Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

Saw the Intelligent Design vs. Evolution film Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed and as I was leaving I asked another patron of the theater (unknown to me) what he thought of the film. His words were, "I thought it was brilliant."

I thought of the line in Ecclesiastes, "There is nothing new under the sun."

Ben Stein travels and interviews people from both sides of the theory aisle (evolution versus intelligent design) simply asking questions that show both sides have questions and many of their answers are couched in terms like "maybe" and "if".

Basically the film shows that the evolution crowd has pushed the ID'ers out of the classrooms and laboratories blackballing them from scientific research and research grants. Some evolutionists are sitting around wearing earmuffs and blinders and this while they are still forced to say "maybe" and "if" when questioned about the origins of life...

I saw it as showing the power struggle for control of the cash. - But then I'm a cynic.

Did a bit of running around the net before posting this and I came up with a couple spots that are worth viewing.

Six Things in Expelled That Ben Stein Doesn't Want You to Know... is a Scientific American article by John Rennie and Steve Mirsky which says in it's opening paragraph,

"In the film Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, narrator Ben Stein poses as a "rebel" willing to stand up to the scientific establishment in defense of freedom and honest, open discussion of controversial ideas like intelligent design (ID). But Expelled has some problems of its own with honest, open presentations of the facts about evolution, ID—and with its own agenda."

- It does raise some good points but on the other hand lines like this in the article, "Thousands of other biologists across the U.S. who all know evolution to be true are also still religious." makes me wonder when they threw out the word "theory" when talking of evolution. Tsk, tsk. And this from a scientific journal.

I like this one:

Welcome to Expelled Exposed, a detailed look at the Ben Stein movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. We'll show you why this movie is not a documentary at all, but anti-science propaganda aimed at creating the appearance of controversy where there is none.

Excuse me? There is no controversy? Oh! OK! I'll just go back to sleep...

The film shows that there is a controversy and that in the end the origins of life cannot be explained to the opposing layman's or scientist's satisfaction by either side. Ultimately the question is, should both sides be presented in public schools at taxpayers expense? Or should the views of one side be squashed and tossed into the outer darkness.

The Intelligence Design side is not looking to expel the Evolutionist's from the schools, They want both sides taught, yet the Evolutionists have expelled the ID'ers. Free debate is the issue and the film shows if taken to it's ultimate conclusion scientists would find themselves having to form a hypothesis after the world view of evolutionists as opposed to facts seen through a microscope.

What cracked me up in the film is seing scientists saying perhaps life started on Earth (Gaia) by aliens from other planets seeding it or that life started off on the backs of crystals. - Of course this makes much more sense than thinking that God IS and that He created, designed life and used materials common to all life to create different forms, species etc.

Oh! I forgot. There is no controversy. I forgot I was on my way to take a nap...

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Clinging to Religion

Barack Hussein Obama, Jr's statement was:

"it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

I sort of have a problem with this statement. That is because it is a general statement that has no qualifying words to modify it to make it true. The word 'some' thrown in would have cut the fuse of the bomb it has become for Barack. Do we need a president that makes errors as simple as this?

Laying that aside I'd like to address the words (taken out of context) "they cling to ... religion..."

The way it was stated Barack makes it sound like a bad thing to want to cling to religion. Of course we do need to define religion and can have no way of knowing Barack's definition. There is more than one way to look at religion. One comparison could be either man bringing God (or gods) down to his level or God bringing man up to His. - I prefer the second.

Man can stretch his arms to drag God down and it will be to no avail. God has stretched His Arm down and given man the gift of his Son. As a gift Jesus now only needs to be received or rejected just as a child might do between a toy or a sweater.

As for me I'll 'cling' to my religion and I'll make no apologies for it. But then again, I'm a "Born Again" Christian not a "Social" Christian. Yes, good works, as Barack has been doing, are necessary but before that there needs to be a relationship with the Living God. With statements like the one Barack has made I question his relationship. Faith without works is dead but so is works without faith.

Slamming his brothers and sisters in the Lord is not a good way to generate votes.

But he never did have mine...

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Acres of Books in Long Beach to Sell and Move

Looks like it is 'near' official - Acres of Books, a longtime hangout of bookaholics is searching for new digs. 240 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach California will be turned over to redevelopers (the City of Long Beach Redevelopment Agency is brokering the deal) for "commercial space, housing and an art center where local works can be displayed and art-related events can be hosted".

