Can someone please tell me what kind of a world we live in where this shit takes decades to sort out?
Indian court convicts 7 in Bhopal gas disaster
Leads to two years in prison. SRSLY. This is abhorrent. Read it about it here.
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Evolution, Big Bang Polls Omitted From NSF Report - ScienceInsider
Evolution, Big Bang Polls Omitted From NSF Report - ScienceInsider
In an era of diminishing returns, statisticians can be clever knowing (of course) that the number never lie. Don't like the skewing? Omit the factors that cause the skew et voilà ce sera parfait! In order to avoid the problem of religious objections to science and better yet avoid having to address his, the
(Thanks to the Barefoot Bum for the tip on the story.)
In an era of diminishing returns, statisticians can be clever knowing (of course) that the number never lie. Don't like the skewing? Omit the factors that cause the skew et voilà ce sera parfait! In order to avoid the problem of religious objections to science and better yet avoid having to address his, the
National Science Board, which oversees the National Science Foundation (NSF), says it chose to leave the section out of the 2010 edition of the biennial Science and Engineering Indicators because the survey questions used to measure knowledge of the two topics force respondents to choose between factual knowledge and religious beliefs.What an unpleasant taste this precedent leaves. I guess if you omit the horrific rate in which the US incarcerates its citizens, executes them and foreign nationals, dumbs down sexual education programmes, it is indeed the best country in the world. Just set some more comprehensive accountancy at toil and it will be perfect. Perhaps re-write history books whilst we're at it: Let Texas lead the way!
(Thanks to the Barefoot Bum for the tip on the story.)
CBC News - Montreal - Niqab gets 2nd Quebec student expelled
CBC News - Montreal - Niqab gets 2nd Quebec student expelled
We like the CBC, we do. We do not, however, like how comments on stories so frequently breakdown as follows:
1. Relevant comment.
2. Tangential comment.
3. Racist screed.
4. Racist screed and with added typos for fibre.
5. Ridiculous leftest counter claims.
6.+ More of the same.
This is an important, significant story for all modern liberal democracies. But there's a snag you see, it is not a simple thing, one minor on/off switch and the problem is solved or dissolved. There are really important issues (plural) here: religious freedom, secularism, women's right, individual choice and autonomy, provincial rights, states/federal rights... Not to mention that the law in question has merely been proposed. Why was this woman expelled? What will come of this?
We like the CBC, we do. We do not, however, like how comments on stories so frequently breakdown as follows:
1. Relevant comment.
2. Tangential comment.
3. Racist screed.
4. Racist screed and with added typos for fibre.
5. Ridiculous leftest counter claims.
6.+ More of the same.
This is an important, significant story for all modern liberal democracies. But there's a snag you see, it is not a simple thing, one minor on/off switch and the problem is solved or dissolved. There are really important issues (plural) here: religious freedom, secularism, women's right, individual choice and autonomy, provincial rights, states/federal rights... Not to mention that the law in question has merely been proposed. Why was this woman expelled? What will come of this?
Monday, October 12, 2009
Cthulhu on High
Dr. P Zed Myers and Joe.My.God. have both been following the ridiculous mess that is the painting of Jesus delivering the US Constitution. I'm not going to give you the link because I really don't want to have to find it again. It is widely available. Sadly. Instead I'll give you my favourite of the parodies featuring Cthulhu. (Dr. Myers and I both love squidy goodness).
Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn... Not anymore. It seems he's up and about. And much shorter than I imagined.
In offer this image in the true spirit of l'Action de Grâce or [Canadian] Thanksgiving.
Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn... Not anymore. It seems he's up and about. And much shorter than I imagined.
In offer this image in the true spirit of l'Action de Grâce or [Canadian] Thanksgiving.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Can anyone really be surprised?
Blackwater = Bad; it's founder is a Christianist murderer.
SRSLY. Can anyone really be surprised when a neo-con stalwart starts a mercenary company and then together they do reprehensible things? Now let's be clear here: you can't exactly "go rogue" when you are fucking mercenaries. It is what it says on the tin. The question here is how neo-cons who thought that professional soldiering was not sufficient and decided that hiring mercenaries answerable only to their employers would be a good idea. And: How are they going to spin it to the public? They really didn't. I never really got the impression that outside of Iraq and reactionary liberal blogs like this one, there was much awareness of a) what Blackwater was b) who it consisted of c) what they did and d) Oh By The Way, mercenaries. (Wherein mercenary is perhaps not harsh enough.)
Here's a nice solid from Salon discussing the Blackwater founder, Erik Prince from sworn statements:
Fuck Prince. What a disgraceful human being. But who knows, it has yet to be proven. However, again let's be clear here, he is the founder and owner of a MERCENARY COMPANY. What is the business of mercs? It is to murderize and business is good. Apparently. As a heretic, I am, however, even more disturbed by the crusading bits. What to tart up your sociopathy Mr. Prince.
My original source seems to have disappeared. But it was here. Fortunately there are others. And having multiple sources on any topic is always important and academically sound. See also here. But I guess I have a little bit of a pause because saying bad things about what mercs do is almost like saying nothing at all. Thuggery and murder is where they live; all part of the job.
However, the charges are specific (link to the declarations made by John Doe 1 and John Doe 2) and more disturbing than the standard merc horribleness. Hopefully Blackwater and Mr. Prince will be examined thoroughly by the legal process, although I am sceptical. It seems now at least that something is being done about US Federally funded thuggery. Disturbing(er?) charges have been raised; if they are truly actionable I hope the fuckers get prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But I'm exceedingly dubious that will ever happen. Here's hoping also that Messrs. Doe and Doe don't magically disappear and/or "meet with accidents."
SRSLY. Can anyone really be surprised when a neo-con stalwart starts a mercenary company and then together they do reprehensible things? Now let's be clear here: you can't exactly "go rogue" when you are fucking mercenaries. It is what it says on the tin. The question here is how neo-cons who thought that professional soldiering was not sufficient and decided that hiring mercenaries answerable only to their employers would be a good idea. And: How are they going to spin it to the public? They really didn't. I never really got the impression that outside of Iraq and reactionary liberal blogs like this one, there was much awareness of a) what Blackwater was b) who it consisted of c) what they did and d) Oh By The Way, mercenaries. (Wherein mercenary is perhaps not harsh enough.)
Here's a nice solid from Salon discussing the Blackwater founder, Erik Prince from sworn statements:
Erik Prince, may have murdered or facilitated the murder of individuals who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company. The former employee also alleges that Prince "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe," and that Prince's companies "encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life."
Fuck Prince. What a disgraceful human being. But who knows, it has yet to be proven. However, again let's be clear here, he is the founder and owner of a MERCENARY COMPANY. What is the business of mercs? It is to murderize and business is good. Apparently. As a heretic, I am, however, even more disturbed by the crusading bits. What to tart up your sociopathy Mr. Prince.
My original source seems to have disappeared. But it was here. Fortunately there are others. And having multiple sources on any topic is always important and academically sound. See also here. But I guess I have a little bit of a pause because saying bad things about what mercs do is almost like saying nothing at all. Thuggery and murder is where they live; all part of the job.
However, the charges are specific (link to the declarations made by John Doe 1 and John Doe 2) and more disturbing than the standard merc horribleness. Hopefully Blackwater and Mr. Prince will be examined thoroughly by the legal process, although I am sceptical. It seems now at least that something is being done about US Federally funded thuggery. Disturbing(er?) charges have been raised; if they are truly actionable I hope the fuckers get prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But I'm exceedingly dubious that will ever happen. Here's hoping also that Messrs. Doe and Doe don't magically disappear and/or "meet with accidents."
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