Ask Starbucks to continue to stand up for our rights!

Over the past few months, more and more gun owners have been gathering at restaurants and coffee shops like Starbucks in clear legal exercise of their legally obtained concealed carry and open weapon permits.

While business can legally create policies to prohibit guns from being carried in their establishments — and so far, Peet’s Coffee & Tea and California Pizza Kitchen have chosen to bar open carrying as is within their rights and at the request of a portion of their customers. Starbucks has refused to prohibit the open carrying of firearms in its stores, despite protests from loyal customers.

The practice of legally carrying weapons in places like Starbucks is lawful and should be supported by our families and communities — and should be supported by Starbucks and your patronage to them.

It’s everyone’s right to be able to sit in a restaurant or coffee shop with their families with their lawfully registered and permitted weapon whether concealed or openly carried. Under the law. While we understand that Starbucks has the right to adopt a gun-free policy, with an exception for uniformed police officers. We fully support that they have chosen not to adopt such a policy that would infringe on our rights.

It is critical that we tell Starbucks to allow legally owned and permitted guns in its stores. To assuage fears from those individuals who have fears, perhaps Starbucks could display signs encouraging proper gun safety training.

Sign the petition and let Starbucks know that you want them to continue to stand up for the safety and freedoms of our nation and to continue to support our local, state, and federal gun policies in all Starbucks stores.

Help to spread the word on facebook, twitter, email and other media.

Download PDF

Age of the known universe 13,700,000,000 years ago

http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~wright/age.html

The age of the universe can be estimated through several methods such as, cosmological models, age of the chemical elements, the oldest star clusters, and the oldest white dwarf stars. The measurements of chemical elements, star clusters and white dwarf stars yield a mean age of the universe of 12.94 billion years +/- 0.75 billion years. This figure is consistent with the cosmological models that place the age of the universe at 13.7 billion years +/- 0.2 billion years. The observable age and location of the universe of stars as determined by various methods is consistent with the Big Bang model.

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Earliest Stars and Galaxies form 13,500,000,000 years ago

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question55.html

As areas of matter coalesced over the first 200 million years, gravity wells began to become dense enough for fusion to occur. This resulted in formation of the first stars and galaxies. Life as we know was made possible through the various cycles of star formation and decay, subsequently resulting in the elements found in the universe today.

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Age of the Sun 4,570,000,000 years ago

http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/physics/sobel/Nucphys/sun.html

The sun and the surrounding solar system formed approximately 4.57 billion years ago as can be demonstrated by various computer models, radiometric data, and cosmochronology. Cosmochronology is a newer form of radiometric dating that typically relies on uranium and thorium decay. Based on stellar mass and an understanding of hydrogen the Sun has an estimated lifespan of approximately 10 billion years. This places the Sun near the middle of it’s active lifespan currently.

.

Age of the Earth 4,540,000,000 years ago

http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/geotime/age.html

Direct measurements of the age of the Earth are not possible through rocks found on the surface to date due to substantial recycling of the Earth’s surface through the process of plate tectonics. However, through measurement and comparison of materials found on Earth dating to as far back as 4.4 billion years, as well as radiometric dating of uranium isotopes that can be compared to other bodies in the solar system, the age of the Earth can be reasonably estimated to be 4.54 billion years old.

.

Earth – Moon impact 4,530,000,000 years ago

http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2007/07/the-theia-hypot.html

The currently held hypothesis for the formation of the moon relies on a major impact between the early Earth and an approximately Mars sized body that formed in orbit with Earth. This secondary body has been given the name Theia after the Greek Titan of the same name that was (fittingly) said to have given birth to the Moon. The impact of Theia with Earth is believed to have ejected a significant portion of Earth’s silicate mantle as well as Theia’s mantle and likely a portion of it’s own core to later form the Moon some 10 million years after the initial formation of the Earth. This method of formation is often referred to as the Giant Impact hypothesis.

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Abiogenesis 4,404,000,000 years ago

http://student.science.uva.nl/~jckastel/html/abiogenesis.pdf

“We often hear the question how evolution explains the origins of life. The short answer: it doesn’t.” The origins of life lie in the subject of abiognesis. Abiogenesis may have begun as early as 120 million years after the formation of the Earth and Moon. While there are very many methods under consideration in the field of abiogenesis, what is generally agreed upon is that the chemicals and processes necessary to begin were available on Earth as early as 4.4 billion years ago. While fossil evidence is at best extremely difficult and somewhat ambiguous, fossil evidence of some nearly first life is believed to exist in the form of early ancestors of modern stromatolites.

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Snowball Earth 650,000,000 years ago

http://www.snowballearth.org/

A period of global glaciation in which ice can be convincingly demonstrated to have covered the earth from pole to pole. While three such events are believed to have occurred, the last and greatest is believed to have occurred 650 million years ago. Early events are thought to have occurred 710 million and 2.2 billion years ago.

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Cambrian extinction (trilobites) 488,000,000 years ago

http://park.org/Canada/Museum/extinction/cammass.html

There were at least four major extinctions during the Cambrian period resulting in the mass extinction of most of the sponges, shelled creatures, and other invertebrates that had evolved by this time. A period of cooling and glaciation is the currently held belief as to the Cambrian extinctions.

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Permian extinction (majority of all life) 251,000,000 years ago

http://park.org/Canada/Museum/extinction/permass.html

This extinction event is considered to be the most far reaching and devastating extinction event in the history of life on Earth. The cause of this extinction is not truly known, but glaciation and volcanic activity are the most widely accepted. It is estimated that ,ore than 98% of all life on Earth fell extinct during this time.

