A Review: Einstein: his life and universe

I have a love/hate relationship with family and Christmas morning. I love it in principle and I hate it because I'm always hungover. Don't judge me. I was born on Christmas. I've never been able to go out for my birthday and party like a madman. When I turned 21 I had to find a dedicated few friends who were committed to downing a half gallon of tequila on December 26th at 12:01 AM. People seem to like partying on the 24th just fine though, so that's when I usually celebrate. By the time my headache meets the headache that is family I'm usually feeling pretty crappy and wishing that I could just skip Christmas morning without making my mom cry. But, I won't get married or even knock anyone up, so I have no escape. What does this have to do with the book I just read? Nothing of importance, really. I just hate reading reviews and I assume everyone else does too. Siskel died.
My index finger slid along the crease. I found the tape. I slowly pried it open; discarded paper all around me. I looked down at my lap and locked into those deep, yet confident, dark brown eyes. The wild, yet stiff, free flowing locks that seem to float in the air. That serene confidence that exudes as much charisma as brilliance. The archetype of whimsy and genius: Albert Einstein. I've had a necrophiliatic man-crush on Mr. PhotoElectric effect since the first biography I read on him. His discoveries have had such an under-appreciated affect on mankind. He was the messiah, and faith wasn't needed to prove his teachings. Equations were sufficient. Would the discoveries Einstein made  have been made eventually anyway? Yes. It just might have taken another fifty years. Imagine what the world would be like if it were set back fifty years. It's hard to fathom.

Am I overestimating his value? Do you know enough to argue with me? If you aren't sure you should read this book. It's the second Einstein biography I've read and its the superior of the two. You learn about the man, his impact, and his brilliance. This is one of the great men of history; don't be ignorant of his deeds. He's a character that no fiction writer would dare create for fear of inventing an essence too fantastic for reality. But, he existed. We are all better for it. Read this book and tell me I'm wrong.

Tweet

It's Private

For some reason I'm still up at 2 AM on a school night. More inexplicable is that Larry King Live is playing in the background. They're talking about John Edwards and the whole affair/sex tape/wife with cancer/two-year old love child fiasco and it got me thinking about the nature of relationships and how intensely personal they are. In some relationships that I've been in the abnormal seemed completely normal and really worked. I've been in relationships that seem completely normal but turn out to be, for lack of a better term, psychotic. Now, I'm not saying you can't judge John Edwards, you can. Knocking up some broad while your wife is home with incurable cancer WHILE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT is just plain sleazy.

There is a lot of gray area though. Sometimes a relationship based on using each other can work exceptionally well as long as you're both getting what you want. To be honest I've had better experiences (from a mental health standpoint) with that sort of relationship than I've had with the kind where you're insanely crazy about each other and dream of being together forever. I've been the cute couple that seem so good together but will go home after the party to fight, fuck and hate each other. I've been the guy that didn't give a shit that a bunch of guys were hitting on my girlfriend but then spent all the next day being lazy and watching movies with her. You never can tell what works so why do we all seem so insistent on analyzing everyone's relationship when it's none of our fucking business? It's wrong, we'll never know what its like between those two people.They have their own desires, wants and rules that are completely independent of our personal moral codes.

I'm still watching Larry King Live and the infamous Ted Haggard is on with his wife. Despite this rant I still can't help wondering what their relationship must be like. Human beings are so terribly nosy, we can't help it.
____________
 Image taken from: http://www.getentrepreneurial.com/2008/09/

Tweet

State of the Union

I found Obama's first State of the Union address to be reassuring and shocking all at the same time. I'm not sure if it was a stroke of brilliance or political suicide. He basically threw everyone in Washington, including himself, under the bus. One of the things I always find interesting is who stands up to applaud and who doesn't. Last night there were times when Republicans stood and Democrats didn't, which was fascinating. I would say that he probably attacked Democrats in the Senate more than he attacked Republicans. He went after the Supreme Court for recently knocking down campaign finance reforms. The military brass looked frustrated when he said that he would allow gays and lesbians to openly serve in the armed forces. He even went on about his on setbacks. He definitely came out swinging and hopefully this will lead to a revitalized Congress. The guy really knows how to work a room. I found the ending (posted below) interesting for how somber it made everyone in the room look.

