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Fear of Dying: Naked Curmudgeon by Dan culberson
Oct 31st
Here’s what gets me.
People who try to convert others to their religion are like those who recommend their dentist or eye doctor to people.
They have had satisfactory experiences with their dentist or eye doctor, and the more people who do likewise supports and legitimizes their own choices and beliefs. And as everyone knows who has ever attempted to persuade someone to believe what you believe, if you can demonstrate that your belief is supported in print, your position has more substantiation and more weight. In addition, if your medical recommendations have been in print for 2,000 years, then you have a lot of weight and persuasion on your side.
However, suppose that the dentist and the eye doctor receiving these recommendations are quacks. Suppose the dentist claims he has a better method of filling cavities and better suggestions for good dental hygiene than other dentists, but in fact he removes all his patients’ gold fillings for his own profit and replaces them with a cheaper filling, one designed to wear out and ensure that his patients return for more dental work. And suppose that the dentist’s “Ten Commandments of Doctor Gold’s Good Dental Hygiene” begin with “Thou shalt go to no other dentist than Doctor Gold.”
Now suppose that the eye doctor, who might even claim to be the son of Doctor Gold in order to acquire added prestige and pick up some easy patients, suppose that he, Doctor Christman, claims that all of his patients have special abilities as the result of his practice which enables them to have perfect vision without the need for eyeglasses or corrective lenses of any kind after they are dead.
That is correct. Ridiculous as it might seem, Doctor Christman, without any proof whatsoever, claims that if you patronize his practice, you will be given special powers that will enable you to continue living after you die, and you will be whisked away to some special, spiritual Haven for Doctor Christman’s former patients, where everybody spends eternity with perfect eyesight and presumably continues extolling the wonders of Doctor Christman’s special powers.
Now, remember those people who recommend the practices of Doctor Gold and Doctor Christman? Suppose they get a percentage, a finder’s fee, a kickback for every patient who actually does go to those doctors. That would make their recommendations suspect, wouldn’t it? Especially the ones who recommend that kook, Doctor Christman, who boldly claims with a straight face that if only you go to him for your eyesight needs, he will additionally reward you with life after death?
Why would any sane, intelligent person believe such nonsense?
Well, those few people who are blessed with perfect eyesight who can see clearly in all situations that require clear far vision and closeup vision don’t, because they have no need to correct their eyesight and don’t need an eye doctor in the first place. Nor do they need to follow the “Ten Commandments of Doctor Christman’s Perfect Vision,” which are suspiciously similar to Doctor Gold’s Ten Commandments. They are mostly common sense and obvious suggestions, anyway.
However, there are some people, perhaps even a majority, who are afraid of dying. And if they persuade themselves, either on their own or because of the persuasive powers of those paid shills for Doctor Christman, that simply by patronizing Doctor Christman they will be given the additional magical blessing of life after death, they consider that they would be fools not to patronize Doctor Christman and anyone who knows about Doctor Christman and doesn’t patronize him is just a fool.
In other words, their fear of dying has got the better of them and clouded their vision even more than their correctable myopia.
That is just plain silly. Those people are even bigger fools than the ones Doctor Christman’s patients claim to be who aren’t Doctor Christman’s patients, because there is no evidence that life after death is even possible, much less with perfect eyesight.
What are Doctor Christman’s patients afraid of? Why are they so egotistical as to believe that they are so special that they even need to have a life after death?
Where were they before they were born? Nowhere. What have they felt every night of their lives after they have been born? Nothing. They have been in a state of unconsciousness that people with perfect eyesight and those with corrected vision accept without fear of going to sleep.
Doctor Gold and Doctor Christman are quacks.
I rest my case.
Hurricane Sandy Creating Hazardous Ocean Conditions and Increasing Number of Washback Turtles on St. Johns County Beaches Throughout Weekend
Oct 26th
These extreme storm conditions create wrack line by pushing large amounts of sargassum seaweed onto the beach. Juvenile sea turtles, commonly referred to as washbacks, can become trapped in the seaweed, resulting in exhaustion and a need for medical attention. Beach visitors are asked to refrain from making contact with any washback turtles or attempting to return them to the water. Volunteers, coordinated by St. Johns County, known as the “Washback Watchers” will be conducting surveys throughout the weekend to recover washback sea turtles.
Beach visitors are not encouraged to enter the water during this time. In addition, there is a potential for vehicular access to be restricted intermittently throughout the weekend due to the extreme surf and high tides associated with the storm. St. Johns County staff will continually monitor the storm to ensure public safety remains a top priority. Please visit www.noaa.gov for updated weather and sea condition forecasts related to Hurricane Sandy.
Beach visitors who observe a dangerous situation or a marine animal stranded on the beach are asked to call the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Department at 904.824.8304. For information regarding beach conditions or coastal wildlife, please contact St. Johns County Habitat Conservation at 904.209.0331. For more information regarding hurricane preparedness, evacuation zones, and disaster planning, please visit www.sjcemergencymanagement.org.
Vehicular Access to St. Johns County Beaches Intermittently Restricted Due to Residual Hurricane Sandy Impacts
Due to the strength and proximity of Hurricane Sandy and the approaching full moon high tides, vehicular access to St. Johns County beaches may be restricted through Sunday, October 28. A potential for the flooding of vehicle access ramps and the driving lane could require limited access to ensure visitor safety. The beach is open to pedestrians and can be accessed through the off beach parking lots available throughout St. Johns County. Beach visitors are strongly encouraged to remain out of the water during this significant weather event. For preparedness information and Hurricane Sandy situation reports as they become available, please visit the www.sjcemergencymanagement.org. Please call 904.209.0331 for updated information regarding beach access.
Source: City of St. Augustine
Occupy Denver to protest Georgetown evistion
Oct 25th
She has fought them in court, but is now facing eviction and has requested that Occupy Denver stand with her at her home in hope of persuading the police to do the right thing and allow her some more time to continue her legal efforts. She has asked the bank for 30 days during which time she can find another living situation, but the bank has denied her requests. Members of Occupy Denver are answering her call for help and are occupying her home with her as of Wednesday night. To help us succeed in keeping Sahara in her home of 24 years, we ask that you get involved in this home occupation taking place at 170 Peaceful Valley Lane, Idaho Springs, CO, 80452. To get there, drive west on I70 and take exit 240. Go left at the stop sign on highway 103. After 9.5 miles, there will be two mailboxes on the right marking Peaceful Valley Lane, marked also by a green sign with this street name. Drive 300 yards up this dirt road, then take the right hand turn at the fork in the road, and her house is on the right side of a circular driveway.
for info contact Chris at 720-291-4267 or email outreach@occupydenver.org