watery blue shade of Cuzco since that is what I have been knitting for myself in between holiday gift knitting. After I saw the masterpiece Donna had whipped up, I knew I had to step up my game.
I finally settled on a basket stuffed to the gills with two skeins of every color of Ultra Alpaca Fine. I threw in lots of Clover bamboo DPNs and Booklet #275 which is full of basic sock patterns. The idea was that you could knit socks for yourself or your friends all year long but I immediately came up with a billion other uses for the yarn. I think it would be perfect for crewel, the wool embroidery that is making a comeback. It would also totally rock on the rigid heddle loom–the high yardage (I just typed 'yarnage' by mistake, tee hee) and the nylon content are perfect for weaving with.
If you can believe it, Elin, a Swedish blogger living in Melbourne is knitting a STRIPED CARDIGAN with it. This makes her a high priestess of patience IMHO and check it out, she's not cutting any corners. My new year's knitting resolution is to take a page from Elin's book (blog) and knit simply but well.
And since this is a blog entry about gifts and the holidays I may as well share my stance on it–it's the knitter's way, no? I have done exactly one Christmas where everyone got a handknit gift and it was a very harried December. This year I took the Buy Handmade pledge and have had a fabulous time visiting Etsy and places like Craftland. Now that the crafting pressure is off I'm more motivated than ever to knit for friends and family! I'm loving Closely Knit by Hannah Fettig and Knit One, Embellish Too by Cosette Cornelius-Bates.
Good luck to all us gift knitters! Remember to rest!
I'm already a subscriber and have entered, chose your basket (LOVE the goodies you packed!)
I decided everyone in the family should receive the knitted felted clogs this year (12 pair) and have finished them, knit,felted AND dried. Now knitting a shawl for my Mother. Should have it finished by Christmas.
Best of luck to all who enter the contest, those are lovely baskets.December 14, 2008
lol, chose your basket too, of course! so do you have power in your area? my mom was lucky enought to be just north of the major ice. We on the west coast bought the second to last generator friday night after losing power 7 times that day alone…no more! smile That person knitting stripes…serious patience angel!December 15, 2008
3rd times the charm. Had trouble getting my gift basket to look presentable, then I went to http://www.juliabettencourt.com/helps/gift.html and I started with tissue paper in different colors..that turned out to be the key, it kept everything from sinking to the bottom. then i got the idea…why does it just have to be about yarn, my daughter also loves tea. so I bought a collection of her favorites, took them out of the box and arranged it around the basket as well. yarn, crochet hooks, tea, and a walmart card (only major chain I know of down there) and its ready to go. I will let you know what she thinks when she calls me up and tells me its there. Also, I contacted her husband and gave him a heads up that something special was coming and he said he would be ready with a camera to take a picture of her reaction for me. If I figure out how…I will post it here.December 26, 2008
Heres where you can find my version of the gift basket:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/peepla/kaylans-christmas-bouquet it came out great but i have not recieved her reaction photo yet…just a very loud THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU call. hahahaha you guys have got to try this, its absolutely worth it.January 4, 2009


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The Kickoff 4 Kids Gala was held July 13 inside the PNC Club at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
The event was held in celebration of Amobi Okoye's "Kickoff 4 Kids Foundation" and its partnership with Big Brothers, Big Sisters Club of Louisville.
Unlimited Show Bands and DJ Chaos performed while guests enjoyed a full-course dinner and cocktails.
Photos By JAMES EATON | Contributing Photographer


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Reviewed By: Dan on 12/25/06
I tried this bottle the first time a couple of weeks ago on a very chilly day ride, thinking that I could at least have some slightly warm hot chocolate at lunch. Wow, was I surprised when the hot chocolate was not just warm, it was HOT! It was actually too hot to drink right out of the bottle. I decided to save it for later in the day and even after ~6 hours in 40 degree (F) weather, the drink was still quite hot. I stored the bottle in the trailer while biking, I didn't try fitting it into a water bottle cage. Lesson learned is to bring a cup and pour the liquid out of the bottle when it's time to drink. Next long trip I'm going to try using it for carrying some hot soup.


