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Problem of evil
The problem of evil points out a logical contradiction in the traditional conceptions of the nature of God and the world.
Suppose we have the following four premises:
- God is omnipotent.
- God is omnibenevolent.
- God is omniscient.
- Evil exists.
We get the following contradiction. If God is omnibenevolent, then he does not want evil to exist. If God is omniscient, then he must know about all evil in the world. If God is omnipotent, then he must be capable of doing something about it. Therefore, evil should not exist. Dropping any one of those four premises would resolve the contradiction, but dropping #4 would require us to fundamentally redefine evil in some way, and dropping the other three would undermine the Christian concept of God.
As David Hume wrote, (paraphrasing Epicurus):
"Is He willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then He is impotent. Is He able, but not willing? Then He is malevolent. Is He both able and willing? Whence then is evil?"
- — Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
"So how do theists respond to arguments like this? [The Argument from Evil] They say there is a reason for evil, but it is a mystery. Well, let me tell you this: I'm actually one hundred feet tall even though I only appear to be six feet tall. You ask me for proof of this. I have a simple answer: it's a mystery. Just accept my word for it on faith. And that's just the logic theists use in their discussions of evil." [Quentin Smith, "Two Ways to Defend Atheism"]
A theodicy is a proposed solution to the problem of evil. Coined by Gottfried Leibniz in 1710, in a work called "Theodicy Essay on the Benevolence of God, the Free will of man, and the Origin of Evil".
A theodicy can generally be divided into four categories, each typically rejecting one of the four premises used to make the argument. The argument is, after all, not an argument for the non-existence of God but an argument for the non-existence of God with the characteristics of omniscience, omnipotence, and omnibenevolence in the presence of evil. Some arguments aren't solutions to the problem but justifications.
When compared to a easily prevented, extremely "evil" act, such as the rape and murder of a child, or a gross atrocity like the holocaust, slavery or other genocides, most theodicies crumble, quickly exposing them as sophistry with worse implications than the original problem.
Another refutation of theodicies:
The Moral Argument from Evil is expounded by Dean Stretton in his article on the subject. Here is the full formulation as given by Stretton:
A1. The most rational theists know (i.e., have a justified, true belief) that God exists.
A2a. For any possible world W, if God exists in W, then every instance of evil in W is objectively justified.
A2b. If God exists, then there is objective justification for any actual instance of evil, including those evils for which there is a human onlooker
A2. If God exists, then there is objective justification for every actual instance of evil, justification that will occur even if no onlooker intervenes to stop or prevent that evil.
A3. Some members of the class of most rational theists (as I have defined that class) are theists who know A2.
A4. Some of the most rational theists (namely, those who know A2) know that there is objective justification for any actual instance of evil, justification that will occur even if no onlooker intervenes to stop or prevent that evil.
A5. If human person P knows that there is objective justification for evil E, and that this justification will occur even if P does not intervene to stop or prevent E, then P is morally justified in allowing E to occur.
A6. Some of the most rational theists (namely, those who know A2) are morally justified in allowing any actual evil to occur.
A7. If the most rational theists know that God exists, then some of those theists (namely, those who know A2) are morally justified in allowing any evil to occur.
A8. Even the most rational theists (including those who know A2) are not morally justified in allowing just any evil to occur.
A9. Even the most rational theists do not know that God exists.
A10. If the most rational theists do not know that God exists, then no theist knows that God exists.
A11. No theist knows that God exists.
A12. For any given theist, that theist's belief that God exists is either false or unjustified.
A13. If God exists, then some theists are justified in believing that God exists.
A14. If God exists, then no theist has a false belief that God exists.
A15. If God exists, then some theists know (i.e., have a justified, true belief) that God exists.
A16. It is not the case that some theists know (i.e., have a justified and true belief) that God exists.
A17. God does not exist.
This argument can be summarized as follows:
A1 to A2 – If God exists, then all instances of evil are morally justifiable by definition.
A3 to A7 – If all events are morally justifiable, then some believers know that they should not try to stop any instance of presumed evil.
A8 – Yet they do intervene.
A9 to A17 – Therefore their own behaviour proves that God does not exist.
God is not omnipotent
Free will
It is often claimed that evil exists because God gave humans free will. According to the Bible, God's gift of free will led to the fall of Adam and Eve through their original sin. Free will is assumed to be a greater good than the evil that it causes or is needed by God to serve some purpose. For example, free will is required for people to love God in a free and open fashion. So if a young girl is raped and murdered, this is because God needed the rapist's free will so that his actions could result in greater good or so that the rapist could freely love God.
As Mackie asked: "Why could [God] not have made men such that they always freely choose the good?" Even if man is believed to have free will, God could have created humans such that they would always freely choose the good. This he did not do and is therefore ultimately responsible and blameworthy for any evil act which humans perform.
"For at least some theists, this difficulty is made even more acute by some of their further beliefs: I mean those who envisage a happier or more perfect state of affairs than now exists, whether they look forward to the kingdom of God on earth, or confine their optimism to the expectation of heaven. In either case they are explicitly recognizing the possibility of a state of affairs in which created beings always freely choose the good. If such a state of affairs is coherent enough to be the object of a reasonable hope or faith, it is hard to explain why it does not obtain already."
This argument fails in that free will is given a definition which relies on the ability to perform actions. The implication is that humans must be free to commit actions which would qualify as "evil" as well as "good" in the argument, in order to have free will. In this case, all humans born without this capability, possess no free will. Also, those who have an advantage, of strength, size, or skill, are presumably, more free in their will, in comparison to their potentially smaller, weaker, or less skilled, victims. Therefore, this objection to the problem of evil can only apply where this standard for free will is actually applied. Paradoxically, this puts God in the position of denying free will to someone regardless of God's position on an action, whether God intervenes, or not.
This argument also fails to explain why God allows natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tsunamis, and earthquakes. These events kill large numbers of people in specific geographical locations, which indicates that the concept of "evil" is not necessarily tied to what people do. Furthermore, it fails to account for evil done to people against their will. The argument of free will is used to justify why an infant can be killed, however the infant invoked no measure of free will to allow for this evil to result. So in order to give the gift of free will to this infant, the child is murdered without having any choice in the matter.
Even if we define natural disasters as not being evil, there remains the fact that they occur, and that God does not prevent them or the deaths and suffering they cause. If we replace "evil" with "suffering" in the discussion above, the problem remains: either God is unaware of people's suffering, and is therefore not omniscient; or he is unable to do anything, and is therefore not omnipotent; or he is unwilling to intervene, and is therefore not omnibenevolent.
There is also the question of heaven. Heaven, being a perfectly wonderful place, does not contain evil. Does this mean that inhabitants of heaven no longer retain their free will? Or does their will suddenly become perfectly good?
Bertrand Russell notes: "[I]t is clear that the fundamental doctrines of Christianity demand a great deal of ethical perversion before they can be accepted. The world, we are told, was created by a God who is both good and omnipotent. Before He created the world He foresaw all the pain and misery that it would contain; He is therefore responsible for all of it. It is useless to argue that the pain in the world is due to sin. In the first place, this is not true; it is not sin that causes rivers to overflow their banks or volcanoes to erupt. But even if it were true, it would make no difference. If I were going to beget a child knowing that the child was going to be a homicidal maniac, I should be responsible for his crimes. If God knew in advance the sins of which man would be guilty, He was clearly responsible for all the consequences of those sins when He decided to create man."
See also: The Free Will Defense Refuted and God's Existence Disproved [1]
A Sound Logical Argument from Evil A Sound Logical Argument of Evil by Quentin Smith
Quentin Smith distinguishes three kinds of freedom:
1. External freedom:A person is externally free with respect to an action A if and only if nothing other than (external to) herself determines either that she perform A or refrain from performing A.
2. Internal freedom: And a person is free with respect to an action A at a time t only if no causal laws and antecedent conditions determine either that he performs A at t or that he refrains from so doing. A person is internally free with respect to an action A if and only if it is false that his past physical and psychological states, in conjunction with causal laws, determine either that he perform A or refrain from performing A.
3. Logical freedom: A person is logically free with respect to an action A if and only if there is some possible world in which he performs A and there is another possible world in which he does not perform A. A person is logically free with respect to a wholly good life (a life in which every morally relevant action performed by the person is a good action) if and only if there is some possible world in which he lives this life and another possible world in which he does not.
These distinctions, according to Smith, constitute a sound logical argument from evil. It is possible to be internally-externally free but logically determined with respect to being morally good. This is the case with God, who is both internally and externally free but who does only good actions in each possible world in which he exists.
1. God possesses the maximally valuable consistent conjunction of great making properties.
2. If it were intrinsically better to be logically free with respect to a morally good life than logically determined, and this logical freedom were consistent with God's omnipotence and omniscience, then God would possess this logical freedom.
3. Logical freedom with respect to a morally good life is consistent with omnipotence and omniscience.
4. God is logically determined with respect to a morally good life.
5. It is false that it is intrinsically better to be logically free with respect to a morally good life than logically determined.
Premise (3) is true because "x knows all truths" does not entail "It is not logically possible for x to perform a morally wrong action," and "x is all-powerful" does not entail "It is not logically possible for x to perform a morally wrong action." Nor does the conjunction of omniscience and omnipotence entail this.
It follows that a possible world WI containing N number of persons who always do what is right and who are logically determined with respect to moral goodness is (all other things being equal) a more metaphysically valuable world than a world W2 containing N number of persons who are logically free with respect to a morally good way of life. And this suggests that God, if he existed, would have created W1 rather than W2.
Although Plantinga does not address this issue, an unspoken assumption of his argument is that there are no possible creatures who are internally-externally free with respect to a morally good life but logically determined. This assumption is false, for "x is an internally-externally free creature with respect to a morally good life" does not entail "x is logically free with respect to a morally good life." If it did, there would have to be some relevant difference between God and creatures that ensured the entailment goes through in the case of creatures but not God. But what could this difference be? None of the divine attributes (other than necessary goodness) entails necessary goodness. Nor does a conjunction of two or more of these divine attributes entail it. Further, the relevant nondivine attributes do not entail logical freedom with respect to a morally good life. For example, "x knows many but not all truths" does not entail "x freely chooses to do something wrong in at least one possible world in which x exists." Nor is this entailed by "x has the power to do many but not all things." a nonomniscient person can have only true moral beliefs, if only for the reason that it is possible to know all moral truths and not know all mathematical truths. Such a person would be necessarily morally good.
6. It is possible that there is a nonomniscient mind x such that: for each possible world W in which x exists, and for each circumstance in which x is faced with a moral choice, x knows all the factual and moral truths he needs to know to make a correct choice.
7. This mind x is neither causally determined nor causally influenced by any external or internal factors.
8. Necessarily, if a perfectly free mind knows all the moral and factual truths needed to make the morally correct choice in any morally significant circum stance in which he finds himself, then this mind will make the correct choice.
If such persons are possible, worlds containing only such persons and God and no nature (a physical realm) are possible; in these worlds, there is no moral or natural evil. The counterfactual argument that it is possible that if God created these persons in certain circumstances, they would do something wrong, fails because these persons are necessarily good. Accordingly, Plantinga's free will defense cannot be used to show that a world containing these persons is not creatable.
The idea that there are possible creatures who are necessarily good and that God could have created a world containing only them does not depend on the truth of Plantinga's theory of counterfactuals of freedom. At first glance, it might appear there is a dependency because presumably God, if he existed, would have known logically prior to creation counterfactuals about these creatures and made his decision to create a world with them on the basis of this knowledge. For example, God would know prior to creation:
9. If the individual essences of some necessarily good creatures were to be instantiated, the instantiations of these essences would always do what is right.
Proposition (9) is true logically prior to creation even if Plantinga's theory is false, for (9) is analytically true and thereby does not require similarity relations among worlds to make it true. Proposition (9) is true because the antecedent entails the consequent. Accordingly, if the Stalnaker-Lewis theory of counterfactuals is true, there are no logically contingent counterfactuals of freedom that are true logically prior to creation, but there are logically necessary counterfactuals of freedom that are true logically prior to creation, and the latter are all that God needs to know which world to create.
The fact that necessarily good creatures are possible supplies the missing proposition (p') that will enable the conjunction of (G), (E), and (p') to form an explicit contradiction.
Statements (G) and (E) we recall, are
G. God exists and is wholly good, omnipotent, and omniscient.
E. There is evil.
There are several ways to formulate (p'), one being based on a proposition in Plantinga's first discussion of the free will defense in his article "The Free Will Defence".
10. If God is all-good and the proposition God creates free humans and the free humans He creates always do what is right is consistent, then any free humans created by God always do what is right.
If the negation of (E) is to be deduced from (10) and (G), then (10) needs to be a necessary truth. But we need further premises. One is
11. It is consistent that God creates free humans and the free humans he creates always do what is right.
Another is
