Stem Cells cause mice to remember how awesome stem cells are

Stem cell research is again showing progress with mice:

UC Irvine scientists have shown for the first time that neural stem cells can rescue memory in mice with advanced Alzheimer’s disease, raising hopes of a potential treatment for the leading cause of elderly dementia that afflicts 5.3 million people in the U.S.

Now unfortunately, this doesn’t necessarily mean it will show the same or even similar results in humans. But it definitely seems to give some validation to the kind of amazing medical breakthroughs scientists hoped would come out of the stem cell program.

Though if cartoons have taught us anything, it might not be a good idea to make the lab mice too smart.

South African would-be judge comes out as an atheist

During the hearings to decide if Senior Counsel Torquil Paterson should be chosen for South Africa’s Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Paterson told the committee that he left the priesthood in order to pursue law mainly because he realized that god didn’t exist:

Senior Counsel Torquil Paterson told the JSC: “I left the church for a variety of reasons, chief among them being that I realised God does not exist. I am an atheist.”

Paterson, whose lengthy theological studies included a stint at Oxford University, explained he had eventually come to the conclusion that “all language of God is meaningless”.

Justice Minister Jeff Radebe was left perplexed and asked: “So what you read in the Bible about the beginning does not exist? You do not believe that we were created in the image of God?”

“Minister you may believe that, I don’t,” Patterson responded.

Radebe insisted, to rare laughter at the JSC ‘s interviews of aspirant judges: “If God does not exist, are you a materialist, a communist, a Marxist?”

Paterson denied that he was any of those, adding: “It is a quite difficult to find a real Marxist”.

BAM! Stangely, the scathing criticism that followed didn’t even have anything to do with his being an atheist:

Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza, one of President Jacob Zuma’s new appointees to the JSC, declared he was both an atheist and a Marxist. He then launched a scathing attack on Paterson for having failed to join Advocates for Transformation (AFT). Ntsebeza is the national chairperson of the organisation.

Wow! South Africa is crawling with atheists and not believing in any gods isn’t treated as immediate grounds to reject him. It’s seen as a lesser priority than actual issues. What kind of crazy country are they running over there? Next you’re going to be telling me that the politicians don’t hypocritically cheat on their spouses after making a whole production out of condemning others for cheating on their spouses.

Woopi Goldberg – “I’m just saying…” millions of people are lying

It’s scary sometimes to think that Woopi Goldberg can be described as the rational one on The View. I can’t believe she pulled the “I’m just saying…” gambit with regards to the moon landing being faked. You’re not just saying it! You’re proposing that millions of people are involved in an elaborate coverup to manipulate the public into thinking something happened that didn’t happen. IT’S NOT A MINOR CLAIM!

But for the record, Phil Plait easily answers her questions here:

The questions Whoopi asks aren’t hard to answer. No one took the footage of Armstrong’s first step (it was a camera he deployed before stepping off the ladder), and there was a video camera on the rover that shot the footage of the ascent module taking off (remotely controlled on Earth by Ed Fendell). The flag waves because the astronauts were struggling to get the pole in the lunar surface (let a belt hang from your hand at arm’s length and move your arm back and forth; watch the belt ripple despite the fact it can’t be the air making it move).

Etc., and so on, und so weiter, ad infinitum. Someone should point her here.

What does it say when Barbara Walters is the voice of reason? Egads.

Too bad Buzz Aldrin wasn’t on the show. It would be hilarious to see someone on that show punched in the face.

Chuck Norris – ignorant douchebaggary

Chuck Norris is a religious moron. Nor only have I written about his epic stupidity but I’ve written to him before. And even though I wrote in a very civil tone, I never got a response. And back then I pointed out the irony of his proudly quoting Benjamin Franklin in an article accusing those who don’t worship his god of being unpatriotic.

Now he’s ranting against the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s (FFRF) lawsuit to prevent the separation of church and state from being clearly violated with an engraving of “In God We Trust” in the Capitol Visitors Center after it passed unanimously in the Senate and the House voted 410-8 in favor of it.

Sadly, Norris doesn’t seem to have learned anything about patriotism, the constitution, or American history since last I wrote him:

I’m a fighter for the freedoms of speech and religion. They are our constitutional rights – what the First Amendment is all about. But those freedoms don’t give atheists the entitlement to eliminate or revise America’s religious heritage in the new $621 million taxpayer-provided Capitol Visitors Center, or CVC, in Washington, D.C.

Norris’ whole response is citing all the other violations of church and state as precedent. And in doing so, “The Texas Ranger” illustrates what I’ve been saying for a long time. The motto, the pledge, the congressional acknowledgment of Christmas, all the congressional prayers, etc, etc.–they’re not small issues that aren’t worth our time to challenge. Every issue that gets written off as something secular Americans shouldn’t be wasting their time on are used against. Every time Christians try to force Jesus into the public schools or into government, they will always cite all these little things as precedent. They’re say, we already in god in our motto, on our money, and in our Pledge of Allegiance, so why not ____?” You give these assholes an inch of rope and they will hang you by it.

