-
From the Obama Ministry of Truth
May 21, 2013 | 56 comments
-
Alan Abelson, RIP
May 10, 2013 | 20 comments
-
South Carolina on My Mind
April 30, 2013 | 31 comments
-
Dream Sequences
April 26, 2013 | 62 comments
-
Just Like a Woman
April 25, 2013 | 35 comments
Ben Stein's Diary
Sunrise at Sandpoint
A vacation interrupted by very sad news about a great economist, Dr. Anna Schwartz.
(Page 3 of 3)
Sunday
More bluish pink yellow light.
More photos. More sleep. Then a boat trip to Ivano’s Del Lago in
Hope for chicken with my wife, our guide, Tim, and his beautiful
wife, Penny.
When we got back to town, we headed over to the Dairy Depot for milkshakes. Who should be there pumping gasoline but my tall pal from City Beach, Kasey. I thanked her for the salt and then came home.
All night long the building shook from Mr. Buffett’s trains.
About the Author
Ben Stein is a writer, actor, economist, and lawyer living in Beverly Hills and Malibu. He writes “Ben Stein’s Diary” for every issue of The American Spectator.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (33) | Leave a comment
More Articles by Ben Stein
More Articles From Ben Stein's Diary
http://spectator.org/archives/2012/06/25/sunrise-at-sandpoint
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
QuietPro| 6.25.12 @ 7:42AM
Refreshing to see that your religious superstition still shines through in the face of fact, Mr. Stein.....
Pecos Pete| 6.25.12 @ 7:54AM
QP: "religious superstition" ... ?????????? How could evolution cause beautiful sunrises and sunsets? Or planets, moons, suns, etc.? Or, as Mr. Stein says, "Then where do the laws of physics come from?"
AhiaBoy| 6.25.12 @ 9:27AM
It takes a greater leap of faith to believe evolution than it does to believe in a creator, QP.
If I told you I found my wristwatch perfectly formed in some layers of rock, you would think me laughably mad, but you can believe the massive complexity of the universe and the natural laws that govern it somehow all just happened.
Amazing what some people can convince themselves of...
EastTexasRancher| 6.25.12 @ 8:48AM
What is so delightful about you, Ben Stein, is your appreciation for ordinary days, finding them not so ordinary, and utter and genuine kindness. We need many more of your kind in this old world.
I think each of us need to appreciate our blessings. So, as I go to my flower garden to cut the beautiful flowers, which I will leave at friends' houses to bless their day, I salute you from my ranch in Texas, Mr. Stein.
May we all see the goodness of life, give genuine appreciation for the kindness of others, and thank God for His grace.
B. Gunn
E. Tex. Rancher
KyMouse| 6.25.12 @ 10:29AM
"Thoughtcrime does not entail death. Thoughtcrime is death. So says The Party. Thank you, George Orwell."
I hope Ben means, "Thank you for pointing out the dangers of totalitarian government, George Orwell."
Orwell was not advocating the things he wrote about in "1984."
C. Vernon Crisler | 6.25.12 @ 12:01PM
Yes, but unfortunately he was still a socialist.
Bob From District 9| 6.25.12 @ 10:03PM
IOW, a good Christian.
beniyyar| 6.25.12 @ 12:27PM
I find far more comfort and logic in God creating the universe and all of it's creatures, including man, than in some entirely cold and utterly irrational "Big Bang" just happening.
Toolman1| 6.25.12 @ 12:29PM
Thank you from a Texan "summering" in Boston. Your columns always cheer me up after I have become down after seeing so many Toyoto Pirisus with Obama bumper stickers attached. BTW what did music evolve from?
Tom Kyba| 6.25.12 @ 1:14PM
For the love of Christ, would someone arguing for creation science(forget the pretentious intelligent design re-designation) please stop citing the silly "find a watch argument". The analogy is grossly oversimplified. You reject evolution based on your faith. That's fine. But the attempts at scientific proof of the falsity of the theory always amount to stating negatives. (Evolution can't explain this or that facet of existence).
