Search Results for 'WO'

[Kayleigh]

Findlay, your attitude here is partly why people are annoyed with or even hostile about organized Christianity. It even annoys me, and my atheist days are mostly behind me.

You assume that all people are like you in their spiritual make-up, which doesn’t honor that we are all different and are entitled to different spiritual journeys (or to have no journey at all, or to change journeys midstream.)

It’s insulting to say to an agnostic or atheist, “Wow, your life must be empty and meaningless compared to my ‘fruitful’ one.” And it probably doesn’t win many converts.

[erincorrine]

Thanks!

I will check out Seattle Fish for sure!!

I have not enjoyed my experiences with the cheese counter at MM – they have a good selection (for sure); however, I have found the counter staff short and not as helpful and patient as I would like. I usually visit during the day (between 10 am and 3 pm)- weekdays, but they always seem busy and preoccupied – not as willing to help as I guess I would like.

It sounds like their meat department has given good service in the past though – I will check them out!

[JayDee]

While it may sound counter-intuitive, Metropolitan Market has given me good service. Once, when I served a leg of lamb for dinner, I’d been disappointed by the cut of meat offered by a Queen Anne butcher despite the fact I’d told him that I needed to wrap it around a London Broil…it just kinda of disintegrated when I tried to wrap it, and no amount of twine would help. I ended up messing the main course up. But it started with the less than desirable cut of lamb the butcher foisted on me.

For my second dinner involving lanb, I didn’t want to go to Costco, and went instead to MM. I asked a random butcher there about what I was cooking, and he not only picked out a superb cut, he also dressed it for me, carving off fat and weirdo chunks..before weighing it!

Yes, it cost more per pound than Costco, but I didn’t have to hazard the digits to dress it, and I would’ve thrown the extra parts away. My dinner was a a preparation pain, but not literally a pain thanks to the Met Market butcher.

That being said, I’ve gotten good service from Fero’s Meats at the Pike Place Market (away from the fish abusers, in the Sanitary Market down the stairs under Metskers).

For fish MM can be good but pricey, but the Seattle Fish Company rocks. Good fish, good prices. When the season is running they are price competitive with QFC, MM, though Safeway’s prices beats them if you are a member. But I like the fish I get there and trust them to treat it well before I buy it.

At Pike Place Market, I like City Fish, less flash, better fish, and less tourii. They are willing to answer questions and are friendly. I don’t want my fish tossed through the air–good entertainment, but not with the dinner.

My two centavos. JD.

[felicialh]

local or not does not matter… someone who has done a nice job somewhere else is really what we are looking for. That name would be great… thanks!

[swimcat]

Oh, if only I had a garage… I’d love to have this problem! :) My parents had their garage door replaced recently and they were pleased with whoever did the work. They live in Bellevue though, so i’m sure it was an eastside company. Does that matter if they’re local or not? I’m sure this company does repair work too in addition to replacement.

[erincorrine]

I would love recommendations for a good local butcher. Also, good fish monger and cheese shop would be good as well.

Thanks!!

[JoB]

Findlay..

faith and scientific or academic inquiry are two differing things. One relies on belief… and the other on data.

Science is not just a tool for dismissing faith.

It is the tool we use to make sense of the world we live in… and to communicate a shared sense of that world. It is the product of curiosity… and is based on shared data which can be replicated by experiment.

I can understand data and still have belief.. and thus faith. i know, because i do:) and since belief is personal, nobody gets to decide whether my faith is real or not. They can decide that it doesn’t coincide with theirs… with or without actually talking with me… but no person gets to decide matters of faith for another.

that works for me. It is what the religious freedom of our nation is based upon.

You don’t actually think that all of our founders believed exactly the same things do you? Look around you at how many divisions there are just within the pentecostal Christians, let alone how many within Christianity itself… and we haven’t even begun to speak of other religions…

all are grounded in belief.. in faith.

choosing not to believe is just another choice.

You and i may believe that their lives are poorer for that choice… you may believe my life is poorer because i have not made the same exact choices in faith that you do… but it is still choice.

It is one of the greatest benefits of living in America… to be able to believe what we choose and to voice that belief in public without fear of reprisal… Censure, yes…. There has always been censure. but not reprisal.

