About

Site related questions

Did you make this site yourself?

Yep. All by hand, typed in a plain ‘ole text editor on both Windows XP and Linux. I used XHTML and CSS and I suspect you’ll see the site change over time as I learn more about how to write the code for the layout I envision in my mind. Update: Actually, I’m using a customized Wordpress theme now (obviously) it’ll change over time but I wanted to switch to something that was a little easier to post on than having to type out the HTML just to make a post and then upload the pages via FTP.

Questions about my religious beliefs

Are you really an Atheist?

Yes. No, it doesn’t scare me. I have a very difficult time having faith in a religion when there are so many rational scientific options for me to choose from. One point though, I’ve done my homework and especially, I’ve read the Christian Bible several times, so don’t bother arguing with me if you haven’t done the same. Arguing with someone over your religion when you don’t even know what ideals your religion is spouting about just makes you look like all the more of a fool.

But aren’t you afraid of going to hell?

Are you stupid? Why the hell would I be afraid of something I don’t believe in? I can’t believe how often people ask me this question.

Geez, you’re kinda sensitive about this whole religious thing aren’t you?

No. I’m touchy about stupid questions I get asked over and over and over again. I’m also touchy about people who think I need to be saved. Believe me, I don’t.

Questions about my political beliefs

Sometimes you sound like a Democrat, others like a Republican. Can’t you make up your mind?

Why should I? I hate the two party system. It’s broken as all hell and corruption/stupidity runs rampant throughout every level of government. I’m registered as an Independant although depending on the issue you will find me leaning very heavily to the right or left. You might even use the tired cliche “fiscally conservative, socially liberal” and while that may be mostly true I think you might find that basically on most issues I’m what you would call a Libertarian.

A Librarian? Oh…Libertarian. Sounds like a Commie pinko thing to me.

Hmm…maybe you shouldn’t “tow the party line” so much. Basically, on most issues I believe in the right for a person to make up their own mind about an issue. Women’s rights for instance. While personally against abortion I don’t believe there is ever a time when I have even the slightest right to tell a woman how to make personal medical decisions that affects her body. This falls under Pro-Choice not that stupid fucking term Pro-Abortion. Generally though, you’ll find my most heated arguments lie within the realm of personal property rights, taxes and my die-hard belief in the Bill of Rights and the Constitution of the United States of America.

Books

So what’s on your bookshelf?

Bookshelves actually. Boxes as well. So, rather than create a nifty little catalog of what I’m reading/have read I’ll just make a little list of books on my shelf that I’ve read, enjoyed and/or suggest.

  • Freakonomics – Steven Levitt, Stephen Dubner – This is the best book that I’ve read in a very, very long time. Using the tools of economics to explore the world around you has always been my approach but this book has solidified my enthusiasm for this type of analysis.
  • Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams – Seriously, everyone should read this book and all other books by Adams. Unless of course, you have no sense of humor and you are all dried up and dead inside. Lets hope not.
  • Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone – J.K. Rowling – Wow. I love these books, every single page. If you are one of the twelve people living in Eastern Mongolia who are the last remaining people on the planet to not have read these yet, get your ass up and go find a copy.
  • Hyperspace – Michio Kaku – A scientific odyssey through parallel universes, time warps and the 10th dimension. A very well written book about theoretical physics (my favorite kind!) in easy to understand sub-250 IQ required text.
  • Founding Brothers – Joseph Ellis – This amazing work (winner of the Pulitzer Prize!) brings a human understanding to the great men who founded this country. It’s not a history text, it’s a well woven story of some of the most facinating moments during the fledgling days of our country.
  • The Lucifer Principle – Howard Bloom – A look at nature and mankinds atrocites from a scientific viewpoint. It will leave you scratching your head at times trying to figure out what the hell this guy is getting at but he wraps it all up very nicely at the end and it was fascinating.
  • American Psycho – Bret Easton Ellis – HOLY SHIT! You’ve never read anything like this before – I guarantee it. Not for the faint at heart. I’m not necessarily suggesting you read this one…just don’t let your kids read it.
  • Stranger in a Strange Land – Robert Heinlen – A groundbreaking novel that’s constantly ripped off. Read the unabridged version. I couldn’t find a link to it but believe me, it’s worth finding a copy of it. Don’t even bother with that hacked up mass market paperback piece of shit.
  • Dune – Frank Herbert – Duh, a classic in every sense of the word. Read it
  • The Opium War Through Chinese Eyes – Arthur Waley – An excellent accounting of a very important part of history that Americans rarely hear about.
  • Linux in a Nutshell – Ellen Siever, Aaron Weber and Stephen Figgins – Prerequesite geek reading material. If you’re not using *nix, you’re not worthy.
  • Virus! – Allan Lundell – An interesting look at viruses when they were physically destructive to your computers not the weak script kiddie spam machines they are now.
  • The 12th Planet – Zecharia Sitchin – This guy is a frickin kook but it’s an interesting read in any case.
  • William Shakespeare, the Complete Works – William Shakespeare – The Master.
  • The DaVinci Code – Dan Brown – While I like to call this a bit of a “Scooby Doo” mystery, the religious conspiracy theory storyline is great and makes for a quick read.
  • Debt of Honor – Tom Clancy – A Jack Ryan Novel, these are the best of the Clancy novels. A masterful story of political, economic and military warefare.
  • Executive Orders – Tom Clancy – The sequel to Debt of Honor, really more like “part two” of a to be continued. You can’t read one without the other so it’s really more like a 2400 page novel that you have to buy in two parts but it’s worth it!

That’s enough for now I think. I’ll add more later when I’m bored.