Gratuitous Common Sense

Living Forever is the subject of the current poll, on the right side of this page.

In 1900, the life expectancy for newborn babies in the United States was 46 for males and 48 for females. By the year 2000, life expectancy had increased by an average of 64% to 74 for males and 80 for females. Even a modest increase at half that rate over the next century would put average natural life expectancy above 100 years of age. If our civilization continues at the current rate, it will be over 125 years by the year 2100.

With the exponential growth of scientific advancement over the last half century, we might even expect an increase in that rate. Some scientists are saying that the first person that will live to see 200 is alive today. Some are saying we’re on the brink of flat out reversing the aging process. Crazier ones are purporting that the scientific discoveries and possibilities offered by gene/DNA manipulation will allow us to live as long as we want.

But what kind of social consequences does that have, if we just won’t die? How long would you want to live? 200 years? 500 years? 1000 years?

If you think our current life expectancy is ‘just right’, then what do you think the people alive in 1900 thought? What age will the first generation of the 22nd century think is ‘just right’?

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“The doctrine of the movements of the earth and the fixity of the sun is condemned on the ground that the Scriptures speak in many places of the sun moving and the earth standing still… I think that in the discussion of natural problems we ought to begin not with the Scriptures, but with experiments and demonstrations.”

- Galileo Galilei

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In 2006, the American movie industry used the date of 6-6-06 to shamelessly promote a movie called, The Omen - a remake of a 1970’s film by the same name. The date, however arbitrarily determined by the gregorian (or solar) calendar, was given significance because its corresponding numbers are the so-called mark of the beast, 666. Of course they ignored the fact that the devil’s number has been devalued to 616.

Anyway, now it’s 2007. And it’s time for some more Armageddon fun with the calendar. As you may or may not have noticed, it’s July, which can only mean one thing. It is the 7th month. And July has a 7th day, on which the date will be 7-7-07. Jesus is Coming!

Please pray on 777 (Saturday July 7 2007) with millions for what will become the World’s Greatest Christian Prayer Day! Let’s help everyone focus on the Light of the world and his return. Expect the Spirit of God to be powerful on 777 because of faith and unity never before witnessed.

Surely, two Armageddon-esque dates so relatively close on the never-ending calendar are a sign of the apocalypse, the end of days, end times, the second coming, salvation, rapture. Fear!! or Pray!! Because the national day of prayer does not provide enough unity to be witnessed.

We beleive (sic) that the Almighty has planned and prepared this day, 777 from the beginning to continue his end time scenes.

Of course, the 777 that occurs in the 21st century is the one he has planned and prepared, not the one in the first century (as a literal reading of god’s word might lead you to believe), or the one in the 8th century .

But a christian page encouraging prayer would not be complete without an innocuous passive-aggressive chapter-and-verse threat…

Faithless people may start getting a little nervous about 777. This is why and in the Lord’s own words

40. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

but don’t let the comedy dissuade you. They eventually get around to what “The Manchild Team” really believes:

Yes there is a tribulation coming, but more importantly, is the fact that there is going to be a deliverance from the tribulation. Most protestant religions call this a rapture. The ManChild Team would like to fly to heaven but we think that this is more of an escape from what’s coming kind of rapture. The Ark that the small few chosen escaped in during the first world judgment and punishment for the wicked is a message and example of how we shall be given safety. The Israelites made a little Ark called the “Ark of the Testimony” which had great Godly powers like in Raiders of the Lost Ark. This symbolized Noah and more importantly the Ark we are all getting in or going to. We believe it may be in a mountain valley of some sort in Canada or the hollowed out of a mountain. When all the fireworks or tribulation is over we come out and start a new world. This time we will be led into the Ark by Christ and led out to prosper the new world as it will be called for approximately a thousand years. This will be a world that is not based on sports heroes, celebrities, politicians or the greed of money. It will be based on righteousness and only righteous honest decent people will be honored. Tell cold heartless American TV, Bye.

I love how he cites Raiders of the Lost Ark, then says to “tell cold heartless American TV, Bye,” as if the movie industry creates any less idolatry. Love it!!

I’m preparing for the lord, as we speak. You think some wine is in order? A nice Chianti with some pasta? Nah, he’ll probably just need some water.

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I took a week off, and I get tagged. So, it happened. CHADMAC has tagged me with the eight random facts thing. This is how it works - I post the following rules and then post some random little facts about myself. First, the rules:

• We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
• Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
• People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
• At the end of your blog post, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
• Don’t forget to leave them each a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Second, the facts:

1. I hate tagging memes with a passion because they seem to be a severe waste of time and (save any ulterior pageranking or link-whoring motives) only serve as fodder for someone who has nothing else to post about at the moment.
2. I have nothing else to post about at the moment.
3. I am God. Don’t believe me? Check out my email address: god@ccannizzaro.com.
4. Speaking of being God, I’m a control freak. I’m not a backseat driver, and I’m not one to get agitated and irritable, but it will burn on the inside if I see someone doing something that I know can be done in a better, faster, or more efficient way.
5. This blog is an experiment, meant only to serve my curiosity and love of learning. My blog has a finite lifespan, and, as God, only I know when it is predestined to end. At that point, all your links to my blog will lead to one of two places: 1) to nowhere (fitting for an athiestic site) or 2) to rather unattractive or uninteresting pictures of me and my family, friends, and dog.
6. Speaking of my dog, his name is Darwin, but not for the religio-scientific Charles-inspired reasons that most people assume. We actually chose it because of its intrinsic meaning, which is “good friend, dear friend, or friend”. We thought it a fitting name for our dog.
7. I’m weird and obsessive compulsive sometimes. I consciously avoid stepping on cracks on the sidewalk, but just the natural unplanned cracks, the seams that are supposed to be there don’t bother me. Not for any superstitious reasons, just because I don’t like to. I also flush the toilet in a public restroom with my foot, including the urinal, where I am forced to use my flying dragon ninja kick. I also have the highest possible frequent flyer status on two different airlines, I’ve flown hundreds of thousands of miles, and still have never seen the inside of an airplane bathroom. And if I have my way, I never will.
8. I have arachnophobia. I know… how can God be afraid of spiders? but it’s true. As you know, I’ve never claimed to be a rational or reasonable entity.

Bonus fact: I’m not much for following the rules. I have a general disdain for authority, especially undeserved authority. And I typically learn the hierarchy of an organization or system only so I know how to subvert it when necessary.

So I’m not tagging anyone with this meme. The buck, as they (yes, that they) say, stops here.

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