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Just in case anyone had forgotten that the Chinese government is utterly evil:
China Presses Hush Money on Grieving Parents
They even beat a pregnant woman for protesting! Yet George W. Bush and the world community continue to grovel to them. What's even more ironic is that according to a report I heard on NPR this morning, the vast majority of Chinese citizens believe that the world generally holds China in high regard and admiration.
In fact, of course, world opinion is quite the reverse. Why do so many people in China have a completely distorted understanding of world opinion? Because their government controls the media, of course!
I'm tempted to draw a parallel with the many American idiots who were so sure that Saddam had been responsible for 9-11.
Sorry, I'm sure almost everybody knows about all this. It's just that I'm feeling particularly outraged this morning.
China Presses Hush Money on Grieving Parents
They even beat a pregnant woman for protesting! Yet George W. Bush and the world community continue to grovel to them. What's even more ironic is that according to a report I heard on NPR this morning, the vast majority of Chinese citizens believe that the world generally holds China in high regard and admiration.
In fact, of course, world opinion is quite the reverse. Why do so many people in China have a completely distorted understanding of world opinion? Because their government controls the media, of course!
I'm tempted to draw a parallel with the many American idiots who were so sure that Saddam had been responsible for 9-11.
Sorry, I'm sure almost everybody knows about all this. It's just that I'm feeling particularly outraged this morning.
Just in case anyone had forgotten that the Chinese government is utterly evil:
China Presses Hush Money on Grieving Parents
They even beat a pregnant woman for protesting! Yet George W. Bush and the world community continue to grovel to them. What's even more ironic is that according to a report I heard on NPR this morning, the vast majority of Chinese citizens believe that the world generally holds China in high regard and admiration.
In fact, of course, world opinion is quite the reverse. Why do so many people in China have a completely distorted understanding of world opinion? Because their government controls the media, of course!
I'm tempted to draw a parallel with the many American idiots who were so sure that Saddam had been responsible for 9-11.
Sorry, I'm sure almost everybody knows about all this. It's just that I'm feeling particularly outraged this morning.
China Presses Hush Money on Grieving Parents
They even beat a pregnant woman for protesting! Yet George W. Bush and the world community continue to grovel to them. What's even more ironic is that according to a report I heard on NPR this morning, the vast majority of Chinese citizens believe that the world generally holds China in high regard and admiration.
In fact, of course, world opinion is quite the reverse. Why do so many people in China have a completely distorted understanding of world opinion? Because their government controls the media, of course!
I'm tempted to draw a parallel with the many American idiots who were so sure that Saddam had been responsible for 9-11.
Sorry, I'm sure almost everybody knows about all this. It's just that I'm feeling particularly outraged this morning.
Monkey and Giraffe
Jul. 7th, 2008 11:12 pmWe were up in Maine for the 4th of July, as I noted in a recent phone post. My folks have a lot of magazines up there, particularly The New Yorker. I bought around 25 books from the used book store, but I still spent some time reading magazines. And I ran across an extremely funny piece in The New Yorker. I'd read it the year before, and laughed a lot; I don't want to forget it again.
If you haven't read it, you should.
My Nature Documentary by Jack Handey
If you haven't read it, you should.
My Nature Documentary by Jack Handey
Monkey and Giraffe
Jul. 7th, 2008 11:12 pmWe were up in Maine for the 4th of July, as I noted in a recent phone post. My folks have a lot of magazines up there, particularly The New Yorker. I bought around 25 books from the used book store, but I still spent some time reading magazines. And I ran across an extremely funny piece in The New Yorker. I'd read it the year before, and laughed a lot; I don't want to forget it again.
If you haven't read it, you should.
My Nature Documentary by Jack Handey
If you haven't read it, you should.
My Nature Documentary by Jack Handey
The Great Explosion
May. 20th, 2008 10:28 amA quick gift for my flist: I just found the complete text of Eric Frank Russell's wonderful short novel The Great Explosion online. Enjoy!
