No cash for anti-vaccination parents

Who would have thought it? Australian Health Minister Nicola Roxon has actually done something useful for the public, which has been based on evidence and research… Now parents will have tax benefit supplements withheld if they do not fully immunise their children, meaning ignorant parents  could miss out on $2100+.

This sort of initiative is brilliant. People shouldn’t necessarily be punished for being idiots (at least if they’re benign idiots), but they should definitely not be rewarded for doing so. I think incentives are always the way to go when wanting to better any aspect of the community. Reinforce the fact that ignorance isn’t a virtue and should definitely not be rewarded. I’m sure the Australian Vaccination Network (an anti-vaccination network) are going to be pissed….!

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An eloquent response to creationism

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Virgin tears a delicacy on Pluto

I’m just came across this video created by Daveo Mathias and the Church of Scientology on http://www.reddit.com/ and thought I’d share it as it gave me a laugh.

I love how a few of the legit Scientologists in the clip start proclaiming that Scientologists are just good people doing good things and are always found in places where natural/unnatural disasters have just happened. But who else are there? People of every other religion no doubt, not to mention the irreligious. So what’s you’re point?

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Worms that drop light-bombs

This is a seriously cool find! Six or so new species of deep sea inhabiting worm that are blind but interestingly enough use bioluminescent bombs that glow green on release as a possible defense! The power of a few million years and natural selection!

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What’s the difference between porn and prayer?

I was watching a program recently on pornography and the porn industry. Before anyone makes any outlandish and slandering suggestions, it was a documentary not an actual pornographic film! Anyway, it’s called Porndemic and you can view it for free online here. It sort of irritated me a little as it had a slightly negative tone to it the entire time, instead of objectivity. To be honest I have no issues with porn or porn use at all, people can stay home 24/hrs a day watching donkeys ride old men for all I care. If they keep the volume down and their windows and doors shut I wouldn’t mind at all!

To the point, about two thirds of the way through the films some psychiatrist who helps those addicted to pornography mentioned how it’s a debilitating addiction that “plays with chemicals in the brain like dopamine”, which I’m sure is true. The interesting thing, however, was that she put them through a 12 step program, just like they do for AA, which is centered around God….

So I think to myself, “what’s the difference between watching porn and praying to god?” a question I’m sure most people ask themselves at least once in their lifetimes. But in all seriousness, isn’t using God and the power of prayer and religious worship to overcome one’s porn addiction just trading one addiction for another? Why do people pray, or worship God? Because when it really comes down to it, it feels good! Why does it feel good? Because you’re  releasing, and subsequently rewarding your brain with, dopamine! So truly, what’s the difference?

Our society is so quick to judge and require the reconditioning of people who are both physically or habitually addicted to things whether it’s cocaine or porn, and what is the answer all too often? God…. But are you really addressing the problem? Are you addressing the fact that you’re an addict, or just trading one taboo addiction for a more mainstream and acceptable addiction?

Today we have morons flying planes into buildings in the name of nothingness… We have people convincing young children to strap bombs to themselves and walking into large crowds before detonating themselves in the name of nothingness… We have children rapists being hidden and protected…

At what point does religion become an addiction? Furthermore, when does it become one worth treating? I’m interested in what others think so feel free to comment.

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Hitchslap: Hitler was not an atheist…!

I am often thrown this irritatingly ignorant comment in arguments with theists, that “Hitler was an atheist, which explains what he did…”. Here’s an eloquent response from Christopher Hitchens to this form of argument offered up to atheists all too often.

 

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Through the Wormhole: What Do Aliens Look Like?

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I’ve returned a Master of Science

So I handed in my thesis last Wednesday on the 2nd of November. What a mission… Although it is nice to be somewhat free and looking forward to what lies ahead, most likely a PhD starting next February I’m hoping.

If anyone’s interested I might upload my thesis somewhere on the net and link it here if people would like to read it. Personally, I don’t want to look at it again for a long time! Haha

 

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