showrecentcomments({"version":"1.0","encoding":"UTF-8","feed":{"xmlns":"http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom","xmlns$openSearch":"http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/","id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.comments"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-09-14T23:26:51.646+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Dikkii's Diatribe"},"link":[{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/feeds/comments/default"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/comments/default?alt\u003djson-in-script"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/"},{"rel":"next","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/comments/default?alt\u003djson-in-script\u0026start-index\u003d26\u0026max-results\u003d25"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Dikkii"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"}}],"generator":{"version":"7.00","uri":"http://www.blogger.com","$t":"Blogger"},"openSearch$totalResults":{"$t":"269"},"openSearch$startIndex":{"$t":"1"},"openSearch$itemsPerPage":{"$t":"25"},"entry":[{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-3856428372461537220"},"published":{"$t":"2009-09-14T23:26:51.646+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-09-14T23:26:51.646+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Part 4\n\nForgot to add, if all you're after is \"ins..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Part 4\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eForgot to add, if all you\u0026#39;re after is \u0026quot;insight\u0026quot; then, again, the notion that prayer is required for Him to provide it is somewhat offensive.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eAssuming that the insight that you get is objectively the most desirable outcome, then for Him to have been not providing this, is objectively less desirable and therefore imperfect.  To change His mind after hearing a request, even just for insight, implies a correction.  But to only appear to change His mind upon request is both dishonest, opportunist and a lay down misere if you\u0026#39;re still fruitlessly arguing that intercessory prayer is capable of achieving anything.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eIn fact, the insistence that you pray almost becomes God\u0026#39;s last browneye to the religious."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/3856428372461537220"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/3856428372461537220"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html?showComment\u003d1252934811646#c3856428372461537220","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Dikkii"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$extendedProperty":{"xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","name":"OpenSocialUserId","value":"14821541118870672814"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-115260184115736236","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/115260184115736236","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-7336636848964349959"},"published":{"$t":"2009-09-14T23:02:35.967+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-09-14T23:02:35.967+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Part 3.\n\nJung.  Why Jung?  Well I'm not sure if it..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Part 3.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eJung.  Why Jung?  Well I\u0026#39;m not sure if it was deliberate, David, but you managed to defend all possible outcomes in your response without acknowledging that we are striving for a clear, Boolean affirmative.  And it becomes an wasteful exercise if those yeses are not statistically probable.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e(Never mind the point that if all possible outcome is predetermined, then it\u0026#39;s also wasteful inefficience as well.  But I digress)\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eJung, you may recall ended up justifying even the likeliest of outcomes as glorious coincidence.  Except it wasn\u0026#39;t \u0026quot;coincidence\u0026quot; at all, it was \u0026quot;meant to be\u0026quot;.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eHe also had a fair disregard for the scientific method - some have said that his stubborn belief in his own experience over double-blinded, bias-adjusted, sample-based controlled tests revealed a Christ complex of his own although I have to say that I\u0026#39;m not so sure about this.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eI don\u0026#39;t plan to reacquaint you with Jung\u0026#39;s kooky ways, but I was a little cross at the time, and put simply, the idea that you are comfortable with the unfalsifiable notion that prayer achieves even inaction as an acceptable outcome makes me feel a little queasy."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/7336636848964349959"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/7336636848964349959"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html?showComment\u003d1252933355967#c7336636848964349959","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Dikkii"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$extendedProperty":{"xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","name":"OpenSocialUserId","value":"14821541118870672814"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-115260184115736236","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/115260184115736236","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-8272833257826941757"},"published":{"$t":"2009-09-14T22:35:11.201+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-09-14T22:35:11.201+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Part 2.\n\nI don't think that I can add to what I've..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Part 2.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eI don\u0026#39;t think that I can add to what I\u0026#39;ve already written about prayer above.  Changing a pre-determined outcome is the same as God admitting to having fucked something up the first time.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eIf the change was what God originally intended, then why pray in the first place?"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/8272833257826941757"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/8272833257826941757"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html?showComment\u003d1252931711201#c8272833257826941757","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Dikkii"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$extendedProperty":{"xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","name":"OpenSocialUserId","value":"14821541118870672814"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-115260184115736236","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/115260184115736236","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-3993006156929009034"},"published":{"$t":"2009-09-14T22:30:31.061+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-09-14T22:30:31.061+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Hi David,\n\nI really wish that I'd hit free will on..