Here is a good article about how Americans tend to shun Atheists more than even homosexuals, Jews and Muslims, thinking that belief in God is what keeps one moral.
The article goes on to explain that there are countries with far more atheism than the United States, and that citizens of those countries tend to rape and murder each other less, not more.
The argument that religious people tend to be more moral because they believe God (or someone) is watching them kind of falls apart in the face of such evidence!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
The Great Nitrogen Rip-Off Scam!
I've been steaming about this one for a while, and I think it's time to express my contempt for an inert gas.
The fair person in me says that everyone has a right to make a buck. When I worked at Midas, I had few qualms about charging people an extra 3 bucks on their invoice for "Environmental Disposal" when, in reality, the shop got PAID for its used oil. It is pure profit for the company, but it's an industry standard and allows the illusion of competitive pricing.
However, shops are now charging their customers for the wonderful advantage of filling their tires with Nitrogen, rather than compressed air as is the norm. This is silly on so many levels.
Compressed nitrogen is extremely cheap. A shop that charges $5 per tire is making an incredible markup. I have heard, however, of London Chrysler dealers charging over $200 for this service on a new car! Absolutely INSANE. Consumers need to educate themselves before cheerily forking over hours of wages for absolutely nothing.
Nothing you say? Here is a link that questions many of the supposed benefits of Nitrogen in car tires.
Does it keep your tires from oxidizing on the inside? Who cares? They're obviously oxidizing on the outside! Look at the inside of a tire that's been on a car for five years and the inside looks a lot better than the outside.
Does it keep your tire pressure more constant? Ask yourself the question "Was my last qualifying lap affected by tire temperature?" If your answer is "Huh?" then it really doesn't matter. The temperature of your tires going down the road on a daily basis doesn't vary much, unless you have truly horrible alignment, in which case you'll need new tires soon enough anyway. Seasonally, of course, your pressure will vary, but if you're not checking it at least that often you're failing yourself as a car owner.
Most important of all is the fact that the atmosphere, and hence the regular compressed air that you get for free, is already 78% nitrogen! Not only that, but when your tire is inflated from 0 psig to 32 psig you're not actually removing the oxygen that was already in there. There's only one way in. You've paid whatever you're paying to go from 78% nitrogen to maybe 90%. Whoopee doo.
What it comes down to is this. Make sure the guy who changes your oil checks your tire pressure. Let them put in the free air. Pay the Environmental Fee happily, even though it's going straight into the owner's pocket. Smile.
The fair person in me says that everyone has a right to make a buck. When I worked at Midas, I had few qualms about charging people an extra 3 bucks on their invoice for "Environmental Disposal" when, in reality, the shop got PAID for its used oil. It is pure profit for the company, but it's an industry standard and allows the illusion of competitive pricing.
However, shops are now charging their customers for the wonderful advantage of filling their tires with Nitrogen, rather than compressed air as is the norm. This is silly on so many levels.
Compressed nitrogen is extremely cheap. A shop that charges $5 per tire is making an incredible markup. I have heard, however, of London Chrysler dealers charging over $200 for this service on a new car! Absolutely INSANE. Consumers need to educate themselves before cheerily forking over hours of wages for absolutely nothing.
Nothing you say? Here is a link that questions many of the supposed benefits of Nitrogen in car tires.
Does it keep your tires from oxidizing on the inside? Who cares? They're obviously oxidizing on the outside! Look at the inside of a tire that's been on a car for five years and the inside looks a lot better than the outside.
Does it keep your tire pressure more constant? Ask yourself the question "Was my last qualifying lap affected by tire temperature?" If your answer is "Huh?" then it really doesn't matter. The temperature of your tires going down the road on a daily basis doesn't vary much, unless you have truly horrible alignment, in which case you'll need new tires soon enough anyway. Seasonally, of course, your pressure will vary, but if you're not checking it at least that often you're failing yourself as a car owner.
Most important of all is the fact that the atmosphere, and hence the regular compressed air that you get for free, is already 78% nitrogen! Not only that, but when your tire is inflated from 0 psig to 32 psig you're not actually removing the oxygen that was already in there. There's only one way in. You've paid whatever you're paying to go from 78% nitrogen to maybe 90%. Whoopee doo.
What it comes down to is this. Make sure the guy who changes your oil checks your tire pressure. Let them put in the free air. Pay the Environmental Fee happily, even though it's going straight into the owner's pocket. Smile.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Speed cameras!
