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Paul's Journal

paul
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01/29/2006 13:51 #32471

Religion and Science
Category: religion
Basically, I am saying that belief in God is not totally harmless for everyone or the advancement of science unless believers do nothing to act on their beliefs when they conflict with science.

Religion is not a hindrance to advancing as a people scientifically, intellectually, or otherwise. To state otherwise is patently false and ignores the totality of human existence. [inlink]jason,298[/inlink] --jason



Jason, don't know about patently false, that sounds like a bit of an exaggeration in country where we have been fighting to teach evolution [inlink]paul,3438[/inlink] in school for a century and where people are dying of all sort of diseases that can be cured or alleviated by advancements associated with stem cell research.

I think you could say, "Believing in religion, without acting upon it, is not a hindrance to advancing as a people scientifically, intellectually, or otherwise. " But who believs in religion without acting upon it. And if they do, do they really believe?

I would like to use this example speech at whitehouse.gov by the President George Bush in regard to Stem Cell research as an example of when religious influence hinders science.

I've asked those questions and others of scientists, scholars, bioethicists, religious leaders, doctors, researchers, members of Congress, my Cabinet, and my friends. I have read heartfelt letters from many Americans. I have given this issue a great deal of thought, prayer and considerable reflection. And I have found widespread disagreement . . . Thank you for listening. Good night, and God bless America. --GW Bush



I don't want the social and legal policy I am subjected to based on my ultimate executive's prayer power in any way.

Surely, we can develop other methods of getting stem cells in the future so that we can avoid having to use embryonic ones. But the embryonic stem cell method exists here now and many people could be helped by the research that will be dead by the time we catch up with other methods. Furthermore, I am terrified of other countries having access to this technology before we do. Especially China.

Saying "I believeeeee in God" has never hindered me in any way, and it never will. -jason



That is fine for you because you are the one believing but what about the people whose lives affected by the social and legal policy agenda set forth by the believers. Belief in God is not safe in a free society where the people with the belief are also able to make social and legal policy based on those beliefs, for people that do not believe in the same God or do not believe in God at all. And if the people making policy that believ in God do not let God's desires influence them, then do they really believ in God?

There isn't anyone alive who can say with any matter of truth or authority God is real or not.[inlink]jason,298[/inlink] --jason



I think this is precisely why many people are uncomfortable submitted to the desires of God's moral and ethic code.
jacob - 01/30/06 16:15
I agree with twisted. And ask a question. What moral base do you want our leaders to work from?

"Free society" requires respect for other beliefs otherwise we are reduced to self interested individuals and are working to eliminated the basic structures of "community".

You know I believe in God, but you have your beliefs as well. I feel community means I respect you and the imposition that your beliefs my cause me. If I feel too uncomfortable, there are vias to resolve it, even legal ways that could possibly effect the nation.

That's why I appreciate this post because the one thing that insures my and your freedom is: open discussion.

P.S. If you feel so strongly about stem cell research I think you could really help to make it legal. How about that for a belief?
twisted - 01/29/06 20:27
"Belief in God is not safe in a free society where the people with the belief are also able to make social and legal policy based on those beliefs, for people that do not believe in the same God or do not believe in God at all."

Correct me if I'm reading you wrong, but wouldn't that make JFK, RFK, MLK, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, etc all dangerous leaders? Are you saying only people who don't believe in any god should be allowed to make legal policy? That's a pretty big leap from the freedom of religion and belief guaranteed by the Constitution. I think your concern is addressed in the separation of church and state part. Of course, that brings up another problem - the same one that plagues both legislation and religion. Intrinsically self-evident, moral codes are only as effective as the fallible human beings interpreting them. But that's all we got. You can argue a human with your exact profile will "interpret" better than another. But everyone else feels the same way.

So maybe you should run for public office? I might even vote for you.

p.s. - I think there are a lot of things fucked up about this country. But in my opinion, the basic tenets are still be best out there. I'm sad so many people abuse/twist them. But that doesn't make them wrong. Same thing goes for religion, in my book.
jason - 01/29/06 14:50
Thanks for the fair post, Paul.

01/28/2006 17:19 #32470

Dancing Tonight in Rochester
Category: dancing
So I have this lingering love for (WIKIPEDIA - Happy Hardcore) Happy Hardcore music. You can hear it here It is the music I program to most. Well tonight n Rochester there is a happy hardcore night at a bar there and it is 21+. Most often these events are fully of youngins but the fact that it's 21+ makes me want to go and dance it up. Plus it's somehow related to the murder mystery game clue.

Too bad none of my friends like to dance anymore. Well (e:lilho) does but she is in NYC.

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--update - This was the worst event I ever attended. It was at a bar the size of merlins with a 4 x4 dancefloor that had also had the turntables on it. However, they did give out free shots for Oprahs birthday.
theecarey - 01/28/06 19:18
omg , I want to go. I should go.. I shouldnt go.. ahhhh grad school projects.. I should behave and stay in.. I should just go out..

why tonight.. this is so my type of gig to go to.