I wish it worked better some of the time… but i am glad that framework exists. We wouldn’t have these conversations without it.

[JoB]

so House.. you appear to have thrown another gauntlet:) and you sound so reasonable, you found company:)

Why would differing conclusions on data need to be mandated in our school systems house? At what point did the teaching of math or science or law or business become political?

Yes, some teachers hold liberal world views. Surprisingly some also hold conservative world views. And all teachers are opinionated, to some degree.

However, what teachers teach at anything but a graduate level is pretty much mandated by the syllabus they are handed for the class… and that is based on current information… data… and the conclusions that those actually studying those disciplines have reached based on that data.

An academic controversy is one in which both sides must bolster their conclusions with data.

A political controversy is that which is created when the President of the United States decides that even though the actual scientific evidence from his own government researchers indicated that global warming is not only real but humans are contributing to it.. he chose to have his administration suppress the evidence and relied on his “gut feeling”.

This is a controversy that has been created to mask nonacademic behavior.

At a graduate level we expect students to research and think for themselves… and to challenge any professor they think is not giving them all the available information.

In fact, at any level, there are always students who will challenge any teacher they find opinionated.. even if they only think so because what the teacher says is not the same as what their parents believe.

Unfortunately, we have more than one generation of students who are approaching our scientific disciplines without having been taught the difference between science and belief… between academic controversy and political controversy… and they have been taught to believe that anyone who ventures the opinion that their politically based science is not relevant to academic inquiry is discriminating against them.

i know that one for certain, having grandchildren who believe just that.

From your posts, i would assume that you were one of those students. I know i was. I still am. I think many who post here were.

Yes, it is true that how our scientists (both hard science and social sciences) view data is determined by our general current interpretation of that data… but our understanding of those sciences grows because of those few students who will challenge what they have learned…

I have no doubt house that you are capable of critical thought even though you were “indoctrinated” by our liberal school system. So again, why would we have any need to mandate that both sides of any academic issue are taught in our classrooms?

Rhetoric aside, we would only need that law if we wanted to guarantee that any opinion labeled as science is taught… and that is politicizing the classroom.. the thing you say you want to prevent.

We don’t need to mandate academic equality in our classrooms. The process of academic inquiry already does that quite well.

[Findlay]

The current evolution debate seems to be centered on concepts of atheism and belief in God. That science is involved is just a way for the atheists to defend their position.

I just don’t know how you live a life where you are the center of your own universe and that your intelligence is your own functional savior. Seems like you would be constantly letting yourself down or at least be in denial of the harm that you are doing in the world.

Faith requires moving you from the center of everything to looking to something greater to give your life meaning. Christianity also provides a solution for sin and death that no atheist has. Even if I have lived a life that is totally delusional, then I’m sure my life philosophy will be more fruitful than most atheists.

I found this good article by the controversial Mars Hill Pastor Mark Driscoll that outlines a lot of this conversation:

http://theresurgence.com/mark_driscoll_2006-06_answers_to_common_questions_about_creation

[Kayleigh]

The thing is, the “controversy” and “diversity” is often a tiny minority of people who offer religiously- and politically-driven, scentifically weak arguments that offer little against well-established research and evidence. All science is not created equal nor is it of equal weight. You could find somebody somewhere who doesn’t agree with the germ theory of disease, but would you like our med students to be taught that as an equal alternative theory in med school? I’d personally prefer my doctor has been taught the latest, most sound, most widely accepted and accurate medical research.

Science isn’t like Philosophy, where lots of ideas compete mainly in the abstract. We have tools like the scientific method and peer review that serve us well, if imperfectly.

[WSB]

We mentioned this year’s Metroblogging Seattle “Blarch Badness” blog popularity poll here a week or so ago. Now they’re starting to get down to the “quarterfinals” and one such matchup features West Seattleite Kate, who publishes Accidental Hedonist. You can vote for her here:

http://seattle.metblogs.com/archives/2008/02/blarch_badness_35.phtml

And our first matchup is still open for a day or two too. Eventually we may beg you for votes because this year unlike last year there are prizes, but for now we’re keeping it low key:

http://seattle.metblogs.com/archives/2008/02/blarch_badness_32.phtml

Oh, forgot to mention, on that same page, you can (and in our opinion should) vote for Kirida, which is West Seattle momblogger/humorist extraordinaire Mona’s site.

