Be careful of the numbers you quote. Read this book review to find out why.
Link - Sneeky numbers
Posts
Ending a movie with a preposition
3 hours ago
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
181 - Mind tricks
Here's a link to an article about how your mind plays tricks on you. What you think you see or hear is not what you get.
Link - Mind tricks
Link - Mind tricks
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
179 - Faith without church
Sometimes somebody writes something that you think to yourself, "those are my thoughts exactly!" You just never bothered to assemble them in one spot in your brain and write them down. John has hit the nail on the head in his editorial in the Post-Dispatch.
Faith without church
The story "Number of nonbelievers is on the rise in Europe, U.S." (Sept. 16) was about people losing their faith in God because of the radical fundamentalism of certain religious leaders and sects, with the Islamic jihadists being the most obvious current example. A religion, a church and a creed are not required to believe in God or to lead a righteous life.
A church or organized religion merely is one group's set of instructions on how to lead a moral life. It is a dogma created by men that, regardless of its original intent, too often has become a tool to promote that church's worldview. History is replete with pogroms, crusades, religious wars and simple intolerance driven by religious beliefs. Too many religions have become all about wielding power, whether through telling people what to believe or in killing those who don't believe.
Any belief in God, Allah, Yahweh, Buddha or even Zeus or Jupiter is the most intensely personal experience that you ever will have — or not have. The whole purpose of any moral philosophy, be it religious or secular, is to help us live lives that are purposeful and good. Following the Golden Rule — do unto others as you would have them do unto you — always has worked for me. Either way, it is up to the individual, not some self- or church-appointed human who claims to speak for the Almighty.
John xxxxxxxx| St. Louis
Link - PD editorials
(good for 14 days for a particular day)
Faith without church
The story "Number of nonbelievers is on the rise in Europe, U.S." (Sept. 16) was about people losing their faith in God because of the radical fundamentalism of certain religious leaders and sects, with the Islamic jihadists being the most obvious current example. A religion, a church and a creed are not required to believe in God or to lead a righteous life.
A church or organized religion merely is one group's set of instructions on how to lead a moral life. It is a dogma created by men that, regardless of its original intent, too often has become a tool to promote that church's worldview. History is replete with pogroms, crusades, religious wars and simple intolerance driven by religious beliefs. Too many religions have become all about wielding power, whether through telling people what to believe or in killing those who don't believe.
Any belief in God, Allah, Yahweh, Buddha or even Zeus or Jupiter is the most intensely personal experience that you ever will have — or not have. The whole purpose of any moral philosophy, be it religious or secular, is to help us live lives that are purposeful and good. Following the Golden Rule — do unto others as you would have them do unto you — always has worked for me. Either way, it is up to the individual, not some self- or church-appointed human who claims to speak for the Almighty.
John xxxxxxxx| St. Louis
Link - PD editorials
(good for 14 days for a particular day)
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
177 - How things can go wrong
This is a little reading but it really points out that you should double check what you find out on the internet.
Link - How things can go wrong
Link - How things can go wrong
Friday, September 14, 2007
176 - Hearing voices?
A Swiss woman who fell off her bicycle has yielded a unique insight into how auditory hallucinations are generated.
The woman suffered damage to the part of the brain where speech is generated and could speak only in short, stunted words and sentences. Five months later, when she suddenly developed epilepsy, she began "hearing" voices with the same speech impediments as herself.
"She initially heard her own voice speaking aloud, then the voices of hospital staff," says Daniela Hubl at the University Hospital of Psychiatry in Bern, Switzerland, a member of the team that treated her. "They had the same speech impediments as she did. It proves that the voices were generated in the language areas of the patient's own brain." The hallucinations disappeared when the woman received drugs to control her epilepsy (The Lancet, vol 370, p 538).
Hubl believes the case is unique and supports more strongly than ever the scientific consensus that "voices" and other hallucinations experienced by people with conditions like schizophrenia are generated within their own brains.
The woman suffered damage to the part of the brain where speech is generated and could speak only in short, stunted words and sentences. Five months later, when she suddenly developed epilepsy, she began "hearing" voices with the same speech impediments as herself.
"She initially heard her own voice speaking aloud, then the voices of hospital staff," says Daniela Hubl at the University Hospital of Psychiatry in Bern, Switzerland, a member of the team that treated her. "They had the same speech impediments as she did. It proves that the voices were generated in the language areas of the patient's own brain." The hallucinations disappeared when the woman received drugs to control her epilepsy (The Lancet, vol 370, p 538).
Hubl believes the case is unique and supports more strongly than ever the scientific consensus that "voices" and other hallucinations experienced by people with conditions like schizophrenia are generated within their own brains.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
175 - Do Not Call Registry info
The truth about cell phones and the DNC Registry is:
Contrary to the e-mail, cell phone numbers are NOT being released to telemarketers, and you will NOT soon be getting telemarketing calls on your cell phone.
There is NO deadline by which you must register your cell phone number on the Registry.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers are barred from calling consumers on their cell phones without their consent.
The national associations representing telemarketers have stated that their clients do not intend to start calling consumers’ cell phones.
There is only ONE DNC Registry. There is no separate registry for cell phones.
The DNC Registry accepts registrations from both cell phones and land lines. You must call from the phone number that you want to register. If you register online, you must respond to a confirmation e-mail.
While the telecommunications industry has been discussing the possibility of creating a wireless 411 directory, according to the FCC, even if a wireless 411 directory is established, most telemarketing calls to cell phones would still be illegal, regardless of whether the number is listed on the federal government’s National Do Not Call Registry.