Tweet

Absence

Do you ever get that sense of impending doom when you know you’re going to lose something valuable? It’s not even so much that you’ll miss it specifically but you’ll miss having it there. You don’t long for what you lost; you long to fill the void. Until that spot in your heart is replaced you just feel sort of empty. It’s why we text her at 3 AM; it’s why we snort her at 4. You need that certain something. It just feels good to have that warm feeling on a lazy Sunday afternoon; even if it isn’t perfect. Now that it’s almost gone what will I do? I know you’ll be back in September but until then I’ll miss you NFL.

P.S. Saints by 6

Tweet

Forgettable

I love darkness, it liberates my soul. The piccolo keeps going it doesn’t matter where I go. My own theme music, my own rusted Buick. I still make payments but lost the ingredients. I feel so needy. My words disrespect me and I disrespect them. Fuck them. I don’t really get it, they move; I stay complacent. My grammar is ugly and my friends are rammarg. What can I do when its all so wonderful? My head starts hurting and my neck stops beating. I love the sound of gibberish, especially in the morning. I haven’t slept for days and my head keeps hurting. What can I do but keep typing? The moment I give up the light is sure to take me. It’s almost over now, I really cannot help it. Please bear with me while I contemplate the idiocy that prevents me from skating on the thin ice that is my relationship. How can I even call it that when I never call her back? She’s nothing to me is what I always tell myself. What’s the point in caring when I’m not expected to? I can play a role. I can win a game. Monopoly isn’t hard but it always brings the worst. No one wins but Parker Brothers. I wish I had a monocle.

Tweet

Words Escape Me

Seriously, they left.

Tweet

Year One (Part II)

 Obama in Berlin.

Foreign Policy: A-

I think foreign policy is where the Obama Administration was really able to shine the first year. Foreign policy seems much more goal oriented now than it was during the Bush years. Open-ended nation building commitments have given way to objective based policies in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In Iraq there is now a plan in place to leave by 2011. In Afghanistan (and Pakistan),  the Defense and State Departments are now clearly focused on Al-Qaeda.

Banning torture and paving the way for closure of Guantanamo has also reinstated some of America’s moral authority when it comes to conducting military operations. Diplomatic ties to the rest of the world seem to have improved greatly. Instead of dictating terms to our European allies there is more of a partnership that seems to be working. Winning the Nobel Peace Prize is evidence of this (although it does seem too soon). Ties to Cuba have opened up more and we’re investing more in Mexican law enforcement in an attempt to stem violence from the cartels that are running rampant there.

Most important is an attempt to open an honest dialogue with countries in the Middle East. Creating new diplomatic channels to nations there as well as directly appealing to the public, such as with his Cairo speech, will move to make us less the great American Satan and more of a potential ally. When revolution comes again to Iran, and I think it will soon, we can be on the right side this time.

Overall Grade: B

I think the Obama Administration has laid the groundwork for a solid presidency that might not do as much as promised but will help Americans and improve our standing in the world. Despite the hysteria that is now taking place on CNN and Fox News, once the economy starts to turn around I think this will turn out to be a very successful Presidency. I think Americans will come to their senses and realize that voting for a bunch of Bush clones won’t be the answer, especially once the health care debate is closed. What sane person would think that having Bush policies in place right now would make us better off? We just need a little patience and some more jobs and things will be OK.

Tweet

A True Role Model

Whilst flipping through the channels I stopped upon a commercial for the new film Surrogates by Bruce Willis and thought to myself “damn, how many more times can this guy save the world?”. He’s already saved us from countless terrorist attacks, prevented 99% of the world’s population from a deadly disease and rescued Ving Rhames from a fate worse than death. What does he ask in return? A medal? A thank you from the President? No. He just wants to bang Demi Moore and be left alone. Then, when some talent-less hack ends up with his wife does he go crazy? No, he’s OK with it because he’s just that fucking cool. Next time you’re out in the country gazing up at all the beautiful stars think of Bruce Willis and the giant meteor that ISN’T heading straight for you.

