Interesting idea...
"The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children. ... In the Old Testament, the first born of every being, animal and man, was dedicated to the Lord. There’s a special punishment Christians would suggest." - Virginia Republican delegate Bob Marshall.
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Eating Greek last night
We ate Greek last night -- my family and sister-in-law Paula and bro-in-law Louis. And we didn't even default on paying for it afterwards. (ha ha, topical joke 'cause Greece is in danger of defaulting on its debts.)
Word of the Day: Gramaungere
Do you know what it means?
It means a great or delicious meal. The Times says, "English is rich in gluttonous words: tuck, Bacchanalia, bunfights, fleshpots..."
Here's how you use the word in a sentence:
To celebrate your graduation, let's go to a restaurant for a gramaungere.
It means a great or delicious meal. The Times says, "English is rich in gluttonous words: tuck, Bacchanalia, bunfights, fleshpots..."
Here's how you use the word in a sentence:
To celebrate your graduation, let's go to a restaurant for a gramaungere.
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Intelligent People are more liberal and atheist
Of course, I TOTALLY agree with this new study. :)
Higher intelligence is associated with liberal political ideology, atheism, and men's (but not women's) preference for sexual exclusivity
More intelligent people are statistically significantly more likely to exhibit social values and religious and political preferences that are novel to the human species in evolutionary history. Specifically, liberalism and atheism, and for men (but not women), preference for sexual exclusivity correlate with higher intelligence, a new study finds.
The study, published in the March 2010 issue of the peer-reviewed scientific journal Social Psychology Quarterly, advances a new theory to explain why people form particular preferences and values. The theory suggests that more intelligent people are more likely than less intelligent people to adopt evolutionarily novel preferences and values, but intelligence does not correlate with preferences and values that are old enough to have been shaped by evolution over millions of years.
"Evolutionarily novel" preferences and values are those that humans are not biologically designed to have and our ancestors probably did not possess. In contrast, those that our ancestors had for millions of years are "evolutionarily familiar."
"General intelligence, the ability to think and reason, endowed our ancestors with advantages in solving evolutionarily novel problems for which they did not have innate solutions," says Satoshi Kanazawa, an evolutionary psychologist at the London School of Economics and Political Science. "As a result, more intelligent people are more likely to recognize and understand such novel entities and situations than less intelligent people, and some of these entities and situations are preferences, values, and lifestyles."
An earlier study by Kanazawa found that more intelligent individuals were more nocturnal, waking up and staying up later than less intelligent individuals. Because our ancestors lacked artificial light, they tended to wake up shortly before dawn and go to sleep shortly after dusk. Being nocturnal is evolutionarily novel.
In the current study, Kanazawa argues that humans are evolutionarily designed to be conservative, caring mostly about their family and friends, and being liberal, caring about an indefinite number of genetically unrelated strangers they never meet or interact with, is evolutionarily novel. So more intelligent children may be more likely to grow up to be liberals.
Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) support Kanazawa's hypothesis. Young adults who subjectively identify themselves as "very liberal" have an average IQ of 106 during adolescence while those who identify themselves as "very conservative" have an average IQ of 95 during adolescence.
Religion is a byproduct of humans' tendency to perceive agency and intention as causes of events, to see "the hands of God" at work behind otherwise natural phenomena. Humans are evolutionarily designed to be paranoid, and they believe in God because they are paranoid.
Higher intelligence is associated with liberal political ideology, atheism, and men's (but not women's) preference for sexual exclusivity
More intelligent people are statistically significantly more likely to exhibit social values and religious and political preferences that are novel to the human species in evolutionary history. Specifically, liberalism and atheism, and for men (but not women), preference for sexual exclusivity correlate with higher intelligence, a new study finds.
The study, published in the March 2010 issue of the peer-reviewed scientific journal Social Psychology Quarterly, advances a new theory to explain why people form particular preferences and values. The theory suggests that more intelligent people are more likely than less intelligent people to adopt evolutionarily novel preferences and values, but intelligence does not correlate with preferences and values that are old enough to have been shaped by evolution over millions of years.
"Evolutionarily novel" preferences and values are those that humans are not biologically designed to have and our ancestors probably did not possess. In contrast, those that our ancestors had for millions of years are "evolutionarily familiar."
"General intelligence, the ability to think and reason, endowed our ancestors with advantages in solving evolutionarily novel problems for which they did not have innate solutions," says Satoshi Kanazawa, an evolutionary psychologist at the London School of Economics and Political Science. "As a result, more intelligent people are more likely to recognize and understand such novel entities and situations than less intelligent people, and some of these entities and situations are preferences, values, and lifestyles."
An earlier study by Kanazawa found that more intelligent individuals were more nocturnal, waking up and staying up later than less intelligent individuals. Because our ancestors lacked artificial light, they tended to wake up shortly before dawn and go to sleep shortly after dusk. Being nocturnal is evolutionarily novel.
In the current study, Kanazawa argues that humans are evolutionarily designed to be conservative, caring mostly about their family and friends, and being liberal, caring about an indefinite number of genetically unrelated strangers they never meet or interact with, is evolutionarily novel. So more intelligent children may be more likely to grow up to be liberals.
Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) support Kanazawa's hypothesis. Young adults who subjectively identify themselves as "very liberal" have an average IQ of 106 during adolescence while those who identify themselves as "very conservative" have an average IQ of 95 during adolescence.
Religion is a byproduct of humans' tendency to perceive agency and intention as causes of events, to see "the hands of God" at work behind otherwise natural phenomena. Humans are evolutionarily designed to be paranoid, and they believe in God because they are paranoid.
Hear what drugs does to your singing voice
Whitney Houston in concert in Australia earlier this week. Hideous! She's only in her mid-40s. What a terrible thing to have done to herself.
Homeopathy explained
A woman down the street from me doeos homeopathy. She studied four years for a degree in it. It is her passion. Her house is lined with expensive books on the subject. I thought as I looked at her books -- what if this is all bogus? All that study -- for nothing?
Here's an explanation of what homeopathy is:
The subject of homeopathy is so far removed from medicine that works, from reason and rationality, that we must stand in awe of the fact that a billion-dollar industry still thrives by peddling something that a good friend of mine defined as, “An infinitely thin slice of nothing, with the crust trimmed off and the center removed.”
A single sentence should be enough to further define homeopathy by stating the bare facts about one of the most common concentrations of remedy that homeopaths use, mentioned above: A 30X dilution means that the original substance has been diluted 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 times. Assuming that a cubic centimeter of water contains 15 drops, this number is greater than the number of drops of water that would fill a container more than 50 times the size of the Earth.
No, that’s not an exaggeration at all, it’s a simple fact, and homeopaths are not at all embarrassed to use the term “dilution” when explaining their firm delusion that their “art” – it’s certainly not a science – is a legitimate branch of the healing arts. The concept is simply ridiculous. I won’t trouble you with writing out the other dilution, which would require 60 zeros…
Homeopathy claims to be a form of medical practice that's based on the "like cures like" notion. Given any set of symptoms, a homeopath will decide upon an herb or chemical that causes similar symptoms when ingested by a well person, or will look it up in a homeopathic pharmacopeia. A predefined ritual will follow, the homeopath performing a series of dilutions of that substance that continue well beyond the point where there should be even a molecule of it left. The final solution that is administered to the unfortunate patient is supposed to have “remembered” what was once present, though it’s nothing more than well-shaken water.
Years ago, to illustrate a point about homeopathy during my public lecture, I developed an on-stage visual metaphor. A popular homeopathic sleep-aid lists as its main ingredient, “caffeine.” Caffeine to induce slumber? Don’t be too surprised at this, because we’re deep into nonsense territory here, and logic is scarce. The dilution of this ingredient is so astronomical, that if I wanted to consume enough of these tablets to ensure that I’d taken in at least one molecule of caffeine, I would have to down sixteen average swimming-pools full of them!
from Scientific Indians website
Have you ever tried homeopathy? Did it help?
MPs want homeopathy banned from receiving public money
I hadn't realized that our tax dollars support homeopathy, but ministers are asking for that to be banned:
Homeopathy should no longer be funded by the NHS because there is no evidence that it works, a committee of MPs said today.
They said that continuing to back homeopathic remedies could be dangerous for patients if they shun conventional treatments.
The Commons science and technology committee agreed with the Government that evidence showed that homeopathy did not work beyond the placebo effect, and that explanations for why it would work were scientifically implausible.
The MPs also called for the Medicines and Healthcare products regulatory agency to ban medical claims on homeopathic remedies.
The latest figures show 54,000 patients are treated each year at four NHS homoeopathic centres in London, Glasgow, Bristol and Liverpool, at a cost of £4 million.
The Department of Health said that decisions on the use of homeopathy were left to the NHS, and that Primary Care Trusts were responsible for commissioning services and were free to fund homeopathy.
Homoeopathy is based on a theory that substances which cause symptoms in a healthy person can, when vastly diluted, cure the same problems in a sick person. The report came as Prince Charles was today accused of secretly lobbying ministers in support of using homeopathic medicines on the NHS.
Here's an explanation of what homeopathy is:
The subject of homeopathy is so far removed from medicine that works, from reason and rationality, that we must stand in awe of the fact that a billion-dollar industry still thrives by peddling something that a good friend of mine defined as, “An infinitely thin slice of nothing, with the crust trimmed off and the center removed.”
A single sentence should be enough to further define homeopathy by stating the bare facts about one of the most common concentrations of remedy that homeopaths use, mentioned above: A 30X dilution means that the original substance has been diluted 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 times. Assuming that a cubic centimeter of water contains 15 drops, this number is greater than the number of drops of water that would fill a container more than 50 times the size of the Earth.
No, that’s not an exaggeration at all, it’s a simple fact, and homeopaths are not at all embarrassed to use the term “dilution” when explaining their firm delusion that their “art” – it’s certainly not a science – is a legitimate branch of the healing arts. The concept is simply ridiculous. I won’t trouble you with writing out the other dilution, which would require 60 zeros…
Homeopathy claims to be a form of medical practice that's based on the "like cures like" notion. Given any set of symptoms, a homeopath will decide upon an herb or chemical that causes similar symptoms when ingested by a well person, or will look it up in a homeopathic pharmacopeia. A predefined ritual will follow, the homeopath performing a series of dilutions of that substance that continue well beyond the point where there should be even a molecule of it left. The final solution that is administered to the unfortunate patient is supposed to have “remembered” what was once present, though it’s nothing more than well-shaken water.
Years ago, to illustrate a point about homeopathy during my public lecture, I developed an on-stage visual metaphor. A popular homeopathic sleep-aid lists as its main ingredient, “caffeine.” Caffeine to induce slumber? Don’t be too surprised at this, because we’re deep into nonsense territory here, and logic is scarce. The dilution of this ingredient is so astronomical, that if I wanted to consume enough of these tablets to ensure that I’d taken in at least one molecule of caffeine, I would have to down sixteen average swimming-pools full of them!
from Scientific Indians website
Have you ever tried homeopathy? Did it help?
MPs want homeopathy banned from receiving public money
I hadn't realized that our tax dollars support homeopathy, but ministers are asking for that to be banned:
Homeopathy should no longer be funded by the NHS because there is no evidence that it works, a committee of MPs said today.
They said that continuing to back homeopathic remedies could be dangerous for patients if they shun conventional treatments.
The Commons science and technology committee agreed with the Government that evidence showed that homeopathy did not work beyond the placebo effect, and that explanations for why it would work were scientifically implausible.
The MPs also called for the Medicines and Healthcare products regulatory agency to ban medical claims on homeopathic remedies.
The latest figures show 54,000 patients are treated each year at four NHS homoeopathic centres in London, Glasgow, Bristol and Liverpool, at a cost of £4 million.
The Department of Health said that decisions on the use of homeopathy were left to the NHS, and that Primary Care Trusts were responsible for commissioning services and were free to fund homeopathy.
Homoeopathy is based on a theory that substances which cause symptoms in a healthy person can, when vastly diluted, cure the same problems in a sick person. The report came as Prince Charles was today accused of secretly lobbying ministers in support of using homeopathic medicines on the NHS.
Friday, 26 February 2010
Mother to father: Don't take my child to church!
Thanks to Brody for sending this in. What do you all think? I can imagine if it was a mother trying to stop her ex taking their child to church because she was atheist, there would be an outcry, but here it is two religions at war in their family. Read below:
Last week, ABC News spoke exclusively with Joseph Reyes, the husband in a bitter divorce battle who faces up to six months in jail for marching his toddler into a Catholic Church, cameras in tow, in defiance of a temporary court order that forbade him from exposing his daughter to "any other religion other than the Jewish religion."
Joseph said that neither his Jewish wife nor a judge should dictate how he worships with his child and that he disobeyed the order "out of civic duty and out of a sense of justice."
Days after the media firestorm that followed Joseph's public appeal, Rebecca Reyes breaks her silence to explain why she is asking a Chicago family law judge to throw her husband in jail for taking daughter Ela to Sunday mass.
"This is about parenting, this is not about religion," Rebecca told Cuomo.
Rebecca said that Joseph is entitled to be Catholic and Ela can choose Catholicism when she is older, but they "had pledged in the marriage contract to raise Jewish children, and so we had a Jewish home." Joseph had converted to Judaism, complete with a ritualized circumcision.
"The constant undermining of who [Ela] is, who she was born as, and who we agreed she would be in our home, is really harmful," Rebecca told Cuomo. "There will be confusion; there will be an abrogation of her identity."
Last week, ABC News spoke exclusively with Joseph Reyes, the husband in a bitter divorce battle who faces up to six months in jail for marching his toddler into a Catholic Church, cameras in tow, in defiance of a temporary court order that forbade him from exposing his daughter to "any other religion other than the Jewish religion."
Joseph said that neither his Jewish wife nor a judge should dictate how he worships with his child and that he disobeyed the order "out of civic duty and out of a sense of justice."
Days after the media firestorm that followed Joseph's public appeal, Rebecca Reyes breaks her silence to explain why she is asking a Chicago family law judge to throw her husband in jail for taking daughter Ela to Sunday mass.
"This is about parenting, this is not about religion," Rebecca told Cuomo.
Rebecca said that Joseph is entitled to be Catholic and Ela can choose Catholicism when she is older, but they "had pledged in the marriage contract to raise Jewish children, and so we had a Jewish home." Joseph had converted to Judaism, complete with a ritualized circumcision.
"The constant undermining of who [Ela] is, who she was born as, and who we agreed she would be in our home, is really harmful," Rebecca told Cuomo. "There will be confusion; there will be an abrogation of her identity."
My son won't let me take any pictures of him
My son will do anything to avoid me taking his picture. Here he is at his Mandarin play last night. I told him he'll be sorry when he's old and all the pictures I have of him are ruined.