Also, I think those who voted against the engraving deserve to get recognized:

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)
Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD)
Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Rep. Michael Honda (D-CA)
Rep. James McDermott (D-WA)
Rep. Ronald Paul (R-TX)
Rep. Robert Scott (D-VA)
Rep. Fortney Stark (D-CA)

But let’s hear more from “The Texas Ranger”:

How could anyone have anything against the engraving of our nation’s motto, which is above the very speaker’s rostrum in the House of Representatives? How could anyone have anything against the same for the Pledge of Allegiance, which has been recited each day since its inception in both houses of Congress?

Actually Chuck, the “Under God” part wasn’t added to the Pledge until 1954 as a McCarthyist way of saying “FUCK YOU” to the godless Commies. But thanks for playing.

“Th-th-th-that’s all folks!”

Lying on billboards for Jesus

You know, no matter how many times I encounter religious people happily admitting that they’re willing to lie in order to sell their religion, it never ceases to amaze me. Here’s the latest example. Terry Kemple, president of the Florida chapter of the pro-theocracy Community Issues Council, proudly admits that they knowingly falsely attributed quotes promoting their own ideology to great historical figures to sell their anti-separation of church and state message:

The billboards showcase quotes from early American leaders like John Adams, James Madison and Benjamin Franklin. Most of the quotes portray a national need for Christian governance.

Others carry the same message but with fictional attribution, as with one billboard citing George Washington for the quote, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”

“I don’t believe there’s a document in Washington’s handwriting that has those words in that specific form,” Kemple said. “However, if you look at Washington’s quotes, including his farewell address, about the place of religion in the political sphere, there’s no question he could have said those exact words.”

This guy just comes out and says George Washington never said what we’re specifically claiming he said but since it will fool people, that’s okay. What?! I seem to recall something in the Bible about baring false witness.

Let’s see if Kemble is right that Washington could have said those quotes. Here are a few REAL quotes from George Washington:

Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by difference of sentiments in religion appear to be the most inveterate and distressing, and ought most to be deprecated. I was in hopes that the enlightened and liberal policy, which has marked the present age, would at least have reconciled Christians of every denomination so far that we should never again see the religious disputes carried to such a pitch as to endanger the peace of society. [George Washington, letter to Edward Newenham, October 20, 1792; from George Seldes, ed., The Great Quotations, Secaucus, New Jersey: Citadel Press, 1983, p. 726]
There is nothing which can better deserve our patronage than the promotion of science and literature. Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness. [George Washington, address to Congress, 8 January, 1790]

If they are good workmen, they may be from Asia, Africa or Europe; they may be Mahometans, Jews, Christians of any sect, or they may be Atheists…. [George Washington, to Tench Tighman, March 24, 1784, when asked what type of workman to get for Mount Vernon, from The Washington papers edited by Saul Padover]

…I beg you be persuaded that no one would be more zealous than myself to establish effectual barriers against the horrors of spiritual tyranny, and every species of religious persecution. [George Washington, to United Baptists Churches of Virginia, May, 1789 from The Washington papers edited by Saul Padover]

Eat it, Kemble!

Oh, and did I mention that Kemble was considered last year for the Republican nomination to replace a state representative? I bet I can guess which political party too.

India freaks out over solar eclipse

This is yet another example of primitive superstitions that manage to survive in the present day:

Indian astrologers are predicting violence and turmoil across the world as a result of this week’s total solar eclipse, which the superstitious and religious view as a sign of potential doom.

Oh no! The moon has briefly blocked our view of the sun! This sort of thing never happens ever! We’re doomed! DOOMED!!!!

Son of a bitch! There are anti-vaccinationists that aren’t even this stupid. These guys need to stop watching Heroes as if its a documentary. Solar eclipses don’t have supernatural powers. Maybe we should change Groundhog Day to Stupid Indian Astrologer Day. If they get scared by their own shadow, it means another Dark Ages.

In Hindu mythology, the two demons Rahu and Ketu are said to “swallow” the sun during eclipses, snuffing out its life-giving light and causing food to become inedible and water undrinkable.

Pregnant women are advised to stay indoors to prevent their babies developing birth defects, while prayers, fasting and ritual bathing, particularly in holy rivers, are encouraged.

Oh no! Protect the pregnant women from shadow of the moon!!! Demons! Why’s it always got to be demons? The last thing I want to hear when I call for tech support is hearing some moron telling me my computer isn’t working because the demons that ate the sun have used their voodoo on my operating system.

Fortunately, my favorite Indian, Sanal Edamaruku, president of the Indian Rationalist Association, is on the case. You might remember Sanal as the guy who volunteered to have some voodoo guy kill him on live, national television with nothing but magic spells. Suffice it to say, he’s still very much alive.

Sanal Edamaruku, president of the Indian Rationalist Association, dismissed such doomsday predictions.

“Primarily, what we see with all these soothsayers and astrologers is that they’re looking for opportunities to enhance their business with predictions of danger and calamity,” he told AFP.

“They have been very powerful in India but over the last decade they have been in systematic decline.”

Keep fighting the crazy over there, Sanal. We’re counting on you.