2.8 million is the reported purchase price of the property which was owned by the store as opposed to their renting.

Evidently to the city a book store is not suitable for 'commercial space'. - Nor are books to be considered art...

"We are not planning on absolutely closing down," said Smith, co-owner of Acres of Books along with her husband Phil. "We are looking for a new location."

Their website posted:

Dear Customers and Friends of Acres of Books,

Jackie and I have negotiated the sale of our property, building and land at 240 Long Beach Blvd. Acres of Books has been there since my grandfather, Bertrand Smith, moved there in 1964. We still own the book store business, Acres of Books.

We had no choice but to deal with the City of Long Beach, Redevelopment Agency. Craig Beck and Carl Morgan, whom we worked very closely with, treated us in a business like manner, and helped to get us thru some very important issues.

The City is going to let us stay in their building one more year. This will give us a chance to have a couple of stock reduction sales, while we continue to look for a place to buy. We will not be able to have as much stock in a new building, even if we find one as big as we have now. The aisles will have to be twice as wide and not near as high. Oh well.

So, please continue to visit us, just to look around and hopefully find something you have been looking for, at a fair price. As my grandfather, Bertrand, (Pop, as we called him) said when a customer found an under priced gem, “I made my money at that price, that’s enough.”

Let us know your name and address, and we will let you know when we have a sale, and you can save a lot of money.

Come in and say hello to Jackie, Ron, Aaron, Steve, Amber, Mary, David, Sean, Megan, Cheyenne and Chloe. Don’t forget to give Penny, the bookstore cat a pat and rub, or a hug.

Thank you so much, and we hope to see you soon,
Phil and Jackie Smith

The deal is not quite final. The RDA will take up the 'issue' for 'approval with the RDA Board' April 21, 08.

Gazette.com reports,

At a recent downtown neighborhoods meeting, Mayor Bob Foster and City Manager Pat West were implored to save Acres of Books.

But the purchase of the Acres of Books site, and the block that surrounds it, is designed to clear the way for another project that has long been sought in the downtown - and "art exchange."

"We’re trying to create an art-themed building," Beck said. "We've talked with the community about an art exchange where artists could live and have galleries to sell their work, where there would be a residential component. We have talked to (California State University, Long Beach) about maybe doing some art student housing."

The goal of all of that would be to have a building that links the core of downtown with the East Village, Beck said.

He said that the RDA offered to have Acres of Books be a part of that, but Smith said that was not going to be a good fit. She said it was an emotional decision to move on.

Student Housing??? - Well with the students they are turning out these days they should have negotiated keeping the picture books...

The City of Long Beach, California might have utilized the term, 'Eminent Domain' in their negotiations with owners Phil and Jackie Smith or they might not have. I didn't see the words used in the news articles but I did see the methods cities have cultivated through the years to 'purchase' properties for 'pet projects'.

prying1 sez:
'Pet projects' cost taxpayers dollars they can't afford and give only limited returns.

Where is the Supreme Court on the issue of cities taking property against property owners wishes?

Probably taking a nap...

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What Would Jesus Do?

Recent brouhaha caused by the Barak Hussein Obama/Rev Wright comradeship has me wondering why it the broohaha recent? - Only because the MSM has not been doing their job concerning him.

20 years Barak has been going to the church and he is just now finding out how inflammatory his (now ex?) pastor is.

Gimme a break.

Non church goers might believe him but not people who regularly attend services. It's like a Muslum saying of his mosque, "I didn't know they spewed hate America and Jihadist teachings there. I just went to hear the music."

Once again we have a politician saying anything he thinks the people want to hear in order to be elected.

Fortunately fewer people are believing him.

What Would Jesus Do?

He'd come clean and fess up. He always did prefer the truth.

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Once Again! The Lost Poetry Corner

Listed a bunch of "Unknown and Lost Poets" this weekend. I really mean UNKNOWN!!! - Googled the names of both books and authors, separate and together with quotes, without quotes and most didn't even register.

They used a vanity press and did not know how to market themselves. The copies I got are all like new 'review copies' that were sent to Dion O'Donnol because he did promote poets and poetry through various means. Newsletters, clubs etc... - All published in 1980.

