Belief or Knowledge

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!"
Upton Sinclair.
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts. 
Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
Since the dawn of civilization philosophers have been struggling with the question "What is knowledge, how do we know?" Sensory perceptions? Cogito erg sum? Works of the sages? Divine revelation? 
Epistemology is a branch of philosophy that seeks to answer this as a "theory of knowledge".
What it all comes down to is that everyones bullshit meter needs constant recalibrating. ASTM Committee F-104 on Bullshit and Irrationality has a protocol for a standard bullshit sample to be placed on a Google search for 'quick money' and the acceptable level for the meter to react in Alarm Mode. A test result of anything over one part per billion needs to have the "?" valve replaced. 
"They say.. everyone knows that... I heard it.. this book.. on TV the ad... well known experts... Rush said on the radio..." Have your meter checked regularly!!

Matthew 25:40

Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. KJV
The recent dustup in Arizona had me reaching for the exact wording and citation for the parable of the goats and sheep. Of course it was a Google search and I found a strange thing. This verse is given an opposite reading in most of the new translations. Here is the NIV.
The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.
Notice that the first reading in KJV "..done it unto one". Second reading in NIV "..did for one".
The first is 'unto me' and the second is 'for me'. The first is read as negative, the second as positive. 
If you have tuned a blind eye to oppression, poverty and all the ills of this world, you have turned a blind eye to me. This is a true reading of the verse. You are expected, as a follower of his word, as a matter of course to help the lame and the sick! This is the default position for all human behavior. The approbation is against the Levite and the Kohen and for the Samaritan.
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8

The Periodic Table of Irrational Nonsense

At last we have a precise way to measure irrationality. Go back to your Organic Chemistry textbook and make fun new compounds and solutions. Mix 2 parts Pareidola with 3 parts Xenoglossy and get the face of The Virgin on a German dictionary! And you now can magically speak a new language with Art Appreciation thrown in. Have fun!!

The Secret and The Power

On the heels of my video post on Facebook comes news in NYT that Rhonda Byrne, the author of The Secret, has a new book on offer on August 17th called The Power. 
According to her publisher Atria, the new work will "..show how perfect health, incredible relationships, ... and the money you need to be, do and have everything you want, all come from the power." 
Her previous book has to date sold 19 million copies. Now... evidently The Secret didn't reveal all. There is more to learn and you will have to purchase her new work to find out.
Yeah, The Power alright! The power to get another 19 million suckers to lay down $24.95 so she can "have everything" she wants and needs. 
But I suppose that it won't be another 19 million. The original 19 million will do just fine, thank you! 

LeBron James and Hella

The interest in this event was so wacked that my head is ringing.
Recently the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures was petitioned to give acceptance to a new name for a mathematical unit, 10 to the 27th. The proposed name is hella.
Well, I could give a hella of a rats ass as to anything to do with the NBA. 

Health and Wealth; All You Need Is To Think It

Watch Out! This is going to veer towards the rant side of the road.

Here in Atlanta GA we have every stripe of religious denomination known to man. Every permutation of Baptist (Primitive, Old Regular, Original Free, Reformed, Separate etc.) is represented in our great state. And that's just the Baptists. 

According to Oxford Dictionary of World Religions; John Bowker ed. OUP, 1997 there are 4,000 permutations of Protestant doctrine organized today. Notice the word organized. This doesn't account for the storefronts that are one offs. I was aware of the huge diversity of practice around the world and prided myself on keeping up! Then, just when I wasn't watching, a new line has been formed. 

The "Health and Wealth Church" This church can belong to anyone of the myriad doctrines, but the main message is simple. Just tell Jesus you want it and he will give it. Couldn't be any easier than that.

 "I am a good person and I'm trying real hard! Why shouldn't I, a righteous man enjoy the fruits of this bounty? Please Jesus, send your Love my way!!"

One other important part. To make sure you are really sincere in this request you must tithe to the church. That way Jesus will be sure to make it happen.

Now, this is just the religious department of this school. There are other wings of this university.

Positive Thinking. Rub a crystal. Point your sofa towards NNE of Tibet. Read a special quote everyday. All of these practices will make you successful and admired over the backyard fence. 

Education? Overrated. Talent? Just try really, really hard. Genius? You know where those hacks end up. Craftsmanship? But, I tried hard to make the two pieces line up.

Wishin' and Hopin' is the title of a song that Dusty Springfield sang. It's not a way to live.

Exciting!!

If you didn't think Uruguay vs Ghana was exciting, you need to check your meds!!! Hand ball at final time and they still win!! This game will drive you nuts.