We had another Chinese New Year celebration at a restaurant in Reading last night, and later the boys performed a play in Mandarin. I had no idea what was happening, but it was fun to listen.
This was the second Chinese New Year meal I'd been out for in two weeks. It was at the same restaurant as before. You know how group meals are -- you don't know anybody, have to make small talk, you mess up and say the wrong thing (I said something to a woman, and she said, "That's a generalization. That's not true," and I wanted to say, "Look, I'm just trying to make conversation while I wait for my chili prawn dish to arrive. I haven't checked my conversation for accuracy, OK? I'm just trying to be polite and make chitchat. Why don't I just shut up and let YOU carry the ball?"), the meal takes forever -- can become a marathon. It's fun but tiring.
I've now come to associate this restaurant with five-hour sittings for meals so need to go there sometime with just my family to eat and enjoy in a normal time frame (an hour or so).
We had another Chinese New Year celebration at a restaurant in Reading last night, and later the boys performed a play in Mandarin. I had no idea what was happening, but it was fun to listen.
This was the second Chinese New Year meal I'd been out for in two weeks. It was at the same restaurant as before. You know how group meals are -- you don't know anybody, have to make small talk, you mess up and say the wrong thing (I said something to a woman, and she said, "That's a generalization. That's not true," and I wanted to say, "Look, I'm just trying to make conversation while I wait for my chili prawn dish to arrive. I haven't checked my conversation for accuracy, OK? I'm just trying to be polite and make chitchat. Why don't I just shut up and let YOU carry the ball?"), the meal takes forever -- can become a marathon. It's fun but tiring.
I've now come to associate this restaurant with five-hour sittings for meals so need to go there sometime with just my family to eat and enjoy in a normal time frame (an hour or so).
Atheists meet Obama
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has burnished his Christian credentials, courted Jewish support and preached outreach toward Muslims. On Friday, his administration will host a group that fits none of the above: America's nonbelievers.
The president isn't expected to make an appearance at the meeting with the Secular Coalition for America or to unveil any new policy as a result of it.
Instead, several administration officials will sit down quietly for a morning meeting at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus with about 60 workhorses from the coalition's 10 member groups, including the American Atheists and the Council for Secular Humanism. Tina Tchen, the director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, and representatives from the Justice and Health and Human Services departments will participate.
Coalition leaders are billing their visit as an important meeting between a presidential administration and the "nontheist" community. On the agenda are three policy areas: child medical neglect, military proselytizing and faith-based initiatives.
"We're raising important issues that affect real people's lives," said Sean Faircloth, 49, a former Maine state legislator who's the coalition's executive director.
The president isn't expected to make an appearance at the meeting with the Secular Coalition for America or to unveil any new policy as a result of it.
Instead, several administration officials will sit down quietly for a morning meeting at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus with about 60 workhorses from the coalition's 10 member groups, including the American Atheists and the Council for Secular Humanism. Tina Tchen, the director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, and representatives from the Justice and Health and Human Services departments will participate.
Coalition leaders are billing their visit as an important meeting between a presidential administration and the "nontheist" community. On the agenda are three policy areas: child medical neglect, military proselytizing and faith-based initiatives.
"We're raising important issues that affect real people's lives," said Sean Faircloth, 49, a former Maine state legislator who's the coalition's executive director.
Thursday, 25 February 2010
I was soooo scared
I had to present at a department meeting yesterday at Nokia, and I was soooo scared.
I have the shakes and a racing heart because of my problems with hyperthyroid at the moment so was hoping no one mistook that for really bad nerves.
A friend suggested I use some jokes to lighten the mood so I did that. Here they are:
How many software engineers does it take to change a light bulb?
None. "We'll document it in the manual."
None. It's a hardware problem.
1.000000001.
Two. One always leaves in the middle of the project.
Four. One to design the change, one to implement it, one to document it, and one to maintain it afterwards.
Four, plus one senior analyst to manage the project, one technical writer to correct the spelling and grammar of the one who documented it, one light bulb librarian, a sales-force of at least five to drum up enough users who want to turn the light on, 274 users to burn out the new bulb, at which point we go to tender for another light bulb change,...
Five. Two to write the specification program, one to screw it in, and two to explain why the project was late.
My slides and presentation went OK. I also engaged some of the audience in an ad-hoc discussion over the Jave Developer Library I am working on so that helped it go better too.
After it was all over, I ran back to my desk to sink down into my chair and eat chocolate and cookies. Comfort eating at its best.
ps
I put a joke like this on my Facebook page, and some pals added these to the list:
Tom Carroll
How many bluegrass musicians does it take to change a lightbulb? Five; one to change it and four to complain that it's electric.
Martin Searle
Slight variant on the above: How many folk musicians does it take to change a lightbulb? - five; one to change it, and four to sing about the old lightbulb
Martin Searle
How many women with PMT does it take to change a lightbulb? Two. IT JUST FUCKING DOES!
Martin Searle
How many surgeons does it take to change a lightbulb? None. That's what anaesthetists are for.
Laurabelle Harding Howard
How many Marxists does it take to screw in a light bulb? None. The light bulb contains the seeds of its own revolution.
I have the shakes and a racing heart because of my problems with hyperthyroid at the moment so was hoping no one mistook that for really bad nerves.
A friend suggested I use some jokes to lighten the mood so I did that. Here they are:
How many software engineers does it take to change a light bulb?
None. "We'll document it in the manual."
None. It's a hardware problem.
1.000000001.
Two. One always leaves in the middle of the project.
Four. One to design the change, one to implement it, one to document it, and one to maintain it afterwards.
Four, plus one senior analyst to manage the project, one technical writer to correct the spelling and grammar of the one who documented it, one light bulb librarian, a sales-force of at least five to drum up enough users who want to turn the light on, 274 users to burn out the new bulb, at which point we go to tender for another light bulb change,...
Five. Two to write the specification program, one to screw it in, and two to explain why the project was late.
My slides and presentation went OK. I also engaged some of the audience in an ad-hoc discussion over the Jave Developer Library I am working on so that helped it go better too.
After it was all over, I ran back to my desk to sink down into my chair and eat chocolate and cookies. Comfort eating at its best.
ps
I put a joke like this on my Facebook page, and some pals added these to the list:
Tom Carroll
How many bluegrass musicians does it take to change a lightbulb? Five; one to change it and four to complain that it's electric.
Martin Searle
Slight variant on the above: How many folk musicians does it take to change a lightbulb? - five; one to change it, and four to sing about the old lightbulb
Martin Searle
How many women with PMT does it take to change a lightbulb? Two. IT JUST FUCKING DOES!
Martin Searle
How many surgeons does it take to change a lightbulb? None. That's what anaesthetists are for.
Laurabelle Harding Howard
How many Marxists does it take to screw in a light bulb? None. The light bulb contains the seeds of its own revolution.
Facebook friends come to my rescue
I get so tired of the rollercoaster of American politics -- hoping Obama can change things for the better then getting upset when he doesn't do it. I put this note on Facebook:
Obama has disappointed me. I think I will become apolitical for a while to calm down. :) That means no more political blog/website reading. What will I read on the Internet instead? Tell me your favorite website & I'll try that.
I had a tremendous response and have enough suggestions to keep me going for a long time. Here they are so you can check them out too:
Debra Hill Frewin
http://blog.newhumanist.org.uk/
looks like some fun coming up in London!
John E Hall
Listen to your intuition. "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a Society that honors the servant and has forgotten the Gift" Albert Einstein
"Intuition will tell the thinking mind where to look next". Jonas Salk These quotes from two of the greatest Scientific Minds of the 21st Century. Interesting!
Christian Basilio
www.failblog.org - always amuses me! :)
Kathryn Gallagher
www.thepioneerwoman.com, www.imboycrazy.com, www.smittenkitchen.com, www.zerohedge.com, www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com, www.davidlebovitz.com, www.designspongeonline.com, www.dlisted.com, www.lottieanddoof.com, www.101cookbooks.com, www.youbemom.com. whew!
oh yeah, www.coalcreekfarm.com and of course craigslist BEST OF section - xx
Anita Lewis Clare
Go to www.sugarspringfarm.com - a fun, calming, fascinating website ... belongs to a friend of mine from my Washington, DC Metro area days.
Obama has disappointed me. I think I will become apolitical for a while to calm down. :) That means no more political blog/website reading. What will I read on the Internet instead? Tell me your favorite website & I'll try that.
I had a tremendous response and have enough suggestions to keep me going for a long time. Here they are so you can check them out too:
Debra Hill Frewin
http://blog.newhumanist.org.uk/
looks like some fun coming up in London!
John E Hall
Listen to your intuition. "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a Society that honors the servant and has forgotten the Gift" Albert Einstein
"Intuition will tell the thinking mind where to look next". Jonas Salk These quotes from two of the greatest Scientific Minds of the 21st Century. Interesting!
Christian Basilio
www.failblog.org - always amuses me! :)
Kathryn Gallagher
www.thepioneerwoman.com, www.imboycrazy.com, www.smittenkitchen.com, www.zerohedge.com, www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com, www.davidlebovitz.com, www.designspongeonline.com, www.dlisted.com, www.lottieanddoof.com, www.101cookbooks.com, www.youbemom.com. whew!
oh yeah, www.coalcreekfarm.com and of course craigslist BEST OF section - xx
Anita Lewis Clare
Go to www.sugarspringfarm.com - a fun, calming, fascinating website ... belongs to a friend of mine from my Washington, DC Metro area days.
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Deadly plates under world's greatest cities
I would love to live in California but earthquakes scare me. As a Mississippi girl, I am only equipped to handle hurricanes. I don't know what to do for earthquakes. But if I live in one of the cities listed below, I'd better prepare myself. (BTW, why can't God fix the plates and save the death and destruction to come?)
"Megacities are something new on the planet. Earthquakes are something very old. The two are a lethal combination, as seen in the recent tragedy in Port-au-Prince, where more than 200,000 people perished — a catastrophe that scientists say is certain to be repeated somewhere, and probably soon, with death tolls that once again stagger the mind.
In 1800, there was just one city with more than a million people — Beijing. Now there are 381 urban areas with at least 1 million inhabitants. Urbanization crossed a threshold last year when, for the first time, more people lived in city settings than rural ones. About 403 million people live in cities that face significant seismic hazard, according to a recent study by seismologist Roger Bilham of the University of Colorado.
The next Big One could strike Tokyo, Istanbul, Tehran, Mexico City, New Delhi, Kathmandu or the two metropolises near California's San Andreas Fault, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Or it could devastate Dhaka, Jakarta, Karachi, Manila, Cairo, Osaka, Lima or Bogota. The list goes on and on.
"You can name about 25 cities that are like Port-au-Prince. They're not going to shake but every 250 years [on average]. But if you can name 25 of them, you're going to have an event like this every 10 years," said David Wald, a seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey."
"Megacities are something new on the planet. Earthquakes are something very old. The two are a lethal combination, as seen in the recent tragedy in Port-au-Prince, where more than 200,000 people perished — a catastrophe that scientists say is certain to be repeated somewhere, and probably soon, with death tolls that once again stagger the mind.
In 1800, there was just one city with more than a million people — Beijing. Now there are 381 urban areas with at least 1 million inhabitants. Urbanization crossed a threshold last year when, for the first time, more people lived in city settings than rural ones. About 403 million people live in cities that face significant seismic hazard, according to a recent study by seismologist Roger Bilham of the University of Colorado.
The next Big One could strike Tokyo, Istanbul, Tehran, Mexico City, New Delhi, Kathmandu or the two metropolises near California's San Andreas Fault, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Or it could devastate Dhaka, Jakarta, Karachi, Manila, Cairo, Osaka, Lima or Bogota. The list goes on and on.
"You can name about 25 cities that are like Port-au-Prince. They're not going to shake but every 250 years [on average]. But if you can name 25 of them, you're going to have an event like this every 10 years," said David Wald, a seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey."
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Gordon Brown's temper
This is so funny. I told you about our prime minister having a violent temper and abusing his staff at Downing Street. Here's how it's reported in China -- I love the violent representations.
Thyroid prob, not a nervous breakdown
I've been so irritable, jumpy, anxious -- well you name it and I was feeling it. I didn't know what was wrong with me except work had been stressful lately, and maybe I was just cracking up? I have the shakes all day too.
Then my doctor called me at lunch -- bless the NHS! -- to say I have hyperthyroid. That means I have too much thyroid in my bloodstream so all I have to do is reduce the dose of medicine I take and I should be back to normal soon. I had a high cholesterol reading last year so took more thyroxine to fix that -- I just overdid it.
I stopped by my doctor's office after work last week, he ordered a blood test, I went to the nurse the next day to have it done then here, the following week, the doctor himself calls me up to tell me the prob and what to do to fix it.
I love socialized medicine. What service, and no insurance forms to fill in and the wait to have the claim denied (frequently happened to me before when we lived in the US).
I'm so sorry you all in the US won't be getting this system because it is wonderful -- and you don't have to worry that if you lose your job, you lose your healthcare too.
Then my doctor called me at lunch -- bless the NHS! -- to say I have hyperthyroid. That means I have too much thyroid in my bloodstream so all I have to do is reduce the dose of medicine I take and I should be back to normal soon. I had a high cholesterol reading last year so took more thyroxine to fix that -- I just overdid it.
I stopped by my doctor's office after work last week, he ordered a blood test, I went to the nurse the next day to have it done then here, the following week, the doctor himself calls me up to tell me the prob and what to do to fix it.
I love socialized medicine. What service, and no insurance forms to fill in and the wait to have the claim denied (frequently happened to me before when we lived in the US).
I'm so sorry you all in the US won't be getting this system because it is wonderful -- and you don't have to worry that if you lose your job, you lose your healthcare too.
We become happy at 74
OK, guys, don't worry about being happy -- just hang on until you are 74 THEN see how you feel...
"It's often said that your school days are your happiest. Others reckon that life begins at 40.
But it seems they're all wrong - because according to scientists, we are most content only when we hit 74.
A combination of fewer responsibilities and financial worries and having more time to yourself produces a contentment unknown earlier in life, they say.
The researchers have found that happiness starts to dip in the teenage years and continues on a downward spiral until the age of 40. It then levels off until about
46, before rising to a peak more than 30 years later.
German and American scientists analysed the results of a long-term British survey in which more than 21,000 men and women were regularly asked how happy they were with their lives."
"It's often said that your school days are your happiest. Others reckon that life begins at 40.
But it seems they're all wrong - because according to scientists, we are most content only when we hit 74.
A combination of fewer responsibilities and financial worries and having more time to yourself produces a contentment unknown earlier in life, they say.
