TCS Daily - The Creation Myth
You don't often find articles about significant scientist priests. This article is about one of them, about whom I had not heard before.
Monday, June 26, 2006
A job in Iraq far from finished
ABC News: Al-Qaida-Linked Group Claims 4 Killings
More beheadings on video from Iraq. Apparently, this is about Chechnya, not Iraq itself. Ah yes, I can just see such tactics winning over the hearts and minds of Russians everywhere.
What complete idiots these "Al-Qaida" related murdering butchers are.
As to the general mayhem in Iraq, continuing unabated since Zarqawi's death, I still expect that the execution of Saddam will be an important practical step to discourage his loyalists, who (I am guessing) still harbour a hope that he may be liberated and somehow his regime quickly re-imposed. That this would be impossible in practice without a huge civil war probably doesn't cause any doubt in their minds. Mad Arabs don't often seem to be playing with the full pack.
Until then, seems nothing much will change. It does seem that ideas for promoting unity are finally being devised by the Iraqi government itself, with general approval. But they really have to act quickly.
(I note that Iraq the Model is very sceptical of the wisdom of the unity plan, and his reasons sound good. Sigh.)
More beheadings on video from Iraq. Apparently, this is about Chechnya, not Iraq itself. Ah yes, I can just see such tactics winning over the hearts and minds of Russians everywhere.
What complete idiots these "Al-Qaida" related murdering butchers are.
As to the general mayhem in Iraq, continuing unabated since Zarqawi's death, I still expect that the execution of Saddam will be an important practical step to discourage his loyalists, who (I am guessing) still harbour a hope that he may be liberated and somehow his regime quickly re-imposed. That this would be impossible in practice without a huge civil war probably doesn't cause any doubt in their minds. Mad Arabs don't often seem to be playing with the full pack.
Until then, seems nothing much will change. It does seem that ideas for promoting unity are finally being devised by the Iraqi government itself, with general approval. But they really have to act quickly.
(I note that Iraq the Model is very sceptical of the wisdom of the unity plan, and his reasons sound good. Sigh.)
A slow day at the Guardian
The Observer | World | Smelly yet highly sociable mini-robot proves fatally attractive to cockroaches
The Guardian website has a story about robot cockroaches, but no photo.
The first story appears to have run on the Discovery channel, a few weeks ago, and it does feature a picture. The robot looks a little like a tiny car to me. Maybe cockroaches are just all rev-heads who like checking out new cars in the neighbourhood.
That cockroaches have favourite hiding places, presumably marked by a smell, seemed clear to me some years ago when I lived in a townhouse. There was a particular place in the courtyard (a crack under a high beam on the wall), where I could always be assured that a squirt of flyspray would flush out one or two big roaches. Night after night, they just never got sick of going there, even though it was not an obvious source of food.
To have a robot to use to flush them out sounds sort of fun. Better than watching most TV these days anyway.
The Guardian website has a story about robot cockroaches, but no photo.
The first story appears to have run on the Discovery channel, a few weeks ago, and it does feature a picture. The robot looks a little like a tiny car to me. Maybe cockroaches are just all rev-heads who like checking out new cars in the neighbourhood.
That cockroaches have favourite hiding places, presumably marked by a smell, seemed clear to me some years ago when I lived in a townhouse. There was a particular place in the courtyard (a crack under a high beam on the wall), where I could always be assured that a squirt of flyspray would flush out one or two big roaches. Night after night, they just never got sick of going there, even though it was not an obvious source of food.
To have a robot to use to flush them out sounds sort of fun. Better than watching most TV these days anyway.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
More research needed
ScienceDaily: Global Atmospheric Carbon Level May Depend Primarily On Southernmost Ocean
The article above is about the importance of the cold southern oceans around Antarctica in taking up CO2.
