Sunday, August 15, 2010
Paraskevidekatriaphobia
I feel bad I didn't get around to commenting on this yesterday, but here it is now.
Friday the 13th. Boo! Did you feel scared? How about this, did you change your behavior at all yesterday because of the date? Believe it or not, as many as 21 million people did. In Canada alone, hardly known for being a particularly superstitious country, it's estimated that between 700 and 800 million dollars in business is lost every Friday the 13th from people deciding not to shop, travel, etc. on that day.
I wish I were amazed by this. Sadly, I'm not. Sadly, it doesn't appear we're getting any smarter about this sort of thing. While only 13% of people admit to believing that the date is unlucky, 30 percent of 18 to 24 year-olds think it is. Not a good sign.
Hopefully you made it through your Friday without any major calamity. If you didn't, I'd say it's probably because you didn't pray hard enough and didn't carry a lucky rabbit's foot with you all day. Go ahead, prove I'm wrong!
Friday the 13th. Boo! Did you feel scared? How about this, did you change your behavior at all yesterday because of the date? Believe it or not, as many as 21 million people did. In Canada alone, hardly known for being a particularly superstitious country, it's estimated that between 700 and 800 million dollars in business is lost every Friday the 13th from people deciding not to shop, travel, etc. on that day.
I wish I were amazed by this. Sadly, I'm not. Sadly, it doesn't appear we're getting any smarter about this sort of thing. While only 13% of people admit to believing that the date is unlucky, 30 percent of 18 to 24 year-olds think it is. Not a good sign.
Hopefully you made it through your Friday without any major calamity. If you didn't, I'd say it's probably because you didn't pray hard enough and didn't carry a lucky rabbit's foot with you all day. Go ahead, prove I'm wrong!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Fareed Zakaria - To deal with the deficit, let the tax cuts expire
Fareed Zakaria - To deal with the deficit, let the tax cuts expire
There's been a lot of hand-wringing lately by conservatives about the deficit lately. It's the Big Bad Bogeyman they pull out constantly to warn you of the terrible future we have in front of us.
Now I actually sort of kind of agree with them to a point. We really should care about the deficit and we should try to have a balanced budget, like Clinton had. However, unlike them, I'm willing to do something that would immediately help out in this regard; let the Bush tax cuts expire.
Letting the irresponsible tax cuts to the richest of Americans expire would cut our deficit by around 300 billion dollars. Three hundred billion! That's real money even by government standards. That's about a quarter of our entire deficit. Doing so would still keep our tax rate lower than during most of the Reagan years. If we're serious about trying to be fiscally responsible, this is a good place to start.
Unfortunately, the chances of this happening are slim. There's at least a small chance that the tax rate for those making over $250,000 a year may return to the norm, but the Democrats will need to stand strong against the Republicans to accomplish this. The Republicans hate taxes more then deficits, no matter what they say in public.
The Bush tax cuts where a terrible move. They didn't bring on economic growth, they ushered in deficits of unprecedented scope. Let them die and lets try to get back to true conservative values like paying for things that we want.
There's been a lot of hand-wringing lately by conservatives about the deficit lately. It's the Big Bad Bogeyman they pull out constantly to warn you of the terrible future we have in front of us.
Now I actually sort of kind of agree with them to a point. We really should care about the deficit and we should try to have a balanced budget, like Clinton had. However, unlike them, I'm willing to do something that would immediately help out in this regard; let the Bush tax cuts expire.
Letting the irresponsible tax cuts to the richest of Americans expire would cut our deficit by around 300 billion dollars. Three hundred billion! That's real money even by government standards. That's about a quarter of our entire deficit. Doing so would still keep our tax rate lower than during most of the Reagan years. If we're serious about trying to be fiscally responsible, this is a good place to start.
Unfortunately, the chances of this happening are slim. There's at least a small chance that the tax rate for those making over $250,000 a year may return to the norm, but the Democrats will need to stand strong against the Republicans to accomplish this. The Republicans hate taxes more then deficits, no matter what they say in public.
The Bush tax cuts where a terrible move. They didn't bring on economic growth, they ushered in deficits of unprecedented scope. Let them die and lets try to get back to true conservative values like paying for things that we want.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Brains!
I find the human brain, indeed all brains, fascinating! Understanding that our brain equals the mind is hard for some people to accept. I realize this. However, our brain really is what makes us who we are, each one of us as individuals.
Understanding how the brain works and why we have the brains we have gives us a better understanding of who we are and why we do what we do. To me, it's exciting to learn about this. There will always be mysteries. For those who fear that understanding too much will lead us to a joyless existence I have to ask, does understanding that the basis of what we call "love" lies in chemical reactions in any way diminish how you feel about your partner, child or parent?
