BP Boogie

I recently read the blog of a young friend who is battling cancer, and it got me to thinking about two of my favorite rant subjects: The Secret and Christianity.

If you're not familiar with it, The Secret is a new 'philosophy' that postulates that things happen to us because that's what we want to happen and all we have to do is think about what we really want in order for the "Universe" to supply it. A lot of "Secret" gurus have sprung up who are perfectly willing to explain why it isn't working for you and how you can make it work. Of course, they won't just give you this information but they'll be happy to SELL it to you. To the people who believe this crap, I ask....how many infants do you know who lay around dreaming of having some deadly disease that's going to kill them before they even reach their teen years?

I have multiple problems with Christianity, but I think my all-time favorite is when someone prays for something and the prayer isn't answered. The Christians explain this by saying "the prayer was answered but the answer was No". Okay, Christians, here's the challenge; show me even one line in any Bible where it says the answer to a prayer can be No. Just one. Here, I'll even give you a place to start: St John, Chapter 14, Verse 14 "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." Please note that it does not state "I will do it if the mood strikes me". And yes, I know there have been studies that conclude that prayer does work. But those studies are misleading because what they really show is that sometimes, if someone, or some group, believes in something strongly enough, it can happen. Which is a testament to the psychology and power of the human mind, not religion or prayer.

Something else I've been wondering about; all the advertisements on websites. Do the advertisers really believe that we pay attention to this crap? Do they think we're going to be encouraged to buy their product simply because they're annoying the hell out of us? It seems to me in this time of economic bust, that they would be looking for ways to save money, not ways to waste it. Few things annoy me more than clicking on a website and having to click off, or wait through a stupid 'commercial'. It is the very reason I stopped going to movie theaters. I will not pay to see a f**king commercial. I think someone needs to invent a new internet.

Saturday afternoon, Robb and I went to the farewell party of our friend Steven. We had planned to stay only two or three hours but didn't leave until almost midnight. Steven works for the county library system which has screwed him around. After fighting many illnesses and loss of class time, he finally managed to get his Masters in Library Science and became a Librarian I. Normally, that pays rather well, but the county cut his hours to 19 per week, which is the main reason he's leaving. He is returning to Alabama where he got a full-time job as a Librarian, and he can live with his parents until he puts together enough to get his own place.

Scientists challenge BP containment claims. Some scientists are taking issue with BP's statement that a containment cap placed over a gushing well could be capturing "the vast majority" of oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico.

A MUST SEE: http://www.koreus.com/video/bp-maree-noire-cafe.html

Lloyd's: ditch oil, invest in renewable energy. The current generation of business leaders need to rethink their approach to energy risks or be left behind as energy becomes less reliable and more expensive... The environmental and economic cost of our reliance on fossil fuels is too high. We need a long-term plan to reduce consumption and diversify our energy resources.

Shock and Age. The accumulation of misfolded protein marks the accrual of years as the body ages. Could heat shock proteins be used to reduce the effects of aging and diminish the risk of disease by untangling improperly folded proteins?

Paper trail: Inside the stem cell wars. Some stem cell biologists are crying foul, however. Last year, 14 researchers in this notoriously competitive field wrote to leading journals complaining of "unreasonable or obstructive reviews". The result, they claimed, is that "publication of truly original findings may be delayed or rejected".

Foxconn gives workers second pay rise. An electronics company hit by a string of suicides has raised wages in China - for the second time in less than a week.

Hooked on Gadgets, and Paying a Mental Price

Get a Flu Shot Without Any Needles. Biosolutions has created a device that with the help of lasers, makes tiny holes in your skin to let the medicine in and keep the pain of getting shots out. The Painless Laser Epideral System (PLEASE) boasts that it can be a great advance for diabetic patients and for wanting-to-be mothers who have to go through a series of painful shots. With this, you can even do it in the comfort of your own home and avoid the doctor all together.

Sci-fi universes featuring both magic and science.

Portrait of a youthful planet.

A couple of redneck hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other redneck starts to panic, then whips out his cell phone and calls 911.

He frantically blurts out to the operator, "O my gawd! Help! My friend just died. He's Dead! What can I do?"

The operator, trying to calm him says, "Take it easy. I can help. Just listen to me and follow my instructions. First, lets make sure he's dead."

There's a short pause, and then the operator hears a loud gun shot!!!

The redneck comes back on the line and says, "OK, now what?"

À la prochaine, mes amis