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Hi David,\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eI really wish that I\u0026#39;d hit free will on the head when Joel brought it up before.  It is, mostly, irrelvant to this thread.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eIn any event, free will is the unfettered control of one\u0026#39;s own destiny.  Full stop.  Without meaning to get existential on you, you can have no master/mistress.  You can also have \u003cbr /\u003eno pre-known outcome (I\u0026#39;m not saying you can\u0026#39;t have probable ones - but as we know, when dealing with an omniscient God, all outcome can only have a probability of one).\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eParliament is an exceedingly poor comparison because of the following:\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e1.  Parliament can only enact laws - they cannot enforce them.  An omnipotent God can enforce.\u003cbr /\u003e2.  Parliament can say what the population should and shouldn\u0026#39;t do - they cannot make the population do stuff.  An omnipotent God can.\u003cbr /\u003e3.  Parliament can make laws to specify how people should act.  They cannot know how people will act.  An omniscient God does.\u003cbr /\u003e4.  An omniscient God knows how all possible outcomes will eventuate.  Parliament almost certainly does not.\u003cbr /\u003e5.  One of parliament\u0026#39;s functions is to resolve instances of legal failure.  An infallible God would never have any such things.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eI could go on like this but I won\u0026#39;t.  Needless to say, the Crown is even worse, unless you\u0026#39;re an interventionist deist.  Obviously such a concept is an assault on good taste, logic and both of our intelligences so we can eliminate that, although where superstition and apologetics are concerned, there really are no bounds."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/3993006156929009034"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/3993006156929009034"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html?showComment\u003d1252931431061#c3993006156929009034","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Dikkii"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$extendedProperty":{"xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","name":"OpenSocialUserId","value":"14821541118870672814"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-115260184115736236","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/115260184115736236","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-3253020784395405184"},"published":{"$t":"2009-09-09T19:14:40.208+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-09-09T19:14:40.208+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"G'day Dikkii\n\nOn sovereignty, I chose parliament, ..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"G\u0026#39;day Dikkii\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eOn sovereignty, I chose parliament, rather than the Crown, as my example because, under our system, the crown\u0026#39;s role is primarily to give assent to laws that have been made by parliament. That is, sovereignty, in practice, is shared between the two, but it is the parliament who decides whether or not to legislate on a particular subject at all or, alternatively, to leave that subject as an area of free will for members of the society. The crown is therefore an even stronger example (than parliament) of the proposition that a sovereign does not have to dictate everything that other people do in order to still be sovereign.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eThe parliament / crown example is far from being silly - it is true that the parliament / crown is not omnipotent or omniscient or even infallible, but saying that these differences make the analogy with God\u0026#39;s sovereignty silly assumes (falsely) that it follows from omnipotence, omniscience or infallibility that God will decide to intervene in any given situation (regardless of whether or not He is asked to do so). \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eOn prayer, there is no need for any ex ante indication of whether He has heard a particular prayer.  Ultimately, whether a person believes that a prayer will be heard, before they see the result, will depend on their view of the character of God (ie whether He is benevolent, reliable and trustworthy, or whether He is capricious, mean spirited etc). Based on the resurrection of Christ from the dead, I hold the former view. \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eFurther, I also think that, human nature being what it is, people would be less likely (than they actually are) to acknowledge God as God if He made the world an easy, comfortable place in which to live.  In that scenario, people would simply take His goodness to them for granted. Just because God is often opaque doesn\u0026#39;t make Him any less real or benevolent. \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eInaction could also be an answer to prayer - ie \u0026quot;no\u0026quot; or \u0026quot;wait\u0026quot;, but that doesn\u0026#39;t make it any less an answer.  We may in fact be asking for a stone when God wants to give us bread.   Not everything that we want is good for us. \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eWhilst I agree that it will often be the case that answers to prayer will not be clear and quantifiable, I do think that God does sometimes do clean and quantifiable - for example, there have been a number of instances in my experience where God has given me insights into situations or issues on which even good friends (with or without cups of tea) would have been hopeless.  Good friends only have partial knowledge and insight, but God\u0026#39;s knowledge and insight is perfect. \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eA couple of other queries / comments: \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e*  re your second point, I was not wilfully disregarding anything or being in any way cavalier.  The first sentence of your second point left that interpretation open, so thanks for the clarification.  I am curious, however, as to why you link this to a critique of Jung.... \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e*  I am also not assuming that all events are caused by God. The fact that God is sovereign does not mean that everything that happens is dictated by Him (see the Crown / parliament example above).\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e* on the subject of decisions not to exercise free will, it appears that you are trying to assert that such a decision can only be made if it is pre-determined by someone else.  What definition of free will are you using here?"