Reality Check

How many people are actually uninsured? How does that affect Congress's decision on healthcare?

The numbers are not quite clear, but they certainly are in the millions. Not one life is to be ignored, and when we are talking millions, the urgency of affordable health insurance for everybody becomes even more pressing.

Shqipëria në shitje

Ujditë e Zogut me qeverinë fashiste të Italisë dhe përpjekjet e tij të mëpasshme për t'u rikthyer në fron si mbret i shqiptarëve.

Those Commie Europeans

Call them what you will, but France and Germany both experienced an increase in their GDP for the second quarter, signaling what many believe to be an easing recession or even an exit from the recession for both those countries as well as an ease on the European economy at large. Experts are crediting government support of the automotive industries for this progress.

Clarifying the Koran

Robert Wright shares an excerpt from his book, The Evolution of God, in which he clarifies for the reader that the often-quoted 'kill the infidels' phrase from the Koran is not to be interpreted quite so literally.

This is for all those who think Islam is a more violent and unforgiving religion than Judaism or Christianity.

«Ferexheja dhe qytetërimi»

Tajar Zavalani tek faqja e internetit «Ateistët» flet për ferexhenë dhe përpjekjet që po bëhen për ta përhapur dhe për ta ruajtur atë në shoqërinë shqiptare. Mes argumenteve të tij për heqjen e ferexhesë si hap i domosdoshëm për emancipimin e gruas, ai citon edhe poetin tonë kombëtar dhe pikëpamjen e këtij të fundig për ferexhenë dhe mbulimin e grave në përgjithësi:

Të mëshehurit dhe të mbuluarit e fytyrës së gruas s’ka qenë në kohën e profitit por është çpikur më von. Ndalim i math në përparimin e një kombi! Si mund të vejë mbroth një komb kur gratë, domethënë gjysma e njerëzisë rron e mbyllur si në kuvli? Si mund të jetë i zgjuar e i mbarë një komb pa pasur në vijë jetën e shtëpisë e të fëmijës, dhe këto qysh mund të bëhen kur burri rrin veç gruas? Ç’dashuri, ç’arsye mund të mësojnë e të marrin djemtë në një të tillë familje... Gruaja duhet të jetë e mësuar më shumë nga burri se fëmija së pari nga mëma e marrin arsimin dhe mësimet... Gruaja është mëmë e fëmijës, zonjë e shtëpisë dhe krejt i njerëzisë.

Naim FRASHËRI

Don't Mess With the Brits

I admire Britons for their famous stoicism when faced with adversity. And, in this case, I admire them for standing up for a system that they have used—successfully, might I add—for many decades. In response to the American press and politicians that are trying to use the British NHS as a bad example (forgetting that the proposed plan in the U.S. is NOTHING like the British one), Britons speak up and defend their system. You may read their comments here and find the government's response here.

I have heard a lot of people in the media and around me talk about the NHS and how it is in trouble, but then again what health system around the world isn't? Although not faced with crippling poverty and a drastic shortage of doctors, equipment, or resources, the developed countries are all facing increases in the aging population. We are living longer and our frailer bodies in older age require more care. It is the same in Japan, Italy, France, Germany, Britain, and the United States. We are all similar in that we are all trying to address this challenge. Some countries are doing more and better things, if I may so opine.

Reading Faces

We may all feel the same disgust, fear, passion and whatnot, but apparently we display it differently. Next time you come in contact with people from other cultures, you had better be careful with your facial expressions....

What Women Eat

Apparently smaller amounts and less caloric meals if men are around. Does that mean that they also have a secret stash for when they're alone?

Vox Clamantis In Insanity

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The Opium of the Masses

This article from Newsweek considers the possibility and evidence that a human brain is not wired for supernatural beliefs, contrary to the popular belief that we are innately inclined to weigh and believe in the supernatural.

Noteworthy excerpts:

In a paper last month in the online journal Evolutionary Psychology, Gregory Paul finds that countries with the lowest rates of social dysfunction—based on 25 measures, including rates of homicide, abortion, teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, unemployment, and poverty—have become the most secular. Those with the most dysfunction, such as Portugal and the U.S., are the most religious, as measured by self-professed belief, church attendance, habits of prayer, and the like.

...

"The ease with which large populations abandon serious theism when conditions are sufficiently benign . . . refute[s] hypotheses that religious belief and practice are the normal, deeply set human mental state." [...] rather than being wired into the brain, religion is a way to cope with stress in a dysfunctional society—the opium-of-the-people argument.

MRI Porn

I don't know if this is cool or disturbing.

Stewie Griffin Is Gay

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Say it ain't so!

But not really surprised... it has always been a source of humor in the show and blatantly obvious. I mean, he talks exactly like Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, who is gayer than the pride parade.

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