The Great Explosion
May. 20th, 2008 10:28 amA quick gift for my flist: I just found the complete text of Eric Frank Russell's wonderful short novel The Great Explosion online. Enjoy!
The World Is Too Weird
Apr. 16th, 2008 10:19 amEver heard of "fainting goats"?
I'd never heard of them before this morning, when I read a comment that the media was acting like fainting goats over Obama's "bitter" comment. It was such an odd phrase that I had to look it up.
When startled, these small goats basically faint and fall down. The thing that kills me is this line from the wikipedia article:
For some reason that thought makes me sad.
I'd never heard of them before this morning, when I read a comment that the media was acting like fainting goats over Obama's "bitter" comment. It was such an odd phrase that I had to look it up.
When startled, these small goats basically faint and fall down. The thing that kills me is this line from the wikipedia article:
In the past they were used for protecting livestock such as sheep by involuntarily "sacrificing themselves" to predators, allowing the sheep to escape.
For some reason that thought makes me sad.
The World Is Too Weird
Apr. 16th, 2008 10:19 amEver heard of "fainting goats"?
I'd never heard of them before this morning, when I read a comment that the media was acting like fainting goats over Obama's "bitter" comment. It was such an odd phrase that I had to look it up.
When startled, these small goats basically faint and fall down. The thing that kills me is this line from the wikipedia article:
For some reason that thought makes me sad.
I'd never heard of them before this morning, when I read a comment that the media was acting like fainting goats over Obama's "bitter" comment. It was such an odd phrase that I had to look it up.
When startled, these small goats basically faint and fall down. The thing that kills me is this line from the wikipedia article:
In the past they were used for protecting livestock such as sheep by involuntarily "sacrificing themselves" to predators, allowing the sheep to escape.
For some reason that thought makes me sad.
Askville Posts #3: Meat
Feb. 8th, 2008 11:42 amFrom the discussion thread for the question "what is the name of the book that came out in the 20's 30's , exposed the slaughterhouses"
It was The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. A modern equivalent is Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. I read that and gave up eating fast food completely - haven’t had any for more than six years now!
By the way, it was The Jungle that helped Teddy Roosevelt push through regulation of the meat industry and establish the Food and Drug Administration. Ironically enough, under the Bush Administration meat-industry lobbyists and businessmen were placed in charge of meat inspections. Funding for inspection and enforcement was slashed to the bone, and the industry was heavily deregulated. As a result, the nation’s meat supply is now less safe than it has been in decades.
I’m also reminded of "The Story of Beef", which was an incredibly sick but extremely funny cartoon that appeared in one of the final editions of Critters, a furry anthology comic book (it was issue #50). It featured a happy, smiling cartoon cow who described and showed how he and his cousin, Veal Calf, were turned into...meat.
I showed it to my brother, a confirmed meat-eater. He laughed, but gave up eating beef for about a year.
All in all, I think that if we knew everything that happened in the process of turning animals into meat, a lot of us would probably turn vegetarian. For example, I had a relative who worked in the health insurance office of a union of supermarket workers. Apparently a huge number of claims came from workers in the butcher shops; virtually none of them still had all their fingers. And the word was that when someone accidentally ground up one of their body parts with the ground beef, what came out of the grinder was not thrown away.
It was sold.
As beef.
We’re all cannibals.
(By the way, I myself still eat quite a lot of beef. I just don’t think about it, that’s all.
It was The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. A modern equivalent is Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. I read that and gave up eating fast food completely - haven’t had any for more than six years now!
By the way, it was The Jungle that helped Teddy Roosevelt push through regulation of the meat industry and establish the Food and Drug Administration. Ironically enough, under the Bush Administration meat-industry lobbyists and businessmen were placed in charge of meat inspections. Funding for inspection and enforcement was slashed to the bone, and the industry was heavily deregulated. As a result, the nation’s meat supply is now less safe than it has been in decades.
I’m also reminded of "The Story of Beef", which was an incredibly sick but extremely funny cartoon that appeared in one of the final editions of Critters, a furry anthology comic book (it was issue #50). It featured a happy, smiling cartoon cow who described and showed how he and his cousin, Veal Calf, were turned into...meat.
