Links With Your Coffee - Friday
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"All truth is simple." Is that not doubly a lie?—Nietzsche
Clinton's Letter to ABC
ABC got it wrong what really happened from Don Davis at the Satirical Report
Authorized Interrogation Techniques or as Bush refers to them, "aggressive interrogation techniques. In other words, torture.
Ben at freethought.net writes:
Around this time last year the BBC ran a three-part documentary called “A Brief History of Disbelief”, described as follows on the documentary site:
In this first ever television history of disbelief, Jonathan Miller goes on a journey exploring the origins of his own lack of belief and uncovering the hidden story of atheism.
Someone has posted each 60 minute episode up on Google video so that those of us outside the UK can take a look.
Part 1: Shadows of Doubt
Part 2: Noughts and Crosses
Part 3: The Final Hour
If you haven't seen these yet take my word for it they are superb.
update: Actually these are just okay I was thinking of the Atheism Tapes, but my memory failed me again. Thanks for the comment reminding me that I'm sometimes full of it.
A couple of new haikus from MadKane
Taking reasonable measures to keep terrorists from carrying out attacks on American soil is completely necessary, but making terrorism the center of our political culture is just fucking insane. Why does no one realize this? Why is it considered "serious" to support an insane and unwinnable global conflict? I do not understand.
Comments
CAPITOL HILL As you might imagine, reaction to a report on prewar intelligence about Iraq is pretty well split along party lines.
The report says there's no evidence that Saddam Hussein had any links to al-Qaida. It comes from the Senate Intelligence Committee, whose ranking Democrat accuses the Bush administration of exploiting "the deep sense of insecurity" people felt after Nine-Eleven.
West Virginia's Jay Rockefeller says despite what was known at the time, Americans were led to believe Iraq had a role in the attacks.
His committee colleague, Michigan Democrat Carl Levin, calls the report a "devastating indictment" of what he calls the administration's "misleading and deceptive attempts" to link Saddam Hussein to al-Qaida.
The panel's Republican chairman acknowledges prewar intelligence assessments of Iraq were a failure. But Pat Roberts of Kansas accuses the Democrats of trying to "rewrite history" to claim they were "duped into supporting" the war.
I'm blown away by this pathetic attempt to reestablish Clinton as the Bogey man.
This idea that the Democrats, particularly Clinton, are responsible for this stupid evil little president's inane, dangerous actions, is beyond the pale of sanity.
did you really think that the jonathan miller series was that great? i liked it but just barely... the silly watching-himself-on-a-laptop-gimmick drove me nuts. also, it annoyed me how much of himself he put in it and how much of the more interesting interviews on the cutting room floor. (this may sound a bit too harsh, i don't dislike miller at all! he can be brilliant... and boring. at the same time, even)
but luckily, miller also released a 6 part series "the atheism tapes" with the full interviews, wherein he has very intelligent conversations with all the regulars on the topic. in all of these both parties come across as thoughtful, eloquent and clear. i found that part really impressive.
plus, during the interview with dan dennet, miller has rainbow coloured socks on. nerds rule.
You're right oskar, I'm full of shit they are just okay I was thinking of the atheism tapes when I made that comment. Thanks for setting me straight.
Right, oskar - after spying those socks (which leaned towards matching his shirt), it was hard to concentrate on the 'discussion.' Just finished the first installment, but will check out the tapes as well.
I think the Johnathon Miller series is a great introduction to the topic.
An interesting historical introduction that put the interview tapes in context for those not already well grounded in the history of the specific subject.
I am probably just too stupid regarding the more important nuances. I didn't actually notice the socks for more than an instant. Now I realize how much I was failing to 'grok'. Phew, thanks. :)
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