A science research project in England has come under a storm of criticism for trying to determine the physiological reasons why roughly eight percent of male sheep prefer the company of other male sheep. Many can infer from this research that scientists are attempting to understand where homosexuality occurs in the brain, making it easier to predict markers of gay tendencies, and possibly develop a treatment for the disorder — in sheep.

Many have inferred from the project that scientists would like to eventually eliminate gay sheep all together, with further speculation that any treatments for sheep could eventually be developed for humans. The lead scientist has been quick to point out that homosexuality in the human brain is far more complex than that for sheep, and that any “treatment” for humans is highly unlikely.

What enrages me about this story is that the project is being funded by the National Institutes of Health, a federally funded entity. What possible benefit is there to this nation or the world in eliminating gay sheep? Does the NIH not have more important scientific research to fund? Have we cured Cancer, Alzheimer’s, AIDS or Lou Gerigh’s disease yet? No.

To me, it proves that this goverment (run by Republicans for the last 12 years) is out to define homosexuality as a disorder, and to further control nature to please the delicate sensitivities of small minded individuals who are threatened by the mere existance of homosexuals. Perhaps the NIH should be more concerned with solving issues related to ignorance in this country, first.

President Bush today told reporters that he is “the decision-maker” on the plan to increase the number of troops in Iraq, and that he urges Congress to seriously think about their opposition to a plan that hasn’t been put into practice yet.

It may very well be the most telling statement about the divide between W and reality that we have ever seen. Clearly Mr. Bush is the “decision-maker”, as it was he who decided to enter into this war. It was he who decided not to enter the war with sufficient numbers of troops to begin with, and it was he who decided to pay little attention to the infrastructure requirements in restoring order qucikly after entering the country. It was he who also decided on the six different “post-War” strategies that have all ultimately failed.

And so it is crystal clear that W is “the decision-maker”, and the truth is that had he made decent decisions to begin with, Congress would not be opposing his “decision” today. I almost felt sorry for the guy during his state of the union address Tuesday night. There he was, like a whipped puppy, looking as if he just woke up after a long binge and realizing all of the transgressions he had committed while under the influence. Had he finally reached the point of repent? Was he finally taking responsibility for all of his mistakes? Was he going to turn over a new leaf? At times it seemed like we just might see a new W.

But, alas, it was all for show. Today he is reminding us that the emperor truly has no clothes, and no sense for that matter. Instead of making a generous statement about acknowleding the conflict with Congress, or striking a conciliatory note that signals some understanding of the opposition to the plan, he puffs up his chest like a fighting cock and proclaims “I AM THE DECISION-MAKER”.

That’s the sort of talk that brings it all back to reality. This guy is an arrogant, out-of-control, spoiled rotten brat that is living in some fantasy world where he is the terminator, and ultimately we will do what he says, simply because he says to, and not based on any sound judgement. 

PICT0718.JPG, originally uploaded by bdskip.

You just have to stop and realize that there are bigger things in this world. This morning I flew from Boise, ID to Denver, CO and shot this picture from the plane. Yeah, I hate the TSA, and I think it is just a bunch of pretty wrapping paper on the same package, but at the end of the day I do know that we live a relatively safe environment, and that we enjoy freedoms like no other. And for that I am truly grateful to God for allowing me to live here.

Imagine my pleasant suprise on New Year’s Eve when I opened the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and read an article by Bud Kennedy entitled “New poll detects a change in the political climate in the Capitol”:

 Texas Democrats have pulled even with Republicans, and the state is now about half red, half blue. At least, that’s according to 1,053 Texans surveyed by an independent Democratic pollster. The poll’s news announcement focused on one specific response: By 46 percent to 35 percent, respondents said Democrats “care” more about “people like me.” That’s a reversal from two years ago.

But most eyes went immediately to the bottom line of the poll, conducted in early December by Austin-based Montgomery & Associates:

Asked which political party they lean toward, 45 percent chose Democrat.

Only 43 percent chose Republican. If you figure in the poll’s margin of error, that’s a tie.

Two years ago, in the same Democratic poll, Republicans led by 55 percent to 34 percent.

As author Bud Kennedy is quick to point out, the poll was a simple poll and not directed at “voters”. Needless to say, the momentum is still there and we can begin to see the turning of the red tide in Texas.

Our biggest challenge in the coming two-year cycle is to raise awareness and to motivate those who find their interests better represented by Democrats to register to vote and to actually vote.

2006 proved to be quite an exciting year as we saw that the average American voter just might “get it” after all. I am cautiously optimistic about 2007 as we anxiously await the changing of the guard in the House and Senate in Washington.

Rest assured that our work here is not done, and that we can always do more to help those that cannot help themselves, and to ensure that the basic civil rights of ALL of our citizens are protected under the Constitution created by our founders. This means that watching all of our lawmakers, Republican and Democrat, is a priority and that we should call BS when we see it no matter the party affiliation.

On last week’s “60 Minutes” there was a disturbing story on a growing trend of “street fighting” videos. The typical arrangement is that a group of kids (or adults if they have no shame) pick a fight with each other in some public or private venue while others look on and record the fight on video. The video of the fight is then later sold as part of collection of other fights in video stores or distributed through a number of subscription websites.

But “60 Minutes” covered a new angle to this social problem by highlighting a new trend called “Bum Fight” where people (adults and teenagers) pay the homeless to fight one another or in some way perform a stupid stunt to harm themselves. The story covered a couple of teens in Canada that watched some of the “bum fight” videos and thought it would be fun to kidnap a homeless man and torture him for three days in the woods. The victim died as a result of this torture.

This is the type of phenomenon that requires moral leadership from every level of our governments. There is something wrong with a society that lacks the outrage to end this nonsense, but finds it appropriate to talk at length about what movie starts are sleeping with one another or what an actress wore to the Emmy Awards. Where are the religious leaders that our nation holds so dear on this topic? The lack of action by anyone on this topic only further demonstrates the dichotomy of our selective embracing of Christian values in this country.

For all of the talk surrounding political scandals throughout our government (torture bills, domestic spying programs, flawed intelligence leading up to war, etc.) the single most important topic that the MSM has failed to cover is that of electronic voting equipment.

In the wake of the butterfly ballot system that brought us G.W. Bush and Company, most states have moved to the more “secure and accurate” electronic voting format. Unfortunately, the electronic form of voting is no more accurate or secure than the old paper or punch card systems.

For months now there has been chatter on the Internet about the ease of hacking the electronic ballot systems and the lack of good security methods on the ballot boxes themselves. To make the point of how vulnerable these machines, and Democracy itself, Freedom To Tinker brings us news that the key securing a number of Diebold machines is the same key employed on a number of office furniture desks, filing cabinets and hotel mini-bar systems. What makes this even more frightening is that “replacement” keys are widely available on the Internet:

The access panel door on a Diebold AccuVote-TS voting machine — the door that protects the memory card that stores the votes, and is the main barrier to the injection of a virus — can be opened with a standard key that is widely available on the Internet.

A little research revealed that the exact same key is used widely in office furniture, electronic equipment, jukeboxes, and hotel minibars. It’s a standard part, and like most standard parts it’s easily purchased on the Internet. We bought several keys from an office furniture key shop — they open the voting machine too. We ordered another key on eBay from a jukebox supply shop. The keys can be purchased from many online merchants.

Each and every voter in this country should be concerned with this story, regardless of party affiliation.