I showed it to my brother, a confirmed meat-eater. He laughed, but gave up eating beef for about a year.
All in all, I think that if we knew everything that happened in the process of turning animals into meat, a lot of us would probably turn vegetarian. For example, I had a relative who worked in the health insurance office of a union of supermarket workers. Apparently a huge number of claims came from workers in the butcher shops; virtually none of them still had all their fingers. And the word was that when someone accidentally ground up one of their body parts with the ground beef, what came out of the grinder was not thrown away.
It was sold.
As beef.
We’re all cannibals.
(By the way, I myself still eat quite a lot of beef. I just don’t think about it, that’s all.
Askville Posts #3: Meat
Feb. 8th, 2008 11:42 amFrom the discussion thread for the question "what is the name of the book that came out in the 20's 30's , exposed the slaughterhouses"
It was The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. A modern equivalent is Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. I read that and gave up eating fast food completely - haven’t had any for more than six years now!
By the way, it was The Jungle that helped Teddy Roosevelt push through regulation of the meat industry and establish the Food and Drug Administration. Ironically enough, under the Bush Administration meat-industry lobbyists and businessmen were placed in charge of meat inspections. Funding for inspection and enforcement was slashed to the bone, and the industry was heavily deregulated. As a result, the nation’s meat supply is now less safe than it has been in decades.
I’m also reminded of "The Story of Beef", which was an incredibly sick but extremely funny cartoon that appeared in one of the final editions of Critters, a furry anthology comic book (it was issue #50). It featured a happy, smiling cartoon cow who described and showed how he and his cousin, Veal Calf, were turned into...meat.
I showed it to my brother, a confirmed meat-eater. He laughed, but gave up eating beef for about a year.
All in all, I think that if we knew everything that happened in the process of turning animals into meat, a lot of us would probably turn vegetarian. For example, I had a relative who worked in the health insurance office of a union of supermarket workers. Apparently a huge number of claims came from workers in the butcher shops; virtually none of them still had all their fingers. And the word was that when someone accidentally ground up one of their body parts with the ground beef, what came out of the grinder was not thrown away.
It was sold.
As beef.
We’re all cannibals.
(By the way, I myself still eat quite a lot of beef. I just don’t think about it, that’s all.
It was The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. A modern equivalent is Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. I read that and gave up eating fast food completely - haven’t had any for more than six years now!
By the way, it was The Jungle that helped Teddy Roosevelt push through regulation of the meat industry and establish the Food and Drug Administration. Ironically enough, under the Bush Administration meat-industry lobbyists and businessmen were placed in charge of meat inspections. Funding for inspection and enforcement was slashed to the bone, and the industry was heavily deregulated. As a result, the nation’s meat supply is now less safe than it has been in decades.
I’m also reminded of "The Story of Beef", which was an incredibly sick but extremely funny cartoon that appeared in one of the final editions of Critters, a furry anthology comic book (it was issue #50). It featured a happy, smiling cartoon cow who described and showed how he and his cousin, Veal Calf, were turned into...meat.
I showed it to my brother, a confirmed meat-eater. He laughed, but gave up eating beef for about a year.
All in all, I think that if we knew everything that happened in the process of turning animals into meat, a lot of us would probably turn vegetarian. For example, I had a relative who worked in the health insurance office of a union of supermarket workers. Apparently a huge number of claims came from workers in the butcher shops; virtually none of them still had all their fingers. And the word was that when someone accidentally ground up one of their body parts with the ground beef, what came out of the grinder was not thrown away.
It was sold.
As beef.
We’re all cannibals.
(By the way, I myself still eat quite a lot of beef. I just don’t think about it, that’s all.
Askville Posts #2: Atheism
Feb. 8th, 2008 11:36 amFrom the discussion thread for the question "How can Christians become less judgmental?"