12. It is possible that: free humans who always do what is right exist without there being any natural evil, and if God creates these humans, he will not create natural evil.
If (10), (11), and (12) are all necessary truths, then the proposition (p') is the conjunction of ( 10), ( II), and ( 12 ) because the conjunction of these three propositions with (G) entails
-E. There is no evil.
This would give a sound logical argument from evil, for it would show that the theist is committed to a proposition two of whose conjunctions are there is evil and there is no evil.
In "The Free Will Defence" Plantinga attacks (10). He writes, "There seems to be no reason for supposing that (10) is true at all, let alone necessarily true. Whether the free men created by God would always do what is right would presumably be up to them; for all we know they might sometimes exercise their freedom to do what is wrong."
In one sense Plantinga is right, for humans are logically free with respect to a morally good life and being logically free and being logically determined are plausibly thought to be essential properties. There is no possible world in which humans are logically determined with respect to a morally good life. But Plantinga over- looks the possibility that there are possible rational creatures who are internally- externally free but logically determined, and if we take "humans" in (10) in a broad sense as referring to any rational creature, then Plantinga's purported refutation of (10) fails. Thus, the logical argument from evil goes through unscathed by Plantinga's criticism.
The soundness of the logical argument from evil can be seen more clearly if we consider a relevant proposition from Plantinga's God, Freedom and Evil, a proposition that he concedes "for purposes of argument" is a necessary truth (although he subsequently makes no attempt to show it is not a necessary truth). The proposition is
13. An omniscient and omnipotent [and wholly] good being eliminates every evil that it can properly eliminate.
A being properly eliminates an evil state of affairs if it eliminates that evil without either eliminating an outweighing good or bringing about a greater evil. A good state of affairs g outweighs an evil state of affairs e if the conjunctive state of affairs 9 and e is a good state of affairs. Given these definitions, it is plausible to think that (13) is a necessary truth. If a state of affairs is eliminated by its actualization being prevented, and if a possible world is a state of affairs (a maximal state of affairs), then (13) entails
14. God prevents from being actual any world W1 that contains evil if there is another creatable world W2 containing at least as much good as W1 and no evil.
There is no world containing evil that contains more good than a creatable world W2 that contains no evil and that consists of God and an infinite number of necessarily good and internally-externally free rational creatures who perform an infinite number of good acts. This is true by virtue of the mathematics of infinity, for the addition of more creatures or acts to a world containing an infinite number of them does not increase the amount of good, for infinity plus N for any finite number N equals infinity. Thus we cannot say that there is a possible world containing evil and infinity-plus-N good acts and that this world contains more good than a world containing an infinite number of good acts and no evil. Of course, we can get more good acts if we add to a world with aleph-zero good acts an additional aleph-one acts, where aleph-zero is the number of all finite integers and aleph-one is (by the continuum hypothesis) the number of all real numbers. But this sort of argument can be blocked by supporting there is another world with no evil but with aleph-one good acts. The same holds for any other transfinite cardinal greater than aleph-zero.
The above arguments about necessarily good free rational creatures show that
There is some possible creatable world W2 containing only God and an infinite number of necessarily good free rational creatures who perform an infinite number of good acts.
This gives us our explicit contradiction, namely, the conjunction of the following propositions:
G. God exists and is wholly good, omnipotent, and omniscient.
E. There is evil.
14. God prevents from being actual any world W1 that contains evil if there is another creatable world W2 containing at least as much good as W1 and no evil.
15. For any possible creatable world W I containing evil and an infinite number of free rational creatures who perform an infinite number of good acts, there is another possible creatable world W2 containing no evil and an infinite number of necessarily good free rational creatures who perform an infinite number of good acts.
-E. There is no evil (from G, (14], and (15]).
Best of all possible worldsApologists such as Alvin Plantinga have made the claim that although there may be some evil in the world, this is in fact the best of all possible worlds.
This theodicy suggests that no improvement may be made to the world. Preventing children from dying in a tsunami or the Holocaust from happening would be impossible for God. Plantinga argues that God's power is limited in that he cannot sin and cannot violate free will. However, there are plenty of improvements one could make to this world without violating free will or requiring God to sin.
Although it is not a direct problem with the claim itself, it is important to note that many theists who propose this claim also believe in Heaven, which is believed to be an even better world than this one. If this is the best world able to be created then Heaven cannot be created.
See also: The Free Will Defense Refuted and God's Existence Disproved [2]
Tough love
Apologists often claim that what appears to be harmful to humans may, in fact, be for humanity's good. How can we learn, the argument goes, without making our own mistakes?
The "tough love" argument only works if God is limited in power. If God is omnipotent there is nothing he can not teach us gently that he can teach us harshly. If he is benevolent than he would never choose to teach us a harsh lesson when it could be taught, with exactly the same impact, gently.
Another problem with this argument is that although according to this argument, God wants us to grow as people by learning from our mistakes, according to most religious doctrine he also wants worship. Worship involves complete obedience and submission, whereas learning from mistakes requires using one's intelligence. It is contradictory to claim that God wants us to be both completely obedient and make decisions for ourselves, since complete obedience means blindly obeying authority, for example the story of Abraham and Issac (Genesis 22:1-19 ). Abraham was called "righteous" because he blindly obeyed God's command to murder his son. The fact that God stopped Abraham before the knife fell means nothing- even if he had allowed the murder, Abraham would still be called righteous for obeying God's command.
Really powerful, not all-powerful
God is not all-powerful in the sense that he can create a rock so heavy that even he cannot lift it. So, God is omnibenevolent, omniscient, and really really powerful.
If a child is raped and killed, is this because God is not powerful enough to prevent it? I could prevent that and would strive to with the smallest degree of foreknowledge. So if this argument is to succeed it must conclude that I am more powerful than God. And more benevolent.
God does not exist
God is unable to prevent evil because God does not exist. Argument does not apply to non-existing gods.
God is not omnibenevolent
Redefining benevolence
One way to redefine the term 'benevolence' is to cite limited human perspective in space and time. A parent might spank a child for running into traffic, or take a child to the doctor for painful, life saving, injections. It is only in the limited, child's-eye-view that these things are malevolent.
As with the "tough love" argument, this view of God implicitly denies his omnipotence or, at least, his omniscience. What kind of parent purposely takes his child for a surgery which he knows the child does not need or want?
Another way to redefine 'benevolence' is to argue that God may be benevolent to specific humans or to non-humans. Our entire history may exist for the positive influence it may have on aliens we have not met. We may be actors in a puppet show that makes these beings happy. After all, it is perfectly possible for benevolent humans to play comically violent video games with their delighted children.
But this argument is sophistry. To win the argument the apologist defines a God that neither we nor he would have much reason to worship. For example, if the creatures in a violent "Run and Gun" video game were to gain self awareness, would we expect them to view us as benevolent beings worthy of their love and trust as we blast them into electronic oblivion?
And, if God is not benevolent toward humans, then what differentiates him from a human sociopath or from the Devil?
The problem of evil must be taken up in the context of humanity. No other context would make a God useful to humans in any realistic way. A God that is benevolent to others at lethal expense to humans is, by definition, malevolent, or at least indifferent, toward humans. It is an unusual apologist indeed who believes in this type of God.
God is benevolent to the point of impotence
Some claim that since God is omnibenevolent, he loves all his creatures, even Satan, who is considered by many to be the embodiment of evil. Therefore it would violate his omnibenevolence to simply destroy Satan or any other evil creation. This of course implies that God is not omnipotent. It is also contradicted by the Bible, which states that God hates evil.
Evil is a consequence of disobeying God
Evil exists not because it was created by God but because it results from our disobeying God's divine laws.
This explanation argues that God has created an earthly consequence for disobeying divine laws. There are two problems with this argument: 1. Innocents being victims of evil. 2. Immoral people escaping earthly consequence. If this argument was indeed true, infants, children, and otherwise good people would not suffer and murderers, thieves, and the like would not live comfortable lives.
Perfection implies no lacking
God is also evil. The argument does not apply.
God allows evil so that the good is appreciated
God wants to be loved and is very vain. He wants to be loved so much that he allows many evils to befall mankind so that they appreciate the good more. Much as the blind man healed by Jesus appreciated his sight more because of his blindness.
God is not omniscient
Unlike the other characteristics of God, omniscience isn't necessarily required for the argument. Any situation God doesn't see can still be created as intended through the power of omnipotence.
God does Good. Satan does Evil.
God only has limited omniscience, he cannot see the future. God simply did not know that Satan would turn against him because he cannot know the future. Satan blindsided God, who lacks future knowledge, and created evil himself. God was betrayed and Satan is the reason evil exists.
If God is all-good and all-powerful, he should snuff out Satan and promptly remove all evil from the world.
Evil does not exist
Redefining evil
As with "benevolence", "evil" can be redefined. What is "evil" for humans may not be evil for God. In fact, anything that God chooses to do can be construed as "good". Using this argument, "evil" can not exist in any definable terms when applied to God.
Besides the arguments already used in the "Tough Love" response (an all powerful God would have no reason even to appear evil) here, the apologist treads dangerously close to moral relativism. We know from information in the bible that moral rules have changed at the will of God. Is God, then, a moral relativist?
If the answer is that God is following a moral plan, then the apologist opens himself up to the Euthyphro dilemma. If the answer is that God changes as he sees fit and anything that god declares as good is good, then what is the difference between being a relativist and following a relativist God?
When an apologist tries to redefine the premises of "the problem of evil" he finds himself in a morass of relativism, but when he tries to work with the premises he finds himself unwittingly limiting the unlimited God of his religion.
Evil is an illusion
We believe that evil exists because we view things like genocide as bad. We are simply wrong, all of these things are good.
Which suggests that everything which has ever happened is objectively good: rape, the holocaust, slavery, genocide. In order defend this theodicy, a proponent would need to agree that any horrific thing you could mention is a good thing to do.
It is all part of the plan
God's divine plan is good. What we think is evil is not, rather it's a part of God's plan we are misidentifying as evil because we cannot see the big picture.
The holocaust is part of God's divine plan? Young girls being raped and murdered is part of God's plan? If such things are part of God's plan, even without seeing the big picture one must conclude that it's a really bad plan. Furthermore, what is the point of a plan if one is all powerful? There are no steps needed; simply create the end results.
Evil is a test
Evil is needed so that God can test people.
The holocaust is a test of faith? Whose faith is tested when a child is murdered? If God is omniscient, then God already knows what humans will do in any test.
Evil is the absence of Good
Just as cold is the absence of hot and dark is the absence of light, evil is the absence of good.
This contradicts an omnipresent deity. Furthermore, if accurate then an omnipotent omnibenevolent deity should employ his omnipotence to be omnipresent in order to stand vigilant against evil.
Are evil deeds an absence of some corresponding good? Is rape an absence of unrape? Is murder an absence of unmurder? (How many people have you unraped or unmurdered today? We're committing unsins constantly!) Conversely, if baking your neighbor cookies [or name any random act of kindness] is a good deed, what is the absence of that good deed?
You bring evil on yourself
God is good and does good, but any evil you do you brought upon yourself. This is principle the theodicy of Islam.
If you are raped, you were bad. If you have a holocaust happen to you, you were bad. If something bad happens to you, you brought it on yourself. This theodicy consists of blaming the victim.
Heaven exists after this world
After you die you can go to heaven which evens everything out in the end. Regardless of what pain and suffering exists here, heaven will balance out the scales. This was often used by religious authorities to justify torture and murder during the many inquisitions and crusades. The victims' temporary agony was justified if it saved them from the eternal agony of hell.
This has nothing to do with the argument, rather it's a conclusion that it doesn't matter if there is evil, rather than address the logical consequence of a deity incompatible with an evil filled world.
False trilemma?
One could argue that the argument above does not cover all possibilities, much like C.S. Lewis's trilemma "Liar, Lunatic or Lord", which does not consider alternate possibilities like "Legend". The argument does not account for a God who is not able and willing, which creates the problem, as paraphrased by Epicurus, that if he is not able or willing, then why call him God?
However, the problem of evil can be restated as follows:
- If evil exists, and God is omniscient, then God knows about it.
- If God knows about evil, and is omnibenevolent, then he wants to prevent it.
- If God wants to prevent evil, and is omnipotent, then he can prevent it (if God wants something to happen, then it happens).
- Therefore, if God is omniscient, omnibenevolent, and omnipotent, then evil should not exist.
There is a logical rebuttal to this version of the problem of evil posited by Alvin Plantinga, a Prominent Philosopher, called the Free will defense. This defense is widely regarded as solid by the philosophical community, even with some mentionable critisisms.
The problem of good
It is fairly easy to flip the argument around: if we postulate that God is all-evil, the problem of evil becomes the problem of good: why would an infinitely evil god allow good to exist?
Many or all of the arguments against the problem of evil can easily be turned around to argue against the problem of good:
- People do good deeds because God gave us free will, which in turn allows us to torment each other in ways that mere automata couldn't.
- Natural beauty, such as sunsets or the majesty of a starry sky, exists so that we may more deeply appreciate the ugliness around us.
- Mystery: while some instances of good may remain unexplained, who can claim to understand the mind of an infinitely evil god?
If the existence of evil in the universe that also includes a lot of good does not point to an infinitely evil god, then it follows that the existence of good in a universe that also includes a lot of evil does not point to the existence of an infinitely good god.
See also
External links
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, The Problem of Evil
- Hume and the Evidential Problem of Evil
- Stephen Law, The God of Eth — the problem of good
- Dictionary.com entry for sophistry


