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<channel>
	<title>the bradlands &#187; politics</title>
	<atom:link href="http://thebradlands.com/category/politics/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://thebradlands.com</link>
	<description>This is Brad Hicks' blog about anything he feels like talking about</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:09:29 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Scott Adams on Atheism</title>
		<link>http://thebradlands.com/2007/08/07/scott-adams-on-atheism/</link>
		<comments>http://thebradlands.com/2007/08/07/scott-adams-on-atheism/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:10:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bradlands</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[religion]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thebradlands.com/2007/08/07/scott-adams-on-atheism/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Earlier this week Warren pointed me to Scott Adams blog, and there has been some very interesting debate going on there.  He began by writing two blogs on Atheism and Pascal&#8217;s Wager.  In these blogs he presented very simple arguments against Atheism along with some interesting theories concerning which religion is true.  [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Earlier this week Warren pointed me to Scott Adams blog, and there has been some very interesting debate going on there.  He began by writing two blogs on <a href="http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/2007/07/the-atheist-who.html">Atheism</a> and <a href="http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/2007/07/pascals-wager.html">Pascal&#8217;s Wager</a>.  In these blogs he presented very simple arguments against Atheism along with some interesting theories concerning which religion is true.  All is well and good.  However his posts were quite offensive to Austin Cline over at Ask.com, and Austin wrote up <a href="http://atheism.about.com/b/a/259315.htm">quite a fiery response</a>.  Scott <a href="http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/2007/08/poster-child-fo.html">answered with this post</a> and is now waiting for a response.  This is turning into quite an interesting affair.</p>
<p>I have always enjoyed <a href="http://www.unitedmedia.com/comics/dilbert/archive/index.html">the Dilbert cartoons</a>, but never realizes Scott Adams had a blog.  After reading quite a bit of his writing I have found it is very enjoyable reading and quite thought provoking.  Here is another Scott Adams post, suggesting that maybe the problem in Iraq is that <a href="http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/2007/08/theories-you-ca.html">there are not enough Guns</a>.  He says that you cannot test his theory, but I say that it has already been tested and proven, right here in America.  Hence the second amendment which states that you can never have too many guns (it might use different words then that).</p>
<p><img src="http://www.unitedmedia.com/comics/dilbert/archive/images/dilbert2007261870726.gif" height="185" width="527" /></p>
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		<title>Shocking news!</title>
		<link>http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/30/shocking-news/</link>
		<comments>http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/30/shocking-news/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:36:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bradlands</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/30/shocking-news/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[NewsBusters has found two prominent places where liberal forces of the main stream media are actually reporting that there has been a lot of progress made in Iraq especially since the &#8220;surge&#8221;.  They are even reporting that we might just&#8230; wait for it&#8230; win.  I know, I couldn&#8217;t believe it either, but here [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>NewsBusters has found two prominent places where liberal forces of the main stream media are actually reporting that there has been a lot of progress made in Iraq especially since the &#8220;surge&#8221;.  They are even reporting that we might just&#8230; wait for it&#8230; win.  I know, I couldn&#8217;t believe it either, but here they are: NBC&#8217;s <a href="http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2007/07/29/shocking-chris-matthews-discussion-maybe-we-shouldn-t-leave-iraq">Chris Matthews</a> and a <a href="http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2007/07/30/shocking-new-york-times-op-ed-iraq-war-we-just-might-win">New York Times op-ed</a>.  Enjoy every last word.</p>
<p><strong>UPDATE</strong>: of course <a href="http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2007/07/30/oh-bodya-kansas-congresswoman-walks-out-generas-positive-iraq-testimony">some people just can&#8217;t handle good news</a>.</p>
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		<title>Answer to car exhaust polution</title>
		<link>http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/25/answer-to-car-exhaust-polution/</link>
		<comments>http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/25/answer-to-car-exhaust-polution/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jul 2007 18:41:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bradlands</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[science]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/25/answer-to-car-exhaust-polution/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I am not a big fan of the panic surrounding greenhouse gas emissions, but I love the outdoors and want our air to be kept clean and fresh.  So hence I present to you a solution to all of automobile exhaust polution:  the Greenbox.

