I am an Intelligent Designer

Today a decision was rendered in the Intelligent Design trial from Dover, PA. The Federal District Court Judge's ruling reads like a script from the daily show. It's really a shame the daily show is on vacation for the next 2 weeks because they would have a lot of fun with this. The Judge drops this gem in his decision,

The citizens of the Dover area were poorly served by the members of the Board who voted for the ID Policy. It is ironic that several of these individuals, who so staunchly and proudly touted their religious convictions in public, would time and again lie to cover their tracks and disguise the real purpose behind the ID Policy."

Proponents of Intelligent Design claim ID is not a religious theory, yet, Pat Robertson says that by voting out ID people in Dover, PA "voted god out their city". Hmm.

For good articles on the subject search Google News. I found this editorial on the subject, and I think it's pretty funny. If you are really bored read the entire 139 page decision. Or just skip to page 136 for the conclusion.

Today's Reading

An essay by Penn Jillette, the taller, louder half of the magic and comedy act Penn and Teller.

Don't Get Too Comfortable

A quote from David Rakoff's new book that I am reading:

"Surely when we've reached the point where we're fetishizing sodium chloride and water, and subjecting both to the kind of scrutiny we used to reserve for choosing an oncologist, it's time to admit that the relentless questing for that next undetectable graduation of perfection has stopped being about the thing itself and crossed over into a realm of narcissism so overwhelming as to make the act of masturbation look selfless."

Money as an Amplifier

There is a story today about a couple who won the lottery a few years ago who have since died of drug and alcohol use.

"Any problems people have, money magnifies it so much, it's
unbelievable"

This statement intrigued me. It suggests the more money one has, the more amplified their underlying behavior becomes. Simply put, one will be the same after they have money as they were before, just amplified. A person who spends all of their extra money on gadgets and clothes on $25,000 a year will most likely continue to do the same on $250,000 a year. Albeit on bigger, better, and more expensive items. On the other hand, a person who is responsible and frugal on a $25,000 paycheck will likely continue to be responsible with their spending given a large salary increase.

In our heads we are the same person we were in elementary school, high school, and college, even though we have outwardly changed. On every birthday we hear a new number, 15, 18, 21, 24, yet in our minds we still feel like the same person. In the same way, when one has $5k, $50k, or $5M in the bank, we still have the same material desires inside. The increase in money allows us to now realize these desires to a greater extent, hence amplification.