It also mentions an idea for increasing carbon sequestration that has been around for a long time, but doesn't seem to get raised much lately:
"In the Antarctic, the circulation pattern moves the surface water carrying carbon dioxide deep into the ocean's depths, where the sequestered carbon could potentially be trapped for a long time," Marinov said. "According to the models we used, the deep Antarctic is the critical region where we need to concentrate our research."...
"An interesting idea of recent years is that we can sequester a lot of carbon if we dump iron into the ocean to encourage the growth of certain microorganisms, which incorporate carbon as they grow," Marinov said. "These organisms would then fall to the ocean floor after they die, taking the carbon with them. The overall effect would be to lower concentration of carbon in the surface waters, allowing more atmospheric carbon dioxide to dissolve into the sea. Our research has implications for future iron fertilization experiments, the focus of which we conclude should shift to the Antarctic."
I seem to recall that they have done small scale trials of this to check the effectiveness. Ah yes, I am correct. (The linked site seems entirely devoted to promoting the idea, which is somewhat controversial. Seems worth looking into further, though.)
The article above is about the importance of the cold southern oceans around Antarctica in taking up CO2.
It also mentions an idea for increasing carbon sequestration that has been around for a long time, but doesn't seem to get raised much lately:
"In the Antarctic, the circulation pattern moves the surface water carrying carbon dioxide deep into the ocean's depths, where the sequestered carbon could potentially be trapped for a long time," Marinov said. "According to the models we used, the deep Antarctic is the critical region where we need to concentrate our research."...
"An interesting idea of recent years is that we can sequester a lot of carbon if we dump iron into the ocean to encourage the growth of certain microorganisms, which incorporate carbon as they grow," Marinov said. "These organisms would then fall to the ocean floor after they die, taking the carbon with them. The overall effect would be to lower concentration of carbon in the surface waters, allowing more atmospheric carbon dioxide to dissolve into the sea. Our research has implications for future iron fertilization experiments, the focus of which we conclude should shift to the Antarctic."
I seem to recall that they have done small scale trials of this to check the effectiveness. Ah yes, I am correct. (The linked site seems entirely devoted to promoting the idea, which is somewhat controversial. Seems worth looking into further, though.)
Bad news for English beef eaters
Human mad cow infection could hide for 50 years - World - smh.com.au
What bad news for anyone who spent time in England in the 1980's. (Not good for former cannibals in New Guinea either.)
What bad news for anyone who spent time in England in the 1980's. (Not good for former cannibals in New Guinea either.)
You have been warned
Storm warning for mobiles - Technology - smh.com.au
Hadn't thought of this as a source of increased risk before.
Hadn't thought of this as a source of increased risk before.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Charles Krauthammer loves us
RealClearPolitics - Articles - Why I Love Australia
Well, at least he does under a Liberal government. The article above is full of praise for Australia. (He misses the first part of the "snivelling grub" story, though.)
One thing I didn't know about him:
Of course I'm prejudiced, having married an Australian
His recent column about the Palestinians chosing victimhood was one of the most forthright things written about the Middle East for some time. As it was widely quoted elsewhere, I didn't post about it here, but it is well worthwhile if you missed it.
Well, at least he does under a Liberal government. The article above is full of praise for Australia. (He misses the first part of the "snivelling grub" story, though.)
One thing I didn't know about him:
Of course I'm prejudiced, having married an Australian
His recent column about the Palestinians chosing victimhood was one of the most forthright things written about the Middle East for some time. As it was widely quoted elsewhere, I didn't post about it here, but it is well worthwhile if you missed it.
Reasons to be sceptical about Kyoto protocol
New Scientist News - Kyoto promises are nothing but hot air
From the start of the article:
Under Kyoto, each government calculates how much carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide its country emits by adding together estimated emissions from individual sources. These so-called "bottom-up" estimates have long been accepted by atmospheric scientists, even though they have never been independently audited.
