Iceland & Baby Names
I’ve always been fascinated with other cultures. Some of them have traditions which seem strange to those who live in other parts of the world. But keep in mind, if somebody else’s custom seems strange to you, they probably find your customs just as strange. One that I find odd is the baby-naming rules in Iceland. Iceland has very strict laws concerning what you can name your baby. They have lists of approved and forbidden names for girls and boys. If you want to use a name which is not on one of those lists, you have to submit your request to the Icelandic Naming Committee (with a fee), and…
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Vance & Walz Battle it Out
President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 8802, June, 1941
Hurricane Helene Hoaxes
Nature’s Light Show
The year was 1859. Several astronomers around the world who had been studying the sun reported a massive, almost blinding burst of light ejecting from the sun’s surface, lasting for several long minutes before it subsided. The next day, the Carrington Event occurred, in which the sky in much of the world lit up like a gaudy Christmas lights display. It was bright enough at night to read a newspaper without an additional light source. Although several astronomers hypothesized a connection between the sun burst and the aurora, it was Richard Christopher Carrington who got his name attached to that incident. Science In 1619, Galileo Galilei coined the term “aurora…
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Trump the Dissembler
Christian Nationalism – a Dangerous Movement
My Science, My Religion
Trump’s Hurricane Lies Continue
This is the worst response to a storm or a catastrophe or a hurricane that we’ve ever seen ever. Trump said that. Of course it’s not true. I’ve watched countless press conferences given by both Republican and Democrat leaders in the affected Helene areas. I see a common theme. They are praising the Biden administration for the relief response, they are saying FEMA is doing their job, and they are angry at Trump for his lies about the situation. Yes, the Republican leaders are angry at Trump. The Biden administration announced 100% of reimbursement of local Helene response. This is typical of a presidential administration during a catastrophe, except when…
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Herodotus the Chauvinist
Fox News is Fake News [UPDATE OCT 31]
The Case for Evolution
Hurricane Helene Hoaxes
I wanted to write a post debunking all the conspiracies but there are so many, it’s impossible. So I’ll just make a few brief points. Authorities are keeping rescuers out of affected areas It is true that restrictions had to be imposed in some of the more accessible towns due to two reasons: [1] They had to run looters out and they are trying to keep those from coming back, and [2] Conditions are dangerous and they’re trying to make sure experienced (and legit) relief teams only are going in.. Helicopter woes: It’s apparently true that a Fire Chief prevented a pilot from his rescue efforts. I haven’t confirmed it,…
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I’m Tired of Debunking MAGA
President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 8802, June, 1941
The School From Hell
Vance-Walz Debate
I’ll keep this short by not doing any fact checking. This debate was relatively civil, which was a refreshing change. Compared to the Trump-Harris debate, both men spent more time discussing policies and less time tearing each other down. Walz I think he mostly did ok, but his response to the Hong Kong question bothered me. A lot. Vance My respect for him rose a notch in that he spoke strongly and decisively without lapsing into the incoherent ramblings that Trump is known for. However, I was annoyed no end that he spent so much time regurgitating the false information that Trump is always spewing. I was also irked by…
Jesus vs. Rome
Now and again, I come across some variation of this question: “If Jesus existed, why wasn’t he mentioned in the Roman records?” After all, just about everything that happened in Rome was written down, right? Well, not really. Romans were obsessed about record-keeping. The Senate kept an extensive law library. Merchants kept records of their inventory, dealings and expenses. Many wealthy individuals wanted to be remembered, so they would have stelae engraved with their accomplishments and placed in some prominent spot. Emperors and military generals and other important people had secretaries and chroniclers to write their life stories and record their great deeds (that’s why we know so much about…
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The Last Supper
Hurricane Helene Hoaxes
Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (the SAVE Act)
Mini Moon Madness
You’ve probably heard about the Mini Moon that will be visiting Earth for a few weeks this fall. This is an tiny asteroid named 2024PT5. And boy howdy, the conspiracy theories are oozing out of the woodwork. Everything from, It signals the coming of the Anunnaki to “They” are planting it in the sky to divert our attention from some unnamed nefarious activity they will be engaging in. It’s probably no surprise that many who find 2024PT5 alarming are also believers in a Flat Earth There are more than 34,000 known near-Earth asteroids and another 120 known near-Earth comets. Now and again one gets too close to the Earth and…
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President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 8802, June, 1941
Sugar Land
Grief is the Only Response
Harris vs. Trump: Debate + More
I wanted to post this the day after the debate, but I didn’t have time. If you ever wonder why I take so long to publish the next blog post, it’s because life. It gets in the way a lot. What Annoyed Me Both candidates spent more time tearing each other down than saying what they would do to fix things. Harris was asked: Is the economy better than it was 4 years ago? She didn’t answer. She launched into a spiel about how she was raised middle class, and vaguely explained what she would do to fix the economy. Trump was asked about Jan 6. He initially evaded the…
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Vance & Walz Battle it Out
President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 8802, June, 1941
Vance-Walz Debate
Flat Earth Conspiracy
Most people who believe in the Flat Earth also believe in the Firmament. Flat Earthers also tend to be moon landing deniers. Since the Firmament and moon landing denials are such complicated subjects in themselves, I’ll be doing separate posts about them. What baffles me is why anyone thinks there’s some big coverup by scientists who don’t want the general populace to know the true shape of the earth. What would be the reason for that? It makes absolutely no sense. Artificial Satellite Theories Conspiracists have a variety of theories regarding satellites – ranging from “they don’t exist” to “they do exist, but…” Balloon Theory How do satellites not fall…
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Bioengineered Foods – What’s the Big Deal?
Grief is the Only Response
The Forgotten Elderly
Noah’s Ark (Part 1)
Young Earth Creationists (YECs), come in many flavors. Some insist the earth is only 6,000 years old. Others allow it could be as much as 10,000. Some believe there was a world wide flood. Some accept that maybe it was a massive regional flood. Some think dinosaurs never existed. Alternatively, some believe Noah had dinosaurs on the Ark. I’ll cover some of the various YEC convictions in future posts. This post is to specifically address the belief that there was a world wide flood, and Noah had dinosaurs and other now-extinct critters on the Ark. Having been raised in a YEC environment, I’m in the position of witnessing how the…
Vance & Walz Battle it Out
The Trump team couldn’t wait to find dirt on Walz to dig up. The only thing they could find was… he left the military before his unit deployed? Republicans seem to be drawing much of their slanderous remarks from this PAID attack ad dated November 2, 2018. Who are Paul Herr and Thomas Behrends? Are they real people? If they are, did they say what they did because they received monetary compensation to do so? In contrast, many who served with Walz are making opposite statements in support of Walz’s actions, although there is conflicting information about how sure or not sure the unit was about whether they would be…
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Social Issues the Far Right Doesn’t Understand
Trump’s Troublesome Tariffs (Update Nov 10)
Mrs. C’s Cat
Kamala and Netflix and Things
Nothing to see here – just the usual Trump and his supporters spreading false information without ever checking the facts. I want to point out I’m politically in the middle leaning right. That means I don’t automatically support Kamala. She’s done some things I find admirable, but in some things she’s further left than I’m comfortable with. Interestingly, some Democrats feel that she’s not liberal enough. Of course, those on the far right think she’s too liberal. How she would pan out as a President remains to be seen, assuming she’s elected. I’m for truth, and I want to combat the moronic memes and rumors flying around social media. Harris…
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Trump’s Troublesome Tariffs (Update Nov 10)
What Do You Meme? (Update Oct 11)
How the West Wasn’t Won
A Rustling of Thoughts
