Texas + Religion = Stupidity

Here are a couple of reasons why religion in Texas continues to f*** up this state.

From Newsweek:
Texas produces more carbon emissions than most countries, but the state government and business community don't seem too concerned.

Were the Lonestar State to secede from the union it would be the world's eighth-largest emitter of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, just behind Canada, with 630 million metric tons spewed into the atmosphere in 2005, according to new figures released this week by the U.S. government's Energy Information Administration. That's actually a reduction of 40 million metric tons since 2003, when Texas was the globe's seventh-largest CO₂ contributor. But even though the state is improving, Texas still outpaces the combined emissions of California and Pennsylvania, the states with the second- and third-highest CO₂ outputs.

And why does Texas continue to lead the nation in carbon emissions? It is the nation's leading producer of energy, and with more cattle and oil refineries than any other state, it is essentially America's power plant, gas pump and beef basket. That's well and good. However, it's Governor Rick Perry, a right-wing religious nut job who swallows everything his buddy President Bush feeds him, who continuously holds things back:

But to many Texans, environmental activism looks too much like big government threatening the state's business interests. Under Republican Gov. Rick Perry, Texas has dug in its heels when it comes to enacting any state initiatives aimed at cutting emissions or promoting efficiency. Perry publicly doubts that global warming is a manmade problem—something his predecessor George W. Bush has acknowledged—and pokes fun at those who do. Last year Perry remarked that Al Gore's mouth is the country's leading source of carbon dioxide, not Texas.

In another show of blind stupidity, there's a chance than a school board electron from the 11th District could elect a creation science supporter:

Board member Pat Hardy, R-Fort Worth, is being challenged in the GOP primary by Cleburne urologist Barney Maddox, a critic of the theory of evolution who calls it a "myth" on a creation science Web site and who once testified that Texas schoolchildren are "brainwashed" into believing in evolution.

PZ Meyers from Pharyngula sums this up nicely:

There's a school board election in District 11 of Texas that has a clear choice: Pat Hardy is the pro-science candidate, despite being a conservative, religious Baptist, while her opponent is a deranged lunatic who is quietly outspending her 12:1 while avoiding the public eye altogether. You do not want to vote for Barney Maddox — he is an "ill-informed nutcase".

Isn't this weird? Here in Minnesota, we're affected by the outcomes of local school board races in Texas — allowing ignorant, raving lunatics to make textbook decisions there is going to shape the choices we get to make here. So if you know any Texans, spread the word: Barney Maddox is bad news.

If he wins, I suppose that means Texas will be teaching kids crappy science who in turn, if they grow up to be scientists, will continue to ignore the issue of global warming because destroying Texas and the world will more quickly bring about the return of geezus.

It's okay to weep for us Texas. I won't mind. In fact, I'm about to do that myself.

UPDATE: Intelligence and reason won in the school board election! There's hope for this state yet.

OUCH!!

Arsenal say Eduardo "back in nine months"

Tough Times for Hoosier Fans

I didn't have the opportunity to watch what turned out to be a terrific game for the Hoosiers. But as luck would have it, they lost when Wisconsin's Brian Butch hit a lucky bank three with just a few ticks left on the clock. The boys at one of my favorite blogs, Inside the Hall, said it best:

The one good thing here? IU played well. This is two games in a row we can sit back and say: “Hey, we’re looking good, we’re finally coming around.” It’s just too bad it had to come in a loss. At home. The day it was announced Kelvin Sampson got slapped with major sanctions.

Here’s a sampling of columns put together by Chris Korman over at The Hoosier Scoop:

• Kravitz to IU: Time to get rid of slime (Bob Kravitz, Indianapolis Star)
• IU’s best action may be to suspend Sampson immediately (Pat Forde, ESPN)
• Serious allegations (Grant Wahl, Sports Illustrated)
• Goodbye to Sampson, IU’s good name (Greg Couch, Chicago Sun-Times)
• It maybe harsh, but Indiana needs to fire Sampson (John Rhode, The Oklahoman)
• Indiana coach Sampson on the brink (Skip Myslenski, Chicago Tribune)
• Indiana has no choice, it must fire Sampson — now (Gregg Doyel, CBS)
• Sampson’s blatant disregard for rules may cost him (Jeff Googman, Fox Sports)
• Allegations of violations upset former Hoosiers (Mark Schlabach, ESPN)

Throw in the passing of Terry Hoeppner prior to the 2007 football season and you have the makings for a really tough year for Hoosier fans. Hope, optimism, and dreams of post season success have been replaced by tragedy, mourning, and feelings of betrayal, anger, and disgust.