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The Dodge City Community College Foundation and Puzzle Piece Ranch-Autism Southwest Kansas hosted the Cattleman's Workshop luncheon Tuesday at the Magouirk Conference Center.
The workshop began with legislative updates by several political leaders. An overview of important development projects that are going on at Dodge City Community College was given by the school's president, Dr. Don Woodburn. Dr Chris Reinhardt gave a lecture on how to stop the spread of affluenza, a disease that affects cattle. The keynote speaker was Dr. Temple Grandin. Dr. Grandin spoke about cattle handling and the behavior of cattle and then took questions from the audience.
Kansas Secretary of Commerce Pat George and Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback delivered legislative remarks to the attendees to begin the workshop. Each spoke about the importance of agriculture and cattle to the economy of southwest Kansas.
George also mentioned the development projects that are taking place at Dodge City Community College. A new, monolithic dome that has been proposed would serve as a sports facility and a tornado shelter, he said.
The Commerce secretary is responsible for workforce development. He said community colleges play an important role in helping to train workers that have the technical skills to perform the services that employers need. "There is a great need for workers with technical skills. The training that community colleges provide enables Kansans to be gainfully employed," he said.
George finished by recognizing Dr. Grandin for her ability to overcome autism and for her contribution to the cattle industry.
"She is proof that you can succeed no matter what your challenges in life are," he said.
The Commerce secretary then introduced Gov. Sam Brownback. George noted that the governor grew up on a farm and also once served as the Kansas secretary of agriculture. "He works tirelessly to make Kansas the best place to live and have your business," George said of the governor.
Gov. Brownback began by thanking Dr. Grandin for attending the workshop and for her contribution to the industry. The governor noted that the topics of cattle handling and autism awareness are a unique mixture, but that each topic is necessary and important to discuss.
The secretary of commerce and the governor recently visited China, according to the governor. "There are great opportunities for us in China," he said.
The United States and China each must work to improve their food safety systems and ensure that animals are handled safely and humanely, according to the governor.
Agricultural exports are important to the state's economy, Brownback said. Most of the food that is produced in Kansas leaves the state for other markets. Due to that fact, the state has a reputation around the world for producing quality agricultural products, he said.
Page 2 of 2 - Gov. Brownback then transitioned into topics about the community college system and the dairy industry. He noted that the dairy industry in Kansas has grown by 50% since 1996 and that dairy processing companies have set-up in Kansas to produce products including milk and yogurt.
The governor and newly-appointed Kansas Rep. Bud Estes were given commemorative coins by the Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau in recognition of their service. Dr. Grandin was recognized for her achievements and was sworn in as an honorary marshal of Dodge City.
Location, ST | website.com


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Don your dunce cap, listen closely
Did you get one of those phone messages telling you that snow means you need to take serious precautions?
What's that? You say you got several? Two from your town and one from the state? A new one almost every day — before, during, and after the storm?
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Today in Tweet Beat, Bill Cosby is alive and well (and pushing an iPhone app) despite rumors of his demise. Also, Danny DeVito is lucid and seems to be aware of his surroundings.
No, Bill Cosby has not died. I brought him into this world and only I can take him out.
Again, I'm rebuttaling rumors about my demise. But, I'm confirming I have an app - http://bit.ly/BillCosbyApp :)
Emotional friends have called about this misinformation. To the people behind the foolishness, I'm not sure you see how upsetting this is.
@BillCosby glad you are here.
@BillCosby will be on tonight to confirm he's not dead! Who starts these rumors?
what is going on with people? is it true bill cosby died? huh?
I'm on "The View" live at 11am ET TODAY! I'm not sure when it airs in other time zones, but I'm on today! xx
I just had to pause THE VIEW and take an Excedrin!
Thank you all for your encouraging tweets. I'm fine. I'm a tough cookie. It takes more than an old comedian to bring me down. ;)
Tampon strings should be waterproof. 1 pre-flight pee &I have to sit on a tiny wet rope for 5 hours? Boo.
Fur pillows are hard to actually sleep on
Holy Shitballs! It's August 2nd!


