An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for Science
A Bad Idea
One Sperm Donor, 150 Offspring
Cynthia Daily and her partner used a sperm donor to conceive a baby seven years ago, and they hoped that one day their son would get to know some of his half siblings — an extended family of sorts for modern times.
So Ms. Daily searched a Web-based registry for other children fathered by the same donor and helped to create an online group to track them. Over the years, she watched the number of children in her son’s group grow.
And grow.
Today there are 150 children, all conceived with sperm from one donor, in this group of half siblings, and more are on the way. “It’s wild when we see them all together — they all look alike,” said Ms. Daily, 48, a social worker in the Washington area who sometimes vacations with other families in her son’s group.
Now, I know, there are going to be people who disagree with me, for a variety of reasons, but there is a reason that God created us the way He did. Without a male, females can not have children. The intention of marriage (one man + one woman) was to be ‘fruitful and multiply”. Well, we’ve sure done that, haven’t we! Unfortunately, more babies are murdered each year by their mothers than any cult of the ancient world. 
There are several reasons I don’t think this donor business is a good idea. One, is being stated in the column. There are too many who are coming from the same donors, which can, and will, cause issues for the kids in the future. Second, if women would instead put their babies up for adoption, instead of slaughtering them, there would be many couples who could raise adopted children in a happy and safe environment, and there would be no need for men to ‘donate’ sperm. The third issue I have is, well, selfishness. Why are there people who believe a child can’t be their own if he/she didn’t come from their own genetic material? I mean, if you are combining your genes with a total stranger’s genes, why is it so difficult to just adopt a child in need of a loving home?
We’ve come a long way in the last 100 years. Sorry to say, not all advances have been positive. This is one of them, IMHO. If it hadn’t been for the unselfishness of 3 people (birth mother, adoptive mom and dad), I wouldn’t be here right now. How many of those murdered babies would have grown up to be the next Einstein, a future president, the one who found a cure for childhood diabetes, or a musician that could bring tears to your eyes just listening?
That Is So Cool!
F-22 Raptor on The Flightline TV Show from Mike Francis on Vimeo.
H/T: Jerry
The Final Voyage For Endeavor
Just in case you missed it.
They Gotta Be Kidding!
STD Test? There’s an App for That
British health officials are hard at work on a new app that will allow users to pee into their cell phones and find out within minutes if they have an STD.
Seriously, we could not make this stuff up if we tried.
According to The Guardian, £4 million have been invested in the UK Clinical Research Collaboration, which is creating a smartphone app that will allow users, “to put urine or saliva on to a computer chip about the size of a USB chip, plug it into their phone or computer and receive a diagnosis within minutes.”
Seriously? I’ve got an even better way to make sure you DON’T have an STD. Stop boinking everything that moves! It just means you’re a slut (male and female)!
“Little Green Men” Calling
Strange Signal Comes From Alien Planet, Scientist Says
The recent discovery of Gliese 581g, an alien planet in the habitable zone of another star, has been an exciting development for scientists probing the galaxy for signs of extraterrestrial life. At least one claim of a possible signal from the planet has already surfaced – and been met with harsh skepticism among the science community.
Following the Sept. 29 announcement of the discovery of Gliese 581g, astronomer Ragbir Bhathal, a scientist at the University of Western Sydney, claimed to have detected a suspicious pulse of light nearly two years ago, that came from the same area of the galaxy as the location of Gliese 581g, according to the U.K.’s Daily Mail online. [Alien Planet Gliese581g: FAQ]
“Whenever there’s a clear night, I go up to the observatory and do a run on some of the celestial objects,” Bhathal told the Daily Mail. “Looking at one of these objects, we found this signal. We found this very sharp signal, sort of a laser lookalike thing which is the sort of thing we’re looking for – a very sharp spike. And that is what we found.”
Ya ever get the feeling that perhaps these people spend so much time waiting and listening, all by their lonesome, that, perhaps….
“I know the scientist, and when he first announced it, I asked him for the details, and he wouldn’t send them to me,” astronomer and SETI pioneer Frank Drake told SPACE.com. “I’m very suspicious.”
Yep. So am I! But wouldn’t it be cool? 
