President Obama to Lift the Ban on Federal Funding of Stem Cell Research

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/06/AR2009030602285.html

President Obama's decision to lift restrictions on federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research, scheduled to be announced Monday, is expected to provide a major boost to one of the most promising but controversial fields of biomedical research in generations.

The signing of an executive order voiding the restrictions will allow thousands of scientists to study hundreds of lines of cells that have been developed since the limitations were put in place eight years ago. It will also allow them to dismantle cumbersome bureaucracies constructed to work around the constraints and let them exchange scientific ideas more easily.

Because stem cells obtained from very early embryos are believed to be capable of morphing into any tissue in the body, scientists think that they will yield fundamental insights into the underlying causes of many diseases and that they could be used to repair damage caused by diabetes, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries and other conditions.

Finally, a president who puts science first! The argument against this is ridiculous. The embryo's that are harvested are those that would other wise be destroyed at the envirtro holding lab they come from. We cannot allow the religious right to destroy science any more. Stop making it religious and realize this is science. Make public policy a matter of science, and not of faith. Haven't we suffered long enough at the hands of faith based federal policy making? Good for you Mr. President. Its a step in the right direct. Or should I say "left" direction?

Religulous

I just bought this movie by Bill Maher and watched it, and boy am I glad I did. What a riot! This documentary doesn't just question one religion, or even just major religions, but all religions. He even puts the screws to a person whose essential religion is smoking pot all day. In the deleted seens he talks with the railians(sp?) and Ickes (believe in reptilians taking over the planet). He makes some extremely good points in the movie.

I think the biggest concept in the movie is that there is no such thing as moderate religion. As long as religion exists, there will be extremists. Is the cost too high? After all, if there is a god, is this something he wants and is willing to live with? Not likely in my book. Rarely, even in moderate religious circles, do people follow Jesus teaching any way. In Islam, the problem is the people who DO follow the teachings of Mohammad. In Catholicism, they accept that one man is infallible.

The point being made is that the amount of people who use religion to do good is a small minority compared to the people who simply do nothing with it other than let it influence them in areas of science and public policy, or even use religion in a harmful way. Is it worth it to have religion around when by enlarge is does either no good or is harmful? I of course say no. This isn't to say that believing in god is the same. Anyone can simply believe what they believe. But I worry, personally, that the people in high places making decisions often put more faith in the unseen than in empirical evidence. It worries me that a president can get elected on his faith alone. And that we can have a president that believe honestly that god is telling him to go to war.

These things exist because of religion, not out side of them and surely on the fringe. The fringe has become the here and now. And its about time skeptics stop being quiet. The extremists aren't. And why should we be quiet? Why is religion in a special class all its own? Why can't any religion be questioned and even challenged?

Rihanna - Singer to Hero to Zero

In the news lately has been the tragic story of the popular singer Rhianna. While on her way to the grammys with boy friend Chris Brown, an argument ensued. She was then beaten senseless by this man. She was beaten until she was unconscious. The pictures of her injuries are gruesome. Eyes, cheeks, and lips swollen and bloody along with several cuts on her face.

Chris Brown was arrested and was set to be arraigned yesterday. Rhianna was set to become the virtual spokesperson for abused women. Showing the triumph of a battered woman and her comeback to the music industry. But it was never to be.

It was reported after the trial that the arraignment was being held off until next month. Why? Not enough evidence. And if that wasn't enough, it looks as though Rhianna and Chris Brown are getting back together. Yes, she is going back to the man who beat her senseless. Back to the man who said he would kill her. Back to the man who choked her until she was unconscious. Back to a man who has no respect for her.

I cannot begin to contemplate the damage this turn of events will cause to young women. Young impressionable girls who should have learned from Rhianna that no woman has to take abuse from any man. That no woman should have to take that kind of abuse. But instead, the example she set is one of returning to victimhood. Little girls who man one day be abused now have the role model of Rhianna going back to her abuser to guide them through this situation. Young boys now have the role model of Chris Brown to look at and realize that hitting a woman, even beating them up, doesn't always send you to jail.

