So, just the other morning, I was listening to this discussion of creation vs. evolution on the radio, and the question that came up over and over of the exact age of this ball of dirt we're living on.

Some people insist that the world is billions of years old. Others are adamant that it's only a few hundred thousand.

Here's my thought:

Einstein and Hawking have told us a few things about relativity, specifically, the idea that time really isn't the fixed constant that we think it is. And the theory goes that time is especially relative in certain hard-to-recreate circumstances. If the beginning of the universe isn't a hard-to-recreate circumstance, I don't know what is. I would be surprised if there weren't a lot of relativity going on back then.

From the theological perspective: Time is an aspect of this physical world in which we exist. God, Heaven, and the Host all exist beyond this world, in an Eternal state. Our senses just aren't all that prepared to grok what true timelessness really is. God's given us some clues, but we're very much accustomed to living by the clock and the calendar.

Add into the mix the fact that I've quite possibly overdosed on high-quality sci-fi in my lifetime.

So: Am I totally off my rocker to suggest that maybe a true seven-day creation and a billions-of-years creation may not be all that contradictory?

And I'll end with a joke from rec.humor.funny:
Mortal: What is a million years like to you?
God: Like one second.
Mortal: What is a million dollars like to you?
God: Like one penny.
Mortal: Can I have a penny?
God: Just a second...

Can't make this stuff up....
This caught my eye from the latest News of the Weird:

"The May 10 tornado that hit Highland County, Ohio, touched down in the town of Hillsboro, along Wizard of Oz Drive."

Who'd a-thunk?

...that under the immigration bill that the House just rejected from the Senate, that illegal immigrants would have been allowed to pay just 3 out of 5 years of back taxes. And it's up to the illegal immigrant to pick and choose which 3 years. Consider, also, that these are 3 years of work that's not in any corporate records, not in any tax records, and if they happen to "fudge" a bit (gee, fudging on taxes, here in America?), the burden of proof is on the IRS.

Again, another bill that deserves to go down in flames. Don't get me wrong, I hate our system of taxation. But if any American citizen through a simple error of math misses paying so much as a dime in one year, even if they've never broken a single non-tax law in their life, that person's gonna lose their firstborn before the IRS is gonna let them go.

Anyway, it's my observation that one of the reasons illegal labor is such a problem is that our tax code punishes you if you don't break the law. With the myriad of taxes and government-mandated expenses on legal labor, some jobs are just not worth the minimum expense to employ someone for an hour.

If only there were a better way.....

The issue of the day: Gay marriage.

On the one side, we've got those who want a Constitutional amendment on the matter. The Federal Marriage Amendment. I'm personally quite glad it failed. Marriage has almost always been and should remain a matter of state law. I've got a long list of state and local issues that should never have entered the federal arena, and I don't care to make it any longer. The fact that it was even brought up in Congress was nothing but political showboating and pandering, and a waste of time and paper that could have been put to much better use. For example, doing something about our hideous tax code. But I digress.

On the other hand, we've got the mess that the Episcopal Church has gotten itself into. In this, gay marriage is just a symptom of a larger issue: A Christian church that is rejecting the defining principle of Christianity (Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Word made Flesh, who suffered and died to save humanity from the eternal penalty for our sinful rejection of God). A Church that derives its authority from scripture while rejecting the authority of that same scripture. We've got a new Presiding Bishop who, just yesterday, called on "mother Jesus".

In the traditional Christian view as I understand it, matrimony is a matter of deep spiritual importance. Matrimony, like priesthood, is a calling from God, as a foretaste of a true relationship with our Creator in Eternity. In its highest, truest form, two people become as one, without losing their individual natures. (I've known a few couples who have a union to this degree. I've known plenty of couples who haven't.) We humans didn't create marriage, any more than we created ourselves and our gender-based natures. It's more than a matter of social contract, more than a matter of convenience. It's way more than anything Hollywood makes of it.

Finally, I've received an answer to The Letter!

This from Georgia's governor Sonny Perdue:

Dear Mr. Dolan:
          Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me about the role of government in our lives. The freedom of which you speak is a precious gift, and it is the duty of those in public office to protect the freedoms of all citizens.

          It is important that your elected officials know of your concerns, and I am always pleased to receive comments from Georgia's citizens. Many of the items you mentioned in your letter are more appropriately addressed at the federal level. I encourage you to get in touch with your Members of Congress so that they can keep your views in mind. For your convenience, I am including a list of the names and contact information for all members of the Georgia Congressional delegation.

          I appreciate the opportunity to learn what is on your mind and hope this information will assist you as you pursue this matter further with the federal government.

Yours truly,
Sonny Perdue

Way ahead of you, Mr. Perdue. Guess I need to write him a letter on some specific issues I wish the state government would just butt out of. Things like funding charities. Heck, I could even be radical and suggest that marriage should be a purely religious institution without state involvement.