Massive Regulations Killing The Economy
EPA global warmers’ power grab
At issue is the EPA‘s designation of “greenhouse gases,” e.g., carbon dioxide, as pollutants subject to EPA regulation in accordance with the Clean Air Act. The EPA ploy is the Obama administration‘s response to Congress‘ failure to pass a broad climate bill that would include provisions such as “cap-and-trade” to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions.
Has our public school system gotten so ineffective that so many aren’t aware that BREATHING is the #1 cause of carbon dioxide? Do they not teach that plants use carbon dioxide, and expel oxygen? Human inhale the ‘waste product’ of the plants. We have a symbiotic relationship.
Symbiosis is taken from the Greek words syn meaning ‘with’ and biosis that means ‘living’.
Without the carbon dioxide, there would be no plant life. No plant life, no humans. Or, is that their intention? Totally depopulate the planet?
There are many reasons for Congress to resist this abomination. For one thing, the term “greenhouse gases” does not appear anywhere in the Clean Air Act, confirming that Congress never intended this legislation to be used to regulate carbon dioxide emissions and the like. Certainly, no previous administration has interpreted the Clean Air Act as a mandate to regulate such emissions. In any event, a constitutional perspective suggests that Congress, not unelected bureaucrats, should be setting U.S. policy.
The EPA has over reached it boundaries, pretty much since its inception. The original purpose was to reduce the U.S.’s dependence on foreign oil. Well, done such a peachy job of that, haven’t they. As a matter of fact, their actions have made us MORE dependent. They have prevented exploration, and innovation. They have stopped the building of nuclear power plants, that IS a clean alternative. The regulations that continuously put in place prevents our independence. Why should it take 20 years to get a freakin’ permit?
But the main reason to resist this EPA power grab is the adverse impact it will have on the U.S. economy. The new EPA regulations will raise energy costs for companies and create additional investment uncertainty, reducing their competitiveness in international markets and driving jobs overseas. They will also drive up prices for consumers. Meanwhile, there will be little if any reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions.
If you own a business, and want to expand, to provide jobs for Americans, promote economic health, would you want to do so in this climate? Personally, I’d find a place that was more friendly to expansion. Such regulations have sent many businesses overseas, with the aid of outrageous union demands. Without companies, there are no jobs. With no jobs, we become totally dependent on the government for our sustenance. We, in effect, become slaves to the state.
The best alternative for Congress would be to deny the EPA the authority to enforce the new regulations at all. Unfortunately, such a proposal was defeated in the Senate in June. Under the circumstances, the next best approach is one that is favored by a number of Democrats, including Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia, Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia and Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, to delay implementation of the new regulations for two years.
The absolute BEST alternative for Congress is to rid our nation of ALL the unelected agencies that have taken control, starting with the EPA!
Cool
Amazing Horned Dinosaurs Found on ‘Lost Continent’
The new Kosmoceratops has five times as many horns on its head as its cousin, making it the most ornately adorned dinosaur known to man. It and the larger-bodied, five-horned Utahceratops were giant plant-eaters that lived in “Laramidia” — a continent formed when a shallow sea flooded the central region of North America, isolating the eastern and western portions of the continent for millions of years during the Late Cretaceous Period.
Gives a whole new meaning to “horny”, doesn’t it!
Looking Up
Spectacular Perseid Meteor Shower Due Wednesday
Every August, just when many people go vacationing in the country where skies are dark, the best-known meteor shower — the Perseid meteor shower — makes its appearance.
The “shooting stars” promise to deliver an excellent show this year to anyone with clear and dark skies away from urban and suburban lights.
The best time to watch for meteors will be from the late-night hours of Wednesday, Aug, 11 on through the predawn hours of Aug. 13 – two full nights and early mornings. Patient skywatchers with good conditions could see up to 60 shooting stars an hour or more.
I can guaran-damn-tee it will be cloudy around here….again! We want to check out the sky, we’ve got major cloud cover.
Cool!
New Comet a Stunner — and Visible to Naked Eye
A recently discovered comet is surprising skywatchers by becoming brighter than predictions had first suggested and can now be seen with the unaided eye during the next few weeks.
Comet McNaught is expected to pass closest to the sun (perihelion) on July 2, at a distance of 37 million miles (60 million km). This sky map shows where to look in order to spot the comet in the morning sky.