[WSB]

There was a note on the door when last I stopped by several days ago – ‘closed temporarily for fire’ – not sure if it was still there when the other half of the team went over and caught up with the owners a day or two later. Will check tomorrow.

[tkg37]

Hi all, I’m so anxiously looking for a nice, clean apartment near Alki/Beach Drive/Admiral Area.

Everything goes SO fast though, or doesn’t allow pets. We (my husband and I) have a very sweet female cat. She is fixed and declawed.

We’d LOVE a one or 2 bedroom apt and if anyone has any leads, please post or feel free to email me. Ideally $1250, including utilities would be my max. I’ve seen plenty in the $800-$1000 range, so I’m pretty sure this monthly amount should be possible.

Thanks! (from your future neighbor)

[Anonymous]

New to this website and are seeking the best daycare for infants in West Seattle. Recomendations would be much appreciated.

[TheHouse]

Thanks for all of the comments re: moi above.

I’ve stayed neutral until Julie’s cattle prod statement above. I did read the Bill (it is short) and I don’t understand how you interpret “intellectual diversity” to mean “teach controversy”.

I believe that the intent of the Bill was to neutralize politics in the classroom. As many can attest and I have seen with my very eyes, many college professors are liberal and shine their political views/world views on the people in their class. I had several of the same debates I have on this blog with some of my college professors.

My interpretation of this Bill is that it will require professors to show both sides of an argument in a non religious course. Religion courses already teach multiple sides, so there should not be an issue with those types of courses.

[Ken]

Dinesh D’Souza is a professional and profligate liar. Hitchens is a drunk who could use a good editor who can lock him out of his PC when he is on a bender.

Atheism or religion should have no effect on the observable and provable building blocks the theory of evolution is based on.

The Theory of Evolution, the Theory of Gravity and Nuclear Theory are all equally supported by science, observation and experimentation.

None of these theories are set in stone and it is unlikely any of them can be. Certainly not in our lifetimes. That does not mean they are on the par with the kind of nonsense most of us have come up with after too many shots of tequila. In science, a Theory is a framework which divides what we know from what we do not yet know and allows each sub segment of a complex problem to be subject to intense study and experimentation. It is called a theory because at any moment, a single reproducible experiment could change any one branch of the framework and require an entirely new set of experiments, if we find an anomaly that does not fit. Multiple holes in what we know, however, does not automatically reverse or negate the parts of the theory which we do know.

Yet that does not mean that the research and engineering that are based on these theories can be rejected out of hand whether that rejection is based on religion, superstition or limited understanding of the math.

Those who reject the theory of gravity tend to self limit due to the dangerous experiments they choose. (Ironically, these are often chronicaled in the “Darwin Awards”.)http://www.darwinawards.com/

Those who disbelieve nuclear physics are often not harmed by this disbelief since they cannot comprehend enough of the theory to formulate experiments that could harm them. 90% of the work in the field is done with a computer or a pencil anyway.

If those who disbelieve the theory of Evolution were willing to forgo the scientific and engineering advances made within that framework, I might have a bit more respect for their position.

Vaccines, genetics, and most of current medical treatment would not have been possible without those researchers who worked within that framework.

Agriculture would be a very different operation without the scientific advances in genetic modification and veterinary medicine.

(most of this rant deleted.)

I don’t have time to do a good job of it and it has been done over and over again. Anyone with questions read this link.

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-intro-to-biology.html

Those of you who feel the genesis account is literal, no amount of my explaining it to ya like a ten year old is going to help either of us.

If I thought it would do any good to beg you not to vote based on that belief, I would be doing so now.

The mainstream religions both protestant and catholic understand the Book of Genesis to be allegory and very similar to the creation myths of nearly a dozen precursor religions that we know of. Those sects and denominations which require a literal belief in the bible, are also those who do not believe in Democracy or the separation of church and state.

The fundamentalist, the snake handler, the prosperity huckster and dominionist flavored con men will all tell you I am the tool of the devil for suggesting reason and science should over-rule faith.

