If Progress IS Slowing Down, You May Have 38 Seconds to Watch This Ad September 4, 2009March 16, 2017 LESS IMPRESSED Ted Graham: “Here is an interesting counterpoint to the Kurzweil argument of ever accelerating technological progress.” ☞ Scott Locklin’s perspective is certainly worth the read. I guess I find Google and my GPS-equipped iPhone more miraculous than he finds his. Looking out 50 years, the prospect of cheap, clean energy and what might be greatly increased (and increasingly healthy) longevity is enough to get me excited. My first Kurzweil post was titled, “Oh, Boy.” I still feel that way. PASCAL’S WAGER Ken from Traverse City, MI: “Picking up from Abe’s comment that it’s safer to bet on the existence of God, “just in case” – commonly known as Pascal’s Wager – a couple of shortcomings: 1. Which god do you bet on? There are dozens of religions. 2. Is believing based on a shrewd bet really faith? And is believing based on a selfish desire to get into Paradise faith – or wishful thinking?” ADOPTION – LEGAL IN URUGUAY BUT NOT FLORIDA Same-sex-couple adoption is about to become legal in Uruguay. But as rather neatly contrasted here (thanks James), it is not legal in Florida – even though beating your children is. MARRIAGE IN MAINE Can you find 38 seconds to watch this ad? If you like it, would you pass it on? AND DOWN IN MISSISSIPPI . . . A straight friend in Jackson writes: “Fee for lesbian couple to be honored at the Governor’s Mansion by Haley and Marsha Barbour: $3.1 million. Republican hypocrisy on ‘family values’: Priceless.” To which he appends this from the New York Post . . . NY KATRINA COUPLE FETED Four years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, the governor of Mississippi is honoring an Upper West Side couple who helped raise $3.1 million for a community center. Gov. Haley Barbour is feting Ellen Ratner, sister of real-estate developer Bruce Ratner, and her partner, Cholene Espinoza, today in his mansion for their work in creating the center in Pass Christian, which features dance classes, a yoga studio and the only public pool for 30 miles. Espinoza — a former pilot who was supposed to have flown aboard ill-fated United Flight 93 on 9/11 before a schedule change — personally donated $130,000 to buy the land. . . . adding: “BTW, the ‘community center’ is named for Marsha Barbour, the governor’s wife.”