Speaking about uncanny, David, is it coincidental that somehow spirituality and science should have evolved intertwined in a post about the Discovery Channel? Then again, apart from religion, few issues generate as such widespread and passionate support as does environmental protection.

Perhaps this is because no other issue is as critical to the future of our planet. While the world still engages in commerce and the world economy suffers no long-term ill effects no matter what economic policy is currently in vogue; the long-term (and perhaps near-term) effects of our governmental policies on the ecosystem may very likely have grave and prolonged consequences. And while the topic receives widespread media coverage, it remains only a "special interest" piece in the press just as it does in the agenda of our political leaders.

It is also possible that regardless of whether we endorse evolution, intelligent design or alien intervention, mankind intuitively senses that the callous disregard of some fundamental, all-encompassing and infinitely generative vital force to which all life owes its very existence, is the gravest travesty that a sentient being can commit.

Or, perhaps it is just plain common sense.

While I myself eagerly await the arrival of credible leaders with a strong, determined and urgent environmental agenda which I can actively support, I realize that the natural world in which we live, however, remains under constant daily assault.

Deep within my bones I sense that my very soul is inextricably bound to actions I take, or do not take every day of my life, which help to determine the fate of the natural world to which I am wholly accountable. And while I may berate leaders and governments for doing nothing to halt the carnage, until my own personal agenda and daily activities reflect these values, I am nothing more than another bag of hot air adding more CO2 to an already overly taxed environment.

The basic truth is the same now as it has always been. The true measure of the validity of our values and beliefs is soley the extent to which our every day acts match or exceed our words. If a man chooses to act in every moment of his life by intelligent (and compassionate) design, then certainly his is a divine universe.

But then how can he actually prove this fact?

"It is like a man taking a refreshing drink of water. He knows for himself whether it is cold or not."

Thank you, David. I understand and agree.

That is, so long as we continue to agree to disagree - should occasion warrant.

Frankly, my friend, I am convinced that underneath it all, we are all alright. It's just that some of us may require a bit more digging than do others.

I see that everything in the world is now just one great lucky coincidence.

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8493

It's a sad day.

Next time your child or your loved one loves you back or that new born lamb spings about in that field just remember it's you being sentimental and we all just got lucky.

...God has left the building - 20th December 2005

I got my daughter a cloned lamb for Xmas. (or is that Ymas? You know, the Holidays, Seasons Greetings and all that!) It's so cool. It hops and springs about. and instead of saying Baaaa!, it says Baaaahumbug! Walmart has them on sale for a limited time only. When the kid, (my daughter, not the lamb) gets tired of it being a lamb, theres a food supplement you feed it (the lamb, not the kid) and it evolves very slowly into a dolphin. If you sit and watch, you can actually see its nose migrate up it's skull and fuse into a blowhole. Then it jumps into the pool and starts swimming around. No, really, this is all true! There are 666 different types of animals you can change it into. Boy, Walmart really gets you on those food supplements! They cost an arm and a leg. (but that's OK because we have a cloning farm in the back and if we need an arm or a leg, we just run back and get one.) Anyway, hope you all have a Happy Winter Solstice!

Would you happen to know if the supplements are safe for people.

I was thinking about buying some as a gift for my wife.