Moving to ...

Moved to Pressing For Truth In seeking truth, one does not find it by these immature and primitive methods. See RULES FOR COMMENTS (Right Sidebar)

Search This Blog

FrontPage Magazine » FrontPage

Monday, May 30, 2011

Hope for Atheists Yet?

Some atheists who have become known as believing in Atheism 3 may not believe in God but recognize the good work and positive benefit of religion in society.

Obviously these people are more mature than those who say there is no God. Just because you have never seen or found God, does not mean he does not exist.

If you lose your car keys and are having a panic attack because you have to go to work right NOW, and you cannot find them, does that mean the car keys do not exist?

If you have not found God, it just means you didn't look in the right places, that is, where God is.

The New More Mature Atheists
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism_3.0

Climate Change Reconsidered - May 24, 2011

Climate Change Reconsidered:
The Website of the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change

New Material Posted on the NIPCC Web site

Active Tornado Seasons, Big Outbreaks and Stronger Tornadoes Have Been Shown to Be Associated With La Niñas and Natural Variability in the Pacific (24 May 2011)

Very active tornado months in May 2008 and April 2011 have been attributed by some to climate change. Numerous authors have instead found that stronger La Niñas, which are more frequent during cold Pacific (negative Pacific Decadal Oscillation) eras, are characterized by such outbreaks, active months, and strong tornadoes ... Read More

Ocean pH Tolerance in Two Important Antarctic Invertebrates (24 May 2011)

New findings "do not support a view that polar species are more affected by lowered pH compared with temperate and tropical counterparts" ... Read More

What Does the World Health Organization Study of Global Health Risks Imply about Global Warming's Health Risks? (24 May 2011)

It attributed 154,000-166,000 deaths worldwide and 5.5 million lost Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) in 2000 to global warming. The methodology, however, used to develop these estimates is suspect because ... Read More

Pasture and Rangeland Responses to Rising CO2 Concentrations and Projected Changes in Climate (24 May 2011)

Overall, the response of pasture species to increasing CO2 is expected to be "consistent with the CO2 response of C3 and C4 crop species," both of which are positive ... Read More

Chinese Locust Plagues of the Past Millennium (24 May 2011)

Results suggest that "global warming might not only imply reduced locust plague[s], but also reduced risk of droughts and floods for entire China" ... Read More

The Greening of Earth's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (24 May 2011)

Rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations initiate the process, while a host of other phenomena combine to enhance it ... Read More

Climate Models Need to Render the Past Before Projecting the Future (25 May 2011)

One of the chief criticisms of model projections of future climate in the climate change debate is that the general circulation models (GCMs) are not fully able to replicate past climate reliably due to "well-known" deficiencies in the models. One way that modelers attempt to overcome these is through the use of ensemble techniques, or multiple runs of the model. This provides for a future scenario that can be expressed as a range. But, even these cannot overcome all the shortcomings found in the models ... Read More

Plant Species' Range Shifts in Mountainous Areas (25 May 2011)

Although there is indeed a general tendency for plant species to move upward in elevation at their cold-limited range boundary in response to rising temperatures, some remain stationary and some even move in the opposite direction, while at their heat-limited range boundary, many do not move at all ... Read More

Southern Scandinavian Storminess (25 May 2011)

Data reveal that "there is no significant overall long-term trend common to all indices in cyclone activity in the North Atlantic and European region since the Dalton minimum" ... Read More

Fluctuations in Air Temperature and Certain Cloud Parameters (25 May 2011)

Apparently, some weather and climatic parameters have not become more variable or extreme with the passage of time, even over the last few decades, when climate alarmists claim the earth warmed at a rate and to a level not experienced over the past millennium or more ...Read More

Climate-Driven Adaptations of Balsam Poplar Trees (25 May 2011)

How did the trees change as they expanded their ranges in response to the warming that followed the last glaciation? ... Read More

Roots of CO2-Enriched Trees Seek Out Needed Nitrogen (25 May 2011)

As atmospheric CO2 enrichment provides an opportunity for trees to enhance their growth rates, it also seems to provide a way for them to find the extra nitrogen they need to do so ...Read More