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GameInformer unveils XCOM: Enemy Unknown is the cover story of the next issue of their print magazine, revealing Firaxis is at work on a true continuation of the beloved strategy series, as opposed to the X-COM-based first-person shooter that's also now in the works (thanks briktal). They say the game is due for Windows PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3, this fall, and while they are withholding "gory details of XCOM's destructible tactical environments, the interaction between the real-time strategic view and the turn-based combat, how the XCOM organization improves its capabilities as the war rages on, and much more," from the magazine, they do offer a bit on the game:
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Due to hydrant repair
A boil order was issued Wednesday for residents in the areas of Park Street, West Central Boulevard, West Second Street and the 400 block of West First Street whose water was turned off Wednesday morning for a hydrant repair.
Residents in these areas may experience low pressure, rusty water, or no water. Residents should take precautions when using their water until the water runs clean. Do not run hot water as doing this will draw rust into the water heater. Only flush the system by running the cold water.
Residents will be under a boil order for 48-72 hours following the restoration of water service.


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"Science on a Sphere"
Saturdays and Sundays, gain an astronaut's perspective through a 30- or 60-minute weekly program featuring the animated projection of planetary data onto a giant globe.
Learn about science and the forces which shape our planet in an interactive and captivating format that appeals to folks of all ages.
Bear Valley Visitor Center
Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - 1:30pm
More Info
If You Go
Stay at the Point Reyes Hostel, the only lodging within this spectacular National Park.