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/3253020784395405184"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/3253020784395405184"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html?showComment\u003d1252487680208#c3253020784395405184","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"David B"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-115260184115736236","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/115260184115736236","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-5363258671724042075"},"published":{"$t":"2009-09-08T15:36:37.434+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-09-08T15:36:37.434+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"I think that this was one of the first CDs I bough..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"I think that this was one of the first CDs I bought.  No idea where it is now, though.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eOK, it\u0026#39;s not Poison or Motley Crue, but it\u0026#39;s still pretty much classic cock rock."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/7219828954512908805/comments/default/5363258671724042075"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/7219828954512908805/comments/default/5363258671724042075"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/07/rock-epic-of-month-gods-of-war-def.html?showComment\u003d1252388197434#c5363258671724042075","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Dikkii"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$extendedProperty":{"xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","name":"OpenSocialUserId","value":"14821541118870672814"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/07/rock-epic-of-month-gods-of-war-def.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-7219828954512908805","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/7219828954512908805","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-1615605720636664079"},"published":{"$t":"2009-09-07T21:57:08.342+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-09-07T21:57:08.342+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Cock rock?\n\nI had this album, played till the tape..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Cock rock?\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eI had this album, played till the tape warped."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/7219828954512908805/comments/default/1615605720636664079"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/7219828954512908805/comments/default/1615605720636664079"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/07/rock-epic-of-month-gods-of-war-def.html?showComment\u003d1252324628342#c1615605720636664079","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Sean the Blogonaut F.C.D."},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/14485575602984697926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/07/rock-epic-of-month-gods-of-war-def.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-7219828954512908805","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/7219828954512908805","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-1866042479820798357"},"published":{"$t":"2009-08-31T23:00:31.452+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-08-31T23:00:31.452+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"G'day David,\n\nCan't bring myself to use your name ..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"G\u0026#39;day David,\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eCan\u0026#39;t bring myself to use your name without a salutation, so I\u0026#39;ll just continue to use one. Incidentally, I know someone who once refinanced his margin loan after someone at the bank responded to a query by addressing him without a salutation.  Hint hint.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eRe point 1: \u0026quot;Unless\u0026quot;, \u0026quot;until\u0026quot;, whatever.  Your response is nonetheless slightly glib, somewhat open to interpretation and somewhat convenient don\u0026#39;t you think?  Is it not contingent upon actual action being taken, and more than willing to consider inaction as delayed action?  Or ignore it outright?\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eMy second point is moot if I misunderstood you, but my comment does nothing of the sort that you suggest.  Wilfully disregarding coincidence, my use of the word \u0026quot;suppose\u0026quot; and the fact that I constructed tense use in the same way as point one for consistency purposes in the cavalier way that you have; is precisely the list of reasons why no one in the sciences takes Jung seriously.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eNor does it address the point that there is nothing clean or quantifiable that would tie such an event (caused by God or otherwise) to the original request.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eDoes God do anything clean and quantifiable?  History is unaware of any such incident, which makes your suggestion that He does somewhat unfounded.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eAgree not all prayers are motivated on selfish grounds, but really, if you wanted \u0026quot;insight\u0026quot;, given the Almighty\u0026#39;s appalling track record in answering prayer (again, refer history - very indicting), let alone doing so clearly and unambiguously, I would suggest a cup of tea with a good friend, myself.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eThe problem gets worse if you assume that all events are caused by God, because free will has just walked out the door, by definition.  You also cannot say (again, by definition) that intercessory prayer has any objective benefit over no prayer at all because the same events simply must occur.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eRe your first dot point on free will and sovereignty: No you cannot, and I suspect that you knew this was a stretch.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eRe your second point: No and definitely not.  As you well know, the Crown is sovereign, not parliament.  And as to why this has become a definite no, unless parliament has suddenly become omnipotent or omniscient or even infallible, you have dredged up a very silly example."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/1866042479820798357"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/1866042479820798357"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html?showComment\u003d1251723631452#c1866042479820798357","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Dikkii"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$extendedProperty":{"xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","name":"OpenSocialUserId","value":"14821541118870672814"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-115260184115736236","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/115260184115736236","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-7139669380968649435"},"published":{"$t":"2009-08-31T20:24:09.603+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-08-31T20:24:09.603+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Richard\n\nRe your point 1, you have taken my use of..