I am staying in. I think.. if not, I am sure to find you.

Otherwise, have fun..
jenks - 01/28/06 17:33
omg I would SO totally go.... but i'm working. :(
ladycroft - 01/28/06 17:23
I love to dance!

01/27/2006 23:42 #32469

The Student Addiction
Category: school
I was thinking about (e:decoyisryan)'s journal [inlink]decoyisryan,1[/inlink] where he mentioned that he went to school for Public Communication but doesn't have a lot of experience. It kind of sounds like my brother (e:mike) who is also working retail in his post degree period. In order to take the next step you really need to just go ahead and do it.

For a long time I was addicted to school. I think it was because I was convinced that working was not interesting, judging by the ridiculous jobs I had in the past. I went so far as thinking that I wanted to be a professor.

Eventually, I decided that if I couldn't have the job doing what I liked, that I would just pretend I did and dedicate my life to a project I could prove myself with. What a good idea that was. At some point it developed in this site. So ya, it and other related projects took up a lot of my personal time but honestly, it was worth every minute as I advanced my skillset a 1000% more than I ever did in school. Then I found the job I have now which made it all worth it.

I would say, take on a couple resume builders in whatever it is you like to do. If you get good at what you do, you eventually will start to be knownfor it and make a place for yourself.

Speaking of which, (e:decoyisryan), if you ever want to do some Public Communication stuff for this site I would be happy to get some help. What kid of stuff do you do?

So today, I did so many things at work. I got much further on my discussion application, I receieved and installed Visual Studio.NET and built a Pocket PC Phone app(lame one), rebuilt a flash movie for the Roswell Site, and built the splash page for the new wirless network coming to Roswell in conjunction with Verizon. I really do love SQLite. I think I am swearing off MSSQL for now. Although, its not very hard to switch back and forth.

Here is the verizon splash screen after I redeigned it a little bit.
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Here it was originally.
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For dinner we tried to go to Jimmy Macs. Although, not even though not one table was filled they told us it would take 15 minutes. As we were not in the mood to wait, even for the yummy bacon Cheese Burger [inlink]paul,3944[/inlink], we went to Saharagrill. I am a big fan of fatoosh. I guess (e:terry) and (e:lilho) do to , judging by the size of their trough sized fatoosh bowl.

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jason - 01/28/06 17:32
Lilho is still astonishingly beautiful!
decoyisryan - 01/28/06 03:01
I am seeing that the plunge is probably the best bet. Just leave retail and take the next job offer that comes my way. I've had job offers since graduating but I don't want to get stuck in sales.

Being that I was also addicted to school, I find myself wanting to go back all the time. So there's the question. Find a job or go back and learn more.

01/27/2006 02:44 #32468

Jackets at Target
Category: clothes
I went to target to buy some gym clothes for going to the gym with (e:terry). We are going to join the BAC I think. At least that is the tentative plan.

I wish they had these jackets during my Raver days. I think (e:hodownand) I would have probably killed for them. Remember you mint green full body adidas work out suit (e:hodown).

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I am not going to be as skinny anymore. In fact I went up a pant size and now I am going to start going to the gym. This is where I am at now.

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I wish I could just get it implanted in my eye.

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Here is the same pic with the flash on and moving the camera really fast.
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jessika - 01/27/06 16:51
you should join the BAC - its awesome. then we can take belly dancing classes together.
jason - 01/27/06 14:52
Shave that chest, buddy! Lol, only playin.
alicia - 01/27/06 11:19
work it boyeeeeeeee!!!!

01/26/2006 20:32 #32467

Allen to Franklin To Linwood
Category: walking
I got some pics from my walk home with some additional funny ones from training. I was the first one at training this morning. I got to use a fire extinguisher. That part was fun. The fireman that taught about it was one like kind you would find in a fireman porn, not that I have ever seen a fireman porn. I am just guessing.

So check out these questions. We were supposed to listen to the entire presentation before filling them out. But they were so obvious. What made it even more ridiculous is that we were allowed to share answers. I guess with a test that easy it doesn't matter. Surprising, I did catch someone eyeing my test out the corner of ther reye like they thought they were cheating.

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I learned that Roswell employs 2500 people and is the "best place to work in western, New York." It was founded by Dr. Roswell Park in 1898. I also had time to get a Torrent client for my phone and download some music.

I like walking home down Allen and then down Franklin to Linwood. It takes about 15 minutes.

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I want to buy this house so bad. I just wish they would put it up for sale. I would buy it in a second.

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What was this place on Franklin right after Allen heading toward north? It is on the right side. It used to have an awning, as though it was a bar or something.

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Careful Crossing
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twisted - 01/26/06 21:54
I can't believe how crazy those questions are.

I filled out a job app where two of the questions were:

How many full-time jobs have you had in the past 3 years?
1 or Fewer
2-3
4-5
6 or More

How many part-time jobs have you had in the past 3 years?
1 or Fewer
2-3
4-5
6 or More

I think they were assuming fewer job swtiches was better. But did they ever consider that 0 jobs = 1 or Fewer?