Saturday, December 04, 2004

I Guess I Set My Sights Too Low

Since the age of sixteen years, I’ve been saying that I am going to live until I turn the age of 103.  I may have to revise that, upward.

“I think the first person to live to 1,000 might be 60 already."

That statement has been uttered by one Dr. Aubrey de Grey, of the University of Cambridge, a Methuselah looking character, and geneticist.  de Grey also states,

"It is not just an idea: it’s a very detailed plan to repair all the types of molecular and cellular damage that happen to us over time."

Hm, I wonder if de Grey is aware of Rod Nibbe’s resveratrol theory?

Link to de Grey piece via Fred Lapides.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/04 at 03:18 AM
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Friday, December 03, 2004

I Would've Thought It Preferred Gin

Tired of your Christmas tree dropping needles?  An Oregon man states that giving your Christmas tree a shot of vodka not only helps stem this dropping needles problem, but keeps the branches “shiny and perky.”

A toast to Christmas.

Via Aaron P. Bailey at The Corner.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/03 at 05:24 AM
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China Gets Down with Submarines

Reporting for The Washington Times, Bill Gertz informs us of China’s newest offering for their submarine warfare program. The 094-class submarine. The sub is an SSBN type sub, meaning it is designed to throw nuclear ICBM missles from the ocean to land based targets.  Interesting.  What will also be interesting, is obtaining its sound signature. Based on what I have experienced, regarding Chinese made goods, it’ll probably be easy to detect as it rattles around in the ocean depths.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/03 at 04:22 AM
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Thursday, December 02, 2004

False Charges of Racism

In an unsigned op-ed, natch, in USA Today, some do-gooder dunderhead is attempting to fan into life the dying embers of racism, charging that Black football coaches are not hired at colleges due to underlying currents of racism.  Let’s take a look.

"In 1998, just eight African-Americans walked the sidelines as head coaches at the 117 colleges playing big-time college football. It was, perhaps, the most striking symbol of racism entrenched in American life."

The most striking symbol of racism entrenched in American life?  Bullshit.  The most striking symbol of racism entrenched in American life are the KKKers, hidden behind their hoods like a bunch of fricking tricker treaters.

Further into the op-ed, you can read this.

"But the overall situation is scandalous and can be explained only by racism."

This comment is written after giving an obligatory nod toward the fact the other factors may come into play when a coach is hired or fired, but, since there are so few Black coaches, it’s gotta be racism.

The op-ed continues in this vein, spouting generalities regarding the lack of Black coaches, which, of course, must be caused by racism, and no other factors, and then ends on this note.

"Colleges like to see themselves as bastions of enlightenment. They brag about the diversity of their student populations. But on the football field, they project an embarrassing symbol of America’s past. Too many might as well hang out a sign: Whites only need apply."

Yeah, well, the majority of MSM’s, and colleges, might just as well hang out a sign stating: “Bleeding heart, left leaning, Socialist utopians, with a penchant for creating false impressions of doom, need only apply.”

“Black football coaches are going, going, almost gone"

Posted by John Venlet on 12/02 at 04:27 AM
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Libya Travelogue

I enjoy an entertaining travelogue.  Here’s Michael Totten’s Libya travelogue.

Via Billy Beck.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/02 at 04:19 AM
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Wednesday, December 01, 2004

Interesting

Via Greg Ransom’s PrestoPundit, a post at PoliPundit titled “Young People and Gay Marriage." Do they favor it?  Do they oppose it?  The results of the Gallup poll are interesting.  My quick informal poll of this age group, a small group of five young people in the age groups mentioned, was four against one.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/01 at 05:50 PM
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I'll Trade You A Collection Plate for a Chalice

Does religion play an economic role?  Well, other than being fleeced by the likes Jim Baker, et al.  Evidently the role of religions in economics is being looked at a bit more closely these days.

“Economists Are Getting Religion"

Interesting.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/01 at 12:27 PM
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Clacka, Clacka, Clacka, Clacka, Clacka

Have you ever had the opportunity to listen to a huge amount of shrimp clacka, clacking in the ocean? I have, while in the submarine service, and let me tell you they can make a racket way beyond the sound you can listen to in the link provided.

I thought of this, today, while reading Forbes.com’s article, titled “Crustacean Nation," noting that the Bush Administration, rather than encouraging free trade, has decided to levy tariffs against foreign shrimp, at the behest of the Southern Shrimp Alliance.

Thanks, for nothing, Bush Administration, as this will only cause the price of shrimp to rise.

As for the Southern Shrimp Alliance, their reasoning for pushing for tariffs is so much trumpery, designed to fall on ignorant ears, that I can hardly stand it.

"The middlemen--importers and distributors--have “absorbed $4.5 billion” instead of passing along savings to consumers, says Deborah Long, a spokeswoman for the Tarpon Springs, Fla.-based Southern Shrimp Alliance."

