6,000 Years

This guy, who's rising fast in the righty polls, is raising his hand to deny the 150 years of excruciating research and mountains of data backing up the theory of evolution, during a question posed to the candidates in a debate a few months back.

THIS MAN THINKS THE EARTH IS 6,000 YEARS OLD. I'd consider this a huge judgment issue. Forget faith. Should he really be the leader of the free world?

Science Debate 2008

I'm so sick of this year's debates. You just can't get into a substantive discussion about anything---all major policy positions must be explained in 30 seconds, regardless of their complexity or history. A horrible way to run a democracy.

Personally, I'd like to see where the candidates stand on Science. Well, at least the Democratic candidates (since of course the Repubs hate science...) If you'd like to see something like this too, check out Science Debate 2008 and add your name as a supporter.

Given the many urgent scientific and technological challenges facing America and the rest of the world, the increasing need for accurate scientific information in political decision making, and the vital role scientific innovation plays in spurring economic growth and competitiveness, we call for a public debate in which the U.S. presidential candidates share their views on the issues of The Environment, Health and Medicine, and Science and Technology Policy.

Wow. This is exactly what I'm thinking. It might even expose some of the candidates whose scientific knowledge isn't all it's cracked up to be. And it'd certainly be better than some ridiculous "show of hands" to see whether or not you believe in creationism, like the Repubs have done.

If we are to survive the 21st Century, we need more focus on science, and less on religion and pseudoscience. We've got some serious issues to tackle and snake oil isn't going to solve 'em.

God Is (um, mostly) Absolute

Christopher Hitchens nails it spot on:

Until 1978, no black American was permitted to hold even the lowly position of deacon in the Mormon Church, and nor were any (not that there were many applicants) admitted to the sacred rites of the temple. The Mormon elders then had a "revelation" and changed the rules, thus more or less belatedly coming into compliance with the dominant civil rights statutes. The timing (as with the revelation abandoning polygamy, which occurred just in time to prevent Utah from being denied membership of the Union) permits one to be cynical about its sincerity. However that may be, it certainly makes nonsense of Romney's moaning about any criticism or questioning being "un-American." The Mormons have already had to choose—twice—between their beliefs and American values.

Hmmm... Kinda like how Romney was OK with abortion and gays when he was running for Governor in Massachusetts. But now, he has changed his mind as he courts the extreme religious right. I know there's no way he's going to win, so I'm not particularly worried about him. However, this is a perfect example of religious hypocrisy and the prevalent double-standards to which I was exposed as a child. Hey, I'm not against a person changing their mind---I do it all the time. But don't pledge allegiance to an absolute God and then tell me you had a "revelation" from him. Bullshit.

Time Out of Mind

Whoa--it's December third? Shit! I've got a 16-pager due by Friday. Alright, Aaron Burr, you treasonous, slanderous, Alexander Hamilton-killing sonuvabitch. LET'S DO DIS.