Link round-up for 3 June 2018

Various interesting stuff I ran across on the net over the last week.

o o o o o

Don't fear the eel robot.

Dr. Theda has some doughnuts for you.  And don't neglect your cats.

Brains!  (found via Calvin's).

Blogger Mike reports a new breakthrough in physics.  I can hardly wait for his explanation of the Sun.

The Russian word under the picture means "stability".

Professor Chaos has some random thoughts.

In ancient times, primitive people used crude tools to preserve entertaining stories.

Yes, there is such a thing as a water-bottle cannon.

Sorry, this bat didn't have the foggiest idea what the hell was happening.

The Christian Right is planning a legislative blitzkrieg against separation of church and state (found via Scottie's Toy Box).

The SBC's official statements on women's equality are full of hypocrisy.

Why the hell do some men do this?  I'm a man and I don't get it at all.  Maybe they're as smart as this guy.

The Michigan legislature has essentially legitimized medical fraud.

The American Bible Society now expects its employees to actually live in accordance with the Bible; several have already quit.

Never be too quick to call someone a Nazi.

Kooky schemes for changing how voting works are often just a both-siderist distraction.

Police stopped paramedics from helping the Parkland students, even after the murderer was caught.

Bruce Gerencser describes how his political views evolved as he left religion.

They did not "give their lives" -- their lives were taken from them.

Here's a truly humane Christian.

What religion you have almost always depends on an accident of birth.

This is what the Catholic Church calls an "expert" on homosexuality.  No matter what the Pope says, Catholic doctrine is inconsistent with tolerance.

Beware of this computer virus -- though if you do get it, I'd recommend going to a computer repair shop rather than trying to deal with it yourself.

Here are eleven forms of harm that religion does (found via Nan's Notebook).

The NFL kneeling movement is the epitome of legitimate non-violent protest -- and the establishment still won't tolerate it.

Calvinism is morally depraved.

Franklin Graham's California crusade illustrates the angry and defensive stance of today's Christian Right.

Think and Thrive blog has some questions about animal abuse.

"I can still thank whatever gods are listening that I don’t live in....."

The authors of the Bible had no idea what the universe is actually like.

We need to differentiate news from propaganda, but this is not the way to do it. Maybe this is related.

Rick Santorum shows his true fundie nature talking about misplaced immigrant kids.  In fact, the government may have handed over some of them to human traffickers (found via Shower Cap).

Nowadays military action usually doesn't achieve its goals, but it still has its enthusiasts.

We know what color this dinosaur was.

Why is there so much hype about "epigenetic changes" in DNA?

A year after Trump's betrayal, the Paris climate deal is still going strong.  And despite him, solar and wind power are booming and creating jobs -- even in the US.

Ireland told its bossy clergy to bugger off.  So should we.

One man in Australia has helped save over two million babies.

Even in Germany's most Catholic area, many are unhappy with a plan to place crosses in public buildings.

Practicing Christians are down to 18% of western Europe's population.

You may have seen claims that the EU is planning changes in copyright law which threaten the internet (both found via 両刀使い).  Apparently it's an Alt-Right scam.

Here's yet another case of religious brutality toward children.

Hamas jihadists bombard Israeli civilian targets with mortars.  OK, now back to blaming Israel for everything.

The new ebola vaccine is being put to work in an actual outbreak.

There are people who compare Trump to Jesus.  He actually resembles a different New Testament figure.

If you've always said you would take a stand against evil if given the chance -- now's your chance.

Republicans serve up another steaming pile of racist candidates.

We're winning despite, not because of, weak leadership.

People who vote and fight for what's right sometimes get things done, cynics and pessimists and ideological purists never do.

Shower Cap blog has another round-up of craziness.

Trump is a terrible negotiator.

Heitkamp risks alienating a key voting bloc.

Congress continues its attacks on the safety and income of sex workers by threatening their bank accounts.  Because Elizabeth Warren is one of the key people pushing these attacks, I can no longer support her for the 2020 Presidential nomination.  (I'll still vote for her if she does get nominated, but I'll oppose her in the primaries.)  Another threat has arisen in Nevada.  Some sex workers are standing up for themselves.

[500 days down, 962 days to go until the inauguration of a real President!]