blueollie

About Blueollie

Welcome Message


(click to go to whitehouse.gov)

President Obama’s address to the National Academy of Science.

President Obama takes on Republican questions.

(Yes, that is part of President O too….grumble…)

How well is President Obama doing at keeping his campaign promises? Here is an even handed running assessment.

This is my online diary. My facebook stuff is here.

I use this blog for the following purposes:

  • To keep track of my training. I train for ultramarathons (I usually walk these) and sometimes do running races, bicycle rides and open water swims for variety. My best ultra accomplishment was walking 101 miles in 24 hours in 2004. There was a time when I could run a sub 40 minute 10K (did that once), but that was another lifetime ago; these a days 24 27-28 minutes for a 5K would be more like it. I also have an off and on interest in yoga.
  • From time to time, I post what I am thinking about mathematically
  • I often post links to science articles, especially articles about cosmology and evolution.
  • I am very sympathetic to the “new atheist” movement, though some might consider me to be an agnostic. I reject any notion of a deity that interferes with physical events, but remain agnostic to the idea that there might be something “grand and wonderful” (Dawkins’ phrase) outside of our current spacetime continuum.
  • I am a liberal Democrat who thinks that the current social atmosphere is tilted way too far toward the interests of big business, and I reject the idea that a “free market” cures all ills, though pure socialism doesn’t work either. I am also a believer in the freedom of speech, including speech that I might not like. Also, I’ve been involved (to a moderate degree) with political campaigns, ranging from City Council races up to Presidential races.
  • Since being targeted by neo-nazis, I’ve started to identify with the anti-racist and the anti-fa movements.
  • I like to post photos of trips and vacations.
  • I sometimes blog about boxing matches and football games.
  • I like women in spandex. :)

alberteinstein1

darwinobamastyle

dawkins_large1

37 Comments »

  1. I ran across your blog today and I really related to what you have here on your blog. I have added you to my blogroll and was wondering if you might add me to yours? Either way, thanks for the great experience of visiting your site. Thanks Kerry Ann

    Comment by Kerry Ann | July 13, 2008 | Reply

  2. I just finished reading your article on induction and the least element axiom since I was going over some number theory stuff. It was well written and helpful.

    Could you tell me where you read the Dawkin’s quote regarding something “grand and wonderful” outside the physical causally closed universe. I’m really interested since I’ve only seen him declare we know all there is to know because of evolution but he never really addresses deep philosophical issues of existence. He seems to only address irrational creationist who are easy targets.

    Comment by Ron Ayoub | July 27, 2008 | Reply

  3. Here is the link

    DAWKINS: To me, the right approach is to say we are profoundly ignorant of these matters. We need to work on them. But to suddenly say the answer is God–it’s that that seems to me to close off the discussion.

    TIME: Could the answer be God?

    DAWKINS: There could be something incredibly grand and incomprehensible and beyond our present understanding.

    COLLINS: That’s God.

    DAWKINS: Yes. But it could be any of a billion Gods. It could be God of the Martians or of the inhabitants of Alpha Centauri. The chance of its being a particular God, Yahweh, the God of Jesus, is vanishingly small–at the least, the onus is on you to demonstrate why you think that’s the case.

    Comment by blueollie | July 28, 2008 | Reply

  4. Wow! I’m not exactly sure how I stumbled across your site, only that I started a random internet search for agnostics in Knoxville. I certainly didn’t expect to find a like minded person(s) in the form of an athlete. Yes, we all have our prejudices, and in my family of liberals, we are decidedly non-athletic. But as you have stated, and I believe, people have the capacity to change, (if not always the inclination.)
    My husband, daughter and I moved to Knoxville 4 yrs ago, hailing from southern California. What is amusing to me is just how much MORE liberal minded we have become as we attempt to adapt to life in the bible belt. I give our 15yr daughter (‘Hannah’, ironically) a lot of credit here. It is in her nature to be outspoken and outlandish, and we love her for it. She is a true sociologist at heart. But testing the behavioral boundaries of a society to discover who you are within it is not without consequence. I look forward to directing her to your site for moral support, or simply proof that other intelligent, liberal minded realists do in fact exist in Knoxville, TN.

    Comment by Tracy Baker | August 15, 2008 | Reply

  5. Oh no! I’ve posted about the Knoxville UU church (which I had attended once) but my only relation to Knoxville is that I’ve visited there three times to attend mathematics conferences.
    I live in Peoria, IL. :)

    Still, I am glad that you came by.