Rules for Civilized Discussion


Good Advice For Discussion
  1. Realize that a dialogue should not be about you, the opponent, the turf, or the superiority but about making the right decision. Accept the fact that you just might be wrong and treat the opposition with respect.
  2. There are two parts to every argument: A position and a bunch of points that support it. Always separate them and be clear on them both. “I support solution A. The reasons for my recommendation are as follows…” On the flip side, learn to identify and separate these two parts in your opponent’s argument. If you can’t do so reliably, ask for clarification.
  3. Never accept an argument that you don’t understand. Ask for clarification.
  4. To each decision, there are objectives (what we want to achieve) and alternatives (how we can achieve it). Are you disagreeing on the objectives or on the alternatives? Make it clear and ask the opponent to clarify their position. This is very important as often there is a lengthy raging battle over easily reconcilable implementation preferences.
  5. Not to belabor this, but…choose the language both you and your opponent understand.
  6. When you make your point, nothing is as effective as the masterful command of the language and use of relevant examples and metaphors.
  7. Often, your opponent will pass his beliefs and opinions for an unquestionable truth. So, be on guard for and readily reject ad hominem attacks (when your opponent targets your persona and not your argument). For example: “I don’t see how this approach can ever work, coming from someone who can’t control his weight, let alone an initiative of this importance!”
  8. Watch out for arguments that say that something is right just because it is either new or old. These are known as ad novitam and ad antiquam arguments.
  9. Don’t fall for arguments that rely on wide acceptance and popularity. What’s right for many is not necessarily right for you, even if the others are in the same industry, market, or building.
  10. Beware of the straw man attackswhich happen when the opposition objects not to your position but to a similar but much weaker and sometimes ridiculous one. For instance, you say: “I am of the opinion that this application will not resolve the issue, because…” Your opponent retorts, ignoring your argument: “Julie, of all people, I wouldn’t expect to hear it from the CIO that high technology is not the way to go!”
  11. Red herring anyone? Watch for arguments with little to no connection to the issue at stake, which are introduced to misdirect the attention of you and the rest of the audience. This also often happens inadvertently.
  12. Sometimes you may lose on the basis of unobtainable perfection. Your way may be the best available but not perfect, while “perfect” is either out of the question or not viable, such as due to prohibitive costs. When you feel that the conversation has fallen into this rut, call a spade a spade, invite the other party to acknowledge that perfection is not possible, and talk about mitigation of the imperfections. You may still lose this battle, but you’ll know you have done your best.
You have probably noticed that in a number of points I advised you to “watch out” or “beware of” or to “be on guard” against various acts of chicanery. It goes without saying that you shouldn’t commit these transgressions either. The Golden Rule applies.

Monday, May 23, 2011

"Boycott anything Jewish" Iran Ayatolloh


[Editor: Note. I have not checked all of these out to verify the truth but am open to comments and references which show any of them false OR support their truthfulness. I include them simply as a conversation starter, an email of interest.]

Boycott the Jews?

A short time ago, Iran’s Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged the Muslim World to boycott anything and everything that originates with the Jewish people.

In response, Meyer M. Treinkman, a pharmacist, out of the kindness of his heart, offered to assist them in their boycott as follows:
    “Any Muslim who has syphilis must not be cured by Salvarsan discovered by a Jew, Dr. Ehrlich. 
    He should not even try to find out whether he has syphilis, because the Wasserman Test is the discovery of a Jew.
    If a Muslim suspects that he has Gonorrhea, he must not seek diagnosis, because he will be using the method of a Jew named Neissner. “A Muslim who has heart disease must not use Digitalis, a discovery by a Jew, Ludwig Traube.
    Should he suffer with a toothache, he must not use Novocaine, a discovery of the Jews, Widal and Weil.
    If a Muslim has Diabetes, he must not use Insulin, the result of research by Minkowsky, a Jew
    If one has a headache, he must shun Pyramidon and Antypyrin, due to the Jews, Spiro and Ellege.
    Muslims with convulsions must put up with them because it was a Jew, Oscar Leibreich, who proposed the use of Chloral Hydrate.
    Arabs must do likewise with their psychic ailments because Freud, father of psychoanalysis, was a Jew.
    Should a Muslim child get Diphtheria, he must refrain from the “Schick” reaction which was invented by the Jew, Bella Schick.
    “Muslims should be ready to die in great numbers and must not permit treatment of ear and brain damage, work of Nobel Prize winner, Robert Baram.
    They should continue to die or remain crippled by Infantile Paralysis because the discoverer of the anti-polio vaccine is a Jew, Jonas Salk.
    “Muslims must refuse to use Streptomycin and continue to die of Tuberculosis because a Jew, Zalman Waxman, invented the wonder drug against this killing disease.
    Muslim doctors must discard all discoveries and improvements by dermatologist Judas Sehn Benedict, or the lung specialist, Frawnkel, and of many other world renowned Jewish scientists and medical experts.
    “In short, good and loyal Muslims properly and fittingly should remain afflicted with Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Heart Disease, Headaches, Typhus, Diabetes, Mental Disorders, Polio, Convulsions and Tuberculosis and be proud to obey the Islamic boycott.”
Posted by Ted Belman

