Church of the Twilight Zone

The more I see of organized religion, especially the TV evangelist version, the more it seems to be no more than superstition as entertainment. From the clerical antics on-screen, and the off-screen peccadilloes of the performers, it is difficult to credit that there is a god in the sense that commercialized religion promotes. Or heaven or hell; or after-life for that matter. It is much more rational that this life is the extent of our consciousness - when you're done, you're done. So do the best you can, take joy where you can find it, give joy whenever you can. Do the things that give you joy and satisfaction, and that make others feel good. Love your family and leave them a habitable home and the ability to have full lives for themselves. So if there is no god but what we find in ourselves, let's just do the best we can with what we have. Of course, there are other possibilities:

Where are we heading ?

Another thing to consider is that humans are still evolving. While evolutionary physical changes are almost imperceptible generation to generation, cultural behavior changes markedly in the same period. Behavior changes coupled with advances in technology may tend to accelerate the pace of human evolution without much outward change in basic appearance. With the constant push for smaller, cheaper, faster electronic devices, and the changes in medical technology, and the sociological drive to be in constant communication via the Internet and cellphone, it is quite conceivable that within a few hundred years, people will be hardwired into the Web with implanted always-on communication devices that also serve as personal digital assistants, data storage, and sense augmentation. Genetic engineering may also have an impact on the population, to make people live longer, healthier lives. Homo sapiens may be only 100,000 years old, but we have only very recently developed technology capable of beginning to understand the physical universe we find ourselves inhabiting. Our civilization has had powered flight for only four generations, nuclear power for only two generations, and only in the current generation have we developed powerful computing and communication capabilities.

Alien NFL Referees among us

Given that there are billions of stars in a galaxy, and that there are billions of galaxies in the universe, it is highly likely there is other intelligent life in the universe, and that this intelligence is much greater, more ancient and experienced than our own (probably god-like to us). It is less probable, although quite possible, that this super intelligence exists within our galaxy. If they exist in our galaxy, they probably know about us but don't care what we do, or know about us and observe, or know about us and control or at least influence developments on earth. So there is some small chance that the aliens are among us. It is this small possibility that I find interesting to think about. So there may be numerous, or a few super intelligent collections of beings in our galaxy. They are probably at least aware of us. What must we seem like to them ? Like ants at a picnic - a nuisance, but we don't eat much. As interesting wildlife to observe ? As an experiment to tweak and study ? Probably not as a source of protein, since the herd has not been thinned.

If there is superintelligent life and if they are capable of spanning interstellar distance, and if they are interested in more primitive intelligent life, and that's a lot of ifs, then they may well have visited at least once, possibly numerous times, and may even be here now. In any case, if they have been or are here now, they have chosen not to make themselves known publicly. If they choose to act, they would likely choose to influence events and outcomes rather than overtly dictate. Much like NFL referees, they do not play the game, but profoundly influence the outcome. In fact, perhaps NFL referees are indeed aliens. Their actions certainly seem unpredictable to us, and not based on earthly logic. Now just think about it for a minute. They supposedly have real day jobs that still allow them ample time to prepare for and travel to and from games. They don't get paid for doing a remarkably unattractive job that requires a state police escort to ensure their safety. And physically, how in the world can these fat, old guys race down the sideline almost step for step with a pro receiver ? How do they have the stamina to do this for an entire game ? The answer, of course, is that they are not of this world. (Twilight Zone theme plays softly in the background).

There must be others of the off-world persuasion as well. Think what type of person stays almost invisibly in the background, prefers anonymity, does not receive awards or public recognition, in fact they often conceal their activities and influence even when they operate in the very center of power, but nevertheless command the ability to make or break critical decisions. Lobbyists come to mind. Lobbyists are blessed with a distinct lack of human conscience or sense of ethics. Lobbyists always seem to be well funded, and operate very effectively at the behest of shadowy organizations with obscure objectives. They effectively write the legislation that Congress enacts, and determine which rules and regulations are enforced, and which ones are not. As another authoritative resource, lets ask Dick Cheney about aliens among us. If anybody knows, he does.

Jerry Jones is the second coming of Al Davis

Listen, Jerry Jones should himself take over as head coach of the feckless Dallas Cowboys football team. There is only one other NFL owner who comes close to Jerry in team management expertise, and that is Al Davis. Also, recall that Al was actually the head coach and offensive coordinator of the Raiders for several years (and compiled a winning record). Jerry has done so well as GM that he should now hand that function off to someone else who could continue his fine performance, someone like Matt Millen - I hear he is available. Then Jerry could try his hand as head coach - it is the only viable alternative. He could even keep Wade around, since he has to pay him anyway; maybe put him in charge of post-game apologies and team refreshments. I'm certain Jerry is just as mentally competent as Al Davis, and Al has done it all - owner, GM, and coach. Why should Jerry let Al outshine him in such fashion. This arrangement would have truly great entertainment value, and would be no worse than the current snafu. Jerry may make a great coach, who knows ?

Up against the wall dickwads !

I just abandoned a book called The Extinction Event, by David Black.

Here's what I thought of it:

The writer, editor, publisher and anyone else associated with this wanna-be novel should be pelted with rotten tomatoes. Either the author has been smitten with senility and the other culprits are giving him a pass, or this was written as a comic book and someone forgot to include the artwork. In any case it is a fraud, and if I had bought it instead of borrowing from the library, I would be insisting on my money back. Specifically, the characters in this travesty are one dimensional caricatures, and the plot is some stream-of-consciousness, ever-diverging departure from reality. The dialog is lifted directly from the Big Book of Cliches to Avoid, and the whole mess is punctuated by tedious descriptive narrative that adds nothing to the story, but must be intended merely to take up white space. This drivel is what I would expect from a vapid high school sophomore trying to write in the style of Mickey Spillane. This is the worst book I have ever attempted to read, and I admit I gave up a quarter of the way through, and just spot checked a page here and there after page 57, expecting it just had to get better, but it did not. Instead it just gets painfully worse and more improbably chaotic, and inspired me to write this review. Save your money. Wait for the comic book to come out.