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Thursday, July 23. 2015

How to live without air conditioning

The old suburban office park is the new American ghost town

Praise music: AVI on Church Music

I find it embarassing

These Are the Top 20 Cities Americans Are Ditching

Via Warren:

“The case against science is straightforward: much of the scientific literature, perhaps half, may simply be untrue. Afflicted by studies with small sample sizes, tiny effects, invalid exploratory analyses, and flagrant conflicts of interest, together with an obsession for pursuing fashionable trends of dubious importance, science has taken a turn towards darkness.”

College: We Won’t Let You Say That — For Your Own Safety

BBC Apologizes to Lunatics

Why?

The Argument For Redefining Marriage That Gives Me Pause

US Median income falls to a 20-year low

Liberals have won a series of victories on social issues. Most Americans aren’t thrilled about it.

OBAMA’S ICE DIRECTOR: NO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT UNTIL AMNESTY IS PASSED

Obama: New citizens can skip pledge to take up arms and defend the U.S.

What?

Unions vs. Obamacare

Three Huge Reasons Why the Fed Cannot Let Rates Normalize

Jerry Brown considers Climate Change a potential Extinction Level Event

Wouldn't that be good for Gaia?

Kirsten Powers: Crush Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood videos should appall even pro-choice advocates

In defense of PP: The Campaign of Deception Against Planned Parenthood

Democrats Seek Federal Investigations of Group Behind Planned Parenthood Videos

Venezuelan farmers ordered to hand over produce to state

How Goldman Sachs profited from the Greek debt crisis

The squid never rests

Army chief Odierno, in exit interview, says US could have ‘prevented’ ISIS rise

Iran Nuclear Agreement Meets With Public Skepticism - Little Confidence in Iran’s Leaders to Live Up to Deal

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 05:36 | Comments (84) | Trackbacks (0)

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Median Income: Reading the comments, I am taken aback by the wide spread assumption that the president or the government controls the economy, or the assumption that decisions made decades ago, years ago, or months ago don't bleed into the present. I am not saying that the government doesn't have an significant impact but that there are other forces.
In terms of the stimulus, I don't think there has been a dramatic difference in the approach over the last four presidents, I think Reagan had more success because most of the 80s stimulus circulated within the US, as opposed to leaking into the global economy.
In any case, I don't think enough attention is paid to the real economic game changers: digital automation, globalization including the emergence of multinational mega corporations, instant global communication.....

#1 Exasperated on 2015-07-23 08:19 (Reply)

Warren on "Science"...an unintended consequence of more women in STEM?

From observing the rather trivial research conducted in many medical fields by an ever-increasing number of female doctors/researchers/teachers, there is no grand vision, just jockeying for position and fleeting "fame" (e.g. status" since they can't compete for alpha men) among your female colleagues.

Medicine and related research as an advanced "social circle", where consensus and heirarchy are more important than results or breakthroughs----why, such things might upset the order!

#2 Earl T on 2015-07-23 09:28 (Reply)

...science has taken a turn towards darkness.True in academia and foundations that have been totally corrupted by federal dollars. You're more likely to get good science from industrial labs unless there is a marketing twist to it.

#3 BillH on 2015-07-23 09:42 (Reply)

Re: Church Music
Have any of you ever heard of "Shape Notes"? It's also called "Sacred Harp".

#4 oolioo on 2015-07-23 09:46 (Reply)

Here's an updated view of median income.
http://www.advisorperspectives.com/dshort/charts/census/monthly-household-income.html?household-income-monthly-median-since-2000.gif

Notice that the drop in median income was clearly due to the financial meltdown and ensuing Great Recession, but has been climbing since late 2011.

#5 Zachriel on 2015-07-23 09:46 (Reply)

What caused the financial meltdown and ensuing Great Recession? Go on, take an honest and competent look down that rabbit hole.

#5.1 Ten on 2015-07-23 18:59 (Reply)

QUOTE:

Liberals have won a series of victories on social issues. Most Americans aren’t thrilled about it.

That's a typical response whenever there is rapid social change. Society can only bend so far before taking time to adjust to the new conditions. Nonetheless, there has been a general trend towards greater equality since the Renaissance. Things taken for granted today were once considered radical.

#6 Zachriel on 2015-07-23 09:57 (Reply)

Indeed, things taken for granted today were once considered radical. Be proud.

#6.1 Ten on 2015-07-23 19:00 (Reply)

Ten: Indeed, things taken for granted today were once considered radical. Be proud.

Freedom of conscience, freedom of association, freedom of speech, ending slavery and segregation, universal suffrage, greater economic equality, social safety net, much reduced poverty.

#6.1.1 Zachriel on 2015-07-24 07:50 (Reply)

Infanticide, intractable collectivism, fascism, forced commerce, inherently insolvent systems, market destruction, militarism, racialism, sexualism, classicism, scientism, pathological official lying, corporatism, rampant corruption, indoctrination, judicial overreach, official misconduct, loss of virtually all liberties.

Or, by it's simpler working title: Progressivism.