Even so, after 28 years of no promotions, being manufactured prior to the Internet explosion these names are virtually unknown. So if I expect to sell the books I better promote them. - To quote Ralph Kramden, 'And Away We Go'.

The following Lost Poem comes from "Poetry to Remember" by Sara Webb Keaton - Publisher: Dorrance and Company - 1980 (First Edition, not stated) - All I could find other than the copy I have listed at my book store is three copies stuck in the bowels of Higher Education Libraries. (Saw them through WorldCat)

A bunch of different subjects are poeticized in this book but I'm a slow typist and am only going to give you one. This is one I liked.

Margin of Profit

"I'll trade my dog for your wagon,"
Said Tommy to big Biff Lane.
"And I'll throw in my football too
And also my watch and chain."

"I'll trade." said Biff, "I like your dog.
Come! Flash, old boy, now you're mine."
Little Tommy smiled, he had a new ball,
and the watch didn't keep good time.

"Flash had always come back,"
Tommy mused as he happily rolled away.
"Gee! this was great, it was real fun,
He couldn't help it if Flash wouldn't stay."

He had traded before for this thing and that
And always came out ahead.
He was getting tired, it was time to go home,
But he must wait on Flash instead.

Morning came and still no dog.
Biff Lane must have him on a leash.
Now Flash was no longer his,
This had gone far beyond his wish.

With tear stained eyes he traded back
And paid extra a 'bit of cash'.
But never again did he speculate
Or trade off his good dog Flash.

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Self Promotion of Your Website

Trying to promote your website can be time consuming. I know because I haven't been working on it and my hits have dropped off. Part of that drop for this blog is my irregularity in posting. People come by for a week and see the same posting they stop coming by. Especially if your last posting was a poem on "The Hammer Throw".

Anyway. I was over at Bookshop Blog's Forum and posted the 'Self Promotion - Networking' thread the following piece. Rereading it before clicking 'post' I saw that this idea can be applied to websites and blogs other than just book sales.

Hope you can use this:

I listen to talk radio and on occasion call in. Only once have I had a chance to do it but ask the radio show host if you can promote/plug your website/bookstore over the air.

Don't just call in to plug away. Have a legitimate question or statement to make concerning the present topic being discussed on the show. Make sure it is legitimate because listeners can tell and you don't want them thinking you are just a self promoting jerk.

I find it best to make a couple notes with the show host's name, (don't want to mess that up!) any greeting the regular callers use, and your statement or question. - DON'T read off the paper into the telephone. It just doesn't work.

It also helps if the question or statement is semi-intelligent.

Weekends are a good time because they have shows of many topics and it is easier to get through when you call in. Find one that really interests YOU. You might find religious shows, computer shows, pet shows, cooking shows where you tie in your plug with some book titles you might have. You want to pick a show that interests you just in case the show host decides to engage you in conversation.

You might want to have a list handy of some 'tie in titles' just in case you get to talk books after the plug...

To make sure you don't get cut off before the plug and that you do get it in you can start the conversation with, "I've a question and if you don't mind I'd like to plug my website." (my business, my store, etc...) - Most show hosts will be gracious and let you do it.

- If you work it right the conversation might turn to books for a minute or so. You might want to have a list handy of some 'tie in titles' just in case you get to talk books after the plug... -

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The Hammer Throw Poetry by William Lindsey

From "The Little Book of Sports". Poetry compiled and edited by Wallace and Frances Rice. published by The Reilly & Britton Co, in 1910.

I offered to type this out in comments to my previous post on this book. Cary Cartter agreed to let me. Here it is...

We are the children of the strong god Thor
We hurl his hammer through the hollow sky;
No task is this for feeble hands to try:
This is the sport that men and gods adore.

A giant race are we, who each in turn
Step in the magic circle's narrow ring
Around our heads the old god's hammer swing,
And send it whirling where the sunbeams burn.

Our fingers twine the handle tightly round,
Firm as a mountain oak we plant our feet,
With one long breath, filling each cell complete,
We lift and swing the dead weight from the ground.

Around our heads we swing with quickening speed,
The hot blood pressing in each swollen vein,
Each muscle corded with its mighty strain,
The handle bending like a river reed.

