Posts Made By: James Brown

Originally Posted by James Lacey

Granted, and we could argue all day about which side is worse, but in my humble opinion, Republican anti-science trends are far more due to partisanship and because their leaders tell them not to trust science. Your examples are due to fear of aging or a penchant for metaphysics and mysticism. All just my humble opinion, since, as I said, we could go back and forth forever arguing which side is worse.

8 years ago, I would have taken the argument, for grins.  Now, I would not.  I'd expect to lose!  Lots of things cycle. 

My best examples, general pre-covid anti-vax sentiment because of the anti-scientific fear of autism, and fear of GMO foods are not benign "fear of aging" things by the way.  Thousands of children in the third world starve and suffer from preventable nutritional diseases because of fear of GMOs.  Europe is worse than us.  If the GMOs are banned, they can not be exported to the third world.

https://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/countriesruleoutgmos/  

Originally Posted by Russ Carroll

Evangelicals, such as myself, believe the Bible is inerrant (without error), not literal. There are many allegories and parables that are a part of scripture. Ultimately, my lack of ability to reconcile the natural to the supernatural is of little consequence and non-impactful when there is a mystery/conflict between the two.

Understood.  Also, you are not in favor of laws banning the teaching of well-accepted science like evolution, just because it is not precisely in accord with Genesis.  Some Christians feel that way.  Typically I would call them Biblical literalists, or Fundamentalists.  I don't think I implied that Evangelicals are Biblical literalists.  The ones I know are not.   

Originally Posted by Russ Carroll

Im opposed to interfering with science curriculum in public schools (or generally) to accommodate faith-based beliefs.

I’m opposed to interfering with Church teaching to conform with social or governmental standards.

There may be an edge cases with either statement I’m not accounting fo, but these are pretty good general tenets to live by.

Some of the edge cases are interesting since they defining the boundaries between faith and the state.   Generally, I think the Supreme Court has held that Adults of various faiths can refuse life-saving treatments such as a transfusion, for faith based reasons, and die.  On the other hand, states can typically compel the administration of a transfusion (for example) to save the life of a minor/child, even over the legitimate faith-based objection of his or her parents.

Over 100 years ago the Supreme Court ruled that it was OK to mandate smallpox vaccinations even of those who had legit faith-based reasons against vaccination.  This was deemed necessary for the overall good of society.  

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

"In Colorado, Weld County residents have seen a variety of efforts to move the state line so that Weld – a county that backed Trump by double digits in a state that voted for Biden – would become a part of much redder Wyoming. An online petition urging support for the move states, “Weld County’s values align more with Wyoming than Denver/Boulder,” adding that “rural communities are getting ignored.”
"...unprecedented hostility toward those who don’t share the same politics."
https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/15/politics/oregon-secession-idaho-partisan-divides/index.html

Weld County has a point.  Contrary viewpoints are shouted down with thinly veiled threats of violence in Boulder.  All in the name of social justice of course. 

You might make the point that this polarization trending to hostility is just as much the Rs fault as it is the Ds.  I think fault is irrelevant.  I would be frightened to express a right of center opinion on the mall in Boulder and that is wrong and destructive, no matter who might be to blame for the hostility, violence, and eagerness to eradicate what Boulder sees as "wrong-think."

Originally Posted by Rod Kaufman

Well, Weld county is represented primarily by Republicans in the legislature as is Rifle, Colorado with representation in the US House of Representatives by none other than Lauren Boebert.  So, no, I don't think Weld county has a point in in attempting to secede from the state for their Republican representation since they already have it. If the residents aren't happy about being heard, it's up to their elected representative to present their viewpoints but that hardly justifies an inane attempt to secede from the state...

Rod - these are not serious attempts to secede.  You know that right? 

Right?

These are just the harmless efforts of activists and crack-pots.  America is great that way.  Anyone can start a petition.  That does not make the subject matter legitimate or well supported.   J

Originally Posted by Jim Moscheck

Even as a casual college basketball fan it was painful to watch Purdue's historic loss to FDU last night. I'm sure much more so for Jim Brown. Their season started out so good and ended so badly. I'm sure it must have been a long bus ride home. Only the second time a #1 seed has lost to a #16.

With the three big upsets so far I'm sure there aren't too many brackets still intact.

Thanks Jim.  Sadly, we Boiler fans are used to it.  Losses to a 13, 15 and now 16 seed in the last 3 years.  I am afraid our coach is too slavishly tied to his system to beat anyone but the big ten regulars...  These lower seeded teams that beat us are all the same.  Small, motivated, scrappy, and fast.  If Painter had just let our athletes play at a faster pace with some drives on the lane when the threes weren't falling... Oh, what might have been.  

Anyway, I'm over it.  Cheering for Princeton and Penn State now.   Also, we had a spectacular day today, so I got out my solar Ha kit.  The filter had been in the shop for over a year getting new blockers installed.  That stunk, but it really is performing nicely now.  I did mostly visual, but I captured the following with my planetary cam.   Very nice relaxing day.

Jim

Originally Posted by Brian McFarland

Jim, is that a Daystar?  I have a Quantum PE that's probably due for a factory tune up, but not sure I want to give it up for a year as we go into solar maximum.

Hi Brian:

It is a Solar Spectrum SO1.5  https://solarspectrumopticalfilters.com/

I've owned it for over a decade, maybe 15 years.  When I bought it the blocker and trim filters in front of the etalon were implemented with "soft coated" filter elements.  That was all they had.  Lifespan of about 10 years.   Now there are hard coated blocker and trim filters made by semiconductor thin film deposition techniques, should last forever.   The owner of Solar Spectrum, Mark Wagner, is a great guy, but it did take a year for the replacement trim and blocker filters.   Jim

Originally Posted by Jim Moscheck

Nice shot. I look forward to using my Lunt scope when I get some time off someday. 

At least Purdue made the NCAA tournament. Michigan can’t even win in the NIT, they were up by 8 with 56 seconds left against Vanderbilt and lost.

Glad to see Michigan State win in a nice upset.  Izzo sure knows how to coach come tournament time!

Originally Posted by Richard Davis

Oh I know Greg.  I'm just giving him shit the way he gives me shit pretty much all the time. 

But I don't disagree with you Greg.  
 

Rich the victim.  Did any of you catch the recent South Park spoofing Harry and Megan, where everyone was working on their personal brand?  Things like "white, gay, victim."  'Black, trans, victim..."  You get the idea - everyone's "brand" is to be a victim nowadays.  Rich is bleeding edge with the personal branding. 

"Maga man, internet crank, victim..."  Jim

Originally Posted by Richard Davis

Never said I was the victim...

Well, I sure thought you did: 

"Oh I know Greg.  I'm just giving him shit the way he gives me shit pretty much all the time." 
"Well I learned it from you.  You're the master pal."

Jim