Four for Friday Saturday

(Link in blogroll)

Q1 - Church and Torture: The more often Americans go to church, the more likely they are to support the torture of suspected terrorists, according to a new survey. More than half of people who attend church services at least once a week -- 54 percent -- told the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life the use of torture against suspected terrorists is "often" or "sometimes" justified. Only 42 percent of people who "seldom or never" go to church services agreed. Why do you think people who attend church services are more likely than those who do not to approve of torturing suspected terrorists?

I'm not sure where the statistical significant split is here--the numbers are merely 12 points apart between church-goers and the unchurched. This is one of those statistics that is rather meaningless unless the rest of the survey is examined. Having said that, most--but not all!!--Christians are relatively conservative, and many are/were supporters of Bush et al. who staunchly defended the use of torture in the fight against terrorism. I'd be willing to bet that if you limited this survey to mainline Christians--Catholic, Methodist, etc.--the numbers might change, as would the breakdown geographically. The numbers in my congregation would be substantially different!

Q2 - Expeditions: This past Tuesday marked the 61st anniversary of a six-person expedition that sailed from Peru aboard a wooden raft on a 101-day journey across the Pacific Ocean to Polynesia. If you could go back in time and participate in any previous expedition, in what expedition would you like to participate? If nothing from the past interests you, how about something in the future?

I wouldn't. This sort of thing holds zero appeal to me. I am not an explorer, or a discoverer.

Q3 - Calming Influence: When it comes to testifying in court there can be a lot of stress and anxiety in getting up on the witness stand. However, imagine how difficult it is for kids. Now, thanks to a trained facility dog named Dory, children testifying in sexual abuse and physical assault cases in San Diego, Calif., have a friendly advocate by their sides when taking the witness stand. According to court judges and prosecutors, having Dory the dog available to children before, during, and after testifying in open court is a calming influence in a traumatic time. If you were facing a difficult situation, do you think having a dog by your side would help? If not a dog, what would you like to have with you?

Absolutely! Why didn't someone come up with this before??

One question: does a defendant merit a dog?

Q4 - Social Distancing: News this week of a human-borne "swine" flu outbreak has given rise to targeted social distancing. Never heard of "social distancing" before? Me either. Apparently, it refers to deliberate steps taken by governments, communities, or businesses to mitigate the spread of potentially pandemic influenza (think high schools canceling athletic competitions or companies postponing annual user conferences). Have you experienced social distancing due to the oink-oink flu outbreak?

There are a couple of nearby school districts that have shut down for a few days because of suspected cases. We got a call from our school district to the effect that they are keeping their eyes open but it's all systems go for now. I think the whole thing is silly; if this was seriously an issue, why are stores, restaurants, libraries, etc. still allowed to have regular hours? Where, after all, do those potentially-infected unschooled kids go on days when there's no school? THE MALL!