More anniversaries

Yesterday, I got so excited about the 40th anniversery of the Moon Landing that I completely forgot that 2 days ago (July 19th) was the 1st anniversary of this very blog.

Happy 1st Birthday, Skepacabra!

In my first blog, I began with a detailed explanation of my thoughts on gods and religion. Fortunately, few blogs after that were me-centric.

I stated my goal for this blog in the “About” section but it’s worth revisiting here:

The goal of this blog is to promote the methods of critical thinking and scientific skepticism. A pretty good summation of the frequent topics being discussed here can be found in the Michael Shermer quote on the top of the blog’s main page. Some specific topics of particular interest to me aside from science news are: Creationism/Intelligent Design, alternative medicine, psychic claims, ghost hunters, UFO sightings, Big Foot, Chupacabra, and all matter of bullshit. In fact, if you’ve seen the TV shows Penn & Teller’s Bullshit or Mythbusters then you probably already have a good idea of the kinds of things I’ll be discussing in this blog.

Now I think I’ve done an okay job of keeping to that goal. Sure, like PZ Myers, I sometimes come down really hard on bullshit. But contrary to some commenters’ insisting that I’m close-minded, if I’m harsh on something, it’s not because I dismissed it out of hand. In all likelihood, I’ve researched it prior to my writing about it and simply reached the conclusion that it’s crap.

For instance. . .

Today just happens to be the 84th anniversary of the end of the Scopes Monkey Trial. Contrary to popular belief, Scopes sadly lost that trial. Though it was later overturned. But that trial set back science education for decades while students continued to be taught nonsensical creationism in public schools long after it’d been debunked.

84 years ago today was a dark day in American history. May we never repeat it.

Happy 40th Anniversery of the Moon Landing

This remains arguably the greatest human achievement of all time. But sadly, now it’s hard to escape the deniers when reading looking at the news coverage of this great anniversery. Phil Plait includes a list of articles that he’s been quoted in, most of which address the deniers.

So I decided to include some great skeptical materials debunking common moon landing denialist claims:

NY Times – “Vocal Minority Insists It Was All Smoke and Mirrors” By JOHN SCHWARTZ
Moon Base Clavius (Site devoted to debunking Moon Landing Denialist claims)
“Fox TV and the Apollo Moon Hoax” by Phil Plait
“LRO and the Apollo Hoax Believers…”
“Bart Sibrel gets Buzzed” by Phil Plait
Michael Shermer debunks moon landing denier claims

Wikipedia article on Apollo moon landing hoax conspiracy theories

There’s also some good video debunking material of moon hoaxers here slightly more than halfway down the page.

Catholic Church aborts for abortion

Remember that story from a few months ago about the 9-year0old Brazilian girl who was raped, impregnated, and then aborted after receiving legal permission even though abortion is illegal in Brazil because of the medical risks of carrying the baby to term, which led to the Catholic Church excommunicating all involved?

Well, now it’s official. The Catholic Church has composed an official document declaring anyone involved in any abortion shall be excommunicated. NO EXCEPTIONS! Well, except for the rapist. In cases where a fetus is the product of a rape, it’s not like the rapist had anything to do with the abortion, so they can still get into heaven if they play their cards right. After all, the Bible is perfectly clear on this point. Rape victims must marry their rapists and raise their child together (Deut. 22:28). Besides, if rapists were excommunicated, who’d run the churches?

…there is a more important principle at stake. “We have laws, we have a discipline, we have a doctrine of the faith,” the official says. “This is not just theory. And you can’t start backpedaling just because the real-life situation carries a certain human weight.” Benedict makes it ever more clear that his strict approach to doctrine will remain a central pillar to his papacy, bad publicity be damned.

Yeah, since when did the Catholic Church care about real-life? That’s right, never! Screw you real-life situations! We don’t need you as long as we have our Bible, our self-righteousness, our millennia-old morality, and our dogma! And three cheers for child rape!!! Woo!!!

There’s an app for that?

The other day, I blogged about the latest “purity ring” iPhone app. Well, according to fellow blogger Crispian Jago, there are more woo-centric iPhone apps out there. . .a lot more:

Paranormal Woo
Astrology – 65 Apps
Tarot Cards – 61 Apps
Psychic – 60 Apps
Fortune Telling – 41 Apps
Voodoo – 41 Apps
Numerology – 32 Apps
Palm Reading – 28 Apps
Ouija – 15 Apps
Dowsing -1 App

Religious Woo
Bibles – 479 Apps
Prayer – 230 Apps
Jewish -193 Apps
General Religion – 216 Apps
Christianity – 119 Apps
Islam – 91 Apps
Witchcraft – 7 Apps
Faith Healing – 5 Apps

Alternative Medicine Woo
Acupuncture – 21 Apps
Homeopathy – 13 Apps
Chiropractic – 12 Apps
Reiki – 12 Aps
Herbal Remedies – 6 Apps

General Woo
Feng Shui – 24 Apps
Conspiracy Theories – 5 Apps

He also shows a few examples on his blog. My favorite is the Daily Jesus.