Hyperdrive Nears Completion
That's a bit misleading, but scientists at AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) have awarded their yearly prize to a paper that presents a novel approach to creating a working hypdrive. The theory is based on the theoretical physics of Burkhard Heim, which sought to reconcile the rift between quanta mechanics and Einstein's General Theory. Read about this here, in New Scientist. A ship powered by this hyperdrive could make a trip to Mars and back in 5 hours. The stars are within reach.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
South Dakota Outlaws Abortion
In today's Washington Post, Chet Brokaw reports that South Dakota has sent a bill to the governor that, if signed, will directly challenge the legal standing of Roe V. Wade. The new law makes exceptions only when the mother's life is threatened. That means in cases of incest or rape, it would be a felony for a doctor to perform the abortion. This also means that if a woman became pregnant through rape, the rapist would have the same parental rights as the mother. Despite that inconceivably horrible prospect, South Dakotas are tripping over their dicks to outlaw abortion.
Here's a question: how much has the SD legislature done to make sure people don't get pregnant who don't want to be pregnant? How many of the 800 abortions performed at the only clinic in SD are the result of teenage women not getting birth control? Don't forget that Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retailer, has pharmacies that refuse to fill birth control prescriptions.
The argument would seem to center solely on how awful an option abortion is (and it is awful, make no mistake) but with a little foresight one can easily see where the right wing is going with this.
What really annoys me is that both sides of the political aisle should be focused on preventing unwanted pregnancies: that's a no-brainer. The GOP would have you believe that for every pregnant woman out there, a would-be mom and pop are eagerly waiting for that baby. The sad fact is, it's simply not true, if you are anything other than white. The fact is that many of the pregnancies are not just Janie Cheerleader and Joe Quarterback who got too carried away in the back of a car.
If that were the case, I'd argue that they should probably have the baby. There are times when a choice becomes the defining characteristic of your being; the merry-go-round of life suddenly stops and you have made your choice although you might be realizing it a little after the fact. The other part of the equation which never seems to get any play, is what about life from the perspective of the baby? There are millions of adopted children in America, but don't forget that one day those millions of children might want to know about the circumstances surrounding their conception, and who among us would relish the revelation that your mom was raped? How would you like to know that if you ever have a child yourself, you would be passing on rapist DNA?
Just a thought.
I wish the entire abortion debate was made fair and level.
First step: give everyone mandatory access to birth control. The rightwing nutjobs can shit themselves over the idea that this condones sex, but whether it does or not, it also prevents pregnancies. To assume that teens are not fucking is just ridiculous. This is biology, millions of years of evolution (that the wingnuts don't believe in) are responsible for the irresistible procreative urge. You can still tell your kid all about abstinence, but to be on the safe side, hand out jimmy protectors to all kids in junior high. They can throw them away if they want, but isn't it worth it, you fucking hypocrites, if this plan saves at least one of your little innocent fetuses?
Second step: of course notify the parents if anyone under 18 tries to get an abortion. This is a clear sign that your child has gotten out of control and since they are, in fact, minors, this is the first part of a remedy. Both sides, parent and child, need a wake up call if there is an unwanted pregnancy and the parents should be given the chance to counsel their child and see if they can come up with a plan together. If not, we move on to:
Step three: offer pregnant women who don't want the baby financial incentive to carry the baby to term and put the baby up for adoption. These financial incentives will come directly from the RNC 's coffers. They will have to put up, or shut the fuck up. Too often the GOP in their religious camouflage wants to tell us all how to live, but they don't seem to grasp the concept of funding their fucked up plans. Well, now they have to.
Fourth step: financial incentives in the form of "baby grants" will be given to unwed pregnant women who wish to carry their babies to term but have no means of support. Instead of allowing another generation of babies born into abject poverty, the GOP will again have to put their money where their big fat bigoted mouths are. In the few cases after that which result in abortion, we can say that our system has failed. But an imperfect system is better than an unjust law, or a way of life that breeds the next generation of criminals and further stacks the odds against a brand new life.
In today's Washington Post, Chet Brokaw reports that South Dakota has sent a bill to the governor that, if signed, will directly challenge the legal standing of Roe V. Wade. The new law makes exceptions only when the mother's life is threatened. That means in cases of incest or rape, it would be a felony for a doctor to perform the abortion. This also means that if a woman became pregnant through rape, the rapist would have the same parental rights as the mother. Despite that inconceivably horrible prospect, South Dakotas are tripping over their dicks to outlaw abortion.
Here's a question: how much has the SD legislature done to make sure people don't get pregnant who don't want to be pregnant? How many of the 800 abortions performed at the only clinic in SD are the result of teenage women not getting birth control? Don't forget that Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retailer, has pharmacies that refuse to fill birth control prescriptions.
The argument would seem to center solely on how awful an option abortion is (and it is awful, make no mistake) but with a little foresight one can easily see where the right wing is going with this.
What really annoys me is that both sides of the political aisle should be focused on preventing unwanted pregnancies: that's a no-brainer. The GOP would have you believe that for every pregnant woman out there, a would-be mom and pop are eagerly waiting for that baby. The sad fact is, it's simply not true, if you are anything other than white. The fact is that many of the pregnancies are not just Janie Cheerleader and Joe Quarterback who got too carried away in the back of a car.
If that were the case, I'd argue that they should probably have the baby. There are times when a choice becomes the defining characteristic of your being; the merry-go-round of life suddenly stops and you have made your choice although you might be realizing it a little after the fact. The other part of the equation which never seems to get any play, is what about life from the perspective of the baby? There are millions of adopted children in America, but don't forget that one day those millions of children might want to know about the circumstances surrounding their conception, and who among us would relish the revelation that your mom was raped? How would you like to know that if you ever have a child yourself, you would be passing on rapist DNA?