Sheesh, these politicians, have to walk them through everything....

1. Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

2. Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

3. Africans drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

4. Italians drink large amounts of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

5. Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

Words are fascinating, aren't they?

Take Fascism, for example. Most folks associate this word with Hitler and Nazis, and these days, it's all too often used as an emotional attack against the President by hyperventalating leftists who wouldn't know real Fascism if it bit 'em.

If these nutcases had checked the dictionary, they would see that Fascism is formally defined as a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition. In economic terms, a fascist system is generally defined as one in which the state owns the means of production but hands them over to citizens and citizen-run corporations for day-to-day running.

So, where does the etymology come in? Well, I discovered a short while ago where the word comes from. It comes from the Latin fascis, plural fasces. And what's a fascis? It's a bundle of sticks, usually tied with a red strap, often wrapped around or attached to an axe. Back in Roman times, officials carried them around as a symbol of authority and penal power.

The ancient Roman symbol is still used in a lot of places today. Take a look at the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Hard to see it in this picture, but there are two gold fasces on that wall behind the Speaker's chair, one on each side of the flag. This commemorative five-dollar coin has a pair. There's one on the back of this WWI victory medal, and the LAPD badge boasts a border design based on the bundle and straps.

Just some interesting stuff to know.

From my page-a-day calendar for yesterday:

In 1975, the head of the Federal Energy Administration flew around the country speaking to business and civic groups about the need to conserve energy. He spent $25,000 of the taxpayers' money on 19,000 gallons of fuel to spread the word not to waste so much money by using so much fuel.

The word on my mind is 'fair'. I woke up yesterday morning to a radio newscast about a politician that wants to raise state gasoline taxes. Georgia currently has one of the lowest tax rates on gas of all the states. He was saying that drivers aren't paying their 'fair' share for keeping the roads maintained.

Hmm, 'fair'. I've also heard that the rich don't pay their 'fair' share, either. Nor do corporations. On the other hand, I've also heard it said that it isn't 'fair' to expect that certain people pay for what they use, especially if they are senior citizens, or it's medicine being used.

From all these considerations of fairness, I remembered how a certain Goblin King answered a protestation regarding the world's lack of fairness: "You keep saying that, I'm beginning to wonder what your basis of comparison is."

Went into Publix tonight, and what did I see? Santa Claus waiting at the door. Green and red all over. Dessert samples and eggnog.

And it's not the first time this year I've run into it. Heard some background music in Barnes and Nobles a couple of weekends ago that I recognized, after tapping my toe for a few moments, as a Christmas tune. And I learned from a friend of mine in the retail industry that stores play that music because it's been shown through psychological studies to trigger the 'buy impulse' in shoppers.

Thanksgiving is still nearly two weeks away, on my USA-centric calendar. If I'm going to see any decoration in the stores right now, I'd rather like it to be brown, yellow, and orange, with turkeys, pumpkins, horns-o-plenty, and politically incorrect icons of colonialism.

I love Christmas. I'm 26 years old and I still believe in the magic. My problem is that, at this rate, by the time the actual day rolls around, most folks will be just downright sick of it, and ready to get back to business as usual by Dec. 26th.

And in that spirit, I give you C. S. Lewis's What Christmas Means To Me. Warning, there is a midi.

Especially your phone bills. At least, read the detail pages when you pay them.

See, my roommates and I don't have long distance service on our phone line, or any other services that cost varying amounts from month to month. So our phone bill is always the same, just over $32. I know this because I use Quicken.

Got a phone bill last night for $118. My eyes nearly popped.

Read down into the detail pages. Seems some company called Integretel was billing us for two 4-minute calls to a 900 number. Each for four minutes. Each by itself costing more than the regular monthly bill. And the first of these calls was on an evening when we were all out of town!

Called this Integretel company up, and they said that they were billing for another company which was claiming that one of us had downloaded software onto our computer which had dialed the 900 number to download some video. Okay, I've heard of viruses and spyware doing that, but we've all got strong antivirus and antispyware protection here. Plus, we use DSL. We rarely even have a modem hooked to the phone line, except on the rare occasion that one of us needs to send or receive a fax.

So anyway, Integretel said they'll be crediting the charges to our local monopoly phone provider, that the local monopoly phone provider should get the credit in 7 to 10 days, and we should see it on the bill in 2 to 3 billing cycles. Not good enough for me. I'll be calling up said local monopoly phone provider to make sure they received that credit, plus I'm in a mood to make a complaint to the FCC, just to add another bit to some bureaucrat's lousy day. From what I've heard, false charges are a common problem, and the phone companies hope we just don't notice. As do the banks and credit card companies.

Grrrr.

What a fine night.

