Off Topic - Science
-
- Posts: 145053
- Joined: Thu, Feb 27 2003, 06:38:33 pm
Off Topic - Science
<i>Let's leave the dark ages behind</i><br><p class="AN"><object width="380" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a9WB_PXjTBo"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a9WB_PXjTBo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="380" height="350"></embed></object><br><br> Michael J. Fox illustrates the problem.</p>
-
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Fri, Feb 10 2006, 03:53:08 pm
-
- Posts: 111
- Joined: Sun, Apr 09 2006, 06:28:24 pm
-
- Posts: 231
- Joined: Mon, Oct 10 2005, 10:16:10 pm
- Location: Monrovia, CA
Why did voters go for Bush...a few of the usual reasons. One, many are simply staunch Republicans who vote the party line. Two, some are religious or "family values" motivated and turn out in larger numbers when there are initiatives on the ballot such as "defense of marriage" (ban on gay marriage) or "pro life" (God disapproves of abortion and/or us meddling with stem cells?) to rally them.
-
- Posts: 802
- Joined: Thu, Mar 24 2005, 04:41:25 pm
- Location: Los Angeles
The entire Stem-Cell-Research-Equals-Panacea was (and still is) totally oversold by all who would benefit from it. This includes research facilities as well as patients.
When analyzing claims, including Mr. Fox's, please consider the source.
It seems every day there are breathless predictions of instant cures just around the corner. Does anybody still believe this?
We here in California voted to fund stem-cell research to the tune of an initial investment of 10 billion dollars. I voted yes, BTW.
Still stuck in committee, I'm afraid....can't blame that one on Mr. Bush.
When analyzing claims, including Mr. Fox's, please consider the source.
It seems every day there are breathless predictions of instant cures just around the corner. Does anybody still believe this?
We here in California voted to fund stem-cell research to the tune of an initial investment of 10 billion dollars. I voted yes, BTW.
Still stuck in committee, I'm afraid....can't blame that one on Mr. Bush.
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 15438
- Joined: Thu, Feb 27 2003, 06:38:33 pm
- Location: On the road, USA
I don't recall Michael J. Fox blaming Mr. Bush. Maybe I missed that.
You'll notice my headline. "Science." I took the video as a plea to reason, compassion and scientific work.
I'm in favor of reason, compassion and scientific work. I'm not in favor of religious dogma.
You'll notice my headline. "Science." I took the video as a plea to reason, compassion and scientific work.
I'm in favor of reason, compassion and scientific work. I'm not in favor of religious dogma.
Last edited by Davis on Mon, Oct 23 2006, 05:40:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2307
- Joined: Fri, Feb 28 2003, 10:46:54 pm
- Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (eh!) [49.8953,-97.1385,somewhere in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada]
Better science!
http://www.fhmus.com/pop_video.asp?idx_id=1146
(That's Kari Byron from Mythbusters, in an FHM spread-'em, demonstrating stuff like cooling beer with a CO2 fire extinguisher, and the diet cola & mentos thing. Wonder what she's planning on doing with that pickle?)
http://www.fhmus.com/pop_video.asp?idx_id=1146
(That's Kari Byron from Mythbusters, in an FHM spread-'em, demonstrating stuff like cooling beer with a CO2 fire extinguisher, and the diet cola & mentos thing. Wonder what she's planning on doing with that pickle?)
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by Scare! on Wed, Oct 25 2006, 12:28:06 am, edited 2 times in total.
-
- Posts: 106
- Joined: Mon, Jan 17 2005, 12:49:44 pm
- Location: Florida/Maui
Science and public policy
The Congress supported by the Bush administration voted to withhold Federal funding for stem cell research on new lines of stem cells only. That is a far cry from banning it, and I'll bet there is a lot of private (and public funded) reseach going on all over the world.
As a matter of general principal, I'm very hesitant to back public funding of most programs that are in place today, not to say that we don't need it in many areas. In general, I don't trust the public sector to spend my tax money efficiently. Would you rather a career bureaucrat spend your money, or yourself? Living in Hawaii for 20 years has been an object lesson in the failures of socialism, which is exactly what public spending is.
It'd be interesting to see a taxation system, where individuals could earmark their money to fund the public programs they most wanted to see in place. That way the religiously dogmatic could withhold their money from the things that offend them the most, and the progressives could give all their money to their favorite social program to staunch their bleeding hearts... Me, I'd give all mine to fund public lands for recreational use
For the record I am not a Christian, or a republican, or a social conservative. Many of my opinions are wildly liberal. I do however have a hard time supporting public policy that so deeply offends such a large chunk of the population as Christians, whose existence I do not mind at all.
Just a few thoughts.
As a matter of general principal, I'm very hesitant to back public funding of most programs that are in place today, not to say that we don't need it in many areas. In general, I don't trust the public sector to spend my tax money efficiently. Would you rather a career bureaucrat spend your money, or yourself? Living in Hawaii for 20 years has been an object lesson in the failures of socialism, which is exactly what public spending is.
It'd be interesting to see a taxation system, where individuals could earmark their money to fund the public programs they most wanted to see in place. That way the religiously dogmatic could withhold their money from the things that offend them the most, and the progressives could give all their money to their favorite social program to staunch their bleeding hearts... Me, I'd give all mine to fund public lands for recreational use
For the record I am not a Christian, or a republican, or a social conservative. Many of my opinions are wildly liberal. I do however have a hard time supporting public policy that so deeply offends such a large chunk of the population as Christians, whose existence I do not mind at all.
Just a few thoughts.
Bob Franklin
Florida/Maui
Florida/Maui
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 15438
- Joined: Thu, Feb 27 2003, 06:38:33 pm
- Location: On the road, USA
I have no problem offending people who are clearly deluded, for example, Christians and Muslims. I am not in favor of offending them as people, but I am interested in making sure that their misguided ideas are not used for government policy or to kill others.
Last edited by Davis on Mon, Oct 23 2006, 09:36:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.