Evolutionists cannot prove that God does not exist. Mistakes and all, they are trying to explain the universe using the intellectual tools that have been provided to us by, if you prefer, God.
Trying to explain the life of a planet billions of years old and a universe billions of years older, is obviously going to entail a lot of guesswork. Since you have brought this argument into the scientific arena, I'm afraid it's incumbent on you to provide positive proof of God's existence. Since you can't, for the trillionth time this argument reverts back to its start.
hpcooperjon| 6.25.12 @ 1:30PM
Scientific proof of God's existence is not available. It is a matter of faith as the scripture says "without faith, it is impossible to please God". You will not understand it until you have taken your last breath and of course, then it will be too late. I'm not hostile to your argument but sympathetic to your plight. God bless you, sir.
Bob From District 9| 6.25.12 @ 10:34PM
What plight of his are you sympathetic to? Putting up with the simple minds who deny evolution? Not one thing he said denies the existence of god.
By the reckoning of the creationists the bible story got it's start about 6,000 to 10,000 years ago, according to who's doing the calculating. The Gospels go back 2,000 years.
The development of evolution started with the publication of "The Origin of Species", about 150 years ago.
To explain the 15 billion years of evolution in 150 years would require that you tell the story of approximately 3.17 years every second for 150 years. Now, tell us all that you did for the last year, you have one second. Ok, just tell us the highlights.
Times up!
Aren't you glad I didn't limit you to 1/3rd second you want to give the evolutionists?
Now, how much of the history of Christianity do we really know? And that's only 2,000 years.
hpcooperjon| 6.25.12 @ 1:25PM
Enjoyed the article but baffled by your last statement, --------buffets trains? Would someone explain that to me? Thanks.
David T| 6.25.12 @ 1:51PM
Warren Buffet has invested heavily in railroad stocks.
joe s| 6.25.12 @ 2:08PM
thanks for the explanation; it flew right by me. i was thinking Jimmy Buffet and cheeseburgers...didn't make sense. now it is an excellent ending to an excellent piece.
Interested Conservative| 6.25.12 @ 3:24PM
Buffett essentially owns the BNSF, one of whose mainlines runs through northern Idaho. It basically makes him the ultimate rail baron, surpassing even those of the 18th century. But he has much better PR.
sscott| 6.25.12 @ 1:33PM
Thank you Ben Stein for another uplifting journal of your life. I don't always agree with you but truly appreciate you opinions. Please don't stop writing them. Thank You!
C. Vernon Crisler | 6.25.12 @ 2:10PM
Why is the burden on theists? Why not on evolutionists? From what I've seen, there is no evidence that macro-evolution has ever happened--none that can stand up to scrutiny. To believe in evolution is to sacrifice one's intellect.
C. Vernon Crisler | 6.25.12 @ 3:14PM
This comment was directed toward Tom.
Bob From District 9| 6.25.12 @ 10:36PM
Why is the burden on Evolutionists? Why not on Creationists? From what I have seen there is no justification for teaching a religious belief in public schools at public expense. None that can stand up to scrutiny.
To disbelieve evolution is to sacrifice one's intellect.
justmom| 7.2.12 @ 3:09PM
And you, of course, are brilliant!
fdcampbell| 6.25.12 @ 2:44PM
Every time I read you, the day brightens a little.
funu50401| 6.25.12 @ 3:26PM
You leave no doubt . . . you are a fine human being. With extra added features--you are a stich.
Dinah| 6.25.12 @ 5:25PM
Try a DDbar (deedeebar) at Dairy Depot. You'll thank me. Carmel or chocolate, your choice. I had my first one at a recent Woman of Wisdom luncheon.
