Disqus - Latest Comments for GrayFog

Re: Cherry red to mountain green

Todd — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:44:20 -0000

Thanks, Bob. Best of luck to you up there. Keep those pesky liberals in line. I'll be enjoying my Ben & Jerry's (good, even if they did sell out), listening to Phish and weaving macrame spirit belts.

Re: The rise of secularism in the U.S.

Todd — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:37:46 -0000

A gentle nudge, but it was meant to be tongue-in-cheek banter, not sarcasm. Fell short again. Drat. An "F" in Rhetoric.

Re: The rise of secularism in the U.S.

Todd — Wed, 20 May 2009 01:18:51 -0000

Ev Works- I am not agreeing with Ed at all, though I respect the hell out of his position. And when I argue, I try to do so from a position of respect, unless I get really annoyed, then I lapse into HL Mencken mode. I am a Darwinist, a Deist, I teach critical thinking, epistemology, logic, philosophy of science, etc to military analysts, so I simply like having these conversations. Its fun. No big drama. BTW, I'd probably be a Buddhist if they could have beer and wine...

Ed- You may find the book, "Imperium" by Robert Harris a good read. Fictional account of Cicero. Cheers for your words.

Re: The rise of secularism in the U.S.

Todd — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:32:49 -0000

I was talking about the Flynn Effect, Ed, not the Cause of the Flynn Effect. Simply, the more cognitive capacity and acumen achieved statistically and generationally, the less likely it is that we will see increased numbers of Theistic self identification in that generation. Just my thought, and it has nothing to do with past generations on the average having lower IQs, more that is has to do with the increasing reliance that current and future generations will have on evidential inference, vice mythic narrative, to find Truth, all due to being only slightly, but constantly, brighter over time.

As for God, well, I couldn't agree with you more when you reduce the regression down to a Prime Mover. But that prime mover is just that, a Prime Mover and nothing else. At least nothing else that we can talk about. Where the faithful get off making the leap from 1st Cause to divine imminence in individual lives, moral authority and judgment, the Divine Attributes and all the rest, is where I tend to push back.

But see, that's what Unitarians do. Worship the argument.

Anyway, good topic. Thanks for posting.

Re: The rise of secularism in the U.S.

Todd — Tue, 19 May 2009 01:48:54 -0000

The answer may indeed be a cocktail of those 13 points, shaken and stirred. Alternatively, it may simply be that there is a strong inverse correlation between self-identification as some form of Theist, and the Flynn Effect. Whether that correlation is causal is another issue. I suspect it is.

Re: What's your favorite lunch under $5?

Todd — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:50:00 -0000

Turkish Doner Kebap. Hard to get in the States I think, but I had several while in Germany last week. Spiced lamb chunks, spit roasted on a vertical rotisserie, and shaved off. Shaved meat placed in a toasted Turkish roll, slab of feta-like cheese, tomato, pickled cabbage, lettuce, onion, topped with a spicy dressing. Wrapped in paper. Greasy munchfest ensues. 3 Euro; around 4 bucks.

Re: United we fall

Todd — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 10:15:28 -0000

http://www.washingtonpost.c...

Nice body blow from Krauthammer.

But I think you have Republicans confused with Libertarians.

Re: United we fall

Todd — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:55:38 -0000

Geez, Keith. Tightrope deaths (couldn't you have brought in Philippe Petit and the Twin Towers, somehow?), abattoirs, Victorian woolen mill imagery, the Russell Kirk memorial balance pole of ideology. Even a clenched fist! I had to smile at your hyperbolic marauding. A fun read.

And even though I think your dark and pessimistic outlook makes Camus look like Mister Rogers, I agree with your 2 substantial gripes. First, that the big party on Day 1 was over the top and inappropriately expensive, thus loosing a huge symbolic opportunity, and second, that the stimulus package was laden with bacon, sausage and ribs. Shameless. I wish Pelosi would go away. Her strident partisan idiocy has always grated on me, and now it is getting worse. Thumbs down for the administration on this one. I applaud the Republicans for holding tough.

