Courtesy Richard Dawkins: http://richarddawkins.net

Found on the Union of Concerned Scientists site on this page

From the too true to be good department again.

We Have Enough Humans, Thanks.

On to the topic, when I had my vasectomy at 38, I knew I was not alone. However, I didn’t realize I was part of a movement. In fact, at that time, I probably hadn’t even heard of the good folks at the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement. I did find though that with zero kids, even in New York City and even at age 38, some doctors gave me hassles about wanting a vasectomy. I suggested to one that he counsel people that having a child is permanent, at least in most cases.

The doctor I went with did mention that he had a significant percentage come back for reversal, which is a more costly and difficult operation, not to mention is not guaranteed to work. He made sure to tell me not to come back to him if I changed my mind.

I haven’t had any regrets yet.

In fact, as I question where the world is going and why it is in this giant hand-basket, I am more glad than ever that it won’t be my kids dealing with the coming hell.

Oh, and if you still want to breed after this, please first take this very important intelligence test to see how well you do.

http://vhemt.org/biobreed.htm#intelltest

Just kidding. If you still want to breed, at least now it will likely be a conscious choice. That should help a bit.

Click for larger image

BTW, for anyone who thinks the founders based our government on Christianity, or any sect of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic religion, please read the Ten Commandments. Then read the Bill of Rights. Which one gives more freedom and liberty? Which is the better decalog? I know my answer.

Let’s just look at the way the party gets whatever they want whether they are in power or not and how they get into power at all.

First take a look at this unconscionable and despicable strategy to take the 2012 presidential election by redistricting a key state. Shockingly, this is actually perfectly legal and constitutional.

The GOP’s Genius Plan to Beat Obama in 2012

When will we get rid of the electoral college?

Then, if that isn’t enough to convince you, take a look at how people elected to office to serve the people deliberately do the worst possible job in order to make people hate government so that they can then claim government is the problem. Of course it is.

The Republicans deliberately made it so!

Goodbye to All That: Reflections of a GOP Operative Who Left the Cult

Why is anyone still voting for this party? Especially, why is anyone who isn’t a multi-billionaire raping and destroying the planet for their own short-term gain voting Republican? Is it because Jesus loves nukes? I doubt it. So, why?

‘Jesus loves nukes’: US Air Force taught the Christian Just War Theory

Note that at least one top Air Force official reacted appropriately to learning about the ‘Jesus loves nukes’ training. But, even so, don’t miss that at least one repugnican senator seems upset that we are no longer teaching that Jesus loves nukes.

Top Air Force Official Issues Religious Neutrality Policy in Wake of Truthout’s “Jesus Loves Nukes” Exposé

The decison angered Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) who fired off an angry letter to Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley criticizing the move and demanding Donley provide him with a report detailing “actions taken” by the Air Force that led to the suspension of the ethics training.

Really Senator Cornyn? Are you fucking kidding me? You really believe that Jesus loves nukes and want this view taught as part of a military education?

Who would Jesus nuke?

I really would like to know. If you plan to vote republican in 2012, why? Do you still believe that the unbridled capitalism that led to the collapse of the global economy is a good idea? Do you still believe in trickle down voodoo reaganomics? Do you just hate everyone who isn’t Christian? Do you think that regardless of which Christian sect gets into power, you’ll be better off? Do you not realize that there are differences in the Christian sects, some who engage in cannibalism (Jesus said “eat me”, or some such) and some who do not, some who engage in idol worship and some who do not, some who accept homosexual marriage and some who do not, some who accept birth control and abortion and some who do not, some who allow women to be priests or ministers and some who do not, some who use the cross as their symbol and some who see it as the murder weapon of Christ and will not use it?

Regardless of which of these beliefs you hold dear, when one sect of Christianity does get into power, if it is not your own, you will be forced to change your beliefs or die as surely as I will.

Will you not vote instead for compassion and freedom?

I know the democraps have their problems too. Certainly they have been ignoring their constituency of late. But, at least they are not the well-organized thugs taking over the government by deception, trickery, subversion, and bullying.

It is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties. We hold this prudent jealousy to be the first duty of Citizens, and one of the noblest characteristics of the late Revolution. The free men of America did not wait till usurped power had strengthened itself by exercise, and entangled the question in precedents. They saw all the consequences in the principle, and they avoided the consequences by denying the principle. We revere this lesson too much soon to forget it. Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other Religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other Sects? that the same authority which can force a citizen to contribute three pence only of his property for the support of any one establishment, may force him to conform to any other establishment in all cases whatsoever?

– President James Madison, Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments (1785)

This quote alone should explain why the cross is unconstitutional and why it should be opposed even by Christians. Remember, as Madison points out, if one sect of Christianity is established, all others will suffer. And, given the great many sects of Christianity, the likelihood that your particular flavor (if you are Christian) will be selected is very small. And, the differences in the sects can be significant. Some engage in ritual mock cannibalism; some do not. Some worship graven images; some do not. One notable flavor of Christianity is opposed to using the cross as the symbol of Christianity because it is the murder weapon of Christ. They’re right too, on that subject at least. Some flavors of Christianity do not allow medical care of any kind. Some do not allow abortion or contraception. Some are fine with both. Some churches are even fine with homosexuality.

On most of these issues, if you are a Christian, you likely have a strong opinion. What if your sect is not chosen as The One?

This is why even Christians should oppose this obvious endorsement of Christianity as the national religion in our once-secular nation. For any non-Christians, the reasons should be blatantly obvious.

Anyway, here’s the link to a far better post than mine. You won’t burn in hell just for reading it.

The WTC Cross: Why The Lawsuit Needed To Be Filed

I only learned recently that the industry standard level of accuracy for blood glucose meters is to be within 20% of lab results. I learned this after a doctor’s visit where I tested my blood glucose (BG) via my home blood glucose meter within a minute of my blood being drawn for lab work. I noted my BG as 82 and thought, good, right on target.

Anyway, this time, I was careful to check very close to the time that the blood was drawn and equally careful to note that particular reading. Again, my meter said 82.

My lab result was 69! This is a difference of just under 19% (((82 – 69) / 69) * 100) = 18.84%, though perhaps I should just round to 19 since I don’t really have that level of precision in the actual readings.

I was very upset by this, and not just because my doctor warned me about low blood sugars.

If my meter is consistently 19% higher than my actual lab results would be, then it is affecting my tight control of my diabetes. After all, at 82, I do nothing and am happy to be in my target range. At 69, I’d probably have a snack or at the very least suspend my basal rate for an hour, more likely the former.

So, I called the manufacturer (Abbott) and was told that the industry standard level of accuracy is within 20%. I have since told them repeatedly that I do not care about the industry standard, only about my diabetes care. I have recommended that they go against the standard, pick a tighter standard, e.g. 5 or 10 percent and then advertise that their meter is more accurate than the competition.

I believe this would be a huge selling point. Do you agree? Please vote below.

Do you have a brand of meter that you believe is more accurate than 20%? If so, please let me know which one below. Mine is a Freestyle Flash. They have already sent me a replacement Freestyle Lite. Depending on whether I use the test strips that came with it (about 15% higher than my old too high meter) or the extra strips they sent along with it (generally within about 5% of my current meter), I get very different results. I don’t know if I can trust this through multiple batches of test strips over a period of years. I had hoped that when I called back and told them about the batch that came with the meter they would tell me that those strips were recalled. No such luck!

On the up side, this is the only meter I can find that will operate at 40 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning that I don’t need to wait half an hour in a ski lodge for the meter to warm up sufficiently to do a reading. I like the meter a lot … or would if I could get more accurate results out of it.

Anyone know of a better meter? Have you tested it along side your lab tests? How close was it?

Thanks for any input.

Silicon Valley billionaire funding creation of artificial libertarian islands

Just goes to show that most of today’s self-proclaimed libertarians are most definitely not libertarians.

<aside>
Ditto for the Tea Party, but for different reasons. They are not libertarians. They are anarchists. Abolishing all levels of government is not libertarianism. It is anarchy.

Further, if they want to shrink government, long before they get to the chump change of abolishing public education and NASA, they should abolish the $3 trillion in spending on the 3 wars we don’t need to be in.
</aside>

I have no problem with libertarians of like mind with Robert A. Heinlein. I don’t agree with the late Mr. Heinlein’s views. But, they are views I can respect. This idiot creating islands and the tea baggers are people whose views are so self-inconsistent that I can’t even begin to give them even a modicum of respect.

As Jon Stewart said, “we still have traffic lights.” And, some of us would like to keep it that way.

The narration is the text of an op ed piece in the Wasthington Post by Bill McKibben. No need to read the text since it’s all in the video with powerful imagery added. Kudos to Stephen Thomson of Plomomedia.com for a great job making this into a powerful video.

7 Electric Cars Over 100 Years Old

So:

• 1891 – 50 mile range, better than Chevy Volt’s pure electric range
• 1901 – 57 MPH
• 1902 – fully electric bus
• 1906 – regenerative braking, like my 2011 prius
• 1909 – 100 miles on a charge

Now, I must ask, what the hell happened?

Imagine where we’d be today if this technology continued to be used and improved upon at the normal rate. I doubt anyone would be driving gasoline vehicles.

And, remember, even if all of our electric grid were powered by coal, a nationwide fleet of electric vehicles would still produce one third less CO2 overall than petroleum powered vehicles. The electric motor is about 80% efficient. This is far better than gasoline at 35% or so and even diesel which is a bit higher.