***

I'll get back to Obama tomorrow.

Tweet

Year One

Today marks the end of year one for the Obama administration. It seems like a lot longer, doesn’t it? It’s hard to believe it was only a year ago that the other guy, whom I’d rather not mention, was still President. We were about 6 months into the worst financial collapse since the great depression (aren’t you sick of hearing that sentence everywhere?) and we were riding a high of political enthusiasm the likes of which the country hasn’t seen in generations. So where does an avid supporter of the Obama ideal rank the Administration after the first year?

Domestic Agenda: B

By now we’re all sick of hearing about health care. The health care bill has been the main focus of the first year of the administration and rightfully so. America, despite temporary amnesia, voted overwhelmingly for universal health care during the 2008 election. The Republicans during their Contract with America days and the monkey boy years never had a President win with such an overwhelmingly victory or had such large majorities in both houses of Congress. In fact, the Republican party has not had this much of an advantage in the House and Senate since 1923. The thought that this is a conservative nation is a myth that can be proven by simply looking at our countries history.

With this sort of political capital health care reform should have been rammed down the throats of Congress by President Obama. He tried to be too cordial in his relationship with Congress and I believe it cost him momentum that he’s had trouble regaining. Republicans never should have been involved in the health care  debate at all. They were irrelevant in the first year of the Obama Administration and should have been treated as such, because, lets face it, the Republican party and the insurance companies are one in the same. When Congressional Democrats got timid he should have threatened them with his huge donor lists, not made an effort to accommodate them. I’m aware he was trying to keep up with campaign pledges of operating a different kind of politics but health care should have been pushed through with a populist fervor. It would have worked.

Having said all that, health care reform still is close to passing. Is the bill flawed? Of course, it’s Congress we’re talking about here. However, we are moving in the direction we should be. Health care needs to be treated as a right in America and that will gain traction over time. The bill will be tweaked over the years but once Americans get used to the idea of health care as a right it will be impossible to take away just like Social Security and Medicare, two very socialist programs that no politician would dare touch. Now, this bill has not passed as of yet and if it doesn’t I’d have to drop his grade down to a D. But, despite not reaching expectations, the fact that the bill is one step away from passage is amazing. Clinton never got health care out of committee. Here’s hoping we’ll get something.

Tomorrow: Foreign policy.

Tweet

And I will strike down upon thee...

Apparently defense contractor Trijicon has been engraving guns used by the U.S. military with bible verses such as this one from 2 Corinthians 4:6:

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ

I'm not sure what that has to do with high-powered rifles but I guess we shouldn't be surprised considering the company slogan:

Trijicon: If you can't find Jesus we'll be happy to show you where he is.

Tweet

Half Thoughts

Sadness overtakes me as I move forward. Every step agony; every move terrifying. I cannot stop. I’ve been on this path too long to quit now. Come hell or high water I’ll have my low-water mark. I turn the knob, pull, and look in…

Tweet

1-800-SATAN

"It may be a blessing in disguise. ... Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it. Haitians were originally under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon the third, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, we will serve you if you will get us free from the French. True story. And so, the devil said, okay it's a deal. Ever since they have been cursed by one thing after the other." –Pat Robertson, on the earthquake in Haiti that destroyed the capital and killed tens of thousands of people, Jan. 13, 2010

How can a supposed man of God be so wicked, hateful and clearly out of touch with what is actually in the bible. How does he stay on TV? Why hasn't there been boycotts of his obviously evil Christian Broadcasting Network? Anyone else in America would get publicly lynched for saying such hateful, unintelligent things. Yet, after every disaster, while the Red Cross mobilizes Pat Robertson starts with his hate. He did this after Hurricane Katrina, September 11th and countless other times. How can a man be so evil yet still allowed to have his own soap box on national television? It boggles the mind.