Still, you may have already seen enough from the President. His action (or inaction) in the bailout drama may have already galvanized your preconceived notions of Socialist inevitability. Understandable. People tend to see what they expect to see.

I still want to give him a fair shot. These are extraordinary times. Maybe some patience is required.

Note: I see this morning that a Senate deal was made, with Collins, Snowe, and Specter buying in. I wonder what Maine got out of this.

Re: The treadmill: A fail-safe dog deterrent

Todd — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:52:41 -0000

Flat, warm coke and a banana at mile 19 does a body good. Keep up the pace. Nice week.

Re: What does the inauguration mean to you?

Todd — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:22:37 -0000

I'm happy Obama is in, think he was a far better choice than McCain, and believe that he is certainly orders of magnitude more bright, capable, and savvy than George W. Bush. But, I simply don't get this "second coming" vibe I see swirling around him. He's a flawed guy who will hopefully try to do the right thing within a tarnished superpower and return some luster. But people are acting like he's some sort of miracle worker. Maybe it would be interesting to go down to DC and check if the halo appears in the right light, somehow.

Actually attending? Ummm, no! I was there on business last week, and the place was moving into lock down. Of all the places to not be tomorrow, the District would be my #1.

Re: My Bayshore training regimen; what's yours?

Todd — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 02:57:18 -0000

Claire-
Good luck with the race. Higdon has a good, workable plan. I used a version of it when I ran my first mara a few years ago. I threw some trail runs in there, too. It mixes things up and forces a different kind of balance on you. I think the Bayshore course is pretty flat, but just for fun you may want to do some hill work for some of the shorter runs. Its a great confidence builder.

Here's a bit of advice which may help: On race day, don't start too fast.

When I started doing this, I had a boss who ran Ultras. He gave me the same advice. But, I started too fast, anyway and paid for it during the last 5 miles or so.

You'll do great. Enjoy the next few months. Oh, and don't try and keep up with the Kenyans. Good luck.

Re: Notes from my trip to Leelanau & vicin.

Todd — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:12:24 -0000

Here it is below. I wrote it last year around Christmastime, it turns out. BTW, my wife thinks she knows you. Empire, originally Yorkshire?

http://blogs.record-eagle.c...

Re: Notes from my trip to Leelanau & vicin.

Todd — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:53:35 -0000

Exiled! Much more intriguing than Expat, for sure. Fair points on NHS, though it does suffer its share of controversy and scandal over here. As for the taxes, I've never done the math but I wonder how total taxation (not just income tax, but the various luxury and consumer taxes, too) systems compare. I'd be willing to bet that Brits pay more out of pocket any given year than Americans. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy it in the UK. Great people, history, landscapes, outdoor sporting, sense of irony, and all the rest. Though there some things that really bug me. I'm pretty sure I wrote a blog rant on this topic a while ago. I'll post it if I can find it. I still don't understand Marmite or the popularity of Robbie Williams. Thanks for the comment.

Re: Notes from my trip to Leelanau & vicin.

Todd — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:27:12 -0000

Thanks for the comment, Heather. Great points. I agree with them all, except that while I concede that Cadbury chocolate is better, in general, there is something about a Hershey's with Almonds (must be w/almonds!) that is special, for me. Roundabouts are simpler, safer, and more sane than classic intersections, no doubt. It took me a couple of years to turn over on that one, though. I'm convinced Tesco is the 7th level of Hell.

ps. I hear WD-40 works great for walleye.

Re: Notes from my trip to Leelanau & vicin.

Todd — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:15:58 -0000

Bob- I must confess that I didn't go to one, but we were well stocked my entire week with cider from Friske's up in Charlevoix. Ice cold, sweet-tart. Man, that was good.

Re: Notes from my trip to Leelanau & vicin.

Todd — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:58:54 -0000

So true, Jo Anne. And I live in England! I'd imagine the contrasts would be more stark for you over there in Apt. Enjoy your Winter. I feel bad that I didn't get up to Glen Arbor when I was back. Next time, though. So much to do.

