Feb 3 10

Love, University and War

by Wouter

1560255803OK, so I am a student again this year, I registered as a ’special student’ and happily filled in the Religion box with “Secular Humanist”. I suppose this is the purpose of blogging, to reflect how your thoughts and way of live evolve. Anyway, I have some research blogging potential in the back of my mind, now that I have access to journals again. Not as if I have any time for it, things are rather hectic, also hence my rather terse tone and the hiatus.

Speaking of returning from a blogging hiatus, one of the bloggers I used to follow a lot during my first varsity years have returned to the blogging scene. Mr Ivo Vegter, a libertarian and journalist for the now deceased Maverick who had some influence over my political/economic views, and view on climate science. I will admit now that my views have changed on climate change, by the people over at scienceblogs especially Pharyngula, who made me understand that skeptics are not the climate change deniers or the vaccination opposition, but the peer review method of science itself. So I will keep an eye on his blog, but this time as part of his opposition. Although Ivo is more of an economic commentator, I would say my political views are now largely influenced by Christopher Hitchens, and Noam Chomsky, and of course the likes of Thomas Paine, and other enlightenment generation political philosophers. Then again, I don’t follow the whole climate change debate any more, or care much about local politics and or economic policy. It is just too boring, when you can instead debate religion and international, especially American politics.

On work, things have never been so hectic, but light or a bike rather, is at the end of the tunnel. My fingertips are bleeding for the various projects I am busy doing for the university. I just hope I get my office soon, so I can get at least some vague form of routine in my life, which was, although pleasantly, absent for a couple of years now.

On books, I have finished with a few, including: What is Good, The Greatest Show on Earth, Catch 22. Currently I am trying to enjoy Love, Poverty and War, by Hitchens. I have to admit, I feel a bit alienated, not so much by the style of his writing, but by the sheer magnitude of his influences. Never have I read anything like it in it’s vastness and I do sometimes wonder, if there was ever an event on planet earth which escaped the hawk-like eyes of Hitchens? Fuck knows, but I submit to his intellect with a puzzling grin of incredulity.

On godlessness, I have donated a couple of bucks to the Red Cross and recently to Soil for Life, after some hostile initiative by the folks over at Yuppie Chef.

Oct 23 09

Happy Birthday Universe

by Wouter

What a great day it is today which sadly will mostly go by unaware by billions of people who adhere to the Bible, which according to its chronology reveals that October the 23rd is the birthday of the world. So without further ado happy birthday Universe 6012 *claps*.



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Sep 29 09

The awesomeness of Ingersoll

by Wouter

I have read some of Robert Ingersoll’s work at infidels.org. This man sure can write, and today for the first time I heard him speak. All praise goes to Edison.

They should put his “Creed” in every hotel bedroom instead of some holy book.

Sep 17 09

Delving into a bit of philosophy

by Wouter

I received my two books on order today. Both from the Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck, A C Grayling: Against all Gods; Six Polemics on Religion and an essay on kindness, and What is Good?; The Search for the best way to live.

Against all Gods is a rather short book at around 60 pages. You can probably fit all he has to say in a 2 hour lecture or so. I have only read about 20 pages, and so far it has been good, although I expected a bit more in terms of the use of the English language. It has been very easy reading up to now, but I have grown fond of the articulatory barbed writers such as Paine, Pinker and Dawkins. Then again, its way to short to judge the book on only the first 20 odd pages. I will revisit this in a later post when I have finished with both books.

Other than that I have been busy with beefing up my portfolio with some example work. I will post these later after I have submitted them to the potential employer, they include a logo, a full vehicle vinyl wrap, a large roll up poster and a website cover.

Sep 9 09

New Dawkins books now available

by Wouter

rdmswAlright, I will admit, I am a huge Dawkins fan, have read three of his books, The Blind Watchmaker, Climbing Mount Improbable and The Ancestor’s Tale.
I always wanted to get myself his Oxford Book on Modern Science Writing, but it was until now only available in expensive Hardcover.

The brand new book, The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution was released on my birthday as a sign from God. Well perhaps not.

As the cover and name would suggest it is a book on the evidence for evolution. His previous books where all on the process of evolution, his gene centered view in his first book; The Selfish Gene, the process of natural selection and the improbabilities of the forming of complex systems is covered in TBW and CMI. The Ancestors Tale was a rather long walk to the origins of life from modern man. This new book now delves into why we know evolution is true, by using evidence gathered through various areas of the sciences. The Greatest Show on Earth

Two must have books in my opinion. But I first need to wait, as I have about three unread books and another two from A.C Grayling on order.

Sep 9 09

Hi to the world yet again.

by Wouter

Oh hi, again! I have deleted my blog about 3 times now, but its back, yet again! Life is rapidly changing and since writing comes naturally, almost like breathing, I thought it would be a good idea to start writing again. So yeah, things are looking pretty good, still job searching and doing random freelance work. But not to already bore you, I’ll keep it at that.