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Richard\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eRe your point 1, you have taken my use of \u0026quot;until\u0026quot; too literally. Answers to prayer, in my experience, do not usually come straight away.  So the indication that He has heard the prayer does not come until the answer itself has come. \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eRe your point 2, your comment implicitly accepts that the second person\u0026#39;s prayer has been answered. Also, God does sometimes do clean and quantifiable, and not all prayers are simply for a \u0026quot;yay\u0026#39; or a \u0026quot;nay\u0026quot;.  I am thinking, for example, of prayers for insight into a particular situation, or for a person to change the way they are treating other people, etc. \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eOn free will and sovereignty:\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e* one could conceivably decide not to exercise free will (that is, to submit to someone else\u0026#39;s will) without that decision being pre-determined by that other person. Many decisions within a marriage would fall into this category. \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e* my concept of sovereignty is best defined by an example - parliament is sovereign in a democracy, but that does not mean that parliament dictates everything that everyone in Australia does. \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eCheers\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eDavid"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/7139669380968649435"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/7139669380968649435"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html?showComment\u003d1251714249603#c7139669380968649435","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"David B"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-115260184115736236","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/115260184115736236","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-3827612567152244708"},"published":{"$t":"2009-08-31T00:46:09.233+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-08-31T00:46:09.233+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Hi David,\n\nThat all sounds good, but I suspect thi..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Hi David,\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eThat all sounds good, but I suspect this bit that you wrote, \u003ci\u003e\u0026quot;So, you don\u0026#39;t know what will happen until you ask,\u0026quot;\u003c/i\u003e to be complete horse piss.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eThis statement suggests the following: \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e1. After one prays, one gets a clean and quantifiable indication that He has even noticed one\u0026#39;s prayer.  This is beyond belief, this is utter supposition and does not appear to be borne out by historical experience.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e2. If God answers such a prayer, one is guaranteed a clean and quantifiable indication that it was your prayer specifically, and not someone else\u0026#39;s.  We know from history that God simply doesn\u0026#39;t do \u0026quot;clean and quantifiable\u0026quot; although we can \u003cb\u003esuppose\u003c/b\u003e away anything that takes place as either \u0026quot;yay\u0026quot; or \u0026quot;nay\u0026quot;.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eNotice that I bolded the word \u0026quot;suppose\u0026quot;.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eLastly, one might argue that one\u0026#39;s decision to not exercise one\u0026#39;s free will is an expression of free will itself.  Which isn\u0026#39;t free, however, if it\u0026#39;s been predetermined.  What definition of \u0026quot;sovereignty\u0026quot; are you working off, David?"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/3827612567152244708"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/3827612567152244708"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html?showComment\u003d1251643569233#c3827612567152244708","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Dikkii"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$extendedProperty":{"xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","name":"OpenSocialUserId","value":"14821541118870672814"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-115260184115736236","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/115260184115736236","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-6950810553656301455"},"published":{"$t":"2009-08-30T21:53:11.248+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-08-30T21:53:11.248+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"My answer (in very short form) would be a variatio..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"My answer (in very short form) would be a variation of 1: God does sometimes decide to answer prayer, but it is entirely up to Him whether to do so or not.  So, you don\u0026#39;t know what will happen until you ask. \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eAlso, sovereignty and free will are not entirely incompatible.  A person with sovereign power is still sovereign even if that power is not exercised.  Where that power is not exercised, free will remains."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/6950810553656301455"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/6950810553656301455"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html?showComment\u003d1251633191248#c6950810553656301455","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"David B"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-115260184115736236","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/115260184115736236","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-1877327658996210634"},"published":{"$t":"2009-07-27T14:50:47.582+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-07-27T14:50:47.582+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Very clever, Joel.  Normally, I consider myself th..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Very clever, Joel.  Normally, I consider myself the most average person alive, although I suspect that I might lie somewhere away from the mean on this one."