But the truth is, I don’t give a rats patoot what you believe as long as you stop trying to inject it into either the decision making process of the country or the educational system at any level.

Only those with books to sell are trying to change your mind. Science does not care one whit as to what your religious beliefs are as long as you quit trying to call it science.

I am happy to see that some of you prefer reason with your conservatism. It means there is hope that you can take your party back once you realize how far is has gone from where you are.

A few not so random quotes from my archive:

I think every good Christian ought to kick Falwell right in the ass.

— Barry Goldwater

“In this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics!”

— Homer Simpson

“The wackos get their information through the Christian right, Christian radio, mail, the internet and telephone trees,” “Simply put, we want to bring out the wackos to vote against something and make sure the rest of the public lets the whole thing slip past them.”

— Michael Scanlon ,memo, read into the public record at a hearing of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

Some say being thoughtful is old fashioned. If so then I guess I’m just a caveman, if they existed – which they didn’t!

— Ned Flanders

[JoB]

I just finished

Shadow of the Silk Road by Colin Thubron

It was an incredible read, floating back and forth between historical sites and current reality. it was published in 2006 in England and written some time after 2004 as he references The World trade Center and Iraq invasion several places in the book during local conversations.

You may wonder what it has to do with evolution… and i can only say it spoke to me of the evolution of religion and society in a way i hadn’t heard before.

[JoB]

i gave shotweed my back two days ago// i will do more tomorrow:)

[JoB]

Ken, thank you for the link to to the Wikipedia segment on the wedge. I finally had time in the wee hours to go back and read it. And thank you Wes for your thoughtful questions. And thank you House… what thoughtful post.

I got distracted by questions of faith.. which i don’t think belong in the evolution/creationism debate as it is currently framed but which i can never resist as they are of the heart.

Who knows if Darwin got it “right”. We can’t refute what he observed… but as science learns more about the world we live in and discovers more.. we find that most early science got it mostly right.

What he got dead on was that in different micro-environments (for want of a better word), similar creatures turned out differently…

What is evolution? To me this is simply every living creature and anything created by them adapting to the changes in their world.

What proof is there of evolution? Well, House nailed that one if there is proof… we can actually watch microorganisms “evolve” when we introduce new stimuli into their environment. It is certainly logical to assume that if we do it on a micro level.. it also occurs on a macro level.

When did you realize evolution was true and why? Like House, i grew up in the woods with a family that was heavily tied to a home farm. I listened to breeding discussions in the kitchen and saw evidence that selected breeding worked. I saw the wild creatures that tried to coexist with that farm.. and watched as “pests” became “resistant” to the attempts to destroy them. It simply made sense to me. We use evolution to our own benefit and call it breeding. Why wouldn’t the rest of the creatures on earth have similar mechanisms for survival? I was 12 when i first confronted the question on an intellectual basis.

If any creature is to survive it would have to be able to adapt to the changing reality of our world.

What i find curious, is that we always assume that man is at his highest level of intelligence and awareness right now. We (our modern civilization) is not alone in this. I am certain that Michelangelo could conceive of nothing more glorious than the world he lived in.

Yet, archaeological evidence is destroying the idea of some sort of time line of civilization daily. What they find in current excavations in the desserts of Asia is that there have been many civilizations and they all had contact with one another long before we thought was possible.

We are arrogant to impose our standards on the skeletons we find… arrogant enough at one time to destroy anything which didn’t agree with our concept of civilizaton… what the Taliban did to far more than just “graven images” or what the English did to artifacts in Africa. We can only wonder at how much evidence was destroyed by those who didn’t want their interpretation challenged.

What is.. is as real as anything gets for us… how we look at those realities changes drastically depending upon the information available to us.

What i find frightening about the current debate… if it can be seen to be one.. is how far those who don’t want their interpretation challenged will go to deny the rest of us the information to make our own decisions about those interpretations.

[tigger]

Dana Henrickson of DMH Design (www.dmhdesign.net) does excellent work.

[TheHouse]

Ahhh, one of my favorite discussions!