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The possible rules for Colorado's forthcoming recreational-marijuana industry have begun to take shape, after a marathon meeting of a state task force.
Under proposals endorsed Monday by the state's Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force, marijuana products would have to be sold in child-proof packaging and not contain any logos or ingredients designed solely to appeal to children. They could not be mixed with nicotine. Marijuana and pot-infused edibles would have to come with labels that would detail the items' potency and also disclose the pesticides or fertilizers used in cultivation.
"We're trying to give the consumer the information so that he or she can make the right decision," said Dr. Chris Urbina, the head of the state Health Department and a task-force member.
Recreational-pot shops could sell only marijuana and marijuana-related items such as pipes. They could not advertise anywhere that kids would likely see their ads, such as television, radio, billboards or general-distribution newspapers. And recreational-marijuana stores would not be able to make any health claims about their products.
The task force also adopted proposed policies that would create an "unbiased, fact-based" state website to educate people about marijuana and that would create a committee to identify marijuana topics that Coloradans need to know more about.
Still up in the air is how to pay for it.
"All the things we're approving today cost a lot of money," task-force co-chairman Jack Finlaw, Gov. John Hickenlooper's chief legal counsel, lamented during the five-hour hearing.
The task force is proposing a first draft of Colorado's recreational-marijuana rules, a never-before-done challenge that the group was given about three months to do. Monday's meeting was the task force's second-to-last. It will meet one more time, on Thursday, before it must turn over its report to the legislature.
Lawmakers are expected to pull the task force's recommendations into one big bill that will have to clear the legislature by the end of its session, on May 8.
John Ingold: 303-954-1068, firstname.lastname@example.com or twitter.com/john_ingold


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Dallas, TX |
25,000+ employees |
0 active jobs |
Company Website
How long has AT&T been around? Well, for starters we invented the industry. We've been creating new solutions for more than a century – and with your help, we'll push boundaries for many years to come.We're a global company that consistently drives innovation in the communications and entertainment industry. Fortune called us one of the Most Admired Companies in the Telecommunications Industry, and we are the name behind the next-generation television service called U-Verse. We're also industry leaders in providing wireless, high-speed Internet, local and long distance services.We strive to connect people to their world, everywhere they live and work. Staying ahead of emerging technologies and creating the next big thing is always on our mind. Join us as we rethink possible. Visit us now at http://www.att.jobs/.Retail
Look around. Yep, there we are. There we are again. With 2,300 company-owned stores and over 16,000 total locations, our Retail Sales teams help put 105.9 million wireless customers on the map. And they aren't done yet. These tech gurus sell the newest, coolest devices and services to help people create and communicate at work and play. Oh, and they get to use them too. How about an upgrade? Retail Jobs
On the Job Retail Sales at AT&T is focused on increasing sales and exceeding targets through the sale of industry-leading mobile devices, Internet services, wireless network cards and advanced television to the consumer. The atmosphere is fast-paced and competitive, and customer satisfaction is a top priority.
Explore our online experience store, and get a feel for the technology you'll touch every day in Retail Sales.
Refine Search
For your privacy and protection, when applying to a job online:Never give your social security number to a prospective employer, provide credit card or bank account information, or perform any sort of monetary transaction. Learn More >>
By applying to a job using CareerBuilder.com you are agreeing to comply with and be subject to the CareerBuilder.com Terms and Conditions for use of our website. To use our website, you must agree with the Terms and Conditions and both meet and comply with their provisions.
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2014 Spring Dance Concert
Directed by Dana Maue
Featuring the works of student choreographers.
Many styles will be showcased from contemporary to jazz funk, folklorico, tap and bollywod.
April 10 - 12, 7:30 pm
Mayan Hall Theatre
Tickets $12 General Admission (No discount tickets). The box office opens one hour before each performance. Cash only.
Free parking in Lot O.
Southwestern College is an equal opportunity educator and employer | Non-Discrimination Policy |
Disclaimer | Directions to SWC
© 2011 Southwestern College, 900 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista, CA 91910. (619) 421-6700
The Southwestern College is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Thank you for visiting the Southwestern College website.


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The MSGL photo archives are a bit disorganized and I usually have to sift through them to come up with a Wayback Wednesday post, but this week the work was already done. After leading the toddler families on this field trip to Lafayette's Columbian Park Zoo in the Spring of 1998, teacher Suman Harshvardhan put together this little photo album for the children.
These kiddos are college freshmen (or nearly) now. Thanks for reading and have a great Wednesday!
We're keeping things simple on Wayback Wednesday this week with a short and sweet little collection of photos from October, 2002. Teacher Judy West took the children of the Red Oak class on a nature hike to Purdue's Horticulture Park to enjoy the crisp morning, collect leaves, and hug some very deserving trees.
Do you have favorite photos you would like to share on Wayback Wednesday? Please contact me at firstname.lastname@example.com. Have an outstanding Wednesday!
1998 was a big year for MSGL because we announced our expansion so we received lots of media coverage. This week's Wayback Wednesday post features another story from the Lafayette Journal and Courier. On July 7th, a story about our summer camp cooking class filled the 4 Kidz Only page. (I love that the J&C embraced phonetic spelling!)
The photos are beautiful and the children's quotes, especially about date math, are really sweet.
Featured teacher, Revati Nemani is still with MSGL today in the Catalpa class. The children featured in this article are now in college. Are any of them studying to be chefs? We would love to know. If you know Alie Magnante, Daniel Plesniak, Asher Bogdanove, or Andrew Staiger, please pass this along. It would be great to hear from them.
And maybe you and your young ones will give one of these recipes a go? We would love to hear about that, too.
This week we look back at some photos from 1998.
Anita McKinney, our first executive director, was leaving MSGL to live closer to her family in Florida. Her MSGL family held a farewell reception in her honor just before the winter break. These are photos of some of the children wishing her well.
Anita started working at MSGL in July, 1991 when the parent-owned school decided it needed a full-time. Up to then, the office staff coordinated with the Board of Directors. This next photo is actually from about 1996. It shows Anita with Beth Nichols, who was then the office manager, in the teeny, tiny office at Morton Center.
Beth is still with us and now works as our accountant. Anita has been working with Florida's Duval County Extension office since 1998. She is currently teaching personal financial management in Jacksonville. She is retiring in January and will start another "job" taking care of her twin grandchildren Dominic and Danica. She is excited about this new chapter in her life and told me, "They will be three by then , so I will start my own little Montessori home-school with them. I am looking forward to this next step!"
Best wishes, Anita! And happy Wednesday to you, faithful readers.
15 years ago the Lafayette Journal and Courier announced MSGL's plans to add an elementary program and move all of its programs to a new space.
The Morton Community Center on Chauncey Avenue had been MSGL's home since 1985.
As the article states, the new elementary program was originally going to be housed in a home on Rainbow Drive that had been donated by an MSGL family. A change of plans relocated that first class to some available classroom space inside the Temple Israel on Cumberland Avenue.
In February 2001, all of our programs, from the parent-infant class through elementary, moved into our permanent home in the former Calvary Baptist church on Soldiers Home Road.
In 2007, the elementary classes moved into the Montessori House, a remodeled home adjacent to the campus.
MSGL has plans to expand once again in the near future to add a second toddler classroom and a gym/gross motor space.
We're really reaching back here for Halloween gold - all the way back to 1989. Back in the day, the whole school had a costume parade in the Morton Center gymnasium. It was a big year for bunnies, clowns, and superheroes.
Montessori School of Greater Lafayette Staff, 1992
Here are the year's class photos. If you recognize any of the children, all should be in their mid-twenties now, consider directing them here. We would love to hear from them and from the teachers.
Class A - Morning Preprimary, 1992
Class B - Morning Preprimary, 1992
Class D - Morning Preprimary, 1992
Class E - Afternoon Preprimary, 1992
Class C - 3-day and 5-day Toddlers, 1992
Class C - 2-day Toddlers, 1992
I remember this day well! Daisy's not in too many photos because she's hanging upside down somewhere, no doubt. Probably with the monkeys. Who's that young father with the goofy looking pony tail?
This totally made my day today! I don't remember this day at all, too young... but these are precious pictures! I'm sitting in my dorm room at college looking at these pictures smiling away. Thanks for bringing back some childhood memories
Thank you, Daisy! I am so happy to hear you enjoyed the photos. We have lots more to share in the coming months. Best of luck to you!Heather
Here are the names of the little people Suman could recognize from the photos: Kelly Wilkins (blue dress), Benjamin Staiger (Cindy Krulitz's son) (red shorts), and Erin Rossmann (yellow raincoat).


