http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2013/01/17/cheers-and-more-cheers-the-thursday-line-is-open Comments On: Cheers and more cheers: The Thursday line is open by Max Brantley en-us Copyright 2013 Arkansas Times. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, Arkansas Times readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact Arkansas Times. robert@arktimes.com (Arkansas Times Webmaster) Sat, 18 May 2013 00:00:01 -0500 Sat, 18 May 2013 06:45:00 -0500 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Posted by Verla Sweere]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 02:18:04 -0600 Arkansas Times >The statute of limitations on Free Will just flat runs out on us.<

That's assuming you ever exercised Free Will in the first place. Did you think it a
film title?
Posted by eLwood]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:15:53 -0600 Arkansas Times
President Ronald Reagan to Congress, 1994.
Posted by eLwood]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:12:44 -0600 Arkansas Times
Your religion is not embraced by you and we both know it so why throw out hypotheticals?

Life begins at conception and genetic science indicates that.
Posted by SalineRepublican]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 23:53:08 -0600 Arkansas Times
I appreciate the thorough explanation. I'm sure I knew some of it. You need to understand the olphart mindset though. You see, FACTS will sometimes mess up our story/joke. The story is NOT ALLOWED to be messed up. After a certain age, we can't help it. The statute of limitations on Free Will just flat runs out on us.

There is one consolation though. I still have the vague realization that the FACTS are lurking somewhere in the background and they might even be important. But we forge ahead repeating the same lame stories anyway.

Now, tragically, there are some folks who can tell stories repeatedly without being aware of FACTS and how important they can be. In some cases, the condition can strike at an early age and they never recover. Whenever these people encounter an actual FACT, it just doesn't register for whatever reason. And, again, tragically, there is no known cure for Republican's Syndrome, sometimes acronymized to RS.

I know you could see that coming from a mile away but I still had to finish it. Pity me. I'm not too proud to accept it.
Posted by Olphart]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 23:44:15 -0600 Arkansas Times The people who have small farms & vend at farmers markets love what they do and take pride in their products. If they are trying to make a living at small farming they are most likely living on the edge of disaster.
The people whom I've spoken to at farmer markets usually are retired & vending because they love what they do or are also working a full time job.
Posted by Hackett]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 23:03:19 -0600 Arkansas Times
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/01/16/5117549/j…
Posted by NeverVoteRepublican]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:37:25 -0600 Arkansas Times Posted by NB Lives In Pangburn Trailer Home]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:29:16 -0600 Arkansas Times
Boy, oh boycott!
Posted by Norma Bates]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:07:44 -0600 Arkansas Times
Naturally, your Norma feels compelled to rescue her Razorbabies, at least as far as virtually everything else you buy at Whole Foods (that would be vitamins, minerals, immune-system builders, Zyflamend, bio-curcumin with phytosomes, protein, herbal remedies, goat's milk soaps, shea butter moisturizers, non-chemical makeup, natural denture paste, et al.).

They're far cheaper -- ALL of them -- same brands, for the most part, on Amazon. Even with shipping. One-third to one-half less than Whole Foods. Delivered to your door, so no noxious exhaust fumes, vehicular wear and tear, and an overall greener footprint both environmentally and in the bank.

Without some right-wing Texas rabble-rouser abusing his Birkenstock-wearing tattooed and pierced deodorant-free yet knowledgeable, cheerful, friendly and helpful overworked underpaid liberal staff slaving and saving toward their Dream -- a Vitamix juicer.

Trust me.

Amazon is the answer to your boycotting needs.
Posted by Norma Bates]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:05:57 -0600 Arkansas Times inorganic chemicals, pesticides and herbicides. Chemically derived fertilizers are also
missing. At last glance organic food producers were winning in the battle to keep
manure from commercially grown animals out of the organic farms. The chemicals in feed lot and factory farm animals' manure is loaded with inorganic materials.

To be labeled as "organic" a food producer's land must be tested at regular intervals for chemical residuals.

If you don't wish to pay extra for organic and you're under 65 consider buying organic fruit. Fruit is the most heavily sprayed food in the supermarket.
Posted by eLwood]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:54:31 -0600 Arkansas Times
"I wish there was one nearby that I could boycott."

Good one, Outlier. Funny...

I probably wouldn't patronize them anyway. I know they probably sell all sorts of good stuff but I can't get over the fact that "natural" type food stores label certain foods as "organic" and often charge more for it too. What other kind of foods can we eat? Inorganic foods would be things like what? Rocks?