The researchers have found that happiness starts to dip in the teenage years and continues on a downward spiral until the age of 40. It then levels off until about
46, before rising to a peak more than 30 years later.
German and American scientists analysed the results of a long-term British survey in which more than 21,000 men and women were regularly asked how happy they were with their lives."
The logical problem of evil
Brainy reader Steve Borthwick mentioned the problem of evil recently, and pointed to a wiki entry that explains the problem. I thought it was so interesting that I will reproduce it here:
One example among many of a formulation of the problem of evil is often attributed to Epicurus and may be schematized as follows:
1. If a perfectly good god exists, then evil does not.
2. There is evil in the world.
3. Therefore, a perfectly good god does not exist.
This argument is of the logically valid form modus tollens (denying the consequent). In this case, P is "God exists" and Q is "there is no evil in the world".
Another theory exists as such:
1. God exists.
2. God is omnipotent, omniscient, and perfectly good.
3. A perfectly good being would want to prevent all evils.
4. An omniscient being knows every way in which evils can come into existence.
5. An omnipotent being, who knows every way in which an evil can come into existence, has the power to prevent that evil from coming into existence.
6. A being who knows every way in which an evil can come into existence, who is able to prevent that evil from coming into existence, and who wants to do so, would prevent the existence of that evil.
7. If there exists an omnipotent, omniscient, and perfectly good being, then no evil exists.
8. Evil exists (logical contradiction).
Versions such as these are referred to as the logical problem of evil. They attempt to show that the assumed propositions lead to a logical contradiction and cannot therefore all be correct. Most philosophical debate has focused on the propositions stating that God cannot exist with, or would want to prevent, all evils. A common response is that God can exist with and allow evil in order to achieve a greater good.
Eliz again: thanks for this, Steve. One day I am going to take Logic class and figure all this stuff out.
One example among many of a formulation of the problem of evil is often attributed to Epicurus and may be schematized as follows:
1. If a perfectly good god exists, then evil does not.
2. There is evil in the world.
3. Therefore, a perfectly good god does not exist.
This argument is of the logically valid form modus tollens (denying the consequent). In this case, P is "God exists" and Q is "there is no evil in the world".
Another theory exists as such:
1. God exists.
2. God is omnipotent, omniscient, and perfectly good.
3. A perfectly good being would want to prevent all evils.
4. An omniscient being knows every way in which evils can come into existence.
5. An omnipotent being, who knows every way in which an evil can come into existence, has the power to prevent that evil from coming into existence.
6. A being who knows every way in which an evil can come into existence, who is able to prevent that evil from coming into existence, and who wants to do so, would prevent the existence of that evil.
7. If there exists an omnipotent, omniscient, and perfectly good being, then no evil exists.
8. Evil exists (logical contradiction).
Versions such as these are referred to as the logical problem of evil. They attempt to show that the assumed propositions lead to a logical contradiction and cannot therefore all be correct. Most philosophical debate has focused on the propositions stating that God cannot exist with, or would want to prevent, all evils. A common response is that God can exist with and allow evil in order to achieve a greater good.
Eliz again: thanks for this, Steve. One day I am going to take Logic class and figure all this stuff out.
Monday, 22 February 2010
IRS plane crash pilot 'a hero'
Oh look, the daughter of the guy who flew his plane into an IRS office in Texas is as crazy as he was. She calls him a 'hero' for his anti-government stance.
"The daughter of a man who crashed his small plane into an Internal Revenue Service building called her father a hero for his anti-government views but said his actions, which killed a tax service employee, were "inappropriate."
Joe Stack's adult daughter, Samantha Bell, spoke to ABC's "Good Morning America" from her home in Norway. Asked during a phone interview broadcast Monday if she considered her father a hero, she said: "Yes. Because now maybe people will listen."
Authorities say Stack, 53, targeted the IRS office building in Austin last week, killing employee Vernon Hunter and himself, after posting a ranting manifesto against the agency and the government. He apparently set fire to his home before flying his plane into the office building."
"The daughter of a man who crashed his small plane into an Internal Revenue Service building called her father a hero for his anti-government views but said his actions, which killed a tax service employee, were "inappropriate."
Joe Stack's adult daughter, Samantha Bell, spoke to ABC's "Good Morning America" from her home in Norway. Asked during a phone interview broadcast Monday if she considered her father a hero, she said: "Yes. Because now maybe people will listen."
Authorities say Stack, 53, targeted the IRS office building in Austin last week, killing employee Vernon Hunter and himself, after posting a ranting manifesto against the agency and the government. He apparently set fire to his home before flying his plane into the office building."
Our prime minister is a bully
We are finding out that our prime minister Gordon Brown is a bully who shouts at staff and pushes them around. One secretary was too slow in her typing so he apparently shoved her away and started working on the keyboard himself.
Brown dismissed these claims and said the only thing he ever threw around was a newspaper to the floor if he was angry. And he said he was only angry at himself, not others. (yeah sure)
Now it turns out that several of his staff have called a Bullying Helpline to try and find some way to cope.
Have you ever worked for a bully? I have several times, and it's terrible. You think it must be your fault that they are like that, and you don't have the courage to speak out because you'll lose your job. I stayed in one job with a bully for years and never realized how downtrodden I was until she got fired. Her entire team put up with her compulsiveness and bullying until one day the most mild-mannered man on the team got fed up, threw his lunch that he was about to eat into the trash can and stormed off. Then I realized how all of us had been affected, and I escalated it to a higher up. She was furious when she found out and acted deranged after that until they finally moved her away from us then she had to go.
This has been therapeutic to write. Tell me your bully story -- maybe it'll help you.
Brown dismissed these claims and said the only thing he ever threw around was a newspaper to the floor if he was angry. And he said he was only angry at himself, not others. (yeah sure)
Now it turns out that several of his staff have called a Bullying Helpline to try and find some way to cope.
Have you ever worked for a bully? I have several times, and it's terrible. You think it must be your fault that they are like that, and you don't have the courage to speak out because you'll lose your job. I stayed in one job with a bully for years and never realized how downtrodden I was until she got fired. Her entire team put up with her compulsiveness and bullying until one day the most mild-mannered man on the team got fed up, threw his lunch that he was about to eat into the trash can and stormed off. Then I realized how all of us had been affected, and I escalated it to a higher up. She was furious when she found out and acted deranged after that until they finally moved her away from us then she had to go.
This has been therapeutic to write. Tell me your bully story -- maybe it'll help you.
Eternal earthbound pets
Steve Borthwick over on his blog Naws found the funniest website. It's a site for atheists to sign up to look after the pets of all the Christians who suddenly leave the Earth due to the Rapture.
It says:
"You've committed your life to Jesus. You know you're saved. But when the Rapture comes what's to become of your loving pets who are left behind? Eternal Earth-Bound Pets takes that burden off your mind.
We are a group of dedicated animal lovers, and atheists. Each
Eternal Earth-Bound Pet representative is a confirmed atheist, and as such will still be here on Earth after you've received your reward. Our network of animal activists are committed to step in when you step up to Jesus."
Here's the site Eternal Earthbound Pets. Steve, thanks for finding this site.
I hereby volunteer to take any of my Christian friends' pets if Jesus returns during my lifetime. I won't have much else to do besides gnash my teeth and fight everyone else for resources. (I think that's what Revelations says -- that we'll all be fighting each other -- ha, like we aren't doing that NOW?)
Sunday, 21 February 2010
The brain and religion
Thanks to Casey Ann in Natchez for this. What it says is that belief in God is influenced by the way our brains are structured:
We hypothesized that religiosity, a set of traits variably expressed in the population, is modulated by neuroanatomical variability. We tested this idea by determining whether aspects of religiosity were predicted by variability in regional cortical volume. We performed structural magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in 40 healthy adult participants who reported different degrees and patterns of religiosity on a survey.
We identified four Principal Components of religiosity by Factor Analysis of the survey items and associated them with regional cortical volumes measured by voxel-based morphometry. Experiencing an intimate relationship with God and engaging in religious behavior was associated with increased volume of R middle temporal cortex, BA 21.
Experiencing fear of God was associated with decreased volume of L precuneus and L orbitofrontal cortex BA 11. A cluster of traits related with pragmatism and doubting God's existence was associated with increased volume of the R precuneus.
Variability in religiosity of upbringing was not associated with variability in cortical volume of any region. Therefore, key aspects of religiosity are associated with cortical volume differences. This conclusion complements our prior functional neuroimaging findings in elucidating the proximate causes of religion in the brain.
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0007180
We hypothesized that religiosity, a set of traits variably expressed in the population, is modulated by neuroanatomical variability. We tested this idea by determining whether aspects of religiosity were predicted by variability in regional cortical volume. We performed structural magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in 40 healthy adult participants who reported different degrees and patterns of religiosity on a survey.
We identified four Principal Components of religiosity by Factor Analysis of the survey items and associated them with regional cortical volumes measured by voxel-based morphometry. Experiencing an intimate relationship with God and engaging in religious behavior was associated with increased volume of R middle temporal cortex, BA 21.
Experiencing fear of God was associated with decreased volume of L precuneus and L orbitofrontal cortex BA 11. A cluster of traits related with pragmatism and doubting God's existence was associated with increased volume of the R precuneus.
Variability in religiosity of upbringing was not associated with variability in cortical volume of any region. Therefore, key aspects of religiosity are associated with cortical volume differences. This conclusion complements our prior functional neuroimaging findings in elucidating the proximate causes of religion in the brain.
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0007180
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Don't tell my son you saw me in here
Today is my enforced day of rest from computers at the behest of my son, Mikey. But it's hard. I found myself having to consult hard copies of cook books to figure out what to make for dinner instead of just going online for a recipe. I have to rely on a newspaper for my news, and I will have to read a book for entertainment.
My son foolishly left the computer on while he went to the gym just now so I think it's not really breaking any rules for me to have a quick peek in cyberspace.
PS
I got my eyebrows done this morning in anticipation of my trip to America in two weeks. I look like Joan Crawford now. Then I went to get my eyes tested and forgot to mention it to the optometrist who kept looking at the red welts around my eyebrows (where they rip the hot wax off your face) and the dark brown dye (it will fade quickly when I wash my face).
My grandmother and aunt have glaucoma so I told her this and then said my father had it too, but I'm not sure about that -- then she said my eyetest was free because of that. I would have said my father had glaucoma YEARS AGO if I knew I'd get free eyetests out of it. I love socialized medicine!
My son foolishly left the computer on while he went to the gym just now so I think it's not really breaking any rules for me to have a quick peek in cyberspace.
PS
I got my eyebrows done this morning in anticipation of my trip to America in two weeks. I look like Joan Crawford now. Then I went to get my eyes tested and forgot to mention it to the optometrist who kept looking at the red welts around my eyebrows (where they rip the hot wax off your face) and the dark brown dye (it will fade quickly when I wash my face).
My grandmother and aunt have glaucoma so I told her this and then said my father had it too, but I'm not sure about that -- then she said my eyetest was free because of that. I would have said my father had glaucoma YEARS AGO if I knew I'd get free eyetests out of it. I love socialized medicine!
Calling Turkmenistan
My son found out that I have VOIP (voice over Internet telephony) on my phone, and that he can basically call anywhere in the entire world for free. This is great news to a kid who regularly used up all the credit on his phone making crank calls with his school friends. For example, they'd call up Dominos Pizza and ask if they had coconut pizza. They would laugh for hours.
Mikey, who loves languages, is practicing his Turkmen and calling Turkmenistan to find an obscure recording. He just called the Grand Sheraton Hotel in Ashgabat, the capital, and had a lively convesation with the reception desk.
"I need to order a CD," he explained.
"Oh, you can't order CDs online in Turkmenistan," she explained. This would make sense, I guess, seeing that the country is not democratic. I guess it's lucky my son could even get a call through.
Is there any place you'd like Mikey to call? Tell him what to ask too. We'll get back to you.
In the meantime, the search continues for the elusive Turkmenistan recording (below)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzm6_P1VLgo
Mikey says:
"I know this record may seem crap to the Western ear but oh well, it interests me."
Friday, 19 February 2010
Friday blatherings
Early morning blood test
I had to fast before a blood test this morning -- ooh, was that hard. I cheated and had some coffee this morning but without milk, it wasn't the same. I rushed to the doctor's office at 8 a.m. to get in line for the nurse. Old people using the surgery get up so early that they start lining up for their blood work or whatever else they need the nurse for at dawn it seems like. Old people don't need as much sleep but the early office hours are for us people who need to get our blood test done so we can get on with our commuting to the office. The medical people have tried to explain this to the older patients but they say things like, 'but I have to get to the supermarket early to get things for my dinner.' I suppose I'll be like that myself some day but for now I just want to get a broom and sweep them out of my way.
Getting in late to the office and getting stared at
I got in late because of my blood test, and then people looked at me in that superior way people do who get in early. I give people this 'I'm superior because I got my ass into work at 8:00 and you didn't' look too so I suppose it's only fair that I get it in return...but I wanted to say, I HAVE A MEDICAL REASON FOR BEING LATE. I'M NOT JUST HUNGOVER LIKE YOU USUALLY ARE IN THE MORNINGS.
60 percent of my blog is worthless
My son mentioned to me that he'd noticed I hadn't been myself lately, that I seemed depressed and agitated (true). Then he took me by the hand (very unusual) to counsel me that it was probably the obligations of doing blog posts that was upsetting me.
"You don't have to do it," he said. "Really, how many people read it? Maybe one a day and it's someone who is related to you." He looked me in the eyes and continued: "It's not like it's a blog of any note. I think about 60 percent of your blog is a complete waste of time."
Then he made me promise to give up the computer for 48 hours and see if I felt better, so I said I'd try. (He doesn't know that I have automatically set posts to go up so they will during my enforced rest period tomorrow.)
Easter is coming and I don't want to do any work
Do any of you have any easy and delicious Easter recipes that can be frozen ahead of time? I'm having my husband's family over and am looking for ideas.
I had to fast before a blood test this morning -- ooh, was that hard. I cheated and had some coffee this morning but without milk, it wasn't the same. I rushed to the doctor's office at 8 a.m. to get in line for the nurse. Old people using the surgery get up so early that they start lining up for their blood work or whatever else they need the nurse for at dawn it seems like. Old people don't need as much sleep but the early office hours are for us people who need to get our blood test done so we can get on with our commuting to the office. The medical people have tried to explain this to the older patients but they say things like, 'but I have to get to the supermarket early to get things for my dinner.' I suppose I'll be like that myself some day but for now I just want to get a broom and sweep them out of my way.
