Thursday, June 27, 2002
Proof There's No God
Take your tongue, stick it in the side of your cheek ...
1. The WHO to Evaluate Deep-Frying Cancer Link ... so much for the chip truck *sigh*. If gawd existed, french fries would be a diet food.
2. This is the last week for Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. Tonight after midnight is the last show on the date of this post.
3. Golf ... nuff said. But then perhaps there is a gawd because he's preventing me from playing tonight with this thunder storm we're getting ... argh!
Take your tongue, stick it in the side of your cheek ...
1. The WHO to Evaluate Deep-Frying Cancer Link ... so much for the chip truck *sigh*. If gawd existed, french fries would be a diet food.
2. This is the last week for Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. Tonight after midnight is the last show on the date of this post.
3. Golf ... nuff said. But then perhaps there is a gawd because he's preventing me from playing tonight with this thunder storm we're getting ... argh!
Sunday, June 16, 2002
Creationists Claim Evolution Research for Themselves
Creationists are latching on to Canadian research reads the story in today's newspaper. Seems some enterprising anti-evolution folk in the U.S. are using research on the evolution of bacteria to indicate that Darwin is wrong. The work being used shows that bacteria don't just inherit characteristics from their parents but also from other bacteria. Groups such as The Discovery Institute are then pointing to this research as if to indicate that if this part of evolution isn't what was expected then the whole theory is wrong. The scientists whose research papers are being used in such a fashion of course disagree with the argument but that's secondary to the creationist's agenda as to be exepcted.
What I did find even more shocking is a little item in the article that says that over a dozen U.S. States avoid teaching evolution altogether or teach their students that the theory isn't widely accepted as true. I find this appalling and it's actually one of the reasons I've become more actively ummm, let's say open in my religious views. When Ontario caved to this creationists' lobbying and wanted to teach Creationism as a valid science I was very angry. Anyway, perhaps that's an entry for another day.
Creationists are latching on to Canadian research reads the story in today's newspaper. Seems some enterprising anti-evolution folk in the U.S. are using research on the evolution of bacteria to indicate that Darwin is wrong. The work being used shows that bacteria don't just inherit characteristics from their parents but also from other bacteria. Groups such as The Discovery Institute are then pointing to this research as if to indicate that if this part of evolution isn't what was expected then the whole theory is wrong. The scientists whose research papers are being used in such a fashion of course disagree with the argument but that's secondary to the creationist's agenda as to be exepcted.
What I did find even more shocking is a little item in the article that says that over a dozen U.S. States avoid teaching evolution altogether or teach their students that the theory isn't widely accepted as true. I find this appalling and it's actually one of the reasons I've become more actively ummm, let's say open in my religious views. When Ontario caved to this creationists' lobbying and wanted to teach Creationism as a valid science I was very angry. Anyway, perhaps that's an entry for another day.
Sunday, June 09, 2002
Crossing Over
So, can a former ballroom dancer turned psychic really communicate with the dead? Well, if you watch Crossing Over with John Edward you'd certainly think well, ummmm, mayber, sure, it's so real. So how do John, or hell, how do anyofem do it anyway? Well, it's a time honored tradition to prey on the emotions of greiving people and alot of it has to do with the psychology of belief. Now does anyone honestly believe that the dead are seeking out Mr. Edward to pass along message to their loved ones? Well, yeah, apparently there's all kinds of people who do or at least have an aching desire to believe.
