Rant from Lagos

Hi everyone,

Just a quick update from here in Lagos. Some fun stuff and a whole bunch of hell, I am afraid.

You know, if you check out my facebook profile, I describe myself as an evangelical atheist. Of course being an atheist is an obvious and rational choice but why, you ask, evangelical? Well, because I do have a deep seeded need to stamp out stupidity wherever I go.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32228994/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

And yes, folks, I do feel that a faith in god is the sign of serious inbreeding with resulting mental fallibility! Be offended if you please, my intention is to offend and maybe you will get smarter. The above article has really pissed me off! Poor kid - not her fault that her parents are idiots but she paid the ultimate price therein and please don't tell me that this is an extreme example and not all religious people are this stupid. My response would only be: Northern Ireland, the Middle East, Russia, Jonestown, Waco, George W. Bush.... I could come up with more but I might find it difficult to hold down my breakfast. Jeez, this guy killed his kid through his faith - sounds to me like a net loss.

OK I did promise some good news. As many of you know, I have some very stern opinions regarding the organic food movement. Well, thank you to the three laws of thermodynamics for science! Here is the latest meta analysis out of the UK:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32205139/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/

You get it? No nutritional difference but far more expensive and far less efficient in terms of calories per square hectare. We need efficiency, there are people out there who are starving and our population is still growing.

OK - today's rant is over.

Paul

Oh well, at least they are not just fixated on the "faked" Lunar Landings...

Nutbars abound!

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Sigh. This is racism pure and simple.

A couple of things. There is not one shred of evidence that Barack Obama is not a natural born US citizen. Look, and this is the second time I have posted it, here is his Birth Certificate!























Now, some wack jobs say stuff like "This is a certificate of live birth, not a birth certificate". It is an official document from the 50th state saying that he is American born and, by implication and by the citizenry of his mother - American!!!!

You know, the US Supreme Court had a chance to weigh in on this sucker!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama-birth-certificate1dec08,0,7258812.story

Here is the killer quote:

"Five weeks after the State of Hawaii vouched for the authenticity of President-elect Barack Obama's birth certificate, the controversy over allegations that Obama is not eligible to take office next month has reached the Supreme Court, which is expected to announce Monday whether it will consider the matter."

The state vouched for it! It is an official state document. Debate over - move on! We have got a space program to get moving again....

OK. I just threw the last part in but stay tuned...

Your blogger buddy,

Paul

Happy Moon Day, Granda!

Hey gang.

Forty years ago this evening I was lying in bed with my brother David and my Grandfather. I was nine, David was seven. We had had our baths, we were in our pajamas in bed, in the main bedroom of their apartment at Greenwood and Queen in Toronto. Granda had a bottle of Labbats IPA nearby. My grandmother, Janet, was in the living room watching something else while knitting. Hard to believe there was anything else to watch because someone, in fact two men, were about to step foot on another world.

I miss both Granda and Nana. I had them both until quite late in my life - Nana passed away when I was in my late 20's and I was in my 30th year before Granda departed this mortal coil. A day doesn't go by without me thinking about them.

I don't have any direct pictures from this time but I do have one of Granda and I taken seven years later and here it is - notice the hair and the ELP T-Shirt.
















Now, let's talk about the events of 40 years ago. I remember it as basically being suspenseful - bear in mind, I was into this. I read all the articles, I kept up on the news and the technology. David was bored, being only 7, and the picture didn't make a lot of sense - it was very fuzzy. We could make out what was happening , of course, but having Walter Cronkite (sadly missed at 92, a few days ago) explain it all to us made up a great deal for the lack of quality in the TV screen.

Still we did it! We, humanity. We as a species left the planet and walked on another world. Neil, Buzz & Michael, you are citizens of the world and we all owe you something remarkable! Still, we acknowledge that you were supported by more than 400,000 people.

