Cool comics and true words:
http://bizarrocomic.blogspot.com/2009/03/dubious-reunions.html
I fully agree with the Mark Twain Quote at the end of the article :)
3/26/2009
Science And Freedom Of Speech Are The Best Doctors
I feel as though I had a fantastic night out last night and had a little too much of the wine, and am feeling the effects of it today...only without the going out last night bit. In slightly less tortured language, I’m ill.
Still, i've just read two very groovy pieces of news on the interwebs:
Firstly: There was a nasty amendment on the cards to the UN’s constitution on Human Rights making it illegal to defame or criticise Islam. Criticise any other religion, but not Islam. Apparently it’s a “serious affront to human dignity” to do that. Luckily the amendment was dismissed. Rights are for individuals, not ideas. Score one for free speech!
Secondly: The Texas Board of Education was going to vote on new science curriculum standards today, which included wording that undermined the teaching of evolution (the principal pillar of Biology) and would allow schools to teach creationism if they wanted too. (Curiously it’s always Biblical creationism that seems to be advocated in American schools instead of evolution, no mention of Hindu or Buddhist creation ‘theories’. They all have the same amount of evidence going for them, i.e. bugger all)
The vote was tied at 7-7, meaning the old standards that wouldn’t allow creationism to be taught, stand! Evolution will be continued to be taught without pathetic creationists trying to dump their vacuous theology dressed as science into children’s minds.
This is a big victory. Because Texas is the largest buyer of school textbooks in America, textbooks follow their curricula more or less. Had the new standards been passed, most textbook publishers would have amended their textbooks with the creationist friendly nonsense leading to a potential decline in science education across America. But the amendment failed, and science wins! (Barely!). Score two for sound science education!
Two wins against ignorance and tyranny in one day, I’m feeling better already!
[EDIT]: Apparently it's not over yet! I thought it was too good to be true!
[EDIT]: Argh, I blogged too soon!
Still, i've just read two very groovy pieces of news on the interwebs:
Firstly: There was a nasty amendment on the cards to the UN’s constitution on Human Rights making it illegal to defame or criticise Islam. Criticise any other religion, but not Islam. Apparently it’s a “serious affront to human dignity” to do that. Luckily the amendment was dismissed. Rights are for individuals, not ideas. Score one for free speech!
Secondly: The Texas Board of Education was going to vote on new science curriculum standards today, which included wording that undermined the teaching of evolution (the principal pillar of Biology) and would allow schools to teach creationism if they wanted too. (Curiously it’s always Biblical creationism that seems to be advocated in American schools instead of evolution, no mention of Hindu or Buddhist creation ‘theories’. They all have the same amount of evidence going for them, i.e. bugger all)
The vote was tied at 7-7, meaning the old standards that wouldn’t allow creationism to be taught, stand! Evolution will be continued to be taught without pathetic creationists trying to dump their vacuous theology dressed as science into children’s minds.
This is a big victory. Because Texas is the largest buyer of school textbooks in America, textbooks follow their curricula more or less. Had the new standards been passed, most textbook publishers would have amended their textbooks with the creationist friendly nonsense leading to a potential decline in science education across America. But the amendment failed, and science wins! (Barely!). Score two for sound science education!
Two wins against ignorance and tyranny in one day, I’m feeling better already!
[EDIT]: Apparently it's not over yet! I thought it was too good to be true!
[EDIT]: Argh, I blogged too soon!
3/20/2009
Bookfair (at last!)
I've finally got around to writing up about the bookfair! I have no excuse as to why I haven’t done it sooner, I seem to have gone downhill recently with juggling everything in my life at the mo…I shall have to try harder!
Anyway, the Bookfair! Overall I really enjoyed it; it was such an education to see all these people who have been exploring the book as a medium of creative expression for far longer than I have. My one gripe with the event was more to do with our course’s own stand than the actual fair. Literally we had about nearly a hundred books to fit on quite a small table, there was no chance of arranging our table into a considered display, and so my books were swallowed up in a sea of colour bindings! Here are some of the blank sketchbooks I made using some of my designs:
Anyway, the Bookfair! Overall I really enjoyed it; it was such an education to see all these people who have been exploring the book as a medium of creative expression for far longer than I have. My one gripe with the event was more to do with our course’s own stand than the actual fair. Literally we had about nearly a hundred books to fit on quite a small table, there was no chance of arranging our table into a considered display, and so my books were swallowed up in a sea of colour bindings! Here are some of the blank sketchbooks I made using some of my designs:
I managed to sell one of my little notebooks and that was it (and it was to one of my friends. Who probably bought it out of pity) apart from that, everything else was delightful! There were some amazing stands and pretty much everyone was up for a quick chat or explanation about their work. My favourite’s (i.e, the ones I spent most of my money at!) were lonely panda publishing, where I bought some delightful postcard prints and a marvellous little book by Gareth Brookes, anyone who can rhyme ‘relishes’ with ‘jellyfishes’ and get away with it is awesome!
There was a bewildering array of books, from really conceptual artists books to frivolous, fun stuff like what I bought. I also met the artist in residence at my college, which was interesting. She had some sound advice to offer regarding my disappointment about not selling. It was an Artists Bookfair. The best selling books on our stall were the ‘Arty’, individual pieces. Blank sketchbooks would be more suited to a craft market where people go to buy presents, not pieces of art. It does make sense, and dispelled most of my disappointment at lack of buying!
I think for next year I’ll try and get my own table, or gather a group of likeminded people together and share a table. It’d be nice to display some of my stuff in a much less cluttered environment.
