This article highlights a growing trend of Christian ministers turning to Scientology to create some kind of hybrid religion.

Brian and I are fortunate that we were able to pick up the giant book of Scientology and a bunch of books written by L. Ron Hubbard at the university book sale when he was working on his PhD. They are hilarious - they read like bad sci-fi novels and the logic is completely circular. The terminology they use is entirely ambiguous and the basis of the religion(?) is basically to pay your way to the top using the rationale that Scientology will make you more money so you will have more money to give! The most humorous part is that it really seems more like a giant pyramid scheme than a religion. The book is full of glossy pictures and ridiculous non-explanations (we can’t tell you what this level is because it’s secret!) and “laws” which Brian and I were able to tear apart with basic logic.

Having grown up in the Deep South and also having been forced to attend an ultra-conservative Southern Baptist (some members threatened to kill the minister if he hired an interim music minister who was a woman)  church for all of my childhood and teen years I can personally attest to the fact that Christianity was completely insidious and had some extremely creepy methods for recruitment and coercion into the faith which I will not get into now. Adding Scientology to Christianity is such a joke - but such an alliance is not surprising. Scientology as an organization has much more money to launch campaigns and it does not seem to have the number of factions that Christianity has - it will be interesting to see just how far Scientology can make its way into the realm of Christianity. Personally, I think I would worry about any religion that touts its celebrity factor as a selling point. Celebrities are stupid and should not be emulated!

I would be interested to hear any thoughts people might have on this subject…

Popularity: 45% [?]

I should preface this post by saying that I am a Vegetarian foodie. If you are not aware, according to Slashfood,

a foodie is someone has an ardent or refined interest in food. I really enjoy creating unique and unusual dishes that few people would take the time and effort to cook. I generally do not use recipes to cook with nor do I usually remember everything I put into a dish when I am cooking. It is fun for me to never make the same thing twice.

While I get excited over things like Green Pea Flan accented with Cold Heirloom Tomato Soup, many people on VegWeb and VegSource are getting excited over a tater tot casserole. A lot of the posters use processed foods in the recipes they post online, which turns my stomach just thinking about it. Tater tots, canned food, and baked beans have never been and will never be a part of my diet. These people get excited about Tofurkey, which is really nothing more than tofu, gluten, beans, and some seasoning. Why not be creative?

I also fail to see how these people are eating a healthy diet if all they are doing is eating the Standard American Diet but using a meat substitute in the place of meat. That would mean that the diet they are eating is still high in saturated fat, calories, and low in fiber.

Why do people eat unhealthy & uninspired food?

Popularity: 43% [?]

I love gourmet cooking and more specifically, I really enjoy creating art using food. I was pondering the possibility of making a dedicated kitchen computer to help me while I am cooking. The more I thought about it, the more I decided that I did not want a bulky computer sitting on my counter collecting gecko excrement. I was also thinking that using a computer in the kitchen would cut down on the need to use printed photos or recipes for inspiration. However, I do not like writing down shopping lists and even with a kitchen computer I would have to write down the list or print it out. I thought a laptop might be the answer but I have no desire to lug a laptop around when I go out to buy food. After considering it a bit longer, I was thinking that I could install a laptop onto the cabinets and turn it upside down so you can only see the screen and then use a wireless keyboard and mouse.

I Googled and found someone who had actually done this. They were able to use the dead space next to the refridgerator which was really smart. Nearly every house I have ever lived in has had that dead space and it went unused. Unfortunately, this house does not have that dead space and the kitchen is somewhat irregular. I definitely do not want to take up much counter space for this.

Then I started thinking about creating an island in the middle of the kitchen that is on wheels. It would be great for parties and prep work. Alternatively, I could house the laptop on the island and just move it when I need the counter space.

Does anyone have any experience with creating a kitchen computer setup or something similar?

Popularity: 30% [?]

ABC has an article on How Young Is Too Young for Birth Control; the article highlights a proposal to give birth control to sexually active kids at a middle school in Maine. The school is already giving out condoms to these teens.

Apparently, Maine has a law that says you cannot have sex under age 14. I would wager a guess that Maine also has laws that say you cannot drive over the speed limit (at any age) but I would imagine that many people break that law. I do not think that I should have to point out that people don’t always follow the rules - especially hormonal teenagers.

But that is the real crux - this is a middle school - not all of these kids are even teenagers, they are pre-teens. However, if these kids are choosing to have sex then it is crucial that they are given access to birth control. They should definitely be choosing condoms over birth control to prevent disease and pregnancy. At least someone is there to educate these kids on proper birth control and disease prevention methods.

The students will need to have their parents permission to access any of the services offered by the health center. Many of the parents seem to be up in arms about this because they view the school as enablers of sexual activity. These kids would probably engage in sexual activity without protection just like many adults and not think of the consequences until later.

I think the real questions are: Would you want your child to die of AIDS? Would you want your child’s education to be over at age 11?

If you say yes, you should have your children taken away from you. If you say no, then you should support access to birth control.

They should probably start thinking about why their kids want to have sex at age 11. I think it would be wise to offer some kind of counseling to understand why these kids want to have sex at age 11.