You’d be foolish to dismiss evolution as a basic force on any group of organisms. Any organism, including humans, typically adapt to their surroundings for survival. If you examine human beings over generations, you can see signs of evolution (height, visual characteristics, etc). Sometimes organisms evolve subtlety over thousands of years and sometimes due to genetic mutations they can occur very quickly.

Creationism and Evolution cannot fairly be compared. People can believe in both, although I personally accept evolution, but have a hard time committing to Creationism.

An interesting point to bring up is that the very thing that proves Evolution will over time be its greatest oppressor….SCIENCE.

Science and technology actually work to thwart evolution. If left in our natural state, many of us would have our wisdom teeth growing into our skulls essentially killing us. Many of us would die from basic diseases at young ages. Many of would not be able to reproduce without the little blue pill. Many of us could not conceive children without in vitro treatments. These are all examples of “Natural Selection” that are thwarted b/c of modern medicine and technology and those people now live and reproduce carrying those genetic traits on to the next generation. This essentially makes it difficult for us to become a genetically stronger population in many aspects.

Now that I have that off my chest, I will answer Wes’s questions:

1) Evolution is defined by be as the changes (both positive and negative) in an organism from one generation to the next…like I stated above, sometimes they might be subtle and take time to see, sometimes they happen in one generation.

2) There is proof all around the world of evolution. The easiest example of evolution appears in bacteria. Everyday there are dozens of antibiotics that are rendered useless because the drug resistant strains of the bacteria are the ones that get to multiply and therefore become the dominant strain. This is the Cliffs Note version of course. I could explain in detail if you need me to.

3) I didn’t realize evolution at one point in time. Instead, it was something that adopted over time by observing animals and nature (spending time in the woods). I don’t claim that my method is scientific, but it I understand it because it is something I can observe and is rational to me. I also studied religion (Judaism & Catholicism) and found it to be based on faith. Faith cannot be observed and to me is not rational. I believe that we’ve discussed this in the past…many people believe that religion adds value to their lives and is positive, while many believe that it is a great oppressor.

One thing that evolution does not answer is who or what created the universe…..that is how every debate ends and neither side can answer with 100% certainty….that’s because we cannot comprehend it!

[ephonk]

I have a large but troublesome kitchen space that I am about to remodel. The same awkward trouble spots keep popping up with every stab I take at it. I’ve had input from Home Depot guys, cabinet builders and one interior designer, but I still don’t have confidence in the current best plan.

The one thing I haven’t done is actually lay out cash for someone whose core skill is designing kitchens. If it gives me a plan I have confidence in, it’s worth it. So, can anyone recommend an architect/kitchen designer?

[Aim]

Todd, you’re in exactly the neighborhood we want to be in. I would be ALL OVER this one if we hadn’t decided a short time ago that our next move will be into something we own. We are very very near you and pay $715/mo for a 1k sqft in a 4-plex with amazing neighbors.

We’d love to be in a house, but we really can’t justify paying more than the crazy-low rent we currently have unless we buy. And our landlord is fabulous, as well.

It would be nice to meet others in the neighborhood though. Maybe we can arrange to bring our respective spouse/partners and hit the next WSB meetup…

[Ken]

My home security company eats pedigree at a rate of about 50 lbs every two weeks.

Just for your info, I listened in on a few pitches for ADT when new people were moving into the town houses in Highpoint.

That is one terrifying place those people were moving into.

I wonder when it happened? I have been here across the street for 7 years and it looks nothing at all like the scary place the ADT salesman was describing.

Btw: never get a Husky for a watch dog. They are worthless. Mine never met a stranger but will guard a squeaky toy all day. The lab and the lab mix have to do all the watchdogin that happens around here.

[JoB]

i like that idea, but Obama still wants to be top dog and his linear thinking wouldn’t make things work out so well if he isn’t.

I have impishly thought of a Clinton/Clinton ticket.

Bill is charming… He charmed the pants off world leaders when it was his watch… She could keep him busy enough to keep him out of the way of predatory females…he will be there advising her anyway (whether she wants him to or not)… and he too would hit the ground running.

and.. he would help keep hillary safe because if they shot her he’d be presdient:)

just a thought… Yes, it is saturday night and some of us want to play ;-)