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End of Cretaceous Extinction (dinosaurs) 65,500,000 years ago

http://park.org/Canada/Museum/extinction/cretmass.html

While it may not have been the big one, this is the probably the most well known extinction event in the public mind. The K-T extinction is the event that killed the dinosaurs and made way for the rise of mammals. The general consensus is that a major impact from a meteor caused this extinction.

.

Last common ancestor of all great apes 14,000,000 years ago

http://www.primates.com/pierolapithecus/index.html

The last common ancestor of orangutans, and the African apes (including chimpanzees and bonobos, humans, and gorillas) is believed to have lived some 12 to 14 million years ago. The current contender for this role is pierolapithecus, this species lived in the proper time frame proposed by geneticists, and holds all the necessary physical traits.

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Hominids and Apes split 6,500,000 years ago

http://anthro.palomar.edu/hominid/australo_1.htm

Early hominids are believed by geneticists to have developed bipedal locomotion approximately 6.5 million years ago. The earliest hominid known to possess this method of upright walking is currently that of ardipithecus ramidus dating to 4.4 million years ago.

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Stone Age begins 2,500,000 years ago

http://history-world.org/stone_age.htm

The Stone Age is named after the predominant form of tool usage of the time and stretches to the time of Neanderthal and Early Modern Humans. There have been discoveries of cave paintings from the later portions and stone tools from throughout this period.

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Neanderthal 150,000 to 30,000 years ago

http://www.ecotao.com/holism/hu_neand.htm

Neanderthal is a divergent species of hominid believed to be less adaptable and less capable of communication than Early Modern Humans. This lack of communication and adaptation is considered by many to be the downfall of this species.

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European Early Modern Humans (Cro-Magnon) 30,000 years ago

http://archaeology.about.com/od/earlymansites/a/cro_magnon.htm

Early modern humans while possibly a bit more physically robust than us are often concerned in many other ways indistinguishable from modern humans. Neanderthals are believed to have simply lost the competition with Early Modern humans.

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Young Earth Creation 6,000 to 10,000 years ago

http://www.nwcreation.net/ageyoung.html

Young Earth Creationists place Earth’s creation at 6,000 to 10,000 years ago.

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Bronze Age 5,300 to 3300 BC

http://mygeologypage.ucdavis.edu/cowen/~gel115/115CH4.html

Humans entered the Bronze Age as metal smiths began to create various alloys of copper, specifically Bronze.

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Iron Age 3,500 to 1500 BC

http://www.bu.edu/anep/Ir.html

The Iron Age is generally broken into two parts, the first overlapping the late Bronze Age. This age heralded some of the earliest advancement in society.

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Beginning of usage of the Gregorian calendar 1582 AD

http://www.fourmilab.ch/documents/calendar/

Created to better attune the Julian calendar to the true cycle of the Earth around the Sun, and the Moon around the Earth. Also, to better schedule Christian holy days with the lunar cycle. Accurate to approximately 1 day in 3300 years.

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Present day 2010 AD

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Eschatology: Armageddon / Revelations / Rapture / etc. 2000 / 2012 / In our lifetime / Soon / etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eschatology

Nearly all faiths and belief systems have ideas about the topic of Eschatology. On that note…

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Life on Earth ceases 1,500,000,000 years from now

http://www.astronomycast.com/astronomy/cosmology/ep-86-the-end-of-the-universe-part-1-the-end-of-the-solar-system/

As the normal process of the expansion of the Sun, the Earth will eventually rise in temperature until the atmosphere and surface water have boiled into space, thus ending life on Earth.

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Andromeda and the Milky Way merge 3,000,000,000 years from now

http://www.galaxydynamics.org/papers/GreatMilkyWayAndromedaCollision.pdf

Hold on for a bumpy ride, the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies are on a collision course. Due to the vast spaces between stars, it is quite likely that a majority of stars will survive intact, as the individual stars pass harmlessly through interstellar space during the collision.

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Sun becomes a red giant 5,500,000,000 years from now

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/090803-mm-sun-death.html

While there is an astronomically small chance the Sun will be wiped out in the merging of the Andromeda and Milky Way galaxies, it is extremely unlikely. However that doesn’t mean the Sun will escape death. The Sun will have used up enough of it’s hydrogen resources about 5.5 billion years from now. This will send the Sun into it’s red giant phase. The long dead Earth is expected to yield to the tidal forces of the sun and be engulfed by the Sun during this time.

Sun completes red giant phase and becomes a white dwarf 8,000,000,000 to 10,000,000,000 years from now

Upon expending most of the remaining hydrogen fuel the Sun will become a white dwarf.

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Last stars burn out 10²⁰ to 10⁴⁰ years from now

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_of_an_expanding_universe

As the end of the universe nears, production of stars will fail. Existing stars will burn up the last of their fuel supplies and the breakdown of stars into their constituent parts will begin.

Last black holes fade 10⁴⁰ to 10¹⁰⁰ years from now

The last of the black holes created as larger solar mass stars came to an end will fade, slowly leaching out the last of their absorbed energy.

Heat death of the Universe 10×10¹⁰⁰ to 10×10¹⁵⁰⁰ years from now

Just as a the heat in an undisturbed room will eventually equalize, so too will the heat of the Universe equalize until a uniformly cold dead Universe is all that remains.

.