#6.1.1.1 Ten on 2015-07-24 09:12 (Reply)

Ten: Infanticide

As old as humanity. Largely supplanted by modern birth control.

Ten: intractable collectivism

As old as civilization. Most modern systems are mixed, coupling democratic institutions, with social safety nets and robust markets.

Ten: fascism

Largely defeated in the 1940s, both militarily and ideologically.

Ten: forced commerce

As old as civilization. The most successful modern systems, such as the U.S., have robust markets.

Ten: inherently insolvent systems

As old as banking. The developed countries of the world are hardly insolvent.

Ten: market destruction

The developed countries all have robust market sectors.

Ten: militarism

As old as civilization. The world still struggles with war, but it is more limited than in the past.

Ten: racialism

While the modern concept of racism is only centuries old, xenophobia is as old as humanity. Again, the world still struggles with racism in its various forms, but great strides have been taken.

Ten: sexualism

The world still struggles with sexism, but great strides have been taken.

Ten: classicism

The world still struggles with classism, but is far more egalitarian than in ages past.

Ten: scientism

A modern problem due to the overwhelming success of science. People should be vigilant against overconfidence in science, and the belief that science has all the answers. Nonetheless, science has been an overall positive good for human society, and the best hope going forward to resolve many issues having to do with the environment and providing for its people.

Ten: pathological official lying

As old as civilization. The modern concept of a balance of power places checks on the various branches so that society doesn't have to rely upon the integrity of individual politicians.

Ten: corporatism

One of the power centers in modern society. While corporations have been gathering power, they are still limited by other centers of power, including political.

Ten: rampant corruption

As old as civilization. Modern developed nations have generally low levels of corruption, though money in politics, especially in the U.S., do threaten the process.

Ten: indoctrination

As old as civilization. However, new media often has an inordinate influence; for example, with early radio, invaders from Mars, Hitler, and Churchill; with television, McCarthy and Kennedy-Nixon; with cable, overt propaganda from Fox News.

Ten: judicial overreach

Certainly having an independent judiciary is far preferable to previous forms of government. While vigilance is reasonable, that doesn't translate into a contradiction of positive progress.

Ten: official misconduct

As old as civilization. Modern developed nations have generally low levels of corruption, though money in politics, especially in the U.S., do threaten the process.

Ten: loss of virtually all liberties

Where do you live? In the West individuals have a great deal of individual autonomy, certainly when compared to previous periods of history since the Renaissance, from which time there has been a general trend towards greater equality. Things taken for granted today were once considered radical.

#6.1.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2015-07-24 09:34 (Reply)

^ Is it machine or mind, folks?

At any rate, I think we can safely conclude that that Enlightenment thing was just an aberration, as was, oh say, the Magna Carta and for good measure, the American Revolution.

Because decay is just like original intent! Huzza blind deconstruction!

#6.1.1.1.1.1 Ten on 2015-07-24 12:03 (Reply)

QUOTE:

Gov. Jerry Brown: We are talking about extinction. We are talking about climate regimes that have not been seen for tens of millions of years.

Gross overstatement. While human extinction due to climate change is certainly conceivable, it is highly unlikely. The problem is one of mitigation and adaptation, something humans are quite good at. What they're not as good at is finding political solutions for long term problems.

#7 Zachriel on 2015-07-23 10:01 (Reply)

There is no AGW. Conversely and commensurately, there is no scientific proof for AGW nor can or have you or any alarmist present it.

Am I a denier, in the sense alarmists use the label? No. There simply is no scientific proof for AGW. Moreover, the basis for claims for AGW are therefore not rooted in science.

Were that basis to exist, presumably man would discover it. From there, and there alone, AGW could credibly rise to science.

#7.1 Ten on 2015-07-23 19:04 (Reply)

Ten: There is no AGW. Conversely and commensurately, there is no scientific proof for AGW nor can or have you or any alarmist present it.

The basic understanding of the effect of CO2 on the greenhouse effect has been known for over a century. See Arrhenius, On the Influence of Carbonic Acid in the Air Upon the Temperature of the Ground, Philosophical Magazine 1896.

#7.1.1 Zachriel on 2015-07-24 07:53 (Reply)

Over a century ago

You can say that again.

Somehow NASA confirmed a century later that CO2 - which constitutes four-tenths of one percent of the atmosphere, in which man made CO2 constitutes roughly a percent - that in the Earth's naturally-regulating system, CO2 is a reflectant.

CO2 in the atmosphere has also varied radically over time. It has has exceeded today's levels and it has measured a small fraction of today's levels many times in hundreds of thousands of years.

CO2 also lags temperature fluctuations - which have also varied radically over time - and no one knows why.

CO2 is not a warming gas. CO2 comprises a miniscule percentage of the atmosphere. CO2 is only fractionally contributed by man. CO2 is not a leading predictor of temperature but a lagging correlation of unknown cause and effect.

Probably most of this science was developed in the century since your cite's cursory revelation. Why do you hate science?

#7.1.1.1 Ten on 2015-07-24 09:29 (Reply)

Ten: Somehow NASA confirmed a century later that CO2 - which constitutes four-tenths of one percent of the atmosphere, in which man made CO2 constitutes roughly a percent - that in the Earth's naturally-regulating system, CO2 is a reflectant.