I find that knowing what the sun is, what powers it and how it was created and how it will end only deepens my pleasure when I look up at the night sky. It's similar with music and art. The greater the understanding, the greater the joy.
So take a second to read this article and learn a little more about what makes us human. Hopefully, you'll feel more wonder afterwards than you did before.
Understanding how the brain works and why we have the brains we have gives us a better understanding of who we are and why we do what we do. To me, it's exciting to learn about this. There will always be mysteries. For those who fear that understanding too much will lead us to a joyless existence I have to ask, does understanding that the basis of what we call "love" lies in chemical reactions in any way diminish how you feel about your partner, child or parent?
I find that knowing what the sun is, what powers it and how it was created and how it will end only deepens my pleasure when I look up at the night sky. It's similar with music and art. The greater the understanding, the greater the joy.
So take a second to read this article and learn a little more about what makes us human. Hopefully, you'll feel more wonder afterwards than you did before.
Friday, August 06, 2010
A day to Remember
On a hot summer day in Hiroshima, Japan 65 years ago today, mankind unleashed its first and most deadly nuclear attack on itself. The bomb, nicknamed "Little Boy", killed approximately 80,000 people immediately. Another 70,000 were injured. Eighty thousand more Japanese would die within four months of various effects attributable to the attack.
In 1997 I lived in Iwakuni Japan, about a 20 minute train ride from Hiroshima. I visited Peace Park more than once, always being overwhelmed by the event and my emotions. It's hard to explain what it's like to stand at the spot where tens of thousands of people were vaporized. However, I can tell you that the feeling and belief that nuclear weapons are not the answer to our problems does come through loud and clear.
The word "terrorism" gets bandied about a lot now days. I would defy anyone to say that what we did in Hiroshima and Nagasaki doesn't fit the definition of that word. Today we remember the first of those two terrible events. At least I hope we remember, and I hope we think about what those acts can teach us.
In 1997 I lived in Iwakuni Japan, about a 20 minute train ride from Hiroshima. I visited Peace Park more than once, always being overwhelmed by the event and my emotions. It's hard to explain what it's like to stand at the spot where tens of thousands of people were vaporized. However, I can tell you that the feeling and belief that nuclear weapons are not the answer to our problems does come through loud and clear.
The word "terrorism" gets bandied about a lot now days. I would defy anyone to say that what we did in Hiroshima and Nagasaki doesn't fit the definition of that word. Today we remember the first of those two terrible events. At least I hope we remember, and I hope we think about what those acts can teach us.
One of the Horseman is facing mortality.
Hitchens is not my favorite atheist, nor is he my favorite spokesperson for atheism. Still, I have respect for him. When I read the drivel that others are spouting, I almost have to hold him up as a hero.
http://dyn.politico.com/members/forums/thread.cfm?catid=17&subcatid=58&threadid=4339825&start=1&CurrentPage=1
What complete crap! "There are no atheists in foxholes." I damn well disagree! I've been in a foxhole and I was an atheist at the time. What a bunch of conceited bullshite! Don't pretend that your weak, egocentric views of the world are the same as everyone else's.
Fight the good fight, Hitchens! Both of them. Fight against the cancer in your body and that of the irrationality that is the heart of religion.
Anderson Cooper 360: Blog Archive - Hitchens on cancer diagnosis: 'Why not me?' « - CNN.com Blogs
http://dyn.politico.com/members/forums/thread.cfm?catid=17&subcatid=58&threadid=4339825&start=1&CurrentPage=1
What complete crap! "There are no atheists in foxholes." I damn well disagree! I've been in a foxhole and I was an atheist at the time. What a bunch of conceited bullshite! Don't pretend that your weak, egocentric views of the world are the same as everyone else's.
Fight the good fight, Hitchens! Both of them. Fight against the cancer in your body and that of the irrationality that is the heart of religion.
Anderson Cooper 360: Blog Archive - Hitchens on cancer diagnosis: 'Why not me?' « - CNN.com Blogs
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
The judicial system vs mob rule
Today we saw a judge doing what they're appointed to do. We saw him uphold the Constitution. Because of this, he's been labeled an "activist" by some and there's much wringing of hands about how the will of "the people" has been ignored.
I've got news for these people. Being in a democracy doesn't mean that whatever is popular is right, nor does it mean that if over 50% of the populace believe something that it's true.
It's anybody's guess how this will all end. It will almost assuredly go to the Supreme Court eventually. Still, on this day, we can be proud that our system of government still works.