Still, there are complete morons out there who deny the entire thing! Let's take our hands off for a moment to cheer on the mentally marginal, the psychotic, the neurotic and the simply annoying - here we go with the obligatory article to the raving nutbars!

http://www.newsweek.com/id/207149

Now that we have dealt with the unpleasant parts of all this.... How about what it was like to be there, to experience it? Well, one man went to the moon and decided to tell some stories about it. I am happy recipient of his work nine times over but lets read about the 4th man to walk on the moon, the amazing Alan Bean.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/rocket-man-meets-monet/article1221088/

Finally, because we must be forward looking , I will end this blog with a article on what may be coming. I have limited visibility here but Ares 1-X is schedule to fly on my mother's birthday - October 31. Stay tuned.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31997786/ns/technology_and_science-space/

Keep looking up!

Paul

Organic Food and GM Crops!

Hi everyone,

I have to admit that I am now getting into an area where several dear friends of mine might disagree with me but I am going to, with absolute respect to their complete ignorance of the facts, continue, unabated. Am I difficult? My name is Paul James Mackin! Am I arrogant? My name is Paul James Mackin! Am I right! Yes, I am - I am Paul James Mackin and I am CANADIAN!

OK - starting point here. If you wish to disagree with me on anything here you are more than welcome to. If you wish to debate me, then please be prepared to do the following:

1. Identify the thing you disagree with
2. Have peer referenced analysis to defend your disagreement (don't worry about me - I will address my side of that, with vigor)
3. Be prepared to discuss this in a scientifically literate, unemotional and rational way
4. Be able do defend any and all scientific arguments you make including sources, peer reviews, etc.

Guess I seem like a hard ass but this is the process, more or less, that science takes. Why should we be less pure - particularly if you feel you are right? By the way when it come to medical evidence, please review "clinical trials" as opposed to "studies" - the former are science, the latter are sales propaganda.

Organic. Hmm. Interesting word. When I studied science in High School, a subject often ignored resulting in the high degree of scientific illiteracy that to exists today , organic chemistry was loosely defined as Chemistry which involved Carbon, Oxygen and Hydrogen atoms. Cool. Given that definition, we can agree that every bit of agriculture on this planet is Organic. Great!

Except it isn't. We have "Regular Produce" which is bad and "Organic Produce" which is good. I am having flashbacks to an appalling novel I read in 1983 called The Sheep Looked Up by John Brunner. Bad novel although some cool things happened to me as a result of first reading it, still, as a harbinger of the environmental movement, it was fundamentally wrong. No matter, "Regular Produce" and "Organic Produce" are equivalent, except that organic is more expensive to produce, deliver and sell further it takes more effort and time to produce less usable biomass per hectare. My advice to you is to avoid the word "organic" while shopping, you will save money, eat better produce and, further will aid in the efficient production of food worldwide.

In North America, Europe and, thankfully, to an increasing degree in Asia and South America, food availability is becoming far less of an issue. Why? Genetically modified crops. You have been eating them since you were weened. Your parents ate them, as did your grandparents. Hey, here is the good news, humans are the creatures who modify their environment to their betterment. It is a distinct advantage and has allowed us to move up to the absolute pinnacle of the food chain. Very early humans developed genetic engineering - we actually called in agriculture, but it is genetic engineering! We did it with crops (wheat, barley, potatoes, root vegetables, anything really), we did it with animals (dogs, cats, chickens, pigs, cows, sheep, goats, fish...). Genetically modified foods are at least 100,000 years old and we are still around as a species.

And what has been happening over that 100,000 years? Well:

• Human life expectancy and quality of life have been increasing
• Live birth ratios has been increasing
• Human population has been increasing
• Technology levels have been improving - particularly those related to energy consumption and efficiency
• Human health, overall, has been improving
• Efficiency of land utilization with respect to calories of food produced has been significantly improved
• Levels of human starvation as a percentage of overall population has been decreasing

This is not to say, of course, that we don't have issues. While I am less sanguine about "Global Warming" than most, I am something of a fanatic on sustainability. I believe that we live, particularly in North America in a "fat ass" society of too much consumption, too little exercise and too little "good food" including seafood, vegetables, fibre, etc, etc

But that is us...

We are the lucky ones...