Actually, CO2 absorbs heat radiation.
http://www.nist.gov/pml/div682/grp01/images/irabs_1_1.png

Ten: CO2 in the atmosphere has also varied radically over time. It has has exceeded today's levels and it has measured a small fraction of today's levels many times in hundreds of thousands of years.

While CO2 has been stable over thousands of years, over geological periods, it has varied considerably. Indeed, that helps provide an estimate of climate sensitivity to CO2.

QUOTE:

PALAEOSENS Project Members, Making sense of palaeoclimate sensitivity, Nature 2012: Over the past 65 million years, this reveals a climate sensitivity (in K W−1 m2) of 0.3–1.9 or 0.6–1.3 at 95% or 68% probability, respectively. The latter implies a warming of 2.2–4.8 K per doubling of atmospheric CO2, which agrees with IPCC estimates.

Ten: CO2 also lags temperature fluctuations - which have also varied radically over time - and no one knows why.

It's thought that when the has Earth warmed in the past, the oceans released CO2, which caused more warming, in a feedback cycle. The Earth tends to chaotically oscillate between ice ages and ice free periods.

Ten: CO2 is not a warming gas.

Without the greenhouse effect, the Earth would be a chilly -18°C instead of the balmy +15°C that it is.

Ten: CO2 comprises a miniscule percentage of the atmosphere.

Monatomic and homonuclear diatomic molecules are virtually unaffected by infrared energy; consequently, nitrogen, oxygen and argon are not greenhouse gases, and can be ignored. Greenhouse gases, those that absorb and emit infrared radiation include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone, each with its own thermal footprint. Carbon dioxide constitutes about 20% of the greenhouse effect.

Ten: CO2 is only fractionally contributed by man.

Virtually all the increase in atmospheric CO2 is due to human emissions.

#7.1.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2015-07-24 09:43 (Reply)

It's almost like this is the Internet and one can assert anything.

#7.1.1.1.1.1 Ten on 2015-07-24 11:26 (Reply)

Notably, we supported our position, including citations concerning CO2 absorption and climate sensitivity.

#7.1.1.1.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2015-07-24 12:37 (Reply)

Notably, we supported our position

Notably you certainly did, but you forgot anyway anyway. Why do you hate science?

#7.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Ten on 2015-07-24 18:07 (Reply)

http://s10.postimg.org/5fz8g5a3d/CO2_Last_40_Mys.png

Oops.

#7.1.1.1.1.2 Ten on 2015-07-25 13:28 (Reply)

Oops what?

#7.1.1.1.1.2.1 Zachriel on 2015-07-25 15:21 (Reply)

QUOTE:

In defense of PP: The Campaign of Deception Against Planned Parenthood

One problem with the videos is that they falsely accuse Planned Parenthood of selling tissues and organs. Furthermore, they edited out sections of the video that make it clear they don't sell tissues or organs, and that their intentions are for the benefit of women, even if you think those intentions lead to a morally questionable result. The descriptions were gruesome enough without exaggeration. Of course, that's the nature of propaganda.

Incidentally, they may have broken state and federal law.

#8 Zachriel on 2015-07-23 10:16 (Reply)

Please post a link or links to the unedited versions of the videos.

#8.1 Ike on 2015-07-23 10:38 (Reply)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4UjIM9B9KQ

QUOTE:

Nucatola repeatedly clarifies that there is no profit motive. She says: “This is not a new revenue stream the affiliates are looking at. This is a way to offer the patient the service that they want. Do good for the medical community.”

Nucatola also makes clear at several points that the tissue donation helps medical researchers and is something many patients seek: “I think every one of them is happy to know that there’s a possibility for them to do this extra bit of good in what they do. And I think patients respond most to knowing the types of outcomes that it might contribute to, so, for example, Alzheimer’s research, Parkinson’s research.”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/huppke/ct-huppke-planned-parenthood-video-20150715-story.html

Keep in mind that these women have already decided on abortion. The remains have to be disposed of, so it's a question of cremation or donation.

#8.1.1 Zachriel on 2015-07-23 11:34 (Reply)

maybe PP could make soap out of them. the remains have to be disposed of anyway and since babies typically don't have enough tattoos to make decent lampshades, rendering them down into soap might be the optimum solution.

#8.1.1.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-07-23 13:14 (Reply)

In the 1940s they had to do something with all those excess gold teeth. They weren't needed any more anyway.

#8.1.1.2 Jim on 2015-07-23 14:11 (Reply)

Is "for the children" still a leftist mantra?

#8.1.1.3 Ten on 2015-07-23 19:06 (Reply)

She claims there is 'no profit,' because she knows that is illegal. She talks about reimbursements...and in the next video the doctor is haggling over 'reimbursements.' So, to me, it makes it clear, the PP clinic is setting the price or negotiating the price, rather than getting only 'reimbursed' for collection and delivery.