Went down to the semi-monthly Coffee House. Jazz and Blues was the theme this weekend. Ray Chesna gave the opening act, with some sweet guitar-picking and fine singing. Loved his Computer Blues. (That thing you're holdin', there in you're right hand.... It can't help you baby, it's just a mouse, it ain't a man.) Titled this journal after another great song of his.

After the first intermission, found out that the pianist who was scheduled to accompany the next two acts mysteriously didn't show up. Not a problem, though, the show went on, and Janet Metzger gave us some sweet a capella classical jazz. Familiar old tunes like Crazy, and of course, Over the Rainbow.

Last up was the velvet voice of Oscar "The Smooth One" Sheppard. Sang a few by himself, then shared the stage with Ray. We had our kicks on Route 66, and the night was quite Unforgettable.

After a hellava week at work, tonight was pure musical heaven. Good enough that I broke my usual habit of only buying one CD a month. (It's okay, none of the groups from last month had CDs to offer.) Can't wait for tomorrow night. The first act is going to be this jazz-and-funk group from Atlanta called Urban Blu.

Property and Order
by Butler Shaffer

Excerpt:

Because all political systems are wars against the private ownership of property, statists must redefine social and political issues to exclude "property" as the defining factor. Thus, a manufacturer who is disposing of industrial wastes by releasing them into the air, or dumping them into rivers, is charged with "pollution" or an offense against the "environment." To correctly characterize his actions as property trespasses against those who either breathe in the smoke or gas, or whose lands are damaged by the waste, would be to focus on what politically-minded people know would threaten their regulatory schemes. If the wrong engaged in by the manufacturer is defined as an intrusion upon an individual's property interests, people might soon begin to regard governmental action as property invasions as well.

It is safer to treat the act as some hazy collective wrong to "the environment," an approach that raises the more interesting question: do environments - whatever that word might mean - enjoy "rights" of non-transgression that individuals do not?

I'm reminded of the situation in Alabaster, AL, and other Eminent Domain abuse cases. The government always finds a way to redefine the issue. It's not that the government is taking property away from the owners and giving them less than what they could get on the free market, it's the owners' fault for "underutilizing" their land, or allowing it to become "blighted". Whatever those words might mean.

Here's my first ever contribution for the Slashdot Cookbook, desserts section. It's pure sweet-tooth satisfaction! I'll be baking a batch for the Coffee House this weekend.

RC Cola Cake
2 cups flour
2 sticks margarine
1 cup RC Cola
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1.5 cups miniature marshmallows
.25 tsp salt
2 cups sugar
2 tbsp. cocoa
.5 cup buttermilk

Stir together the flour, salt, sugar, and cocoa. Heat margarine and cola to boiling point. (Don't let it boil!) Pour over dry mixture. Stir in milk, baking soda, eggs, and vanilla. Add marshmallows last. (This will be a thin batter, but don't worry.) Bake in 9x13 inch pan in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until cake is done. Pour icing over cake while cake is still hot.

Icing:
.5 cup margarine
2 tbsp. cocoa
6 tbsp. RC Cola
1 box confectioner's sugar
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 tsp. vanilla

Heat the 1st three items to boiling. Pour this over sugar, mixing well. Add nuts and vanilla. Spread over hot cake. Cool and cut into slices.

Just a quick flash animation that I found to be rather well done....

And since I don't want this journal entry to be just one link, I'll just pass on some additional miscellaneous news I heard today. Seems there's this bar up in Edmonton, Alberta which has a problem. It's a sober bar, catering to recovering alcoholics and drug addicts. No alcohol sold.

Seems a lot of ex-alcoholics smoke. Swapping one addiction for another, y'know. And a judge has ruled that the bar has to get a license to sell alcohol or else they can't let people smoke at the bar. Even though they don't sell alcohol.

Now here's the real kicker: The bar applied for a liquor license. But they were turned down. Why were they turned down? Because they don't sell alcohol.

Seems those of us south of the border don't have an exclusive claim on silly government.

What it is: The Stars on the Southern Crescent Coffee House

The Theme: Bluegrass Festival

The Nights: Friday, Sept. 26th and Saturday, Sept. 27th. Doors open at 7:45pm, show begins at 8:15.

The Place: The Fayette Family YMCA, 215 Huiet Road, Fayetteville. (Just off of GA-54, halfway between Fayetteville and Peachtree City).

The Performers: Just Us and Stranger 2 on Friday. Red Line Express and Counterpoint on Saturday.

The Menu: Gourmet coffee, herbal tea, hot cider, other beverages. Desserts supplied by EJ's Sweets and Gift Shop. Bring your own mug to receive a discount on hot beverages, and you might win the Most Usual Mug award!

Admission: $8 for general audience, $6 for senior citizens and children 12 and younger. For group rates, contact Offshoot Productions.

Season tickets are also available. We've put together a Jazz and Blues Weekend in October and a Celtic Christmas Coffee House for November.