What if we actually have to deliver and feed the third world? Particularly Africa (a place I know well). Well, my feeling is that, much like Marie Antoinette, we say "let them eat cake" without understanding the depths of their plight. I believe the phrase could also be "Do what I say, not what I do". We are taking advantage of the technology that allows us a better life but denying it to the wonderful people of Africa - a place I love and a people that I have learned to treasure.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/enviro-romanticism-is-hurting-africa/article1222806/

Yes, we are actually the bastards that that this article implies - yes, in fact, I think we are evil, smug and more self important that could ever be stated by the talented Ms Wente. I give you a Penn&Teller moment and ask you, please, watch the entire thing.



Well I am blogged out, no matter how angry I am. Take the following away:

• "Organic" is to food as "Brighter" is to laundry - meaningless at best and entirely worthless at worst.
• We will need Genetically Modified Crops - but we have been using them for most of the history of our species, recently our techniques have gotten better but the fundamental use of GM crops goes back to the origin of our species
• Cancer rates are not increasing, nor are the rates of other conditions such as heart disease or diabetes. We are now measuring stuff we didn't before. We need several generations to determine long term trends. Granted, short term trends are discouraging but, you know, messages related to healthy lifestyle, stopping smoking, good food, may already have a positive impact on those short term trends.

Well, I am sure I will write more later on this - I am pretty steamed, stay tuned.

Paul

More space stuff...

Hi everyone,

Given that we are now in the middle of the 40th anniversary week of the first manned lunar landing, I will write a number of blogs to celebrate that event.

Last month the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) was sent to the moon with the ability to photograph very small objects on the surface. In celebration of that capability, and the the dismay or denial of the fake lunar landing conspiracy nutbars, here are some photos of the actual landing sites of several of the Apollo missions. Please note that on the Apollo 14 landing pictures the actual tracks left by the astronauts as they marched out to Cone Crater can be seen.

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=31798

Now I know conspiracy nutbars will simply say that these pictures are faked but the body of evidence is insurmountable - we went to the moon, and not one credible historian or scientist believes otherwise...

As to that journey, in honour of the 40th anniversery, NASA released digitally enhanced video from the first lunar landing. Share and Enjoy:



One sad note today, the man who brought the Apollo success to us all passed away today. RIP Walter Cronkite.

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=28773

Finally, we are in for interesting times at NASA. I personally favour Bush's mission to return to the moon on the way to Mars but I acknowledge that there are other points of view. The Obama White House and the newly appointed NASA administrator are awaiting input and that input is coming in very short order. I eagerly look forward to it!

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/07/17/2000359.aspx

Keep looking up, everyone.

Paul

A total space blog, for once...

Hi everyone,

I believe tomorrow is the fortieth anniversary of the launch of Apollo 11. I remember watching it, live, at my parents house. It was a magic moment with a huge, "lead in stomach" wondering about whether they would make it. Of course they did and I will be writing about this over the next few postings.

To start all that off, let's begin with an interview with Mike Collins - the Command Module Pilot of Apollo 11. Take it away, sir:

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=28746

Onto another space note - the Shuttle is back up in space tonight, we are now getting into the last few flights of this amazingly capable, amazingly risky spacecraft system. Julie Payette is on board and we have that unique event now happening where two Canadians are in space at the same time with Robert Thrisk on board the ISS. We have come a long way - but have way further to go. Mars, the Asteroids and Jupiter's moons beacon.

Got to go. Will update again soon!

Paul

Jean Chretien and other stuff...

OK, many of you know that I am a card carrying member of the LPC (Liberal Party of Canada). I am actually a pretty strong economic Conservative but very progressive on social issues.

• I want low taxes (in fact want income tax repealed) - but love consumption taxes and would favour a carbon tax


• I am a strong believer in our public health care system and often chastise my American friends for all the terrible things they say about "Canadian Style Health Care" but I do believe in both user fees and more private options.


• I understand that I do not possess a uterus and as such don't really feel I can decide for a woman what is right for her and her body when it comes to reproductive health


• I hope that gays have better luck with marriage than straights! Hey, I am the last person who should talk about marriage!