If it were truly a reimbursement to cover costs, they would know what those costs are, there would be no haggling, and, really, the company collecting the baby parts would not even need to pay anything. If it were truly donation, the company buying the parts would be sending the collection containers and pre-paying shipping. Especially with such heavy regulation on the organ industry. The company would not want any suspicion of paying for these baby parts. Right?

The payments would have to be consistently the same across the board in order to that to pass the sniff test. The 2nd video clearly indicates the doctor was willing to haggle over the prices.

Besides the discussion over whether or not this was truly a donation, are you okay with what is happening? Are you okay with a doctor altering an abortion procedure in order to get better baby body parts? Are you okay with a clinic treating unborn babies as scientific research material? You do realize that NO treatments have come out of the experiments with baby body parts, right?

#8.2 MissT on 2015-07-23 12:33 (Reply)

MissT: She claims there is 'no profit,' because she knows that is illegal.

That's right.

MissT: She talks about reimbursements.

Which are legal, and standard in the donation system.

The reimbursements were $30 to $100. You obviously haven't priced medical costs lately.

MissT: Besides the discussion over whether or not this was truly a donation, are you okay with what is happening? Are you okay with a clinic treating unborn babies as scientific research material?

Yes, they're donations. Once the abortion occurs, then it's an option for the woman.

In any case, none of that justifies the deception.

#8.2.1 Zachriel on 2015-07-23 12:53 (Reply)

It's my understanding that PP has an onsite "partner" that acts as a broker and pays PP for the privilege. If this is true, if there are no organ sales, the partner would not need to pay PP to be there.

Also, in the second video, there is some horse trading with PP woman making sure she gets a favorable price. It seems to me that there is a cost for handle the "samples." There should be no need to dicker. The cost is the cost. Trying to get a better price for that handling cost is a way of making a profit.

All that is rather secondary. The idea of crushing the skull (or somewhere else if you want to sell a brain) for profit or "science" is just grisly. Several years ago, there was a big controversy about the morality of using the Dachau Human Hypothermia experiment data because of the inhumanity of the experiments even though it was well understood that the data was actually scientifically valuable. In this case, there is no data to suggest that the research on fetal body parts (I thought we were only aborting an unviable mass of cells) has produced any medical benefit.

Abby Johnson quit Planned Parenthood when she watched an abortion through ultrasound and saw the baby try to get away from the cannula (instrument used to kill the baby). At least somebody has a "choice"!

So all the disgusting, grisly, inhumanity so that a woman who wasn't responsible for her own birth control won't be inconvenienced. Is that cool or what?

#8.2.1.1 mudbug on 2015-07-23 15:11 (Reply)

I've seen a number of statements (and some resumes from Biotech employees) that they are (not sure how often) on-site at the abortion clinic to collect the baby parts.

I didn't stop to consider (duh) that of course then there are no 'costs' involved then, so thank you. I hope (I know, slim chance) someone is looking into that aspect of this anti-woman disgusting procedure.

#8.2.1.1.1 Theranter on 2015-07-23 21:35 (Reply)

I noticed how you did NOT respond to the video where the woman was haggling over these supposed reimbursements. Money should NOT be changing hands with the clinic that donates. It is highly suspect and definitely looks to be payments...not reimbursements. You can deflect all you want, but more videos are coming. There will be a mountain of horror that you will not be able to sweep away by ignoring the parts you cannot defend. There will be too much to defend.

#8.2.1.2 MissT on 2015-07-23 15:33 (Reply)

MissT: I noticed how you did NOT respond to the video where the woman was haggling over these supposed reimbursements. Money should NOT be changing hands with the clinic that donates.

The law allows reimbursement for certain expenses, as with any tissue or organ donation.

#8.2.1.2.1 Zachriel on 2015-07-23 17:28 (Reply)

Z: Yes, they're donations.

Does the donor have anything to say about it?

#8.2.1.3 mudbug on 2015-07-23 17:03 (Reply)

game, set and match.

#8.2.1.3.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-07-23 17:05 (Reply)

Donny - Zack commune things "um no" is a sufficient argument. Try not to go too fast. Besides logic and logical consistency are apparently something some people can function comfortably without, never mind the subtile tell of inference you just pointed out.

Morality is subjective, except when it's useful don't cha know? Because black lives matter, never mind who all is mostly being aborted. So what color were those doctors? Must be a problem with my monitor. Guess that's ok though.

Let's not forget the brilliant argument that abortion is OK because for life people are wrong and evil because they don't want to take care of the baby once it is born. Because there are no adoptions and no social programs in the US, so it's OK to dispose of inconvenient life (just wait till it can be done for dear old mom and dad....much more to be gotten there than gold teeth).

It doesn't matter when consciousness enters the body, when pain, fear and suffering start, what matters is that babies are property - the new slavery. The Antelope all over again (23 US 66 1825).

"For the Children" is code silly- it means we want your money for what we want it for but you will object you big meanie so we have to trick you.

#8.2.1.3.1.1 Karen on 2015-07-23 20:20 (Reply)

Black lives matter is even more ironic since Margaret wanted to purge society of inferior people, blacks being one large category.