Our country isn't like American Idol. Civil rights aren't to be determined by a popularity contest. As Judge Vaughn Walker stated, Prop 8 proponents failed to "advance any rational basis" to deny gay men and lesbians a marriage license.
Even more damning, he goes on to say "Moral disapproval alone is an improper basis on which to deny rights to gay men and lesbians. The evidence shows conclusively that Proposition 8 enacts, without reason, a private moral view that same-sex couples are inferior to opposite sex couples."
Nicely put, Judge. Nicely put.
AFP: Judge overturns California gay marriage ban
I've got news for these people. Being in a democracy doesn't mean that whatever is popular is right, nor does it mean that if over 50% of the populace believe something that it's true.
It's anybody's guess how this will all end. It will almost assuredly go to the Supreme Court eventually. Still, on this day, we can be proud that our system of government still works.
Our country isn't like American Idol. Civil rights aren't to be determined by a popularity contest. As Judge Vaughn Walker stated, Prop 8 proponents failed to "advance any rational basis" to deny gay men and lesbians a marriage license.
Even more damning, he goes on to say "Moral disapproval alone is an improper basis on which to deny rights to gay men and lesbians. The evidence shows conclusively that Proposition 8 enacts, without reason, a private moral view that same-sex couples are inferior to opposite sex couples."
Nicely put, Judge. Nicely put.
AFP: Judge overturns California gay marriage ban
Here Comes The Sun!
No, it's not another comment on solar flares and activity. This one's about solar power, about energy.
You might not have heard about it from the mainstream media, but we're at an historic crossover point concerning solar power. According to new research, electricity from new solar installations is now cheaper than electricity from proposed new nuclear plants. Read that again. It's a game changer. For decades, the biggest argument against solar power has been its cost. However, new technological advancements have changed the game and are expected to continue to do so.
http://www.ncwarn.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/NCW-SolarReport_final1.pdf
Now, I'm not against nuclear power. I think it's one of the tools available for us to become less dependent on fossil fuels which are a problem for us in many ways, including our national defense. However, there are drawbacks to using nuclear power which must be acknowledged. The processing of nuclear material has inherent dangers and liabilities including us currently having no answer for how to properly manage spent waste material. No such problems exist for solar power.
There are other problems, of course. We need to fund research to create batteries which can take better advantage of solar power. Still, we've crossed into new territory now. Good territory.
You might not have heard about it from the mainstream media, but we're at an historic crossover point concerning solar power. According to new research, electricity from new solar installations is now cheaper than electricity from proposed new nuclear plants. Read that again. It's a game changer. For decades, the biggest argument against solar power has been its cost. However, new technological advancements have changed the game and are expected to continue to do so.
http://www.ncwarn.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/NCW-SolarReport_final1.pdf
Now, I'm not against nuclear power. I think it's one of the tools available for us to become less dependent on fossil fuels which are a problem for us in many ways, including our national defense. However, there are drawbacks to using nuclear power which must be acknowledged. The processing of nuclear material has inherent dangers and liabilities including us currently having no answer for how to properly manage spent waste material. No such problems exist for solar power.
There are other problems, of course. We need to fund research to create batteries which can take better advantage of solar power. Still, we've crossed into new territory now. Good territory.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Conservativism vs Reality
A dark ideology is driving those who deny climate change | Robin McKie | Comment is free | The Observer
To give you an idea of how old I am, I've been following the global climate change debate for so long that I can even remember when one actually existed. That, as opposed to the hollow, politically driven barkings we hear now from those who deny global warming.
I have to say, back in the 1980's there was still good reason to doubt whether or not global warming was real, if it were, were we effecting it and to what extent, if we were, would the effects be more positive or negative, etc.
With Reagan's election, conservatism linked itself to global climate change denialism. This is something they've steadfastly held to despite the mountains of evidence that we've accumulated to show it's very real existance and effects. There was a brief period of time, during the early 2000's, when even most conservative voices quieted their "skepticism". This changed drastically and radically in 2006 with the release of Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth."
This movie awoke the slumbering conservative forces of denialism like few other things could have.
It's always dangerous to hold political views so strongly that we don't allow reality to change them. Conservatives like to point out Neville Chamberlain's inability to accept what Nazi Germany really was as an example of liberals doing just this. Not surprisingly, there are far more examples of conservatives exhibiting this behavior. That's because of the basic nature of both ways of thinking. One is resistant to change and fears it. One is accepting and even desirous of it.
In regards to global warming, conservatives have been very successful in their efforts to keep the public at large from accepting its existence. This has led to political victories over attempts to lesson its impact, as well. However, this will be a pyrrhic victory for them. The costs to them and all of us will be such that their minor fears will seem small in view of the major problems they've helped create.