Additional references:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Big_Bang
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_impact_hypothesis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellar_evolution
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/01/06/hubble-spies-baby-galaxies-that-formed-just-after-the-big-bang/

The Atheist Experience (Occasionally contains explicit language)
Site: http://www.atheist-experience.com/
Feed: http://www.atheist-experience.com/podcast.php

Atheist News (Contains explicit language)
Site: http://www.atheistnews.org/
Feed: http://www.atheistnews.org/podcast/

Brian Dunning’s inFact
Site: http://skeptoid.com/infact
Feed: http://skeptoid.com/infact.xml

Chariots of Iron (Contains explicit language)
Site: http://www.chariotsofiron.com/
Feed: http://www.chariotsofiron.com/feed/podcast

Center Stage
Site: http://www.centerforinquiry.net/centerstage
Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/centerforinquiry/hHOP

A Christian and an Atheist
Site: http://www.achristianandanatheist.com/
Feed: http://achristianandanatheist.com/podcast_itunes.rss

Freethought Radio
Site: http://airamerica.com/freethoughtradio/
Feed: http://ffrf.libsyn.com/rss

The Good Atheist (Contains explicit language)
Site: http://www.thegoodatheist.net/
Feed: http://www.thegoodatheist.net/?feed=podcast

Humanist Network News
Site: http://www.americanhumanist.org/hnn/podcast/
Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HNN_Podcast

The Infidel Guy Show
Site: http://www.infidelguy.com/
Feed: http://infidelguy.libsyn.org/rss

The Naked Scientist (The science is naked, not the scientist)
Site: http://www.thenakedscientists.com/
Feed: http://www.thenakedscientists.com/naked_scientists_podcast.xml

MonsterTalk
Site: http://www.skeptic.com/podcasts/monstertalk/
Feed: http://monstertalk.skeptic.com/rss

Mr. Deity (Humor)
Site: http://www.mrdeity.com/
Feed: http://www.mrdeity.com/deityrss.xml

The Non-Prophets (Contains explicit language)
Site: http://www.nonprophetsradio.com/
Feed: http://www.nonprophetsradio.com/nonprophets.xml

NOVA | PBS
Site: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/
Feed: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/rss/nova-podcast-it.xml

Point of Inquiry
Site: http://pointofinquiry.org/
Feed: http://pointofinquiry.libsyn.com/rss

QuackCast
Site: http://www.quackcast.com/
Feed: http://www.quackcast.com/epodcasts/files/rss.xml

Reasonable Doubts
Site: http://doubtreligion.blogspot.com/
Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/reasonabledoubts/Msxh

Secular Nation by Atheist Alliance International
Site: http://www.atheistalliance.org/Secular-Nation-Podcast.html
Feed: http://www.atheistalliance.org/podcast/podcast.php

Skepticality
Site: http://www.skepticality.com/
Feed: http://skepticality.libsyn.com/rss/

Skeptically Speaking
Site: http://www.skepticallyspeaking.com/
Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/SkepticallySpeaking

The Skeptics’ Guide 5X5
Site: http://www.theskepticsguide.org/
Feed: http://www.theskepticsguide.org/feed/rss.aspx?feed=5×5

The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe
Site: http://www.theskepticsguide.org/
Feed: http://www.theskepticsguide.org/feed/rss.aspx?feed=sgu

Skeptoid by Brian Dunning
Site: http://skeptoid.com/
Feed: http://skeptoid.com/podcast.xml

This Week in Science
Site: http://www.twis.org/
Feed: http://feeds.twis.org/twis/science/

Weird Things (Humorous discussion with occasional explicit language)
Site: http://weirdthings.com/
Feed: http://weirdthings.com/feed/podcast/

With Good Reason
Site: http://www.withgoodreasonradio.org/
Feed: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/WithGoodReasonRadio

Scientific American
Site: http://www.scientificamerican.com/

• Scientific American – 60-Second Earth
  • Feed: http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/sciam_podcast_i_earth.xml
• Scientific American – 60-Second Psych
  • Feed: http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/sciam_podcast_i_psych.xml
• Scientific American – 60-Second Science
  • Feed: http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/sciam_podcast_i_d.xml
• Science Talk
  • Feed: http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/sciam_podcast_i.xml

Podcast receivers:

• iTunes – http://www.apple.com/itunes/
• Juice – http://juicereceiver.sourceforge.net/
• WinAmpFull – http://www.winamp.com/
• PodcastReady – http://www.podcastready.com/

Top20LogicalFallacies.pdf

Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning, in their basic form. Why is it important to recognize logical fallacies in debate, and to avoid them in your own statements and arguments? Practicing these concepts can improve your critical thinking skills, as well as help you find the truth behind the information you encounter. This can also prove useful during encounters with the occasional spin doctor or wordsmith. Fallacies are often propagated by those who argue based on false assumptions or flawed reasoning and/or premises. While we will be discussing some specific errors there are far more types of fallacy than are noted here.