#8.2.1.3.1.1.1 mudbug on 2015-07-23 22:23 (Reply)

Black lives matter is even more ironic since Margaret Sanger wanted to purge society of inferior people, blacks being one large category.

#8.2.1.3.1.1.1.1 mudbug on 2015-07-23 23:04 (Reply)

That's simply false, as you should know.

#8.2.1.3.1.1.1.2 Zachriel on 2015-07-24 07:55 (Reply)

http://www.dianedew.com/sanger.htm

As you should know.

#8.2.1.3.1.1.1.2.1 Ten on 2015-07-24 18:10 (Reply)

Quote mine. Note the prevalent use of ellipses and the one word quotes.

#8.2.1.3.1.1.1.2.1.1 Zachriel on 2015-07-25 08:49 (Reply)

mudbug: Does the donor have anything to say about it?

As the woman has already decided on an abortion, the only question concerns the remains. Your argument is against laws that allow abortion, not Planned Parenthood.

#8.2.1.3.2 Zachriel on 2015-07-23 17:29 (Reply)

you burned yourself.

the baby can't speak for himself or herself, hence, easy to kill with what passes for your clear conscience. just collateral damage, eh?

the fact that you can't get a grip that the child is the "donor" speaks volumes about your childish grasp of morality. you can't even admit what's actually happening.

maybe you should stick with your weather fetish.

#8.2.1.3.2.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-07-23 17:50 (Reply)

Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz: the fact that you can't get a grip that the child is the "donor" speaks volumes about your childish grasp of morality. you can't even admit what's actually happening.

We understood your point quite well. But as pointed out, your argument is with laws allowing abortion, not with Planned Parenthood or donation of the remains.

#8.2.1.3.2.1.1 Zachriel on 2015-07-23 18:02 (Reply)

So you still did not answer me on the haggling. Does this not prove it is a sale and not a donation?

And did you know this:

"When fetal tissue is used in research, it is often sent from the hospital or clinic that performs the abortion to an affiliated research center, Hyun said. Another safeguard in the Health and Human Services guidelines is that a clinical team that performs the abortion cannot know that the fetus will be donated, to help ensure that they do not change how they perform the abortion, or jeopardize the safety of the woman, Hyun said."

Sounds to me like PP is breaking the law if you read the above. Both doctors in the videos talked about altering the procedure.

#8.2.1.3.2.1.1.1 MissT on 2015-07-23 18:19 (Reply)

MissT: Both doctors in the videos talked about altering the procedure.

Which, unlike the claims about selling tissues and organs, may be a problem. Best practices build a firewall between the abortion procedure and the donation.

But, of course, that isn't your real objection, which is abortion generally.

#8.2.1.3.2.1.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2015-07-24 08:00 (Reply)

My objection, for what little it's worth in a nation of growing, rank objectification and (a)moral relativism, is that there's not a firewall between the "abortion procedure" and a human being.

And that there is one between a leftist and his or her former conscience.

#8.2.1.3.2.1.1.1.1.1 Ten on 2015-07-24 18:15 (Reply)

And of course you refuse to address Donnie's more, um, cutting points. One doesn't wonder why that is.

As my daughter noted the other day - she somehow survived birth and the physician's scissors and being carried to the hospital door over twenty years ago, which exit seems to be the moment of legal existence for our darling, modern, progressive left - that peak social lunacy in America today has the quality to render entire rosters of previously extreme words quite obsolete.

Preposterous. Grotesque. Obscene. Utterly depraved.

See, now we have to come up with entirely new descriptions to frame and somehow grasp the sheer, unmitigated, and apparently irrecoverable lack of moral human conscience and soul in significant cohorts of our own f*cking American community.

Congratulations on your brave new world. It's root word is progress.

#8.2.1.3.2.1.1.2 Ten on 2015-07-23 18:54 (Reply)

No, Z. It's both against the practice of abortion and those who carry out the abortion as well as those who see nothing wrong with it.

#8.2.1.3.2.2 mudbug on 2015-07-23 22:17 (Reply)

Fertility clinics routinely create embryos, many of which are destroyed during the process. Do you object to these sorts of procedures?

#8.2.1.3.2.2.1 Zachriel on 2015-07-24 08:02 (Reply)

Yes. Do those embryos have organs?

#8.2.1.3.2.2.1.1 mudbug on 2015-07-24 08:22 (Reply)

mudbug: Yes.

So you would shut down in vitro fertilization as a form a child endangerment.

mudbug: Do those embryos have organs?

No.

#8.2.1.3.2.2.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2015-07-24 08:45 (Reply)

On principle, I am opposed to destroying live embryos, but opposition is somewhat variable. The more developed the embryo or fetus, the greater my opposition. When a fetus has organs, tries to get away from the instrument that is being used to kill it, that is cruel, outrageous, and inhumane.

Are you ever uncomfortable with an abortion?

#8.2.1.3.2.2.1.1.1.1 mudbug on 2015-07-24 13:56 (Reply)

mudbug: On principle, I am opposed to destroying live embryos, but opposition is somewhat variable. The more developed the embryo or fetus, the greater my opposition.