    Comment by ollie | August 15, 2008 | Reply

  6. That’s okay ollie. I guess my hopes were showing. We’ll still appreciate and enjoy your blogging. Thanks for all the great references and links!

    Comment by Tracy Baker | August 15, 2008 | Reply

  7. thanks for posting your comment on
    our site. (www.mccainsucks.wordpress.com)

    appreciate it!

    and we appreciate your efforts to help obama-biden. :)

    Comment by Disgusted with Republicans | September 18, 2008 | Reply

  8. Oh shit, I just realized something.

    I wonder when the Cons will start transposing Obama/Biden into Osama/bin Laden

    Comment by postsimian | September 18, 2008 | Reply

  9. Hi

    I’m a swimmer and a Obamabot. I get some great swim workouts from swimplan.com if you need some inspiration. The reason for my post is that I would LOVE an Obama swim cap and I can’t seem to find one. I loved your Obama in goggles t shirt – too funny. Any idea where I could get some swim/obama style stuff? LOVE your website!!!

    Comment by lisa | October 10, 2008 | Reply

  10. Lisa, welcome! I am what I should call a “pretend swimmer”; I marvel that those who can swim fast.

    As far as that t-shirt: this was the official race t-shirt for the Chicago Big Shoulders Open Water Swim. The race website is http://www.bigshoulders.org, but it is my guess is that they sold out of the extras a long time ago. I talked about this on my blog; do a search for “Big Shoulders” in the “search slot” on this site.

    Thanks for the visit and the suggestions on how to find good workouts. I admit that I do mostly crawl with about 500 yards of off-strokes (fly, back, and yes, side) and about 500 yards of crawl drills every workout.

    My basic technique still leaves much to be desired. :)

    Comment by blueollie | October 10, 2008 | Reply

  11. Women in spandex? ;)

    Comment by sexywhispers | November 3, 2008 | Reply

  12. Hello Ollie…

    I am your new cyber stalker! ha! Anyways, I am in love with you and have protested this love for you on this certain *unmentionable* website. You sir… made me rethink peanut butter. So awesome. Much luck to you and keep up the great virtual work!

    Comment by Jynessa | December 2, 2008 | Reply

  13. :)

    You might go on youtube and look up Edward Current. His videos are very well done and, uh, have a similar approach.

    As far as the peanut butter: there is one video that has this presentation to a laugh track; too bad I couldn’t find it again.

    Comment by blueollie | December 2, 2008 | Reply

  14. Can do! and FYI, I am not a scary cyber stalker… just an overzealous girl trying to be cute, which may be worse.

    Comment by Jynessa | December 2, 2008 | Reply

  15. I knew what you meant; no worries at all. ;)

    Comment by ollie | December 2, 2008 | Reply

  16. Good stuff! Like the blog.

    Comment by tft | March 2, 2009 | Reply

  17. If I believed there was one, I would thank god [him/her/it] for finding this bit of rationality from a fellow-alumnus … apparently, based on some of the B.S. emanating from the shores of the Severn, we are a minority, but a growing one.
    It is kind of encouraging to see people of the stature of tthe late Adm. Crowe, Gen. Wes Clark [whom I met not too long ago and whom I supported in 2004 from the outset of the draft movement], and Mikey Weinstein, USAFA ’77 [his Dad was USNA '53] who founded the Military Religious Freedom Foundation [in case you are not familiar with it, check out , and Professor Bruce Fleming, among others ... especially Phil Butler, fellow resident at the Hanoi Hilton [longer than John mccain] who courageously came out with his open letter in ’08 on why he could not support him.

    When you get a “friend request” today, it will be me.

    Lee S., USNA ’60

    Comment by USNA Ancient | April 15, 2009 | Reply

  18. Lee: thank you. Actually, Jo Jo (on facebook) appears to be sane as well.

    I admit that I was reluctant to list my USNA status on facebook as I had no desire to contact a group of delusional right wingers, be they of the Bible thumper or the “precious bodily fluid” variety.

    Sanity is always welcome. :)

    Comment by blueollie | April 15, 2009 | Reply

  19. There are douchbags and then there is you. You voted for this fucking idiot now enjoy! You will reap the consequences of your action, but you’re probably to stupid to realize the damage you’ve done.

    It will all come out in the wash.

    Ollie’s comment: note how this person remains anonymous and note the intellectual depth of his “argument”. He is probably from the Limbaugh/Hannity/Morris crowd.