Dennis| 6.25.12 @ 5:37PM
I know you don't read these, but that's ok, you are busy. I look forward so much to your diary and love your love for your pets. Thank you Ben, you really are an inspiration for the best things in life. Dennis, Fayetteville, AR
Intelligent Design| 6.25.12 @ 6:08PM
For those who would really like to exercise their brains about intelligent design, read Signature in the Cell by Stephen Meyer. Great book!
Bob From District 9| 6.25.12 @ 6:58PM
"Many Christians came up to me to thank me for Expelled. That is the movie I worked on asking why there could not at least be discussion of "intelligent design," the possibility that life was designed by an intelligent designer, not by accident and random happenings. I little dreamed so many people would see that movie, but they sure did. Sincere, kindly people. Not like some of the thugs who hated it, the bullies and Thought Police who simply will not permit any thoughts except what The Party says to say, that there could be no God and that only random chance determines everything."
All I had to do was read to this point to know what a lying fraud you are. There is nothing stopping you from having all the discussions of "intelligent design" you want. Just don't spend government money on it.
Don't even try to blame people who say there is no God. The overwhelming majority of Christians in this world are members of faiths that accept the truth of evolution. The only ones who push semi"intelligent design" are fundies who won't accept any proposition other than their own.
When you can find some fundies who will accept a discussion of Thetan spirits living in Earth's vocanoes, or the god Elohim living near Kolob who created the Earth, or the Gaia theory, then you may have a point. Until then, keep it out of our public schools.
That is exactly what the 1st Amendment demands.
Troon62| 6.25.12 @ 7:06PM
A lovely account of your time at Sandpoint. I was especially touched by your memories of your family time with Anna Schwartz. When I read her last interview with the WSJ, I was stunned by her clarity and wisdom. We should all be so lucky.
Bob From District 9| 6.25.12 @ 10:02PM
"Really? Then where do the laws of physics come from? Where does the first cell come from? Where do the laws of thermodynamics come from? Physical laws ? By chance? That’s rich. "
From the same place God comes from.
"Life, actual life, by chance? How can anyone believe that?"
The same way anyone can believe in God. Oh, and I am a Catholic who believes in God, and evolution.
"However, I could be wrong about all of this. I am often wrong. That’s what it means to be human. "
Yes, you are wrong often, including this time. You are also dishonest often, including this time.
"But the neo-Darwinists can never be wrong."
Since "neo-Darwinists" were something like a century ago, they are probably all dead now. OTOH, those who believe in evolution are still quite common, despite the attempts by the fundies to destroy them.
You are just not allowed to disagree with them. That's Thoughtcrime.
Believing in evolution is the thought crime.
AhiaBoy| 6.26.12 @ 5:06AM
"The analogy is grossly oversimplified."
Isn't the belief that the entire universe just happened of its own accord grossly oversimplified?
Mick41| 6.26.12 @ 11:28AM
Ben: Nice piece. Your comments about the movie "Expelled" and the "Thought Police's" attitude toward Intelligent Design, is a reminder that it is to be expected. The "elephant in the livingroom" is that they never broach the subject of "Why" the universe is there..... what is the purpose of it? They can only flail around attempting to explain the processes of how it works, and a pathetic attempt to explain how it got here... but never why. Their prescious "Scientic Method" is way too limiting and crude to include non-material reality.
Sam | 6.30.12 @ 9:50PM
Mr. Stein, you are a rare, true hero and I admire you so much. My Dad and I have been your fans since Ferris Bueller. I love the movie Expelled, which you were so brilliant and brave to write. Carry on! God bless you, sir.
DidITweetThat| 8.4.12 @ 4:31PM
"aTen million Internet connections cannot take its place. There are friendly, smiling people at the post office behind the counters and in line."
And you call your self a conservative... don't you know the Post Office is a socialist conspiracy to deny big business a chance to make an extra buck.
SHAME ON YOU MR. STEIN. Get in the goose
step line behind your fellow Tea Party conservatives.