That's probably close to how most people view the issue, which is why the law's intrusion increases as the fetus develops.

mudbug: When a fetus has organs, tries to get away from the instrument that is being used to kill it, that is cruel, outrageous, and inhumane.

And yet sometimes necessary late in a pregnancy.

mudbug: Are you ever uncomfortable with an abortion?

Of course, but also uncomfortable with the government intervening, criminalizing women, and driving it underground — especially early in a pregnancy.

#8.2.1.3.2.2.1.1.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2015-07-24 15:32 (Reply)

Lebensunwertes Leben

it helps to dehumanize humans before you kill them. actually, I believe it's mandatory to call them "fetuses". every time a baby is cut into pieces, a libtard k00kgasms.

amirite?

#8.2.1.3.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-07-24 16:00 (Reply)

You are right!

#8.2.1.3.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 mudbug on 2015-07-24 22:58 (Reply)

as long as it's less crunchy.

#8.3 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-07-23 13:11 (Reply)

RE Praise music: AVI on Church Music

I approve of the deep theological insights of such classic worship songs such as:

Give me that old time religion
give me that old time religion
Give me that old time religion
It's good enough for me
rpt. 16x

(minus the patronizing, "It was good for Hebrew children").

The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended, also a beautiful piece, catches the groove of 1910, used for vespers, funerals and hauling down the flag if you ever have to return Hong Kong.

A Mighty Fortress, by the Catholic singer/songwriter Martin Luther.

Amazing Grace, sung as blues by a baritone. what more need be said?

note that Orthodox Catholics prefer the human voice unaccompanied as the best instrument for their "worship songs".

AVI, great blog

#9 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-07-23 11:05 (Reply)

I'm quite fond of Johnny Cash singing "God's Gonna Cut You Down".

#9.1 Willie on 2015-07-23 12:02 (Reply)

Well yeah, and the lyrics to the Hallelujah Chorus are pretty repetitive and simple. I'm not that fond of many of them either, but I'm telling you, it's hard to sustain a congregation that doesn't want the people who like simpler, singable music.

Thanks for the compliment. I did my best work in my earliest few years and am mostly coasting now.

#9.2 Assistant Village Idiot (Link) on 2015-07-23 16:38 (Reply)

These people who complain, have they ever actually read the Bible? Like Psalm 134, 117, 150 or 136?

I don't particularly care for endless praise songs, but neither do I care for all 5 stanzas of some tired, poorly constructed piece that's being sung simply because it's "old". Actually, I get tired of so much music in church, but I can at least acknowledge that many Psalms and other portions of the Bible use repetition like praise songs.

But you're absolutely right, music isn't the only worship.

#9.2.1 DrTorch on 2015-07-23 17:11 (Reply)

RE Obama: New citizens can skip pledge to take up arms and defend the U.S.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on Tuesday said it will no longer require incoming U.S. citizens to pledge that they will "bear arms on behalf of the United States" or "perform noncombatant service" in the Armed Forces as part of the naturalization process.

vs.

Drafted in April 1942, Desmond Doss refused to kill or carry a weapon into combat because of his personal beliefs as a Seventh-day Adventist.

if you do nothing else today, read his MOH citation.

Mel Gibson is directing a movie about Sgt. Doss called Hacksaw Ridge with a 2017 release date.

#10 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-07-23 11:28 (Reply)

Re: Doss MOH citation.

Wow. Thanks for posting this. Has a book been written about his war experience?

#10.1 Gordon on 2015-07-23 12:12 (Reply)

wikipedia lists these:

Herndon, Booton (2004). The Unlikeliest Hero: The Story of Desmond T. Doss, Conscientious Objector Who Won His Nation's Highest Military Honor. Mountain View, California: Pacific Press Publishing Association. ISBN 978-0-8163-2048-6..

Doss, Frances M. (2005). Desmond Doss: Conscientious Objector. Pacific Press Publishing Association. ISBN 978-0-8163-2124-7.

Doss, Frances M. (1998). Desmond Doss: In God's care: The unlikeliest hero and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. The College Press.

#10.1.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-07-23 13:07 (Reply)

Thanks again, guess I should have scrolled down to the further reading.

The other two COs who received the MOH were both killed in action. Seems like Doss prevailed against longer odds (retrieving 75 men). Seems out of character, but any chance that the Japanese soldiers held their fire a bit?

#10.1.1.1 Gordon on 2015-07-23 13:31 (Reply)

if you get a chance, read E.B. Sledge's With The Old Breed, his diary as a Marine in the Pacific. He recounts several instances where the Japanese sniped or ambushed hospital corpsmen or stretcher bearers on Okinawa. I think he'd say the aid men were special targets.

Sgt. Doss saved more than 75 men, the citation covers about a three week period. The 75 he saved on the first day.