Getting in late to the office and getting stared at
I got in late because of my blood test, and then people looked at me in that superior way people do who get in early. I give people this 'I'm superior because I got my ass into work at 8:00 and you didn't' look too so I suppose it's only fair that I get it in return...but I wanted to say, I HAVE A MEDICAL REASON FOR BEING LATE. I'M NOT JUST HUNGOVER LIKE YOU USUALLY ARE IN THE MORNINGS.
60 percent of my blog is worthless
My son mentioned to me that he'd noticed I hadn't been myself lately, that I seemed depressed and agitated (true). Then he took me by the hand (very unusual) to counsel me that it was probably the obligations of doing blog posts that was upsetting me.
"You don't have to do it," he said. "Really, how many people read it? Maybe one a day and it's someone who is related to you." He looked me in the eyes and continued: "It's not like it's a blog of any note. I think about 60 percent of your blog is a complete waste of time."
Then he made me promise to give up the computer for 48 hours and see if I felt better, so I said I'd try. (He doesn't know that I have automatically set posts to go up so they will during my enforced rest period tomorrow.)
Easter is coming and I don't want to do any work
Do any of you have any easy and delicious Easter recipes that can be frozen ahead of time? I'm having my husband's family over and am looking for ideas.
Diary of a Victorian Clerk
My expat pal Rachella posted about a Victorian man's diary on a library website in London. Each day they publish another day from his diary. It's fascinating reading. Here's the link:
Diary of a Victorian Clerk
And an example of a page below:
1 January 1846
Thursday
Edward Heskett, fellow clerk, had to leave a letter at the White Horse corner of Dean Street and Oxford Street, to which place I accompanied him thither and there had a glass of ale at his expense.
Diary of a Victorian Clerk
And an example of a page below:
1 January 1846
Thursday
Edward Heskett, fellow clerk, had to leave a letter at the White Horse corner of Dean Street and Oxford Street, to which place I accompanied him thither and there had a glass of ale at his expense.
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Watching the Olympics
I came home from work yesterday and found a huge American flag draped on a door in the 'slob room', where we watch TV. Later I discovered my daughter put it there so she could declare her loyalties for the winter Olympics.
I was proud of her for forsaking her native Great Britain to cheer for America.
We enjoyed watching Lindsey Vonn ski her way to a gold medal, but we did enjoy all the crashes too -- especially the girl who crashed out only 2.5 seconds into her race.
"Mummy, even you would have done better than that," my daughter said. (My skiing was so bad that I crashed on the smallest slope and had to have my knee put back together using some of my ham strings.)
Here are some fab crashes for you to enjoy:
I was proud of her for forsaking her native Great Britain to cheer for America.
We enjoyed watching Lindsey Vonn ski her way to a gold medal, but we did enjoy all the crashes too -- especially the girl who crashed out only 2.5 seconds into her race.
"Mummy, even you would have done better than that," my daughter said. (My skiing was so bad that I crashed on the smallest slope and had to have my knee put back together using some of my ham strings.)
Here are some fab crashes for you to enjoy:
An Italian reader's questions
I received this email from a blog reader in Italy. I thought her perspectives on what we argue about in the blog were so interesting. Apparently it's no big deal to be a member of the Communist party in Italy at all. Read on and tell her what you think in the comments section:
I've been reading your blog for a while now and I keep marvelling at myself for how many things I discover each day about Americans.
I think it's because we all build the idea of foreigners on some form of "prejudice": as there are not that many chances for each European to travel overseas and check how is America, we base our idea of U.S.A. on books, music, films and TV.
And you see, here's already a first mistake: America = U.S.A? America is a continent, it should refer to the whole area from Alaska way down to Patagonia, yet if I write America, most of the time I refer to the States.
With these knowledge/prejudices set in our mind, it happens that sometimes we find some confirmation, but more often that we discover that things are different.
With your blog and reading the news I'm finding myself more and more in this situation where I don't really understand what is going on.
For example: growing up in an atheist family in very catholic Italy, I thought there was not another country in the West were religion impacted heavily on the politic side of life. I thought that there are not many places in Europe were you get to see the Pope in the news at least once a week like here in Italy (always on Sunday, sometimes with a live from Vatican City and then once or twice a week on each main TV channels). Yet, by reading the blog I'm discovering a country where the power of some Church are quite strong both on economics and politics and where opinions are felt very strongly.
And how about politics?
Is there really people thinking that the Obama government is radicalizing America and pushing it to socialism?
(Btw: when I told a colleague in U.S. that I come from a communist family and that yes, my family always voted for the communist party, because yes, in Italy we had a legal communist party sitting in the parliament, he was quite surprised. He couldn't believe that I could be so relaxed about it, as it were the most normal thing in the world, and that I could believe in human rights. I though it weirder that he was so shocked about it)
Has it something to do with the "tea parties"?
And this is another thing I can't understand: what is there to fear in having a public health system? Italy has one and, despite the problems and lack of quality here and there, I would never think of it as a socialist element, also cause it was created in the way it is today by the democratic cristian governement (which means very moderate and conservative) in the 50s.
What's wrong with paying some taxes if this will grant people of different social areas access to hospital and medical assistance? It's not socialist to take care of society: isn't it a part of the pursuit of happiness?
I've been reading your blog for a while now and I keep marvelling at myself for how many things I discover each day about Americans.
I think it's because we all build the idea of foreigners on some form of "prejudice": as there are not that many chances for each European to travel overseas and check how is America, we base our idea of U.S.A. on books, music, films and TV.
And you see, here's already a first mistake: America = U.S.A? America is a continent, it should refer to the whole area from Alaska way down to Patagonia, yet if I write America, most of the time I refer to the States.
With these knowledge/prejudices set in our mind, it happens that sometimes we find some confirmation, but more often that we discover that things are different.
With your blog and reading the news I'm finding myself more and more in this situation where I don't really understand what is going on.
For example: growing up in an atheist family in very catholic Italy, I thought there was not another country in the West were religion impacted heavily on the politic side of life. I thought that there are not many places in Europe were you get to see the Pope in the news at least once a week like here in Italy (always on Sunday, sometimes with a live from Vatican City and then once or twice a week on each main TV channels). Yet, by reading the blog I'm discovering a country where the power of some Church are quite strong both on economics and politics and where opinions are felt very strongly.
And how about politics?
Is there really people thinking that the Obama government is radicalizing America and pushing it to socialism?
(Btw: when I told a colleague in U.S. that I come from a communist family and that yes, my family always voted for the communist party, because yes, in Italy we had a legal communist party sitting in the parliament, he was quite surprised. He couldn't believe that I could be so relaxed about it, as it were the most normal thing in the world, and that I could believe in human rights. I though it weirder that he was so shocked about it)
Has it something to do with the "tea parties"?
And this is another thing I can't understand: what is there to fear in having a public health system? Italy has one and, despite the problems and lack of quality here and there, I would never think of it as a socialist element, also cause it was created in the way it is today by the democratic cristian governement (which means very moderate and conservative) in the 50s.
What's wrong with paying some taxes if this will grant people of different social areas access to hospital and medical assistance? It's not socialist to take care of society: isn't it a part of the pursuit of happiness?
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
An Englishman in New York
My daughter sent me an amusing website A day in America according to a baffled foreigner. Here's an excerpt:
As I cower in my Brooklyn apartment, emaciated and terrified, I can't help but think back to what a friend back in London said to me when I first told him I was getting married and moving to America. "I'll tell you what, old chap," he said as he snapped his braces and leant back on his servant. "I've met an awful lot of foreigners in my time, and most of them couldn't be more peculiar if they painted themselves puce and grew tits on their shoulders. I've lived in Belgium, for Christ's sake. But for all our shared language, Americans are the oddest of the lot. I wouldn't want to be you, my old mucker. Not for all the bumbershoots in Hertfordshire."
That was three months ago. Now I find myself in a country in which we all speak the same tongue, and yet every tiny task is so fraught with misunderstanding that it's less stressful just to barricade myself indoors and live on a diet of bathroom mold and cockroaches.
Just look at this example of how they and we refer to clothes:
As I cower in my Brooklyn apartment, emaciated and terrified, I can't help but think back to what a friend back in London said to me when I first told him I was getting married and moving to America. "I'll tell you what, old chap," he said as he snapped his braces and leant back on his servant. "I've met an awful lot of foreigners in my time, and most of them couldn't be more peculiar if they painted themselves puce and grew tits on their shoulders. I've lived in Belgium, for Christ's sake. But for all our shared language, Americans are the oddest of the lot. I wouldn't want to be you, my old mucker. Not for all the bumbershoots in Hertfordshire."
That was three months ago. Now I find myself in a country in which we all speak the same tongue, and yet every tiny task is so fraught with misunderstanding that it's less stressful just to barricade myself indoors and live on a diet of bathroom mold and cockroaches.
Just look at this example of how they and we refer to clothes:
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Don't eat at Red Lobster in Virginia if you can help it
Here's why:
The Democratically-controlled Virginia Senate has voted to allow concealed weapons permit holders to carry guns in restaurants that serve alcohol, as long as the person carrying the weapon does not drink. The gun bill passed on a 22 to 18 vote, after senators had a vigorous debate about whether or not people might have a reasonable reason to carry guns in restaurants.
The House has passed a similar bill; Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) has expressed support for the measure, and is expected to sign it into law. Both chambers also passed it last year, but Gov. Tim Kaine (D) vetoed it.
Sen. Emmett Hanger (R), who sponsored the measure, said he was doing so on behalf of those who now violate the law that prohibits guns in such establishments rather than leave their weapons in their cars when they go out to eat. He said this was a particular issue for women who carry guns in their purses to defend themselves when they go to, say, Red Lobster. (That was Hanger's example.)
Others argued guns have no place in eating establishments where alcohol is being served. Though the bill would prohibit a weapons carrier from drinking, the opponents said it would be impossible to tell if the law was being violated if the gun was concealed.
The Democratically-controlled Virginia Senate has voted to allow concealed weapons permit holders to carry guns in restaurants that serve alcohol, as long as the person carrying the weapon does not drink. The gun bill passed on a 22 to 18 vote, after senators had a vigorous debate about whether or not people might have a reasonable reason to carry guns in restaurants.
The House has passed a similar bill; Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) has expressed support for the measure, and is expected to sign it into law. Both chambers also passed it last year, but Gov. Tim Kaine (D) vetoed it.
Sen. Emmett Hanger (R), who sponsored the measure, said he was doing so on behalf of those who now violate the law that prohibits guns in such establishments rather than leave their weapons in their cars when they go out to eat. He said this was a particular issue for women who carry guns in their purses to defend themselves when they go to, say, Red Lobster. (That was Hanger's example.)
Others argued guns have no place in eating establishments where alcohol is being served. Though the bill would prohibit a weapons carrier from drinking, the opponents said it would be impossible to tell if the law was being violated if the gun was concealed.
Chinese New Year pic and a moan
My son refuses to have his picture taken these days, especially with his parents. But somehow someone got this pic of us at the Chinese New Year party we went to on Friday. I'm so proud of my son -- he is speaking Mandarin Chinese so well these days.
Rainy days and boring work
It's raining all the time now so I drive to the office in daily downpours. Then when I get to the office, I feel worse. I do the same old stuff with a meeting or two to enliven the day.
Everyone around me strategizes so they use buzz words, get excited over the latest strategic path -- it's so dull to someone like me who has been in the workforce a million years. I've seen it all before so many times.
I need to cheer up soon -- but how?
Rainy days and boring work
It's raining all the time now so I drive to the office in daily downpours. Then when I get to the office, I feel worse. I do the same old stuff with a meeting or two to enliven the day.
Everyone around me strategizes so they use buzz words, get excited over the latest strategic path -- it's so dull to someone like me who has been in the workforce a million years. I've seen it all before so many times.
I need to cheer up soon -- but how?
God made the New Orleans Saints win
I loved this post on the Mississippi Atheists site so have to reproduce it here:
If you are a fan of the New Orleans Saints and are thrilled that they had such a good season, culminating in a Super Bowl victory, I've got some bad news for you. They didn't win because they were talented, worked hard, were well-coached, or anything of their sort. In fact, they deserve no praise or credit for their winning season at all. Why? You see, Goddidit! That's right, their Super Bowl win happened only because the Christian god made it happen.
Skeptical Monkey has a great post on the idiocy of many Saints players. My favorite part is the observation that the Christian god was involved in human affairs enough to care who won the game while practically destroying Haiti (or at least allowing it to happen).
Apparently, god takes a vested interest in who wins the Super Bowl, but he couldn’t be bothered to spare the lives hundreds of thousands of Haitian citizens.
You don't get to have it both ways, Christians. Your god is involved, or it isn't.
If you are a fan of the New Orleans Saints and are thrilled that they had such a good season, culminating in a Super Bowl victory, I've got some bad news for you. They didn't win because they were talented, worked hard, were well-coached, or anything of their sort. In fact, they deserve no praise or credit for their winning season at all. Why? You see, Goddidit! That's right, their Super Bowl win happened only because the Christian god made it happen.
Skeptical Monkey has a great post on the idiocy of many Saints players. My favorite part is the observation that the Christian god was involved in human affairs enough to care who won the game while practically destroying Haiti (or at least allowing it to happen).
Apparently, god takes a vested interest in who wins the Super Bowl, but he couldn’t be bothered to spare the lives hundreds of thousands of Haitian citizens.
You don't get to have it both ways, Christians. Your god is involved, or it isn't.
Monday, 15 February 2010
Botox Paralyzes Emotions, Too
Hey, maybe this is why I so seldom get furious. I get annoyed, irritated, even want to kill people sometimes, but it's all for a brief time then I forget about it.
"Botox may wipe away those worry lines, but it can also strip you of emotions, new research suggests. "By paralyzing the frown muscles that ordinarily are engaged when we feel angry, Botox short-circuits the emotion itself," Newsweek reports.
Botox, short for Botulinum toxin, is a neurotoxin protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is one of the most poisonous substances in the world.
The finding is based on a known phenomenon whereby smiling adds to your happiness and frowning multiplies your sadness.
"Normally, the brain would be sending signals to the periphery to frown, and the extent of the frown would be sent back to the brain," said UW-Madison professor emeritus of psychology Arthur Glenberg. "But here, that loop is disrupted, and the intensity of the emotion and of our ability to understand it when embodied in language is disrupted."
But if you're sweating the potential downsides of Botox, know that it can also prevent excessive sweating."
"Botox may wipe away those worry lines, but it can also strip you of emotions, new research suggests. "By paralyzing the frown muscles that ordinarily are engaged when we feel angry, Botox short-circuits the emotion itself," Newsweek reports.
Botox, short for Botulinum toxin, is a neurotoxin protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is one of the most poisonous substances in the world.
The finding is based on a known phenomenon whereby smiling adds to your happiness and frowning multiplies your sadness.
