I started this article to explore the effects of widespread illiteracy on our once-American culture. As you see below, I made several points about how we'll be adversely affected, only to discover these effects are already present. The decline of our culture, significantly due to illiteracy, is not a future event but a present one. I would dare say our peak as a culture and in literacy was probably two hundred years ago. » read more »

We're not to tolerate stupidity and foolishness. How are these juxtaposed with patience? Proverbs 19:11 clearly says patience is a good thing, as does Galatians 5:22. Isn't being patient just the opposite of intolerance of folly? If Scripture does not contradict itself (an axiom), how, then, are we to resolve these two commands which superficially appear to contradict each other? I think the answer lies in loving the sinner while hating the sin. » read more »

It's just a small thing, but it's a favorite peeve of mine. Newsmen, journalists, pundits, and other charlatans don't seem to understand the definition of a Congressman. The term is used as if it were synonymous with Representative. However, Congress consists of two houses, the House of Representatives and the House of the Senate. A member of either is called a Congressman. If you wish to distinguish one from the other, a Congressman may be called a Representative or a Senator. » read more »

As Vox points out, it appears the leaders of the Massachusetts government could use one:

Apparently the Law of Supply and Demand still comes as a bit of a shock to some. What, you mean you can't subsidize the cost of health care without increasing the demand for it?

Now in Massachusetts, in an unintended consequence of universal coverage, the imbalance is being exacerbated by the state’s new law requiring residents to have health insurance. » read more »

In my experience, it is a very bad sign when supposedly intelligent people clearly demonstrate that a) they have no sense of humor, and b) they cannot laugh at themselves.

First, check out this video. Now, have a look at this summary of Richard Dawkins' reaction to the video. Recall that this guy is supposed to be an "intellectual."

Sorry, Dick, but you don't get it, and we do. Too funny.

I recently posted this verse as one of the revolving quotations on TuscanyCircle:

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will also be like him. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, that he not be wise in his own eyes. Proverbs 26:4-5 » read more »

From http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/... ...

Incompetent People Really Have No Clue, Studies Find
They're blind to own failings, others' skills

Erica Goode, New York Times

Tuesday, January 18

There are many incompetent people in the world. Dr. David A. Dunning is haunted by the fear that he might be one of them.

Dunning, a professor of psychology at Cornell, worries about this because, according to his research, most incompetent people do not know that they are incompetent. » read more »

With a claim like this, and given most of my believing friends are self-identified conservatives, I suppose I should explain. » read more »

2 Corinthians 11:19 may very well be the most sarcastic line penned by Paul. Its meaning is quite evident, though: the wise are not to tolerate fools. Put another way, stupidity is not at all kosher. Foolishness, stupidity, and sin are almost synonymous. A fool, in the Biblical sense, is one who practices sin, as opposed to a true believer whose sins are unwanted exceptions rather than preferred. I personally like the word "stupid" over "foolish" only because it's more insulting (I hate sin!), but it's pretty much the same thing in my book. After all, one must be pretty stupid indeed to disobey the Supreme Judge, let alone make it a habit. » read more »

Gwinnett County spent millions putting in reversible lanes on US78 to accommodate the obnoxious rush hours. Turns out, people are now too stupid to use these reversible lanes without killing themselves and others. Gwinnett is now spending another several million of our dollars removing these lanes. Since the population has grown tremendously since they were put in, rush hour on 78 is sure to be worse than ever after they're removed, not to mention during the destruction over the next 2 years. Stupid people. Stupid government.