[Editor: Many things could be added to that list such as cell phones, invented by Motorola in Israel, all versions of Windows since Windows NT created in large part in labs in Israel and many other products as shown on YouTube and on this blog by the videos called Cool Facts About Israel]


Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Re: WashPost: Why do Americans still dislike atheists?

Note: The blog post below was sent to me by an agnostic friend. Like all atheistic agnostics I have met he belittles faith in God but at the same time asks us to believe ON FAITH any article he sends to me whether there is EVIDENCE OR NOT. Even the Washington Post lists it in its OPINION section. Opinions are not facts.



This is my response on the blog.               
Oh no. Here it comes again. (:-) 


[Note: This will make no sense to you unless you read the article above first.]


Number One Problem: Why do I have to believe this? First of all I see unjust attacks on Christians who may not be wise in what they say. Do I see Christians like Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, Charles Price, Brian Houston from Hillsong interviewed or mentioned?

Number Two Problem
: Do I see any references or proof of the author's statements? Or am I to accept what they say on faith? Bold statements are made but I see no evidence presented.

Number Three Problem
: Do the authors have a bias, reasonable or not? And do they recognize their bias?
If you look at what field they are considered "experts" in, it would tend to make you believe they have a bias against Christians especially the strawmen types that are easy to pick on.

Phrases like:"Is this knee-jerk dislike of atheists warranted? Not even close." are basically ad hominem attacks on Christians who perhaps may have made unwise statements but still it is an attack to say that something is a "knee-jerk reaction". Perhaps they just disagree with atheists. Not everyone that disagrees has knee-jerk reactions.

Is it possible the writing of the authors above could be another "knee-jerk reaction" because they are upset?
Bold statements like this are not accurate and no evidence is presented, just the author's opinions.


"These put-downs have had sticking power. Negative stereotypes of atheists are alive and well. Yet like all stereotypes, they aren't true"

Who says? Perhaps atheists are their own worst enemies.

If anything I would say that of all the atheists I have talked to mainly on the web, they all display an anger and mocking attitude toward Christians in particular and speak with glee when they feel they have scored a point against a Christian. Even Peter Hitchens, speaks about his brother in his book "Rage Against God" as being angry. I have seen it in a friend, Christoper H, and Richard Dawkins and the long-past Madelyn Murray Ohair who was the most bitter person I have ever seen!
I think this anger makes them say stupid things and they themselves as atheists are the cause of people being biased against them.

They also mention another myth:
The myth that intelligence equals wisdom. It does not. On the IQ scale the characteristics of a genius and an idiot are very similar. 


The best example I know of this would be the brilliant Howard Hughes. He was "an American industrialistaviatorengineerfilm


producerdirectorphilanthropist, and was


one of the wealthiest people in the world." 


Despite all of his brilliance and intelligence he ended up with an obsessive-compulsive disorder and became a recluse.  

I know many unintellectual people who have great wisdom, and lead very successful lives of helping others. [Sorry I cannot quote a study right now to prove it BUT remember that as a teacher I have met a VERY large number of people and since I am 67, this last statement I have learned from the best teacher, experience.]

So do I believe what the authors of the above article say? No.

Do I wonder why my friend BC sent it to me? No. It is because HE accepts it on faith. I want evidence and seeing none, I have to discount it.



I have a lot of trouble trying to determine why Brian cannot see that HE has faith in atheistic articles and other tenets of his religion like man-made climate change, and therefore presents no evidence just opinions.


But on the other hand, I must ALWAYS prove my beliefs to him. Seems like a rather unfair way of discussion does it not? 