I've said before that I'd love to see photo radar come back here in Ontario. I'm all for voluntary taxation like that... if you don't want to pay the fine, drive slowly past the camera. Simple.
Here is an interesting story about people getting their enemies nailed with speeding fines by covering their own plates with a copy of someone else's.
Here is an interesting story about people getting their enemies nailed with speeding fines by covering their own plates with a copy of someone else's.
Friday, December 19, 2008
God says gays can't marry? Execute adulterers then!
Here is a great article about how the religious right picks and chooses which parts of the bible to enforce based on who they currently hate. Enjoy.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
A little clarification...
Just to clarify one point, I thought the Christmas concert was great... the primary kids in particular did a great job. My only issue was the religious subject matter.
But seriously, the 7 and 8's have had more than one guitar class?
But seriously, the 7 and 8's have had more than one guitar class?
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Apparently my daughter attends a Christian school and I wasn't informed...
Yesterday I went to see the dress rehearsal of my daughter's school Christmas concert. It was, once again, cute in a lot of ways, ridiculous in many and downright sad in others.
The general idea was "OnLine Santa", wherein Santa Claus, and a couple of random kids, alternately go online and learn about how Christmas is celebrated in other parts of the world. (Hint: Not by trampling Wal-Mart employees)
Now, I admit that we skipped out before the entire concert was over, but apparently Christmas is celebrated around the world by singing Christmas carols, dancing, pounding on garbage cans and playing guitar very poorly. The Grade 7's were looking at each other as they played, smiling as though they were pulling some kind of joke on the teacher.
What really upset me was that one of the classes actually performed the Christmas story. NOT COOL. I'm sure that the vast majority of students at PWW are from a Christian background, they certainly are white, but this is NOT what I signed up for. Our children's religious education is NOT in the hands of the Thames Valley District School Board. Talk about Santa Claus all you want, but I want NOTHING from the New Testament taught to my children, unless Islam, Buddhism, Scientology, Wicca, Rastafarianism, Pastafarianism and Naked Dancing Llama are also covered.
How does most of the world celebrate Christmas? They don't.
In today's everyday world, here in Canada anyway, Christmas is no longer a religious holiday. We celebrate it by being kind to each other, giving gifts, visiting and being social. We decorate our houses and blow our credit. We tear up at the sight of happy children. Religion need not enter into it, especially with the support of the public education system.
Christmas pageants should have gone the way of the Lord's Prayer a long time ago. Imposing Christian doctrine on our children is a violation of section 2(a) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
It's important to me that the education my girls receive be untainted by dogma or fiction. What's next, creationism? It's a very backwards way of teaching our children, and I don't think that the fact that we live in a small town should enter in to the equation. I refuse to be treated like a redneck.
The general idea was "OnLine Santa", wherein Santa Claus, and a couple of random kids, alternately go online and learn about how Christmas is celebrated in other parts of the world. (Hint: Not by trampling Wal-Mart employees)
Now, I admit that we skipped out before the entire concert was over, but apparently Christmas is celebrated around the world by singing Christmas carols, dancing, pounding on garbage cans and playing guitar very poorly. The Grade 7's were looking at each other as they played, smiling as though they were pulling some kind of joke on the teacher.
What really upset me was that one of the classes actually performed the Christmas story. NOT COOL. I'm sure that the vast majority of students at PWW are from a Christian background, they certainly are white, but this is NOT what I signed up for. Our children's religious education is NOT in the hands of the Thames Valley District School Board. Talk about Santa Claus all you want, but I want NOTHING from the New Testament taught to my children, unless Islam, Buddhism, Scientology, Wicca, Rastafarianism, Pastafarianism and Naked Dancing Llama are also covered.
How does most of the world celebrate Christmas? They don't.
In today's everyday world, here in Canada anyway, Christmas is no longer a religious holiday. We celebrate it by being kind to each other, giving gifts, visiting and being social. We decorate our houses and blow our credit. We tear up at the sight of happy children. Religion need not enter into it, especially with the support of the public education system.
Christmas pageants should have gone the way of the Lord's Prayer a long time ago. Imposing Christian doctrine on our children is a violation of section 2(a) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
It's important to me that the education my girls receive be untainted by dogma or fiction. What's next, creationism? It's a very backwards way of teaching our children, and I don't think that the fact that we live in a small town should enter in to the equation. I refuse to be treated like a redneck.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