1. Ad hominem
   1. Meaning “Against the person”
   2. Reducing the credibility of the opposition by attacking them personally for who they are or actions they’ve taken and not addressing their arguments or statements.
   3. Because the politicians had an affair, how can we trust there judgement regarding health care reform. (However, the same concerns may be useful in considering their positions on marriage reforms.)
2. Ad ignorantiam
   1. Argument to ignorance
   2. This is the fallacy of assuming something is true simply because it hasn’t been proven false. Essentially trying to switch the burden of proof to the person that isn’t making the claim that requires proof.
   3. Prove that God isn’t real, and I’ll stop believing.
3. Argument from authority
   1. There are many subtypes of the argument from authority relating primarily to source. Argument ad populum – a belief must be true because it is popular. Also argument from antiquity – longevity of belief implies truth in this instance.
   2. Stating that a claim is true because a person, group, document or tradition of perceived authority says it is true. While, it is reasonable to give more credence to claims about a topic from those with the proper background, education, and credentials, or to be suspicious of authoritative statements made by someone without proper credentials, the truth of a claim should ultimately rest on logic and evidence, not the authority of the person promoting it.
   3. A doctor claims that MMR vaccines cause more harm than good, despite overwhelming test data to the contrary.
4. Argument from final Consequences
   1. An attempt to motivate belief with an appeal either to the good consequences of agreeing/believing or the bad consequences of disagreeing/disbelieving.
   2. Pascal’s Wager: (In a nutshell) It is a better idea to believe in God than not to believe, just in case God exists.
5. Argument from Personal Incredulity
   1. Believing a concept or process is false, because one can’t explain or understand said concept or process.
   2. As an example, arguing that one cannot imagine the complexity of life resulting from evolution, does not preclude evolution as the explanation for the diversity of life.
6. Confusing association with causation
   1. Assuming cause and effect for two variables simply because they occur together. Though there may be an association, one must be cautious as to the true nature of the relationship.
   2. Assuming that because church attendance and illegal drug use are on the rise. Then, concluding that one causes the other. This would be a fallacy, as it is equally likely that it is coincidence or a unknown factors are involved.
7. Confusing currently unexplained with unexplainable
   1. Failure to produce a sufficient explanation for a process does not make it infinitely unexplainable, nor does it cause it to fail the laws of nature in favor of magical means.
   2. While abiogenesis – the beginning of life on Earth through chemical means – is not fully understood, this gap in our knowledge does not require that life began by some supernatural intervention.
8. False Continuum
   1. The false notion that because there is no demarcation between two extremes, that there is no real distinction between the points.
   2. There is a fuzzy line between religious believers and fundamentalist terrorists, therefore they are really the same thing.
9. False Dichotomy
   1. Over simplification of a group or continuum of options into merely two choices.
   2. Either a Creator brought the universe into existence, or the universe came into existence out of nothing. (Incidentally, modern theory infers that the something that existed before the rapid expansion that created the universe as we know it may have been around for an extremely long time.)
10. Inconsistency
    1. The flip side to cherry picking, or quote mining, inconsistency applies rules to one belief, claim, or concept but not to others.
    2. Requiring that a specific creation myth be taught in schools, while advocating that the myths of other cultures should not be taught.
11. Non-Sequitur
    1. Meaning “Does not follow”
    2. Simply put, stating, as a conclusion, something that does not strictly follow from the premises of the argument. While all logical fallacies technically fit this category, this title is reserved for those fallacies that defy other classifications.
    3. Buy this widget, and everyone will envy you.
12. Post-hoc ergo propter hoc
    1. aka “Fallacy of False Cause” (literally: “after this, therefore because of this”)
    2. Assuming that because one thing occurred after another, it must have occurred as a result of it. Chronological order alone, does not provide enough cause.
    3. When I touch my lucky rabbit foot before the game, I win.
13. Reductio ad absurdum
    1. Meaning “Reduction to the absurd”
    2. More recently it has been used to to show an abuse of this style of argument by stretching the logic in order to force an absurd conclusion. Not to be confused with the legal definition by the same name.
    3. If you don’t believe in unicorns, you must not believe in the pyramids in Egypt, since you have seen neither.
    4. It is important to note, that reductio ad absurdum is still a valid strategy when used in the proper format.  ”In formal logic, the reductio ad absurdum is a legitimate argument. It follows the form that if the premises are assumed to be true it necessarily leads to an absurd (false) conclusion and therefore one or more premises must be false. The term is now often used to refer to the abuse of this style of argument, by stretching the logic in order to force an absurd conclusion. … The term is now often used to refer to the abuse of this style of argument, by stretching the logic in order to force an absurd conclusion.”**
14. Slippery Slope
    1. Assumes that one thing must lead to another. The argument begins by suggesting that one thing will lead to another, and another, and before we know it we’ll be doing something that we don’t want to do.
    2. Legalizing same sex unions will lead to same sex marriages, eventually leading to forced same sex marriages/lessen the sanctity of “traditional” marriages/other crazy impossibilities.
15. Special pleading, or ad-hoc reasoning
    1. In essence, trying to fix the results of an argument or test that has already failed by proposing or attempting to introduce new information and arguments to the debate.
    2. The psychic could have provided a better reading had the participants provided better responses to the inquiries posed.
16. Straw Man
    1. Establishing an extremely reduced version of an opponent’s argument or position, in an attempt to set oneself up to argue against a more easily defensible position.
    2. Argument 1: We should reduce the restrictions on fire arms. Argument 2: No, a society with unrestricted access to firearms would be a return to the wild west.
17. Tautology
    1. aka Circular reasoning, “No true Scotsman”, others
    2. An argument is circular if its conclusion is among its premises.
    3. A simplified and less graphic telling of “No true Scotsman”: Teacher: All Scotsmen enjoy haggis. Student: My uncle is a Scotsman, and he doesn’t like haggis! Teacher: Well, all true Scotsmen like haggis. Therefore your uncle is no true Scotsman.
18. The Moving Goalpost
    1. Changing the criteria required for proof beyond what was required to meet the initially agreed criteria.
    2. Evolution can be accepted as true if transitional fossils can be found. Tiktaalik is presented and verified as a transitional species between water and air breathing animals. A transitional species such as the crocoduck is revealed as the new definition of what is meant by a transitional species. (Apparently archaeopteryx doesn’t count.)
19. Tu quoque
    1. Meaning “You too”, aka “Two wrongs make a right.”
    2. Essentially stating that your error can be overlooked or disregarded, because others have committed the same error.
    3. You can’t accuse me of libel because you were just successfully sued for libel.
20. Unstated Major/Minor Premise or Conclusion
    1. These forms of fallacy are displayed by failing to state explicit arguments at the beginning, or conclusions at the end, of an argument. Often when an argumnet has reached an impasse it is a good idea to re-examine the premises and conclusions for omissions. Often seen as arguing to a predetermined conclusion or begging the question.
    2. Arguing that evolution should find specific transitional species. Assumes 1) specific transitional species exist; 2) specific fossils are in a preserved state; and 3) that the goalpost won’t be moved.

