FU - FairAndUNbalanced.com

A couple of months ago, Ryan at Secular Ethics began a wonderful discussion on the tension between truth and belief, that is to say belief as a part of evolutionary determinism. That's my interpretation, not his. The theme is how to move beyond our desires and beliefs to a more objective view. The discussion rages still. Entertaining, wide-ranging, informative. Ryan knows how to put these things together, as evidenced by his generous contribution yesterday on our site.

Our favorite John Myste at John Myste Responds does his part in the debate/discussion Ryan hosts breaking off into a separate piece on critical thinking, using, in part, controversies about gay equality to illustrate the pursuit of intellectual honesty. All in all, pretty heady stuff. Still, I will be at worship service tomorrow.

Slant Right's John Houk proclaims his Christianity and targets those Jesus wants him to despise. Tiresome. Houk quotes Deuteronomy. When he gets back to Leviticus and discovers shellfish are an abomination, we can speculate on whether he will rage against Red Lobster restaurants. I'll feel better after worship tomorrow.

PZ Myers, writing for Pharyngula, enjoys the discovery of a famed theoretical physicist that philosophical thought that embraces empiricism is indeed worthwhile.

In Mad Mike's America, Erin Nanasi reports that Pat Robertson wants Christian kids to stop bullying gays. Erin is getting an ulcer over having to agree with Pat Robertson. So it really is okay to worship tomorrow?

Why do we have to do this, Sir? reviews his sermon for tomorrow, on Sanctuary Sunday and the providing of sanctuary to those in need. Like maybe we should stop looking in a spiritual mirror, look outside the sanctuary windows, and maybe go out to help? That seems one more good reason to go to worship tomorrow. Besides, you know, praising God.

Kent Pittman, writing from Open Salon would like the Boy Scouts of America to end a focus on homophobic propaganda. Sexual thoughts, gay or straight, should be left out of scouting.

Manifesto Joe of Texas Blues considers a campaign in which Mitt Romney's long, journey into night with a puppy tied to his car roof, and the Republican response that Barack Obama, as a little kid, obediently ate the dog meat that was put in front of him. Apparently Politics is going to the ... you can take it from there.

At Rumproast, marindenver considers the latest conservative alarm at President Obama's weakness in the face of countries that no longer exist and evil forces that have been gone for over two decades. The edges of right fringes? Nope. These are the folks candidate Romney embraces as his guides to foreign policy. Rip Van Winkles do come to life, I suppose. Every 20 years, like cicadas do every dozen, they awake and give their wisdom to Republican candidates. They give good advice about days long gone.

Infidel 753 discovers a pithy definition of Libertarianism. He goes a little beyond "Leave ill enough alone."

The Heathen Republican applies his keen analytical mind to the November election and jobs. If you are unemployed you should vote for people who will get tough on you. Has to do with incentives, I suppose. It seems you will have a job if Republicans get to end your benefits. Some keen analysis there, Heathen. Kind of like you'll keep your balance for sure because the safety net has been removed. I dunno. Maybe he was really, really busy when he got to his keyboard that day.

Tommy Christopher of Mediaite fame has news of a new ad from a Super-PAC of Villainaires who attack President Obama for being so cool and popular. Really.

Max's Dad is back (Yayy!!!) with a swiftian modest proposal for Mitt Romney's Vice Presidential running mate.

Nancy Hanks at The Hankster has a mess-o-news on the world of political independents, including money in politics, Illinois laws that keep you from running as an Independent for a while if you voted in a party primary, and more.

When Scott Walker took office as Governor of Wisconsin, nobody suspected that he planned to make collective bargaining by many public employee unions unlawful. He had not mentioned it during his campaign. James Wigderson reports that Recall candidate for Governor, Democrat Tom Barrett, is warning that Governor Scott Walker will do it again, and turn Wisconsin into a Right to Work state. James says it's all a lie, and points to the Governor's assurances that he has no plan to do that. After all, if he planned to destroy unions, he would say so in advance, right? Right?

Jack Jodell, friend of the working blogger, at THE SATURDAY AFTERNOON POST, provides a list of links he promises will be a good start as rebuttal to conservative talking points, courtesy of TomCat at Politics Plus.

Papamoka at Papamoka Straight Talk kind of likes solar panels on roof tops. Governments, state federal, and often local, offer incentives. They tend to improve home value, and they look really neat. He gets impatient with occasional home owners' associations that put obstacles in the way. Pointless strutting of small time authority.

Tim McGaha at Tim's Thoughtful Spot goes back more than a century and a half, digs up the worst President ever, and somehow develops warm fuzzies for James Buchanan. Okay, maybe just mild sympathy. It's part of his remarkable, readable, series on the Civil War.

Chuck Thinks Right disagrees with enforcement of a school dress code that has the incidental effect of keeping kids from wearing support-the-troops tee shirts. I'll ask our young Marine's mother to send a note to him in Afghanistan to find out if he especially cares about the school controversy.