Popularity: 30% [?]

While I cannot stand Ann Coulter for her insanely terrible politics, I think it is egregious that Maxim would point out all of her figure flaws over pointing out how she’s racist, misogynistic, anti-progressive, or how she has an absolute hatred of all people who are not just like her (Republican, Christian, white, heterosexual). In pointing out all of her figure flaws, it has done a terrible disservice to women. Maxim is really saying that they have no respect at all for women and that they have nothing to say that is relevant. That is really pathetic.

Fortunately, Maxim has a small and dwindling audience. Therefore, we will probably not have to hear what they have to say for much longer.

Walmart even removed the magazine from all stores in 2003 in response to customer complaints.

Popularity: 29% [?]

According to a study published in Springer by Laurie Rudman and Julie Phelan, feminism and romance are not incompatible. Furthermore, feminism may also

improve the quality of heterosexual relationships. The study showed that negative feminist stereotypes, that tend to stigmatize feminists as being unattractive and not sexually appealing, are not supported.

ScienceDaily originally reported on this story.

Popularity: 21% [?]

On Brian’s blog and around the house, we have been discussing Freud, feminism, politics, and Hawaiian Psychology - a normal day for us.

At any rate, I am rather interested in the concept of Hawaiian Psychology. Indigenous cultures, specifically Hawaiian culture, often have very interesting and unique ways of looking at problems or ways of living that western culture has too often chosen to ignore. A book on Hawaiian psychology actually exists - Ka Lama Kukui Hawaiian Psychology: An Introduction by William C. Rezentes. The book is primarily for psychologists that are treating Native Hawaiian patients but I think it would be interesting for laymen. I have heard of people (even the courts) performing Ho‘oponopono in order to resolve problems between families, groups, or even inner struggles.

We have also been discussing Freud’s extremely misogynist case study of Dora. I find it disturbing that Freud’s conclusion was that women like to be sexually assaulted by men. He also asserts that Dora really wanted the sexual assault and even further that she should have submitted to it. Freud also seems to assert some kind of empiricism of his method but it is almost as though he never realizes that the entire scenario that he has “derived” are wholly constructed and based on entirely questionable interpolations. Given the history of Dora - her father was having an affair with a family friend, the older [than Dora] husband of the cheating wife comes on to her and sexually assaults her on several occasions, her father becomes distant to her and uses her as a pawn in his sexual games, the cheating wife betrays her trust, her father and creepy husband of cheating wife deny that Dora has been approached by creepy husband, her mother does not really do anything to help her, she’s a Jew living in Germany during a very bad period, and she was subjected to ice-water therapy and shock therapy. If this was not all bad enough, she was sent to Freud who also added insult to injury by telling her that she wanted to kiss him too and asserted that all of the above things were her fault. I do not think that I have to point out any additional reasons why she was not a happy person…

Does anyone have any thoughts on the case study of Dora?

Popularity: 20% [?]

I found a political test very similar to the Political Compass that provides bloggable results:

You are a Social Liberal (71% permissive) and an… Economic Liberal (18% permissive) You are best described as a: Socialist (18e/71s) Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Popularity: 10% [?]

This list was created by B. Deutsch and is largely based on the work by Wellesley College Professor Peggy McIntosh on how people are taught to view racism, misogyny, etc only by acts of cruelty and meanness rather than viewing invisible systems that give dominance to one group over another.