"Normally, the brain would be sending signals to the periphery to frown, and the extent of the frown would be sent back to the brain," said UW-Madison professor emeritus of psychology Arthur Glenberg. "But here, that loop is disrupted, and the intensity of the emotion and of our ability to understand it when embodied in language is disrupted."
But if you're sweating the potential downsides of Botox, know that it can also prevent excessive sweating."
In the beginning....
In the beginning God covered the earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, with green, yellow and red vegetables of all kinds so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.
Then using God's bountiful gifts, Satan created Dairy Ice Cream and Magnums. And Satan said, 'You want hot fudge with that? And Man said, 'Yes!' And Woman said, 'I'll have one too with chocolate chips'. And lo they gained 10 pounds.
And God created the healthy yoghurt that woman might keep the figure that man found so fair.
And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 12 to size 14.
So God said, 'Try my fresh green salad'. And Satan presented Blue Cheese dressing and garlic croutons on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.
God then said 'I have sent you healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them'.
And Satan brought forth deep fried coconut king prawns, butter-dipped lobster chunks and chicken fried steak, so big it needed its own platter, and Man's cholesterol went through the roof.
Then God brought forth the potato; naturally low in fat and brimming with potassium and good nutrition.
Then Satan peeled off the healthy skin and sliced the starchy centre into chips and deep-fried them in animal fats adding copious quantities of salt. And Man put on more pounds. God then brought forth running shoes so that his Children might lose those extra pounds.
And Satan came forth with a cable TV with remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering light and started wearing stretch jogging suits.
Then God gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite.
And Satan created McDonalds and the 99p double cheeseburger. Then Satan said 'You want fries with that?' and Man replied, 'Yes, and super size 'em'. And Satan said, 'It is good.' And Man and Woman went into cardiac arrest.
God sighed ......... and created quadruple by-pass surgery.
And then ............. Satan chuckled and created the National Health Service.
THE FINAL WORD ON NUTRITION
After an exhaustive review of the research literature, here's the final word on nutrition and health:
1. Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
2. Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
3. Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
4. Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
5. Germans drink beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
6. The French eat foie-gras, full fat cheese and drink red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than us
CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.
Then using God's bountiful gifts, Satan created Dairy Ice Cream and Magnums. And Satan said, 'You want hot fudge with that? And Man said, 'Yes!' And Woman said, 'I'll have one too with chocolate chips'. And lo they gained 10 pounds.
And God created the healthy yoghurt that woman might keep the figure that man found so fair.
And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 12 to size 14.
So God said, 'Try my fresh green salad'. And Satan presented Blue Cheese dressing and garlic croutons on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.
God then said 'I have sent you healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them'.
And Satan brought forth deep fried coconut king prawns, butter-dipped lobster chunks and chicken fried steak, so big it needed its own platter, and Man's cholesterol went through the roof.
Then God brought forth the potato; naturally low in fat and brimming with potassium and good nutrition.
Then Satan peeled off the healthy skin and sliced the starchy centre into chips and deep-fried them in animal fats adding copious quantities of salt. And Man put on more pounds. God then brought forth running shoes so that his Children might lose those extra pounds.
And Satan came forth with a cable TV with remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering light and started wearing stretch jogging suits.
Then God gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite.
And Satan created McDonalds and the 99p double cheeseburger. Then Satan said 'You want fries with that?' and Man replied, 'Yes, and super size 'em'. And Satan said, 'It is good.' And Man and Woman went into cardiac arrest.
God sighed ......... and created quadruple by-pass surgery.
And then ............. Satan chuckled and created the National Health Service.
THE FINAL WORD ON NUTRITION
After an exhaustive review of the research literature, here's the final word on nutrition and health:
1. Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
2. Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
3. Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
4. Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
5. Germans drink beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
6. The French eat foie-gras, full fat cheese and drink red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than us
CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Drunken magnificent party
I went to my friend Elise's 50th birthday party last night. I didn't expect it to be a lot of fun as it was in a school library and everyone had to bring a dish and there was a strict dress code that the guests had to wear Black and White ONLY.
But I was wrong...the library was a grand stateroom -- not a single book in sight. There was a huge table full of booze and cocktails and lovely people.
Here's Mel and me -- in my new frilly top purchased hours earlier:
I had my zip lower than normal so I could get some cleavage going but then I saw my good friend Karen Blakeley whose assets totally outdid my own.
I think I'll show up topless at the next party and see if I can outdo Karen then. :)
But I was wrong...the library was a grand stateroom -- not a single book in sight. There was a huge table full of booze and cocktails and lovely people.
Here's Mel and me -- in my new frilly top purchased hours earlier:
I had my zip lower than normal so I could get some cleavage going but then I saw my good friend Karen Blakeley whose assets totally outdid my own.
I think I'll show up topless at the next party and see if I can outdo Karen then. :)
Why does time go faster the older you get?
WBUR Boston addresses theories to explain the universal human experience that time seems to pass faster as you get older. Here's the .9-minute audio.
Several explanations are tried out: that brains lay down more information for novel experiences; that the "clock" for nerve impulses in aging brains runs slower; and that each interval of time represents a diminishing fraction of life as we age.
What are you gonna do about this aging thing? Guess we just have to get used to it.
Several explanations are tried out: that brains lay down more information for novel experiences; that the "clock" for nerve impulses in aging brains runs slower; and that each interval of time represents a diminishing fraction of life as we age.
What are you gonna do about this aging thing? Guess we just have to get used to it.
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Chinese New Year, HMS Adriatic & black/white party
I was going to crash after work last night because I'd had a hectic week but then my son's Mandarin teacher booked some tables for Chinese New Year last night so out I went again.
Mikey's teacher, Lilly, told us all about Chinese New Year and its customs. You have to eat fish and dumplings on New Year to have good luck. I ate a dumpling but missed having fish so hope I'm still OK.
Recreating a meal from 100 years ago
My grandmother sailed to Romania when she was a girl because her father had a job with an oil company. She told us about marble floors in restaurants, maids and other luxurious details of her life there. Then the first world war broke out, and they had to come home.
I have a menu from the HMS Adriatic, the White Star ocean liner they sailed over on, and was going to recreate it today -- a hundred years since she had this meal. White Star is most famous, of course, for one of its other ships -- the Titanic. But my grandmother was sailing over to Europe in 1910 so the Titanic disaster hadn't happened yet.
Here's a picture of the menu:
It includes green turtle, oysters, pheasant, beef, lamb, Virginia ham, turkey, pork, sweetbreads, and fillet of sole. Can you imagine that much meat for one meal?
I can't recreate the whole menu -- maybe I could just pick something from it and cook that.
Finding a black and white outfit for a party tonight
I'm going to a party tonight, and the invitation said Black and White attire ONLY. That gave me a bit of a dilemma. I have a long black skirt so I ran into town this morning to try and find a white top to go with it. I found four, below:
I finally decided to get the white ruffly one in the pic, but it was a tight fit so I had to buy a creamy undergarment to go under or else all would be revealed.
Mikey's teacher, Lilly, told us all about Chinese New Year and its customs. You have to eat fish and dumplings on New Year to have good luck. I ate a dumpling but missed having fish so hope I'm still OK.
Recreating a meal from 100 years ago
My grandmother sailed to Romania when she was a girl because her father had a job with an oil company. She told us about marble floors in restaurants, maids and other luxurious details of her life there. Then the first world war broke out, and they had to come home.
I have a menu from the HMS Adriatic, the White Star ocean liner they sailed over on, and was going to recreate it today -- a hundred years since she had this meal. White Star is most famous, of course, for one of its other ships -- the Titanic. But my grandmother was sailing over to Europe in 1910 so the Titanic disaster hadn't happened yet.
Here's a picture of the menu:
It includes green turtle, oysters, pheasant, beef, lamb, Virginia ham, turkey, pork, sweetbreads, and fillet of sole. Can you imagine that much meat for one meal?
I can't recreate the whole menu -- maybe I could just pick something from it and cook that.
Finding a black and white outfit for a party tonight
I'm going to a party tonight, and the invitation said Black and White attire ONLY. That gave me a bit of a dilemma. I have a long black skirt so I ran into town this morning to try and find a white top to go with it. I found four, below:
I finally decided to get the white ruffly one in the pic, but it was a tight fit so I had to buy a creamy undergarment to go under or else all would be revealed.
Depressing Atlantic article
This is a really depressing article but worth the read. A summary and link below:
The Great Recession may be over, but this era of high joblessness is probably just beginning. Before it ends, it will likely change the life course and character of a generation of young adults. It will leave an indelible imprint on many blue-collar men. It could cripple marriage as an institution in many communities. It may already be plunging many inner cities into a despair not seen for decades. Ultimately, it is likely to warp our politics, our culture, and the character of our society for years to come.
Jobless American Future
The Great Recession may be over, but this era of high joblessness is probably just beginning. Before it ends, it will likely change the life course and character of a generation of young adults. It will leave an indelible imprint on many blue-collar men. It could cripple marriage as an institution in many communities. It may already be plunging many inner cities into a despair not seen for decades. Ultimately, it is likely to warp our politics, our culture, and the character of our society for years to come.
Jobless American Future
Friday, 12 February 2010
So if I hit my head, I might find God?
"Removing part of the brain can induce inner peace, according to researchers from Italy. Their study provides the strongest evidence to date that spiritual thinking arises in, or is limited by, specific brain areas. This raises a number of interesting issues about spirituality, among them whether or not people can be born with a strong propensity towards spirituality and also whether it can be acquired through head trauma."
A loooong concert day
Yesterday, I had to be in London by 10:15 to rehearse Mahler 2 for a concert that evening at the Royal Festival Hall. I'd had to go up to London each night after work to rehearse earlier in the week, so I was getting pretty tired. (I have tons of work at the office too.)
I had 6 hours to kill between the morning rehearsal and the evening performance so I needed something to do. My daughter and sister-in-law came to meet me for lunch. We drank caipirinhas (Brazilian cocktail) and margaritas to pass the time (that's the Royal Festival Hall in the background, where I was going to sing).
We all had a good time, and I learned new things. For example, my daughter told me her last boyfriend was a committed Christian so I would think she was just holding hands with him the whole time, then it turns out she LIED to me. It amused her to let me think that, she confessed.
Now I won't believe anything else she tells me about any future BF.
After lunch, we walked around the Southbank a bit but it was bitterly cold in London so being outside was hard.
We walked my sister-in-law Paula over the Thames to get her underground train then we walked to the King's College (where Katie goes to med school) campus on the Strand and hung out.
I saw Socrates there.
Then we went to the college chapel just so we could sit down for a bit. The vicar was there counselling someone troubled, and I was worried he was going to come over to me and minister afterwards but he didn't. Isn't the chapel beautiful?
Later my husband Mel came to the Southbank and the three of us had pizza before the concert. The concert was beautiful -- Mahler's second symphony (called the Resurrection) is so moving. It's thrilling to be a participant in making music like that.
Postscript:
Here's some feedback we got from a professional singer who was in the audience last night:
Tonight my sister Elizabeth and I saw one of the greatest performances that we have ever attended, a view shared by the audience as you must have gathered from their reaction. The Philharmonia Chorus were magnificent, producing wonderful hushed tones but able to fill the hall with vibrant sound when required.
We sat near to a man who at the end was referring to what he considered to be the best of the recordings of the symphony (Solti and Rattle) but he thought tonight was best of all.
I'm so grateful to have been there.
I had 6 hours to kill between the morning rehearsal and the evening performance so I needed something to do. My daughter and sister-in-law came to meet me for lunch. We drank caipirinhas (Brazilian cocktail) and margaritas to pass the time (that's the Royal Festival Hall in the background, where I was going to sing).
We all had a good time, and I learned new things. For example, my daughter told me her last boyfriend was a committed Christian so I would think she was just holding hands with him the whole time, then it turns out she LIED to me. It amused her to let me think that, she confessed.
Now I won't believe anything else she tells me about any future BF.
After lunch, we walked around the Southbank a bit but it was bitterly cold in London so being outside was hard.
We walked my sister-in-law Paula over the Thames to get her underground train then we walked to the King's College (where Katie goes to med school) campus on the Strand and hung out.
I saw Socrates there.
Then we went to the college chapel just so we could sit down for a bit. The vicar was there counselling someone troubled, and I was worried he was going to come over to me and minister afterwards but he didn't. Isn't the chapel beautiful?
Later my husband Mel came to the Southbank and the three of us had pizza before the concert. The concert was beautiful -- Mahler's second symphony (called the Resurrection) is so moving. It's thrilling to be a participant in making music like that.
Postscript:
Here's some feedback we got from a professional singer who was in the audience last night:
Tonight my sister Elizabeth and I saw one of the greatest performances that we have ever attended, a view shared by the audience as you must have gathered from their reaction. The Philharmonia Chorus were magnificent, producing wonderful hushed tones but able to fill the hall with vibrant sound when required.
We sat near to a man who at the end was referring to what he considered to be the best of the recordings of the symphony (Solti and Rattle) but he thought tonight was best of all.
I'm so grateful to have been there.
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Radical appointees pushing America to socialism
One of this blog's readers sent in a video that he thought Marty, and any other readers who think America is becoming a socialist hell, might like.
Thanks -- I appreciate you all sending material in.
Thanks -- I appreciate you all sending material in.
Kansas: now a Great Plains version of Mississippi?
One of my brothers alerted me to a new documentary about Kansas. He says:
There is a documentary out about Kansas ("What's the matter with Kansas?") that shows how it has gone from being a bastion of freethinking liberalism in the past to rabid Bible-beating conservativism in that last few decades. Below are a couple of paragraphs excerpted from the movie review. Kansas now appears to be just a great plains version of Mississippi. Sad.
"Conservatives in the heartland have persuaded themselves to vote against their own economic and social well-being because they consider hot-button issues like abortion and creationism more important than their incomes, economic chances, educations and the welfare of society at large. Their positions dovetail seamlessly with evangelical Christianity, and they accept hardship as the will of God when it seems more clearly to be the working of a top-loaded economy.
At the start of the 20th century, Kansas was a staunchly left-wing state. The town of Girard was the home of the socialist Appeal to Reason, then the newspaper with the largest circulation in America."
There is a documentary out about Kansas ("What's the matter with Kansas?") that shows how it has gone from being a bastion of freethinking liberalism in the past to rabid Bible-beating conservativism in that last few decades. Below are a couple of paragraphs excerpted from the movie review. Kansas now appears to be just a great plains version of Mississippi. Sad.
"Conservatives in the heartland have persuaded themselves to vote against their own economic and social well-being because they consider hot-button issues like abortion and creationism more important than their incomes, economic chances, educations and the welfare of society at large. Their positions dovetail seamlessly with evangelical Christianity, and they accept hardship as the will of God when it seems more clearly to be the working of a top-loaded economy.
