The god-shaped hole

Article

This is an interesting article comparing geekly reverence for Star Wars, Star Trek, and other sci-fi mythologies with religious belief systems. Both, claims the article, tap into the same human instincts. The interesting idea is that when reason replaces dogma, we are left with a god-shaped hole in our psyches, one that we fill with heroes, villains, and supernatural cosmologies.

I wonder if there's any cog/neuro evidence to back this up? I'll let you know if I come across any.

Freedom of Choice stretched to the limit

Article

I consider myself pretty staunchly in the pro-choice camp, but this one gave me pause. The issue is selective abortion - reducing a pregnancy from twins to a singleton. It's not much of a debate in higher order pregnancies, where having triplets, for example, could pose a health threat to the mother and diminish the chances of any of the fetuses coming to term. The ethics get fuzzier when it's a matter not of health, but of convenience, and when the parents have already decided to have a child (just not two of them).

As in the general abortion debate, it's important to distinguish between two important yet fundamentally separate questions:

• Should it be legal?
• Would you personally be able to do it?

Tough one

Condoleeza vs. Katie Couric on Gulf War II

In this December 3rd interview, Condi calls out Katie on her "question" regarding the motivations for the second Gulf War. The question was leading to the point of absurdity, and Condi goes to town on a premise that, if not faulty, was at least based on some contentious assumptions.

Anyway, I'm not usually one to align with the Right, but I think Condi is correct.

Fox News - It would be funny if people didn't actually take this seriously

This is the actual headline. Ready?

Child's Nightmares and Memories Prove Reincarnation

Link Dump I

http://www.thisblogrules.com/2009/11/ant-works-spectacular-nasa-experiment.html?utm_source=wahoha.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wahoha

http://funzu.com/index.php/crazy-pics/35-mind-blowing-watercolor-paintings-by-steve-hanks-02082010.html

credit card nostalgia

looking through a credit card statement enables an odd brand of reminiscence... trains, airplanes, bars, restaurants, and soda jerks. too bad i paid the tattoo artist in cash, that memory is literally gone forever

Religious fanaticism in the US Congress

Here's the article

If you don't believe it, watch this

For more fun and games, watch this

I'd like to stress that this man would like to be the next chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee