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Abortion put simply

Introduction [NOTE: This article is also available for download in a relatively attractive, illustrated PDF format: Abortion put simply.] Recently the abortion debate has reared its unattractive head again, largely inspired by the Texan “House Bill 15″ requiring pregnant women to undergo a sonogram before having an abortion. Sonograms offer extremely detailed images, making the [...]

How many pollsters does it take to screw in a light bulb? Part two.

By Frank Lee MeiDere August 17, 2011 14 Comments

Previously — How many pollsters does it take to screw in a light bulb? Part one. ———————————- The previous post ended with a look at the way results can get skewed when respondents try manipulating the polls. Another form of manipulation is the “social desirability bias,” although here, rather than trying to manipulate the polls, respondents are [...]

So who, exactly, IS in the details?

By Frank Lee MeiDere August 12, 2011 18 Comments

“God is in the details.” “The devil is in the details.” So which is it? As it turns out, God got there first, but I guess that’s only fitting, what with being the Prime Mover, First Cause, and The Guy Who Always Butts In Line Ahead of Everybody Else Because He Thinks He’s So Bloody [...]

Magical Secrets Part 2

By Frank Lee MeiDere July 29, 2011 6 Comments

Magical Secrets Part 1 If you’ve not already done so, pop over to Midget Man of Steel’s post (actually a guest post) and see the video there on the magic powers of the IRenew Bracelet. Done? Good. ————————————————————– I first ran across the amazing strengthening arm trick at a 1989 psychic fair in Malton. I [...]

Larson comic in the real world

By Frank Lee MeiDere June 26, 2011 6 Comments

Here’s the Larson comic. And then the other day I drove by this. It’s located just outside Port Colborne on the site of an old A&W.

The unity of existence: a manifesto

By Frank Lee MeiDere May 23, 2011 21 Comments

Mystics have always told us that all the universe is alive and conscious. This idea is embodied most famously in various Eastern and Native mystic traditions, including the Islamic concept of the “unity of existence” (wahdat al-wujud). Such a belief lends itself towards treating the material world around us with respect, to show it consideration, and [...]

Hallowe’en Horror

By Frank Lee MeiDere March 20, 2011 9 Comments

This post is the continuation of a previous post titled, “In which I start to tell a story, but then have to tell another story first“. In that post I said that the next story starts on Hallowe’en, but it actually started one week earlier. It was the denouement that occurred on Hallowe’en. It was seven days [...]

Flo’s Nigel Tranter Wish List

By Frank Lee MeiDere December 7, 2010 16 Comments

This post is for family members only. Also a few friends we know in real life. That doesn’t mean the rest of you can’t read it — just that it won’t particularly interest you. Which isn’t to say that the rest of the posts here are of interest, but this one — definitely not. It’s Flo’s Christmas [...]