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/1877327658996210634"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/1877327658996210634"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html?showComment\u003d1248670247582#c1877327658996210634","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Dikkii"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$extendedProperty":{"xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","name":"OpenSocialUserId","value":"14821541118870672814"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-115260184115736236","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/115260184115736236","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-2399828191089202240"},"published":{"$t":"2009-07-27T04:17:25.959+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-07-27T04:17:25.959+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Darn, I was sure that would convince you... it see..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Darn, I was sure that would convince you... it seems to work on most people."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/2399828191089202240"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/2399828191089202240"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html?showComment\u003d1248632245959#c2399828191089202240","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joel Rosenblum"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/02262910815138538454"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-115260184115736236","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/115260184115736236","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-25365828992903142"},"published":{"$t":"2009-07-26T21:56:47.704+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-07-26T21:56:47.704+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The problem is, Joel, that the concept of \"free wi..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The problem is, Joel, that the concept of \u0026quot;free will\u0026quot; immediately contradicts the idea of an omnipotent, omniscient and infallible god.  \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eThe reason that your suggested reason: \u0026quot;The human mind is incapable of comprehending God\u0026quot; fails is because the human mind can comprehend this situation.  You cannot have free will and an omniscient, omnipotent and infallible god \u003cb\u003eby definition\u003c/b\u003e. \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eWe might not be able to comprehend god, but we can smell bullshit when we come across it.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eBut thanks for playing anyway, Joel."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/25365828992903142"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/25365828992903142"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html?showComment\u003d1248609407704#c25365828992903142","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Dikkii"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$extendedProperty":{"xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","name":"OpenSocialUserId","value":"14821541118870672814"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-115260184115736236","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/115260184115736236","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-888280912757092140"},"published":{"$t":"2009-07-26T14:11:03.579+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-07-26T14:11:03.579+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Your real question is, how does God predestining e..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Your real question is, how does God predestining everything not conflict with our free will, both of which are asserted in the Bible? The Xtian answer I have read and heard everywhere? Wait for it... \u0026quot;The human mind is incapable of comprehending God.\u0026quot; There you go, now you got your answer! DUH!"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/888280912757092140"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/115260184115736236/comments/default/888280912757092140"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html?showComment\u003d1248581463579#c888280912757092140","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joel Rosenblum"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/02262910815138538454"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-exactly-does-prayer-work.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-115260184115736236","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/115260184115736236","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-2970687343188613383"},"published":{"$t":"2009-07-14T01:18:56.462+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-07-14T01:18:56.462+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Well I had a look Stuart.  It looked about as kook..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Well I had a look Stuart.  It looked about as kooky as your comment.  But thanks, anyway."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/6669051085633386676/comments/default/2970687343188613383"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/6669051085633386676/comments/default/2970687343188613383"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/07/lets-have-laugh.html?showComment\u003d1247498336462#c2970687343188613383","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Dikkii"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$extendedProperty":{"xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","name":"OpenSocialUserId","value":"14821541118870672814"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/07/lets-have-laugh.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-6669051085633386676","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/6669051085633386676","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-8274565668652864571"},"published":{"$t":"2009-07-13T18:23:31.942+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-07-13T18:23:31.942+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Stuart, I object to your use of the words \"vested ..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Stuart, I object to your use of the words \u0026quot;vested interest\u0026quot; but I might check it out.  It sounds nutty enough to hold my interest."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/6669051085633386676/comments/default/8274565668652864571"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/6669051085633386676/comments/default/8274565668652864571"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/07/lets-have-laugh.html?showComment\u003d1247473411942#c8274565668652864571","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Dikkii"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$extendedProperty":{"xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","name":"OpenSocialUserId","value":"14821541118870672814"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/07/lets-have-laugh.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-6669051085633386676","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/6669051085633386676","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-8054166155910703355"},"published":{"$t":"2009-07-13T15:33:46.011+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-07-13T15:33:46.011+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"I am writing this post to all atheists who have a ..