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- Home >
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Dolce & Gabbana
Dynamic design duo
Dolce & Gabbana was launched in Milan in 1985 when Mr Domenico Dolce and Mr Stefano Gabbana showed their debut collection. Since then, the label has exploded into a global fashion phenomenon, winning legions of fans for its sleek, luxurious and distinctly Italian collections.
- World-famous luxury fashion house
- We covet the immaculate tailoring
- Check out the off-duty options too
Dolce & Gabbana
- Product view
- Outfit view


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The stillness of morning and afternoon was shattered by isolated booms which sent pets scurrying for cover as well as a couple of their two-legged friends.
The booms also created quite a stir on social media as area residents began seeking answers to what might have caused them. Karen Vaughn posted a reply from Sheppard Air Force Base at 3:54 p.m., which was confirmed through a call that the booms could be attributed to Lockheed Martin. The base reported that it was informed by Lockheed Martin that there would be supersonic flights in the area.
Initially, many residents were concerned that the booms were earthquakes or related to drilling or quarry blasting. Amber Wilson, Ardmore Emergency Management Coordinator, contacted the Oklahoma Geology Department in Tulsa and was told no activity had taken place that would lead officials to believe there was an earthquake. Both the City of Ardmore and the police department received numerous inquiries regarding the booms. Lone Grove dispatch also reported numerous calls as well. The Ardmore Development Authority, which runs the Ardmore Airpark, also received numerous calls and was unable to identify the source of the booms.
Paul Tucker, Carter County Emergency Coordinator, speculated the source as a sonic boom and noted that the US Geological Survey had not identified any seismic activity from the morning booms. There was also no activity noted following the afternoon incident.
On social media, a number of posters said they saw items shake, which can be a result of a sonic boom. NASA notes that with heavier aircraft, shock waves will be stronger and rare minor damage can occur.


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Tatiana Egorova a representative of Sami Parliament in Murmansk region. "The nature is crying out for help. Our land is too important, too fragile, too beloved, and too worshipped to be treated like this. Our hearts beat as one together with the heart of our land; it's seeking understanding and respect."
© Steve Morgan/Greenpeace
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In the town where football on Saturdays has been missing its magic for quite some time, the atmosphere at Boulder bars and restaurants for the Denver Broncos divisional match-up with the Baltimore Ravens felt like a flashback to a time long ago.
Game photosCheck out game photos of the Broncos falling to the Ravens here
Fans across Boulder were treated to a double-overtime thriller, though, in the end, the Broncos would lose 35-38 on a Justin Tucker 47-yard field goal.
At Harpo's Sports Grill, 2860 Arapaho Ave., the noise on a critical Ravens third down play in the fourth quarter may have had some of the fans seated in the dining room believing they were in the stands at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
"It feels awesome," Broncos fan Gaby Larrea said of rooting for a team that, up until about 6:45 p.m. Saturday had legitimate championship hopes. "I'm a (University of Colorado) alumna so it stinks that our team stinks, but the Broncos make it all feel better."
Larrea and boyfriend Charlie McCash said they arrived at Harpo's at about 1:30 p.m. to watch the game with friends and described the atmosphere as "loud, out of control and fun."
"I think it's the best sports bar in Boulder," McCash said of Harpo's. "Best energy."
The orange and blue faithful who took in Saturday's thrilling game at The West End Tavern may have disagreed with McCash.
Boulder resident Nathan Dopp watched the game with friends at the West End, located at 926 Pearl St., because he said it " has the best food and is the best place to watch a football game in Boulder."
Dopp said he moved to Boulder in 1976, and watched quarterback Craig Morton carry the Broncos to their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history in 1977. On Saturday, he said he was hopeful the Broncos would take another step to the team's seventh Super Bowl appearance.
Brittney Drinkert was among the Broncos' fans who watched the game with Dopp Saturday. She had an added personal reason for rooting for the Broncos and its future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning: she said she recently did some interior design work for the man she referred to as "PeyPey."
"I really want to go to New Orleans to see Peyton," she said, referring to the site of this year's upcoming Super Bowl, though it was not to be.
On the opposite end of the Pearl Street Mall at The Lazy Dog Sports Bar & Grill, 1346 Pearl St., a standing-room only crowd cheered, booed and hissed loudly enough that one could reasonably have assumed whether the game was going well for the Broncos based on noise alone.
Twenty-two-year-old Alejandro Arango said that he knew the Lazy Dog would be a great place to watch Saturday's game because he could hear the screams of fans cheering Bronco Trindon Holliday's first quarter punt return from a block away as he walked to the bar.
"After a 1-11 season, it feels good," the CU senior said, referencing the Buffs wreck of a 2012 season. "It feels good to root for winning."
Well, it did.
Contact Camera Staff Writer Joe Rubino at 303-473-1328 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Heat Lamp, 1 bulb type, 8-1/2" H x 9-1/2" diameter shade, cord mount to canopy (overall length from 17" to any length), lower switch location, no bulb included.
Please contact Customer Service when ordering for specification of all options included with this model. KaTom requires this additional contact to ensure the order is customized best for your business needs.
Decorative Options Include:
Designer Colors: Warm Red, Black, Gray Granite, White Granite, Navy Blue, Hunter Green
Gloss Finishes: Smooth White, Gleaming Gold, Glossy Gray, Bold Black (standard)
Polished Finishes: (shade styles DL500, -725, -775 only, upcharge applies) Bright Brass and Bright Nickel.
*The warranty will not be honored for residential or non-commercial use of any Commercial Equipment.
Hatco DL-725-CL SpecificationsPDF Spec Sheet


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Sponsored by Basketball (men)
It took an extra five minutes to decide this Iowa Conference battle for first place and in the end it was Luther 62, Buena Vista 56. The win not only keeps the Norse unbeaten and in first place in the league standings, but it also snapped the Beavers 10-game win streak.
With the game knotted up at 53-53 with 2:24 left in overtime, a Tyler Wedemeier conventional three-point play, gave the Norse the lead for good. Luther outscored Buena Vista 13-7 in the extra frame.
Wedemeier led the Norse with 19 points. Zach Matos-Pritchard also tallied double digits with 13. John Androus, who grabbed a team high 10 rebounds, chipped in nine, while Brian Nnaoji provided eight points off the bench.
The Beaver's Wes Nordquist produced a double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Troy Ticknor was next with 12.
The win gives Luther a league record of 4-0, 11-4 overall. Buena Vists is now 3-1, 11-4.
The Norse begin a three-game road trip with a date at Coe College on Saturday, Jan. 19. This game will be audio streamed and is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m.
Questions? Contact David Blanchard, post_to_results, 563-387-1586


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Stay Classy, AO...
My Feedback: Here on Automags.org, On MCB, BigEvilOnline, and PaintBallNation
You mean the same ptp that screwed up all those MICROMAG bodies? Yikes hate to see the fix on there pneumatic setup
hair trigger Dallara:
G-Force Mag:
I would love for somebody to build a hair out of a bob long type frame something with some room for the fingers to fly
Ya umf frame is cool maybe a little slimmer though IMO
The same PTP who invented the HalfBlock Autococker?
The same PTP who released the first 45 frame for Automags and Autocockers?
The same PTP who invented the UniBody Automag?
The same PTP who released the first Autococker-Threaded Automag body?
The same PTP who designed a mechanically walkable frame that could swap between Autocockers AND Automags?
The same PTP who designed the first VM68 body that could be field-stripped without tools and supported a vertical bottle?
The same PTP who teamed up with Tom Kaye and FN Herstal to design the FN-303, the ultimate less-lethal weapon?
The same PTP who designed an integrated detente system during an era when many went without, one that lasts 15+ years without rebuild?
ProTeam Products, Benchmark and Armson were pioneers in the industry since it could be considered an industry. They partnered with Tom Kaye and Bud Orr (the godfathers of paintball) and PK Selective (the daddy of creative anodizing) to create the original Private Label marker, complete with never-before-seen technological upgrades and modifications that would not hit production markers until literally years later. PTP was offering wild color schemes when markers came in "black" or "gray", before major companies even offered the standard "Red, Blue, Black, Silver" lineup. They were also well ahead of the curve with MilSim upgrades for the Tippmann product line, offering military grade stocks/sites/for-ends years before the big MilSim sites started pushing plastic, almost a decade before Tippmann (and then BT) started offering factory packages.
Before you tear them a new one, look at what they've done. PTP has a few dozen "wins" on the books, less than a handful of "draws" (products that didn't take off), and only one real "loss"; the Micromag 2009. They have 6 generations of AMAZING Micromags that to this day sell for the same price as a brand new modern mid-range electro. They make mortars and landmines for the US Military now, and sighting systems for all manner of different firearms manufacturers. Paintball has been the last thing on their minds for about 8 years, and when they came back by the DEMAND of a few long time fans to create a marker that they knew they wouldn't make dime one on, they did, and it was not a success. Be that as it may, they still created some of the greatest paintball products ever made and that should be acknowledged.
To bad this thread got hijacked. I would love to see a fully pneumatic walk-able production marker. For me that means a pneumatic force feed loader as well. No batteries at all.
Seems Tippmann would be the closest one with that technology? Cyclone feed, Crossover? Wasn't there a "Turbo" loader or something, too, that had an air line? There's always a mech-ion kit as well but not sure how much those can be tuned to make walkable.
there is a video of a autococker hair trigger that shows some of the internals and it looks like the way a pneumag is built
it sounds just as fast as this:
haha enjoy tha song at the end!
and here is a G-force frame that is on this guys Dallara hair trigger his name looks pretty familiar:
Last edited by need4reebs; 02-14-2013 at 03:20 PM.
Dug around and found the thread regarding PTP/DW and the patent stuff. Some of it is interesting. In the end its sad because its just sitting there not getting used. Sucks for us.
Wondering if this is why the Cheater ended up going away?
All I can say is "cooperate" in these situations usually does not mean "want to pay your dues", and I have a feeling DW did not want to pay their dues. You also have to consider that BOTH AGD and PTP were bowing out of the industry around '03-'04, generally for the same reason.
Tippmann paid a large one-time fee to use the Response Trigger kit they sell - this is because it bears incredible similarity to the Boston Paintball Reflex kit that predates it. Kingman pays a percentage for their anti-chop bolt, because it bears resemblance to the Boston Paintball JAM bolt that predates it. When someone invents something and patents it, and you come up with a similar idea later, you need to negotiate and you need to understand that you will be making money with property belonging to someone else. This doesn't make Boston Paintball evil, it just means they're not STUPID and don't want to let someone rob them.
That thread is all full of "big guy, little guy" talk and I can tell you that if you call PTP any day of the week you will get Forrest or Tracy, the husband and wife team who spent years letting people use their (patented) 2-piece barrel design, their (patented) half block autococker design, their (patented) double trigger 45 frame design. When it came to the big stuff their (patented) unibody Automag design, (patented) Emag design, their (patented) bolt-on feedneck design, or any other number of their patents, they chose to enforce and people producing markers and parts chose to pay the fee or pay the percentage that was owed to the original designer.
This is the only thing ANYONE should take away from that thread:
With all that ^^^ said, I still think it sucks that someone holds the patent on something and refuses to bring a product to market. My guess is the fee must be exceedingly high to keep someone from producing it. Guess we'll have to wait another 15 years or so before the patents go away before we can have a nice fully pnuematic marker.
I can say this with certainty; the product made it to the point where it was fully tested and ready to go into full production, but then someone at PTP realized it was 2005 (the year of the Ego) and that Automags and Autocockers were effectively a dead market. That's why PTP sells quite a bit of Tippmann MilSim gear, and people occasionally buy old stock of their old OOP product through the website, but their focus is elsewhere and they are not staffed or geared towards the production of paintball products. They were (in my eyes undisputably) the KINGS of Autocockers and Automags from 1991-???? and clearly one of if not the longest running custom shops, but their flagship marker designs finally died out and the sport moved in a new direction.
I must have missed the part where Nicad said he didnt feel he needed to pay anything. I breezed through the thread because most of it was filled with butthurt and idiocy. From the posts of his I remember, it seemed like he was willing to work with PTP to resolve the issue. Maybe I misread.
Wonder if GOG is paying royalties for the EnMy?
* Edit. Just to be clear, I am not bashing PTP in any way. I love my MM2K9 and the other MicroMags I have had along the way. Simply would like to see a nicely made fully pneumatic marker made.
If you look at some of Nicads posts (and I agree they are burried under stupidity), he says things like "well, so-and-so didn't have to pay royalties when he made the Nova, and this marker was pneumatically triggered too, and...". I don't doubt he wanted to work with ProTeam, but his idea of "working with them" clearly didn't meet Forrests expectations as the holder of the IP. PTP offered to sit down with anybody interested; at least two other companies felt it was a fair deal.
Funny I hear of so many issues with the MM2K9. Only issue I had was the first body I got had an ano flaw. I sent it back and had a replacement in a couple of weeks. Put the thing together and it ripped from the word "go". I still think something happened along the way. Seems like there are perfect ones and some with issues. With all the time it took I would venture a guess that something changed along the way to cause the issues.


