tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20170995785147630202024-03-14T01:35:01.503-05:00Sodium Channels versus the Soulmilansthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15366604775175939770noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017099578514763020.post-34253116037388189932009-02-07T14:13:00.001-06:002009-02-07T14:13:37.048-06:00200 Years of Darwin on NPRhttp://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/200902068<br /><br />This link is to NPR's Science Friday on evolution and the 200 year anniversary of Darwin's Birthday and the 150 year anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species. It features an interview with Matthew Chapman, Darwin's great-great grandson.milansthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15366604775175939770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017099578514763020.post-85952860739430207552009-02-06T21:29:00.004-06:002009-02-06T21:37:03.903-06:00Lee Strobel's "The Case for a Creator" review and commentary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38DebhdqfqGTxuRXqYarCRD_DEIRc370QM8r23P80qBJSqBISaZUrLTTqZO2rHi070ne0erXkXwTnAh7huX-Kbfy0q3vNcHZuA538Sm0z_twEUdK3-4XTYDf9dqqCmt9zjRwctO3xDac/s1600-h/creator.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38DebhdqfqGTxuRXqYarCRD_DEIRc370QM8r23P80qBJSqBISaZUrLTTqZO2rHi070ne0erXkXwTnAh7huX-Kbfy0q3vNcHZuA538Sm0z_twEUdK3-4XTYDf9dqqCmt9zjRwctO3xDac/s320/creator.jpg" alt="" 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New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p face="courier new" class="MsoNormal">An acquaintance at work lent me a book to read that supports his religious and creationist viewpoint. Since I’ve always found the religious worldview puzzling; I am going to read it hoping that there is a grain of truth and honesty, especially after listening to people like Kent Hovind and Harun Yahya with their blatantly dishonest tactics and contentions.</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">The book is Lee Strobel’s “The Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward a God.” My plan is to do one post per chapter, as time permits. </p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Chapter 1: White-coated Scientists versus Black-robed Preachers</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">The first chapter was an anecdote about an incident in the 1970’s concerning Christians in West Virginia that were acting violently in reaction to school books that they felt were “anti-Christian” and “un-American.” Strobel actually does seem to have a fair grasp of the science oriented atheist’s position although he is consistently expressing it in a way that would inflame the emotion of true believer. An example of his seeming grasp of the position can be found in paragraphs such as this one.</p> <p style="font-style: italic; font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">“Didn’t he know that evolution is a proven fact? Didn’t he realize that in an age of science and technology that it’s simply irrational to believe the ancient myths about god creating the world and shaping human beings in his own image? Did he really want his children clinging desperately to religious pap that is so clearly disproved by cosmology, astronomy, zoology, comparative anatomy, geology, paleontology, biology, genetics and anthropology?”</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">His primary tactic to illicit an emotional response from true believers is the arguments of his interviewees that took place in West Virginia and his use of the term Darwinism rather than evolution. <span style=""> </span>I believe that these interviews will set the tone for the rest of the book. The bottom line of them is that they believe, not because on evidence or credibility but because they do not like the implications of their religion being false. An excellent example can be found almost immediately on page 11 where an interviewee says…</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-style: italic; font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">“If Darwin is right, we’re just sophisticated monkeys. The bible is wrong. There is no god and without god there is no right or wrong. We can just make up our morals as we go. The basis for all we believe is destroyed. And that is why this country is headed to hell in a handbasket.”</p> milansthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15366604775175939770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017099578514763020.post-18353086063204331212009-02-03T18:40:00.008-06:002009-02-03T19:16:52.655-06:00My Surprising Favorite of the Auto ShowAs I've already mentioned, I spent a portion of my weekend at the auto show. There were some awesome cars, there and a surprising number of fuel efficient autos. I already own an Accord hybrid and a Mazdaspeed MX-5 but am always on the lookout for my next automotive toy. A car that I was particularly attracted to was an aggressive looking black, 2010, Chevy Camaro V-6. While I haven't seen any acceleration numbers, this V-6 does not appear to be a slouch with 300 hp at tap. More impressive than this, however, is its 27 mpg highway rating. This is comparable to my turbocharged miata.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgw9F7Oyw_r_46XP6QZTl-gM2bHjr7A34oLgLj_t9Lxj4ISg9FSHpyHuYOkhJ0yPRzZ-6RpLmdmWr7dMBzkQDGEVzQOFSOYJa75ZrvZEsFDjrTP21S6ZNA9qEzmnU1L3xNqQAt7tECJt8/s1600-h/P1310272.