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5-Ingredient Recipes (Slide 19)
(Slide 19 of 27) Start at the beginning | View recipes as list
Recipe: Pork Chops au Poivre
View as: Thumbnails List
Chicken Breasts Stuffed wit…
Stuffing boneless, skinless chicken breasts with pimientos, scallions and cheese gives them great fl…View slide
Black Bean Quesadillas
In a hurry? These satisfying quesadillas take just 15 minutes to make. We like them with black beans…View slide
Flank Steak Pinwheels
These festive wheels of steak, Boursin cheese, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes look fancy, but they'r…View slide
Five-Spice Tilapia
Chinese five-spice powder, soy sauce and brown sugar make a quick glaze for tilapia. You'll need a…View slide
Turkey Burgers with Mango C…
Mango chutney and grilled red onion flavor this quick turkey burger. Serve with grilled baby red pot…View slide
Oven-Barbecued Pork Chops
Need a little summertime flavor? Try this swift recipe and enjoy a "barbecue" indoors. Make it a…View slide
Chicken, Charred Tomato & B…
This simple but substantial main-course salad gets its goodness from smoky skillet-blackened tomatoe…View slide
Grilled Steaks Balsamico
A simple marinade of pureed dried figs and store-bought balsamic vinaigrette adds intense flavor to …View slide
Southwestern Cheese Panini
Lots of colorful vegetables and salsa make this cheesy panini prettier than any grilled cheese you'v…View slide
Garlic-Roasted Pork (Pernil)
Though traditional Puerto Rican cuisine may favor fatty cuts of pork with the skin on, lean cuts lik…View slide
Florentine Ravioli
The flavors of Italy are best expressed in simplicity: a dash of spices, a little oil and dinner's o…View slide
Cornmeal-Crusted Chicken Nu…
Tossing chicken tenders with cornmeal gives these chicken nuggets great crunch without deep-frying. …View slide
Express Shrimp & Sausage Ja…
You don't have to sacrifice the traditional smoky punch of this Cajun favorite just because you're s…View slide
Mustard-Crusted Salmon
This updated French bistro dish makes a simple dinner any night of the week. You might want to consi…View slide
Grilled Pizza with Pesto, T…
Dazzle your guests, and keep the kitchen cool, by baking pizza on the backyard grill. For convenienc…View slide
New England Fried Shrimp
Who doesn't love a crunchy fried shrimp? This version takes virtually fat-free shrimp out of the dee…View slide
Herb-Roasted Turkey
This method produces all the good looks and moist flavor you dream of in a Thanksgiving turkey. Make…View slide
Salmon with Pepita-Lime Butter
Lime juice, chili powder and pepitas give this salmon Mexican flair. Serve with wild rice and steame…View slide
Pork Chops au Poivre
Turn your dining room into a French bistro when you dress up pepper-crusted pork chops with a rich, …View slide
Prosciutto-Wrapped Scallops…
This take on the classic bacon-wrapped appetizer uses prosciutto instead to wrap meaty scallops. Hig…View slide
Chipotle-Orange Broccoli & …
Chipotle peppers add kick to this tofu and broccoli stir-fry recipe. If you're shy about spice, cu…View slide
Spaghetti Genovese
Traditionally, this Italian pasta recipe combines pasta and pesto with potatoes and green beans. In …View slide
Roast Chicken & Sweet Potatoes
Caramelized sweet potatoes and red onion are the bed for chicken thighs that cook up fast in a very …View slide
Pork, Apple & Miso Noodle Soup
Apples and mild white miso lightly sweeten this easy noodle soup recipe. It's got plenty of flavor…View slide
Seared Salmon with Green Pe…
A simple sauce of piquant green peppercorns, lemon juice and butter top this seared salmon recipe. G…View slide
Chicken & Celery Root Tikka…
In this 5-ingredient healthy recipe, celery root replaces traditional potatoes for an easy Indian-in…View slide


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Katie has spent most of her professional life working in the nonprofit sector. She has a bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University with a major in public relations and a minor in journalism and Spanish. Writing has always been a strong passion of hers, along with photography. Katie has a love for party planning and making holidays at home extra special. Her number one priority in life is being the best mom she can be to her daughters. Katie is a professional fundraiser and serves on the board for the HOPE Community Center and is a member of YP (Young Professionals) of Lenawee.
Juggling is fun, but let's face it…it gets old. We live in a multi-tasking, "that was due yesterday", fast-paced world. Prioritizing and making the most of your valuable time is an asset to everyone, no matter what your role in life may be.
Over 10 years ago, when I was just a baby bird in the professional world, my mentor (who is still my mentor to this day) would spout out something about an 80/20 rule during all of our team meetings. "You have to follow the 80/20 rule," she'd say with authority, "it always goes back to the 80/20 rule." I kind-of picked up on the general idea of this concept at the time, but it wasn't until recently that I truly grasped the meaning and found myself referencing it to co-workers and team members (maybe even to my kids.)
So what exactly is this prized rule all about? The formal name, Pareto's Principle-The 80/20 Rule, is simple and easy to apply to your everyday professional life, home life, and so on. The Rule states: "Focus 80 percent of your time and energy on the 20 percent of your work that is really important. Don't just 'work smart', work smart on the right things!"
The principle or "formula" came from Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto in the early 1900's. Pareto created a mathematical formula to describe the unequal distribution of wealth in his country. The 80/20 Rule means that in anything a few (20 percent) are vital and many (80 percent) are trivial. In Pareto's case it meant 20 percent of the people owned 80 percent of the wealth.
The Principle goes on to state, "When the fire drills of the day begin to sap your time, remind yourself of the 20 percent you need to focus on. If something in the schedule has to slip, if something isn't going to get done, make sure it's not part of that 20 percent."
You can apply the 80/20 Rule to almost anything, from the science of management to the physical world. Try taking a look at your day-to-day responsibilities, your management style (both in the office and in the home), and pause to ponder the 80/20 rule.
Pareto, I'm assuming, made a few enemies with his theory. Like any rule, this too is not flawless. Use wisely and cautiously, but most importantly, enjoy trying, and applying, a new theory in your everyday life.


