The Zika mystery & Zika abortions

Last updated on: August 15, 2016 at 9:11 pm By Gene Veith

Some women who get Zika have babies with severe birth defects, but some don’t. In Brazil, some regions plagued with Zika have a huge percentage of babies with microencephaly. But adjoining regions also plagued with Zika don’t. Also, young, black, and poor women are being hit especially hard.

So researchers are now investigating whether Zika does its damage by being paired with other factors. There had been speculation that the birth defects were caused by a government-administered pesticide. But researchers have confirmed a direct link between the virus and the birth defects. Still, things may not be so simple.

Now that Zika has come to the United States, 15 babies have been diagnosed with microencephaly related to the Zika virus.

Also of concern: Zika, which is spread by mosquitoes or sexual contact, is being used as a pretext for abortion, even late-term abortions, since microencephaly can’t be diagnosed until late in the pregnancy. Read Zika Outbreak Could Reignite Abortion Debate.

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St. Sebastian, patron saint of athletes and of Rio

Last updated on: August 7, 2016 at 11:08 pm By Gene Veith

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You don’t have to believe in the Roman Catholic cult of the saints to find it interesting that St. Sebastian–the one who was shot through with arrows–is the patron saint of athletes. Also of this year’s Olympics host city Rio de Janeiro. What is the connection? Find out after the jump.

Luther said that we should not pray to the saints, but that we can learn from their example. Note what we can learn about athletics from St. Sebastian. (more…)

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The Olympics begin

Last updated on: August 4, 2016 at 10:22 pm By Gene Veith

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Despite the Zika virus, Russian dopers, apartments said to be unfit for human habitation, fear of terrorism, and excrement in the water-events bay, the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro will have its opening ceremonies tonight, Friday, at 7:00 p.m. ET, to be televised on NBC. (Go here for how to watch the ceremony and the subsequent games online.)

Despite the uncertainty and the concerns, the event, which goes from August 5-21, promises to be a good show. Team USA is expected to do very well.

There have been years that I have resisted, but then I turn on the TV and get drawn in. Part of that is how the games are covered: The television shows not just the contest but also goes deeply into the “human” side of the games, telling about the different participants and their sometimes inspiring stories.

Are you a fan? Will you be watching? Do you know any dramas or interesting contests that we should be watching for?

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What Mary Magdalene looked like?

Last updated on: July 20, 2016 at 9:30 pm By Gene Veith

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Brazilian scientists have been using digital technology on the skulls of saints, so as to reconstruct their faces. They used their technique on a relatively well-attested relic of Mary Magdalene. This is what she may have looked like.

Details of the reconstructions after the jump. Go here for the Mary Magdalene project.

Image by Cicero Moraes (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)

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Olympics woes

Last updated on: June 20, 2016 at 9:11 pm By Gene Veith

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The Olympic games in Brazil start in about seven weeks. The state government that includes Rio de Janeiro has declared a “financial disaster,” reportedly enabling the state to funnel funds to the troubled games. Rio is also at the center of the world’s Zika plague, causing many athletes to refuse to attend. Russia’s track teams have been banned from competing at the Olympics, due to a previous doping sanction. Two world boxing federations have forbidden its members from attending the Olympics. Many of the biggest NBA stars are refusing to compete on another U.S. “dream team.”

Some people are calling for the games be cancelled or postponed. Do you agree? Or should we just let it happen, despite the problems, even if that means a less than perfect event? (more…)

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