My hope is that this discussion will help each of us, in time, to recognize and defuse the fallacies presented by others and allow our own arguments to become devoid of fallacy. Though, i suppose, in the hands of the more devious these tips could allow some to fight fire with fire. Some sources and additional resources have been provided below.

http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/

http://www.logicalfallacies.info/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallacy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fallacies

http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/fallacies.html

http://www.csun.edu/~dgw61315/fallacies.html

http://www.theness.com/how-to-argue/

http://www.theskepticsguide.org/resources/logicalfallacies.aspx

http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/logic.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_Wager

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiktaalik

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNTGmoTb8sw (Kirk Cameron discusses the Crocoduck with Bill O’Reilly)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu_quoque

http://www.mrdeity.com

Special thanks to Wikipedia.com and Google.com for specific examples.

Approximately 120 minutes. (about 30 minutes of prep time and 90
minutes of waiting)

20 to 30 servings

4 qt. water.

16 oz. macaroni (a.k.a. elbow noodles, or other small to medium sized pasta)

8 oz. to 16 oz. fully cooked ham steak.

1 medium size onion

16 to 24 oz. cheddar, colby jack, or muenster cheese; or a combination of your
favorite firm cheeses.

1 bunch of celery

1/2 cup to 1 cup mayonnaise

(Add, substitute, and modify ingredients to taste, availability, etc.)

In a large pot (5 quart or larger) bring water to boil. Add
macaroni to boiling water, let cook for 9 to 12 minutes. Drain, rinse
with cold water and place in a large mixing bowl in the refrigerator
for at least 60 minutes.

Dice ham steak, onion, and cheese, approximately 1/4 inch cubes. Clean and thinly slice the
celery stalks across grain, approximately 1/8 inch thick.

Remove the large mixing bowl of macaroni from the refrigerator. Make sure the noodles are cool enough to keep mayonnaise and cheese from melting. Slowly mix
in half of mayonnaise. Continue to slowly mix in the prepared ham,
onion, cheese and celery. If needed, slowly add the remaining mayonnaise.

Place in large serving bowl or 9×13 inch pan, and place in
refrigerator for 30 minute.

Serve cold.

1 serving in under 3 minutes

Yet another recipe for the kids.

Ingredients

1 slice of bread

1 tbsp. Peanut Butter (crunchy or smooth)

20 – 30 raisins (approximately)

Instructions

Spread Peanut Butter on 1 slice of bread. (Cut to appropriate size.)

Serve open face with raisins on the side.

Catch flies: Allow the child to place the raisins on the sandwich.

Very young children may need  assistance.

–Barry Tikkanen

Robert Lancaster as a hero of skepticism takes on psychics, such as Sylvia Browne, and debunking them. Mr. Lancaster recently had a stroke. While he is making his recover, he has lost his claim to his old domain name. (I have not listed the old domain name, as to not to provide traffic to the new owner.) Mr. Lancaster and his wife have worked to set up a new domain name. So now if you would liketo find out the truth about Sylvia Browne I encourage you to visit Stop Sylvia.

Skeptics load your weapons, as described at Skeptools, and get active!

* It took great restraint to be that civil.

“I’m asking everyone who wants a copy to purchase the book on that day— if everyone buys the book on Sunday, July 13 from Amazon.com, we can push it to the top of the charts and make an explosive impact for “Brave Men Run,” Swarm Press, and the power you, the user, has over new media!” -Matthew Wayne Selznick

Head over to BraveMenRun.com for more information about the day long internet release party.

Sovereign Summer is upon us!

]]> http://www.tikkiweb.net/2008/07/more-news-about-brave-men-run/feed/ 0 http://www.tikkiweb.net/2007/10/i-speak-for-the-trees/ http://www.tikkiweb.net/2007/10/i-speak-for-the-trees/#comments Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:24:14 +0000 Barry Tikkanen 1034 at http://www.tikkiweb.net Catalog choice at www.catalogchoice.org offers a resource to stop companies from sending you catalogs. Account setup is easy, multiple names and addresses are supported. No social security number is requested, or required, as with some similar sites. Name(s) and address(es) are required. Account can be canceled at any time. To cancel a catalog, type the name of the catalog and click the name from the results, then you select the name and address of the recipient as printed on the catalog. Customer numbers are also supported. Go forth and save some trees!

Approximately 90 minutes

12 to 15 servings

With Tofu and Dairy cheese, Recipe makes 15 pieces of about 320 calories each, or 12 pieces of about 375 calories. Ground Beef and Turkey will increase the calorie count. Vegan cheese alternatives will typically reduce the calorie count.

Various combinations may contain significantly different sodium levels.

Fresh(er) ingredients are recommended, but prep time may be extended.