Now two teams that have monitored concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere say they have convincing evidence that the figures reported by many countries are wrong, especially for methane. Among the worst offenders are the UK, which may be emitting 92 per cent more methane than it declares under the Kyoto protocol, and France, which may be emitting 47 per cent more.
From further down:
In the past, he says, estimates of greenhouse gas emissions were inaccurate simply because of the difficulty of measuring them, but that may have changed. "Now that money enters the picture, with the Kyoto protocol rules and carbon trading, so also can fraud. There will be an incentive to under-report emissions."...
The European Union recently shut down its pioneering programme of measuring atmospheric methane across the continent. "Ironically, the best monitoring is done by the US and Australia, which are both in denial over Kyoto," Nisbet says.
Well, "in denial" but with good reason, Mr Nisbet?
From the start of the article:
Under Kyoto, each government calculates how much carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide its country emits by adding together estimated emissions from individual sources. These so-called "bottom-up" estimates have long been accepted by atmospheric scientists, even though they have never been independently audited.
Now two teams that have monitored concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere say they have convincing evidence that the figures reported by many countries are wrong, especially for methane. Among the worst offenders are the UK, which may be emitting 92 per cent more methane than it declares under the Kyoto protocol, and France, which may be emitting 47 per cent more.
From further down:
In the past, he says, estimates of greenhouse gas emissions were inaccurate simply because of the difficulty of measuring them, but that may have changed. "Now that money enters the picture, with the Kyoto protocol rules and carbon trading, so also can fraud. There will be an incentive to under-report emissions."...
The European Union recently shut down its pioneering programme of measuring atmospheric methane across the continent. "Ironically, the best monitoring is done by the US and Australia, which are both in denial over Kyoto," Nisbet says.
Well, "in denial" but with good reason, Mr Nisbet?
Nasty stuff
ScienceDaily: Urine Collected And Purified Separately
Urine in sewerage is much worse stuff than I would have expected:
Urine accounts for less than 1% of our waste water, but it contains 50-80% of the nutrients in the waste water...
He concluded that if 50% of the urine is separately purified, it would save 25% of the energy needed for the entire purification system. Moreover, the stench of the sewer will be lessened, environmental pressure on the surface water will be reduced, and sewer pipes will be better protected against rot.
The method of keeping it seperate:
A requirement for separating urine is an appropriate toilet (on which men also sit to urinate) or a dry urinal, both of which are commercially available. The urine is collected in tanks on a per building or neighbourhood basis and must then be - preferably as undiluted as possible - periodically transported to a special purification installation. It is also possible to process the urine in a decentralized manner - concepts for this were developed in the research.
So, having the can collected from the backyard (which in many Brisbane suburbs, only stopped in the 1960's) may be on its way back.
UPDATE: Of course, not everyone agrees that urine is nasty. From the (somewhat too open minded "Berkeley Medical Journal") is this enthusiatic rant:
To some people, flushing urine down the toilet is a complete waste of what could be a refreshing breakfast - one’s own fountain of youth, an elixir of health and beauty....
Urine may provide energy, maintain youth, and make skin and hair beautiful. With such wondrous properties, it is amazing that science developed new medicines when a key to good health was already in the bottle, so to speak. Everyone is a walking pharmacopoeia.
The first world conference on auto-urine therapy was held in February of 1996 in Panjim, India. It drew about 600 delegates from nations around the world. The numerous applications of urine were discussed, including use in nose-, ear-, and eye-drops, as well as ingestion and external massage application.
Now there's a conference best missed.
Urine in sewerage is much worse stuff than I would have expected:
Urine accounts for less than 1% of our waste water, but it contains 50-80% of the nutrients in the waste water...
He concluded that if 50% of the urine is separately purified, it would save 25% of the energy needed for the entire purification system. Moreover, the stench of the sewer will be lessened, environmental pressure on the surface water will be reduced, and sewer pipes will be better protected against rot.
