Right Idea, Wrong Way: Atheists vs. Christians

I'm going to start a series of posts about having the right idea but doing something about it the wrong way because I find it particularly ironic how many times this happens to generally smart people.

Today's installment is one that's been in the news for a about a week now. You can read some of the discussion in articles from news outlets documented by the creators of the sign: Freedom From Religion

Governer Gregoire had the right idea: Let different religions (or non-religions) each have a share of the stage at the state capitol rather than endorsing only Christmas which is, admittedly, a Christian winter celebration. The state exercised a "permitting" process to make sure that there was some control over what went into the building. They had little choice because otherwise it could have become anything from chaos to a public safety hazard.

What went wrong: Instead of letting only "postitive oriented" displays like a Menorah, Christmas Tree, Chreche, Santa Claus or Festivus they permitted a "negative oriented" display from a Wisconson Atheist group. Am I ticked because they are Atheists? No. I'm closer to that than Christianity. But the display wasn't "pro Atheist", it was "Anti-Christian" by declaring things that Christians care about as wrong, irrelevant, and "Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

That was wrong! That's not celebration. That is a negative publicity campaign and, ironically, tactics like that are part of the reason that I have not been supportive of Christians. In the USA many of them accept their beliefs and then work very hard to convince you that if you don't accept their beliefs that you are a lesser person than they. I've disliked that attitude from many Christians for three decades now.

Imagine my disappointment when I found the Atheists doing the same thing back. Shame to them. Shame to Gov. Gregoire for letting them turn a celebratory stage into a second-grade "I'm right and you are wrong" argument.

If the display can't be positive - or at least neutral in tone - then it shouldn't be there. That is where the Governor took the good idea but let the FFRF do it the wrong way.

Now fix it!

Happy Winter Holidays to everyone whatever you are!

Ikea Lamp Commercial

I really like this commercial. Mentally it takes on on a little journey - one you are very willing to take - and then pulls the rug out from under you at the end.

Caught.

Try it and see if it gets you as well:

Real Life Solar Power

If you live in California or simiar southerly locales you might find this article interesting. It's a real life installation of solar panels on a home complete with photos and results after the first month. We may not be ready for solar in every home, but this is proof that it's more feasible than ever before.

ExtremeTech on Solar Power for Your Home

Myth Busted: Twinkies Do Get Moldy

Like everyone my age, I'd heard that Twinkies had a nearly infinite shelf life. Somehow these little bites of cake-heaven got the reputation of being so preservative filled that they would last for 100 years without going bad. (I'm not sure I'd want to bite a 100 year old food product even if it didn't sprout mold, but that's another blog for another day.)

Imagine my surprise when I opened my food stash at work and found the last Twinkie - the one I'd been saving for that 'special' moment when I get promoted to CEO - had mold spots! Not just tiny ones, but significantly black nasty ones. I knew you all wouldn't believe it so I brought it home and photographed it as proof that Twinkies get moldy.

I don't know exactly how old it was when I got it because it was purchased from the 'snack cabinet' and I think it was in the storage bin for about 6 to 8 weeks, but in no way was it in there for even one year, let alone 100.

So, let the myth be busted: Twinkies Do Get Moldy

Credits to Snopes.com for busting this before I did in their exposé.

Tip-O-The-Hat to the T.W.I.N.K.I.E.S. Project for their experiments in food science.

True Colors

Yes, I changed the color scheme. The old one was just a little too "green". It's still the same site with the same content. Calm down.

Smart and Benz

I knew the cars shared common parentage but I had to snap a shot when the two were spotted sitting side by side in a local parking lot. Both are nice in their own way.

Retired Priest + Gas Station = The Man Who Wears The Star - Reborn?

What's old is trying to be a nostalgia stop in La Grande, Oregon.

"You can trust your car to the man who wears the Star."

This was a Texaco slogan for many years. It was also many years ago when "Service Stations" dotted the highways and cities of the good old USA. Sure we had enough nuclear power for Mutually Assured Destruction, but that was just a theory. In reality we had achieved the ability to keep our automobiles running reliably for the first time.

For those too young I'll replay my memories. It started when you needed gas for the car and drove into a "Service Station". When the tires of the car hit the air hose and rang the bell one, or maybe even two or three, "attendants" would come running to fill your tank, check your tires, check the oil, fill the radiator and clean the windshield - and then they'd ask you what else they could do for you. Even better was that if your car had a problem there was a mechanic who could actually fix it - right there at the station!

Admit it, kids, that sounds a lot better than a kid behind a cash register at the corner market who watches people pump their own gas and wash their own windows and who can't even tell you where to find a mechanic. That's why I'm happy that someone is trying to play the nostalgia card and make a 1950's style Texaco station come back to life in 2008!

Hank Albrecht retired from the priesthood and is doing everything he can to bring an old Texaco station back to it's former glory. Here is an article from the local paper. The station is at 1508 Adams Avenue (the old US-30) in La Grande, Oregon, about 265 miles from Portland on I-84 on the way to Boise, Idaho. I was there just two weeks ago and I can vouch that he's spiffed up the station and has the gas pumps on the bases. There's no sign of how much more work he needs to do before he can sell gas - the EPA has lots of fuel tank rules you know.

I look forward to the day when I can go back in time and once again trust my car to the man who wears the star. You should stop in and see the station if you happen to be in the area.