AVDI VIDE TACE translated means “HEAR, SEE, BE SILENT”

The Royal Society, the premier and oldest learned society for the study of science, was founded in 1660 with the motto “Nullius in Verba” or “On the words of no one.” This date probably was the start of that remarkable period in the intellectual history of Europe that we call today “The Age of Enlightenment.”

But the story of the beginning of that age went back many years.

European universities and intellectual climate at the time were still dominated by Aristotle and Scholastic system of thinking, that of the “Disputatio.”

The way to arrive at truth was the method of “Deduction” axiomatic deductions from authorities. Who constituted the “Authorities" anyway? The sacred books, writings by ancient authorities and so on. Scant attention was paid to empirical evidence.

An example being based on the authorities of St. Thomas, Deuteronomy, Leviticus, Kings 1, (the last three are books of the Bible) and St. Augustine, one must logically deduce that witches exist, and therefore it was heresy to say otherwise. (Hence the Witch Trials that lasted for 100's of years)

The Catholic Church’s pressure on Galileo to recant his heliocentric world view was base on a similar line of reasoning. The authority of the Bible and of Ptolemy clearly stated that the earth was immovable and was the center of the universe. (Many intellectual men of this time lost their lives or came very close at the hands of the Church)

Even Martin Luther, the man who started the "Reformation" was steeped in the Aristotelian world view and was a follower of the method of scholasticism of his Age. He had this to say regarding the heliocentric world view: “This FOOL Copernicus wishes to reverse the entire science of astronomy; but sacred scripture tells us that Joshua commanded the sun to stand still, and not the earth.” (Again the teachings had to be that the Earth was the center of the universe because the Bible said so)

Even today you will see people holding up a Bible or Koran as proof of anything they disagree with. Evolution, Gay Marriages, Women's Rights, etc.

That was the method of scholasticism that one drew upon the rigid axiomatic deductions by logic from premises, the veracity of which were based on "AUTHORITIES."

To sum this up, “TRUTH” is to be derived by induction from the particular to the general, by induction based on empirically collected data.

When I read or hear a person quoting sources of Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Bill O’Rielly, Donald Trump, or any other Mass Marketed Ultra-Conservative Personality as proof of their argument; my only thought is, “Hey Mindless, Non-Critical Thinking Lemming!!! At Least Try And Join The 17th Century Line Of Thinking!!”

“NULLIUS IN VERBA”

President Obama Has His Day With "The Donald" Trump

President Obama didn’t have to wait long to set out a big helping of “Bitch Slapping” for Donald Trump at Saturday night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

The real estate mogul, Republican Presidential Candidate Contender, and Birther Nutjob, who attended as a guest of The Washington Post, was treated to some zingers by the commander in chief.

President Obama had his moment with comments like: “I know that he’s taken some flak lately, but no one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than “The Donald.” And that’s because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter like, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?”

“Just recently, in an episode of “Celebrity Apprentice” at the steakhouse, the men’s cooking team did not impress the judges from Omaha Steaks. And there was a lot of blame to go around. But you, Mr. Trump, recognized that the real problem was a lack of leadership. And so ultimately, you didn’t blame Lil Jon or Meatloaf. You fired Gary Busey. These are the kind of decisions that would keep me up at night. Well handled, sir. Well handled.”

Then comedian Seth Meyers, the evening’s featured entertainer, tore into “The Donald.”

Meyers started off with, “Donald Trump has been saying that he will run for president as a Republican, which is surprising, since I just assumed he was running as a joke. Trump owns the Miss USA Pageant, which is great for Republicans because it will streamline the search for a vice president. Trump has said he's got a great relationship with "The Blacks"...Well unless "The Blacks" are a family of white people, I bet he's mistaken. Donald Trump often appears on Fox, which is ironic, because a FOX often appears on Donald Trump’s HEAD. If you’re at The Washington Post table with Trump and you can’t finish your entrée, don’t worry, the FOX will eat it."