This situation, in such high profile, now paves the way for a whole new generation of abusers and victims. Somewhere, some girls mind is being damaged into thinking that sometimes she might just deserve her man hitting her, so in a few years, when she is hit, she will forgive him and come back to him.

Chris Brown, you are a pathetic piece of horse crap.

Rhianna, shame on you for going back to him.

Congrats to both of you. You have managed to be a negative influence on likely thousands of young black people. You had the chance to be a hero Rhianna, and you chose to remain a victim.

Why is Islam Special?

This is a personal take on one of the fastest growing religions in the world. Islam.
But religion is part of our culture, part of who we are, what we are. And like any religion, there are psychopaths that decide to take their faith to the extreme. But, unlike most in main stream religion, Islam has failed, as a whole, to evolve with society. Christianity and other main stream religions, have all had their harsh times of expansion in the past, but for the most part, they are tame and slowly becoming less and less a threat to the progress of the human race, and in many forms, like some of my christian friends, even beneficial to society. Of course, there are the fundies, but they are not the rule, they are the exception as I am finding out.

Why is it that Islam thinks its special? Why is it that we are expected to "not offend" Muslims? Muslim cartoons, books about Islam, comments about Islam, all are being increasingly censored so as to not "offend" muslims. Why? It is nothing but fear. Fear that they will retaliate violently against the "offender". Yet, the only way to get past this is to STOP respecting their "feelings". After all, who cares? If the truth hurts, then the onus is on you to get over it and not be a little trog about it!

And after all, I don't and should not be forced to respect any religion. I don't respect the ridiculous idea that someone was born of a virgin, died, the was resurrected after 3 days. I don't respect the idea some man, who was likely schizophrenic, sat in a cave and an angel supposedly came down and gave him a holy book. I don't respect the idea that anyone should follow a self proclaimed prophet who at the age of 53 had sex with a 9 year old girl, then slaughtered an entire village of Jews simply because they wouldn't follow him. I don't respect the idea that just because you can blow someone up, that you are right. I don't respect any religion in which a sadistic idiot like Bin Laden can gain popularity because your tiny mind, retarded by teachings from a stupid story fairy tale, believes that some how killing yourself ends in your reward! No, its not respectful to say that, but its true! YOUR INABILITY TO ARTICULATE YOUR BELIEF OR GET OTHERS TO BELIEVE YOUR INSANITY DO NOT ENTITLE YOUR TINY MIND TO KILL ME!

Nor does your unintelligent rambling or over bloated threats of violence hold any sway over my speech. Nor should it. Your feelings have nothing to do with it. And your over sensitive religious sensibilities will not be "respected" to protect your "feelings".

Tell you what Muslims. Why don't you do this. Listen closely. GET OVER YOURSELF! Evolve already! Get past your Neanderthalic representation of religion and come out of the cave you dwell in and stop taking literally the word of a man who doesn't find anything wrong with raping a child. Your prophet is a child rapist. At least follow something moral if you want to claim the moral outrage you so ridiculously chant in the streets while burning effigies of who knows what or who. So no, you aren't special. Your religion isn't special, your prophet isn't special, and your feelings will not be taken into account any more than any other faith. Don't like the picture of your prophet with his towel wrap made into a bomb? Then stop blowing up stuff. Its funny. Its funny because you are a people who refuse to speak out against idiots who blow themselves up. So either evolve, or learn to deal with the ridicule you bring on yourself.

And by the way, this picture is hilarious!

The Conceptual Guerilla

This guy is good! If you are on the left, or center left, or a right winger who needs some truth added into your life, then check out Joe Lyles, the Conceptual Guerilla! Start with his Limbaugh Lie of the Day, then listen to his "Pressure Points" program. It is worth your time to download and listen too!