News and Notes: 6-24-2008
Written by Paul Zannucci on 9:08 AMThere's a chance we may not have to worry about Obama after all. According to this article from TheRegister, CERN declares Large Hadron Collider perfectly safe.
For those who don't know, the Large Hadron Collider, is a particle accelerator that might generate black holes. Of black holes, the LSAG declares: "According to the well-established properties of gravity, described by Einstein’s relativity, it is impossible for microscopic black holes to be produced at the LHC. There are, however, some speculative theories that predict the production of such particles at the LHC. All these theories predict that these particles would disintegrate immediately. Black holes, therefore, would have no time to start accreting matter and to cause macroscopic effects."
In other words, physics still hasn't advanced far enough for them to do the math to prove that black holes won't be generated and grow, but the theories say it won't happen.
In the spirit of Monty Python's Life of Bryan, always look on the bright side of life! If they are wrong and we get sucked into a man-made black hole later this summer, at least the country won't have to endure another step down the primrose path of liberalism.
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Speaking of the apocalypse, we have a story on the anti-Christ, Dobson accuses Obama of `distorting' Bible.
I'll let readers choose which one is the anti-Christ, Dobson or Obama; however, I'd like to point out this comment from the article, "Even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States of America, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools?" Obama said. "Would we go with James Dobson's or Al Sharpton's?" referring to the civil rights leader.
What a hideous view of Christianity Obama has if he considers Al Sharpton a spokesman for the religion. Personally, I can't stand Dobson, but Sharpton? Geez. He's about as much a spokesman for Christianity as Pee Wee Herman.
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Another victim of the gas and economic crunch, In weak economy, forgoing $4 lattes for home brews. Is it just me, or was paying $4 for a latte always stupid--even before the economic downturn?
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Religion continues to unravel. Americans: My Faith Isn't the Only Way to Heaven. It's no longer about what the religious texts say; it's about what feels right and sounds good.
"The survey shows religion in America is, indeed, 3,000 miles wide and only three inches deep," said D. Michael Lindsay, a Rice University sociologist of religion.
Ain't that the truth. And all this theology of convenience is having a toll on faith in general. Even atheists are struggling: 21 percent of self-identified atheists said they believe in God or a universal spirit, with 8 percent "absolutely certain" of it.
Hmmm. Would it be too misanthropic of me to pull for the black hole thingy?
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Speaking of being misanthropic, there is a cure for me right around the corner: Scientists find childbirth wonder drug that can 'cure' shyness .
As it turns out, the drug, oxytocin, is a sort of real love potion, creating a feeling of attachment for the person taking it, making them like, or love, other people more and thus lifting their shyness, making them more trustful, etc. Count me out. I'll just stay in my cabin writing my manifestos.
But this is especially funny given this product, Liquid Trust Spray, which promotes oxytocin as an aerosol you can use to get others to trust you. Seriously, go look at the site; it's kind of freaky. But as you are filling out the order form and typing in your credit card number, keep in mind that you're actually spraying the stuff on yourself, which means that it will be you, much more than the people around you (if they are impacted at all, which is doubtful) who will suddenly become drunk with love and trust. It will be like having one too many drinks at the bar and thinking that suddenly everyone around you is finding you funny.
On the bright side, there is real science out there being conducted on this drug as a therapy for autism and certain anxiety disorders. Just stay away from the Liquid Trust.
(Ed update: I decided to conduct the Great Oxytocin and Liquid Trust Spray Experiment--purely in the name of science)
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