Some other wonderful quotes from Pat:

"(T)he feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians." –Pat Robertson

"Just like what Nazi Germany did to the Jews, so liberal America is now doing to the evangelical Christians. It's no different. It is the same thing. It is happening all over again. It is the Democratic Congress, the liberal-based media and the homosexuals who want to destroy the Christians. Wholesale abuse and discrimination and the worst bigotry directed toward any group in America today. More terrible than anything suffered by any minority in history." –Pat Robertson

On 9/11: "Don't ask why did it happen. It happened because people are evil. It also happened because God is lifting His protection from this nation and we must pray and ask Him for revival so that once again we will be His people, the planting of His righteousness, so that He will come to our defense and protect us as a nation." -Pat Robertson

Tweet

Erica

I still remember my first. We were great together and I learned so many things. I was young and naive and eventually he started to take advantage. I had barely even started working and he’d want half my check. Needless to say it didn’t end well. That’s when I had my revelation; a revolution in my mind. I became so idealistic. Why can’t I have equality? I don’t have to be subservient to any man.

I started off slow. Sure, there were bumps in the road but I was making progress. I did things I wasn’t proud of when I was young, haven’t we all? Then it seemed my bad decisions were adding up, haunting me. I was tearing myself apart. I couldn’t take it anymore. I cut myself, in half. It was the darkest time of my life but I made it through. My wounds healed, but scars remained.

Time marched on. I’m middle aged now. I’m stronger, but still haven’t come into my own. Suddenly, I was forced to finally grow up. I put all of my inner demons aside and used all my might to fight what was, at the time, the biggest battle of my life. Eventually, I triumphed. I licked my wounds and came out on top. I finally had the respect of my peers and times were great. Then I got careless and blew all my money on Wall Street. I was poor, but still proud. I had the will and the courage to make it through tough times; I knew that about myself already.

I slowly but surely started making my fortune back. That is until an even greater fight made me stop caring about myself and stand up for the greater good. At first I was hesitant, but a woman can only take so much. I mobilized every asset I had and dug in for another fight the likes of which no one now could understand, and with any luck will never have to. Again, I came out victorious. After that I decided to settle down and have a few kids. I had some other fights after that. Not the same scale but no less difficult or hard on my family.

One day I just got sick of it. Is it too much to ask for a little peace? I might have been much older but I found I wasn’t completely jaded. That young, idealistic girl that just wanted love was still inside me somewhere. I’d gotten so used to fighting that I’d forgotten what I was even fighting for. I’d had my mid-life crisis a little late. So many different ideas swirling around in my head. Am I the warrior or the lover? I was divided for a time but eventually moved on.

I’m an old woman now. I’ve been there, done that. You can’t surprise me anymore, or so I thought. One day, out of the blue, I was savagely hit in the face. At the time I didn’t even know who it was. My eye was blackened and I was fuming. There is still some fight left in this old girl yet. I lashed out at everyone. It didn’t matter if they had a connection to my wound or not! I was fucking pissed and I swore I’d never let anyone hit me again. I brought the wrath of God down on anyone I suspected of wanting to hurt me. Was it logical? Hell no! But it felt good.

Now I’m trying to pick up the pieces for reacting the way I did. I’m an old woman and I need someone younger to help rejuvenate me, bring me new life. I just want happiness, is that too much to ask?

I, Am Erica.

Tweet

Shocking Future

Are we naive about the radical changes our world is going through? Technology has seen exponential growth in the last ten years. Remember what your cell phone looked like back in 2000? Probably something like this:

Take a look at the phone you own now. The first iPod only held 1,000 songs and weighed ten pounds (not really).  Wikipedia was founded in 2001 and now holds more information than the entire Library of Alexandria ever did. Google is a word now! People ask something like two billion questions a day to the little Google machine. Where did we get information before? I can’t even remember. Everything I could ever want to know is at my finger tips.