#10.1.1.1.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-07-23 14:36 (Reply)

RE The Argument For Redefining Marriage That Gives Me Pause

I imagined an advocate for redefining marriage saying something like, “We agree with you that marriage is a unique, important social institution that supports and helps sustain societies.

as long as anyone sees marriage as an institution whose purpose is to prop up society, then there's no real defense against gay marriage. That's where marriage = a default set of property, personal and inheritance rights between the partners and between the partners and the rest of the world. any competent lawyer could write up contracts, wills, deeds nearly duplicating normal marital economic relations, so what's the point in denying the few remaining differences?

that's if you see marriage as something that props up the state, and in that case, why would anyone expect any marriage, normal or gay, to be lifelong and monogamous? any contract or duty can be abrogated, most without the least hint of moral opprobrium.

Jews, Christians or protestants should not see marriage as property rights supporting the state, this concept of a union between man, woman and God is alien to both gays and the state itself. the role of God in marriage isn't something that the state can be concerned with or even take notice of.

#11 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-07-23 11:48 (Reply)

"Jews, Christians or protestants should not see marriage as property rights supporting the state, this concept of a union between man, woman and God is alien to both gays and the state itself. the role of God in marriage isn't something that the state can be concerned with or even take notice of."

Perhaps the legal construct of marriage should just be abolished outright, along with all the tax, estate and income provisions associated with it.

Marriage thus becomes whatever individuals want it to be. If you're Roman Catholic, it'll be man and wife, if breakaway Mormon fundamentalist, man and wives, if gay, man and man (hey, woman and husbands for all I care). But all the state would recognize for the purposes of taxation and property is the individual citizen.

We seem to be moving towards a culture that is no longer comfortable with the idea of the state assuring its own survival by actively encouraging population growth anyway, so to heck with it.

#11.1 JJM on 2015-07-23 16:08 (Reply)

most people don't think this through. the legal construct of marriage concerns more than the marital partners, it is about the marital partnership as it interacts with the state. the "partnership" holds title to property, is entitled to inherit, is taxed differently than single individuals, has insurance rights, retirement rights, has rights and duties re children. it is more than the sum of the two individuals. so the definition of marriage is actually important to the state, and there's no reason the state shouldn't accept any arrangement of rights and duties so long as obligations to the rest of the world (title holding, child support) are predictable and easily enforced.

but for a Christian, Jew or protestant, marriage is much more than this economic ordering, which shouldn't need elaboration if you're a Christian, Jew or protestant.

#11.1.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-07-23 16:46 (Reply)

"if you're a Christian, Jew or protestant."

As a complete aside, and no offence intended, but I'm charmed by your use of Christian and Protestant there as if the two were separate religions!

#11.1.1.1 JJM on 2015-07-23 16:58 (Reply)

wasn't even thinking. I'll just refer to "Christians" or "orthodox Christians" as the case may be.

#11.1.1.1.1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz on 2015-07-23 17:08 (Reply)

re Iran Nuclear Agreement Meets With Public Skepticism - Little Confidence in Iran’s Leaders to Live Up to Deal

There is more to the deal:

Susan Rice Admits Secret ‘Side Deals’ with Iran

From the article:

The two secret deals, which cover the Parchin military site and the possible military dimensions (PMDs) of Iran’s nuclear program, were revealed Wednesday by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR)) and Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS), who had learned of the deals after meeting July 17 with IAEA in Vienna.

In a press release, Cotton and Pomepeo said they had been told that the deals “will remain secret and will not be shared with other nations, with Congress, or with the public.” That, they said, violated the Obama administration’s commitment to provide the full text of the Iran deal to Congress for consideration under the Corker Bill (The Iran Nuclear Review Agreement Act).

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/07/22/susan-rice-admits-secret-side-deals-with-iran/

#12 feeblemind on 2015-07-23 12:18 (Reply)

"Until recently, however, civilization was humming along just fine without this costly convenience [air conditioning]."

Was it? How does he know?

I'd be interested to see what a major city would look like absent climate-controlled buildings.

Until the 1930s there were barely a million people in Florida. By the 1950s there were three times that number. By the Seventies, double again.

Then there's Arizona which has gone from half a million people in the 1940s to nearly 14 times that number today.

I'd be intrigued to know how these states might look today sans Mr Carrier's refrigerated air.

And that's just two states in the US.

It might very well be that climate-control, whether to heat or cool our buildings, is an indispensable contribution to civilization's advancement.

This is a thinly-veiled typical environmentalist gripe about ordinary people improving their personal comfort and standard of living.

#13 JJM on 2015-07-23 12:39 (Reply)

You are correct that without air conditioning, there would not have been the mass population movement to the Sun Belt. Nonetheless, I wonder if you even bothered to read the article. The article talks about ways to beat the heat by using less air conditioning, not complete elimination of air conditioning.

QUOTE:

When experts look at A/C use in America, they immediately see a spot of illogic: We use vast amounts of energy just to let businesspeople do something they’d probably rather not do anyway. “We are probably overcooling our office buildings by 4 to 6 [degrees] F just so that office workers, particularly the males, can wear their business suits,” wrote Richard de Dear, who is head of architectural design science at the University of Sydney and a researcher on thermal comfort. “

I am wearing shorts w a linen blend shirt, and I am quite comfortable without AC in a room in the low 80s. I do not like walking into air conditioned buildings set in the low 70s, and feel cold. That is overuse of AC.