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px; height: 356px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgw9F7Oyw_r_46XP6QZTl-gM2bHjr7A34oLgLj_t9Lxj4ISg9FSHpyHuYOkhJ0yPRzZ-6RpLmdmWr7dMBzkQDGEVzQOFSOYJa75ZrvZEsFDjrTP21S6ZNA9qEzmnU1L3xNqQAt7tECJt8/s400/P1310272.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298741747789343810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvx1wdqkxBLvbVaZkdDhszr3r-D2DzV4JXgkXdEyPC60zSfO7bvRDeRNqcac5rEnKRtDUmby1vVsQjuijdhxgtqpJxeK_9Z9BR7NBbsiXFpAFseN4gEsi7LiauPI9GhR1m42mpeSKCjU/s1600-h/P1310294.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 475px; height: 355px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvx1wdqkxBLvbVaZkdDhszr3r-D2DzV4JXgkXdEyPC60zSfO7bvRDeRNqcac5rEnKRtDUmby1vVsQjuijdhxgtqpJxeK_9Z9BR7NBbsiXFpAFseN4gEsi7LiauPI9GhR1m42mpeSKCjU/s400/P1310294.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298742905612157186" border="0" /></a>milansthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15366604775175939770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017099578514763020.post-64809211717332887682009-02-01T19:32:00.016-06:002009-02-03T19:16:09.476-06:00Proselytization on the run<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMi5pX7nsFrIohVD2iR8zFr1sitpXKS0zve0ePc5MoBDQoHfEQVuPQRTaQKLbdjjGXR808lGBlQyIdJik5p7tZ9k-6tEW0a8RvuaDX2MnSxb2FjVbi5w8uWDXp2b0DarfEjBzYq9m9LIM/s1600-h/2009-02-01+19-46-23_0007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMi5pX7nsFrIohVD2iR8zFr1sitpXKS0zve0ePc5MoBDQoHfEQVuPQRTaQKLbdjjGXR808lGBlQyIdJik5p7tZ9k-6tEW0a8RvuaDX2MnSxb2FjVbi5w8uWDXp2b0DarfEjBzYq9m9LIM/s320/2009-02-01+19-46-23_0007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298012820912019346" border="0" /></a><br />I went to the auto show this weekend, as I do every year. I happen to live close to the train and decided to travel by the metro rather than by car. It takes about a half hour to get from my stop to downtown and during the trip a fundamentalist christian must have taken note of me and another guy who was sitting across the aisle because he quickly stood up and handed us a small booklet, saying "can I give this to you" and quickly darting out of the train. He jetted so quickly that he almost hit one of the doors. I'm not sure why the haste, maybe he was afraid he'd get stuck with us.<br /><br />The booklet was a generic booklet with the address of a local church on its back. It brought one phrase to mind, god-fearing. This booklet is the essence of what is wrong with Christianity.<br /><br />It has it all; blaming the victim, stressing blind belief and threats, lots of threats.<br /><br />Here are a couple of examples:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCQtApHjvwwqWoqbkaM-jj7J0yPeDun1C4-xkNLfl-xg-7d61WpSYuFmPgGWStwEPYHCpfv-7LHZdYlYeV6A8wQG1jcV_ABAd80ZgWPwxcJYUoC67usK4bWFpRPxt5u-LEX4QAQtzWkE/s1600-h/2009-02-01+19-47-58_0005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCQtApHjvwwqWoqbkaM-jj7J0yPeDun1C4-xkNLfl-xg-7d61WpSYuFmPgGWStwEPYHCpfv-7LHZdYlYeV6A8wQG1jcV_ABAd80ZgWPwxcJYUoC67usK4bWFpRPxt5u-LEX4QAQtzWkE/s320/2009-02-01+19-47-58_0005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298024041703915570" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz99yzYQCAMPMy6ZHAckmAxl65esHE4_mLtTNyWmOMIowu9V-yiVSzN2zD7auGnT__SKwuGcY3Qf_Kd5HTfGOOswy2iEX4tQV0MkuEliPeMdv2vNxx6zKuADiFRqWLMvuub8M_jntWkNE/s1600-h/2009-02-01+19-49-33_0006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 349px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz99yzYQCAMPMy6ZHAckmAxl65esHE4_mLtTNyWmOMIowu9V-yiVSzN2zD7auGnT__SKwuGcY3Qf_Kd5HTfGOOswy2iEX4tQV0MkuEliPeMdv2vNxx6zKuADiFRqWLMvuub8M_jntWkNE/s320/2009-02-01+19-49-33_0006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298730782468715986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Can you see the major contradiction? God loves you but if you don't toe the line you'll burn for eternity.<br /><br />Let's begin with the assumption that there is a god and it is the Christian god. Where does love fit with a creature that would create such beauties as a worm that has to survive by burrowing into a human's eyeball and feasting on their optic nerve? Or how about a creature that would create a being with curiosity and logic only to punish said being for using these attributes. There are many more examples, way too many to list. No matter what, these are not examples that one would expect in a world created by a watching and loving being.milansthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15366604775175939770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017099578514763020.post-21309792065145406642009-01-24T09:24:00.003-06:002009-01-24T19:15:25.462-06:00Homosexuality, a psychodynamic process?<div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I’ve recently been conversing with a Christian on townhall.com about homosexuality. He is making many dubious claims about homosexuals and condoms that have led me to develop this post and probably more to follow. The primary basis for his claims is that homosexuality is a purely psychodynamic process and has no physiological basis. This contradicts all reputable scientific, medicine and psychological organizations that I am aware of so I did a quick review of the literature. </span></div><p face="lucida grande" style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"> Homosexuality has been demonstrated to have an underlying physiological influence by many different examples of research that have evolved from twin-sibling studies to more recent brain and physical trait studies. </p><div style="text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;"> </div><p style="text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal">The