I think that this is truly genius, especially if it goes mainstream [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I am not a big fan of the panic surrounding greenhouse gas emissions, but I love the outdoors and want our air to be kept clean and fresh.  So hence I present to you a solution to all of automobile exhaust polution:  the <a href="http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20070725/greenbox-recycles-exhaust-into-fuel-%e2%80%a6-sort-of/">Greenbox</a>.</p>
<p><img src="http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/greenbox.jpg" height="350" width="334" /></p>
<p>I think that this is truly genius, especially if it goes mainstream and a system is put in place so that the sludge can quickly and easily be removed from the box at any gas station.  I can easily picture a setup where, while pumping your gas, you hook up your greenbox and quickly empty it into holding tanks at the gas stations.  The gas stations give you a discount for the gas you just bought, and they then sell the sludge en mas back to the oil companies.  The oil companies turn the sludge back into gas which is later sent back out to the gas stations.</p>
<p>Now if we can only hook these things up to cows behinds, <a href="http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000448/index.html">since livestock in America actually emits more greenhouse gases then transport</a>.</p>
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		<title>This is SO good</title>
		<link>http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/23/this-is-so-good/</link>
		<comments>http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/23/this-is-so-good/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jul 2007 23:38:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bradlands</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[religion]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/23/this-is-so-good/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are two parts to this piece with Dennis Prager: here and here.  Take a few minutes and listen to both.
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are two parts to this piece with Dennis Prager: <a href="http://beyondthenews.salem.cc/Content/PermaLink,guid,8e03d1b6-2dc0-4554-be02-c1a9fcf4f5d6.aspx">here</a> and <a href="http://beyondthenews.salem.cc/Content/PermaLink,guid,7b3b6d7f-512c-4f0c-bae0-e97604240446.aspx">here</a>.  Take a few minutes and listen to both.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>maybe socialism isnt so bad after all</title>
		<link>http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/19/maybe-socialism-isnt-so-bad-after-all/</link>
		<comments>http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/19/maybe-socialism-isnt-so-bad-after-all/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:56:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bradlands</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[science]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/19/maybe-socialism-isnt-so-bad-after-all/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ www.livescience.com
&#8220;That strong, egocentric communication of Westerners was nonexistent when we looked at Chinese,&#8221; Keysar said. &#8220;The Chinese were very much able to put themselves in the shoes of another when they were communicating.&#8221;
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> <a href="http://www.livescience.com/health/070717_pointof_view.html">www.livescience.com</a></p>
<p>&#8220;That strong, egocentric communication of Westerners was nonexistent when we looked at Chinese,&#8221; Keysar said. &#8220;The Chinese were very much able to put themselves in the shoes of another when they were communicating.&#8221;</p>
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		<title>This pretty much sums it up</title>
		<link>http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/18/this-pretty-much-sums-it-up/</link>
		<comments>http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/18/this-pretty-much-sums-it-up/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:30:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bradlands</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/18/this-pretty-much-sums-it-up/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hot Air
The comments are great.  Here are a few of my favorite:
&#8220;I see that Reid and the Dems pulled out of the all-nighter.&#8221;
&#8220;We must really be impressing all the bad guys around the world who are watching this! And they want this group to run my Health Care? Yea…whatever!&#8221;
&#8220;It wasn’t a total wash.  My [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://hotair.com/archives/2007/07/18/our-crap-politics-senate-sleepover-fizzles/">Hot Air</a></p>
<p>The comments are great.  Here are a few of my favorite:</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;I see that Reid and the Dems pulled out of the all-nighter.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;We must really be impressing all the bad guys around the world who are watching this! And they want this group to run my Health Care? Yea…whatever!&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;It wasn’t a total wash.  My daughter was fussy last night and the C-SPAN coverage lulled her right to sleep.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;No wonder they can’t commit to win a war. They can’t even commit to winning an all night DEBATE!!&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Code Pink, Answer, Daily Kos, thats who this all- nighter was for. The nutroots.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;This is the result of women in politics. Now they are organizing slumber parties.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;How about congress’ approval rating is less than half of GW’S….????…What say you hairy and nanc…???&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Personally, I think the GOP missed a golden opporuntity when they didn’t show up en masse in footie PJs to make the point that political stunts like this are only as good as the threats behind them. Harry Reid lost the minute he didn’t really make all the Senators stay there- particularly after making repeated statements about “working all night if necessary to bring the troops home now.”&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>FYI the congress approval rating is at 14% now according to Zogby.</p>
<p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://www.coxandforkum.com/archives/CARI.Reid.gif" height="218" width="152" /></p>
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		<title>Had to mention this</title>
