The Edge Annual Question — 2006

WHAT IS YOUR DANGEROUS IDEA?
The history of science is replete with discoveries that were considered socially, morally, or emotionally dangerous in their time; the Copernican and Darwinian revolutions are the most obvious. What is your dangerous idea? An idea you think about (not necessarily one you originated) that is dangerous not because it is assumed to be false, but because it might be true?

This year, the third culture thinkers in the Edge community have written 117 original essays (a document of 72,500 words) in response to the 2006 Edge Question — “What is your dangerous idea?”. Here you will find indications of a new natural philosophy, founded on the realization of the import of complexity, of evolution. Very complex systems — whether organisms, brains, the biosphere, or the universe itself — were not constructed by design; all have evolved. There is a new set of metaphors to describe ourselves, our minds, the universe, and all of the things we know in it.

Continue ReadingThe Edge Annual Question — 2006

2006 New Year’s Party

Dan and Doug throw a wonderful New Year’s party every year, and Stephanie and I attended again last evening. Check out my Flickr photo set of the party.
My beautiful girlfriend
I didn’t take as many photos as I would have liked because I shot some video of Rachel telling Aunt Ruby stories and filled my my memory card.
I also discoved at the party that my friend Jonathan has a blog. Stop by and give him some comments. Also, I may or may not have mentioned a while back that Kris also has a blog.

Continue Reading2006 New Year’s Party

Verde Enchilada Casserole

From the kitchen of: Campbell Soups

I’ve made this casserole several times and it’s really great. The soup that you add is really yummy. I add a bit more water than it calls for here, because it can dry out a bit while baking. We also cut the tortillas really small, because otherwise it’s hard to dish up servings.

  • 1 can Campbell’s Creamy Chicken Verde Soup
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 cups of cubed cooked chicken
  • 4 flour tortillas, cut in very small strips
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Mix soup, water, garlic and chicken. Stir in tortillas. Spread in 2 qt. shallow baking dish. Top with cheese. Cover. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until hot. Serves 4.

Continue ReadingVerde Enchilada Casserole

Bloggers publishing leaked torture memos

Bloggers around the world are reprinting and publishing leaked memos from former UK ambassador Craig Murray, who divulged information on secret torture programs in Uzbekistan the benefit the United States and the UK.
Boing Boing has a complete post on the subject, including links to the leaked memos, and information on a woman who was jailed for demanding information about her son, who was tortured and died after being immersed in boiling water.

Continue ReadingBloggers publishing leaked torture memos

More Tom Delay Scandals

From MSNBC.com:

The U.S. Family Network, a public advocacy group that operated in the 1990s with close ties to Rep. Tom DeLay and claimed to be a nationwide grass-roots organization, was funded almost entirely by corporations linked to embattled lobbyist Jack Abramoff, according to tax records and former associates of the group.
Two former associates of Edwin A. Buckham, the congressman’s former chief of staff and the organizer of the U.S. Family Network, said Buckham told them the funds came from Russian oil and gas executives. Abramoff had been working closely with two such Russian energy executives on their Washington agenda, and the lobbyist and Buckham had helped organize a 1997 Moscow visit by DeLay.
The former president of the U.S. Family Network said Buckham told him that Russians contributed $1 million to the group in 1998 specifically to influence DeLay’s vote on legislation the International Monetary Fund needed to finance a bailout of the collapsing Russian economy.

This, couple with the recent news that Abramoff may be working on a plea agreement with the authorities to deliver information on numerous congressional Republican ethical scandals is very exciting. I can’t wait to see how many people are going to take a fall.

Continue ReadingMore Tom Delay Scandals

New Year’s Resolutions – 2006

Star Burst

I promise in 2006 not to start an unnecessary war based on a lie with insufficient troops to whom after three years of fighting I still haven’t given enough body armor or a plan for victory.

Just kidding. I’m totally going to do that.

Here are my real resolutions:

1. MORE GAY SEX IN 2006. As I mentioned before, the religious right has started a campaign against gay sex. So I’m pledging a counter campaign — more (safe, responsible) gay sex in 2006. It’s the right thing to do.

2. Don’t buy books, except for book club where necessary. I have tons of books I need to read on my shelves, and I plan to get through as many of them as possible.

3. Scale down my possessions so Stephanie and I can live together.

4. Get on the elliptical more, eat better, and use the new heart I got last year to get in good physical shape.

5. Cook more. I really started gaining weight when I started eating crap out of a can. If I go back to fixing meals, I hope that will help me eat better.

How about you?

2005 Recap:
Well, there was the heart surgery. And Stephanie’s lumpectomy, too. But we did get to do some traveling toward the end of the year. We visited Louisville twice, and Chicago twice, and New York once. Plus we got to help out a little with the Indianapolis Human Rights Ordinance at the end of the year, which was great.

Plans for next year:
Stephanie is skating in the Gay Games in Chicago in July! That’s the major event that we’re planning. We also want to do a “Big Things” road trip in the spring, and we’re going to my cousin Sarah’s wedding on April 22nd.

Continue ReadingNew Year’s Resolutions – 2006