earliest study that I’ve found supporting a physiological influence on homosexuality was a twin study from 1952 [Twin and Subship Study of Overt Male Homosexuality. <span class="ti">Am J Hum Genet]. The author stated:</span> </p><div style="text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;"> “It is also quite evident that the presently available genetic evidence, especially the observation of practically complete concordance as to overt homosexuality in monozygotic male twin pairs, throws considerable doubt upon the validity of purely psychodynamic theories of predominantly or exclusively homosexual behavior patterns in adulthood.” </p><div style="text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;">There have been many twin studies since and they have all pointed to a physiological basis to homosexuality. Here is the short list: </p><div style="text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;"> </p><div style="text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;"> A family history study of male sexual orientation using three independent samples. Behav Genet. 1999;29:79–86.<br /><br />Evidence for maternally inherited factors favoring male homosexuality and promoting female fecundity. Proc Roy Soc London B. 2004;271:2217–2221.<br /><br />Familial aspects of male homosexuality. Arch Sex Behav. 2000;29:155–163.<br /><br />Family size in white gay and heterosexual men. Arch Sex Behav. 2005;34:117–122. </p><div style="text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;"> Sperm competition and the persistence of genes for male homosexuality. Biosystems. 1993;31:223–233.<br /><br />Homosexuality, birth order, and evolution: Toward an equilibrium reproductive economics of homosexuality. Arch Sex Behav. 2000;29:1–34.<br /><br />A genome-wide scan of male sexual orientation. Hum Genet. 2005;116:272–278.<br /><br />Molecular investigations into complex behavior: lessons from sexual orientation studies. Hum Biol. 1998;70:367–386. </p><div style="text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;"> </div><p style="text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"> Is homosexuality familial? A review, some data, and a suggestion. Arch Sex Behav. 1981;10:465–475.<br /><br />A family study of sexual orientation. Arch Sex Behav. 1982;11:511–520.<br /><br />Human sexual orientation has a heritable component. Hum Biol. 1998;70:347–365.<br /></p><div style="text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;"> Biological versus nonbiological older brothers and men’s sexual orientation<br />Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 July 11; 103(28): 10771–10774.<br /><br />Sexual orientation and the size of the anterior commissure in the human brain.<br />Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1992 August 1; 89(15): 7199–7202.<br /><br />Twin and sibship study of overt male homosexuality<br />Am J Hum Genet. 1952 June; 4(2): 136–146. </p><div style="text-align: left; font-family: lucida grande;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> It should be noted that these studies are often cited as evidence for a genetic influence to homosexuality but they are also compatible with a hormonal influence, maternal immunity or any combination, thereof. It should also be noted that very few aspects of human nature are dependent upon a single variable but is the culmination of interactions between physical and environmental factors.</span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p>milansthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15366604775175939770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017099578514763020.post-26505130545162146252009-01-23T21:10:00.001-06:002009-01-23T21:10:41.261-06:00Darwin Day EditorialFebruary 12 is Darwin day, commemorating 200 years since Darwin's birthday. Darwin is credited for founding evolution, which is often defined as descent with modification. Most of us are not aware of the daily impact of Darwin's theory of evolution. Evolution's most tangible benefits are found in the fields of medicine and agriculture. Evolutionary theory is responsible for such treatments as flu immunizations and many medicines, as well as genetics and disease pathology. Our knowledge of heart disease, obesity, infectious disease, disease of pregnancy, cancer and many more all have been impacted by evolution and its mechanisms. So, this February, remember the real and tangible benefits that this often misunderstood theory has provided us in our daily lives.milansthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15366604775175939770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017099578514763020.post-51795408303857864062009-01-19T12:16:00.000-06:002009-01-19T12:47:11.108-06:00Why does god hate Christians?Nine people are dead and over one hundred injured in the <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28724646/">collapse of one of the largest evangelical churches in Brazil</a>. Whenever I read a report such as this I ponder the apparent inconsistency with the religious belief and actual world events. It always amazes me how Christians, Muslims and all of the rest can always rationalize this type of tragedy and still believe that there is a loving god watching over them. Sure, I've heard plenty of excuses but none has more explanatory power to explain the random events of the world than the natural explanations.milansthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15366604775175939770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017099578514763020.post-26420409855167705932009-01-05T19:35:00.000-06:002009-01-05T19:36:29.289-06:00PersepolisI happened upon a film on cable, the other day, that caught me eye because I rembered hearing a story about the graphic novel, last year. The movie, <i>Persepolis</i>, is a coming of age film set in Iran during the islamic takeover and the Iran-Iraq war.