Thanks Kelvin Sampson. We can indeed hear you now.

Too bad all you seem to be saying are lies. Time for you to go. But thanks for turning D.J. White into at beast. I can at least give you credit for that.

Looking Good for Jesus

It's wonderful when blog posts simply write themselves.

From MSNBC: SINGAPORE - A cosmetics range with cheeky taglines that extolled the virtues of "Looking Good for Jesus" has been pulled from stores in Singapore after some Roman Catholics complained the items were disrespectful, a newspaper reported Tuesday.

Promising to "Redeem your reputation and more," the product line included a "virtuous vanilla"-flavored lip balm and a "Get Tight with Christ" hand and body cream, as well as bags and other items sold by British retailer Topshop and produced by Blue Q, The Straits Times said.

[snip]

On the packaging of one of the products, Jesus, wearing a bright white robe, looks heavenward while a blonde, heavily made-up woman with an arm draped across his shoulder gazes dreamily at his face.

So how does one go about redeeming one's reputation? It's easier than you think.

This is great. No more boring and embarrassing trips the confessional. Simply apply the virtuous lip balm and think pure thoughts...well, until the next hot date. Unfortunately, this kit doesn't put an END to sinning. It just takes the edge off of it. No wonder the word "Repeat" is in bold, red letters.

Starbucks Irony

Here's an amusing Starbucks post by Cassandra Forsythe over at the Female Fitness and Nutrition Scientist blog.

While I was in line waiting to order, I noticed the most ironic advertisement. Right there behind the counter on the Coffee of the Day sign was the following statement: "Try our new SKINNY lattes and have it with our warm cinnamon swirl muffin!"

I need to see if any Starbucks in my area have this bit of silliness posted in their stores. I had my own internal struggle with some irony that finally led me to stop having whipped cream with my NONFAT mocha. It's bad enough that I add peppermint syrup.

Don't Buy an iPhone If...

I asked a guy in the locker room today about his iPhone. He said it's a piece of junk. And here's why. First, there's no warranty. I can't verify that, but I'll take his word for it. Usually with Apple you HAVE to buy an extended warranty if you want any help with your product past the initial 90 days. It's a rip, but that's what they do. In this case, it's $69.

Second, he complained about how sensitive the touch screen is. Even with the protective case on, he's been "busted several times" when he's with a lady and the phone activates. He makes out with a gal, his phone calls another so one of his other lady friends can hear what he's doing with his current lady friend. His advice to me? "Don't buy an iPhone if you're dating more than one girl."

I swear I'm not making this up. He then proceeds to use his sucky iPhone to talk with what appeared to be one of his unhappy lady friends. And he emphasized to her over the phone that she is indeed "just a friend."



I still want one. It just costs too much for me.

3: The Number of the Beast

This is D.J. White. He is now officially a beast after his beastly performance against Ohio State last night.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State officials called for "white out" conditions for Sunday's game against Indiana, asking fans to wear white.

Indiana countered with D.J. White.

The IU senior forward had a double-double in the first half and finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds as No. 14 Indiana posted its second Big Ten road victory in four days, beating Ohio State 59-53 before a sellout crowd of 19,049 at Value City Arena.

White's 15th double-double in 23 games included 10-of-15 shooting, six offensive rebounds, two blocks and a steal. He played the entire game.

"I was just playing hard," White said. "From watching film, I knew we'd have a chance to get offensive rebounds. So that's what I did when the ball went up. I went for the offensive rebounds."

Eric Gordon may be the superstar of this year's team, a title he rightly deserves. But this is D.J. White's team and night after night he shows why. He's the most consistent, most aggressive, and most enthusiastic. This team rises and falls with D.J. Gordon is the superstar. White is the MVB: Most Valuable Beast.