I've had several women leave me for that kind of attitude.
Posted by Olphart]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:15:40 -0600 Arkansas Times Posted by FullThrottle]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:00:35 -0600 Arkansas Times
One could make a case that your church is being sexist by that definition--not that anyone would ever accuse the Catholic church of that. What about the 180 million sperm in the average male ejaculate? Does not each sperm yearn for fulfillment in the form of its own "fertilization"? To put this another way, for every fertilized egg which God allows to become human, he does not allow another 179,999,999 humans to exist due to the God-designed inefficiency of the system. The number of eggs should be equal to the number of the sperm. God does not allow these millions to be born which is tantamount to murder. That makes abortion look tame by comparison. Do not these other potential people have rights?

Anybody want to buy some some Pro Potential-Life buttons?

This is not as silly as it sounds, it's just an extension of the same argument.
Posted by Olphart]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:53:15 -0600 Arkansas Times That mother speaks for me and my kiddos, too.
Posted by HardHeadedWoman]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:38:56 -0600 Arkansas Times Posted by plainjim]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:09:36 -0600 Arkansas Times
Why I Raise My Children Without God
By TXBlue08 | Posted January 14, 2013 | Texas


CNN PRODUCER NOTE TXBlue08, a mother of two teenagers in Texas, blogs about raising her children without religion. She said she shared this essay on CNN iReport because 'I just felt there is not a voice out there for women/moms like me. I think people misunderstand or are fearful of people who don’t believe in God.' What are your thoughts on this iReport? Share your written response via our Sound Off assignment.

Update: CNN hasn't flagged this iReport as inappropriate, but some community members have. This is a divisive topic, however it does not violate our Community Guidelines, so we ask people to please stop flagging it. We will continue to review the story as often as possible.
- dsashin, CNN iReport producer

When my son was around 3 years old, he used to ask me a lot of questions about heaven. Where is it? How do people walk without a body? How will I find you? You know the questions that kids ask.


For over a year, I lied to him and made up stories that I didn’t believe about heaven. Like most parents, I love my child so much that I didn’t want him to be scared. I wanted him to feel safe and loved and full of hope. But the trade-off was that I would have to make stuff up, and I would have to brainwash him into believing stories that didn’t make sense, stories that I didn’t believe either.


One day he would know this, and he would not trust my judgment. He would know that I built an elaborate tale—not unlike the one we tell children about Santa—to explain the inconsistent and illogical legend of God.


And so I thought it was only right to be honest with my children. I am a non-believer, and for years I’ve been on the fringe in my community. As a blogger, though, I’ve found that there are many other parents out there like me. We are creating the next generation of kids, and there is a wave of young agnostics, atheists, free thinkers and humanists rising up through the ranks who will, hopefully, lower our nation’s religious fever.


Here are a few of the reasons why I am raising my children without God.


God is a bad parent and role model.

If God is our father, then he is not a good parent. Good parents don’t allow their children to inflict harm on others. Good people don’t stand by and watch horrible acts committed against innocent men, women and children. They don’t condone violence and abuse. “He has given us free will,” you say? Our children have free will, but we still step in and guide them.


God is not logical.

How many times have you heard, “Why did God allow this to happen?” And this: “It’s not for us to understand.” Translate: We don’t understand, so we will not think about it or deal with the issue. Take for example the senseless tragedy in Newtown. Rather than address the problem of guns in America, we defer responsibility to God. He had a reason. He wanted more angels. Only he knows why. We write poems saying that we told God to leave our schools. Now he’s making us pay the price. If there is a good, all-knowing, all-powerful God who loves his children, does it make sense that he would allow murders, child abuse, wars, brutal beatings, torture and millions of heinous acts to be committed throughout the history of mankind? Doesn’t this go against everything Christ taught us in the New Testament?


The question we should be asking is this: “Why did we allow this to happen?” How can we fix this? No imaginary person is going to give us the answers or tell us why. Only we have the ability to be logical and to problem solve, and we should not abdicate these responsibilities to “God” just because a topic is tough or uncomfortable to address.


God is not fair.

If God is fair, then why does he answer the silly prayers of some while allowing other, serious requests, to go unanswered? I have known people who pray that they can find money to buy new furniture. (Answered.) I have known people who pray to God to help them win a soccer match. (Answered.) Why are the prayers of parents with dying children not answered?


If God is fair, then why are some babies born with heart defects, autism, missing limbs or conjoined to another baby? Clearly, all men are not created equally. Why is a good man beaten senseless on the street while an evil man finds great wealth taking advantage of others? This is not fair. A game maker who allows luck to rule mankind’s existence has not created a fair game.


God does not protect the innocent.

He does not keep our children safe. As a society, we stand up and speak for those who cannot. We protect our little ones as much as possible. When a child is kidnapped, we work together to find the child. We do not tolerate abuse and neglect. Why can’t God, with all his powers of omnipotence, protect the innocent?


God is not present.

He is not here. Telling our children to love a person they cannot see, smell, touch or hear does not make sense. It means that we teach children to love an image, an image that lives only in their imaginations. What we teach them, in effect, is to love an idea that we have created, one that is based in our fears and our hopes.