<br /><br />This is a very powerful film that really demonstrates the effect that fundamentalism can have upon liberal and moderate religionists, let alone atheists and apostates. The change is most obvious in the beginning of the film when the women go from wearing normal western type clothing to full burkas. While there are examples of fundamentalism on men, it is most notable with the women. They are arrested for dressing inappropriately or being alone with a male when single.<br /><br />Another point of interest was the constant religious propaganda during the war. It was non-stop even in her grade school. It may have been a contributing factor to the deaths of millions of young boys and men that surrendered their lives for the promises of an afterlife and martyrdom.<br /><br />Unfortunately, this type of religious bullying is still occurring throughout the world. In Afghanistan, school girls are having acid thrown on them for going to school. Gays in the US having their liberties Unconstitutionally restricted.<br /><br />Why? These acts and restrictions are the work of religion with a lot of bigotry, hatred, nationalism and thirst for power thrown in for good measure.milansthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15366604775175939770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017099578514763020.post-13523309239186146352008-11-16T12:07:00.000-06:002008-11-16T12:09:14.624-06:00Bill Donahue and the Catholic League - Oh the irony!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I was browsing the Catholic League's website earlier this evening, something I like to do after a big meal because of its effectiveness as an emetic, and was struck by a particular phrase. The phrase was "gay fascists." I find this ironic on so many levels; Pope Ratzinger was a Hitler youth, fascist Italy was almost entirely Catholic, and the current pope is trying to wedge the church back into the Italian government.</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My only guess is that Bill Donahue and the others at the Catholic League have no idea what the definition of fascism is. For their benefit,</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><span style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"</span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Fascism</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> is a </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totalitarianism" title="Totalitarianism" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">totalitarian</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalism" title="Nationalism" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">nationalist</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> ideology that advocates itself as being a </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Position" title="Third Position" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">third position</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> alternative to both </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalism" title="Capitalism" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">capitalism</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> and </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism" title="Communism" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">communism</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism#cite_note-0" title="" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span style="line-height: 11px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span></span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">It seeks to form a </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_movement" title="Mass movement" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">mass movement</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> of </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militant" title="Militant" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">militants</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> who are willing to engage in violence against their political opponents and groups or individuals that the movement deems to be enemies</span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism#cite_note-2" title="" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span style="line-height: 11px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span></span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> Fascists wish to solve existing economic, political, and social problems by achieving a </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millenarianism" title="Millenarianism" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">millenarian</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> national rebirth by exalting the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation" title="Nation" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">nation</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> or </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_(biology)" title="Race (biology)" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">race</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> as well as promoting cults of