I have no idea. I suspect that quality isn't amenable to logic or reason, so the only thing I can think of is for Christians to interact more with non-Christians and Christians of differing sects. If they get the chance to see that those "others" are human beings instead of monsters, maybe that would make it less easy to snap to judgment. At least for some of them.
I hope.
Ah, Christian touches on a point which I've pondered for a long time.
Some Christians "know" that all nonbelievers are surely destined for Hell - and by "nonbelievers", they often mean anyone who doesn't follow the precise same sect of Christianity as their own.
By that logic, it is not only reasonable for Christians to use virtually any means necessary to convert nonbelievers; it is practically a moral duty. The problem is that although these Christians "know" that they're right, nonbelievers disagree.
( Read more... )
I have no idea. I suspect that quality isn't amenable to logic or reason, so the only thing I can think of is for Christians to interact more with non-Christians and Christians of differing sects. If they get the chance to see that those "others" are human beings instead of monsters, maybe that would make it less easy to snap to judgment. At least for some of them.
I hope.
Ah, Christian touches on a point which I've pondered for a long time.
Some Christians "know" that all nonbelievers are surely destined for Hell - and by "nonbelievers", they often mean anyone who doesn't follow the precise same sect of Christianity as their own.
By that logic, it is not only reasonable for Christians to use virtually any means necessary to convert nonbelievers; it is practically a moral duty. The problem is that although these Christians "know" that they're right, nonbelievers disagree.
( Read more... )
Askville Posts #2: Atheism
Feb. 8th, 2008 11:36 amFrom the discussion thread for the question "How can Christians become less judgmental?"
I have no idea. I suspect that quality isn't amenable to logic or reason, so the only thing I can think of is for Christians to interact more with non-Christians and Christians of differing sects. If they get the chance to see that those "others" are human beings instead of monsters, maybe that would make it less easy to snap to judgment. At least for some of them.
I hope.
Ah, Christian touches on a point which I've pondered for a long time.
Some Christians "know" that all nonbelievers are surely destined for Hell - and by "nonbelievers", they often mean anyone who doesn't follow the precise same sect of Christianity as their own.
By that logic, it is not only reasonable for Christians to use virtually any means necessary to convert nonbelievers; it is practically a moral duty. The problem is that although these Christians "know" that they're right, nonbelievers disagree.
( Read more... )
I have no idea. I suspect that quality isn't amenable to logic or reason, so the only thing I can think of is for Christians to interact more with non-Christians and Christians of differing sects. If they get the chance to see that those "others" are human beings instead of monsters, maybe that would make it less easy to snap to judgment. At least for some of them.
I hope.
Ah, Christian touches on a point which I've pondered for a long time.
Some Christians "know" that all nonbelievers are surely destined for Hell - and by "nonbelievers", they often mean anyone who doesn't follow the precise same sect of Christianity as their own.
By that logic, it is not only reasonable for Christians to use virtually any means necessary to convert nonbelievers; it is practically a moral duty. The problem is that although these Christians "know" that they're right, nonbelievers disagree.
( Read more... )
Askville Posts #1: Atheism
Feb. 8th, 2008 11:21 amFrom the discussion thread for the question "God is more interested in you listening to God, than talking to God. Can you explain this?"
Since I consider "God" to be completely imaginary, there is no listening to be done - you can't listen to what doesn't exist, and something that doesn't exist can't listen!
That's not what you wanted to hear, of course, which is why I didn't take an answer slot. But I thought I'd represent the atheist position.
"Peter, how can you consider something, "GOD" to be nothing?"
EternalOptimist, how can you consider something, "SANTA CLAUS", to be nothing?
Of course I used the words "completely imaginary", not "nothing". Obviously "God" exists as a concept. But Thor, Zeus, and Superman exist in the same way. That doesn't mean you believe in them, do you?
( Read more... )
Since I consider "God" to be completely imaginary, there is no listening to be done - you can't listen to what doesn't exist, and something that doesn't exist can't listen!
That's not what you wanted to hear, of course, which is why I didn't take an answer slot. But I thought I'd represent the atheist position.