The method of keeping it seperate:
A requirement for separating urine is an appropriate toilet (on which men also sit to urinate) or a dry urinal, both of which are commercially available. The urine is collected in tanks on a per building or neighbourhood basis and must then be - preferably as undiluted as possible - periodically transported to a special purification installation. It is also possible to process the urine in a decentralized manner - concepts for this were developed in the research.
So, having the can collected from the backyard (which in many Brisbane suburbs, only stopped in the 1960's) may be on its way back.
UPDATE: Of course, not everyone agrees that urine is nasty. From the (somewhat too open minded "Berkeley Medical Journal") is this enthusiatic rant:
To some people, flushing urine down the toilet is a complete waste of what could be a refreshing breakfast - one’s own fountain of youth, an elixir of health and beauty....
Urine may provide energy, maintain youth, and make skin and hair beautiful. With such wondrous properties, it is amazing that science developed new medicines when a key to good health was already in the bottle, so to speak. Everyone is a walking pharmacopoeia.
The first world conference on auto-urine therapy was held in February of 1996 in Panjim, India. It drew about 600 delegates from nations around the world. The numerous applications of urine were discussed, including use in nose-, ear-, and eye-drops, as well as ingestion and external massage application.
Now there's a conference best missed.
What should Israel do?
Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Israeli PM apologises for air strike deaths
Further to my previous post about this :
Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, said today that he was "very, very sorry" about the death of 14 Palestinian civilians killed this week in Israeli air strikes in Gaza.
Mr Olmert expressed his regret when meeting Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, in Jordan. "It is against our policy and I am very, very sorry," the Associated Press quoted him as saying.
Yesterday two Palestinians - a pregnant woman and her brother - were killed when an Israeli missile hit their home in Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip. On Monday evening, three children were killed by an Israeli missile aimed at a car carrying militants.
Obviously, there should be concern about how many civilians are killed by Israeli attacks. But, I wonder if anyone has any other ideas about what Israel could do with respect to defence against the continual flow of home made rockets into its territory.
Further to my previous post about this :
Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, said today that he was "very, very sorry" about the death of 14 Palestinian civilians killed this week in Israeli air strikes in Gaza.
Mr Olmert expressed his regret when meeting Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, in Jordan. "It is against our policy and I am very, very sorry," the Associated Press quoted him as saying.
Yesterday two Palestinians - a pregnant woman and her brother - were killed when an Israeli missile hit their home in Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip. On Monday evening, three children were killed by an Israeli missile aimed at a car carrying militants.
Obviously, there should be concern about how many civilians are killed by Israeli attacks. But, I wonder if anyone has any other ideas about what Israel could do with respect to defence against the continual flow of home made rockets into its territory.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Danger watch
San Andreas fault 'set for huge quake' | | The Australian
"The observed strain rates confirm that the southern section of the San Andreas fault may be approaching the end of the interseismic phase of the earthquake cycle," he wrote in Nature.
A sudden lateral movement of seven to 10 metres would be among the largest ever recorded.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake that destroyed San Francisco in 1906 was produced by a sudden movement of the northern end of the fault of up to 6.4 metres.
"The observed strain rates confirm that the southern section of the San Andreas fault may be approaching the end of the interseismic phase of the earthquake cycle," he wrote in Nature.
A sudden lateral movement of seven to 10 metres would be among the largest ever recorded.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake that destroyed San Francisco in 1906 was produced by a sudden movement of the northern end of the fault of up to 6.4 metres.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Only happy victims of the Holocaust, please
Islam Channel hosts London anti-Zionist debate | Jerusalem Post
From the story above about an anti-Zionist discussion in London, which included some Jewish anti-Zionists:
Karmi, a research fellow at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at Exeter University and a former consultant to the Palestinian Authority, said the mistreatment of the Jews was a European affair that had nothing to do with Palestinians. "Why were we dumped with this problem?" she asked.
She offered her own interpretation of Zionism. "The Europeans did it to atone for their sins and guilt but the Jews who arrived in Palestine were not the Jews we knew, they were complicated and miserable and the problem is that they're still there."