    Comment by Tbone | June 19, 2009 | Reply

  20. To #19 [anonymous and gutless]: … speaking of “… fucking idiots … “, have you looked in the mirror lately. Compared to you, Ollie is the paradigm of rationality [apart from his obsession with green reptilian creatures with a wicked sense of humor and weird walking ... };o) ... ]. Hell, compared to you and your bigoted, ignorant ilk, the vast majority of the country [who voted for PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA] is sane, even some of those misguided conservatives who voted for John McCain out of some honest principle. You, sir, are an asshole. I suggest you go live somewhere where your opinion might be valued … North Korea comes immediately to mind … you know, like “minds” ! … oh, and you should definitely brush up on [if you ever got that far] on grammar, punctuation and structure (i.e., “… idiot [sic ,] … “, “… to [sic too] stupid … ]). Now go away and burn a cross or draw some swastikas or harass some gays … much more your speed; leave the politics to the adults !

    Sorry, Ollie, I do not suffer fools lightly !

    Comment by USNA Ancient | June 20, 2009 | Reply

  21. Re: 19 “tbone”: he is actually right about something. We will “reap the consequences” of our actions.

    But don’t worry; they won’t give Obama credit when things get better; they will talk about “business cycles”, how “Bush laid down the foundation”, etc. :)

    Comment by blueollie | June 20, 2009 | Reply

  22. n3yteo Thank you for the material. Do you mind if I posted it in her blog, of course, with reference to your site?

    Comment by Cialis | March 4, 2010 | Reply

  23. Hi BO,

    I found your site through the random generated link from a friend’s site. I love the big butts and bikini categories. Keep up the good work!

    Comment by Johnny Peepers | April 20, 2010 | Reply

  24. Hi, nice to meet you !

    Comment by ReadersHeaven | September 22, 2010 | Reply

  25. I am the media person for the campaign of Democratic Congressional candidate Deirdre “DK” Hirner, in IL’s 18th District. Her opponent is the “Ab-tastic” incumbent, Aaron Schock.
    If the economic situation were not so dire, with more than 50,000 people unemployed, more than 25,0000 who live in extreme poverty and more than 100,000 people who rely on the Central IL Food Back, including more than 39,000 children, this story would be funny.
    Talk about candidates being disconnected from the electorate — Mr. Schock is flying way above his constituents when he arrives and departs campaign events in a shiny, silver helicopter.
    Mr. Schock has already jumped the shark and in only two years has become everything the Tea Party, who he proudly aligns himself with, hate in principle. He is a creation of the special interests, having taken in millions from the largest corporations in the country. Without a nod to the devastating economy ordinary people are struggling to survive in, he has voted against any concrete measure that could lift up his own constituents — including getting more federal funds to the district, extending unemployment benefits, making healthcare more accessible, assisting small business, tax credits for first-time homebuyers, keeping firefighters, police and teachers on the job and keeping jobs from going overseas.
    But the shiny, silver mode of transportation, once reserved for corporate tycoons is well becoming part of the glamorous image he has crafted for himself. From appearing on Top Chef to modeling expensive clothing in a slick fashion layout in GQ Magazine, Mr. Schock is the “New Face of the Republican Party”. Schock aims to be the political Donald Trump of his generation. No paunchy, angry white guy is he. He’s glamorous, he’s rich, he’s Right and in truth, he has nothing do with the real lives of the people who sent him to Washington and pay his salary!
    So it’s not only “Let them eat cake”, but “Hey Dude, Where’s my helicopter??”
    Please see http://www.dkhirnerforcongress.com and the very good web ads we have created for the campaign. Thank you.

    Comment by Susan Nightingale | October 5, 2010 | Reply

    • :)

      Ms. Nightingale: I don’t think that you have to sell me on D. K.; I’ve already given her money.

      But what I’d wish you’d emphasize: D. K. is one heck of a candidate! She is whip-smart and has a ton of relevant experience.

      As far as the cracks at Mr. Shock: be advised that I am an avid distance walker and runner; I don’t resent the fact that he is slender. Though age and injuries have slowed me down, my all time best running times are better than Mr. Schock’s. :)

      Comment by blueollie | October 5, 2010 | Reply

  26. Hey Ollie – miss seeing your posts on facebook… where have you been??

    Best – Bob Gast, jr.

    Comment by Bob Gast | August 16, 2011 | Reply

    • I was getting too high strung so I decided to hang around political allies for a while.