At the start of the 20th century, Kansas was a staunchly left-wing state. The town of Girard was the home of the socialist Appeal to Reason, then the newspaper with the largest circulation in America."
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Scary conductor
I've been busy with work then going up to London for rehearsals afterwards. We are doing Mahler on Thursday night so we don't have much time to be perfect. Our German chorus master was shouting even more than ever last night.
"Why are you looking at the score? Mahler wrote it 120 years ago. It hasn't changed lately. Stop looking at it!"
We sang a section so well, I thought. "Very pretty," he said tartly. "But it isn't Mahler! No more portamento in that bar."
Then he spoke about Mahler and his wife Alma like he knew them personally. I guess he feels like he did -- he knows the music so well and is so passionate about it.
I was wishing I could have videoed some of the rehearsal so you could see how scary this guy is. During the break in the ladies' room, I heard that he had mellowed now. "He used to terrify even the men in the chorus when he was younger," an alto informed us.
I did find some YouTube video of him so you can at least see him. But I notice that he has really toned himself down for this interview -- I guess it's his public persona.
"Why are you looking at the score? Mahler wrote it 120 years ago. It hasn't changed lately. Stop looking at it!"
We sang a section so well, I thought. "Very pretty," he said tartly. "But it isn't Mahler! No more portamento in that bar."
Then he spoke about Mahler and his wife Alma like he knew them personally. I guess he feels like he did -- he knows the music so well and is so passionate about it.
I was wishing I could have videoed some of the rehearsal so you could see how scary this guy is. During the break in the ladies' room, I heard that he had mellowed now. "He used to terrify even the men in the chorus when he was younger," an alto informed us.
I did find some YouTube video of him so you can at least see him. But I notice that he has really toned himself down for this interview -- I guess it's his public persona.
Rise of the Wrinkles
Interesting new book out now called Earthquake: Mass Migration, Developing Nations and the Coming Population Crash by Fred Pearce.
In it, he says that a population bomb isn't about to explode. Rather, he says we are facing a global 'baby famine' that will permanently alter the demographic makeup of the world.
Pearce says that the procreating masses are often held up as our most intractable problem but actually peak population is closer than we think. Very soon, within two decades, we will go from explosion to implosion and we will need immigrants to make up the difference.
"It's absurd to make immigrants take leaking boats across the Mediterranean when if they did not come illegally, Europe would have to send for them. The labor force will declinen by at least 70 millions by 2050."
The most profound change will be the 'rise of the wrinklies.' We chouldn't fear this but celebrate it, because being old isn't what it used to be. "Like the youth bulge before it," Pearce writes, "the silver bulge can be seen as either a threat or a promise. Fear it and our societies will found; harness it and the prospects are endless."
In it, he says that a population bomb isn't about to explode. Rather, he says we are facing a global 'baby famine' that will permanently alter the demographic makeup of the world.
Pearce says that the procreating masses are often held up as our most intractable problem but actually peak population is closer than we think. Very soon, within two decades, we will go from explosion to implosion and we will need immigrants to make up the difference.
"It's absurd to make immigrants take leaking boats across the Mediterranean when if they did not come illegally, Europe would have to send for them. The labor force will declinen by at least 70 millions by 2050."
The most profound change will be the 'rise of the wrinklies.' We chouldn't fear this but celebrate it, because being old isn't what it used to be. "Like the youth bulge before it," Pearce writes, "the silver bulge can be seen as either a threat or a promise. Fear it and our societies will found; harness it and the prospects are endless."
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Happiness is thinking about ideas bigger than you are
I read an interesting article that says this decade will be one for intellectual curiosity.
Why the sudden brain fetish? "Well, I think cynicism is on the wane," says Chris Anderson, a former journalist. "There was a hole in the existing media diet. On the one hand, you had the dramatic but bleak news of the day, and on the other celebrity tittle-tattle. The brain-nurturing stuff that people love was being squeezed out. Alss, in some parts of the world, fewer people have been going to a church so they have unintentionally lost out on that sense of a community participation in an idea that's bigger than them. Psychological research shows that a core element of leading a happy life is to spend part of your time thinking about ideas or purposes that are bigger than you are."
Evidence of a new intellectualism is the popularity of debating in the UK (I attended a debate last November with Richard Dawkins and the former Bishop of Oxford and it was a really exciting experience) and the huge attendance figures for lectures at places like the School of Life in London, where subjects are debated without reference to any religious dogma. Here is their site: School of Life
Why the sudden brain fetish? "Well, I think cynicism is on the wane," says Chris Anderson, a former journalist. "There was a hole in the existing media diet. On the one hand, you had the dramatic but bleak news of the day, and on the other celebrity tittle-tattle. The brain-nurturing stuff that people love was being squeezed out. Alss, in some parts of the world, fewer people have been going to a church so they have unintentionally lost out on that sense of a community participation in an idea that's bigger than them. Psychological research shows that a core element of leading a happy life is to spend part of your time thinking about ideas or purposes that are bigger than you are."
Evidence of a new intellectualism is the popularity of debating in the UK (I attended a debate last November with Richard Dawkins and the former Bishop of Oxford and it was a really exciting experience) and the huge attendance figures for lectures at places like the School of Life in London, where subjects are debated without reference to any religious dogma. Here is their site: School of Life
No atheists in foxholes
A reader sent this in: I have always hated that saying: “There are no atheists in foxholes.” Today I read about a WWII vet who says:
"They say there are no atheists in foxholes. But as we sat in those holes, praying that God would save us, I thought about the fact that the other side was doing the same thing. And then I wondered if God is just playing some kind of game with us. Pretty much I decided at that point there was no God," Christian said.
"For the rest of my life, I've tried to do the right thing. I raised a beautiful bunch of kids -- and they truly are my greatest accomplishment. So I'm not worried about what's next. If there is a God, I think he'll know that I just did the best I could. That's all a man can do."
For most of his 84 years, Milton "Just call me Chris" Christian has avoided the limelight. Yesterday, all eyes were on him, as the World War II combat veteran finally received the Bronze Star.
"They say there are no atheists in foxholes. But as we sat in those holes, praying that God would save us, I thought about the fact that the other side was doing the same thing. And then I wondered if God is just playing some kind of game with us. Pretty much I decided at that point there was no God," Christian said.
"For the rest of my life, I've tried to do the right thing. I raised a beautiful bunch of kids -- and they truly are my greatest accomplishment. So I'm not worried about what's next. If there is a God, I think he'll know that I just did the best I could. That's all a man can do."
For most of his 84 years, Milton "Just call me Chris" Christian has avoided the limelight. Yesterday, all eyes were on him, as the World War II combat veteran finally received the Bronze Star.
Monday, 8 February 2010
Don't go to the Coke machine again
A new study found that people who consumed two or more soft drinks (defined as sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages) a week, had a nearly two-fold higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer; the researchers suggested regular consumption of sweetened beverages could raise insulin levels and thereby fuel the growth of pancreatic cancer cells.
You can read about the study online in a paper published in the February issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
You can read about the study online in a paper published in the February issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Lunatic Atheists
I saw this in the Mississippi Atheists blog, and it made me laugh. I'll bet Rev. Briggs would be loads of fun to talk to at a party.
Louisiana girl and the Superbowl
My Louisiana friend from college, Jeanne Bernard, came over from Paris yesterday to watch the Superbowl. I got my husband to take this pic so I could put it on Facebook so Jeanne's friends and daughter could see she arrived safely.
We went for breakfast at a patisserie nearby then drove back to Reading. The day was cold and overcast so I made a fire.
Jeanne brought French biscuits and macaroons and champagne to celebrate when the New Orleans Saints won the big game. I got out the American junk food -- fritos, Rotel dip, cheddar-cheese goldfish -- and we started snacking.
We made Jeanne play all our silly family games like Old Maid. Here she is trying to figure out if Mel has the Old Maid in his hand or not. Check out the tea set too. Jeanne gave it to me for my birthday. I especially love the teapot and his little legs -- I kept thinking he was going to run off the table before I ever got a cup of tea.
Later that evening, I made fried shrimp, cornbread and BBQ beans and rice. Then we all decided to have a little nap as the Superbowl didn't start until midnight our time.
Back up later to see the Saints win a wonderful victory. Went to bed at 3:30, up again at 6:30 to go to work. This morning at the office I was so out of it that I dropped my breakfast bowl of fruit, yogurt and granola all over myself.
Hope the rest of my day improves -- except I just looked out the window and it's snowing. Just what I need.
We went for breakfast at a patisserie nearby then drove back to Reading. The day was cold and overcast so I made a fire.
Jeanne brought French biscuits and macaroons and champagne to celebrate when the New Orleans Saints won the big game. I got out the American junk food -- fritos, Rotel dip, cheddar-cheese goldfish -- and we started snacking.
We made Jeanne play all our silly family games like Old Maid. Here she is trying to figure out if Mel has the Old Maid in his hand or not. Check out the tea set too. Jeanne gave it to me for my birthday. I especially love the teapot and his little legs -- I kept thinking he was going to run off the table before I ever got a cup of tea.
Later that evening, I made fried shrimp, cornbread and BBQ beans and rice. Then we all decided to have a little nap as the Superbowl didn't start until midnight our time.
Back up later to see the Saints win a wonderful victory. Went to bed at 3:30, up again at 6:30 to go to work. This morning at the office I was so out of it that I dropped my breakfast bowl of fruit, yogurt and granola all over myself.
Hope the rest of my day improves -- except I just looked out the window and it's snowing. Just what I need.
OMG: brains can’t handle all our Facebook friends
This article in the Times interested me. The number of people I count as my friends has exploded in recent years due to e-mail, VOIP (phoning people over the computer), Facebook and instant messaging. I really enjoy being in touch with so many people but sometimes my brain fries from trying to remember everyone's important dates to get cards or presents out on time.
Here's the info:
WE may be able to amass 5,000 friends on Facebook but humans’ brains are capable of managing a maximum of only 150 friendships, a study has found.
Robin Dunbar, professor of Evolutionary Anthropology at Oxford University, has conducted research revealing that while social networking sites allow us to maintain more relationships, the number of meaningful friendships is the same as it has been throughout history.
Dunbar developed a theory known as “Dunbar’s number” in the 1990s which claimed that the size of our neocortex — the part of the brain used for conscious thought and language — limits us to managing social circles of around 150 friends, no matter how sociable we are.
These are relationships in which a person knows how each friend relates to every other friend. They are people you care about and contact at least once a year.
Dunbar derived the limit from studying social groupings in a variety of societies — from neolithic villages to modern office environments.
He found that people tended to self-organise in groups of around 150 because social cohesion begins to deteriorate as groups become larger.
Dunbar is now studying social networking websites to see if the “Facebook effect” has stretched the size of social groupings. Preliminary results suggest it has not.
Here's the info:
WE may be able to amass 5,000 friends on Facebook but humans’ brains are capable of managing a maximum of only 150 friendships, a study has found.
Robin Dunbar, professor of Evolutionary Anthropology at Oxford University, has conducted research revealing that while social networking sites allow us to maintain more relationships, the number of meaningful friendships is the same as it has been throughout history.
Dunbar developed a theory known as “Dunbar’s number” in the 1990s which claimed that the size of our neocortex — the part of the brain used for conscious thought and language — limits us to managing social circles of around 150 friends, no matter how sociable we are.
These are relationships in which a person knows how each friend relates to every other friend. They are people you care about and contact at least once a year.
Dunbar derived the limit from studying social groupings in a variety of societies — from neolithic villages to modern office environments.
He found that people tended to self-organise in groups of around 150 because social cohesion begins to deteriorate as groups become larger.
Dunbar is now studying social networking websites to see if the “Facebook effect” has stretched the size of social groupings. Preliminary results suggest it has not.
Sunday, 7 February 2010
50 and fantastic: the rise of the Quintastics
Are you Quintastic?
Sexy, smart and with a ferocious new lease of life at 50 – they’re women whose mid-lives are far from a crisis
IT WAS the Oscar-winning Canadian actress Marie Dressler who first isolated it as the zenith of a woman’s life. “By the time we hit 50, we have found out that only a few things are really important. We have learnt to take life seriously but never ourselves.”
As Dressler turned 50 in 1918 she was certainly ahead of her time in celebrating the heady joys of middle age but she had good reason to believe that the birthday could herald a renaissance in a woman’s life: she didn’t appear in a film until she was 42 and at the age of 65 was still Hollywood’s No 1 box office attraction. For her, 50 represented a new lease of life filled with opportunity and fresh challenges.
Back then, of course, she was the exception. For most women – and this was the case until fairly recently – hitting the half-century was the start of a steady decline towards the infirmity of old age.
How things have changed. Today a raft of successful, sensual, smart women have marked or are about to celebrate their big 5-0. This year the so-called Quintastics – those born five decades ago – include the actresses Greta Scacchi, Tilda Swinton, Kristin Scott Thomas and Julianne Moore, as well as Domestic Goddess Nigella Lawson and TV presenter Carol Vorderman.
Last year Nastassja Kinski turned 50, so did fellow actress Emma Thompson and singer Sheena Easton. Also blooming in their 50s are singer Madonna and actresses Miranda Richardson, Sharon Stone and Annette Bening, the woman who enticed Warren Beatty to quit his bachelor life.
“If you think hitting 40 is liberating, wait until you hit 50,” says actress Michelle Pfeiffer who will be 52 in April.
Sexy, smart and with a ferocious new lease of life at 50 – they’re women whose mid-lives are far from a crisis
IT WAS the Oscar-winning Canadian actress Marie Dressler who first isolated it as the zenith of a woman’s life. “By the time we hit 50, we have found out that only a few things are really important. We have learnt to take life seriously but never ourselves.”
As Dressler turned 50 in 1918 she was certainly ahead of her time in celebrating the heady joys of middle age but she had good reason to believe that the birthday could herald a renaissance in a woman’s life: she didn’t appear in a film until she was 42 and at the age of 65 was still Hollywood’s No 1 box office attraction. For her, 50 represented a new lease of life filled with opportunity and fresh challenges.
Back then, of course, she was the exception. For most women – and this was the case until fairly recently – hitting the half-century was the start of a steady decline towards the infirmity of old age.
How things have changed. Today a raft of successful, sensual, smart women have marked or are about to celebrate their big 5-0. This year the so-called Quintastics – those born five decades ago – include the actresses Greta Scacchi, Tilda Swinton, Kristin Scott Thomas and Julianne Moore, as well as Domestic Goddess Nigella Lawson and TV presenter Carol Vorderman.
Last year Nastassja Kinski turned 50, so did fellow actress Emma Thompson and singer Sheena Easton. Also blooming in their 50s are singer Madonna and actresses Miranda Richardson, Sharon Stone and Annette Bening, the woman who enticed Warren Beatty to quit his bachelor life.
