Flags at half-mast: yes, it's legal

I've seen a couple of posts recently arguing about whether or not the Presidential Order Monday ordering that flags be flown at half-mast in honor of the Pope is legal. It is. USC 4.7(m) states that "In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law."

The Pope qualifies as a "foreign dignitary."

Antony Flew, Deist

So, I heard the interview with Antony Flew on BBC3, and I have to say that if I was hoping for something soul-shaking in either direction I remain disappointed. He is a deist, there seems to be little question of that, but when it comes to reasons for why he is quite circumspect. However, some choice quotes caught my attention:

"The original intro which I wrote for this book did express my own incredulity on [abiogenesis]. My new one goes into what has in fact been done and indicates that my incredulity has stopped in the face of the evidence... I have come up-to-date on the science and it won't give any sort of comfort to devout believers."

"I've never thought that the fine-tuning argument was any sort of proof."

"I think there's a prime mover, but... I haven't really formulated what I believe."

"The belief in the Christian god... is an appalling nightmare. I reject the notion that the whole universe was created by this kind of evil creature who would create such a thing."

As I said, I was hoping for something clearer, with a premise and a foundation and a list of arguments leading to a conclusion, rather than something from the argument sketch. Flew says that the introduction to his forthcoming book will make his position clear, but I'm hoping that's not just an attempt to drive up book sales. If he means what he says he should be able to say what he means.

Safety and Seafood...

After picking up Yamaarashi-chan from her daycare, I stopped by the house just long enough to pick up the rest of the family and head down to the St. Francis Medical Center for an appointment with the local constabulary to have them check out the car seats. It was cold and wet, and the girls wanted to get out anyway and run around on the sidewalk; eventually, they got too cold and went into the lobby of the Medical Center, the rest of which was closed up for the day. There they met the little girl with missing front teeth, apparently there with her mother, one of the inspectors.

We passed the inspection last year and, as it turned out I was still doing everything right. Yamaarashi-chan's seat will have to be replaced if she gains another quarter inch or another three pounds. They did recommend leaving the seat back on her chair in-place, although it wasn't strictly necessary, so I'll be putting it in. Kouryou-chan keeps pushing her chest harness down to her belly and that needs to be discouraged.

It took forever. Even though we were there when it opened at six, it wasn't until almost eight when we got out of there. Afterward, we went to Red Lobster, since it was close and Omaha wanted seafood. I ate too much, so I'm being good today and only eating a half-portion for lunch. The girls had popcorn shrimp, which they actually ate, and ice cream. Afterwards, I drove them all home, dropping Omaha and Kouryou-chan off first, then Yamaarashi-chan. On the way home, I listened to lesson 72 of my Japanese classes and did okay, and I bought gas at $2.25 a gallon. Ouch!

Writing and Life

I seem to be running hot and cold on writing this week. I finished one story, which is really good, and am struggling with a second which doesn't want to come together. I'm trying to figure out if it's a theme problem: my protagonist is a tragic character who really, really wants to be left alone, a kind of Leaving Las Vegas type, and the AIs are making one last attempt to get her to change her mind, and I'm wondering if my problem is that I'm not convinced people like her exist. I mean, I know they do, but I have trouble getting into the head of a self-destructive character. I also had a hot idea for a pair of stories that I've noted down. Unfortunately, I haven't had much time to work on them. I killed a notebook last week and have been spending a lot of time going though it and pulling out those things I need to keep for stories and such into the personal wiki I keep on my laptop.

And I'm still scheduled (eep! I haven't done the stylsetting yet!) for part one of Wishing Well on Friday. Right? Gack… eight weeks, and then I got nothin'. Better get on something, then.