First off, I finished reading The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, the famous biologist. The book is essentially a scientific argument against the theory of a creationist God, followed by some not as scientific arguments against religion as a whole. Published in 2006, it’s practically already been adopted as the Atheist Bible, and it’s easy to see why. The book is clearly written and does a pretty good job of debunking arguments that God and science can co-exist and still both make sense. Of course if you’re a devout member of any church, chances are this wont change your mind about anything, although I think it’s worth your time anyways. If you’re like most people, you’ve been raised to believe in some kind of religion your entire life. You’ve read all the arguments for God and religion, it’s really only fair and logical that you at least listen to what the other side of the fence has to say. Anything less would be intellectually dishonest, really. One thing you should be warned about though, if you do decide to read it, is that the beginning of the book, which is largely an argument for evolution, makes Dawkins sound like a pompous jerk. Which, to his credit, he sort of has a right to be, since he is one of the world’s leading evolutionary biologists. But it still got on my nerves.

Finished listening to Cosmopolis by Dan DeLillo as well, which if you’re a regular reader (if those exist) you’ll know I’ve spoken fairly highly of already. It ended up being pretty good. Nice and perverted and with plenty of existential themes for those interested. I liked it.

Now I’m about halfway through Failed States by Noam Chomsky, the MIT professor of linguistics (he’s the guy who is credited for coming up with the theory of generative grammar), although he is perhaps more widely known for his writings and lectures in which he usually speaks out against America’s foreign policy. The book covers a lot of ground and gives more than a few examples of how America in its current state is essentially screwing up everything, or at least close to everything. Failed States is a fantastic read if you want to understand why it is that so many countries hold so much contempt for America. If you don’t feel like reading one of his books, you can always listen to one of his lectures or check out one of the many movies featuring him, my favorite two being Manufacturing Consent and The Corporation. The first focuses entirely on Chomsky and is interesting but not very exciting, the second one has its focus elsewhere, although Chomsky regularly chimes in.

On a non book related note, Warren Ellis.com (comic book writer, novelist, screenwriter) sent me to an interesting and fairly depressing blog called “What I Killed Today.” I’ll let the blogger explain in their own words what the page is all about.

I work with a lot of injured wildlife. Also not wild animals that are just in a lot of pain. Sometimes I have to euthanize them. I decided to record each animal I euthanize here.

Pretty wacky stuff.

Also completely unrelated, I can only hope that this is a legitimate document.

(click for the full size)