From the story above about an anti-Zionist discussion in London, which included some Jewish anti-Zionists:
Karmi, a research fellow at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at Exeter University and a former consultant to the Palestinian Authority, said the mistreatment of the Jews was a European affair that had nothing to do with Palestinians. "Why were we dumped with this problem?" she asked.
She offered her own interpretation of Zionism. "The Europeans did it to atone for their sins and guilt but the Jews who arrived in Palestine were not the Jews we knew, they were complicated and miserable and the problem is that they're still there."
Creative Arab history
What Jewish ties to Jerusalem? | Jerusalem Post
Daniel Pipe's article on Palestinian historical revisionism (with regards to denying a Jewish connection with Jerusalem - yes hard to believe isn't it?) is very interesting stuff I hadn't heard of before.
Daniel Pipe's article on Palestinian historical revisionism (with regards to denying a Jewish connection with Jerusalem - yes hard to believe isn't it?) is very interesting stuff I hadn't heard of before.
There's a sentence you don't hear often
Discovery Channel :: News - Animals :: Whales Slap Flatulent Prey
From the above story:
Norwegian killer whales slap their tails underwater to disorient and kill herring, which sometimes defend themselves from the assault by disappearing under the cover of their own bubbly flatulence, according to a new study....
While whales often are successful, some herring escape. The study's authors perhaps say it best: “Farting may save their lives.”...
Further down, how can you not chuckle at this comment:
As for the herring flatulence, Diachok agreed the fish may do this to facilitate escape, but he said it also might just be inadvertent.
From the above story:
Norwegian killer whales slap their tails underwater to disorient and kill herring, which sometimes defend themselves from the assault by disappearing under the cover of their own bubbly flatulence, according to a new study....
While whales often are successful, some herring escape. The study's authors perhaps say it best: “Farting may save their lives.”...
Further down, how can you not chuckle at this comment:
As for the herring flatulence, Diachok agreed the fish may do this to facilitate escape, but he said it also might just be inadvertent.
Maybe it blows itself up very quickly
The LHC Dashboard | Cosmic Variance
See the link above to a post about the dangers involved if the LHC malfunctions. (Dangers to the equipment itself, which is very expensive.)
I am tempted to post a comment there about micro black holes, but it is not exactly on topic.
See the link above to a post about the dangers involved if the LHC malfunctions. (Dangers to the equipment itself, which is very expensive.)
I am tempted to post a comment there about micro black holes, but it is not exactly on topic.
Youth unemployed
TCS Daily - The Kids Are Not Alright
Interesting article above on youth unemployment in Europe. An extract:
In the EU-15, the countries with the highest levels -- above 20 percent 00 are Greece, Italy, Sweden, France, Belgium and Finland. Indeed, it is generally acknowledged that France and Italy have serious economic problems. But Sweden and Finland might surprise some. (A new study by McKinsey shows that the real unemployment rate in Sweden is 15 percent -- three times what the government claims.)
Obviously, there is no "Nordic Model" when it comes to youth unemployment. In Denmark and Norway, the rate is 8-10 percent, whereas in Sweden and Finland it is 20-23 percent - the same level as in beleaguered France.
The numbers reflect real policy differences. In Denmark, there is the so-called flexicurity model, where the flexibility part is important when it comes to cutting youth unemployment. But in Sweden, the labor market is very regulated, unionized and collectivized, leading to high youth unemployment.
It all comes down to a divide between reforming and non-reforming countries, the latter clinging to a so-called European Social Model. That combination of a big state with high taxes on work, public monopolies and a regulated labor market simply prevents young people from working. And what kind of a social model is that?
Interesting article above on youth unemployment in Europe. An extract:
In the EU-15, the countries with the highest levels -- above 20 percent 00 are Greece, Italy, Sweden, France, Belgium and Finland. Indeed, it is generally acknowledged that France and Italy have serious economic problems. But Sweden and Finland might surprise some. (A new study by McKinsey shows that the real unemployment rate in Sweden is 15 percent -- three times what the government claims.)
