My latest obsession

I found www.otr.net through a link on digg. They host a whole bunch of classic radio shows made available through streaming real media. My new favorite is I Was A Communist for the FBI. It's a fictionalized re-telling of the true story of an FBI undercover agent by the name of Matt Cvetic. It's excellent radio.

Have I mentioned that I hate wikipedia? I decided to see if there was any information on Mr. Cvetic, or the various media produced about his adventures. The wikipedia entries on these topics, though, have apparently been hijacked by someone with an agenda, referring to Mr. Cvetic as a "fictional character."

There's also reference to McArthy-ism, the Red Scare, and all that jazz. The irony behind it, of course, is that 60 years after the events depicted in the radio show have occured, is that we've become a nation that's much more friendly to the ideas and beliefs of communism and socialism.

The beauty of the program is that it's horribly over-acted, and filled with the cheesiest dialogue ever. It's awesomely bad. Like Snakes on a Plane awesome. Even if you're not interested in I Was A Communist for the FBI, you're sure to find something else on the Old Time Radio library you might like.

Intellevolution (Repost)

I'm reposting this from like, two years ago, because I got splogged. I've changed the comment system to a moderated one, so hopefully it won'y happen again. Here's the orginal post, with some minor clarifications

So there's this fanatical debate going on between the religious right and the lunatic left, which completely boggles my mind. It's over the theory of Intelligent Design. Now I don't know the specifics behind Intelligent Design, but I'm too lazy to even do a google search on the topic.

Here's what I understand the basic premise to be. Something, somewhere, somehow had a plan for life on earth, the universe, or a portion thereof. The theory of ID, as I understand it, does not attempt to explain who or what was responsible for the creation of, or at the very least the catalyst behind, life as we know it; but most people with religious leanings will assume that it's God.

ID, as I understand it, makes no such supposition, however. It is simply a theory that puts forth the idea that life was planned by an entity more intelligent than we know. This is a viable theory. As viable as evolution, anyway. And yet somehow, the two are perceived to be mutually exclusive.
But guess what? They're not!

Intelligent Design is a theory that attempts to uncover the origins of life, while Evolutionary Theory is based on the adaptations that a species may go through based on environmental changes and such. Intelligent Design is not a pseudo-scientific way of trying to sneak the book of Genesis in the public school arena; but since the dawn of civilization, mankind has always looked to the heavens, and tried to explain the unexplainable with the concept of all-powerful creator beings.

From where was this seed planted?

Some would argue that religion was a tool used by the upper class to control the lower classes. While there have been religious leaders who have abused their positions and title, religion is about faith. It's about belief. And why do some say that the beliefs about the creation of the known universe, and the adaptation of life are contradictory?