Comet McNaught (C/2009 R1) is now just barely visible to the naked eye in the predawn, northeastern sky from the Northern Hemisphere. This map shows the sky as of June 9, just before daybreak. The comet will be near the star Mirfak on June 13-14, when it’s expected to be brighter than now. Sliding lower each morning, it’ll be near the bright star Capella June 21-22.
A nice fat arrow pointing to the vicinity would have been helpful.
If you want to get a view of the comet, you’ll have to get up early in the morning. Set your alarm clock for at least two hours before sunrise. For most people that will mean around 3:30 a.m. local time. The comet is currently moving through the constellation of Perseus, the Hero, which at that early hour will be low in the northeast part of the sky.
Are they freakin’ kidding? Chickens aren’t even up that early. I think I’ll wait for the movie.
After June 15, Comet McNaught will rapidly slide lower toward the north-northeast horizon, passing very close to the brilliant star Capella in the constellation Auriga around June 22 and a few mornings later very near to the second magnitude star Menkalinan.
By then, McNaught will be visible – albeit with some difficulty – both in the evening sky for a short while just after sunset very low above the north-northwest horizon and in the morning sky just before sunrise very low above the north-northeast horizon.
Ok, that’s more like it. I think I can manage to look up after sunset. Hey…come to think of it, if the trees aren’t in the way, we have a new fangled telescope that might just be the way to go. Then again, I’ll probably forget all about it until it’s too late. sigh…
I have to ask though…..why did they title the picture “Comet Mcnaught_doomsday”? That’s a bit creepy, don’t ya think?
A Sign In The Heavens?
Is this incredible thing in heavens a sign from God?
Some people are seeing a flying cross, or perhaps a Star of David.
Others say it resembles a ninja-style throwing blade or even a science-fiction spaceship from such Hollywood creations as “Star Wars,” “Star Trek,” “Babylon 5″ or “The Last Starfighter.”
While scientists don’t think it’s a comet, they’re not exactly sure of the precise origin of the incredible object soaring some 90 million miles from Earth, snapped just a few weeks ago by the Hubble Space Telescope.
“I’ve seen thousands of astronomical images over my career, but this is one of the few absolute jaw-droppers: A flying X-pattern with trailing streamers,” said Ray Villard, a contributing writer to Discovery News. “Whatever it is, nothing quite like it has ever before been seen in the heavens.”
The sky is pretty big. Odds are, there are quite a few things up there they’ve never seen before since they can’t watch the entire sky, all at the same time.
“The truth is, we’re still struggling to understand what this means,” comet expert David Jewitt at UCLA told Britain’s Daily Mail. “It’s most likely the result of a recent collision between two asteroids.”
If it is indeed the result of such a collision, it would be the first time astronomers have gazed upon the immediate result of such a crash.
Whatever it is, it’s pretty cool. Which was is it heading?
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ predicted celestial signs concerning the end of this current age and His return to Earth to establish the kingdom of God.
- “And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.” (Mark 13:25-26)
- “And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.” (Luke 21:11)
“With 2012 doomsday hysteria building, this might get attention on the Internet as yet another omen of the ‘End of Times,’” notes Villard. “Those who’ve overdosed on Nostradamus might see a flying Star of David, or a pentagram.”
While the year 2012 is significant, Obama will be defeated…I’m praying, and the Mayan calender ends, God never gave us a specific date. He did, however, gives us a lot of indications through His Word. I’m not saying this is one of His signs, there are plenty of them, right here on Tera Firma we should be watching. But it might be.
Facts Can Be Scary
Is the Great ‘Global Warming’ Snowjob Finally Coming to an End?
As the east coast recovers from Snowpocalypse, some global warming alarmists have said that we shouldn’t read too much into the blizzards. We can’t draw broad conclusions about climate change based on particular storms or regional weather trends. You know what? They’re right.
Now there is irony in the fact that the blizzards hit just as the President announced the formation of the Climate Service, charged with managing and coordinating the effects of “climate change.” But that’s all it is: irony. Snowpocalypse neither proves nor disproves the theory that human activities are disastrously effecting earth’s climate, but it did provide an opportunity for several conservative commentators, like Limbaugh and Hannity, to crack wise at the expense of the alarmists.
