The Values of Science

Support House Bill 4110

We are currently in the process of putting up a website to support the consolidated Reproductive Health Care Act now filed in the 14th Congress. Once it’s setup, we’ll let everybody know. Please keep yourself informed by reading the bill yourself first-hand and maybe you can write your congressman to express your support for this very important but still pending legislation.

The Greatest Show on Earth

And so the 2008 Beijing Olympics finally begins with the Opening Ceremony! And what a spectacular show! To those that missed it, I highly recommend that you watch it on Youtube, TV replays, or any other way you get your hands on it.

The whole show was an attempt to distill 5,000 years of Chinese culture and civilization into a couple of hours, and I must say it was superb! The start was exhilirating as 2008 drummers performed the countdown with lighted Fou drums, followed by a splendid fireworks display, one part showing huge pyrotechnic footprints making their way to the Bird's Nest.

The show encompasses diverse themes including world peace, global harmony, environmental awareness, and science and technology. And who could forget Li Ning's astounding aerial run in the lighting of the Olympic Torch? It made me very, VERY proud to be Chinese.

One thing's for sure, the organizers for the 2012 London Olympics have their work cut out for them.

Here Be Dragons

Brian Dunning, host of the skeptical podcast Skeptoid, has produced a well-made and well thought out movie, a sort of primer on skepticism. It's entitled Here be Dragons. You can download it for free at the website or you can view it on YouTube.

It lays out skepticism and what it's all about in easy to understand terms. Whether you're an atheist or not, it's a good movie to watch to learn more about critical thinking, and how it can help us in a world full of snake oil salesmen and pseudoscience.

Religion, Tolerance, and Respect

Blogger PZ Myers has been getting a lot of flak lately from the religious and religious apologists for stating that he wants to "disrespect a cracker".

I'll repeat what he said: "IT'S A FRACKING CRACKER!!!"

Yes catholics, it's really just a cracker. It's not REALLY the body of your savior. How can it be? Do you really eat Jesus everytime you have communion? And that grape juice you're drinking, no it's not his blood either. If you really, really, REALLY believe it's Jesus flesh and blood you're eating and drinking, then DAMN, you're a cannibalistic vampire!

PZ's mailbox has gotten overloaded with hate mail from christians, some just wanting to pray for him, but most want him fired, or worse, want him dead! Some are even threatening harm to his family! WOW! How's that for a religion that supposedly teaches peace, love, and harmony? The Islamic Fundies don't sound that bad after all!

If you want your beliefs to be tolerated and respected, then first, you yourself must learn to tolerate others' beliefs (or non-beliefs). Second, you must show that your religion is actually worthy of that respect you demand.

The problem is, most religious sermons are highly intolerant and outright disrespectful of others who do not believe the same. Is saying "those who do not believe in our god are going to burn in hell!" or "There can be no morality without god" more tolerant and respectful than someone taking home a cracker? If you're willing to criticize others for their non-belief, then be prepared to accept criticism of yours.

The problem is poverty, not population???

Say again Mr. Pabillo? Population is not the problem? How do you propose to eradicate poverty if the population keeps rising at the current rate? Where will you get the jobs? How will you provide education? Has it ever occurred to you that MAYBE, too many children, especially those that are not planned for, can be a burden, both financially and emotionally?

Of course, for a priest who cannot have children (yeah right), you don't really know what it's like. Your pope is being hailed as the "Green Pope", someone who says that good catholics should try their best to preserve the Earth. How are you helping by shifting the blame away from overpopulation?

How about asking your big bosses to release the massive amount of money they have to REALLY help the poor, instead of lavishing it on themselves? How about building homes for these people instead of building grand churches? How about giving them jobs instead of throwing pennies at them?

Instead of yapping about your dogma, why not propose REAL solutions? I think the most glaring fact here is that the Church is part of the problem. Please Mr. Pabillo, stop embarassing yourself and your business associates.

Catholic Church Blackmailing Politicians

Here we go again, this time, they're getting bolder. Recently, the Catholic Church has threatened to forbid giving the holy communion to politicians who will support the reproductive health bill. Some are even going so far as to say that refusing communion to them would be an act of love. Yes, just like baptizing the Aztecs before killing them was an act of love. right?

If any of you are concerned at all about the welfare of our country and it's people, please, write your local representative and tell them they NEED to support this bill, regardless of what some men in goofy robes tell them. They have no other argument except for their particular interpretation of a cherry-picked statement from their holy book. These men are NOT their god.