Re: Change it is

Todd — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 09:02:05 -0000

Fair point. Not totally me, but somewhat. I'm not as mean as they are. I think he is a cowboy. I think he lacks an appropriate cerebral edge and an ability to think critically about strategic issues. But my biggest problem is his idea of "resolve as value." But I know that you admire that in him.

Truth be told, I feel very sorry for him right now. He has the apprioval ratings of Warren G. Harding, and I'm not sure those #s are deserved.

Re: Change it is

Todd — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:05:46 -0000

We probably define our terms a bit differently. Degree of partisanship is not the same thing as political ideology. You can be a Centrist ideologue, but also a ferocious partisan. That's Emmanuel.

Speaking of Hannity, I just ran across this video,
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

It is an exchange between SH and the Press Secretary in-waiting, regarding the Ayers and the issue of personal and professional associations. I know its an issue near and dear to your heart and thought you might enjoy the clip.

Re: Change it is

Todd — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:26:57 -0000

I disagree on the CoS appointment. It would have been scarier to me if he had gone with Daschle. Emmanuel is a political centrist, with a massive amount of respect (and not a little fear) felt from the legislative branch. Bringing in such a tough guy to truly "execute" the vision tells me that we will have a President who will be engaged, interested, and very active in "the Vision thing." He'll be smart if he keeps Gates in Defense. I think he will.

Re: Change it is

Todd — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:22:20 -0000

Well, I think international support is important in the sense that we do, like it or don't, live in an increasingly integrative and shrinking global community. Consequently, if we can play nice on the international stage and increase the national weal as we do it, then that it is good. It is bad if we define ourselves and tailor our policy by the perceptions and opinions of other nations. That's Sally Field diplomacy, and thus, ridiculous.

Why such support? Simple. Bush is loathed over in W. Europe. It is a great mystery to the majority of Europeans how someone like Bush can be elected in our system. They perceive him as a myopic, unintelligent cowboy, unbendable in his ways not because he is exercising some kind of virtuous "resolve," but because he doesn't have the cognitive capacity to deal in an environment of subtlety, nuance, and uncertainty. Not a charitable view. I actually find myself defending him quite often, which I can't do very well.

In the President-elect they see a literate, intelligent, inclusive and pluralistic symbol of change and hope. They see a guy who, they believe, "gets it." That's what I think, anyway.

Keep watching what Putin/Medvedev do in the Ukraine and the Baltics. That will be a huge test for Obama, if it waits until after inauguration.

Re: Naively offensive in Oysterville: Moleskine Chronicles Pt. III

Todd — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:10:11 -0000

Thanks! Oh wait; you're just being snarky. What a clever little fellow.

Re: Naively offensive in Oysterville: Moleskine Chronicles Pt. III

Todd — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:02:25 -0000

Please don't call me God, Ed. He's bigger and has a fuller beard.

Re: Change it is

Todd — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:23:14 -0000

Sitting here in JFK waiting for my next flight. It's good to be home. Canton, Connecticut this week, Leelanau Peninsula next week.

The UK went crazy over this election. Our neighbors stayed up until 3 last night to watch the returns on BBC. The driver bringing me down to Heathrow this morning could not stop talking about it....for 2 hours.

There is palpable sense of relief and hope in the air over here in the States due to Obama's huge victory. Mostly relief, to my mind. I'm glad he won. I hope the man can live up to all the high-flying expectations out there.

Re: Much ado about socialism

Todd — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:22:34 -0000

I must have missed the point. Probably cloaked within the Communist Manifesto citations. I knew you'd get that reference; I just knew it. Actually I put that link in for all the Ys, Xs and naughts.

Re: Much ado about socialism

Todd — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:09:41 -0000

Troy-
I respect your point of view. But man, Obama and Marx? Ripping a page out of Barbara West's playbook? I'd have to say you finally jumped the shark with this one.

http://www.urbandictionary....