I don’t think there has been nearly enough debate about the implications of this. There is lots of talk about how much easier it makes everything and how cool this flashy new Apple toy is but where will it lead? Will we become smarter because we have so much more information readily available? Or, are we trending towards worldwide laziness because we no longer need to trek to the library to find out what we need to know? Will bar bets become non-existent because anyone can just look up what they want to know on their phone? Or, will they just be more easily settled? Where will we be in another ten years? The world needs ground-breaking philosophers more than ever.

P.S. I know I stole this from Alvin Toffler

Tweet

Insensitivity Training

By now I’m sure most of you have read about the comments Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made about President Obama during the ‘08 campaign. Republican uproar, of course, soon followed. I don’t really care to delve into the partisan bickering about Reid, the comments Trent Lott made in 2002, or about the suspicious timing of the controversy (right before health care reform is nearly completed). Instead I think a dialog should be opened about how to deal with racially insensitive remarks.

I think there is a huge divide in this country over race. I think the divide can be delineated by separating the country into two different groups: those that enjoyed the humor of Chappelle’s Show; and those that didn’t. The groundbreaking show, in my opinion, was the first popular television show that could take issues of race and make them look completely ridiculous. Some people got it and some didn’t. Generally, I think people comfortable with issues of race can easily make racist jokes to people of all races. This is a skill I’ve developed and finely tuned over my years of growing up in Chicago with racially diverse groups of friends. In a way, racism can ease the tension and bring people together. Now I’m not suggesting that you go up to the next white person you see and ask them to pass the crackers or ask the next black person you see where to get a good piece of fried chicken. You need a bit of a rapport first, but eventually you will have to get past the racial awkwardness that sometimes arises and I find humor to the best way of broaching the subject.

So how do we determine whether someone should be reprimanded for making a racist comment? I believe that they should be forced to watch the video below with the defensive line of the Cincinnati Bengals. If they can watch this video, laugh and not develop a nervous sweat then they should be given a pass. If not, its off to sensitivity training.

Warning: Video contains offensive content and racial slurs. Don’t watch at work.
 
Clayton Bigsby - Funny video clips are a click away

Tweet

Pierogies!

I had a cold for about a week and a half that I'm only just now getting over. Today I had an excessive amount of energy so I decided to make these little beauties. About ten thousand of them (OK it just felt like ten thousand). They actually turned out pretty good. So glad I have my sense of taste back.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Tweet

Immature Humor

My brother sent this picture to me in one of those spam emails liberals send to each other to make fun of how incredibly insane conservatives can be. We emailed back and forth trying to figure out how it is that no one in this whole tea party craziness has figured out what “tea-bagging” actually is. A week or so passed before I talked to him again. Apparently our mother sent him an email saying she didn’t get the joke. He said he tried and tried but could not bring himself to explain to our mother what “tea-bagging” is. Then it dawned on me that the children of the tea-party can’t bring themselves to tell their parents either.

The hilarity continues.

P.S. If you're one of the people that doesn't know what tea-bagging is either here is the definition from urbandictionary.com. Warning it is a sexual act... I guess.

Tweet

Job

The Bible is probably the most influential piece of literature in human history. An on-again/off-again project I've been working on for over three years now is reading the bible cover to cover and writing out my thoughts on each book. I left off with Esther and now I return with Job. I know its two religion blogs in a row but don't worry; it'll probably be a while before i get to Psalms.

***

Job

Quick summary: God and Satan are talking. God brags about how loyal Job is. God let's Satan test Job. Satan takes Job's wealth, kills his wife and children, and gives Job terrible boils and pain. Job still worships God although he is considerably more bitter.


Job is easily one of the most controversial books in the bible. It takes on the hard questions every religion faces such as: why does God let bad things happen to good people?; and, why aren’t the wicked punished for selfish and evil acts? I have a couple of friends that I know in my heart are good people but can’t seem to shake off a streak of absolutely shitty luck. We all struggle with these questions whether you believe in a higher power or not.