So again, how does a so called meduim communicate with the dead and be so accurate. If you believe your horoscope then you'll believe anything eh. There are 3 main methods of devining the dead. The first is called "Cold Reading" and this is where the psychic isn't so much doing the reading as the subject is. You ask alot of general questions and see which ones stick ... something like ... I see grief, is it a parent, perhaps a child, someone close though ... Then they can get into how they died with general questions about the head or chest and it's quite mathematical from there ... ie... there's really only so many ways a person can die and 99% of them are pretty common. Method number 2 is "Warm Reading" where they utilize known psychology. Things like where people usually have tendency to keep a picture of a luved one in their wallets or will wear a piece of jewellery from the deceased. They will ask to perhaps have the ring of the deceased (that was obviously hanging on a chain around the subjects neck) and of course the subject is amazed as if the psychic knew it specifically. The last method is a "Hot Reading" where information is obtained on the subject ahead of time. This is much more common on tv of course. Sounds simple enough eh.. Of course it takes loads of practice. There are many more ethical individuals who'll perform the trick for you and then tell you exactly how they did it.
I've mentioned the Amazing James Randi here before. His JREF foundation offers anyone 1 million dollars to anyone in the world whom can demonstrate any psychic or paranormal ability under proper observing conditions. The prize has yet to be claimed ...
So, can a former ballroom dancer turned psychic really communicate with the dead? Well, if you watch Crossing Over with John Edward you'd certainly think well, ummmm, mayber, sure, it's so real. So how do John, or hell, how do anyofem do it anyway? Well, it's a time honored tradition to prey on the emotions of greiving people and alot of it has to do with the psychology of belief. Now does anyone honestly believe that the dead are seeking out Mr. Edward to pass along message to their loved ones? Well, yeah, apparently there's all kinds of people who do or at least have an aching desire to believe.
So again, how does a so called meduim communicate with the dead and be so accurate. If you believe your horoscope then you'll believe anything eh. There are 3 main methods of devining the dead. The first is called "Cold Reading" and this is where the psychic isn't so much doing the reading as the subject is. You ask alot of general questions and see which ones stick ... something like ... I see grief, is it a parent, perhaps a child, someone close though ... Then they can get into how they died with general questions about the head or chest and it's quite mathematical from there ... ie... there's really only so many ways a person can die and 99% of them are pretty common. Method number 2 is "Warm Reading" where they utilize known psychology. Things like where people usually have tendency to keep a picture of a luved one in their wallets or will wear a piece of jewellery from the deceased. They will ask to perhaps have the ring of the deceased (that was obviously hanging on a chain around the subjects neck) and of course the subject is amazed as if the psychic knew it specifically. The last method is a "Hot Reading" where information is obtained on the subject ahead of time. This is much more common on tv of course. Sounds simple enough eh.. Of course it takes loads of practice. There are many more ethical individuals who'll perform the trick for you and then tell you exactly how they did it.
I've mentioned the Amazing James Randi here before. His JREF foundation offers anyone 1 million dollars to anyone in the world whom can demonstrate any psychic or paranormal ability under proper observing conditions. The prize has yet to be claimed ...
Saturday, June 01, 2002
A Nuclear War
Indian and Pakistan inch closer to war this weekend with a chance at a nuclear exchange as both possess nuclear weapons. Both are historical enemies but it's only in recent history that some have managed to turn this into a religous war. India accuses Pakistan of subversely supporting Islamic millitant groups whom have pressed for either a break away to join with Pakistan or outright independence. Of course one of their favorite ploys is terrorism. Pakastani President Pervez Musharraf had pledged apres Sept 11th to do all he could to stop the influx of extremists into India from Pakistan but much like Arafat it's not really known if he has any control. Now over 1 million troops stand against one another at the border ready to go. Ahhhh, ain't Allah nice eh ...
Indian and Pakistan inch closer to war this weekend with a chance at a nuclear exchange as both possess nuclear weapons. Both are historical enemies but it's only in recent history that some have managed to turn this into a religous war. India accuses Pakistan of subversely supporting Islamic millitant groups whom have pressed for either a break away to join with Pakistan or outright independence. Of course one of their favorite ploys is terrorism. Pakastani President Pervez Musharraf had pledged apres Sept 11th to do all he could to stop the influx of extremists into India from Pakistan but much like Arafat it's not really known if he has any control. Now over 1 million troops stand against one another at the border ready to go. Ahhhh, ain't Allah nice eh ...
