I Knew It!

The AMA of all people give a notice about what should be obvious. The relationship of TV and DEATH!

Bad Christians, Good Muslims dept:

The same issue of The Smithsonian that talks about the success of Finnish Schools (big government, no religion, no private schools), talks about the changes taking place within Islam. While Christian fundamentalists  are getting stronger-- and uglier, Muslims are getting LESS fundamental, and more accepting. Yeah! It's about time this stuff was written about! The problem is that it's too good, too truthful, for America. I bet the Smithsonian will be disciplined HARD in the near future.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/The-Struggle-Within-Islam.html

Let's Finnish With This Christian/Tea Party Propaganda

Throughout the US, Christian Tea Partyists are trying to dismantle the American Public Schools. Pushing for government funding for religious schools (obviously a violation of the Constitution), they say "competition" will improve the schools. Add to that, a lot of teaching to the test, and we'll improve, they say. Well, they're wrong.

A great article in THE SMITHSONIAN magazine shows the case of Finland, and how a country recently inundated with immigrants can have an education system that actually TEACHES. No private school. No standardized tests. Just real learning.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/Why-Are-Finlands-Schools-Successful.html

Why help old people... or the sick when you can buy wine?

Greed is in again. The rich don't want to pay more taxes than the poor. Corporations don't want to pay ANY taxes. Republicans call for the gutting of Medicare and Medicaid... puts more in their pocket. Now, some bankers and hedge fund managers are being indicted. Think they'll be convicted? Yeah, right. Not if they shell out for the wine!

Click here for a larger view.

Mental Illness?

I'm not sure I get this "disfunction" stuff. Not that I'm a fan of mental illness. But why do they (Newsweek) make it look sick to want to disassemble your own body, when those who want to disassemble OTHER people's bodies (the military, Blackwater, the Pentagon, "our boys") are heros?

Why I Love Language Reason # 943

This snippet was from the PROGRESSIVE magazine. One of the few I actually pay for a subscription to. It quotes Harper's Magazine:

Why It's Hopeless Reason #843

I guess everything goes back to PT Barnum's "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people." I should be used to it by now, but sometimes it still amazes me.