Ingredients

2 tbsp. (30 ml) Vegetable/Canola/Olive Oil

14 oz. to 16 oz. (425 g) Firm Tofu (crumbled), Ground Turkey, or Ground Beef

16 oz. (450 g) Mushrooms (Fresh sliced Portabella, Button or canned and drained Button Mushrooms)

1 medium Onion diced

28 oz. (795 g) Crushed Tomatoes

6 oz. (170 g) can Tomato Paste

22 oz. (625 g) Ricotta Cheese or 14oz. silken tofu

18 oz. (510 g) Cottage Cheese or 14 oz. crumbled firm tofu

5 oz. (140 g) Baby Spinach or canned and drained Spinach

16 oz. (455 g) Lasagna noodles (regular or whole grain)

12 oz. (340 g) Mozzarella or Vegan Mozerella (shredded)

Garlic and Oregano to taste

Instructions

Prep time 30 min. Cook time 1 hour. Warm Oil in a large skillet.
Brown Ground beef/tofu/turkey over medium heat.
Add mushrooms to meat/tofu, cook mushrooms halfway.
Add Onions to mixture and Mushrooms, cook onions halfway.
Drain oil and/or fat from mixture.
Add Crushed Tomatoes to mixture, simmer for 5 minutes.
(Save 4 to 6 tbsp. (75 ml) of crushed tomatoes for later)
Add Tomato Paste. (open both ends of paste and use bottom to push through.)
Season with Garlic and Oregano to taste.
Simmer for 5 more minutes.
Set aside, preferably in the refrigerator.

In a large bowl, combine Ricotta and Cottage Cheese.
Add spinach to cheese mixture. (Blanch/parboil and cool fresh spinach for best results.)
Season with Garlic and Oregano to taste.
Set aside.

Do not precook the noodles!
Coat the bottom of a 13 x 9 casserole dish with the remainder of the crushed tomatoes.
(You did save some crushed tomatoes, didn’t you.)
Lay 4 noodles side by side and centered in the pan.
Spoon nearly half of sauce mix on the noodles. Spread evenly.
Sprinkle with 2 oz. (55 g) Mozzarella.
Lay about 5 noodles side by side in the pan.
(You may need to slightly overlap the noodles.)
Spoon half of cheese mix on the noodles. Spread evenly.
Sprinkle with 2 oz. (55 g) Mozzarella.
Lay about 5 noodles side by side in the pan.
Once again, spoon most of the remaining sauce mix on the noodles. Spread evenly.
Sprinkle with 2 oz. (55 g) Mozzarella.
Lay about 5 noodles side by side in the pan.
Spoon half of cheese mix on the noodles. Spread evenly.
Sprinkle with 2 oz. (55 g) Mozzarella.
Lay about 5 noodles side by side in the pan.
Spoon remaining sauce mix on top. Spread evenly.
Sprinkle with remaining Mozzarella.

Cover pan with aluminum foil.
Bake for 30 minutes at 400°F. (205°C)
Remove foil.
Cook an additional 15 minutes at 400°F. (205°C)
Remove and let rest for 15 minutes.

Serve & Enjoy…

–Barry Tikkanen

1 serving prepared in 1 minute

Another recipe for the kids.

Ingredients

1 Hot Dog

ketchup and/or mustard

Instructions

Slice from one end, down the center, about 1/3 of the length of the hot dog, to form legs.

Slice two gill like slits to form arms.

Lay on one side.

Microwave for 25 to 30 seconds.

Use ketchup and/or mustard to draw face on hot dog.

Serve it with a smile.

–Kathy Tikkanen

1 serving in under 5 minutes

Another recipe for the kids.

Ingredients

2 slices of bread

1 tbsp. Peanut Butter (crunchy or smooth)

1 tbsp. Jam, Jelly, or Preserves (choose your flavor)

[Older kids may enjoy honey instead of Jam.

Honey is NOT recommended for young children and infants.]

Instructions

Toast bread to desired level.

Spread Peanut Butter on 1 slice of toast.

Spread Jelly/Jam/Preserves on other slice.

Slap em together.

Cut to appropriate size.

Serve with a smile.

–Barry Tikkanen

1 serving in less than 5 minutes

Another recipe for the kids.

Ingredients

1/2 banana

2 slices bread

1 tbsp. Peanut Butter (smooth or crunchy)

1 to 2 tsp. butter (optional)

Instructions

Spread peanut butter on one slice of bread.

Spread butter, if desired, on the other slice.

Slice across the banana to make 9, 1/8 to 1/4 inch pieces.

Save remaining banana for additional sandwiches, or to serve with sandwich.

Place banana slices on peanut butter. (evenly spaced)

Cover with other slice of bread.

Cut sandwich to the appropriate size.

–Barry Tikkanen

15 to 20 minutes

Serves 4 to 6

May not be truly authentic, but it tastes great!

Ingredients

1-1/2 tbsp cornstarch

1 tbsp dark soy sauce

2 to 3 tbsp rice wine/cooking wine

5 cup chicken stock

1/2 tsp sugar (optional)

6 green onions, shredded

1/2 pound baby shrimp or diced chicken (optional)

1/4 cup green peas (optional)

1/4 cup mushrooms (optional)

1-1/2 tbsp flour

2 to 3 eggs

Dash white pepper (optional)

Dash coarse black pepper (optional)

Instructions

In a small bowl, beat eggs and flour. Set aside.

In a large saucepan, combine cornstarch, sugar, wine, and soy sauce. Pour in stock and slowly bring to a boil. Simmer for 3 minutes. Add green onions, peas and chicken or shrimp as desired. Simmer for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Add pepper to taste.

While soup is simmering, slowly stir soup while pouring egg mixture into the soup. Simmer for 1 more minute.

Remove from heat and serve.

