Apple vs. FBI

The conflict between Apple and the FBI over creating a backdoor on all iPhones so law enforcement can always peek inside is an issue that an engineer has no trouble solving.  Simply give everyone in the government (FBI, NSA, CIA, IRS, DOD, White House, etc. -- all 40 million) a new phone with a backdoor and give everyone who works for Apple the key.  If nothing bad happens during the next 12 months, then let the FBI have its way.

Religion = Placebo

While traveling in India, I often found myself in a crowd where, on the right, someone was performing an astrological ritual, and on the left, someone was performing a superstitious ritual, and in front, someone was performing a religious ritual.  It become so obvious that they are all the same thing, and done for the same reason.  Astrology, superstition, and religion are all placebos.  There is no reason why they should provide any benefit, yet people are addicted to them, because the "placebo effect" is real.  Anyone who believes that performing a ritual will somehow help does create a positive mental attitude in themselves, and a positive attitude does help them.

(Now I need to figure out why astrology and superstition do not make people want to murder others, but religion does.)