Committee member on U.S. Science, Space and Technology says Earth Is 9,000 Years Old

On October 9, 2012May 17, 2014 By Rick McIn education, GOP USA, government, things getting worseLeave a comment

The earth is about 9,000 years old, according to U.S. House Representative Paul Broun, who is also a physician and member of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology of the House of Representatives.

“There are a lot of scientific data that I’ve found out as a scientist that actually show that this is really a young earth, ” Broun said in a videotape of the Sportsmen’s Banquet held on September 27 at Liberty Baptist Church in Hartwell, Georgia. “I don’t believe that the earth is but about 9,000 years old. I believe it was created in six days as we know them.”

via Scientific American

Paul Collins Broun, Jr. (born May 14, 1946) is the U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 10th congressional district, serving since 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party and the Tea Party Caucus. …

Broun has been married four times. He has a son with his fourth wife, Nikki, and two daughters from previous marriages …

Seems to me a guy married 4 times is doomed to the “Pit of Hell”.

Young Earth creationism (YEC) is the religious belief that the Universe, Earth, and all life on Earth were created by direct acts of the Abrahamic God during a relatively short period, sometime between 5,700 and 10,000 years ago. Its primary adherents are those Christians and Jews who believe that God created the Earth in six 24-hour days, using a literal interpretation of the Genesis creation narrative as a basis.

The scientific consensus, supported by a 2006 statement by 68 national and international science academies, is that it is evidence-based fact derived from observations and experiments in multiple scientific disciplines that the universe has existed for around 13 billion years, that the Earth was formed about 4.5 billion years ago with life first appearing at least 2.5 billion years ago. …

I stand with the vast majority of scientists. It makes no sense to me that an eternal God would have created the world with millions of years of fossil records.

You can see evolution with your own eyes at the Burgess Shale in the Rockies.

Of course, Scientific American magazine considers Young Earth creationism nonsense.

That’s the same magazine that reports uncomfortable truths like this: Free Birth Control Access Can Reduce Abortion Rate By More than Half

I respect Paul Broun’s right to his own opinion. But how did he get on Science, Space and Technology?

Who’s fault was that?

Why Obama Now

On October 8, 2012October 7, 2012 By Rick McIn bad news, government, things getting worseLeave a comment

The best pro-Obama video so far is convincing.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Yet the man of Hope and Change was a disappointment over the past 4yrs. Why wasn’t he able to do more to FIX those many problems he’s citing ??

So, … should the USA take a chance on Romney?

Or “double down” on Obama?

Obama would be slightly better over the next 4yrs, I feel. Romney — how could anyone know?

He’s such a flip-flopper there’s no telling what the Republicans would do. Start a war when their popularity dips, I fear.

Therefore I’d advise, vote Obama. I’m about 13% confident he’ll maintain a peaceful world for another 4yrs. About 10% confident in Romney.

More likely they’ll be some sort of global catastrophe under either.

They’re somewhat the same politician. Both went to Harvard. Neither will raise taxes much. Both signed similar Health Care bills in the past.

Neither will much cut military. …

Debt and deficit out of control under either.

Best start stocking your survivalist bunker. 😦

Presidential Debate SING OFF

On October 4, 2012 By Rick McIn government, humourLeave a comment

Who sung their message best? 🙂

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Romney’s 47%

On September 29, 2012September 28, 2012 By Rick McIn economics, governmentLeave a comment

History will record this video as the beginning of the end of his run for President.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I would loved to have seen Romney TRY to be more fiscally conservative in office. But my gut feel is that Republicans will spend more, on average, than Democrats over the long haul.

Romney is more likely to start a war with Iran than Obama, for example.

cost of University

On September 28, 2012 By Rick McIn economics, government, product complaints, things getting worse1 Comment

Canada is less expensive than the USA. But it’s getting more expen$ive.

Full-time undergrads in Saskatchewan pay an average of $6,017 / year, compared with the national average $5,581. Ontario is highest at $7,180.

I’ve been hanging out at University of Saskatchewan this past week. Very nice. But I’m less and less convinced that getting an expensive University degree is necessarily the BEST way to go for young people in 2012.

related – Stats Can

Maxed Out – the movie

On September 28, 2012September 27, 2012 By Rick McIn economics, government, movies, product complaints, things getting worseLeave a comment

Maxed Out: Hard Times, Easy Credit and the Era of Predatory Lenders (2006) is an independent feature-length documentary film and (2007) book that chronicles abusive practices in the credit card industry.

The main premises of the documentary and book are that banks and other creditors deliberately market to people who are more likely to have problems paying and that the creditors benefit from connections to government, the debt collection industry, and from lawmaker apathy. …

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

How do credit card companies get away with 20% or 30% interest fees?

How can that be legal?

Shouldn’t they be prosecuted as loan sharks?

You can watch it online FREE.

… This business model is unsustainable. Sooner or later they’ll need to switch to a system where everyone pays a small amount for all loans. No more 0% interest if you pay it off by the end of the month.

GOAL — pay off my credit card debt in 2012. 🙂

can you spare $30 million so I can finish my house?

On September 27, 2012 By Rick McIn economics, government, moviesLeave a comment

If Romney’s not yet convinced you that the ultra rich cannot afford more taxes, watch this trailer. They have problems, just like YOU.

$ – The Queen of Versailles: How the Biggest House in America Became a Brokedown Palace

$ – At home with the King and Queen of Versailles: America’s biggest (and gaudiest) family home which still costs $65million even though it isn’t finished

Click PLAY or watch a trailer on YouTube.

Clearly there’s no way this family can pay more.

on child brides …

On September 26, 2012September 22, 2012 By Rick McIn education, ethics, governmentLeave a comment

Gandhi and his wife, from affluent families in India, were married at age-12. That was the tradition in the 1800s.

People died young in that era. They wanted to have children as quickly as possible.

In his autobiography, The Story of My Experiments With Truth (Kindle $.99), Gandhi is eloquent on what a mistake that was for him and his wife.

Of many problems in the developing world, the FIRST solution is education of girls & women.

Girls should be in school, not becoming brides & mothers too soon.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Mitt Romney not a bad guy

On September 21, 2012September 19, 2012 By Rick McIn governmentLeave a comment

But you’d never know it.

A video tribute to the unspeakable, soul-crushing awkwardness and general vapidity of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

This kind of candidate simply can’t survive the scrutiny of 24-7 media. You must be real & consistent in the internet age. Otherwise Stewart and Colbert will crucify you.