The Caveman Speaks!

I don't know why I feel compelled to apologize for discussing my religion on my blog. So I won't.

It's quite old news by now, but I've been wanting to blog about this for a while and just haven't found he time. Apparently, a prominent Seventh-day Adventist pastor named Doug Batchelor has given a sermon on why women shouldn't be preachers, elders, or look upon a man. Okay I made that last one up.

I am really not going to argue against Mr. Batchelor's theology in regards to female pastors and elders, a subject I feel I am inadequately knowledgeable about at this time, and who can argue with someone who glibly asserts that he is right because "God's word is God's word."

Rather, I would like to explore the 'scientific' addendum he tacked on to the end of his thesis. He claims that Men are smarter than women because he read in the British Journal of Psychology, apparently as good as God's word, that "[men] on an average score five points higher on an IQ test."

What an absurd claim. Five points? On average? Is that all? That has to fall well within the margin of error and it certainly sits within the 15 point standard deviation generally accepted for such tests.

And of course, were speaking about averages here. That means that about half the women tested had higher IQ's than half of the men, give or take 5 points. . .

But let's take this to it's logical conclusion. Should we implement standardized IQ tests for all pastors? If they fall below the average IQ of the congregation, does that disqualify them? Can women that score five points above the average man become pastors? Should male pastors that fall five points below the average be excluded from the pulpit? And let's not forget that Asians on average have higher IQs than any other race. . .

Now, let's keep in mind that this is all coming from a man who has got to be the closest thing to an actual troglodyte as there could be (barring Brendan Fraser of course). Add to that the fact that he used to do a lot of drugs. Hmm, I wonder what his IQ is now. Judging by what comes out of his mouth, not very high.

Doug Batchelor's claim: That women aren't as intelligent because one published study says that women on average test five points lower than men on IQ tests.

My Verdict: Only a Caveman would buy that.

Regina Profs Hate the Children of Dead Soldiers

I'm going to try not to get into this subject in much detail - mostly because I hate giving these yahoos any exposure - but this just makes me sick.

I don't care what your personal views are regarding the Canadian military presence in Afghanistan (but seriously, is it really imperialism if we aren't gaining anything from the exercise?) - these children have lost a parent, one half of their emotional and financial support system. Why would you want to shut down a program that offers them a free college education?

Oh right, 'politics'.

I will give them credit, according to this this article the professors have proposed an alternate program in which anyone can have access to a free education. That's a lofty goal. Unfortunately it is also not feasible at our current tax level, unless the profs are willing to work for free. Perhaps if we were to raise our taxes to the same level as Sweden? Let's see what the voters say.

What we have, instead, is an existing program that offers some people a free education. Why should we deny them. Sounds to me like shades of Harrison Bergeron. "If everyone can't have it, no one should."

Unfourtunately, it is most likely that these professors are really only objecting to the label 'Hero'. Perhaps they would not have raised any objections if the scholarship program was called 'Financial Assistance for the Innocent Children of Ignorant, Violent People that Died While Promoting a Conservative Agenda in a Foriegn Country that Wasn't at all a Hotbed of Fanatical Terrorism'.

Well, look at that. I couldn't keep it short. I guess they really got my Irish up.

The 'No Pinky' Defense

It's almost as 'rich' as the twinky defense.

CSI: Miami has never really been the epitome of reality. Nor , for that matter, has any incarnation of the CSI franchise. I've taken to searching the internet if I see something interesting on an episode of one of the CSI's just to see if it actually exists, or if it's simply something the writers made up to get the plot flowing smoothly.

On to the heart of the matter:

Two things in particular got me riled up as I watched episode thirteen of CSI: Miami's eighth season simply titled, "Die By the Sword." The first, and more easily overlooked transgression of the show, was the assertion that any folded steel blade must belong to a Katana, the weapon of choice for Samurai warriors during Japan's feudal period and, conveniently, Japanese mobsters in present day Miami.

As a matter of fact, many Asian swords employed the same metallurgical composition. Similar techniques were used in Europe and West Asia (the Middle East) since the beginning of the Iron Age. Furthermore, many modern sword makers employ folded steel in their creations, whether the work is Asian influenced or not.

But be that as it may, the more laughable assumption put forth by this show is that the removal of one's pinky finger, or both, impairs you to such an extent that you could not possibly, ever, kill someone with a sword. You can ride a motorcycle, sure, but swing a sword at an unarmed white guy with his back turned to you as you ride up? Surely not. . .

The worst use of this blind assertion comes when our hero, Horatio, questions the leader of the Japanese mafia (but they aren't the Yakuza for some odd reason) and the man says something to the effect of:

"Look, officer, I couldn't even have lifted a sword because I don't have any pinky fingers."

Really? And no one questions that?

I can see how the lack of a nearly vestigial appendage could possibly affect fine control of a sword, say in a fencing match, but how could it make it impossible to hold a sword?

Here's an experiment for you kiddies to do at home. Get out your broom, hold it in one hand at the point where it balances. Good, now lift your pinky off. Did the broom fall to the floor? Can you still swing the broom?

The claim: You need your pinky fingers to kill someone.

My verdict: I don't buy that, and neither should you.

I am not a Redneck

Not that there's anything wrong with being a redneck.

I am, however, a young adult male of European descent born and raised in Western Canada. If you automatically assume that makes me a redneck, chances are you'd be better off finding something else to read; something that doesn't challenge your narrow world view.

I realize, of course, the need to qualify who I am may in itself be nothing more than denial.

On the other hand, since I am an unapologetic Star Trek fan, Games Workshop miniature owner, and wielder of a Force FX Lightsaber, chances are good that I'm more of a geek than a redneck. Just check out my other blog, SF & F Reader.

This blog was started in response to all the sensationalist, highly partisan misinformation I encounter daily via 'mainstream' reportage. My response to it all is simple: I Don't Buy That.