God Does Not Teach Children to Be Good

A child should make moral choices for the right reasons. Telling him that he must behave because God is watching means that his morality will be externally focused rather than internally structured. It’s like telling a child to behave or Santa won’t bring presents. When we take God out of the picture, we place responsibility of doing the right thing onto the shoulders of our children. No, they won’t go to heaven or rule their own planets when they die, but they can sleep better at night. They will make their family proud. They will feel better about who they are. They will be decent people.


God Teaches Narcissism

“God has a plan for you.” Telling kids there is a big guy in the sky who has a special path for them makes children narcissistic; it makes them think the world is at their disposal and that, no matter what happens, it doesn’t really matter because God is in control. That gives kids a sense of false security and creates selfishness. “No matter what I do, God loves me and forgives me. He knows my purpose. I am special.” The irony is that, while we tell this story to our kids, other children are abused and murdered, starved and neglected. All part of God’s plan, right?


When we raise kids without God, we tell them the truth—we are no more special than the next creature. We are just a very, very small part of a big, big machine–whether that machine is nature or society–the influence we have is minuscule. The realization of our insignificance gives us a true sense of humbleness.


I understand why people need God. I understand why people need heaven. It is terrifying to think that we are all alone in this universe, that one day we—along with the children we love so much—will cease to exist. The idea of God and an afterlife gives many of us structure, community and hope.


I do not want religion to go away. I only want religion to be kept at home or in church where it belongs. It’s a personal effect, like a toothbrush or a pair of shoes. It’s not something to be used or worn by strangers. I want my children to be free not to believe and to know that our schools and our government will make decisions based on what is logical, just and fair—not on what they believe an imaginary God wants.

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-910282?hpt…
Posted by ButWhoCares]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:07:41 -0600 Arkansas Times Posted by TuckerMax]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:03:27 -0600 Arkansas Times
http://tinyurl.com/b2cmg3h
Posted by Cato]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:01:20 -0600 Arkansas Times
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/gop-…

More proof they aren't learning. They are holding a panel discussion on "Successful Communication with Women and Minorities" at a plantation.

http://wonkette.com/497373/gop-schedules-p…

Since empathy and compassion is generally learned before age 5 and basic science is taught in elementary school, their best option might be to shut their traps. Old dogs and new tricks, etc., etc.
Posted by the outlier]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:51:35 -0600 Arkansas Times Posted by Cato]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:48:57 -0600 Arkansas Times Posted by Yellowdogdaughter]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:39:14 -0600 Arkansas Times
"SPRINGDALE — Springdale police will no longer escort funeral processions heading from churches and chapels to gravesites, a move that’s angered funeral directors.

Other police agencies in Northwest Arkansas plan to continue escorting funerals on request.

“If they’re not going to provide escorts, they need to set up an option for us to do something different. They’ve pulled the rug out from under us,” said Scott Berna, owner of several funeral homes in the region. “If they stick with this policy, there will have to be changes to the way processions are handled. What they’ve done is take away a last symbol of respect for families.”

The change stemmed from manpower and liability issues, said Kathy O’Kelley, Springdale police chief.

“We aren’t opposed to somebody else doing it, but we couldn’t with our on-duty personnel. I get that it’s tradition and a sign of respect, but it’s gotten to the point where it’s not safe,” O’Kelley said. “Our officers are busy responding to calls for service, and official police business, and our liability provider also didn’t want us in the escort business anymore.”

Large processions can take up to eight officers, and last an hour or more, she said.

Fayetteville, Rogers and Bentonville all provide escorts on request, provided manpower is available.
.....
(Different in Benton County)
Escorts provide both a service and a public relations boost, said Kelly Cradduck, Benton County sheriff.

“I feel it’s something we need to continue doing for the community,” he said. “If we don’t have enough people available on duty, we’ll use reserves. If that doesn’t work, I’ll get my command staff to do it or get in a car and do it myself.”

http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2013/jan/17/…
-----------------------------------------------
Springdale po-leeze never gave much of a shit about public relations. Their patrol cars driven by shaven-headed cops with ramming bars on the front of all-black squad cars said a lot about them. That was in the rock n'roll halcyon days of Cheney Era. Chief O'Kelley has returned them to blue/white squad cars minus the ramming bars.
Posted by eLwood]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:33:37 -0600 Arkansas Times >I bought beer legally in Benton County today. It was 66 years in coming.

Yea, they had to wait for Miss Helen to pass on otherwise she would have seen to it that the place stay dry. Her old Presbyterian roots were showing. It were Presbyterians who moved into Chickenopolis and cleaned out the wild west bars in Shiloh Town. Now, there's only one small church of them what remains, replaced by 57 brands of Baptist.
Posted by eLwood]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:12:34 -0600 Arkansas Times Posted by MysteryShopper]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:10:49 -0600 Arkansas Times