Just a thought.
I wish the entire abortion debate was made fair and level.
First step: give everyone mandatory access to birth control. The rightwing nutjobs can shit themselves over the idea that this condones sex, but whether it does or not, it also prevents pregnancies. To assume that teens are not fucking is just ridiculous. This is biology, millions of years of evolution (that the wingnuts don't believe in) are responsible for the irresistible procreative urge. You can still tell your kid all about abstinence, but to be on the safe side, hand out jimmy protectors to all kids in junior high. They can throw them away if they want, but isn't it worth it, you fucking hypocrites, if this plan saves at least one of your little innocent fetuses?
Second step: of course notify the parents if anyone under 18 tries to get an abortion. This is a clear sign that your child has gotten out of control and since they are, in fact, minors, this is the first part of a remedy. Both sides, parent and child, need a wake up call if there is an unwanted pregnancy and the parents should be given the chance to counsel their child and see if they can come up with a plan together. If not, we move on to:
Step three: offer pregnant women who don't want the baby financial incentive to carry the baby to term and put the baby up for adoption. These financial incentives will come directly from the RNC 's coffers. They will have to put up, or shut the fuck up. Too often the GOP in their religious camouflage wants to tell us all how to live, but they don't seem to grasp the concept of funding their fucked up plans. Well, now they have to.
Fourth step: financial incentives in the form of "baby grants" will be given to unwed pregnant women who wish to carry their babies to term but have no means of support. Instead of allowing another generation of babies born into abject poverty, the GOP will again have to put their money where their big fat bigoted mouths are. In the few cases after that which result in abortion, we can say that our system has failed. But an imperfect system is better than an unjust law, or a way of life that breeds the next generation of criminals and further stacks the odds against a brand new life.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Iraq Civil War
Iraq inched closer to all-out civil war this week. This moment had been predicted by military strategists even prior to the invasion, but the Bush people somehow thought the sun would always shine out of their asses. Recent attacks on a 1200 year-old mosque and more than 60 reprisal attacks, means Iraq is just about ready to full embrance the destruction of whatever is still standing over there. Read this story, in Forbes, here.
Iraq inched closer to all-out civil war this week. This moment had been predicted by military strategists even prior to the invasion, but the Bush people somehow thought the sun would always shine out of their asses. Recent attacks on a 1200 year-old mosque and more than 60 reprisal attacks, means Iraq is just about ready to full embrance the destruction of whatever is still standing over there. Read this story, in Forbes, here.
Monday, February 20, 2006
The Cartoons Of Death
Iran has finally tried to quell the rioting it fomented over the Danish cartoons depicting Islam in a less than slavishly obedient light. The ballsy thing, the right thing, to have done is for all the major dailies of every city in the world to have run those cartoons on their front pages. Show the nutters rioting in the streets that they really are up against quite a lot of people who are not going to go along with their bullshit. But of course, the major dailies did no such thing and waxed long on being sensitive to the rioters' beliefs. Another chance missed due to cowardice.
Iran has finally tried to quell the rioting it fomented over the Danish cartoons depicting Islam in a less than slavishly obedient light. The ballsy thing, the right thing, to have done is for all the major dailies of every city in the world to have run those cartoons on their front pages. Show the nutters rioting in the streets that they really are up against quite a lot of people who are not going to go along with their bullshit. But of course, the major dailies did no such thing and waxed long on being sensitive to the rioters' beliefs. Another chance missed due to cowardice.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Cheney's Approval Ratings Soars At The Bunker
As everyone in Christendom knows by now, Cheney shot his pal Whittington in the face with a shotgun while they were in Texas hunting birds from their trucks. Cheney's approval rating has been proudly at 29 per cent for awhile, but if you would have asked us, we would have given him around a 3. Why you ask? Typically, Cheney's approval rating at the Bunker is down near 1, but by shooting a Republican lawyer in the face (and missing the bird), his rating skyrockets up to 3. That's a 300% increase, for you spin doctors out there.
The Olympics
Anyone know how to get involved with bobsledding? That sport looks so awesome. They get up over 80 mph on those tracks and it must be incredibly thrilling. For me, the Olympic Games give me some faint hope that all these athletes bumping into each other in Olympic Village are going to cross pollinate and create offspring that are not xenophobic. I hope that some ice dancing Ukrainian woman bags off with Bode Miller and they raise some ambassadors that will help get us back on track. The Olympics also make me proud for the achievements of the athletes and one can enjoy rooting for one's country without any other considerations. It's not about the war or Bush or anything but cheering on your country. Go USA! All you who are watching "American Idol" instead of the Olympics, well, you're On Notice!
As everyone in Christendom knows by now, Cheney shot his pal Whittington in the face with a shotgun while they were in Texas hunting birds from their trucks. Cheney's approval rating has been proudly at 29 per cent for awhile, but if you would have asked us, we would have given him around a 3. Why you ask? Typically, Cheney's approval rating at the Bunker is down near 1, but by shooting a Republican lawyer in the face (and missing the bird), his rating skyrockets up to 3. That's a 300% increase, for you spin doctors out there.
The Olympics
Anyone know how to get involved with bobsledding? That sport looks so awesome. They get up over 80 mph on those tracks and it must be incredibly thrilling. For me, the Olympic Games give me some faint hope that all these athletes bumping into each other in Olympic Village are going to cross pollinate and create offspring that are not xenophobic. I hope that some ice dancing Ukrainian woman bags off with Bode Miller and they raise some ambassadors that will help get us back on track. The Olympics also make me proud for the achievements of the athletes and one can enjoy rooting for one's country without any other considerations. It's not about the war or Bush or anything but cheering on your country. Go USA! All you who are watching "American Idol" instead of the Olympics, well, you're On Notice!