A step, a turn, and staggering, we hurl
The heavy hammer whistling through the air;
We watch it in the sunbeams fly and flare;
We see it settle with a thud and whirl.

All can not win; our giant game is o'er;
'T is better to be last in such a test,
Than in a little sport to rank the best;
We are the children of the strong god Thor.

~ ~ ~ ~ William Lindsey ~ ~ ~ ~

Feel free to comment.




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Little Book of SportsSports Poems from The Little Book Series

Came across a jewel of a book today. It combines two of my least favorite things. Poetry and Sports.

Well maybe 'least favorite' is overstated. Cleaning up after my dog is way above each of those.

Really, poetry is OK if it rhymes and says something. If I have to think about what it says it has lost me as a customer. But some people like that 'New Verse' so to each his own... I loved Hiawatha for example. Read the whole thing twice in my life. Might read it again someday. - And sports like baseball, basketball and football is great to watch if I'm tied in a chair with toothpicks holding my eyes open. I do like to watch gymnastics and snow skiing so I'm not against all sports...

Anyway. The pick of the week for my poetry posting is a neat little book called "The Little Book of Sports". Poetry compiled and edited by Wallace and Frances Rice. published by The Reilly & Britton Co, in 1910 and as stated in the title of this posting part of "The Little Book Series" whose other titles I've listed at the bottom of this post.

Thirty-two different sports listed in the Index of Sports and forty names listed in the Index of Authors. Seventy-seven poems total.

Some of the sports are Baseball (Casey at the Bat of course with 5 others.), Football (5), Hammer Throwing (1), Fishing (3), and Golf (8). Some are funny, some serious. - Of course I like the funny ones.

Here is a quick one on Cycling by John Joy Bell that shows that at the turn of the last century there was a different set of traffic problems...

I'd rather be a cyclist
Than any other beast,
For though he slays he never stays
upon the slain to feast.

It's pleasant to remember,
While lying on the stones,
How though you're dead, you needn't dread
That he will pick your bones.

He comes! You fall! He's gone! That's all!
He Doesn't mind the least.
Oh I'd rather be a cyclist
Than any other beast.

~ ~ ~ John Joy Bell ~ ~ ~
1871-1934

Other titles listed on the back page of this book:

Little Book of Love
Little Book of Kisses
Little Book of Friendship
Little Book of Brides
Little Book of Sports
Little Book of Out of Doors
Little Book of Cheer
Little Book of Lullabies
Little Book of Laughter
Little Book of Schooldays
Little Book of Bohemia
all edited and compiled by Wallace and Frances Rice.
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Cold in L.A. California? Time To Use the Fireplace

Once in awhile it gets cold in L.A. This is how I handled it this year.

The temperature has been dropping into the 50's at night and this house seems to get even colder than it is outside at times. Well I figured it was just about time to do one of my husbandly duties. Something Wifeypoo will forever leave for me to do in spite of the Romantic Implications the Disney cartoon gives to the job.

Clean out the fireplace.

Now I know that this is something I should have done at the beginning of spring after the last time it was used and I would have done it too except the timing just didn't seem right to me somehow. Besides I wasn't sure, at the time, WHEN would be the VERY last time it would be used.

Plus I have the enviable ability to put things off and since I like people to envy me I figured this was just one more way to accomplish just that.

So! Now the timing was right.

Break out the SHOP-VAC!

Drag it into the house. (Sure glad it has wheels! It must weigh 8 pounds!) Junk drawer for extension cord. Move the screen aside, tilt the grate up and back, plug in the SHOP-VAC.

Contact!

Switch on!


(Whirring sound starts here!)

Suck up the ashes!


Wonder if Tim Allen could soup this baby up? - Whoa! - Don't think he'd need to. Look at this machine just suck the bricks clean!

Sure am glad that that last year I didn't use any wood with nails in it. When I cleaned it out last fall I had to deal with nails clogging the hose. This is great. Cinderella should have one of these pig machines. Then she wouldn't have to complain about working so hard and maybe even her evil and wicked step-sisters would be envious enough to do it for her. This is almost like fun. The corners need a bit more work than the middle. I should have done this last spring but then people would have said I don't have the enviable ability to put things off. I am raising a bit of ashes though. Not enough to worry about. 99.99% is going down the tube. But it is getting hard to breath with my head stuck in the fireplace. Maybe I should take a bit of a break.

