jump to navigation

Vatican installs solar panel roof September 30, 2008

Posted by Colloquy in Agnosticism, Atheism, Education, Intelligent Design, Science, news.
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
comments closed

<I love this … Pope Benedict XVI is doing something right for once! :-)

The photovoltaic cells will convert sunlight into electricity, generating enough power to light, heat or cool the 6,000 seat hall, engineers say.

Conserving global resources has been a priority for the German-born Pope.

Since he was elected in 2005, Benedict XVI has criticised “the unbalanced use of energy” in the world.

He has also said environmental damage was making “the lives of poor people on earth especially unbearable”.

Source

span style=”display:block;width:425px;margin:0 auto;”>

Now let’s just hope that he has kept the chapter in the book that Pope John Paul II added…

…Today, almost half a century after the publication of the Encyclical, fresh knowledge has led to the recognition that evolution is more than a hypothesis. It is indeed remarkable that this theory has been progressively accepted by researchers, following a series of discoveries in various fields of knowledge. The convergence, neither sought nor fabricated, of the results of work that was conducted independently is in itself a significant argument in favour of this theory. …

Every once in a while I am pleasantly surprised! :-)

Bored with the news today so far … September 29, 2008

Posted by Colloquy in Humor.
Tags: ,
comments closed

I’ve seen it all and heard it all already (Palin is an idiot – Wall street bail out – gas shortage, etc…) so I thought I’d post something that makes me giggle. ;-)

If you have a cat you have probably played this game (red light/ green light). I wonder if dog lovers find this funny as well?

Matt Damon was wondering … September 28, 2008

Posted by Colloquy in Agnosticism, Atheism, Education, Intelligent Design, Politics, Science, news.
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
comments closed

You’ve seen the SNL video of Palin’s tragic interview with Katie Couric. Here is some more information about the VP wannabe. I think my friend the Curmudgeon might be interested in this piece by the Los Angeles Times. It says that Sarah Palin believes that dinosaurs and humans co-existed.
A music teacher at the University of Alaska in Anchorage, Philip Munger, recalls that …

Palin told him that “dinosaurs and humans walked the Earth at the same time,” Munger said. When he asked her about prehistoric fossils and tracks dating back millions of years, Palin said “she had seen pictures of human footprints inside the tracks” .

Ummmm… just frightening.

The article goes on to state that Governor Palin has been very careful not to interject her religious beliefs in to public policy when she senses it will cost her politically.

During an October 2006 debate in the Alaska governor’s race, Palin urged that evolution and creationist ideas be taught together in state schools. “Don’t be afraid of information and let kids debate both sides,” she said.

But since taking office in December 2006, Palin has made no moves to impose the teaching of creationism or “intelligent design,” the modern version of creationist thought, in Alaska schools.

Are you smarter than an 8th grader? September 27, 2008

Posted by Colloquy in Education, Science.
Tags: , , ,
comments closed

A math test for you this time. Here’s a 25 question math test designed for 7th and 8th grade students.

(I know, I know – How pathetic am I sitting here doing math tests on the weekend,right?)

Here’s how I did:

Your final score = 84 %

So far, 909 people have taken this test.
The average score of those students is = 45 %

Not too bad! ;-)

Have fun!

Earth 4.6 Billion years old. Universe 14 Billion September 27, 2008

Posted by Colloquy in Agnosticism, Atheism, Education, Intelligent Design, Science, news.
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
comments closed

HT NCSE

The International Planetarium Society (IPS) has issued an official statement on the age of the earth and universe. The article explains how the measurements were acquired and why the measurements are accepted by the scientific community. Noting that evidence collected from different independant sources, reach the same conclusion., which is that “these results provide an accurate description of our Universe.”

McCain – “The fiscal conservative” September 26, 2008

Posted by Colloquy in Agnosticism, Atheism, Education, Intelligent Design, Politics, Science, news.
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
comments closed

Totally OT for this post but this just in – McCain WILL debate tonight.

I consider myself a “fiscal conservative”. One of the reasons I am a registered republican (soon to change) is because I have always resented the fact that dems always seem to want to raise our taxes. But I had other, more important reasons to switch my party affiliation this year. (Constitution, education, environment, foreign relations, Sarah Palin, etc…)

I now, really have no reason to feel any guilt about abandoning the republican party.

Even though McCains plan allows for a tax break of $2500 for individuals and $5000 for families, it’s still no where near the $12,000 they are tacking on to your tax return.

Teh Stoopid! It Burns!! September 25, 2008

Posted by Colloquy in Politics, news.
Tags: , , , , , ,
comments closed

COURIC: You’ve cited Alaska’s proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?

PALIN: That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and on our other side, the land– boundary that we have with– Canada. It– it’s funny that a comment like that was– kind of made to– cari– I don’t know, you know? Reporters–

COURIC: Mock?

PALIN: Yeah, mocked, I guess that’s the word, yeah.

COURIC: Explain to me why that enhances your foreign policy credentials.

PALIN: Well, it certainly does because our– our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They’re in the state that I am the executive of. And there in Russia–

COURIC: Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?

PALIN: We have trade missions back and forth. We– we do– it’s very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where– where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border. It is– from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to– to our state.

Source

Do you know …? September 25, 2008

Posted by Colloquy in Education, Intelligent Design, Science.
Tags: , , , , , ,
comments closed

Do you know what this is? I’ll give you a teeny hint … it’s looking at the pond below! ;-)

Jared, I think it’s looking at your amphibian! ;-)

McCain Runs Away – Stands up “Dave” for “Katie” September 25, 2008

Posted by Colloquy in Education, Politics, news.
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
comments closed

Senator McCain wants to postpone the debate – Why? He feels that he is needed in DC.
Senator Obama says “no”.

First things first – - – - Please remember that…

“Neither senator sits on committees that have any direct bearing on the $700 billion bailout package. Obama is a member of the Foreign Relations, Homeland Security, Veterans’ Affairs, and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committees. McCain is a member of the Armed Services, Indian Affairs, and Commerce, Science and Transportation committees.”

Source

The debate has been scheduled for nearly a year – we want to see it. We don’t believe you that you feel the country can’t live without your input for a couple of hours – we think you are hiding yet something else! Why did you stand up David Letterman in favor of Katie Couric?
Senator McCain, are you forfeiting the election? It does seem like it!

Anyway … Here’s
Daaaaviiiiiiiiiid Letterman!

 

 

Digital Switch might be a big problem for deaf people September 24, 2008

Posted by Colloquy in Politics, Science, media.
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
comments closed

I was reading an article written by the mother of a disabled child that has serious doubts about Palin being qualified to be the Vice President. It’s an excellent article – you should read it!

Anyway, as I was reading the comments attached to the article – one caught my attention …

… Only a very narrow realm on the disability spectrum (e.g. Trig Palin-type disabilities) are receiving any sort of attention. The rest of us who are considered disabled (mine falls under the classification of sensory disabilities – I am deaf) are still shunted off to the sides and our needs neglected by varying people.

…Hell, when’s the last time you heard about the problems the February 2009 digital television roll-over will cause the deaf community? Most people (I’m looking at YOU, Salon) don’t give a flying fuck about accommodations that may inconvenience them or their pocketbooks. Disabilities such as what Trig has are easy for the abled community to focus on because they fit neatly into the expectations abled people have of the disabled; helpless creatures dependent on their parents rather than the community and reliant more on familial services instead of government-enforced accommodations.

(more…)