Have a good!


A cartoon for your thoughts!   


-c












On Sun, May 1, 2011 at 12:23 AM, <noreply@washingtonpost.com> wrote:
E-mail
This page was sent to you by: 
Message from sender: "My perception of "Reality.

Why do Americans still dislike atheists?

By Gregory Pauland Phil Zuckerman
Long after blacks and Jews have made great strides, and even as homosexuals gain respect, acceptance and new rights, there is still a group that lots of Americans just don't like much: atheists. Those who don't believe in God are widely considered to be immoral, wicked and angry. They can't join the Boy Scouts. Atheist soldiers are rated potentially deficient when they do not score as sufficiently "spiritual" in military psychological evaluations. Surveys find that most Americans refuse or are reluctant to marry or vote for nontheists; in other words, nonbelievers are one minority still commonly denied in practical terms the right to assume office despite the constitutional ban on religious tests.

Do you love D.C.? Get the insider's guide to where to stay, what to do and where to eat. Go to www.washingtonpost.com/gog for your guide to D.C. now.
© 2010 The Washington Post Company | Privacy Policy

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Kymco B&W 250 CC Gas - 130 km/h 80 mpg Fast Commuter

[This was originally an ad for my scooter which was sold during June.]

Even tho I love my 2009 B&W, for a person my age it is not the best for longer rides. I rode to visit my buddy Barrie in Cornwall last year. That is when I discovered that for longer rides, at my age of 67, I should upgrade. I did the research before buying the Kymco B&W 250 and discovered it was one of the most reliable, if not THE most reliable scooter in production.


Check the reviews on it here:
http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews81809.html


This is only 1 place I found fantastic reviews of the 250 B&W. However out of 25 reviews, the total rating is 4.4 out of 5 with 100% of users recommending the scooter!


If you read the reviews you will see that as long ago as 2002 owners usually have to check fluids, keep them topped up, change the oil, once a year or so, change coolant and that is it!


I bet your car needs more care than that! (:-)



Kymco Bet and Win 250cc Reviews



  Kymco Bet and Win 250cc
4.4 stars
Average rating for this product is:4.4 out of 5
From 6 ratings and 25 reviews
Thumb up  100% of users recommend 







I have made the upgrade. So now my B&W 250 [250cc / 70 miles per gallon] is for sale. 


Original Retail price was $4899
Specs:

  • 250CC
  • 4 stroke engine [no mixing of oil and gas]
  • liquid cooling [better than air, with a fan if it gets too hot]
  • 168 kg
  • CVT transmission [automatic, continuous variable transmission]
  • disk brakes front and rear
  • 10L fuel capacity
  • locking fuel cap
  • underseat storage
  • matching mirrors
  • digital dash with full gauge suite showing speed, RPM, radiator temp, air temp, gas remaining, low fuel reminder plus time 
MY ADDONS
  • carrier plate to attach a topcase [trunk] cost ~$100
  • Givi topcase ~$135
  • Windscreen ~$250 with installation
This is a fast but fuel-saving fun vehicle to ride. I have ridden all over the Niagara Peninsula and it takes hills with no loss of power. There is a 12 mile creek hill where it meets Pelham Street [St. Catharines] that is the best test of what a scooter can do. At the stop your vehicle is at the brow of the hill. 

Great commuter bike for getting around Toronto traffic. When traffic is stalled there are often ways that a scooter can get around the traffic because it fits.

Filling up my last tank at $1.48 for Premium fuel, the costs was $11.55!

So if you want to save money and get a great fun scooter to enjoy the few days of summer we get, I recommend this scooter.


Warranty valid until November 2011 !!!

See
http://www.scooterunderground.ca/products/gas/KYMCO_BetWin_250.htm for a place in Victoria BC that sells them.

Lots of places closer. Servicing can be done in Niagara Falls at V-TWin Cycle. Recommended highly!


My Scooter with me on it! No I do NOT ride this way! (:-)




The Kymco Story

Videos

Long Ride Video


Price now set at ONLY $3113 with the Addons!
Retail Price in 2009 was $4899

More Videos

Discussion of Scooters in North America


Comment language is Spanish but video is great!


This video shows the top speed at 130 km/h

Customized Bet & Win


More later

See on Kijiji

more later