Surface Tensions

Wired: Scientists Drill a Mile Into Active Deep Sea Fault Zone

Today the 5th Circuit Court ruled that it’s legal to sacrifice a goat for religious purposes. My first reaction was horror and disgust. “Of course, that’s wrong!”

But, as I thought more about it, my feelings became less clear. On a personal level, killing a sentient creature is wrong. That’s not confusing for me. But on a public level, can I hold the same position?

It would be easy to say that Santeria is evil and shouldn’t be allowed. But if we start attacking religions because we think their practices are immoral, where do we stop? I think that’s a slippery slope best not started down.

So I guess the issue comes back to where it does so often, freedom doesn’t just apply to things you like. Not always an easy lesson but an important one.

What do you think? Good decision or a bad one?

The Pew Research Center has done a survey of both the general public and scientists. The whole thing makes interesting reading but there were a couple of points I wanted to highlight.

The first one concerns using animals for research. I would have thought this one was pretty popular with both groups. You know, the whole “medical research saved my grandmother,” type of thing. While it is very popular with scientists (93%), regular folks were much more skeptical (52%). That’s still a majority but a lot better than I would have guessed.

And the other issue is the effect of regulations on animal research. While I think the regs we currently have are pretty much a joke, that doesn’t stop the other side from trying to get out of them. So do the scientists think the laws are restricting progress? It seems only 27% do.

I’m struck by the fact PETA or HSUS could be commissioning these sorts of polls and it would be very useful information. Much more than a new Holocaust ad or a new happy meat campaign.

I’m setting here working on the computer and I look over to see how Ozzie is doing. The parrots are a lot like small children, if they’re too quiet, you need to check on them. And when I look, Ozzie’s not in her cage! So I start looking to see if she’s jumped off on the floor and in need of rescue. Finally I hear a squawk and what do I see?

Apparently she’d decided to take a nap in the sheet I use to cover her cage. Maybe the world’s just a bit too much for Ozzie at times.

From the fine folks at the Onion News Network comes this piece on Taco Bell’s new Green menu. It may be vegan, but not in a good way. I think. Take a look and leave your opinion in the comments.

Taco Bell’s New Green Menu Takes No Ingredients From Nature

And I don’t even want to know what the pink stuff is. Vegan or not.