Off Topic - Science

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The Oz Report
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Off Topic - Science

Post by The Oz Report »

<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>
Dustin
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Post by Dustin »

bush is a fu*king criminal
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Jeff OBrien
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Post by Jeff OBrien »

Dustin,
Spare us the long-winded response, filled with euphemism, and hiding behind an asterisk. What are you really trying to say?
:lol:
wilburleft
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Post by wilburleft »

Bush just does what he believes is right. It's not his fault.

Those to blame are the citizens who voted for Bush. Why did they do that?
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MikeB
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Post by MikeB »

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.
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JBBenson
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Post by JBBenson »

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.
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Davis
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Post by Davis »

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.
Last edited by Davis on Mon, Oct 23 2006, 05:40:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Scare!
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Post by Scare! »

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?)
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Last edited by Scare! on Wed, Oct 25 2006, 12:28:06 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Franklingrx
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Science and public policy

Post by Franklingrx »

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.
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Davis
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Post by Davis »

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.