–Barry Tikkanen

Inspired by CHICKEN EGG DROP SOUP recipe from cooks.com

1 serving in under 15 minutes

Approximately 250 calories, depending on your choice of ingredients. Can be multiplied easily for more servings.

Ingredients

4 oz. (115 g) tofu, or fully cooked chicken or pork

5 oz. (140 g) green pepper

5 oz. (140 g) red pepper

1/2 small to medium onion

2 cups (470 ml) zucchini

1 cup (235 ml) yellow squash

4 oz. (115 g) mushrooms (portabella, button, or shitake)

1 tbsp. (15 ml) cooking oil (canola, corn, or olive oil)

salt, pepper, and/or garlic to taste

1 tbsp. (15 ml) soy sauce (optional)

1 chicken bouillon cube, crushed (optional)

Instructions

Cut tofu/chicken/pork into 1/2 inch cubes.

Slice green and red pepper, and onion into 2 inch long 1/4 inch strips.

Slice zucchini and yellow squash into 1/8 inch thick disks.

Cut mushrooms into quarter inch thick slices.

In a medium skillet, over medium-high heat, heat cooking oil.

Add tofu/chicken/pork.

Cook until lightly browned, stirring frequently.

Add salt, pepper and or garlic.

You may optionally add chicken bouillon and/or soy sauce.

Add all the vegetables, cook until mushrooms are mildly darkened and onions have become partially translucent. Stir frequently!

Remove from heat and serve.

–Barry Tikkanen

From the author’s site:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: Matthew Wayne Selznick

MWS Media

760-964-8044

bravemenrunnovel@gmail.com

http://www.bravemenrun.com

A NEW TAKE ON A SUPER-HERO THEME

Hesperia, California, November 7th, 2005 – Author Matthew Wayne Selznick has just released “Brave Men Run – A Novel of the Sovereign Era” in print, e-book, and podcast editions.

“Brave Men Run” takes a familiar theme in the super-hero mythos — the young man troubled and alienated by the powers that make him special — and gives it a twist: our hero is among the least remarkable of an emerging breed of powerful individuals; a misfit member of a remarkable new minority.

Add the dynamics of high-school teen-aged drama, first love, and an origin mystery, stir in the volatile, paranoid repression of the Reagan Era at the height of the Cold War, and you have “Brave Men Run – A Novel of the Sovereign Era.”

Selznick’s first novel, while obviously influenced by Silver Age Marvel comics (sprinkled throughout the text are several sly and loving nods to the greatest creators of that era), gives us a fresh take on the first weeks of a super-powered age as seen through the eyes of a sixteen year old boy.

“I wanted to take the ordinary angst and pathos experienced by an average outsider kid,” Selznick explains, “and pile on the added anxiety of the appearance of metahumans in a world already on the edge of mutually assured destruction. It’s ‘Spider-Man’ as directed by John Hughes.”

“Brave Men Run” is available as a paperback book from http://www.lulu.com, and as an e-book in five formats and a weekly podcast audio book from http://www.bravemenrun.com. The podcast is read by the author, and Selznick embraces the role of the first-person narrator, Nate Charters.

“I had a lot of fun recording the podcast,” Selznick said. “While I’ve produced a weekly music podcast for the last year, reading my own work dramatically was a first for me. I think people will enjoy it.”

- end -

Relevant web sites: Brave Men Run: http://www.bravemenrun.com Lulu.com: http://www.lulu.com/content/170878

Wyrd – (wErd) The Unknowable, Divinity of all human endeavors (upright)
Mannaz – (mahn’-nahz) The Self, man, woman, the entire race (upright) (reversed)
Gebo – (ge’-bO) Partnership, A sharing between partners. A gift of oneself to Oneself. (upright)
Ansuz – (ahn’-sooz) Signals, Odin, messages, signals, gifts (upright) (reversed)
Othila – (O-thee’-lah) Heritage, Inheritance, severance, shedding, sloughing off (upright) (reversed)
Uruz – (oo’-rooz) Strength, growth, rebirth (upright) (reversed)
Perth – (perth) Initiation, Hearth, hidden or secret matters (upright) (reversed)
Nauthiz – (now’-theez) Constraint, Need, necessity and obstacles (upright) (reversed)
Inguz – (in’-gooz) Fertility, New beginnings. Sharing. Ing – earth (upright)
Eihwaz – (eIh’-waz) Defense, Yew tree, Strength through endurance (upright)
Algiz – (ahl’-geez) Protection, acceptance and understanding, yield strength, Elk (upright) (reversed)
Fehu – (fA’-hoo) Possessions, wealth, nourishment, fulfillment (upright) (reversed)
Wunjo – (woon’-jO) Joy, benefits gained, blessings (upright) (reversed)
Jera – (jE’-ra) Harvest, One Year. Long term beneficial outcomes (upright)
Kano – (kA’-nO) Opening, Beacon, fire, renewed clarity (upright) (reversed)
Teiwaz – (tI’-waz) Warrior, Tyr (sky), Spiritual Warrior, battle of the Self (upright) (reversed)
Berkana – (ber’-kah-nah) Growth, growth and rebirth in all matters, birch (upright) (reversed)
Ehwaz – (eh’-wahz) Movement, Horse, progress, new attitudes (upright) (reversed)
Laguz – (la’-gooz) Flow, water, fluidity, ebb and flow (upright) (reversed)
Hagalz – (ha’-gulz) Disruption, Hail, Breaking free of ones mental constraints (upright)
Raido – (rA’-dO) Wagon, Journey, communication, union and reunion (upright) (reversed)
Thurisaz – (thoo’-rih-saz) Gateway, Giant, thought before action, contemplation (upright) (reversed)
Dagaz – (de’-gaz) Breakthrough, Dawn, Transformation – often quite radical (upright)
Isa – (I’-sa) Standstill, Ice, Personal or spiritual withdrawal (upright)
Sowelu – (sO’-wA-loo) Wholeness, Life force and self realization, the sun (upright)

From right to left the supposed relevance of each is described below:
1. Birth and Childhood
2. Your Present
3. Future in this Life
Followed by the bottom stone
4. Past Life
And finally the top stone
5. Next Life
Continue on to Three Lifetimes Spread.