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As you already know, Trey's birthday is next Sunday - November 28th! And now with the Kodak Pulse Frame, Angels have an opportunity to wish Trey a Happy Birthday by sending him a photo directly to his Pulse frame! Kodak makes it easy - the frame has it's own email address, so pictures sent to Trey's frame show up automatically! As you can imagine, not only is this a great way to share your photo with Trey, but it would also make a wonderful gift for friends, parents, or grandparents!
From now until Nov 27th - Angels can send Trey a birthday greeting! Angels, click HERE for the email address!
His frame will be on the tour bus with Trey and will display your photos as they come in!
Keep it clean please girls! Inappropriate photos will not be accepted.


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Over the next two years, Tulelake will be part of the Research and Education Cooperative Occultation Network (RECON), a citizen science research project exploring the outer solar system.
Over the next two years, Tulelake will be part of the Research and Education Cooperative Occultation Network (RECON), a citizen science research project exploring the outer solar system.
According to a recent press release, community members and students from Tulelake High School will help scientists study Kuiper belt objects (KBOs) – large, frozen bodies that orbit the sun beyond Neptune. Marc Buie of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colo., and Professor John Keller of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, will lead the project. The most famous KBO is the dwarf planet Pluto.
"Understanding KBOs will help us better understand the very first days of our solar system," Keller said. "These objects haven't been changed significantly for more than 4.5 billion years."
Using telescope and camera equipment provided by a grant from the National Science Foundation, the local community will participate in 10 coordinated observations over the next 18 months. At predicted times, the shadows of KBOs and asteroids that pass between Earth and a given star will briefly hide the star from view, an astronomical event called an occultation. However, the exact paths of the KBOs' shadows are unknown.
Observers in Tulelake and 12 other towns stretching south to Tonopah, Nev., will be watching during the occultations. Knowing the distance between towns that record the event will allow Buie and Keller to calculate the size of the KBOs.
"The only other tool we have for direct size measurements is to send a spacecraft on a visit. Our project can do nearly as well but with a vastly lower price tag," Buie said.
"All of the communities will be looking at the same star doing the same science at the same time," Keller said. "The project will be a team effort involving volunteers in multiple communities to collectively accomplish cutting-edge science that couldn't be done without them. The enthusiasm of local schools and citizen scientists has been tremendous."
Local participants will travel to Carson City, Nev. for training in April, and the observations will begin soon after. When not in use for the research project, the astronomical equipment will be available to schools and community groups.
Those interested in participating in the observations should contact Jeanie Smith.
For more information, visit tnorecon.net.


