Thats right, science studies sex.  In fact it is one of the greatest reasons that I can give for science being a part of everyone's life, and for everyone taking an active interest in science.

The science of fucking.

I like the phrase "science of fucking."

I know from the experience of my podcast that this phrase drives people crazy, when I say things like "evolution is the science of fucking" people who are freethinking atheists will have their inner puritan take over and cause them to scream about asexual evolution.

Indeed, most reproduction is asexual. But how can you compare that in the minds of most of us to sex. To good ol fashion penis/vagina, genital/mouth, genital/anal sex!

Its awesome!

When we really like something we call it "better than sex" as if sex where the bar for all pleasure. It is.

It should be.

Yet, due to religious codes and dualistic philosophies we as a species have spent the last few millenia treating sex as though it were a source of impurity, uncleaness, something not fitting for polite comany.

In the 1800s there were some important stabs at the science of sex. Most famously is Sigmund Freud, who I revere not for any discoveries (most of his theories have been disproven) but for daring to ask the questions that he asked.

When I was younger I was a professional golf hopeful.  Of the roughly 30 matches I played in my high school career I was undefeated, and my first job out of school was at a well known golf learning center in my area.  This was the job that got me through the first year or two of my sons life, forgoing the end of college so that I could earn a living to support my little man.  I recognized around that time frame that if I were to be a golfer on any pro tour I would need to practice everyday in place of a career or family, and just accepted that turning pro would be too tough of a feat.  I dramatically reduced the amount of golf I played due to it's expense, and concentrated much more on work.  When I was 16 I was able to play 200-350 rounds of golf per year, by 25 I was lucky if I played twice per year. 

Mythicism, Minimalism, and it’s Detractors

By Rook Hawkins

Mythicism and Me

I am walking down a busy city street. The street is filled with people walking with purpose and in rhythmic strides. I walk to this cadence for quite a few blocks hoping my destination will soon approach when up to my left I notice a man sitting against a building strumming a guitar. The tune is faint as I approach, reaching its apex as I reach his open guitar case. I stop for a moment taking in the entire scene; the disheveled 30- something guitarist (or maybe early 20's... I can't be sure as he is in rough shape) the few one dollar bills thrown into the open guitar case, the few people gathered around to watch..

He ends his song and the few of us still standing there offer a round of applause. As I made a move to continue on my way I noticed one person throw a five dollar bill into the case. I had no cash to give and I couldn't help but wonder what this man would be doing with the money at the end of his performances that day. I am not one to stereotype but my first thought was; this guy will have plenty of drugs tonight. So what did I do? I gave him a $5 gift card to Panera bread. The look on his face was one of confusion...I thanked him for the wonderful song and wished  him a pleasant day. As I walked away I saw him grab the card and look at it as if I had given him a chunk of rock.

…with none of the defining characteristics of a religion. It is because Vox Day says so in Chapter 4, entitled “The Religion of Reason.” Aside from the humorous comparison between an atheist politician and a “toothless, illiterate, homosexual Afro-Hispanic crack whore with a peg-leg,” his opening salvo misses the point when he adds in the footnote that “it appears that telling people how evil and stupid they are may not be the best way of convincing them….” (p. 61) The reason that atheists are distrusted and, in some cases, despised is not because of intellectual elitism and snobbery—it’s because atheism has been caricatured and stigmatized as a pseudo-Satanic cult in most popular media. It is still not socially acceptable to be as open with one’s non-belief as those who believe are. Walking or driving around with merchandise that announces one’s lack of superstitious belief still draws glares or snide remarks mixed in with the head shaking and sympathetic looks. Meanwhile, almost nobody looks askance at people wearing jewelry depicting crosses and dead crucified men, and Jesus fish are practically ubiquitous. Nonetheless, atheists are unpopular—just not for that reason. 

The Punk Years: Introduction

I have used my background as a punk rocker often in my writing to accentuate my belief that I have my finger on the pulse of American culture.  I have decided that the time has come to clarify this.