Obama himself had a good laugh over the whole birth certificate thing. He began his remarks by announcing that he was prepared to go a step further, in case there were any lingering doubts about his American citizenship.

“Tonight, for the first time, I am releasing my official birth video,” he declared. On the video screens around the room, up popped the birth scene from “The Lion King.” The President then targeted the bias Fox Programming Group with the comment, “I want to make clear to the “Fox News” table: That was a joke,”…….“That was not my real birth video. That was a children’s cartoon. Call Disney if you don't believe me. They have the original long form version.”

I am of the opinion that the President and staff advisors released his long form Birth Certificate last week just to give the President plenty of material for the correspondents’ dinner.

I have posted a video clip for your enjoyment and a personal word to the President and Staff. Well Done!!!

Glenn Beck To End His Fox TV Show!!!

With tomorrow being my 29th anniversary of turning 29 years old, I could not have had a better birthday gift than this news I noted when I booted up my computer tonight.

Glenn Beck is going to end his daily TV program!!! This really comes as “NO SURPRISE” since advertisers were shunning Beck's show of late for what it considers to be his "EXTREME VIEWS."

Yes his brand of “Ultra Extreme Right Wing Nutjobism” that is Glenn Beck’s TV Show is not playing well with sponsors as they do not want to be “BRAND ASSOCIATED” with this less than mentally stable “Fox Personality.”

So, pray tell what is going to happen to the mental state of all those who Follow, Quote, and Believe this “Messiah of Misleading and Misinformation” when they don’t get their daily programmed message on how to Think, Act, and Talk?

God Forbid!!! They may have to start to think for themselves or find a new "Ass Wipe" to transition their "HATE ADDICTIONS" to.

Bill O’Rielly’s Pinheads and Patriots

I saw this book at Barns & Nobles yesterday and the title jumped out at me, “Pinheads and Patriots.” I am sure that O’Rielly is trying to project that if you do not agree with his viewpoints, you are a Pinhead; and if you do agree, you must be a Patriot. What ever.

Of course my mind instantly jumped to that in many cases, the name Pinhead was much more applicable to those claiming the current “Patriot” mantle. Non-critical thinking, non-questioning, merely repeating mindlessly what they are programmed to drivel on and spout back simply because this is what they want reality to be.

So in this spirit of mindset, my book review for this book that I did not read, I have concluded that it is just pure crap and not worth the $20 (plus or minus ether way). I really have no idea how much they were asking for this book.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor: I Believe President Obama Is A U.S. Citizen

Well once again we see the Republican Leadership throw the “Ultra Conservative Wing Nuts” under the bus even after whipping them into a frenzy by their own propaganda machine. Yes once the “NUT JOBS” have served their purpose for every election, the Republican Party Leaders tosses them aside with distain and as much compassion of used toilet paper.

The new Republican House majority leader says he doesn't think questions about President Barack Obama's citizenship should play a role in the discussion of policy matters.

Two years into the Obama administration, so-called “BIRTHERS” continue to argue that Obama isn't a natural-born citizen and that he hasn't proved he's constitutionally qualified to be president. Birth records in Hawaii haven't dissuaded them because they believe anything and can be mislead from the likes of Rush Limbaugh and the other Blow Hard Media Machine Personalities. It should also be noted that many of these Birthers are also Teabaggers.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor says he believes Obama is a citizen and that most Americans are beyond that question.

Appearing Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," Cantor refused to call people who question Obama's citizenship "crazy," saying it's not nice to call anyone crazy. (But any critical, intelligent, free thinking person knows they really are!)

Cantor went onto say, He believes that Obama wants what's best for the country and that there are honest disagreements over how to achieve that.

WOW!!! Imagine that…..President Obama wants what's best for the country!!!

Well Mr. Eric Cantor, thank you for that clarity of thought but more importantly, admitting it in the public forum of NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

WAKE UP Teabaggers....you are really not a factor in the real world but nothing more than a bad joke to be used at every national election! Dumbass Lemmings....nothing more.