“If you think hitting 40 is liberating, wait until you hit 50,” says actress Michelle Pfeiffer who will be 52 in April.
Saturday, 6 February 2010
Who Dat eating all them snacks?
Sooo tired last night -- I could barely move. I had to cancel a dinner meetup with two of my pals -- so unlike me. Think of all the goss I missed hearing too.
The tiredness continued most of the day but now I have roused myself to start getting ready for Superbowl day tomorrow. We are leaving early to drive to St Pancras station in London to meet my Louisiana friend Jeanne who is Eurostaring it over from Paris to see the New Orleans Saints play later.
The New Orleans Saints were a joke football team for my most of my life. They were so bad that fans would make paper airplanes to fly around the Superdome to amuse themselves while New Orleans lost. Then suddenly, a few years ago, they started to improve.
No one ever thought they would make it to the Superbowl so this is big news to us Southerners.
I get amused when I read how English newspapers cover the Superbowl for their readers. "It's not just overstuff sissies in shoulder pads," one counselled its readers today.
The game doesn't start until midnight and goes on until 3 or 4 am so we are all going to take a long nap tomorrow evening to be ready.
I got a bunch of American junk food in preparation and made a faux Rotel dip already. (Rotel tomatoes are special hot ones grown in Texas -- you combine that with Velveeta cheese for a fab warm dip.)
My daughter has been trying to explain the New Orleans catchphrase for the Saints 'Who Dat' to her fancy English friends but they don't get it.
Fingers crossed for our team.
The tiredness continued most of the day but now I have roused myself to start getting ready for Superbowl day tomorrow. We are leaving early to drive to St Pancras station in London to meet my Louisiana friend Jeanne who is Eurostaring it over from Paris to see the New Orleans Saints play later.
The New Orleans Saints were a joke football team for my most of my life. They were so bad that fans would make paper airplanes to fly around the Superdome to amuse themselves while New Orleans lost. Then suddenly, a few years ago, they started to improve.
No one ever thought they would make it to the Superbowl so this is big news to us Southerners.
I get amused when I read how English newspapers cover the Superbowl for their readers. "It's not just overstuff sissies in shoulder pads," one counselled its readers today.
The game doesn't start until midnight and goes on until 3 or 4 am so we are all going to take a long nap tomorrow evening to be ready.
I got a bunch of American junk food in preparation and made a faux Rotel dip already. (Rotel tomatoes are special hot ones grown in Texas -- you combine that with Velveeta cheese for a fab warm dip.)
My daughter has been trying to explain the New Orleans catchphrase for the Saints 'Who Dat' to her fancy English friends but they don't get it.
Fingers crossed for our team.
Is nothing sacred? Men at Work song STOLEN
I can't believe this. I thought they were an honest decent band:
Australian rock band Men at Work had a massive hit with their 1980s song "Down Under" about a vegemite sandwich and the world’s other temptations. It turns out they had some help as an Australian judge ruled Thursday that the group's famous flute riff was ripped off from a folk tune. The owner of the song, the entertainment group EMI, may have to pay up to 60 percent of the earnings they made from the international smash. "It's a big win for the underdog," said one lawyer.
Australian rock band Men at Work had a massive hit with their 1980s song "Down Under" about a vegemite sandwich and the world’s other temptations. It turns out they had some help as an Australian judge ruled Thursday that the group's famous flute riff was ripped off from a folk tune. The owner of the song, the entertainment group EMI, may have to pay up to 60 percent of the earnings they made from the international smash. "It's a big win for the underdog," said one lawyer.
Sunflowers and Evolution
I'm reading a book on evolution by Richard Dawkins. It's very interesting. Did you know, for example, that sunflowers were genetically engineered by Russians to have flowers that are huge? That's because the Orthodox Church banned the use of oil in cooking during Lent and Advent, and somehow, sunflower oil was deemed to be exempt from that religious prohibition.
Richard Dawkins comments: "Perhaps because -- being a New World flower -- the sunflower is not mentioned in the Bible. The theological mind takes a delight in the intricacies of dietary law and the ingenuity required to dodge them...French Catholic gourmets discovered a loophole that enabled them to eat meat on Fridays. Lower a leg of lamb into a well and then 'fish' it out. They must think God is awfully easily fooled."
Richard Dawkins comments: "Perhaps because -- being a New World flower -- the sunflower is not mentioned in the Bible. The theological mind takes a delight in the intricacies of dietary law and the ingenuity required to dodge them...French Catholic gourmets discovered a loophole that enabled them to eat meat on Fridays. Lower a leg of lamb into a well and then 'fish' it out. They must think God is awfully easily fooled."
Friday, 5 February 2010
Hey Vatican! You pay for the Pope's visit, not the UK taxpayer
Sign the petition at this website (below) to protest the UK taxpayer being asked to fund the Pope's upcoming visit to the tune of £20 million.
We don't want to pay for the Pope to visit
I think what has enraged people is that the Pope is dissing equality legislation in this country saying it gets in the way of their religious freedom. That's a freedom I would thankfully do without myself.
Pray for police to help catch criminals
Oh yeah, I think this is really going to help!
HELP is at hand for police who fear they haven’t a prayer of catching certain criminals.
The Christian Police Association is asking the public to pray for officers to help them to solve crimes – because they believe they have evidence that it really works.
Don Axcell, executive director of the 2,000-member association, told Police Review magazine: “In one area an officer was investigating an incident but he had not been able to apprehend a suspect. He encouraged a church to pray for him – and within days a suspect had been charged.
“In another area an officer encouraged churches to pray about domestic burglary and over the year it came down by 30 per cent.”
But he added: “We do not discount good police work, which is why we call this circumstantial evidence.”
from the Daily Express (London)
HELP is at hand for police who fear they haven’t a prayer of catching certain criminals.
The Christian Police Association is asking the public to pray for officers to help them to solve crimes – because they believe they have evidence that it really works.
Don Axcell, executive director of the 2,000-member association, told Police Review magazine: “In one area an officer was investigating an incident but he had not been able to apprehend a suspect. He encouraged a church to pray for him – and within days a suspect had been charged.
“In another area an officer encouraged churches to pray about domestic burglary and over the year it came down by 30 per cent.”
But he added: “We do not discount good police work, which is why we call this circumstantial evidence.”
from the Daily Express (London)
Thursday, 4 February 2010
The Beethoven Fallacy
Just in case you missed Richard Dawkins in the Washington Post today about the anti-abortion ad running during the Superbowl, here it is:
I gather that Tim Tebow is extremely good at football. That's just as well, for he certainly isn't very good at thinking. Perhaps the fact that he was home schooled by missionary parents is to blame.
The following is what passes for logic in the Tebow mind. His mother was advised by doctors to abort him, but she refused, which is why Tim is here. So abortion is a bad thing. Masterful conclusion.
It is a version of what, following the great Nobel-Prizewinning biologist Peter Medawar, I have called the Great Beethoven Fallacy.
Versions of the Great Beethoven Fallacy are attributed to various Christian apologists, and the details vary. The following is the version favoured by Norman St John Stevas, a British Conservative Member of Parliament.
One doctor to another:
"About the terminating of pregnancy, I want your opinion. The father was syphilitic. The mother tuberculous. Of the four children born, the first was blind, the second died, the third was deaf and dumb, the fourth was also tuberculous. What would you have done?"
"I would have terminated the pregnancy."
"Then you would have murdered Beethoven."
It is amazing how many people are bamboozled by this spectacularly stupid argument. Setting aside the simple falsehood that Ludwig van Beethoven was the fifth child in his family (he was actually the eldest), the falsehood that any of his siblings was born blind, deaf or dumb, and the falsehood that his father was syphilitic, we are left with the 'logic'.
As Peter Medawar, writing with his wife, Jean Medawar, said,
"The reasoning behind this odious little argument is breathtakingly fallacious . . . the world is no more likely to be deprived of a Beethoven by abortion than by chaste absence from intercourse."
If you follow the 'pro-life' logic to its conclusion, a fertile woman is guilty of something equivalent to murder every time she refuses an offer of copulation. Incidentally, 'pro life' always means pro human life, never animal life although an adult cow or monkey is obviously far more capable of feeling pain and fear than a human fetus. But the profoundly un-evolutionary nature of this terminology is another story and I'll set it on one side.
The sperm that conceived Tim Tebow was part of an ejaculate of (at an average estimate) 40 million. If any one of them had won the race to Mrs Tebow's ovum instead of the one that did, Tim would not have been born, somebody else would.
Probably not such a good quarterback but - we can but hope - a better logician, who might have survived the home schooling and broken free. That is not the point. The point is that every single one of us is lucky to be alive against hyper-astronomical odds. Tim Tebow owes his existence not just to his mother's refusal to have an abortion. He owes his existence to the fact that his parents had intercourse precisely when they did, not a minute sooner or later. Then before that they had to meet and decide to marry. The same is true of all four of his grandparents, all eight of his great grandparents, and so on back.
Religious apologists are unimpressed by this kind of argument because, they say, there is a distinction between snuffing out a life that is already in existence (as in abortion) and failure to bring life into existence in the first place. It's not a distinction that survives analytical thought, however. Look at it from the point of view of Tim's unborn sister (let us say), who would have been conceived two months later if only Tim had been aborted.
Admittedly, she is not in a position to complain of her non-existence. But then nor would Tim have been in a position to complain of his non-existence, if he had been aborted. You need a functioning nervous system in order to complain, or regret, or feel wistful, or feel pain, or miss the life that you could have had. Unconceived babies don't have a nervous system. Nor do aborted fetuses. As far as anything that matters is concerned, an aborted fetus has exactly the same mental and moral status as any of the countless trillions of unconceived babies. At least, that is true of early abortions, which means the vast majority.
The fact that the Tim Tebow advertisement is a load of unthought-through nonsense is no reason to ban it. That would infringe our valued principle of free speech. The best that the rest of us can do is point out, to anyone that will listen despite our lack of money to pay for such advertisements, that it is nonsense. As I have just done.
Eliz again: I just love Richard Dawkins. I would be his groupie if I did that sort of thing.
I gather that Tim Tebow is extremely good at football. That's just as well, for he certainly isn't very good at thinking. Perhaps the fact that he was home schooled by missionary parents is to blame.
The following is what passes for logic in the Tebow mind. His mother was advised by doctors to abort him, but she refused, which is why Tim is here. So abortion is a bad thing. Masterful conclusion.
It is a version of what, following the great Nobel-Prizewinning biologist Peter Medawar, I have called the Great Beethoven Fallacy.
Versions of the Great Beethoven Fallacy are attributed to various Christian apologists, and the details vary. The following is the version favoured by Norman St John Stevas, a British Conservative Member of Parliament.
One doctor to another:
"About the terminating of pregnancy, I want your opinion. The father was syphilitic. The mother tuberculous. Of the four children born, the first was blind, the second died, the third was deaf and dumb, the fourth was also tuberculous. What would you have done?"
"I would have terminated the pregnancy."
"Then you would have murdered Beethoven."
It is amazing how many people are bamboozled by this spectacularly stupid argument. Setting aside the simple falsehood that Ludwig van Beethoven was the fifth child in his family (he was actually the eldest), the falsehood that any of his siblings was born blind, deaf or dumb, and the falsehood that his father was syphilitic, we are left with the 'logic'.
As Peter Medawar, writing with his wife, Jean Medawar, said,
"The reasoning behind this odious little argument is breathtakingly fallacious . . . the world is no more likely to be deprived of a Beethoven by abortion than by chaste absence from intercourse."
If you follow the 'pro-life' logic to its conclusion, a fertile woman is guilty of something equivalent to murder every time she refuses an offer of copulation. Incidentally, 'pro life' always means pro human life, never animal life although an adult cow or monkey is obviously far more capable of feeling pain and fear than a human fetus. But the profoundly un-evolutionary nature of this terminology is another story and I'll set it on one side.
The sperm that conceived Tim Tebow was part of an ejaculate of (at an average estimate) 40 million. If any one of them had won the race to Mrs Tebow's ovum instead of the one that did, Tim would not have been born, somebody else would.
Probably not such a good quarterback but - we can but hope - a better logician, who might have survived the home schooling and broken free. That is not the point. The point is that every single one of us is lucky to be alive against hyper-astronomical odds. Tim Tebow owes his existence not just to his mother's refusal to have an abortion. He owes his existence to the fact that his parents had intercourse precisely when they did, not a minute sooner or later. Then before that they had to meet and decide to marry. The same is true of all four of his grandparents, all eight of his great grandparents, and so on back.
Religious apologists are unimpressed by this kind of argument because, they say, there is a distinction between snuffing out a life that is already in existence (as in abortion) and failure to bring life into existence in the first place. It's not a distinction that survives analytical thought, however. Look at it from the point of view of Tim's unborn sister (let us say), who would have been conceived two months later if only Tim had been aborted.
Admittedly, she is not in a position to complain of her non-existence. But then nor would Tim have been in a position to complain of his non-existence, if he had been aborted. You need a functioning nervous system in order to complain, or regret, or feel wistful, or feel pain, or miss the life that you could have had. Unconceived babies don't have a nervous system. Nor do aborted fetuses. As far as anything that matters is concerned, an aborted fetus has exactly the same mental and moral status as any of the countless trillions of unconceived babies. At least, that is true of early abortions, which means the vast majority.
The fact that the Tim Tebow advertisement is a load of unthought-through nonsense is no reason to ban it. That would infringe our valued principle of free speech. The best that the rest of us can do is point out, to anyone that will listen despite our lack of money to pay for such advertisements, that it is nonsense. As I have just done.
Eliz again: I just love Richard Dawkins. I would be his groupie if I did that sort of thing.
Exhausting rehearsals
I've had to go up to London after work for chorus rehearsals. We are doing Mahler's Second Symphony next Thursday on the Southbank at the Festival Hall. It's the most beautiful music but we have a German chorus master, and he shouts at us to get the sound he wants.
Someone coughed last night. "What is this?" he demanded. "Are we in a hospital now?"
She coughed again -- I mean, how could she control it? "This is not a hospital!" he reiterated, loudly.
Then he'll circulate among us, listening to see who is not coming in at the right beat or whose voice is standing out from someone else's. "This is a chorus! You listen to your neighbor and blend with them. This is not your individual recital."
You never know when it'll be YOU in the spotlight. I don't speak German so it's hard to memorize the whole piece we are singing but it enrages him that we need to look at our scores.
"The papers! Stop rustling the papers. Sing with your heart, not with your head!" We tried, but it's difficult. He caught someone looking at the music. "Why are you looking at your notes? I said to stop it."