Link - donotcall info
Link - donotcall register
Contrary to the e-mail, cell phone numbers are NOT being released to telemarketers, and you will NOT soon be getting telemarketing calls on your cell phone.
There is NO deadline by which you must register your cell phone number on the Registry.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers are barred from calling consumers on their cell phones without their consent.
The national associations representing telemarketers have stated that their clients do not intend to start calling consumers’ cell phones.
There is only ONE DNC Registry. There is no separate registry for cell phones.
The DNC Registry accepts registrations from both cell phones and land lines. You must call from the phone number that you want to register. If you register online, you must respond to a confirmation e-mail.
While the telecommunications industry has been discussing the possibility of creating a wireless 411 directory, according to the FCC, even if a wireless 411 directory is established, most telemarketing calls to cell phones would still be illegal, regardless of whether the number is listed on the federal government’s National Do Not Call Registry.
Link - donotcall info
Link - donotcall register
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
174 - Taxes - H.R. 3396
The following is a bill recently introduced in the House of Representatives. It has been introduced four times before but has never gone anywhere. But they're trying again. The link takes you to the original bill but it has links to all the other bills.
8/3/2007--Introduced.
Sales Tax Fairness and Simplification Act - Grants the consent of Congress to the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (Agreement), the multistate agreement for the administration and collection of sales and use taxes adopted on November 12, 2002. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Agreement provides sufficient simplification and uniformity to warrant federal authorizations to states that are parties to it (member states) to require remote sellers (sellers without a physical presence in the taxing state) to collect and remit the sales and use taxes of such states and their local taxing jurisdictions.
Authorizes each member state, after 10 states (comprising at least 20% of all states imposing a sales tax) have petitioned for and become member states, to require all sellers, except those sellers with gross remote taxable sales nationwide of less than $5 million, to collect and remit sales and use taxes on remote sales owed to such member state under the terms of the Agreement.
Allows any person affected by the Agreement to petition the Governing Board established by the Agreement for a determination of any issue arising under the Agreement. Provides for judicial review of Governing Board determinations by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
Sets forth minimum simplification requirements for the Agreement.
Expresses the sense of Congress that member states should work with each other to prevent double taxation where a foreign country has imposed a transaction tax on a digital good or service
Link - H.R. 3396
8/3/2007--Introduced.
Sales Tax Fairness and Simplification Act - Grants the consent of Congress to the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (Agreement), the multistate agreement for the administration and collection of sales and use taxes adopted on November 12, 2002. Expresses the sense of Congress that the Agreement provides sufficient simplification and uniformity to warrant federal authorizations to states that are parties to it (member states) to require remote sellers (sellers without a physical presence in the taxing state) to collect and remit the sales and use taxes of such states and their local taxing jurisdictions.
Authorizes each member state, after 10 states (comprising at least 20% of all states imposing a sales tax) have petitioned for and become member states, to require all sellers, except those sellers with gross remote taxable sales nationwide of less than $5 million, to collect and remit sales and use taxes on remote sales owed to such member state under the terms of the Agreement.
Allows any person affected by the Agreement to petition the Governing Board established by the Agreement for a determination of any issue arising under the Agreement. Provides for judicial review of Governing Board determinations by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
Sets forth minimum simplification requirements for the Agreement.
Expresses the sense of Congress that member states should work with each other to prevent double taxation where a foreign country has imposed a transaction tax on a digital good or service
Link - H.R. 3396
Monday, September 10, 2007
173 - Punny Mikey, Punny
The question to go along with this is,"How old do you have to be to get this pun"?
Link - Mike Peters
Friday, September 07, 2007
172 - What?
Bin Laden Calls On America to Convert to Islam.
There's stupid. Then there's real stupid. And then there's beyond hope stupid.
171 - One picture worth a thousand cuss words
picture
The picture speaks for itself. If you want to see the words to go with it, here's the site I got it from. The guy has a good rant about it.
Link - words
The picture speaks for itself. If you want to see the words to go with it, here's the site I got it from. The guy has a good rant about it.
Link - words
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
169 - Thinker quiz
Monday, September 03, 2007
168 - Sugarless gum can be toxic to dogs
By Joe and Dr. Terry Graedon
Q: I am a veterinarian and read your advice about the benefits of using sugarless gum containing xylitol for dental health. I have seen several canine patients with toxicity from this sweetener. Your astute readers should be cautious with its use around pets. In dogs, xylitol can lead to a precipitous drop in blood sugar, as well as liver disease and seizures.
A: Thanks for the warning. It is important to keep candy, chewing gum and other products that may contain xylitol out of the reach of dogs. Other food items that can be toxic to dogs include avocado, chocolate, garlic, grapes, macadamia nuts, onions and raisins.
Link - stltoday.com
Another link - dog toxins
Q: I am a veterinarian and read your advice about the benefits of using sugarless gum containing xylitol for dental health. I have seen several canine patients with toxicity from this sweetener. Your astute readers should be cautious with its use around pets. In dogs, xylitol can lead to a precipitous drop in blood sugar, as well as liver disease and seizures.
A: Thanks for the warning. It is important to keep candy, chewing gum and other products that may contain xylitol out of the reach of dogs. Other food items that can be toxic to dogs include avocado, chocolate, garlic, grapes, macadamia nuts, onions and raisins.
Link - stltoday.com
Another link - dog toxins
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