To be a person of truth, be swayed neither by approval nor disapproval.

Work at not needing approval from anyone and you will be free to be who you really are.

- Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

Is there any way to resign from the human race? Seriously. Can I just become a member of the wolf species or something? Anything to keep me from being tied in any way to the people who think the pregnant Midge doll is bad. It’s hard to know where to start with all of this. I guess my best course of action is to point out that people have no problem selling a Barbie, with its near-impossible figure, to a child, but if you sell a pregnant doll showing a realistic depiction of female life, the super-sensitives hit the fan. I don’t understand where the problem with all of this comes from. Midge is married, comes with a wedding ring and everything.

One interviewee claims, “This doll promotes teenage pregnancy.” This simply is not possible for two reasons: Midge is not a teen and teens don’t play with Barbie. What this doll does, if anything other than cost a ton of money, is show the real consequences of having sex. No teenager is going to see this doll and think, “Alright, if Midge, a fake, plastic toy, can have a baby, then so can I!”

In the end, this should be tossed up there with the other examples of hyper-sensitivity in our culture. For some reason, whether it be political correctness or some pervading sense of social guilt, our society has become a bunch of people looking for reasons to get pissed off and offended. My grandfather-in-law showed me an email joke that someone sent him. It detailed all the things that you can’t do anymore. Things like: “Remember when we could drive with no seatbelt? Remember playing outside?” Sure, some of that is nostalgia, but, wouldn’t the world be a better place if we all just minded our own damned business.

Until that happens, consider me resigned from the human race. I’m sure some of you already think me a chauvinistic pig.

In a article posted on October 29, Taranis lameneted about scientific proof of the existence of Jesus. Now that some times has past, more information has come forth. Some regarded the mortuary box bearing the Aramaic inscription, “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus” as proof. Others saw it as forgery. The controversy still goes on strong as science tries to decide if this stone box may have held the bones of James, brother of Jesus, who was stoned to death in A.D. 62.

Andre Lemaire, writer for the Biblical Archaeology Review, says that this box is likely the real deal. However, Lemaire did calculate that in ancient Jerusalem the chances of a father by the name of Joseph having two sons named Jesus and James would happen about 20 times over two generations, but that a brother would only be mentioned on a mortuary box if he were of unusual prominence.

Critics assert that differences in lettering style suggest that the phrase “brother of Jesus” was added later, by a second hand. Though there are several leading paleographers, or experts in ancient writing, that say the inscription was done by one person.

Let’s not also forget the belief by many conservative Christians who believe in the sexual virginity of Mary, and you have a full-fledged controversy on your hands.

The real debate is being carried by scientist hungry to prove with evidence, outside the bible, that Jesus existed. There are very few references to Jesus out side the bible. Josephus, the official Jewish historian of the time, describes James as “the brother of Jesus who was called the Christ/Messiah.” But there is even debate over what of Josephus’ works are legitimate. Some of the entries attributed to him have be classified as false as they were found to be added on in the following centuries. For example, the Jewish Josephus would never refer to a person as a messiah. Also, historians have argued that in Josephus’s declaration of Jesus as prophet means little, as many people in that time claimed to be prophets.

Another early and subtle reference to the Jesus is found in a letter written by Mara bar Sarapion, a first-century Syrian stoic imprisoned by the Romans. He wrote to his son, commenting on punishment of the Athenians for killing Socrates and the Samians for burning Pythagoras. He said, “Or what did it avail the Jews to kill their wise king, since their kingdom was taken away from them from that time on?”

But, what I question, is why the seeking of scientific evidence is of such importance outside of normal historical curiosity. To what extent will scientist of Christian faith go to in order to prove the existence of Jesus.

For the most part, that has already been accomplished. The places mentioned in the bible have been found and well documented. Historically, few doubt that a person named Jesus walked the middle-east around year zero.

But no amount of stone boxes, crucifixion nails, or shrouds will prove what they are attempting to prove: that Jesus is the son of God. There is one reason they will always fail on this front - the believe that Jesus is the son of God is a personal matter, not a scientific one.

Even if scientist found the manger, it still does not prove anything other that a baby named Jesus was born there. It does not prove he walked on water, or healed the sick.

Spirituality will always be a personal choice, not one that can be proven beyond any doubt. This should actually comfort Christians (and even Jews for that matter). Why? Because God gives each of us the choice to believe what we wish. If undeniable proof were brought forth, what choice would we have in the matter?

In a lot of matters, people will find the evidence they want to support their stance. It happens in politics all the time. But isn’t the precept of religion the point?

Standing in a Temple, saying Hebrew prayers with my fellow Jews, does not make me a good Jew. Doing good by my fellow man makes me a good Jew. Showing up for Yom Kippur service does not making me a good Jew. Asking for the forgiveness of my transgressions from those I’ve wronged makes me a good Jew.

On the same token, a stone box with some carvings on it does not make Christianity. It does not make Jesus divine. It never will.

Whatever religion you practice, or even if you practice none, this is a good sentiment.

I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day. We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity of the whole year. As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year.

- David Grayson

According to CNN, Secretary of State Powell is saying that the unhindered access and full disclosure of Iraq’s weapons program “fails totally“.

Do this mean war? Honestly, I think it does mean war. If you have read anything else that I have written about Iraq, you know that I think Bush is looking for any excuse to bomb the place. It seems a little cynical and it is, but I think that he knows he has to keep that military might flowing to please his large industrial backers and wars are the only way to do that.

It also strikes me as a little suspicious that so much rhetoric surrounds this issue. Why are we hearing phrases like “axis of evil” and “total failure” instead of seeing real facts. When JFK was facing the Cuban Missile Crisis, he went on national TV and showed pictures of the missiles to the American people. That’s what I want in this case.

I want to see pictures of the crates of Anthrax and maps of the missile silos that seem to be riling “Dubya.” I want the proof that everyone in the world wants, before I, as an American, am party to the slaughtering of soldiers and innocents on both sides of the battle. JFK knew that the American people had to fight for something. There needs to be a threat, a cause. This lack of cause killed thousands unnecessarily in the jungles of Southeast Asia, and I am afraid that the deserts of Iraq will prove to be a similar situation.

So, I call on you, Mr. President. Come forward with the truth and the proof.

Sony and Nintendo have settled their dispute over who owns the name “PlayStation.” This is probably the last time you will see the word “PlayStation” appear anywhere if Sony is smart. The name was originally a joint owned copyright, given to a CD and Cartridge based system to play SNES games.

The out-of-court settlement is for 10% of Sony’s proceeds, past and present on the “PlayStation” name, currently amounting to approximately $2.3 billion. Nintendo is allowing Sony to pay it off in installments over the next 20 years. Now my mom always told me to never do math in public, but that is somwhere in the neighborhood of 100million+ per year.

Nintendo currently plans on using the money to create a new game studio comprised of members of some of the biggest in the japanese industry to create titles exclusively for the GameCube.

I’m betting that Sony will stop using the PlayStation name to avoid paying to keep Nintendo in biz.

This certainly tosses a wrinkle in my two posts about Microsoft’s Xbox domination. (Read articles “Xbox and the Lesson of Microsoft Domination” Part 1 and Part 2.)

I want to draw your attention to the two new columns that Jetteva and I have authored. You’ll find them over to the right or you can use the links below.

To Whose Gain? - by Jetteva on Tue, Dec 17
If I were so inclined and sneaky, and I secretly inserted a small executable on Taranis’s computer, I would be a hacker and I could go to jail. However, if I do it under the guise of a corporation, it’s… advertising? How does that work?

Meditations on a Baby Ruth - by Taranis on Fri, Dec 13
The present is a gift, the future is a blessing, and the past is a treasure. Remember that you are part of the human race.

Hitman 2 Christmas Game.

All elves should be shot.

It may be necessary temporarily to accept a lesser evil, but one must never label a necessary evil as good.

-Margaret Mead, 1901 - 1978

As an unapologectic Al Gore supported for years, I’m as stunned as anyone about his decision not to run. Stunned to the point that I’m not sure why he would not run again. Not only is he saying that he won’t run in 2004, he’s saying he likely won’t run every again. That’s shocking to as at one point Gore implied that was his life long ambition.

But part of me can’t blame him. Lately he’s been speaking out in a manner which he never has before. There must be a freedom to it that he hadn’t had as a politician.

The democratic party is in complete disarray. They don’t know their asses from their elbows. And I’m an unapologectic Liberal. I call myself a liberal now, and not a democrat because the party is not liberal enough for me anymore. I find myself shouting “booyah!” at people like Michael Moore who complain the democratic party is nothing more than a mug of icey cold Republican Lite. Slightly easier to swallow but, ultimately, it’s the same drink.

So who’s left? John Kerry, who’s initails are JFK, is a war hero from New England. This will be his second bid for President.

Joseph Lieberman, as likable as he can be, won’t get far in a presidential race. All this talk in the past week about Trent Lott and equality has people thinking about their public officials, but I’m pretty sure America won’t elect an orthodox Jew to the Oval Office.

Senator Tom Daschle has indicated some interest. I can sum him up in one word: pussy. Not a tough talker, doesn’t seem to like to make tough decisions and has missed a few opportunities to rally the democratic party under united causes.

Senator John Edwards I know little to nothing about. I’ll be paying attention to what he says.

And the candidate no one is talking about is Gov Howard Dean of Vermont. He declared he was running for President weeks ago but can’t get air time to save his life. That’s probably an early indication of how sucessful his run will be.