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We've started using LayerVault to manage PSD revisions and things were going well. However, we had a sync inconsistency and the web UI was showing two folders of the same name, one of them empty. After deleting the empty one, both folders were removed.
Deleting a folder in LayerVault's web UI deletes the local folder instantly and permanently.
Is there any way to restore a folder that has been deleted via LayerVault's web UI?


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Nunn Design Antique Silver-Plated Pewter Large Ornate Cross Charm
An elegant spiritual symbol can be the focus of your designs with the Nunn Design antique silver-plated pewter large ornate cross charm. This large charm is shaped like a cross with flared ends and a detailed surface. The intricate pattern is filled with lines and swirls that create a beautiful display. This pattern is featured on both sides of the charm. The small loop at the top of the cross makes it easy to add to designs. You can showcase this charm as a focal in a handmade necklace. This charm displays a soft silver gleam with an antique finish that adds darker elements to the crevices in the design.
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5 Supervillain Tactics Science Is Using to Kill Mosquitoes
#2. Chemical Warfare
Humans were using chemicals to wipe out bug populations long before billionaire Hugo Drax came up with the idea using chemical weapons to take over the world in Moonraker. But clouds of smelly chemicals that kill bugs on contact are both far too crude for true supervillainy, and have the nasty habit of killing things other than bugs (see: the whole DDT controversy). No, this calls for a much more devious approach: a chemical that messes with their tiny little bug minds.
Via Kibagusx.blogspot.com
This one has been altered to dance feverishly until death.
Mosquitoes find their human prey via their sense of smell, and as such their sniffers are extra sensitive to the CO2 humans exhale. "Great!" you say to yourself. "We can come up with some chemical that dampens their sense of smell!" No. that would be too simple. Scientists have instead come up with chemicals can do everything from luring mosquitoes to a spot that smells like a human, to convincing the mosquito he's surrounded by delicious humans at every moment until he goes insane and drops dead.
Specifically, surrounded by a herd of Katt Williams.
The downside is it's not clear if those chemicals, if used in amounts sufficient enough to devastate a mosquito population, would be safe for humans to breathe. OK, so what we need is a chemical that is deadly to mosquitoes, but completely harmless to humans even if we were to drink the stuff straight. Enter nootkatone. It's made from grapefruit. You've had it if you've drank a can of Squirt.
"Squirt. Because fuck mosquitoes."
But the effect on mosquitoes is downright hilarious. It seeps into their tiny mosquito brains, making them so hyperactive they literally vibrate themselves to death. Really, it's the next best thing to mind control.
Though, why not just go for the real thing?
#1. Mind Control
Poisoning them, seducing them, giving them STDS... is our revenge too elaborate? Too sadistic? According to science: no. Science says this is just the beginning. Science says it's going to break mosquitoes.
How? Mind control. The general idea is to influence their behavior in such a way so as to prevent them from spreading diseases ever again. Now, you're probably wondering what exactly they are using to control mosquitoes minds and, remembering the focus of most of the projects we've described, you're probably thinking, "its some weird sex thing isn't it? Jesus Christ." Well congratulations! You're totally right! Yet again we've contrived a scheme that hinges entirely on the fact that mosquitoes refuse to wear condoms.
Via Movieline.com
Despite the powerful PSAs.
Scientists have noticed that male mosquito semen changes the behavior of females after they've had nasty mosquito-sex. The females become less active in both of the activities we humans want to stop: they drink less human blood, and they aren't as active in breeding more terrible mosquitoes. They basically go into a kind of post-sex depression. So, the answer is to simply develop some kind of, you know, giant mosquito jizz cannon, right?
Hey, compared to the mosquito, it's enormous.
Apparently that method was rejected as too "gross," so scientists instead gathered some of the semen (presumably by wanking dozens of males with tiny tweezers) and studied it to find just what chemicals had the behavior-altering effect. Once we isolate it, we'll have our mosquito mind control spray! And there is nothing they can do to stop us! Especially now that we've explained our entire plan to them!
For animals who scoff in the face of our human weapons, check out 5 Animals That Are Terrifyingly Hard to Kill and 6 Animals That Just Don't Give a F#@k.