The book of Job would have been a great time to grab the bull by the horns and answer the tough questions head on. Instead, God does a curious thing in his response to Job; he belittles him. In the beginning of the book God praises the earth Job walks on before he lets Satan loose on him. After Job survives his trials (think: perverse re-imagining of the ‘80’s movie “Trading Places”) God answers Job’s questions by saying:

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements - surely you know!”

What the hell kind of answer is that? Yes, there is more, but that’s the gist of it.  God doesn’t explain why Job suffered. He just talks about how awesome he is. I can see why so many people have had trouble with the book of Job; it is very unfulfilling. This book asks about human suffering but it doesn‘t provide any answers.

Maybe that’s the point; there is no explanation for good and evil.

Tweet

I Don't Believe It!

That there is a God, that is. Well, except when I can't find my keys. Logically I don't see it being possible and spiritually I don't feel it, and not for lack of trying. I'm not a "religion is the opium of the masses" sort of an atheist or even the religion has been the source of too much suffering kind. Hell I usually end up defending religion to other atheists because in reality I don't think its all bad, just an "easy way out" method of dealing with life's toughest questions.

I grew up Lutheran, went to Sunday school every week, got confirmed and all that good stuff. Even back then I think I was leaning towards agnosticism and  there I remained stuck for over a decade. Letting go of the belief that there must be some sort of God strangely wasn't that hard, but leaving it behind completely is terribly difficult.

Thinking there is a God is such a wonderful crutch. In the last year since I've decided that I, indeed, am an atheist I've prayed and asked God to get me out of trouble more than once. In a pinch, I'll say something like "please God don't let this stinky homeless person sit down next to me" when I'm on the El. Once my temporary problem is solved (without any smiting) I brush it off and scold myself for being inconsistent. Believing in God would be so much easier.

Tweet

Letting Go

When I was four years old I had this bright red pair of sneakers that I cherished. Having worn them a size too long I still wouldn't give them up. Eventually, my parents were forced to throw them out in the middle of the night. I was devastated, crying for hours. I can still remember my limp body being lugged into Payless, my winter boots (in July) dragging across the parking lot. I employed passive resistance long before I'd heard of Gandhi. I was so traumatized. Those bright red shoes were the last bold fashion statement of my life. Nothing but blues and earth-tones ever since.

Tweet

Every day the same dream

Check out this interesting little take on life.

Tweet

Issues With Authority

I've started reading Einstein by Walter Isaacson recently and one theme early in the book is Einstein's notorious problem with authority generally and specifically in the world of academia. I started thinking of other archetypal "Great People" that changed the world through their minds on a scale similar to Einstein's influence. Some names that come to mind:

Socrates:

Socrates is the archetypal philosopher. If you ever take any sort of general philosophy course he is always the first one you study and to me has always been one of the most fascinating. In seeking knowledge he went to philosophers, politicians and artisans and found that all of them really knew nothing. He concluded that he was in fact, the wisest man in the world simply because he was the only whom could admit that he knew nothing. Eventually he was executed for "corrupting the youth" and other bogus charges.

Jesus Christ:

The first man to believe love could conquer all famously argued with Rabbis at the temple in Jerusalem and chastised those making money off the believers on the temple grounds. His long hair (as portrayed in made up renderings) and his turn the other cheek philosophy made him the biggest hippy in history (despite any claims to the contrary by John Lennon). We all know the impact his teachings (and misinterpretation of) had on the world.

Other Notables:

Charles Darwin, Galileo, Nicolaus Copernicus, Moses, Napoleon Bonaparte, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Muhammad, Christopher Columbus, and countless others.

What do all of these people have in common? In one way or another they all put their stamp on history by challenging authority and turning common practices and ideas on their heads. Why is it that while liberal ideas have always been the reason for progress in the world conservatism is always taught and promoted in the educational system? When will the world ever take a chance on implementing wide-scale education that focuses on rewarding innovation over cramming for tests? All of the amazing progress made in the 20th century was made in spite of, not because of, an educational system that looks like its modeled more closely after a prison than a place that rewards individuality. What could the world have looked like if the Einstiens, Jesus Christs, and Galileos of the world had been encouraged rather than persecuted?

Tweet