Michael Jackson and Bill Maher

Greetings.

Jewish date:  11 Tishri 5770.

Today’s holiday:  Sukkah-Building Day.  (The day after Yom Kippur is traditionally considered the best day to start work on one’s sukkah.)

Note:  I just mowed the backyard so I can build my sukkah.  Someone please send electric grapes.

Worthy cause of the day:  “Help Halt Logging in Our Forests”.

Image via Wikipedia

Topic 1:  “The Destructive Deification of Michael Jackson”—Rav Boteach deals with some unrealistic, anti-empirical of Michael Jackson since the latter’s death.  Though people often try to portray the deceased in a favorable ligwishful thinking that they are perfect does not actually work.  Physical reality does not care what we want, but instead remains what it is regardless.  This is especially true for the deceased, who are no longer capable of changing themselves.  Very notable is the notion that a hero is not someone who is perfect, but rather someone who does something great despite his/her imperfection.  To that idea I would like to add that no human can never hope to be perfect.  An imperfect hero is thus better for us to learn from, seeing that he/she must struggle in the same way that we struggle, and we may realistically achieve the sorts of things he/she achieves.

Image via Wikipedia

Topic 2:  I have already noted that pseudo-comedian Bill Maher, creator of the irrational, anti-religious pseudo-documentary Religulous, believes in medical pseudoscience.  “Bill Maher endorses cancer quackery” deals with Maher’s ignorance and support of quackery in gory detail.  Also mentioned is Richard Dawkins’ support for Maher.  Note that Dawkins is supposed to be pro-reason, something which I have shown he is not, and his support for Maher only makes his claim to being pro-reason even less tenable.

And yes, I am starting to have fun with Zemata to add images to my blog.

OK, back to working in the backyard.  Have an easy time putting up your sukkah.

Aaron