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Nice Beach- View Apartment in Copacabana for 1 - 3 persons (C073)
Size30 m²
Floor No.5(with elevator)
- Kitchen
- Air conditioning
- Elevator in building
- Family/child friendly
- Smoking allowed
- Internet/WiFi
- Towels
Accommodation summary
Our calenders and prices are always updated.
It is not necessary to verify the availiability and rates with us before sending your reservation request.
We do work with minimum rental periods for some events, like the Carnival, the New Years Eve and the World Cup. Please send us a message before making the reservation, if your request includes one of this events.
We administrate more than 150 vacation rental properties in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro.
You are welcome to visit our profile to visualise all our accommodations.
## WARNING: during carnival and new year's eve the minimum stay is 10 days. Be informed shorter stays will be NOT ACCEPTED. ##
Good located accommodation with 30m², divided in bed-, bathroom & kitchen.
Equiped with double bed, sofabed, plasma-tv, air conditioner & ceiling fan
Apartment with wireless highspeed-internet
Kitchen with refrigerator, stove and oven.
Located in the 5th floor of a safe building with 24h doorman, lateral view to the sea, 50 meters distance to the Copacabana beach.
For your safety and convenience, we offer a transfer by executive car, with a bilingual driver. If interested, please request more information by sending a message.
We hand over the apartment clean and in perfect condition, including bed and bath linen. Is also our responsibility to clean the property and to take care of bed and bath linen laundering when client leaves.
House rulesWe require a security deposit in cash in the amount of R$ 300 (BRL).
Extra cleaning: If the client wants an extra cleaning during his stay in the property, we just need to schedule according to availability of dates and times. For any extra cleaning will be done the exchange of bed and bath linen. Price: R$ 60 (BRL)
Reservation confirmation:
To validate your reservation, we require the following information:
Passport or ID number
Phone number
E-mail address
Check-in time & Flight number (for plane arrivals)
Checkout time
Names of occupants
Reservation / rental cancelation and changing of booking dates/times
Security deposit:
Beside the amount of the rental fee, there is a separate charge for security deposit on each property.
Office times:
Monday/Friday – 8am to 7pm
Saturday/Sunday/Holidays – 9am to 4pm
Out of our office times we have a employee and a 24h emergency number.
Check-in / Check Out:
Out of our office times, the customer must inform the Agency about the exact arrival time at the apartment, since our employee will meet the customer at the apartment.
Before check-in / after check-out, customers are permitted to leave luggage during regular office hours.
Check-in time is at 14h (2pm)
Check-out time is at 11h (11am)
If the customers would like to schedule a different time and the apartment is still available (Important: Please check availability and confirm before the reservation), the following fees are will be charged:
Before 6h => previous day room rate + R$ 50,00 service tax;
6h01 to 13h59 => earlier check in = 50% of room rate;
After 22h00 onwards => R$ 50,00 service tax late (late check-in);
Before 6h => R$ 50,00 service tax (early check out);
11h00 to 22h00 => 50% room rate price;
22h01 => 50% room rate price + R$ 50,00 service tax (late check- out) ;
If the customer doesn't leave the apartment until 30 minutes after the pre-established contract time, there will be a charge of R$ 50,00 (fifty reais), if the customer leaves before 11h00. After 11h00 there will be a charge of a room rate price.
Property Inspection
During the check-in and the check-out a company represent will come to the apartment in order to check it for any damages and return the security deposit to the customer. This process may take 15-30 minutes depending on the size of the apartment.
Use of the property
The rental purpose is exclusively for residential use. It is forbidden to rent the apartment to third persons. Any kind of commercial use is forbidden without previous written authorization by the agency.
Number of guests
It is forbidden to exceed the indicated number of person. Children under 1 year of age are not calculated. Please check the allowed number of persons before renting the apartment.
Building rules
The client is fully responsible for the property and all items in the property and building. The client and all apartment occupants and visitors must comply with the building regulations. Fines imposed by the building administration for infringing regulations must be paid immediately by the client and can cause premature termination of the rental contract without any refund. The agency is not responsible for death, loss, theft and damage of personal property.
Please verify before making a reservation, if the building accepts the entrance of visitors. Please advise us before making a reservation if visitors are requested and we will provide a suitable property.
Damages / Cleaning:
Any damage to the apartment inventory or cleaning defects must be reported immediately to the agency. If this does not happen within the first 12 hours after the check-in the agency has the right to charges the customer the damage amount.
If there will be any kind of damages or defects during the rental period, the customer has the obligation to report this to the agency immediately. We will try to resolve the problem as soon as possible. Without advising, we will not accept further reclamations.
It is important to know, that Brazil is a tropical country. In reason of that insects such as ants are unavoidable in some cases. The agency has no responsibility for any complaints in reason of insects.
Personal items:
The Agency is not responsible for any loss, theft or damage to personal items in or outside the property.
Pets are not allowed in our properties. In exceptional cases, upon prior written authorization by the Agency, the following terms are valid.
Just one pet is allowed. The customer assumes the whole responsibility for the complete cleaning and damages in the property. If the property is not completely cleaned before the check-out, a cleaning fee of R$ 250.00 will be charged.
The Agency has the right to increase the security deposit for these cases.
If the reserved property has an internet connection or cable TV, we assume no responsibility for connection problems and any resulting damages. This service is provided by telecommunication companies beyond our control: should there be any problems, there will be no refund of rental payments.
|Weekly rate for up to 4 guests
|Monthly rate for up to 4 guests
|Maximum nights
|3 months
|Check-in after
|Check-in before
|On arrangement
|Check-out before
|Cancellation Policy
Reviews of this property
The apartment was just how we imagined it.Heidleberg provided good and smooth service, can really recommend to the next guests!
Super value. Everything as described. Very nice staff. Recommended!
Super Preis-Leistung. Alles wie beschrieben. Sehr nette Mitarbeiter. Empfehlenswert!
In July 2012, I have over Heidelberg one of their apartments rented. Well organized, excellent service and ditto apartment. A must for the Rio de Janeiro goer ....
In juli 2012 heb ik via Heidelberg 1 van hun appartementen gehuurd. Prima geregeld, prima service en dito appartement. Een aanrader voor de Rio de Janeiro ganger....
Reviews for this host's other properties
Our group was extremely disappointed with our recent stay at this apartment during Rio Carnival, mostly due to the bad service from the agency.
Firstly they insist that you pay 100% up front, so when there were problems with the flat there was nothing we could do about it as they already had our money. Of the 3 bathrooms only 1 had working hot water, and it took them a full 4 days to send someone to come and fix it, who told us this was a known issue before we stayed! At the high rates we paid during carnival this is simply unacceptable. There was also a flooding incident in 1 of the bathrooms 1 evening which made us call the "client 24 hour emergency" number provided - only to be told that no plumber could be sent til the next day. What is the point of an emergency number if they can't respond to genuine emergencies?
Secondly they knew we had 9 people staying in the flat and told us that the sofa beds slept 2 people each however these were very small and as a result those staying there were very uncomfortable.
They then wanted to charge us for extra towels and linen for the guests staying on the sofa beds despite knowing from the beginning that we would have this many guests. There were also broken curtains in one of the bedrooms resulting in light flooding the room very early, which they also did not fix.
Next, they only provided us with 2 sets of keys amongst 9 people and it took a full 6 days (out of a 10 day stay) for them to come and drop off more keys, after multiple daily phone calls requesting they do so their answer was always "tomorrow".
For the price paid for this apartment there should have been cleaners sent in at least every 2 days however if you want cleaning this is considered an extra service and they charge you for this.
The apartment itself has a great location and lovely doorman but this is the only positive I have to say. I would never rent from this agency again - we felt ripped off. We feel that Wimdu as an intermediary should not release the money to the agency straight away to account for when there are multiple major issues such as we had, as there was then no leg to stand on to help us get any kind of refund.
I can recommend using Heidelberg Agency for your stay in Rio de Janeiro. Great location, fast responce.
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By Katina Caraganis
TOWNSEND -- The North Middlesex Regional School Committee finance subcommittee authorized Superintendent of Schools Joan Landers to find ways to cut even more from the fiscal 2014 operating budget so that Pepperell's contribution does not exceed $472,000.
Pepperell has been paying below its target share for years and, in a formula used by the state to determine how much each town in a regional school district pays to fund its portion of the budget, Pepperell's share went up sharply.
Members of the finance subcommittee went into the budgeting season promising that the budget would not require any of the district's member towns to have to pass a Proposition 2 1/2 override to fund its portion of the budget.
The subcommittee voted 3-0 to support the motion, made by member Arnie Silva, to work with Pepperell officials to keep the town's costs low enough to afford the budget.
"I'm not taking this recommendation lightly," said Silva, who participated in Monday night's meeting by phone. "We have to do what we can do make sure nobody is going for an override because of this process."
The district successfully passed a Proposition 2 1/2 override last year to fund its budget.
In order to fulfill the committee's mandate, Landers must give the subcommittee options to cut a total of $372,000 from the budget, as proposed. If she cannot cut the total amount, Silva said he would support balancing the budget with money from the district's reserve account.
Through such a measure, Ashby and Townsend, whose local contribution went down, will not be asked to pay more for their respective shares.
Committee member Susan Robbins agreed with Silva's proposal, saying, "Pepperell is in a very difficult position, and I don't want to add to that."
Landers said she would do what she could between the conclusion of Monday's meeting and Thursday night's full School Committee meeting.
During Monday's meeting, Landers presented to the subcommittee what the budget for the next fiscal year would look like if it only increased by 1.5 percent. It included eliminating one high-school administrator, one information-technology staff position, reducing contract services, and reducing out-of-district placements, primarily because many students have aged out of the system.
She is also proposing adding 2.5 special-education paraprofessionals at the elementary school, an English Language Learner tutor at an elementary school and two middle-school math teachers, and changing one tutor to a full-time teacher.
Also, she's proposing adding one social worker in the district, as well as a part-time occupational therapist and a part-time speech/language pathologist.
Program needs for the next fiscal year, Landers said, including one special-education teacher at North Middlesex Regional High School and one paraprofessional, and adding two positions to a program for 18-to-22-year-olds.
By doing that, she said, she's saving the district nearly $200,000 in out-of-district placements for those students.
Nonstaff needs that Landers would like to see funded include enhanced Internet services, replacing rooftop units at Hawthorne Brook Middle School and Varnum Brook Elementary School, implementing a sports-uniform replacement program, and funding the PSATs for the sophomore class.
"I'm not advocating cutting out total programs for students that would not be in the best interest of the students," Landers said during Monday's meeting. "With direction from the committee, I would have to make some difficult decisions. I will be trying to make sure it's not affecting kids in the classroom."
Landers will present the options she has come up with to cut Thursday night, and then will prepare the final budget to be presented at a public hearing later this month.
Follow Katina Caraganis on Twitter @kcaraganis.


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By Sarah Mahoney
For Nancy Richmond, Sunday dinners are something to treasure. While her family sits down to eat together in the dining room practically every night (with candles and tablecloths no less), these meals are special. "My husband cooks the same kind of wonderful meals he makes all week long, but it's different. We're all more relaxed," says Richmond. "Sunday night is the evening we're most likely to invite company and the night my kids invite their friends."
Mealtime traditions -- whether it's Sunday supper, Saturday morning bagels or Tuesday night pizza -- are more than just good food and fun times. They are the glue that holds families together. "These traditions are the things that make us feel we belong somewhere and that we're special -- that our family is different from other families," says Barbara H. Fiese, Ph.D., director of the Family Resiliency Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a researcher in the way routines knit families together.
It isn't easy to pull off a family dinner every night of the week, which is why designating one day for a special meal is so important. "The average meal gets eaten in anywhere from 18 to 20 minutes," says Fiese. "The average kid watches four to six hours of TV a day. There's room in there somewhere. Just turn off cell phones, computers and the TV and sit down together."
Here's how to keep everyone at the table…and happy to be there:
Tweak your tradition… Sooner or later, most kids will groan and snort at the idea of spending any more time at the table than they have to. "As kids grow up, expect plenty of eye-rolling but don't give up," says Fiese. "Teens may act like they want you to drop the routines entirely, but they don't." Ask if they'd like to try a little cooking instead of always getting stuck with the dishes, for example. For Richmond, allowing kids to invite friends has made a huge difference: "Sometimes we get 10 kids here -- there's always something we can fix in the kitchen to feed them."
…Or borrow someone else's For anyone who grew up in a traditional Italian home, the scent of slow-simmering sauce (known as gravy, to some) is a cherished memory. Many Southerners feel the same way about chicken-after-church dinners. If you love your Sunday dinner tradition, but are tired of your traditional Sunday food, take a page from someone else's cookbook. Vary the menu on your typical Sunday meals and see what happens.
Make It Extra SpecialTere Estorino and her 3-year-old son, Max, live seven houses away from her parents, so they share many meals together. But her favorite occasion is the monthly brunch her parents host, when her siblings and their kids all converge for an hours-long Sunday brunch -- Cuban style. "I love that my son is getting to know his aunts, uncles and cousins this way. I know it's good for Max, but it's also good for me," says the 31-year-old Miami mom. "I so look forward to a Sunday spent talking and laughing with my family. I need that connection, too."
Sarah Mahoney is a contributing editor at Parents and Prevention magazines. Her work also appears regularly in Family Circle and Good Housekeeping.
Copyright (c) 2010 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.