QUOTE:

Southerners had other tricks, too. In a paper published in 1984 in the Journal of Southern History, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg historian Ray Arsenault lamented the disappearance of architectural traditions that together added up to “an ingenious conspiracy of passive cooling.” Some of those traditions, Arsenault said, could make a comeback in a post-A/C future. “We’d be paying a lot more attention to where our shade trees are,” he said, noting that Southerners would always try to plant theirs on the east and west sides of their homes, to protect from the rays of the rising and setting sun. Those who could afford to built their homes with wide eaves, awnings, and high ceilings, so that hot air could rise and float far above their heads.

I notice that in my neighborhood, there are a lot of west-facing houses with big picture windows with no shade trees. That is just plain DUMB. One reason my downstairs is relatively cool is that there is no west-facing window.

Another way to adapt to a hot climate is to get out in it. I walk 2-3 miles a day in 90 degree weather- though I admit that shaded 90 degrees is much more comfortable than unshaded 98.

#13.1 Gringo on 2015-07-23 14:35 (Reply)

"Another way to adapt to a hot climate is to get out in it."

Another way to adapt to a hot climate is to stay out of it completely which would have left a vast portion of your country empty and the US a much less developed country.

Now I know there are a few out there who might think that a good thing but somehow I don't think most Americans want people to start abandoning Lake Havasu City and descending on Skowhegan.

#13.1.1 JJM on 2015-07-23 15:43 (Reply)

another way to adapt to a hot climate is to stay out of it completely which would have left a vast portion of your country empty and the US a much less developed country.

By definition, staying out is not adapting. From Merriam-Webster:

QUOTE:

to change your behavior so that it is easier to live in a particular place or situation

So you are speaking nonsense.

And as I have lived for decades in a subtropical climate where the daily highs in the summer range from 90-108 degrees , your crack about Skoheagan and Lake Havasu likewise makes no sense.
Ciao.

#13.1.1.1 Gringo on 2015-07-23 18:06 (Reply)

That "major city" should be Wash DC!

#13.2 Sam L. on 2015-07-23 14:59 (Reply)

re This is a thinly-veiled typical environmentalist gripe about ordinary people improving their personal comfort and standard of living.

You are 100% right JJM.

These types of articles are infuriating as some pompous ass thinks he knows better than the population at large where the optimum usage of air conditioning lies. It smacks of central planning, and we all know how that works out.

There is nothing wrong with turning the a/c down to 50 if one has no qualms about paying the tab. People that have a problem with it really need to mind their own business.

#13.3 feeblemind on 2015-07-23 15:24 (Reply)

I went to Orlando, Florida for boot camp many years ago. There was no air conditioning for us, except in the dining halls, I believe. We wore:

1) long pants
2) two pairs of socks (one wool)
3) heavy boots
4) undershirt
5) long-sleeved shirt with sleeves down
6) cover of some kind (hat)

This was from mid-April to mid-June. By the end of the experience, it was getting hotter and more humid. At first, I thought I was going to die with so much clothing on. After a few days, however, my body adjusted, and it was no big deal to march around in the sun wearing all of these clothes.

The only time we got any relief was when it was a 'black flag' day...that was when the temperature and humidity levels were too dangerous for the amount of exercise we normally did. I was so surprised how my body adjusted in a very short period of time to this new way of being.

BTW, women are freezing in offices all over the country! We bring sweaters and wear socks under our desks in order to keep from freezing. PLEASE turn down the air! Anything below 72 is way too flipping cold. 75 is preferred. Thank you, businesses of America.

#13.4 MissT on 2015-07-23 15:41 (Reply)

I hate to break it to you this way but Orlando in May is not even remotely close to Miami in July. Without AC south Florida would be a large expanse of cattle and a few people. A typical day here is 95 degrees and 100% humidity. I wear long pants, long sleeved shirts and a hat every day because it's cooler. But, heatstroke is always 10 minutes away. A friend of mine who was born here got heatstroke last Sunday mowing his grass.

#13.4.1 FRP on 2015-07-23 17:20 (Reply)

"Until recently, however, civilization was humming along just fine without this costly convenience [air conditioning]."

If by civilization humming along, you mean thousands of people dying off in heat waves, than ... yes!

- France, India, e.g.

#14 Adriane on 2015-07-23 13:05 (Reply)

BBC: How is catering to and amplifying the muttering mutterers from the bus any different form the Barnum&Bailey freak show of a hundred years ago? Exploitation and/or opportunism?

#15 Exasperated on 2015-07-23 18:36 (Reply)

Air conditioning is not necessary it is simply a luxury some prefer and thus pay for. I have lived in the deep South, the midwest and Southern California and choose not to have air conditioning. In fact my house in Southern California which I bought new had air conditioning and I lived in it for three years and never turned it on. I can only assume it worked. When I ordered my last new car I specifically asked for no air conditioning but they put it in anyway and told me it would have disrupted the assembly line to not put it in. I did in fact turn it on once to see if it worked.
You can easily and comfortably live anywhere in thise country without air conditioning.

#16 GoneWithTheWind on 2015-07-23 19:02 (Reply)

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