Oh well, he's getting a great sound out of us so I suppose it's all worth it. I slipped out early anyway because my daughter Katie showed up at the rehearsal so I took her to dinner after. We ate at a sushi bar in Paddington Station then I caught the train home.
Another rehearsal tonight. I don't know if I'll survive it. :)
Someone coughed last night. "What is this?" he demanded. "Are we in a hospital now?"
She coughed again -- I mean, how could she control it? "This is not a hospital!" he reiterated, loudly.
Then he'll circulate among us, listening to see who is not coming in at the right beat or whose voice is standing out from someone else's. "This is a chorus! You listen to your neighbor and blend with them. This is not your individual recital."
You never know when it'll be YOU in the spotlight. I don't speak German so it's hard to memorize the whole piece we are singing but it enrages him that we need to look at our scores.
"The papers! Stop rustling the papers. Sing with your heart, not with your head!" We tried, but it's difficult. He caught someone looking at the music. "Why are you looking at your notes? I said to stop it."
Oh well, he's getting a great sound out of us so I suppose it's all worth it. I slipped out early anyway because my daughter Katie showed up at the rehearsal so I took her to dinner after. We ate at a sushi bar in Paddington Station then I caught the train home.
Another rehearsal tonight. I don't know if I'll survive it. :)
England is a cesspit?
As religious violence deepens in his home country, Nobel laureate and Nigerian political activist Wole Soyinka shares his thoughts on why England is a “cesspit”:
"England is a cesspit. England is the breeding ground of fundamentalist Muslims. Its social logic is to allow all religions to preach openly. But this is illogic, because none of the other religions preach apocalyptic violence. And yet England allows it. Remember, that country was the breeding ground for communism, too. Karl Marx did all his work in libraries there."
Why is Britain the way it is? "This is part of the character of Great Britain," Mr. Soyinka declares. "Colonialism bred an innate arrogance, but when you undertake that sort of imperial adventure, that arrogance gives way to a feeling of accommodativeness. You take pride in your openness." And so it is, he says, that Britain lets everyone preach whatever they want: It confirms a self-image of greatness.
from The Daily Beast website
"England is a cesspit. England is the breeding ground of fundamentalist Muslims. Its social logic is to allow all religions to preach openly. But this is illogic, because none of the other religions preach apocalyptic violence. And yet England allows it. Remember, that country was the breeding ground for communism, too. Karl Marx did all his work in libraries there."
Why is Britain the way it is? "This is part of the character of Great Britain," Mr. Soyinka declares. "Colonialism bred an innate arrogance, but when you undertake that sort of imperial adventure, that arrogance gives way to a feeling of accommodativeness. You take pride in your openness." And so it is, he says, that Britain lets everyone preach whatever they want: It confirms a self-image of greatness.
from The Daily Beast website
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
God, take me now
My college friend from Louisiana, Jeanne Bernard, is coming over from Paris (she's lived there for years and years) on Sunday to watch the Superbowl with us. I usually don't bother with the Superbowl but this year the New Orleans Saints are in it, so it's a Must See.
In preparation for Jeanne's visit, I went to a shop that sells American groceries. I nabbed the last two bags of Fritos and got other American treats that Jeanne and I usually never have because they aren't available in the UK.
I brought the bags home and put them on the cabinet after work. Later, I came in to see my son lying on the floor, writhing in agony. Did he need to go to the hospital? "What's wrong?" I asked, worried. He said, "God, take me now."
It turns out he'd found the Chips Ahoy bag I'd got for the Superbowl party and ate the entire thing in one sitting!
I had to laugh then. Mikey recovered within 30 minutes. Then I had to confess that I had eaten a Butterfinger candy bar on the way home from work that was also intended for the Superbowl party. I'd only meant to have one bite. This morning the crumbs from my secret eating session were still on display on the seat. I was ashamed at my lack of control
In preparation for Jeanne's visit, I went to a shop that sells American groceries. I nabbed the last two bags of Fritos and got other American treats that Jeanne and I usually never have because they aren't available in the UK.
I brought the bags home and put them on the cabinet after work. Later, I came in to see my son lying on the floor, writhing in agony. Did he need to go to the hospital? "What's wrong?" I asked, worried. He said, "God, take me now."
It turns out he'd found the Chips Ahoy bag I'd got for the Superbowl party and ate the entire thing in one sitting!
I had to laugh then. Mikey recovered within 30 minutes. Then I had to confess that I had eaten a Butterfinger candy bar on the way home from work that was also intended for the Superbowl party. I'd only meant to have one bite. This morning the crumbs from my secret eating session were still on display on the seat. I was ashamed at my lack of control
Angry people in local newspapers
Thanks to Tom Dupree in New York for sending in this gem. The website is called Angry people in local newspapers and is full of fabulous photos of stupid angry people photographed by their local newspaper.
Hum Anger
Superb first paragraph to the story:
A FRUSTRATED son chained and padlocked himself to railings outside two TV studios in protest over the government turning a deaf ear to a constant drone that is driving his elderly mother mad.
Power Cuts Anger
Bakery faces crisis over power cut
A nice bonfire ought to sort it out.
Hum Anger
Superb first paragraph to the story:
A FRUSTRATED son chained and padlocked himself to railings outside two TV studios in protest over the government turning a deaf ear to a constant drone that is driving his elderly mother mad.
Power Cuts Anger
Bakery faces crisis over power cut
A nice bonfire ought to sort it out.
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Facebook spam
I didn't know you could get spammed within Facebook by someone you don't know. I got this in my Inbox and was shocked. If any of you female readers (or even male ones; it's none of my business) are interested in following up with this guy, feel free to phone or email him - address below. (Let me know what happens though.)
Subject: Hello
"I'm Keith, 45 years was taking my time to check on profiles on here and fortunately yours caught my eye and i think it will be nice for me to make it known to you as i have been alone for about seven years now and its just like hell on earth for me. I lost my wife and ever since then I've been single and its all because i don't wanna be in the wrong arms that's why i had to stay this long. I hope this get to you in a good mood and i expect something interesting from you cos i would call myself the wittiest man with good sense of humor. I like honesty and care in a lady.But i dislike pride and lies. So my darling Angel get back to me ASAP and i will show to you more appreciation in anticipation to your reply. With all pleasure i wish you a pleasant rest of your day.My phone #: 3232478638 My email: keith_marcelo@ymail.com... I care Xx"
Subject: Hello
"I'm Keith, 45 years was taking my time to check on profiles on here and fortunately yours caught my eye and i think it will be nice for me to make it known to you as i have been alone for about seven years now and its just like hell on earth for me. I lost my wife and ever since then I've been single and its all because i don't wanna be in the wrong arms that's why i had to stay this long. I hope this get to you in a good mood and i expect something interesting from you cos i would call myself the wittiest man with good sense of humor. I like honesty and care in a lady.But i dislike pride and lies. So my darling Angel get back to me ASAP and i will show to you more appreciation in anticipation to your reply. With all pleasure i wish you a pleasant rest of your day.My phone #: 3232478638 My email: keith_marcelo@ymail.com... I care Xx"
New trend in the UK: send your kids to US colleges
I read about a new trend in the UK -- sending your kid to a US college. I can see why you might do this if you were American already but doing it as an English parent to an English kid seems odd.
American colleges are way more expensive than UK ones plus it takes four years to get a degree over there, as opposed to three here. Say you pay £3,290 a year for UK tuition -- well it's £16,900 over there. And you have to fund them for four years. A better idea, I think, is to get your kids' BA degree over here then get them on a scholarship for an MA there -- plus MA degrees can only take a year to get. So you have the cachet of an international education AND you have saved some dough.
Here's part of the article I read:
The wine is flowing at a dinner party in London. A successful baby-boomer father turns to the woman on his lefft and boasts: "Chloe's at Oxford you know." But she merely raises an eyebrow and says, "Henry's at Yale." In the silence that follows the man realizes he's missed a trick. This is the nightmare scenario propelling today's pushy parents to go one step further for their children. The bar has been raised. The best British universities no longer carry enough cachet to impress.
And another reason: "English girls find the brash Abercrombie-and-Fitch wearing American hunks alluring; the Ivy League alumni are enough to make any girl gibber." (from the Times)
Comments on this article from Facebook:
Katie Thomas
'scuse me i ain't gonna be attracted to no brash american boy just cause he an american.
Lisa Raspopovich
Dang, I'm sad it's a trend because I'm hoping Mil will want to go to uni in the states.
Martin Searle
Bye, then. Don't hurry back.
Debra Hill Frewin
Ali's already decided she wants to go to Princeton. I said, "GREAT!! start saving!!!" (so she is)
American colleges are way more expensive than UK ones plus it takes four years to get a degree over there, as opposed to three here. Say you pay £3,290 a year for UK tuition -- well it's £16,900 over there. And you have to fund them for four years. A better idea, I think, is to get your kids' BA degree over here then get them on a scholarship for an MA there -- plus MA degrees can only take a year to get. So you have the cachet of an international education AND you have saved some dough.
Here's part of the article I read:
The wine is flowing at a dinner party in London. A successful baby-boomer father turns to the woman on his lefft and boasts: "Chloe's at Oxford you know." But she merely raises an eyebrow and says, "Henry's at Yale." In the silence that follows the man realizes he's missed a trick. This is the nightmare scenario propelling today's pushy parents to go one step further for their children. The bar has been raised. The best British universities no longer carry enough cachet to impress.
And another reason: "English girls find the brash Abercrombie-and-Fitch wearing American hunks alluring; the Ivy League alumni are enough to make any girl gibber." (from the Times)
Comments on this article from Facebook:
Katie Thomas
'scuse me i ain't gonna be attracted to no brash american boy just cause he an american.
Lisa Raspopovich
Dang, I'm sad it's a trend because I'm hoping Mil will want to go to uni in the states.
Martin Searle
Bye, then. Don't hurry back.
Debra Hill Frewin
Ali's already decided she wants to go to Princeton. I said, "GREAT!! start saving!!!" (so she is)
Monday, 1 February 2010
I see why people take cake decorating classes
I wanted to decorate a cake and thought I'd make some sugar people for it. How hard could it be? I ordered some gum paste from Ebay and tonight my husband and I tried our hand at it.
It was so much harder than I thought it would be. My person looked like one of the aliens from Roswell, and Mel's attempt to make my face in gum paste came out like this:
It looks like a shrunken head. We laughed until we cried. I think I'll just order some people over the Internet instead of trying to do it myself.
PS
I just heard my Louisiana college friend, Jeanne, who lives in Paris is coming over to watch the New Orleans Saints play in the Superbowl on our TV. We'll be up until 4 am with the time difference. I have to go order some American junk food for the occasion.
It was so much harder than I thought it would be. My person looked like one of the aliens from Roswell, and Mel's attempt to make my face in gum paste came out like this:
It looks like a shrunken head. We laughed until we cried. I think I'll just order some people over the Internet instead of trying to do it myself.
PS
I just heard my Louisiana college friend, Jeanne, who lives in Paris is coming over to watch the New Orleans Saints play in the Superbowl on our TV. We'll be up until 4 am with the time difference. I have to go order some American junk food for the occasion.
Cyberbullies and Trolls; New York Times Journalist Matt Schwartz discusses online bullying and its consequences
One of our regular commenters recently left this blog in protest over some of Marty's comments. This commenter considers him a harmful troll who destroys all useful discussion on this site.
He sent me the following and asked that I post it:
In the late 1980s, Internet users adopted the word “troll” to denote someone who intentionally disrupts online communities. Early trolling was relatively innocuous, taking place inside of small, single-topic Usenet groups. The trolls employed what the M.I.T. professor Judith Donath calls a “pseudo-naïve” tactic, asking stupid questions and seeing who would rise to the bait. The game was to find out who would see through this stereotypical newbie behavior, and who would fall for it. As one guide to trolldom puts it, “If you don’t fall for the joke, you get to be in on it.”
Today the Internet is much more than esoteric discussion forums. It is a mass medium for defining who we are to ourselves and to others. Teenagers groom their MySpace profiles as intensely as their hair; escapists clock 50-hour weeks in virtual worlds, accumulating gold for their online avatars. Anyone seeking work or love can expect to be Googled. As our emotional investment in the Internet has grown, the stakes for trolling — for provoking strangers online — have risen. Trolling has evolved from ironic solo skit to vicious group hunt.
“Lulz” is how trolls keep score. A corruption of “LOL” or “laugh out loud,” “lulz” means the joy of disrupting another’s emotional equilibrium. “Lulz is watching someone lose their mind at their computer 2,000 miles away while you chat with friends and laugh,” said one ex-troll who, like many people I contacted, refused to disclose his legal identity.
Another troll explained the lulz as a quasi-thermodynamic exchange between the sensitive and the cruel: “You look for someone who is full of it, a real blowhard. Then you exploit their insecurities to get an insane amount of drama, laughs and lulz. Rules would be simple: 1. Do whatever it takes to get lulz. 2. Make sure the lulz is widely distributed. This will allow for more lulz to be made. 3. The game is never over until all the lulz have been had.”
He sent me the following and asked that I post it:
In the late 1980s, Internet users adopted the word “troll” to denote someone who intentionally disrupts online communities. Early trolling was relatively innocuous, taking place inside of small, single-topic Usenet groups. The trolls employed what the M.I.T. professor Judith Donath calls a “pseudo-naïve” tactic, asking stupid questions and seeing who would rise to the bait. The game was to find out who would see through this stereotypical newbie behavior, and who would fall for it. As one guide to trolldom puts it, “If you don’t fall for the joke, you get to be in on it.”
Today the Internet is much more than esoteric discussion forums. It is a mass medium for defining who we are to ourselves and to others. Teenagers groom their MySpace profiles as intensely as their hair; escapists clock 50-hour weeks in virtual worlds, accumulating gold for their online avatars. Anyone seeking work or love can expect to be Googled. As our emotional investment in the Internet has grown, the stakes for trolling — for provoking strangers online — have risen. Trolling has evolved from ironic solo skit to vicious group hunt.
“Lulz” is how trolls keep score. A corruption of “LOL” or “laugh out loud,” “lulz” means the joy of disrupting another’s emotional equilibrium. “Lulz is watching someone lose their mind at their computer 2,000 miles away while you chat with friends and laugh,” said one ex-troll who, like many people I contacted, refused to disclose his legal identity.
Another troll explained the lulz as a quasi-thermodynamic exchange between the sensitive and the cruel: “You look for someone who is full of it, a real blowhard. Then you exploit their insecurities to get an insane amount of drama, laughs and lulz. Rules would be simple: 1. Do whatever it takes to get lulz. 2. Make sure the lulz is widely distributed. This will allow for more lulz to be made. 3. The game is never over until all the lulz have been had.”
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