Chris Matthews wagged his finger at such jocularity, piously declaring that “…the average global temperature last year was the second highest on record…” and that “…cold weather in one area over several days doesn’t change the reality of what’s happening to this planet…” You know what? He’s right too. Well, Chris was right as far as he goes.
Unfortunately, Matthews stopped short of explaining the whole story, which this scientist finds rather disappointing coming from a fellow who, like me, boasts a Jesuit university as an alma mater. Perhaps Chris missed those critical thinking lessons that the Jesuits try to impart on eager young students.
Read the entire piece here.
As I’ve stated MANY times, the government has no interest in the climate, health care, or any number of other issues they are trying to ram down our throats. It’s all about control. Control of the world’s finances, control of their “subjects’, control of our children so they can turn them into good little socialists robots. Unfortunately, due to the lack of voters ability to pay attention and parenting skills on the part of many of our fellows citizens, they are succeeding.
I would suggest to Tingles that he get his head out of Obama’s ass, and start doing his own research. It’s really not that difficult. For the time being, you can find just about everything on the internet, and that includes THOUSANDS of dissenters to the ‘warming’ scam. I’m not talking about people like me, who know algore is full of male bovine excrement. I’m talking about actual SCIENTISTS, who have made it their life’s work to find truth.
Fly Me To The Moon!
Man’s Future Is In The STARS!
by J.D. Longstreet
Just a snippet:
I quickly became bored with that flying breadbox and by NASA’s repeated trips to the flying piece of hi-tech junk we laughingly call a “space station.” Are you as bored as I am that the space truck, “The Shuttle” is way past its prime and, apparently, seems to be falling apart!
So… what happened? I mean, what happened to our great plans to explore space?
The cost? Nah! That’s not it. We placed men on the moon while bearing the expense of losing a war in Southeast Asia, which our government would not allow our military to win. The real cost is in not getting off this planet and finding a new home! Man’s destiny lies out there, among the stars, among the planets. I am solidly convinced of that.
I had hoped before my days on THIS planet were over I would live to witness the first Mars colony. I had assumed we would already have a colony on the moon. But, no… we are still fiddling around with that metal can circling the earth… the Space Station.
Read the whole post here!
I remember very well the day that my entire elementary school gathered in the cafeteria/auditorium to watch the launch of our first man in space, Alan Shepard, for a 15 minute ride, on 5 May 1961. I remember watching the launch of our first man to circle the earth, for 3 whole days, John Glen, 20 February 1962. We all knew that by the time we were all grown up, we’d be going to other planets, seeing alien (and icky) lifeforms. We’d be exploring the universe!
On 20 July 1969, I came home from a date, and we watched the first man, Neil Armstrong, step foot on that moon up there, with my dad. “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” We talked about where we would go from there, and literally, the sky (space) was the limit. We had high hopes back then, for our future, and for the future of the human race.
Those hopes of my youth have been dashed. We haven’t gone to new planets. We haven’t done diddly but build a tin can that is always in need of repair, sending up people to spend six months or so, to orbit the same planet, year after year. Our imagination has been squashed, along with our dreams.
As J.D. said, it’s not the money, although many use that as an excuse. It’s more than man has lost his will for exploration. We have become a negative society, ‘you can’t do that, you might skin your knee’, and it’s destroying the dreams and ambitions of our children.
Like J.D., I expected to see colonies on at least Mars, the first child born on a different planet haled in the newspapers, yet all I read is how politicians are still screwing over the American people, but on a much grander scale.
What’s Taking So Long?
If You Tell A Lie Often Enough….
……it’s still a LIE!
There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay, or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles; most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation.
No scientific conclusion? Well then….how ’bout stop spreading the tired propaganda that “they can’t help it”, “it’s biological”?
Alexander’s Response
I’m no fan of Lamar Alexander, even if he one of my senators, but this time, he’s making more sense than anything the Dems do!
And what happened to that “Yes, we can!”? Well, we can, but they won’t. It’s down right embarrassing for the French to be taking the lead. That’s the job of the USA! Yet we have been left behind with the irrational policies of the left. Isn’t it past time to step up, and take the lead? Of course, it would really help if we actually had a leader, wouldn’t it.