The Male Privilege Checklist

1. My odds of being hired for a job, when competing against female applicants, are probably skewed in my favor. The more prestigious the job, the larger the odds are skewed.
2. I can be confident that my co-workers won’t think I got my job because of my sex - even though that might be true.
3. If I am never promoted, it’s not because of my sex.
4. If I fail in my job or career, I can feel sure this won’t be seen as a black mark against my entire sex’s capabilities.
5. The odds of my encountering sexual harassment on the job are so low as to be negligible.
6. If I do the same task as a woman, and if the measurement is at all subjective, chances are people will think I did a better job.
7. If I’m a teen or adult, and if I can stay out of prison, my odds of being raped are so low as to be negligible.
8. I am not taught to fear walking alone after dark in average public spaces.
9. If I choose not to have children, my masculinity will not be called into question.
10. If I have children but do not provide primary care for them, my masculinity will not be called into question.
11. If I have children and provide primary care for them, I’ll be praised for extraordinary parenting if I’m even marginally competent.
12. If I have children and pursue a career, no one will think I’m selfish for not staying at home.
13. If I seek political office, my relationship with my children, or who I hire to take care of them, will probably not be scrutinized by the press.
14. Chances are my elected representatives are mostly people of my own sex. The more prestigious and powerful the elected position, the more likely this is to be true.
15. I can be somewhat sure that if I ask to see “the person in charge,” I will face a person of my own sex. The higher-up in the organization the person is, the surer I can be.
16. As a child, chances are I was encouraged to be more active and outgoing than my sisters.
17. As a child, I could choose from an almost infinite variety of children’s media featuring positive, active, non-stereotyped heroes of my own sex. I never had to look for it; male heroes were the default.
18. As a child, chances are I got more teacher attention than girls who raised their hands just as often.
19. If my day, week or year is going badly, I need not ask of each negative episode or situation whether or not it has sexist overtones.
20. I can turn on the television or glance at the front page of the newspaper and see people of my own sex widely represented, every day, without exception.
21. If I’m careless with my financial affairs it won’t be attributed to my sex.
22. If I’m careless with my driving it won’t be attributed to my sex.
23. I can speak in public to a large group without putting my sex on trial.
24. If I have sex with a lot of people, it won’t make me an object of contempt or derision.
25. There are value-neutral clothing choices available to me; it is possible for me to choose clothing that doesn’t send any particular message to the world.
26. My wardrobe and grooming are relatively cheap and consume little time.
27. If I buy a new car, chances are I’ll be offered a better price than a woman buying the same car.
28. If I’m not conventionally attractive, the disadvantages are relatively small and easy to ignore.
29. I can be loud with no fear of being called a shrew. I can be aggressive with no fear of being called a bitch.
30. I can ask for legal protection from violence that happens mostly to men without being seen as a selfish special interest, since that kind of violence is called “crime” and is a general social concern. (Violence that happens mostly to women is usually called “domestic violence” or “acquaintance rape,” and is seen as a special interest issue.)
31. I can be confident that the ordinary language of day-to-day existence will always include my sex. “All men are created equal…,” mailman, chairman, freshman, he.
32. My ability to make important decisions and my capability in general will never be questioned depending on what time of the month it is.
33. I will never be expected to change my name upon marriage or questioned if i don’t change my name.
34. The decision to hire me will never be based on assumptions about whether or not I might choose to have a family sometime soon.
35. Every major religion in the world is led primarily by people of my own sex. Even God, in most major religions, is usually pictured as being male.
36. Most major religions argue that I should be the head of my household, while my wife and children should be subservient to me.
37. If I have a wife or girlfriend, chances are we’ll divide up household chores so that she does most of the labor, and in particular the most repetitive and unrewarding tasks.
38. If I have children with a wife or girlfriend, chances are she’ll do most of the childrearing, and in particular the most dirty, repetitive and unrewarding parts of childrearing.
39. If I have children with a wife or girlfriend, and it turns out that one of us needs to make career sacrifices to raise the kids, chances are we’ll both assume the career sacrificed should be hers.
40. Magazines, billboards, television, movies, pornography, and virtually all of media is filled with images of scantily-clad women intended to appeal to me sexually. Such images of men exist, but are much rarer.
41. I am not expected to spend my entire life 20-40 pounds underweight.
42. If I am heterosexual, it’s incredibly unlikely that I’ll ever be beaten up by a spouse or lover.
43. I have the privilege of being unaware of my male privilege.

Popularity: 28% [?]

Earlier this week, my grandmother had a stroke and was rushed to the hospital. The stroke was the largest stroke she has had to date. At the time, she was entirely paralyzed and could not speak. Fortunately, she is able to speak coherently and move around. Oddly enough, her mental faculties seem to be slightly improved compared to how she was before the stroke. Fortunately, she lives in a wonderful assisted living facility and can get help for any problems she might have because of the stroke. She actually went home this evening and seems to be in good spirits. I am just glad that she is all right.

I am having some knee problems that I have ignored for far too long. It appears that I may have a meniscus injury. Not surprisingly, it is most likely from doing cardio kickboxing. I had stopped for a while and had started swimming instead but the pain has not receded. I definitely noticed it when Brian and I went to Akaka Falls this past weekend. I knew when I felt pain on such a short and ridiculously easy hike that I could no longer pretend like nothing was wrong especially since I have not been able to straighten my right leg for a long time. I will be going to the doctor soon to see what can be done.

Popularity: 18% [?]

CNN has an article about vegetarianism, how vegetarians should eat a balanced diet, and how protein is a “real concern” for vegetarians. I am glad to see that a somewhat positive article about vegetarianism making the headlines. It was also nice that they chose to highlight my favorite vegetarian restaurant in Atlanta, The Sunflower Cafe!

The real issue I have with the article and other articles about vegetarianism is that they always seem to say *only* vegetarians should eat a balanced diet - which is absurd. All people should eat a healthily for optimum health. I am unsure as to why people seem to think that vegetarians do not eat enough protein. Considering that the large majority of vegetarians eat milk products and eggs it only stands to reason that they would get plenty of protein from those two sources as well as tofu/tempeh, fruit, vegetables, protein shakes, or whatever they eat. The rest of the vegetarians who do not eat eggs or do not consume milk or both generally find enough protein in their diets. Most people simply do not need the amount of protein that the average meat eater consumes. It is a waste of protein given that most people are not trying to be powerlifters and bodybuilders. For a vegetarian, eating a proper diet is not even difficult to do and I would surmise that most vegetarians successfully eat a healthy and diverse diet. After all, it is (generally) not vegetarians that you see cruising into McDonalds, Burger King, and Wendys for a meal. It can be a challenge in a meaty world but I’ve always managed to feed myself - sometimes you just have to be creative.

Popularity: 19% [?]