Dark matter 'slingshot' could send lethal asteroids crashing into Earth

From Fox News.com (April 29):

Dark matter could sling lethal meteors at Earth, potentially causing mass extinctions like the cataclysm that ended the Age of Dinosaurs, Harvard scientists say.

Physicists think the mysterious, invisible substance called dark matter makes up five-sixths of all matter in the universe. It was first detected by the strength of its gravitational pull, which apparently helps keep the Milky Way and other galaxies from spinning apart, given the speeds at which they whirl.

Scientists have recently suggested that a thin, dense disk of dark matter about 35 light-years thick lies along the central plane of the Milky Way, cutting through the galaxy's disk of stars. The sun travels in an up-and-down, wavy motion through this plane while orbiting the center of the galaxy.

Researchers suggest this disk of clouds and clumps made of dark matter might disturb the orbits of comets in the outer solar system, hurling them inward. This could lead to catastrophic asteroid impacts on Earth, of the kind that likely ended the Age of Dinosaurs, said theoretical physicists Lisa Randall and Matthew Reece at Harvard University. [read more]

And climate change scientists are worried about the earth getting hotter in the far future. I don’t know I think scientists should be worried about something that could really happen. Like asteroids hitting the earth.

Excerpts from Virginia Declaration of Rights

Section 1. That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

Section 2. That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the People; that magistrates are their trustees and servants, and at all times amenable to them.

Section 3. That Government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation, or community;—of all the various modes and forms of Government that is best which is capable of producing the greatest degree of happiness and safety, and is most effectually secured against the danger of mal-administration;—and that, whenever any Government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community hath an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right, to reform, alter, or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal.

Section 4. That no man, or set of men, are entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments and privileges from the community, but in consideration of public services; which, not being descendible, neither ought the offices of Magistrate, Legislator, or Judge, to be hereditary.

Section 15. That no free Government, or the blessing of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue, and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.

Section 16. That Religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and, therefore, all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity, towards each other.

This document was written by George Mason in June 12, 1776. It predates the Declaration of Independence by a month. All of it is good. Section 15 is my favorite because it basically talks about self-control. You can read the whole document at Constitution Reader.com.

Liberty and Small Government in Tao te Ching

From FEE.org (April 22):

“When the Master governs,” wrote Lao Tzu, “the people/are hardly aware that he exists.” This passage, like many in the ancient Chinese wisdom poem Tao te Ching (pronounced dow deh jing), expresses the paradoxical view of passivity as the most effective political power:

If you want to be a great leader,
you must learn to follow the Tao.
Stop trying to control.
Let go of fixed plans and concepts,
and the world will govern itself.
 
The more prohibitions you have,
the less virtuous people will be.
The more weapons you have,
the less secure people will be.
The more subsidies you have,
the less self-reliant people will be.
 
Therefore the Master says:
I let go of the law,
and people become honest.
I let go of economics,
and people become prosperous.
I let go of religion,
and people become serene.
I let go of all desire for the common good,
and the good becomes common as grass.

[read more]

Interesting. I didn’t know conservatism was that old. The Tao te Ching goes continues:

When the government is too intrusive,
people lose their spirit.
 
Act for the people’s benefit.
Trust them; leave them alone.

Yea, that definitely isn’t happening in China now.

EPA human test subjects not always told about lethal risks of studies

From FoxNews.com (April 2):

The Environmental Protection Agency has been testing the impact of pollutants on human subjects without always telling them about the risks of heavy exposure -- risks that include cancer, and even death.

The findings were included in a newly released EPA inspector general report, which urged the agency to overhaul its guidelines to make sure test subjects understand all the risks before signing up.

"[E]vidence suggests that at least some human study subjects would like to know if a study involves risk of death, even if the risk is very small," the report said.

The EPA is authorized under federal law to perform human testing, as part of its ongoing effort to regulate potentially harmful pollutants. The agency has spent millions of dollars on this research. [read more]

Where is the lame-stream-press reporting this? If a private organization like a corporation had been doing this it would been broadcasted in every newspaper and on the TV. But since the “benevolent” gov’t is doing it is okay. Nothing to see here. Move on, please. Just the gov’t protecting the people by exposing other people to potentially harmful pollutants. Figure that one out. I guess you could call it a sacrifice to the collective.

If this had been animals being exposed the animal rights nuts would have had a stroke. Well, maybe not. Since, Big Gov is their god. Who knows.

I don’t know but this is close to what the Nazi’s did. I believe Hitler authorized his henchmen to perform experiments on people too.

The Truth about the Minimum Wage video

So, true.

Source: The Truth about the Minimum Wage by Fee.org.

Politicians want to raise the minimum wage for two reasons: To show they “care” and to get votes. Well, raising the minimum wage only helps those who are working—temporarily and not those looking for work. Just like rent control only helps those who are already renting.

Politicians and those who support raising the minimum wage just don’t understand side effects or if you will “what will happen in the future if I support this bill.” Economist Thomas Sowell calls this type of short-term thinking “stage-one thinking.”