      I hope that your running is going well. :)

      ollie

      Comment by blueollie | August 16, 2011 | Reply

  27. Ollie, I first connected with you on Facebook, and after visiting your blog I was pleasantly surprised to see the graphics referring to Darwin and Dawkins. Richard Dawkins took all the loose concepts that had been rolling around in my head for most of my life and got them organized in a logical, reasonable, rational manner.

    I was a hardcore Christian fundamentalist who grew up in the Presbyterian church and converted to Catholicism in my college years before ending up at Smithville Bible Church in Hanna City. As a Bible study leader, Sunday School teacher, deacon, elder and lay preacher I had to do a lot of independent Bible study. I first began questioning the whole idea of hell, then became aware of the angry, sadistic God of the Old Testament who wiped out millions of innocent men, women and children all to protect his own honor.

    I made a complete break from religion in the days after 9-11, when I came to realize the terrorist attacks on the U.S. were carried out by religious fanatics acting in the name of God.

    Since then, I have been studying evolution, astronomy and biology, reading the works of Dawkins, Darwin, Dennett, Harris and Sagan, to name a few.

    Glad to find a blog where I can interact with people of like mind.

    David J. Fleming

    Comment by David J. Fleming | October 6, 2011 | Reply

    • Hi David. I was raised Catholic and wanted to become a priest. Funny thing: many atheists start off as believers who are seekers and end up “evolving” in this direction. I didn’t resent the religion at first; I just realized that I believed none of it. And yes, the Bible is horrific in spots.

      Comment by blueollie | October 7, 2011 | Reply

  28. You freaking lefties want to live in America, why? If you hate it so much, Move your uninformed asses to Patagonia… And take Mr. Satora w/you…

    Ollie’s reply

    Uh, so America is only for the right wing? Sorry but in 2008, 69.5 million people voted our way; that is 9.5 million more votes that the other party got.

    Nope; you don’t get to define what America is (thank goodness). Ironically, in terms of policy, the right wing should be very happy with some of the Islamic dictatorships given their stance on social issues.

    Comment by stevegorz | December 16, 2011 | Reply

  29. @ stevegorz … really ? “… our uninformed asses …” ! ROTFLMF*******”uninformedassO! This country might be far better off without the koch bro.s- rabid evangelical “amerikan taliban”-owned rebubbacan/teabagging bigots and know-nothings … however, that would deprive those of us who care about this country and its future from a main source of ironic amusement. Debunking things like fox spews, the ayatollah pat robertson and his ilk, the revisionist “historian” david barton, and total assholes such as you, provides us with hours of hilarious and pertinent material to use in reelecting Barak Hussein Obama to the Presidency of the US and to rid the Congress of the obstructionist rebubbacans teabaggers who created the bog we are in and refuse to help us get out of the mire and muck. While I personally would like to say F*** YOU, I will restrain myself … unlike you I believe in the Constitution and your right to be as ignorant as you obviously choose to be. I do hope you don’t elect to reproduce and further downgrade the gene pool !

    Sorry, Ollie, I just couldn’t resist !

    Comment by Lee Seligman | December 16, 2011 | Reply

  30. Ollie, sorry to post on your blog to make a personal comment, but I wanted to say, “Hello!” We we’re office mates at UT in the Fall of 1986. You were nice enough to have me over for Thanksgiving with your family that year. I left school after a semester and moved back to South Carolina in 1988. E-mail if it suits. I’d love to follow up.

    Comment by Worth Swearingen | March 16, 2012 | Reply

  31. http://www.galesburg.com/multimedia/photos/x1831803178/Santorum-Visit

    A pretty easy challenge to pick out the Santorum supporters even without signs.

    Comment by Paul Appell | March 20, 2012 | Reply

  32. Hello Mr. Blueollie, this is “Sarah” from the old Republican Faith Chat. I came across your profile here on WordPress and I should have known that was a satire blog. You and your friends are pretty good, you really had me going.

    Anyway, I just wanted to send my apologies for my rude behavior. Happy blogging!

    Sarah

    Comment by Sarah | May 12, 2012 | Reply

    • I tried to start up the new Republican Faith Chat…but it isn’t the same. I don’t have an eye for the issues.

      Comment by blueollie | May 12, 2012 | Reply

      • Yeah, I noticed it doesn’t have the same feel. It needs more racism, sexism, slandering, and politics.

        Comment by Sarah | May 13, 2012


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