Obviously, there is no "Nordic Model" when it comes to youth unemployment. In Denmark and Norway, the rate is 8-10 percent, whereas in Sweden and Finland it is 20-23 percent - the same level as in beleaguered France.
The numbers reflect real policy differences. In Denmark, there is the so-called flexicurity model, where the flexibility part is important when it comes to cutting youth unemployment. But in Sweden, the labor market is very regulated, unionized and collectivized, leading to high youth unemployment.
It all comes down to a divide between reforming and non-reforming countries, the latter clinging to a so-called European Social Model. That combination of a big state with high taxes on work, public monopolies and a regulated labor market simply prevents young people from working. And what kind of a social model is that?
More work for psychologists
BBC NEWS | Health | Counselling 'restores fertility'
The study reported above seems small scale, but with surprisingly good results:
Their preliminary study focused on 16 young women who had not had a period for six months, even though some already had children.
They had all been diagnosed with a condition called functional hypothalamic amennhorea (FHA), caused by a prolonged reduction in levels of a hormone which signals the release into the bloodstream of hormones that simulate ovulation.
The women had been shown to have increased levels of cortisol, a hormone linked to stress.
Half were given cognitive behavioural therapy, tailored to their own situations for 20 weeks.
Over the course of the study, six of the eight women given CBT regained full fertility, with one showing some signs of restored ovarian function.
Two later became pregnant within two months.
In the eight women who received no treatment, one recovered her fertility while another showed signs of ovarian function.
I have mentioned cognitive behaviour therapy before. It seems to have much going for it.
The study reported above seems small scale, but with surprisingly good results:
Their preliminary study focused on 16 young women who had not had a period for six months, even though some already had children.
They had all been diagnosed with a condition called functional hypothalamic amennhorea (FHA), caused by a prolonged reduction in levels of a hormone which signals the release into the bloodstream of hormones that simulate ovulation.
The women had been shown to have increased levels of cortisol, a hormone linked to stress.
Half were given cognitive behavioural therapy, tailored to their own situations for 20 weeks.
Over the course of the study, six of the eight women given CBT regained full fertility, with one showing some signs of restored ovarian function.
Two later became pregnant within two months.
In the eight women who received no treatment, one recovered her fertility while another showed signs of ovarian function.
I have mentioned cognitive behaviour therapy before. It seems to have much going for it.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Womb for improvement (boom boom)
Church mulls 'phrasing' change for Holy Trinity
If this is reported correctly, the silliness of some of it is both amusing and annoying at the same time:
Delegates to the national assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted yesterday to "receive" a policy paper on sex-inclusive language for the Trinity, a step short of approving it. Church officials are enabled to propose "experimental liturgies" with "alternative phrasings" for the Trinity, but congregations won't be required to use them.
Besides "Mother, Child and Womb" and "Rock, Redeemer, Friend," options include:
"Lover, Beloved, Love"
"Creator, Savior, Sanctifier"
"King of Glory, Prince of Peace, Spirit of Love"
When most Christians think of the Holy Spirit, it is surely with the Gospel images of a suddenly appearing dove, tongues of fire, or the mysterious breath of God. All of the images are dynamic, empowering, and not of the flesh; exactly in the way "womb" is not. Any internal organ is surely a ridiculous metaphoric image for a Holy Spirit that can appear in various forms. May as well go for the pancreas, it's vaguely got something to do with energy at least.
God the Father does not come out of it too well with being re-imaged as "Rock". While I share with liberals a certain disdain for the idea some Fundamentalists have that God is whispering specific directions into their ear, imagining God as an inert lump is taking a remedial image way too far in the other direction.
As for the Spirit as "Friend", well, how wimpy can you get. More an image of having a cup of tea and a chat to make you feel better, rather than someone giving you courage and power.