I also believe that the current LPC is rediscovering itself and that we, as a party, miss our great leaders. With that in mind - here is an article that makes me happy!

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090713/national/chretien_honour

Congratulations Messrs. Chretien on receiving a such a significant honour! You have served your country and our Monarch with distinction. Well done!

On a lessor note - our religious maniac friends to the south keep finding feet and continue to find extra room in their mouths.

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And people wonder why, when people I know tell me they go to "Bible Study" or encourage me to "get a little faith" I act with something closely akin to revulsion.... I am thinking Northern Island (Bible Study with guns, drugs and sensless murder), I am thinking Protestant Reformation (Bible Study with fire and war), I am thinking Salem Mass (Bible Study with torture, brutality and complete lack of due process), I am thinking Afghanistan (Koran Study with bad fashion sense), I am thinking the Israeli Settlements (Torah Study with a complete lack of common sense). I am thinking the corrupt Jim and Tammy Baker (Bible Study with entitlement on an epic scale), the lecherous Jerry Falwell (Bible Study - with hand support), the local nutbar at the corner of Yonge and Dundas trying to save our souls (way too much Bible Study), the people who protest American GI funerals because the US Army in some way supports homosexuals (Bible study and clear sexual dysfunction). Sigh. They only things that the Religions spawned by the syncopate Abraham have in common is that they are monotheistic and that they target Blasphemy as a crime worth execution. They are all bastards - and you may quote me.


OK, not to end on a sad note. Here is a picture that you really want to look at - because the universe we live in, spanned by natural and very predictable processes is still full of wonder and beauty. Consider this my gift to you all today - it is from the Astronomy Picture of the Day Site:















Paul

Where or where has my little Paul gone, oh, where, oh where can he be?

Hi bloggerets! Long time no blog!

I must apologise. I have been busy and things have had my attention. Just to give you an idea of my schedule, here is what I have been up to.

I left Nigeria on June 16th, returning to Toronto for a couple of days and then coming up to Yellowknife on June 20th. By the weekend of the 26th I was in Washington DC and then the next week down in Corning New York. I am presently back in Yellowknife and will be here until this weekend. Home for a week, in Edmonton for the weekend, then back up here and finally back to Lagos on the 27th of the month.

My life, such as it is, has become a little more complex.

Anyway, Washington was a mini vacation - here is a photo of myself and the world greatest geophysicist with my good buddy Albert.














Anyway a couple of technology things I want to get to this week but before I do that, let me start off with the fact that everyone's favorite suspected pedophile has gone to meet his maker. Now, I don't buy into the line that this guy was a great talent. He was ok but he was no Tom Waits. Thank god because there can only be one Tom - two would probably mean the end of the Universe. In any case the thought of 17,000 people crowded around in a Los Angeles stadium mourning a guy they never knew, who seemed to like little boys a bit too much, while his celebrity "friends", cried over the world's loss is a bit more than I can stomach. Don't get me wrong - the guy sang a good tune or two but that's it. I don't value celebrity - just don't.

Now, Buzz Aldrin is a celebrity that I would value but he didn't sing or dance or abuse little boys. He merely walked on another planet with a buddy of his forty years ago this month. Way to go, Neil, Buzz and Michael! I remember watching you on live television with my Grandfather and my brother David from my grandparent's apartment down near Greenwood and Queen in Toronto. Wow! Forty years! Well, we are back to the moon again this week with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter - http://lro.gsfc.nasa.gov/. We are also almost ready to launch the first test flight of the manned rocket which will help put people back on the moon by the end of the next decade: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/ares/flighttests/aresIx/index.html - where I believe they are starting to build the stack, as they say!

OK so now onto other technology news! My other favorite subject - cars. Great article from Newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/id/142223. All I can say is that I am getting my first Hybrid car this year and I cannot wait. http://www.toyota.ca/cgi-bin/WebObjects/WWW.woa/18/wo/Home.Vehicles.Go.CamryHybrid


OK folks, one last thing before I go. I promise you that I am going to be good. Really. I will leave to the master to explain the real meaning behind Sarah Palin's resignation:

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Bye for now - I will post again soon. No worries!

Paul