To give you an idea of how old I am, I've been following the global climate change debate for so long that I can even remember when one actually existed. That, as opposed to the hollow, politically driven barkings we hear now from those who deny global warming.
I have to say, back in the 1980's there was still good reason to doubt whether or not global warming was real, if it were, were we effecting it and to what extent, if we were, would the effects be more positive or negative, etc.
With Reagan's election, conservatism linked itself to global climate change denialism. This is something they've steadfastly held to despite the mountains of evidence that we've accumulated to show it's very real existance and effects. There was a brief period of time, during the early 2000's, when even most conservative voices quieted their "skepticism". This changed drastically and radically in 2006 with the release of Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth."
This movie awoke the slumbering conservative forces of denialism like few other things could have.
It's always dangerous to hold political views so strongly that we don't allow reality to change them. Conservatives like to point out Neville Chamberlain's inability to accept what Nazi Germany really was as an example of liberals doing just this. Not surprisingly, there are far more examples of conservatives exhibiting this behavior. That's because of the basic nature of both ways of thinking. One is resistant to change and fears it. One is accepting and even desirous of it.
In regards to global warming, conservatives have been very successful in their efforts to keep the public at large from accepting its existence. This has led to political victories over attempts to lesson its impact, as well. However, this will be a pyrrhic victory for them. The costs to them and all of us will be such that their minor fears will seem small in view of the major problems they've helped create.
Monday, August 02, 2010
Incoming! The Sun Unleashes CME at Earth : Discovery News
Incoming! The Sun Unleashes CME at Earth : Discovery News
Looks like those of us in the northern hemisphere might get a chance to see some pretty good action if we look up in a couple days. Get yourself outside, get your friends and kids outside, get your camaras out and hope for the best. : )
Looks like those of us in the northern hemisphere might get a chance to see some pretty good action if we look up in a couple days. Get yourself outside, get your friends and kids outside, get your camaras out and hope for the best. : )
Superstition
Stevie Wonder playing Sesame Street in 1973.
"When you believe in things
You don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition aint' the way."
Superstitions often become self-fulfilling prophecies. For instance, If you expect Friday the 13th to be unlucky, you’ll find evidence to support that. On that day, you'll look harder for evidence which supports your irrational belief. If you believe that chain-letters, be they the old-fashioned snail-mail versions or the much more common e-mail versions around today actually work, you'll look for evidence that supports that belief as well.
A superstition is simply:
1 : a - a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation
b - an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition
2 : a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary
As a skeptically oriented blog, these terms matter to me. I don't think we should be making any decisions in our life based on ignorance, fear, unfounded trust, lies or irrationality. This includes all aspects of our life, even cherished ones and/or ones we've held for a long time or been taught by those we trust. Unfortunately, people who think this seem to be in the minority. This is and always has been a dangerous way to go about creating a society we can all live happily in together.
I don't believe that ignorance is bliss. To quote Edmund Way Teale:
"It is morally as bad not to care whether a thing is true or not, so long as it makes you feel good, as it is not to care how you got your money as long as you have it."
With that said, anybody got a favorite version of this song? Hard to beat the original by Stevie Wonder but the Stevie Ray Vaughan studio version is amazing as well. Then there's the live version on Live Alive... stunning.
All for now!
"When you believe in things
You don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition aint' the way."
Superstitions often become self-fulfilling prophecies. For instance, If you expect Friday the 13th to be unlucky, you’ll find evidence to support that. On that day, you'll look harder for evidence which supports your irrational belief. If you believe that chain-letters, be they the old-fashioned snail-mail versions or the much more common e-mail versions around today actually work, you'll look for evidence that supports that belief as well.
A superstition is simply:
1 : a - a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation
b - an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition
2 : a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary
As a skeptically oriented blog, these terms matter to me. I don't think we should be making any decisions in our life based on ignorance, fear, unfounded trust, lies or irrationality. This includes all aspects of our life, even cherished ones and/or ones we've held for a long time or been taught by those we trust. Unfortunately, people who think this seem to be in the minority. This is and always has been a dangerous way to go about creating a society we can all live happily in together.
I don't believe that ignorance is bliss. To quote Edmund Way Teale:
"It is morally as bad not to care whether a thing is true or not, so long as it makes you feel good, as it is not to care how you got your money as long as you have it."
With that said, anybody got a favorite version of this song? Hard to beat the original by Stevie Wonder but the Stevie Ray Vaughan studio version is amazing as well. Then there's the live version on Live Alive... stunning.
All for now!