		<link>http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/11/had-to-mention-this/</link>
		<comments>http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/11/had-to-mention-this/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Jul 2007 04:20:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bradlands</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[soccer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/11/had-to-mention-this/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sorry, I know this place has been more political since I started back, but I have always just written what is on my mind, and politics has been bouncing around up there lately.  Dont worry there will be plenty of other stuff floating by sooner or later (I still need to write up a trip [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sorry, I know this place has been more political since I started back, but I have always just written what is on my mind, and politics has been bouncing around up there lately.  Dont worry there will be plenty of other stuff floating by sooner or later (I still need to write up a trip report of our backpacking to cold mountain).</p>
<p>So here is a link to some Cuban hospitals not featured on Moore&#8217;s &#8220;Sicko&#8221;: <a href="http://freethoughts.wordpress.com/2007/07/11/moroon-forgot-to-tell-us-about-healthcare-for-ordinary-cubans/">http://freethoughts.wordpress.com</a>  I would like to see a documentary come out as an answer to Sicko which looks at the way things actually are.</p>
<p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/2249/41ph3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></p>
<p>Also I just thought I would mention how facebook has been coming in handy lately.  A local group of people around Mebane called &#8220;Soccer Saturdays&#8221; has been useful for getting people together to do stuff.  If you are interested in knowing when soccer games are getting together in Mebane (and probably other stuff too) then message me on facebook and I&#8217;ll get you into the group.  From then on you will see notes in your facebook inbox when things are getting together.</p>
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		<title>&#8220;domestic spying&#8221; ruling overturned</title>
		<link>http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/06/domestic-spying-ruling-overturned/</link>
		<comments>http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/06/domestic-spying-ruling-overturned/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Jul 2007 19:31:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bradlands</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/06/domestic-spying-ruling-overturned/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This just in from newsbusters (you dont see this kind of news reported by the MSM):  The original ruling that &#8220;domestic spying&#8221; is unconstitutional was overturned.  I call it &#8220;domestic spying&#8221; because that is the label that was given it, though many disagree with that title.  Here is a quote:

A federal appeals court on Friday [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://newsbusters.org/node/13938">This just in from newsbusters</a> (you dont see this kind of news reported by the MSM):  The original ruling that &#8220;domestic spying&#8221; is unconstitutional was overturned.  I call it &#8220;domestic spying&#8221; because that is the label that was given it, though many disagree with that title.  Here is a quote:</p>
<blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal">A federal appeals court on Friday ordered the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging President Bush&#8217;s domestic spying program, saying the plaintiffs had no standing to sue.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The 2-1 ruling by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel vacated a 2006 order by a lower court in Detroit, which had found the post-Sept. 11 warrantless surveillance aimed at uncovering terrorist activity to be unconstitutional, violating rights to privacy and free speech and the separation of powers….</p>
<p>White House spokesman Tony Fratto said, &#8220;We have always believed that the District Court&#8217;s decision declaring the terrorist surveillance program unconstitutional was wrongly decided.&#8221;</p>
<p>The ACLU is reviewing its options, including taking its challenge to the Supreme Court, Shapiro said.</p></blockquote>
<p>I hope that it is taken to the supreme court, so that it can be shot down again by the steller group of people who now run the show.</p>
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		<title>Hillary</title>
		<link>http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/05/hillary/</link>
		<comments>http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/05/hillary/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jul 2007 21:13:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bradlands</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thebradlands.com/2007/07/05/hillary/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is an interesting analysis on the electability of Hillary.  Personally I am rooting for her to get the nomination.  When 45% of Americans say they will vote for anyone but Hillary, that is quite promising for Fred!

]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This is <a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_2008_clinton_thompson_tied">an interesting analysis</a> on the electability of Hillary.  Personally I am rooting for her to get the nomination.  When 45% of Americans say they will vote for anyone but Hillary, that is quite promising for Fred!</p>
<p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://www.fightthebias.com/Resources/Humor/Images/cap/images/hillary-closer.jpg" height="450" width="394" /></p>
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		<title>This is really interesting</title>
		<link>http://thebradlands.com/2007/04/01/this-is-really-interesting/</link>
		<comments>http://thebradlands.com/2007/04/01/this-is-really-interesting/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 02 Apr 2007 03:09:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>bradlands</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[daily]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[science]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thebradlands.com/2007/04/01/this-is-really-interesting/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/911myths/4213805.html
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/911myths/4213805.html">http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/911myths/4213805.html</a></p>
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