UPDATE: I have decided that I was a little unfair to fundamentalists. Many liberals these days (on issues like gay relationships or women's ordination) also take the view that God is informing them directly about the "right" attitude to these matters.
If this is reported correctly, the silliness of some of it is both amusing and annoying at the same time:
Delegates to the national assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted yesterday to "receive" a policy paper on sex-inclusive language for the Trinity, a step short of approving it. Church officials are enabled to propose "experimental liturgies" with "alternative phrasings" for the Trinity, but congregations won't be required to use them.
Besides "Mother, Child and Womb" and "Rock, Redeemer, Friend," options include:
"Lover, Beloved, Love"
"Creator, Savior, Sanctifier"
"King of Glory, Prince of Peace, Spirit of Love"
When most Christians think of the Holy Spirit, it is surely with the Gospel images of a suddenly appearing dove, tongues of fire, or the mysterious breath of God. All of the images are dynamic, empowering, and not of the flesh; exactly in the way "womb" is not. Any internal organ is surely a ridiculous metaphoric image for a Holy Spirit that can appear in various forms. May as well go for the pancreas, it's vaguely got something to do with energy at least.
God the Father does not come out of it too well with being re-imaged as "Rock". While I share with liberals a certain disdain for the idea some Fundamentalists have that God is whispering specific directions into their ear, imagining God as an inert lump is taking a remedial image way too far in the other direction.
As for the Spirit as "Friend", well, how wimpy can you get. More an image of having a cup of tea and a chat to make you feel better, rather than someone giving you courage and power.
UPDATE: I have decided that I was a little unfair to fundamentalists. Many liberals these days (on issues like gay relationships or women's ordination) also take the view that God is informing them directly about the "right" attitude to these matters.
Another sad case
Dad faces manslaughter charge | The Courier-Mail
A trial in a very tragic case is underway in Queensland:
RYAN Brooks, 18, arrived home after a late night out with his mates and asked his mother Cheryl to get him up early for work, and then disappeared into his bedroom.
Later, he went to the fridge to get a drink of cold water and took a mouthful of clear, odourless fluid from an unmarked glass spirit bottle.
Within moments he was screaming for his mother and writhing. The liquid he had swallowed was industrial-strength cleaner used to rinse beer-lines at the hotel where his father, Ian Francis Brooks, worked as a janitor.
Ryan died 2½ weeks later, during emergency surgery at the Ipswich Hospital from massive internal bleeding. Four years on, his father is being held criminally responsible and yesterday pleaded not guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court to the manslaughter of the youngest of his two sons on February 24, 2002.
Criminal offences which are based on negligent or reckless behaviour with unintended effects have always made me feel somewhat uncomfortable. Some cases clearly call for criminal charges (eg, a driver who loses control while hurtling down a street and hits a pedestrian.) But when the victim is a loved member of the accused's own family, it raises the question of the value of prosecuting the accused if he has already gone through anguish over what happened. The defence will surely be playing on this, and I suspect that the jury will find it a difficult call. After all, I can see the counterargument that it would not be appropriate to abandon all cases where an accused shows sufficient grief.
Of course, if he is convicted, his personal anguish (assuming he has some) will no doubt be heavily relied upon in a plea in mitigation before punishment is decided.
A trial in a very tragic case is underway in Queensland:
RYAN Brooks, 18, arrived home after a late night out with his mates and asked his mother Cheryl to get him up early for work, and then disappeared into his bedroom.
Later, he went to the fridge to get a drink of cold water and took a mouthful of clear, odourless fluid from an unmarked glass spirit bottle.
Within moments he was screaming for his mother and writhing. The liquid he had swallowed was industrial-strength cleaner used to rinse beer-lines at the hotel where his father, Ian Francis Brooks, worked as a janitor.