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"I am writing this post to all atheists who have a vested interest in debunking the myth of Jesus Christ.  I am sorry if it bothers anyone that I am not continue the discussions that are going on your blog.  Please contact me at the email address below and I promise I will never post on your blog again.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eHere\u0026#39;s what\u0026#39;s up.  A number of fundamentalist Christian blogs have come out swinging against a new book by Stephan Huller called the Real Messiah.  The most recent being:\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003ehttp://atheistwatch.blogspot.com/\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eBut there are many others. The only allies he seems to have on the web are a bunch of Jewish bloggers who like him because his mother was a Frankist (see wikipedia for more about this sect).\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eIn any event Huller\u0026#39;s book presents evidence that a two thousand year old throne in Venice proves that Jesus was not and never claimed to be the messiah.  \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eHuller is going to appear on CNN in two weeks as part of his promotion of the book.  As a big fan of his work I wanted to alert my fellow bloggers about this interview and have as many of us who have read the book to direct questions which challenge the existence of God and the whole Christian-fascist paradigm.  \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eIf you are interested in getting more information about his appearance please contact me at mastersonstuart@yahoo.com.  If you haven\u0026#39;t read the book here is a blog posting to familiarize yourself with his basic points when you do the phone in show:\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003ehttp://therealmessiahbook.blogspot.com\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eThanks again\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eStuart"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/6669051085633386676/comments/default/8054166155910703355"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/6669051085633386676/comments/default/8054166155910703355"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/07/lets-have-laugh.html?showComment\u003d1247463226011#c8054166155910703355","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"stuart"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03085703513573209528"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/07/lets-have-laugh.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-6669051085633386676","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/6669051085633386676","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-2581191768379397636"},"published":{"$t":"2009-07-06T00:06:18.869+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-07-06T00:06:18.869+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Yes. And it was awesome."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Yes. And it was awesome."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/6669051085633386676/comments/default/2581191768379397636"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/6669051085633386676/comments/default/2581191768379397636"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/07/lets-have-laugh.html?showComment\u003d1246802778869#c2581191768379397636","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Dikkii"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$extendedProperty":{"xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","name":"OpenSocialUserId","value":"14821541118870672814"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/07/lets-have-laugh.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-6669051085633386676","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/6669051085633386676","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-8246532538282314055"},"published":{"$t":"2009-07-05T09:56:20.647+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-07-05T09:56:20.647+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Have you seen the godless watermelon one yet"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Have you seen the godless watermelon one yet"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/6669051085633386676/comments/default/8246532538282314055"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/6669051085633386676/comments/default/8246532538282314055"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/07/lets-have-laugh.html?showComment\u003d1246751780647#c8246532538282314055","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Sean the Blogonaut F.C.D."},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/14485575602984697926"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/07/lets-have-laugh.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-6669051085633386676","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/6669051085633386676","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-5113584681725336806"},"published":{"$t":"2009-06-16T14:55:48.009+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-06-16T14:55:48.009+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Very interesting, Anon. I didn't know that.  I sho..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Very interesting, Anon. I didn\u0026#39;t know that.  I should point out, though that I\u0026#39;m not that old - I\u0026#39;m only in my thirties, and I didn\u0026#39;t begin to work in banking until the mid-to-late nineties.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eThe 10% rates of the middle ages?  It\u0026#39;s almost reverse loan sharking.  I\u0026#39;m pretty glad it\u0026#39;s not around these days.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eAnd I agree that in this low interest rate climate we may see bank fees rise.  This is bound to make our treasurer and PM mad."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/2117173604540393385/comments/default/5113584681725336806"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/2117173604540393385/comments/default/5113584681725336806"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2007/04/dikkiis-financial-tips-1-brief-history.html?showComment\u003d1245128148009#c5113584681725336806","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Dikkii"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$extendedProperty":{"xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","name":"OpenSocialUserId","value":"14821541118870672814"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2007/04/dikkiis-financial-tips-1-brief-history.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-2117173604540393385","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/2117173604540393385","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-5886717357970454067"},"published":{"$t":"2009-06-16T12:49:59.105+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-06-16T12:49:59.105+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Actually bank fees are much older than that. What ..