unity, strength and purity. Fascism opposes the political ideologies of </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism" title="Communism" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">communism</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">, </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism" title="Liberalism" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">liberalism</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> and </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatism" title="Conservatism" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">conservatism</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> as well as political concepts and systems such as </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy" title="Democracy" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">democracy</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">, </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individualism" title="Individualism" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">individualism</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">, </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Materialism" title="Materialism" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">materialism</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">, </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacifism" title="Pacifism" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">pacifism</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">, and </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluralism" title="Pluralism" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">pluralism</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span><span style="line-height: 11px; "><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism#cite_note-14" title="" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">" </span></span></span></a></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="line-height: 11px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="line-height: 11px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">While I do not agree with the methods of these particular activists, the response of the Catholic is wholly dishonest. These activists are not acting as fascists, they are angry because the Catholic church, along with the Mormons, have decided to wage a war on the liberty of American citizens. Who is fascist? The individual citizens that want their Constitutional rights honored or the anti-American churches that are trying to implement their theology as law?</span> </div></div></span>milansthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15366604775175939770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017099578514763020.post-53134621297209916842008-11-15T16:01:00.000-06:002008-11-15T16:06:10.999-06:00A quick commentary on Roe v Wade<p class="MsoNormal">There has been a lot of airtime, both on the internet and news, lately about abortion and abortion rights. Because of this, I’d like to review some key points in Roe v. Wade’s opinion that was delivered by Justice Blackmun.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“We forthwith acknowledge our awareness of the sensitive and emotional nature of the abortion controversy, of the vigorous opposing views… One's philosophy, one's experiences, one's exposure to the raw edges of human existence, one's religious training, one's attitudes toward life and family and their values, and the moral standards one establishes and seeks to observe, are all likely to influence and to color one's thinking and conclusions about abortion.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Here is a very astute, if obvious, observation.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“Our task, of course, is to resolve the issue by constitutional measurement, free of emotion and of predilection.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt">This is an attitude that is all too rare in today’s world. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“We bear in mind, too, Mr. Justice Holmes' admonition in his now-vindicated dissent in</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Lochner v. New York, 198 U.S. 45, 76 (1905):</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">‘[The Constitution] is made for people of fundamentally differing views, and the accident of our finding certain opinions natural and familiar or novel and even shocking ought not to conclude our judgment upon the question whether statutes embodying them conflict with the Constitution of the United States.’”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This is what I think is sorely lacking in the abortion debate. This is especially true amongst the anti-abortion set. Pro-choice inherently allows choice, whereas, amongst anti-abortionists or ‘pro-lifers’ there is no room for choice, in their minds. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“…reason is the State's interest -- some phrase it in terms of duty -- in protecting prenatal life.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Some of the argument for this justification rests on the theory that a new human life is present from the moment of conception.” </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This is, arguably, the most powerful argument against abortion. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“Appellant would discover this right in the concept of personal "liberty" embodied in the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause; or in personal, marital, familial, and sexual privacy said to be protected by the Bill of Rights or its penumbras, see</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965);</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Eisenstadt v. Baird, 405 U.S. 438 (1972);</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">id., at 460 (WHITE, J., concurring in result); or among those rights reserved to the people by the Ninth Amendment,</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S., at 486…This right of privacy, whether it be founded in the Fourteenth Amendment's concept of personal liberty and restrictions upon state action, as we feel it is, or, as the District Court determined, in the Ninth Amendment's reservation of rights to the people, is broad enough to encompass a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy. The detriment that the State would impose upon the pregnant woman by denying this choice altogether is apparent.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:358.5pt">There are many risks, costs and difficulties associated with pregnancy, birthing and raising children. All citizens possess inherent rights and liberties that are laid out in our constitution. A woman is not deprived of her rights, simply because she becomes pregnant.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment contains three references to ‘person.’ The first, in defining ‘citizens,’ speaks of "persons born or naturalized in the United States." The word also appears both in the Due Process Clause and in the Equal Protection Clause.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">‘Person’ is used in other places in the Constitution: in the listing of qualifications for Representatives and Senators…</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">…the word ‘person,’ as used in the Fourteenth Amendment, does not include the unborn. </span><sup><span style="font-size:8.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">55</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> This is in accord with the results reached in those few cases where the issue has been squarely presented.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">McGarvey v. Magee-Womens Hospital, 340 F.Supp. 751 (WD Pa. 1972);</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Byrn v. New York City Health & Hospitals Corp., 31 N. Y. 2d 194, 286 N. E. 2d 887 (1972), appeal docketed, No. 72-434;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Abele v. Markle, 351 F.Supp. 224 (Conn. 1972), appeal docketed, No. 72-730.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Cf. Cheaney v. State,</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Ind., at</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">, 285 N. E. 2d, at 270;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Montana v. Rogers, 278 F.2d 68, 72 (CA7 1960), aff'd sub nom.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Montana v. Kennedy, 366 U.S. 308 (1961);</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Keeler v. Superior Court, 2 Cal. 3d 619, 470 P. 2d 617 (1970);</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">State v. Dickinson, 28</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">[*159]</span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Ohio St. 2d 65, 275 N. E. 2d 599 (1971). Indeed,</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">our decision in</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">United States v. Vuitch, 402 U.S. 62 (1971)”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In my opinion, a fetus cannot be considered a “person” simply because it does not have self-consciousness and is not an independent being. Once birthed, the baby is an independent being, although the question of self-consciousness during the first year after birth is contentious. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“It should be sufficient to note briefly the wide divergence of thinking on this most sensitive and difficult question.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">There has always been strong support for the view that life does not begin until live birth. This was the belief of the Stoics.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">It appears to be the predominant, though not the unanimous, attitude of the Jewish faith.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">It may be taken to represent also the position of a large segment of the Protestant community, insofar as that can be ascertained; organized groups that have taken a formal position on the abortion issue have generally regarded abortion as a matter for the conscience of the individual and her family.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">As we have noted, the common law found greater significance in quickening. Physicians and their scientific colleagues have regarded that event with less interest and have tended to focus either upon conception, upon live birth, or upon the interim point at which the fetus becomes ‘viable,’ that is, potentially able to live outside the mother's womb, albeit with artificial aid.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Viability is usually placed at about seven months (28 weeks) but may occur earlier, even at 24 weeks.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Aristotelian theory of ‘mediate animation,’ that held sway throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in Europe, continued to be official Roman Catholic dogma until the 19th century, despite opposition to this ‘ensoulment’ theory from those in the Church who would recognize the existence of life from the moment of conception.