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to make sure that there isn't anything scandalous online about you that could possibly hinder you from getting a job?
well not too long ago my firm was looking to hire a new public relations team member, and as the interviews were carrying on we found a specific gentleman that was our favorite.
he was good looking, had a great personality, and excellent experience.
we were in the process of bringing him in for a second interview when we did the good 'ol google and facebook search.
what we found on his PUBLIC facebook profile caused us to not only NOT bring him in for a second interview but to simply wonder how the hell a college educated, knowledgeable, public relations candidate was stupid enough to have the following be his facebook "about me".
i couldn't make this up if i tried - you need to read the whole thing...
About Me:
I am awesome. I run shit. I had relations with your girlfriend, and yes I got it on tape. I scoff at those less fortunate than me (read: everyone else). I tend to laugh at the handicapped as well as foreigners. I am a firm believer that women are without a doubt the weaker sex. I know more than you. I am a ridiculously huge deal. I'm utterly gorgeous, you (most likely as a result of terrible genes or an unfortunate run-in with the business-end of a shovel) are not. I make fun of ugly people, because they are ugly and they deserve it. My social life is clearly something that you will never experience because you are ugly, unpopular, or a severe combination of the two. I throw shit onto my neighbor's porch because I am better than them and they can't do shit about it. My friends are also better than you and they will let you know it. I break other people's stuff. I do whatever I want without any regard for the repercussions. I intentionally ruin the environment via littering, not recycling, and other harmful action. I am an asshole.
wow. right?
the obvious lesson to be learned here is, what you do and say online can and will cost you employment.
but hey, at least i'm hoping this specific situation caused you all to laugh at his stupidity.
happy friday kids!
[editor's note: in regard to some of the comments - i obviously have a sense of humor, i also obviously can tell sarcasm when i see/hear it, and of course we all took this "about me" with a grain of salt. but in this current economic climate, when you have 100 qualified candidates all fighting for a position, having something like the above tied to your name and public facebook profile is a quick way to be taken out of the candidate pool, sarcasm or not... ]


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DURHAM, N.C. – The 13th-ranked Blue Devils utilized 12 penalty corner opportunities and dominated time of possession to dispatch Longwood 3-1 Sunday, Sept. 29 at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium. The win comes on the heels of a thrilling 3-2 overtime shootout upset of top-ranked North Carolina Friday evening in Chapel Hill, completing a 2-0 weekend for Duke.
For the contest, the Blue Devils outshot Longwood 27-7 and held a 12-2 advantage in penalty corners. The victory moved the squad to 8-2 overall (1-0 ACC) while the Lancers fell to 3-7.
After earning its first penalty corner less than three minutes into the match, Duke struggled to find rhythm offensively until junior forward Jessica Buttinger put back a rebound off a penalty corner hit. The goal in the 21st minute marked Buttinger's fourth of the season and gave Duke a 1-0 advantage heading into the locker room at halftime.
The Lancers tallied an equalizer early in the second period on an unassisted goal by Jessica Diaz. However, the Blue Devils locked down defensively after the score, with the team's midfielders and defenders cutting off a number of looks by Longwood. Senior Brenna Rescigno reclaimed the lead for Duke in the 54th minute, converting on a penalty corner opportunity with assists from senior Emmie Le Marchand and junior Abby Beltrani.
Le Marchand tacked on a successful penalty stroke with 9:19 left on the clock to seal the 3-1 victory. The goal was the second of the weekend for the forward from Worchester, England, as Le Marchand tied the score with just over a minute remaining in regulation Friday night against the Tar Heels.
Coming off of a 22-save performance in the win over North Carolina, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Blazing notched four saves against seven Longwood shots Sunday. The Lancers' Kaye Goulding made 15 stops in the loss, while teammates Stacey de Grandhomme and Caitlin Smith provided defensive saves.
The Blue Devils continue their homestand next weekend, hosting California Friday, Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. and ACC opponent Wake Forest Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. Both contests will be streamed live on GoDuke.com Inside Access.


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The basic premise of the GA Drop Off Location is that a local FFL Dealer handles the transfer of the gun
for you. That way the gun is legally out of your hands, into his "bound book", and out from him to another FFL dealer
in the buyer´s state. So you, as the true seller of the gun, have established a clear paper trail for the gun that you
need not ever maintain (even if an FFL dealer gives up his license his bound book is turned into the ATF). This is the
simplest approach because nothing changes with your interaction with GunsAmerica and the buyer. You get to describe
the gun, decide who it is sold to and how much it is sold for. And if the gun doesn´t sell there is no
transfer of the gun back to you. You also pay a simple up front fee, not a commission on the sale itself.
Many of our GA Drop Off Location dealers will take the gun in on consignment for you and handle the sale
completely. The gun may be sold in their store, on their website or through an ad at GunsAmerica. Those terms you work
out with them and the fees for the sale are stated in advance. You also must take into account that the gun might not
sell and may have to be transferred back to you. The dealer himself may want to buy the gun outright as well, so your
options are varied from dealer to dealer.


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Mr. Peabody, the most accomplished dog in the world, and his mischievous boy Sherman, use their time machine - The WABAC - to go on the most outrageous adventures known to man or dog. But when Sherman takes The WABAC out for a joyride to impress his friend Penny, they accidentally rip a hole in the universe, wreaking havoc on the most...
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Mr. Peabody, the most accomplished dog in the world, and his mischievous boy Sherman, use their time machine - The WABAC - to go on the most outrageous adventures known to man or dog. But when Sherman takes The WABAC out for a joyride to impress his friend Penny, they accidentally rip a hole in the universe, wreaking havoc on the most important events in world history. Before they forever alter the past, present and future, Mr. Peabody must come to their rescue, ultimately facing the most daunting challenge of any era: figuring out how to be a parent. Together, the time traveling trio will make their mark on history.
Sorry, no cinemas are available within -1km of postal code 08755 that are playing the movie "Mr. Peabody & Sherman" on Monday, 25 June.Please try:- extending your search range, or - entering a new postal code, or- choosing another date.If after trying different options and your movie still does not appear with showtimes, your movie may not be playing nearby for the options you chose.
For the bulk of every Rocky and Bullwinkle episode, moose and squirrel would engage in high concept escapades that satirized geopolitics, contemporary cinema, and the very fabrics of the human condition. With all of that to work with, there's no excuse for why the pair and their Soviet nemeses haven't gotten a decent movie adaptation. But the ingenious Mr. Peabody and his faithful boy Sherman are another story, intercut between Rocky and Bullwinkle segments to teach kids brief history lessons and toss in a nearly lethal dose of puns. Their stories and relationship were much simpler, which means that bringing their shtick to the big screen would entail a lot more invention - always risky when you're dealing with precious material.
For the most part, Mr. Peabody & Sherman handles the regeneration of its heroes aptly, allowing for emotionally substance in their unique father-son relationship and all the difficulties inherent therein. The story is no subtle metaphor for the difficulties surrounding gay adoption, with society decreeing that a dog, no matter how hyper-intelligent, cannot be a suitable father. The central plot has Peabody hosting a party for a disapproving child services agent and the parents of a young girl with whom 7-year-old Sherman had a schoolyard spat, all in order to prove himself a suitable dad. Of course, the WABAC comes into play when the tots take it for a spin, forcing Peabody to rush to their rescue.
Getting down to personals, we also see the left brain-heavy Peabody struggle with being father Sherman deserves. The bulk of the emotional marks are hit as we learn just how much Peabody cares for Sherman, and just how hard it has been to accept that his only family is growing up and changing.
But more successful than the new is the film's handling of the old - the material that Peabody and Sherman purists will adore. They travel back in time via the WABAC Machine to Ancient Egypt, the Renaissance, and the Trojan War, and 18th Century France, explaining the cultural backdrop and historical significance of the settings and characters they happen upon, all with that irreverent (but no longer racist) flare that the old cartoons enjoyed. And oh... the puns.
Mr. Peabody & Sherman is a f**king treasure trove of some of the most amazingly bad puns in recent cinema. This effort alone will leave you in awe.
The film does unravel in its final act, bringing the science-fiction of time travel a little too close to the forefront and dropping the ball on a good deal of its emotional groundwork. What seemed to be substantial building blocks do not pay off in the way we might, as scholars of animated family cinema, have anticipated, leaving the movie with an unfinished feeling.
But all in all, it's a bright, compassionate, reasonably educational, and occasionally funny if not altogether worthy tribute to an old favorite. And since we don't have our own WABAC machine to return to a time of regularly scheduled Peabody and Sherman cartoons, this will do okay for now.
If nothing else, it's worth your time for the puns.
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