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Actually bank fees are much older than that. What you observed is that for a brief period of time, bank fees were out of style - then bank fees came back. \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eIf you really want to cringe -- wait until banks start charging interest again. I do not mean interest on loans. I mean interest based on the amount of money you keep on account. If the world economy does not improve and governments start to get shaky that might even start matching the 10% rates of the European Dark Ages. \u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eBut honestly given the current economy I do expect the return of say 1/2% annual fee for keeping your money safe."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/2117173604540393385/comments/default/5886717357970454067"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/2117173604540393385/comments/default/5886717357970454067"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2007/04/dikkiis-financial-tips-1-brief-history.html?showComment\u003d1245120599105#c5886717357970454067","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2007/04/dikkiis-financial-tips-1-brief-history.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-2117173604540393385","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/2117173604540393385","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-4112431995711713890"},"published":{"$t":"2009-06-11T01:25:20.873+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-06-11T01:25:20.873+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Fair point, Dunc."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Fair point, Dunc."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/1471807746836256951/comments/default/4112431995711713890"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/1471807746836256951/comments/default/4112431995711713890"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-chaser-should-not-be-called-to.html?showComment\u003d1244647520873#c4112431995711713890","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Dikkii"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$extendedProperty":{"xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","name":"OpenSocialUserId","value":"14821541118870672814"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-chaser-should-not-be-called-to.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-1471807746836256951","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/1471807746836256951","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-563336867261518270"},"published":{"$t":"2009-06-10T18:28:41.719+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-06-10T18:28:41.719+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Dunc, your point about rehydration salts in Africa..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003ci\u003eDunc, your point about rehydration salts in Africa is, I would suggest, entirely unrelated. Make A Wish is about \u0026quot;they\u0026#39;re all going to die anyway\u0026quot;. Rehydration salts in Africa is about saving lives immediately.\u003c/i\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eThe point I was trying to make there is that there is \u003ci\u003ealways\u003c/i\u003e a \u0026quot;better\u0026quot; way of spending the money."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/1471807746836256951/comments/default/563336867261518270"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/1471807746836256951/comments/default/563336867261518270"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-chaser-should-not-be-called-to.html?showComment\u003d1244622521719#c563336867261518270","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Dunc"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-chaser-should-not-be-called-to.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-1471807746836256951","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/1471807746836256951","type":"text/html"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-4306712976739109666"},"published":{"$t":"2009-06-10T18:22:24.594+10:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-06-10T18:22:24.594+10:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Hi Asteroid.\n\nMedicare.  Apart from stuff currentl..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Hi Asteroid.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eMedicare.  Apart from stuff currently awaiting trials or evaluation from Medicare or the PBS, can you name one clinically proven treatment that Medicare or the PBS \u003cb\u003eisn\u0026#39;t\u003c/b\u003e providing for?\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eAnd you\u0026#39;re right.  I\u0026#39;m not above sneaky linguistic tricks, however the \u0026quot;it\u0026#39;s their choice\u0026quot; is another.  It\u0026#39;s pretty much a red herring designed to shift responsibility off the shoulders of those who really need to shoulder it.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eYou misread my use of \u0026quot;elite\u0026quot; though.  I wasn\u0026#39;t referring to children suffering terminal illness, just those select few who get wishes granted.  Please do not suggest that I\u0026#39;m suggesting that children who don\u0026#39;t get wishes granted are part of this group.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eAt the end of the day, though I see my interest in the goings on of Make A Wish as a side-piece to the original discussion: The Chaser\u0026#39;s sketch DID NOT have sick children as the butt of the joke.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eFor those who DID understand the sketch and are still irate, since when are charities like Make A Wish exempt from being joked about?"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/1471807746836256951/comments/default/4306712976739109666"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/1471807746836256951/comments/default/4306712976739109666"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-chaser-should-not-be-called-to.html?showComment\u003d1244622144594#c4306712976739109666","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Dikkii"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07897381809885423712"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$extendedProperty":{"xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","name":"OpenSocialUserId","value":"14821541118870672814"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http://dikkiisdiatribe.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-chaser-should-not-be-called-to.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7115935.post-1471807746836256951","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7115935/posts/default/1471807746836256951","type":"text/html"}}]}});