First of all I am using the term punk very loosely.  I am not using it as a genre of music, which it is, but rather as a word defining the sub/counter-culture which flocks around this genre of music.  I am also in the camp that accepts "punk" as applied situationism.  Situationism is an ethical system that states that all ethical choices are contingent and variably justifiable based on the situation. Most punks who know this term (and most don't)deny that punk is a situationist school of thought. This is because most punks are anti-intellectual.

Signed With Love, A Dead Civilization

By Rook Hawkins

Thomas Cahill wrote that “the Historian’s principal task should be to raise the dead to life.”[1]  Cahill is certainly right.  Often times in antiquity, ancient historians would take this statement too literally, raising their protagonist from the dead using all sorts of miraculous and fictional motifs to do it.  Thankfully, the days where city founders and saviors would meet their righteous followers on the road before ascending off into the sky are over, particularly when it comes to literary exegesis (although there are still a few evangelical and reactionary historians who try to do this with the Gospel Jesus).  Modern historians have new ways to bringing the dead back to life, and more often than not, this is accomplished with methods revolving around science instead of superstition.

What I learned from "Debt Control" by: Chris J. Richards:

Chris J. Richards is a guy who teaches self-help courses in financial management.

The book in question was written in 1999, and if he is a CPA it is not said in his biography. Chris J. Richards also seems to not exist on the internet. All of these are bad signs, and reasons to take this book with a grain of salt.

I thought Chris J. Richards must be a CPA because he gives so many anecdotes of people he counsiled out of debt, but they must have been people in his classes. Me thinking he was a CPA when I checked the book out from the library is probably by design, so kudos to Richards for good marketing. Unfortunately when you fool a skeptic, he tells everybody!

"Debt Control" is the second book I have read about money, mostly because I was intoxicated on Dave Ramsey, who is awesome!

In addition to all the books I'm reading I'm also listening to about 8 podcasts on money on a weekly to daily basis. So what I will emphasize in Richards' book is stuff that I have heard or read from other financial advisors. Where Richards unique, due to his lack of credentials, I will assume he is simply full of shit.

I learned 3 things from this book, I learned about debt negotiation, chapter 7 bankruptcy and chapter 13 bankruptcy.  Another interesting parallel between Richards and the others is his attitude towards credit cards.

What I Have Learned From Dave Ramsey:

So let me get my feelings about Dave Ramsey right on the table. First, I don't agree with everything he says, and with me, he had the cards stacked against him. I believe that almost all self-help books are scams, and that anyone who believes in a literal interpretation of scripture loses 10 IQ points in my mind.

Ramsey lost those 10 IQ points in my eyes, and still came out with a well above average IQ.

Ramsey has a simple approach, spend less than you make, save what you don't spend, and get the hell out of debt. Oh, did I mention that his approach involves you getting out of debt? Dave Ramsey has an unquenshible thirst for getting rid of debt.

Dave Ramsey's popularity is based on people needing to, and using his system, to get out of debt.

According to Ramsey debt is public enemy 1.

I started my inquiry into money with Ramsey, because I used to be a fundamentalist christian punk-rocker, and remembered his popularity among my peers.

Perhaps this is "As a dog returns to his own vomit, a fool returns to his folly," according to book of Proverbs in the bible, but I am glad I did it.

Ramsey had some religious hogwash in most of his chapters, but it was easily ignored.

Money is the #1 cause of divorce in America.

Most of us are in debt.

Most of us have inadequate savings, or no savings at all.

So whats up with all this?

I can’t speak for anyone but myself at this point in my inquiry, but in my case its simple I just never thought much about it.

When I tried to talk to my friend Joe about his Student Loan debt, his response to me was “I just don’t care about money.”

This would have been my response as well.

Then my marriage started having problems because of my “uncaring” approach to money.

My internet friend “That Writer Chick” sent me an email stating that basically the whole system is corrupt, there is no way out of debt, and luckily Ron Paul is here to fight the good fight.

I can’t stand Ron Paul, but that is another story.

“That Writer Chick” also said that I need to break free from my dependence on mainstream media.

That may be true.

But “That Writer Chick” suggests that instead of the mainstream media I go to the likes of Ron Paul and his friends for my information.

I don’t like Ron Paul, but I can give an explanation of why I think that my sources are useful.