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The latter is now, of course, the official belief of the Catholic Church.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Here is a very interesting overview of the history of the “when does life begin” question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It demonstrates why there is so much disagreement on the subject. I must say, though, I find the Catholic view of “ensoulment” to be both laughable and pathetic. There is not the slightest evidence for a soul and they appear to be nothing more that wishful thinking.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“In view of all this, we do not agree that, by adopting one theory of life, Texas may override the rights of the pregnant woman that are at stake.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">We repeat, however, that the State does have an important and legitimate interest in preserving and protecting the health of the pregnant woman, whether she be a resident of the State or a nonresident who seeks medical consultation and treatment there, and that it has still another important and legitimate interest in protecting the potentiality of human life. These interests are separate and distinct.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Each grows in substantiality as the woman approaches term and, at a point during pregnancy, each becomes ‘compelling.’”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I agree with almost all points and believe they fit well within our constitution. Yes, the state does have an interest in the life, health and welfare of its citizens. However, this does not trump the personal liberties of one person when it comes to the forced martyrdom of their body for the lives of another. At the latter portion of pregnancy, the fetus becomes viable and, simultaneously, the risks of an abortion become nearly as significant as the risks of the birthing process. Until this changes, the argument that unrestricted late-term abortion appears injudicious. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">All quotes from:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:60.0pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:60.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center"><b>ROE ET AL. v. WADE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF DALLAS COUNTY</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:60.0pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:60.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center"><b>No. 70-18 </b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:60.0pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:60.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center"><b>SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES </b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:60.0pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:60.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center"><b>410 U.S. 113; 93 S. Ct. 705; 35 L. Ed. 2d 147; 1973 U.S. LEXIS 159 </b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:60.0pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:60.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center"><b>December 13, 1971, Argued<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:60.0pt; margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:60.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center"><b>January 22, 1973, Decided <o:p></o:p></b></p>milansthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15366604775175939770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017099578514763020.post-60290469463067940292008-11-09T19:33:00.000-06:002008-11-13T13:13:59.623-06:00My favorite fossils<p class="MsoNormal">As we know, science and history are the harbingers of doom for religion. Without the superstition born of ignorance, religions are unable to guilt, terrorize or tempt the masses. One of my favorite sciences is paleontology because of the fascinating variety of life over the past millennia. Here are some examples of my favorite fossils:</p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Stromatolites</span> - </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Some of our oldest fossils, stromatolites are mats of cyanobacteria that lived long before any of the multi-celled organisms that we usually think of when we imagine fossils.</p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiJMKZhcUmD2W0Sr4d89bb1EcOSxes9FkJWm1c3NkHrhsyEsARsU2Nubm1vNH33WdJfG-6WoGufyhNYmvksOOP_P_f1nVEL7cFCLAITTjP4bHnc7Yf6BA1FKP0mW8crg85ul94T33Aac/s320/Stromatolites.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 216px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266836679421479986" /><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Stromatolites.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Stromatolites.jpg</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Aglaspis eatoni</span> - </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This arthropod is an ancient relative of the modern horseshoe crab.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWV3Gng9N7Q3yLfh7p3GnjYCtbY1vu-UcHLiEXG50ksCldqrwLmFsBw1Imn4IFkjsChF2I22OuOVXFPfj33-kZFJpUhIiFd66MHnehzVtWzMTOEG-asvzs4yPU2foRmaHPBUlrRcfqY0/s320/a_Aglaspis_sp.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 182px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266837673541813650" /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Adriosaurus</span> -</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This ancient reptile possessed rudimentary front and working hind legs.