OH NO!!!

What the???

I forgot to put the filter in the stupid shop-vac the last time I cleaned it!

Scheesh! What-a-mess!!!

Wow!

Good thing Wifeypoo and I have a deal.

I clean out the fireplace and she cleans the rest of the house...

Epilogue
Most of this story is true. I did stray a bit from reality while my head was stuck in the fireplace and I imagined the filter being off the shop-vac. At this point I looked behind me, was relieved to see all was OK and carried on with the work. The last sentence was what I imagined I would say to Wifeypoo.

We all know how that would have gone over.

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Update - I should have and forgot to mention that this posting is a result of my visit to a special blogsite and a posting that got me going to tell this story - Thanks to Chris at - Book Hunter's Holiday -

Who then was this Gustave Dore?

The Terrible Gustave Dore by Hellmut Lehmann-Haupt - Apparently only two printings. - Marchbanks Press, NY, NY, 1943 & Greenwood Press, Westport, Conn, 1976 -

"Originated as a lecture given before the Groller Club in New York City on December 14, 1939" -

On the first page the author, Hellmut Lehmann-Haupt asks the question, "Who then was this Gustave Dore?" He goes on to ask, "What sort of life did he live? Was he a happy man and his life a rich one? What were his ambitions, his hopes and fears? What caused his early death?"

These are questions Helmut asked and sought answers for. He had grown up seeing and admiring pictures by Gustave in the Bible and Perrault Fairy tales long before he could read.

Dante and the Lion

Hellmut says in the paragraph after his questions, "On the following pages I have tried to answer these questions. My search has brought me close to Gustave Dore. He has become a friend. Perhaps you too will discover a friend in him."

25 Illustrations, some full page and some in text are scattered through the book plus there is a sample of his handwriting. A very good biography. - Quite a good book. -

- prying1 -

The above picture is just a portion of the work. I had to crop it for this posting.

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A few copies are available and can be found through Bookfinder.com.

Hat Tip to WorldCat.org for their resources.
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The Virgin of Waikiki by Don Blanding

Here is a review of the poem/book "The Virgin of Waikiki" - A Torrid Tragedy of the Tropics by Don Blanding.

Don Blanding is well known for his tropical poetry and this little volume is a good example of his humorous verse writing abilities.

A nearing 40's spinster is the 'hot' topic of this steamy tropical ballad.

From the DJ:
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Every Author has his flippant moments, and it was such a mood that the Virgin of Waikiki was created. As the author explains "A tragedy as Poignant as Virgin Annie's could only be treated frivolously, thus sparing the heart strings of the reader".

Those who seek may find a Moral in this tale - - We say "may".
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Quite a fun read until the "tragedy" part at the end. Can't say any more without spoiling it.

The forward by H.M.S. (Henry M. Snyder) says:

"At a recent dinner of the Wampus Club in Los Angeles, the author, Don Blanding of Honolulu was called upon to contribute to the entertainment. In responding he read his original poem, The Virgin of Waikiki.

It was felt that a number of appreciative souls who were not present at the reading of the poem were deserving of the pleasure which this rare and piquant piece affords to Epicurean literary tastes. For the benefit of this small circle of the cognoscenti an edition was privately printed "upon the altar of fellowship." This edition was quickly exhausted as was also a second printing. The present edition with illustrations by A. B. Butler, Jr. is the publisher's response to what seems to be a steadily growing demand for further copies.

What Lady Lou did for Alaska; what Kipling's Mandalay did for India, perhaps, indeed, this rollicking epic ballad of Virgin Annie may do for Hawaii."

In the back of the 1933, Henry M. Snyder edition there is a yellow envelope pasted in.

It has printed on it, "For sundry reasons the astonishing consummation of the ballad must be withheld, temporarily only -we hope- from further enjoyment of the reader." and two drawings of little angels (one obviously Hawaiian) with ukuleles.

It is my guess that the envelope was pasted in because the printery, Country Life Press, Garden City New York, discovered too late the omission of the copy and they had the unused envelopes on hand. - The DJ appears to be of the same material as the envelopes. I wonder if they had both bits of stock on the shelf and were glad to get rid of them. (8-P

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