The supposed relevance of each is described below:
1. The past you are coming from most recently
2. You now, your current role
3. The future as it is coming in to being for you
4. The foundation of the matter under consideration
5. The nature of the challenge for this situation
6. The new situation that will arise as you achieve your goals

Continue on to Runic Cross.

From top to bottom the supposed relevance of each is described below:
1. Overview of the current situation
2. Challenge to overcome with this situation
3. The course of action called for to manage this situation
4. Sacrifice – what you will have to set aside or consider to handle the current situation
5. New situation evolving and usually the outcome of the current situation

Continue on to Five Rune Spread.

From right to left the supposed relevance of each is described below:
1. Represents the past or an overview of the situation
2. The present state or the challenge to overcome with this situation
3. The course of action called for to manage this situation or if reading from a passive view the likely outcome from the present state

Continue on to Three Rune Spread.

Single rune drawings have been used to commemorate special events in people’s lives. Another use was to draw a stone in the morning and use it as a reference throughout the day, similar to horoscopes. Keeping track of the Runes drawn against daily events will quickly show that there is no significance between the Rune drawn and the events of the corresponding day.
Continue on to Odin’s Rune.

Odin’s Rune
Three Rune Spread
Five Rune Spread
Runic Cross
Three Lifetimes Spread

You may notice that certain stones repeat quite often at times. This is rather common with truly random sequences.  The journal can help you identify the random nature of divination tools.

The runes are at best a reflection of the person using them. The belief system of the early users of the runes held that everything in the world was alive, and that it must be treated with respect. The runes were a way of “speaking” with this world. Runes were also considered a tool for personal growth and personal understanding.

The Rune spreads and Rune descriptions provided on this site are provided to demonstrate how chance, cherry-picking and interpretation have been used to promote various divination tools. The meaning is almost never obvious, almost always useless, always subjective, and never something upon which you should base real decisions. With that in mind have fun exploring the definitions Runes and their spreads.

Able to take charge of multiple concurrent projects and see each through to completion. Enjoys working with people in a team environment, as well as on independent projects. Works well with all levels of management. Strong problem solving skills. Enjoys new challenges.

Work History

CompX International, Inc. – Thomas Regout USA, Inc.
: May 1996 – Present

Computer Technician
: March 1999 – Present
Responsibilities include:
1. Troubleshooting hardware and software
2. Development and implementation of disaster recovery procedures
3. Maintaining Progress based Database Management Systems
4. Training personnel in usage of new and current hardware and software
5. Communicate with department managers and users to develop policies, procedures, project plans and provide completion status
6. Responding to and resolving the needs of network users with regard to access and operation of hardware and software
7. Organizing and completing multiple concurrent projects
8. Maintaining and upgrading existing hardware and software environment
9. Researching, purchasing and implementing hardware and software solutions for new and existing areas
10. Developing software solutions for new and existing areas when applicable
11. Web development, on both intra- and internet

Quality Technician
: January 1997 – January 2000
Responsibilities included:
1. Troubleshooting production processes
2. Calibration and use of quality tooling
3. Reading of blue prints
4. Customer relations
5. Lift truck
6. Understanding of all manufacturing processes

Assembly Operator
: May 1996 – January 1997
Responsibilities included:
1. Press operation
2. General product assembly
3. Product quality

Barman Select Temporary Services
: December 1994 – May 1996

1. Thomas Regout USA, Inc.
   : December 1995 – May 1996
   1. Press operation
   2. General product assembly
   3. Product quality
   Bissell, Inc.
   : December 1994 – December 1995
   1. Plastic injection mold press operator
   2. Group leader for temporary employees
   3. Product quality

ARA Food Service/GVSU Commons
: September 1991 – December 1994

(Seasonal: September to May)
1. General food service
2. Customer interaction
3. Pizza parlor

Lakepark Industries of Indiana
: May 1992 – July 1994

(Seasonal: May through August)
1. Setup and operation of presses ranging from 80 to 1000 tons
2. Operation of resistance welders
3. Product quality

Intertrade USA, Ltd.
: February to July of 1991
1. Material handling
2. Product quality

Education

Allendale High School
: Graduated 1990
1. College Preparatory Curriculum
2. Track
3. Drama

Grand Valley State University
: 1994 – Present
1. Computer Science Major
2. Programming emphasis
3. Enrolled part-time

Engineering Major
: 1991-1994
1. Manufacturing emphasis
2. Enrolled full-time

Interests

Programming
1. Object Oriented methods
2. PHP with MySQL
3. C/C++, Visual C++
4. Visual Basic
5. MS Access (VB)
6. Modula 2
7. Pascal
8. COBOL
9. HTML
10. JavaScript
11. Linux
12. Windows
13. HTML

Desktop Publishing
1. Adobe Acrobat
2. Microsoft Office
3. Web Publishing
4. Front Page 2000
5. Ace HTML 4

Graphic Design
1. 3D Modeling
2. Bryce 4
3. Amorphium
4. Digital Graphics
5. Paint Shop Pro
6. Painting
7. Pen and Ink