There was a bewildering array of books, from really conceptual artists books to frivolous, fun stuff like what I bought. I also met the artist in residence at my college, which was interesting. She had some sound advice to offer regarding my disappointment about not selling. It was an Artists Bookfair. The best selling books on our stall were the ‘Arty’, individual pieces. Blank sketchbooks would be more suited to a craft market where people go to buy presents, not pieces of art. It does make sense, and dispelled most of my disappointment at lack of buying!
I think for next year I’ll try and get my own table, or gather a group of likeminded people together and share a table. It’d be nice to display some of my stuff in a much less cluttered environment.
Can’t wait for it!
3/08/2009
The Unsavoury Quandary...Gets Worse?
It seems I was asking too much for other Catholics to speak out against the insane words of one of their Archbishops.
The Vatican itself has now weighed into the debate in support of the Archbishop. Ugh.
Though I have noticed that Brazil’s president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who condemned the Archbishop, is Catholic. It’s good to see that it isn’t just left to outside groups to condemn this appalling stance.
(Sorry about this grim diversion, but I had to vent my feelings on this. Book fair report will be up shortly!)
The Vatican itself has now weighed into the debate in support of the Archbishop. Ugh.
Though I have noticed that Brazil’s president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who condemned the Archbishop, is Catholic. It’s good to see that it isn’t just left to outside groups to condemn this appalling stance.
(Sorry about this grim diversion, but I had to vent my feelings on this. Book fair report will be up shortly!)
An Unsavoury Quandary.
A hypothetical situation:
A girl of 9 is raped by her abusive step-father for a number of years, and becomes pregnant. The authorities are only aware of what's happened when the girl is checked in at hospital for 'stomach pains' and they find out she's 4 months pregnant.
The girl is frail and it is physically impossible for her to carry a baby to full term, let alone twins. She would not survive the pregnancy and childbirth, neither would the twins.
If you were a doctor what would you do to alleviate this appalling situation? I personally would carry out an abortion to save the girl, as I’m sure most reasonable people would agree, and enact the full force of the law on her appalling step-father (after due process).
Is this not the most sensible course of action to take in such an appalling situation? Would anyone have major qualms about this reasonable solution?
Unfortunately this isn’t a hypothetical situation, it happened in Brazil last Thursday. My heart goes out to the poor girl and her family. Brazil has a large Catholic population, so it was no surprise that a Brazilian Archbishop also spoke to the media about the case. Does this leader of a faith condemn the awful man who rapes a young girl? Does he offer consolation to the girl’s family? Does he thank the doctors for potentially saving the girls life?
No.
He condemns the abortion and announces the excommunication of the doctors and girl’s mother from the Church. Words can barely describe the seething contempt I hold for this amoeba of a man. This is a man who condemns this girl, her mother and doctors and yet makes no comment on the equally vile man who raped the girl.
I refuse to believe most Catholics would concur with this particular Archbishop’s warped view; most religious people I know are reasonable, compassionate people who would most likely favour an abortion as the lesser of two evils.
Where is the condemnation from other Catholics of this whoreson bastard of a man who represents their Faith? Is it fear of attacking ‘one’s own’? Are all Catholics in agreement with the excommunication?
‘The law of God [is] above any human law’. If that is your God’s law you are welcome to it, human law is far more compassionate than your barbaric beliefs.
A girl of 9 is raped by her abusive step-father for a number of years, and becomes pregnant. The authorities are only aware of what's happened when the girl is checked in at hospital for 'stomach pains' and they find out she's 4 months pregnant.
The girl is frail and it is physically impossible for her to carry a baby to full term, let alone twins. She would not survive the pregnancy and childbirth, neither would the twins.
If you were a doctor what would you do to alleviate this appalling situation? I personally would carry out an abortion to save the girl, as I’m sure most reasonable people would agree, and enact the full force of the law on her appalling step-father (after due process).
Is this not the most sensible course of action to take in such an appalling situation? Would anyone have major qualms about this reasonable solution?
Unfortunately this isn’t a hypothetical situation, it happened in Brazil last Thursday. My heart goes out to the poor girl and her family. Brazil has a large Catholic population, so it was no surprise that a Brazilian Archbishop also spoke to the media about the case. Does this leader of a faith condemn the awful man who rapes a young girl? Does he offer consolation to the girl’s family? Does he thank the doctors for potentially saving the girls life?
No.
He condemns the abortion and announces the excommunication of the doctors and girl’s mother from the Church. Words can barely describe the seething contempt I hold for this amoeba of a man. This is a man who condemns this girl, her mother and doctors and yet makes no comment on the equally vile man who raped the girl.
I refuse to believe most Catholics would concur with this particular Archbishop’s warped view; most religious people I know are reasonable, compassionate people who would most likely favour an abortion as the lesser of two evils.
Where is the condemnation from other Catholics of this whoreson bastard of a man who represents their Faith? Is it fear of attacking ‘one’s own’? Are all Catholics in agreement with the excommunication?
‘The law of God [is] above any human law’. If that is your God’s law you are welcome to it, human law is far more compassionate than your barbaric beliefs.
3/05/2009
*Glee!*
I held a first edition copy of Newton's Principa today. *Gleeee*!
More information on how i was able to access such a priceless tome will be forthcoming...
(Also: Book Fair time tomorrow! Will hopefuilly get a review and some pictures up by Sunday!)
More information on how i was able to access such a priceless tome will be forthcoming...
(Also: Book Fair time tomorrow! Will hopefuilly get a review and some pictures up by Sunday!)
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