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgat9_hlWT3hyR2RHFW4kTGmI6Qg5O9L5HaDGiG0l2bIAN_ccf2m-On6OM6jeURi-vukIMsCfr7-YcGhJnogJL1T1Dfpg90cMUlZAmKfTOf4HwzkVk91OAiIZDO_FDte_Ufk3KQEYXqOmM/s320/adriosaurus+2.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266838583632604546" /><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.animalpicturesarchive.com/view.php?tid=2&did=26511">http://www.animalpicturesarchive.com/view.php?tid=2&did=26511</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Tiktaalik</span>-</p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This ancient creature demonstrates the transition from water to land and has features of both fish and amphibians.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijU9C3SNnVqctxUq3ArJGRXK-gex3QFFsxJr0GL5uTtv8jmQ0znBqp1wkY2jsldrklDnktyeIFSUaOa_kC88Wr8_f9Rh-3l-fL43B5bnDaU8YW5FVDZ5mO0U8qo8YVRjfWr4_U-QiCXgU/s320/tiktaalik_240.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266839454132659730" /><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://media.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2006/apr/fossil/tiktaalik_240.jpg">http://media.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2006/apr/fossil/tiktaalik_240.jpg</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Archaeopteryx</span> -</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This ancient bird shares many features with the raptor type dinosaurs: conical teeth, a long tail, and three fingers.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5FkaaGIV9Y-QrI2k-FuM5PEP70tjr0mePZ1vCT3YQWjJfGBXijnDX23QtYqoy4lwCR8HJeVhqoLB6wiK2ah8tqxP6k4hyQsYf7FT2EUaCUW6Xa7v_61F6UI-JFuX8ajHzR4hqyXT1eY/s320/Archaeopteryx.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266840090895368466" /> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.fossilmuseum.net/fossilpictures-wpd/Archaeopteryx/Archaeopteryx.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.fossilmuseum.net/fossilpictures-wpd/Archaeopteryx/Archaeopteryx.htm&h=401&w=601&sz=102&tbnid=Qqwh58KhwVoJ::&tbnh=90&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Darchaeopteryx&usg=__iBgbHYwh51Qn0hUO8N9DDJXBIjw=&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=7&ct=image&cd=1">http://www.fossilmuseum.net/fossilpictures-wpd/Archaeopteryx/Archaeopteryx.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.fossilmuseum.net/fossilpictures-wpd/Archaeopteryx/Archaeopteryx.htm&h=401&w=601&sz=102&tbnid=Qqwh58KhwVoJ::&tbnh=90&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Darchaeopteryx&usg=__iBgbHYwh51Qn0hUO8N9DDJXBIjw=&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=7&ct=image&cd=1</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>milansthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15366604775175939770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017099578514763020.post-48299531762277832842008-11-08T19:33:00.000-06:002008-11-13T19:51:00.232-06:00Introduction<p class="MsoNormal">Let me begin by welcoming all who have come here and to explain why I’ve named my blog “sodium channels versus the soul.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What is the soul and why is it important? The soul is often used as the basis for the life after death mythologies and is, therefore, very important for the religious ideologies that utilize life after death as both a carrot and a threat to tempt people into belief. Religions rely on a limited variety of methods to maintain their beliefs, namely threats, promises and the lifestyle benefits of belonging to the in-group. Nullifying the belief in a soul destroys several of religion’s more powerful methods of control. Without a soul there is no heaven or hell. Without consciousness there is no need for an afterlife.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The soul is also the non-body mind in philosophical dualism. The soul is often used interchangeably with the conscious mind: responsible for cognitive thought, emotion, personality and memories. These characteristics of our mind are what most people want to remain after death. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Another, more contemporary, definition of soul that has been put forward is that the soul is the epiphenomenon that links the physical workings of the brain to the “mind.” Of course, this definition fails the believer for the same reason that the older definitions of the soul fail, because there is no evidence to suggest a supernatural origin for this link. The evidence suggests that the mind is a function of the spatial structure and electro-chemical activity of the brain.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, why use sodium channels? This is easy, sodium channels exist in all nerve cells of the body as either ligand gated or voltage gated channels and inhibition of neuronal sodium channels can decrease brain activity to the point that there is no consciousness. In other words, blocking sodium channels can shut off the soul. We use this concept every day, throughout the world as we shut down the brain during surgery using volatile anesthetics.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Which wins, sodium channels or the myth of the soul? In my opinion, the microscopic sodium channels win every time because, unlike a soul, they exist and manipulating them provides benefits to society and the individual.</p>milansthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15366604775175939770noreply@blogger.com0