Ryan died 2½ weeks later, during emergency surgery at the Ipswich Hospital from massive internal bleeding. Four years on, his father is being held criminally responsible and yesterday pleaded not guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court to the manslaughter of the youngest of his two sons on February 24, 2002.
Criminal offences which are based on negligent or reckless behaviour with unintended effects have always made me feel somewhat uncomfortable. Some cases clearly call for criminal charges (eg, a driver who loses control while hurtling down a street and hits a pedestrian.) But when the victim is a loved member of the accused's own family, it raises the question of the value of prosecuting the accused if he has already gone through anguish over what happened. The defence will surely be playing on this, and I suspect that the jury will find it a difficult call. After all, I can see the counterargument that it would not be appropriate to abandon all cases where an accused shows sufficient grief.
Of course, if he is convicted, his personal anguish (assuming he has some) will no doubt be heavily relied upon in a plea in mitigation before punishment is decided.
Calling all benevolent time travellers
I've been posting quite a lot recently, rather to the detriment of my normal work.
The pace may need to slow a little in the lead up to the end of the financial year, unless my new scheme for how to make money from this blog succeeds.
All I need is someone from the future with access to next week's Australian lotto numbers, and a method of emailing information back in time, to provide the winning numbers for next weekend's Gold Lotto. Powerball, or any other mid-week Lotto numbers are also acceptable; I am not fussy.
If you are reading this in the future and are wondering "why should I benefit this particular jerk out of all others," well, there is no especially compelling reason, other than I have a family to support, no family riches coming my way, and have provided you with a way to test your machine. Maybe you could just email anyone, but how many people would take this seriously unless they had invited it? (Well, maybe I would try it once, but I am gullible.)
Of course, if you find out not only the winning numbers, but also who won (if it is not me) then I don't know that this scheme will work. I don't want to create any unnecessary splitting of universes. Also, don't go trying to email yourself in the past: if that worked, everyone would try it and (after a week or two of thousands of people sharing top prize) the whole lotto idea would be shelved permanently.
No, this is something you have to do benevolently to a single recipient.
So, go to it. Please send all winning (Australian) Lotto numbers to this temporary email:
2mc2ljfk3i3mqi0@jetable.org
Readers will be advised if and when I appear to have proved information can flow backwards as well as forwards.
For readers interested in time travel generally, this 1991 article by Hans Moravec is pretty good.
Also, people who have access to future information via methods such as spirit communication, ganzfeld experiments, etc, are welcome to submit numbers.
The pace may need to slow a little in the lead up to the end of the financial year, unless my new scheme for how to make money from this blog succeeds.
All I need is someone from the future with access to next week's Australian lotto numbers, and a method of emailing information back in time, to provide the winning numbers for next weekend's Gold Lotto. Powerball, or any other mid-week Lotto numbers are also acceptable; I am not fussy.
If you are reading this in the future and are wondering "why should I benefit this particular jerk out of all others," well, there is no especially compelling reason, other than I have a family to support, no family riches coming my way, and have provided you with a way to test your machine. Maybe you could just email anyone, but how many people would take this seriously unless they had invited it? (Well, maybe I would try it once, but I am gullible.)
Of course, if you find out not only the winning numbers, but also who won (if it is not me) then I don't know that this scheme will work. I don't want to create any unnecessary splitting of universes. Also, don't go trying to email yourself in the past: if that worked, everyone would try it and (after a week or two of thousands of people sharing top prize) the whole lotto idea would be shelved permanently.
No, this is something you have to do benevolently to a single recipient.
So, go to it. Please send all winning (Australian) Lotto numbers to this temporary email:
2mc2ljfk3i3mqi0@jetable.org
Readers will be advised if and when I appear to have proved information can flow backwards as well as forwards.
For readers interested in time travel generally, this 1991 article by Hans Moravec is pretty good.
Also, people who have access to future information via methods such as spirit communication, ganzfeld experiments, etc, are welcome to submit numbers.
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