"Peter, how can you consider something, "GOD" to be nothing?"
EternalOptimist, how can you consider something, "SANTA CLAUS", to be nothing?
Of course I used the words "completely imaginary", not "nothing". Obviously "God" exists as a concept. But Thor, Zeus, and Superman exist in the same way. That doesn't mean you believe in them, do you?
( Read more... )
Askville Posts #1: Atheism
Feb. 8th, 2008 11:21 amFrom the discussion thread for the question "God is more interested in you listening to God, than talking to God. Can you explain this?"
Since I consider "God" to be completely imaginary, there is no listening to be done - you can't listen to what doesn't exist, and something that doesn't exist can't listen!
That's not what you wanted to hear, of course, which is why I didn't take an answer slot. But I thought I'd represent the atheist position.
"Peter, how can you consider something, "GOD" to be nothing?"
EternalOptimist, how can you consider something, "SANTA CLAUS", to be nothing?
Of course I used the words "completely imaginary", not "nothing". Obviously "God" exists as a concept. But Thor, Zeus, and Superman exist in the same way. That doesn't mean you believe in them, do you?
( Read more... )
Since I consider "God" to be completely imaginary, there is no listening to be done - you can't listen to what doesn't exist, and something that doesn't exist can't listen!
That's not what you wanted to hear, of course, which is why I didn't take an answer slot. But I thought I'd represent the atheist position.
"Peter, how can you consider something, "GOD" to be nothing?"
EternalOptimist, how can you consider something, "SANTA CLAUS", to be nothing?
Of course I used the words "completely imaginary", not "nothing". Obviously "God" exists as a concept. But Thor, Zeus, and Superman exist in the same way. That doesn't mean you believe in them, do you?
( Read more... )
It's a truism that you need to walk or jog for at least 30 minutes to elevate your metabolism. Anything less doesn't really help much, I'd heard.
But a couple of weeks ago, I found myself wondering: what would happen if, every two hours, I got up from my desk and took a five-minute walk down and up the stairs? Would it make any difference? I was planning to try it, but between the holidays and getting sick I didn't really have a chance.
But now I will, because apparently researchers have found that sitting for hours on end actually causes the enzymes that burn fat to shut down.
A New Way to Control Weight? Scientists Say Just Standing Up May Be as Important as Exercise
Go figure! This also explains why some Wii users lose weight, come to think of it.
But a couple of weeks ago, I found myself wondering: what would happen if, every two hours, I got up from my desk and took a five-minute walk down and up the stairs? Would it make any difference? I was planning to try it, but between the holidays and getting sick I didn't really have a chance.
But now I will, because apparently researchers have found that sitting for hours on end actually causes the enzymes that burn fat to shut down.
A New Way to Control Weight? Scientists Say Just Standing Up May Be as Important as Exercise
Go figure! This also explains why some Wii users lose weight, come to think of it.
It's a truism that you need to walk or jog for at least 30 minutes to elevate your metabolism. Anything less doesn't really help much, I'd heard.
But a couple of weeks ago, I found myself wondering: what would happen if, every two hours, I got up from my desk and took a five-minute walk down and up the stairs? Would it make any difference? I was planning to try it, but between the holidays and getting sick I didn't really have a chance.
But now I will, because apparently researchers have found that sitting for hours on end actually causes the enzymes that burn fat to shut down.
A New Way to Control Weight? Scientists Say Just Standing Up May Be as Important as Exercise
Go figure! This also explains why some Wii users lose weight, come to think of it.
But a couple of weeks ago, I found myself wondering: what would happen if, every two hours, I got up from my desk and took a five-minute walk down and up the stairs? Would it make any difference? I was planning to try it, but between the holidays and getting sick I didn't really have a chance.
But now I will, because apparently researchers have found that sitting for hours on end actually causes the enzymes that burn fat to shut down.
A New Way to Control Weight? Scientists Say Just Standing Up May Be as Important as Exercise
Go figure! This also explains why some Wii users lose weight, come to think of it.