Right, the Southern Shrimp Alliance cares about us poor consumers, and not a hoot about the $4.5 billion importers and distributors have “absorbed.”

Posted by John Venlet on 12/01 at 11:50 AM
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Charmed, I'm Sure

Another interesting piece from Haaretz.com, written by Zvi Bar’el, regarding Iran, titled “The charm of the Iranian threat." From the piece.

"The Iranian threat casts a magical charm over everyone who deals with it. For Israel, it has opened American pockets; for America, it justifies nearly everything that the U.S. does in the Middle East; for Europe, Iran provides a strategic role; and it gives Russia the status of an American competitor."

Followed by this.

"Yet those who should be most “pleased” about the Iranian threat are not out dancing in celebration. No less, and perhaps more than Israel and the United States, Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states, as well as Iraq and Egypt, are hoping for the success of the diplomatic move that would at least freeze the Iranian uranium enrichment efforts. That’s because the last thing those Arab states want is another war by the West against an Islamic state in which they will be “forced” to defend the honor of a Shi’ite state."

Charming.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/01 at 10:26 AM
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Alot of Truth to That Statement

"They (politicians - ed. note) want to portray science as something dangerous - to delegitimize it,” he said in a Haaretz Magazine interview. “They point at one technology as if it is the only one that endangers mankind. They warn that duplication will permit an entire army of duplicated soldiers, or little Hitlers. Politicians say `We will forbid the dangerous, inhumane research.’ As if they do not decide what society will do. Science does not decide, nor does it dictate. Science only invents things. It is duplicitous when politicians say that the scientists, not they, are the ones who are endangering the world."

The above was taken from a Haaretz.com article, titled “Science invents, it doesn’t decide," which was written by Tamara Traubman.  The speaker quoted in the article is Michel Ravel, and he is one of Israel’s leading scientists.  At least that is what a leading scientist states.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/01 at 10:16 AM
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If You Recognize You're Compounding the Problem, Why Do You Continue?

Writing for The Providence Journal, William H. Caskey, who directs Brown’s Alumni College Advising Program, bemoans, basically, keeping up with the Joneses in matters of higher education.  Caskey’s bemoaning is for the affluent, though I’m fairly certain he has concerns for those of limited means, also, but the gist of his piece is geared toward the affluent, keeping up with the Joneses, and the parents who play that game.

At the start of Caskey’s piece, he propogates the fallacy of more money solving the educational problems in these United States, but it is the ending of the piece that actually spurred me to link to it.

"So what’s my recommendation? Let’s move away from providing our children with airtight support and guidance. Instead, let them make difficult decisions.

Of course, this is easier said than done. I find myself slipping into the pattern that I caution against _ handing my children safe experiences that promise a happy outcome. As I robotically unfurl the safety net, I remind myself that life’s most important and worthy lessons often involve thin envelopes and a few belly flops."

My recommendation.  Quit being a recidivist, make your kids stand on their own two feet, and shove a wooden spoon in their mouth instead of silver one.

“Perilous privileges for ‘teens of means’ “

Via Scripps Howard News Service.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/01 at 06:34 AM
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Down on the High Tech Family Farm

Had a moment to peruse the latest issue of Time, yesterday evening, and read a story about a 2500 acre family farm in Iowa that has gone high tech; GPS, wireless, etc.; which is outperforming most of the other local farmers, and, cutting fertilizer and pesticide use, while increasing yields by 20 bushels per acre, in some instances.  The story is titled “Farm Of the Future," and is worth a read.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/01 at 05:26 AM
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I Enjoy a Good Buzz, But...

Ya know, I enjoy sitting with friends, knocking back some vodka, red wine, beer or what have you, just as much as the next guy, but drinking one’s self into such a state of blottoness that one functions in such a foolish manner that one does not have recollection, or, performs acts that normally would not be performed, seems a bit much, to me at least.

In Australia, a great country for knocking back some beers I might add, you can now blacklist phone numbers in your cell phone to prevent yourself from making foolish, drunken phone calls.  An activity an Australian phone company, via an unscientific survey, states 95% of drunken individuals participate in.

“Alcohol and mobiles make red-faced cocktail"

Via Tyler Cowen at Marginal Revolution.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/01 at 05:02 AM
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They've Been in the State for Longer Than The Powers That Be Think

About ten years ago, or so, while cruising the two tracks and small byways of the Pigeon River State Forest, with the lovely Melis and friends, a large cat leapt from the forest, directly in front of us, crouched oh so briefly in the middle of the two track, and then leapt deep into the forest once again.  Individuals we spoke with about this pooh poohed our analysis that it was a mountain lion.  I still state they were wrong and we were right.

“Mountain lions on the prowl once again"

Posted by John Venlet on 12/01 at 04:32 AM
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