Uncategorized D'oh, Media, Rant, Science 10:54 pm
40 years ago two men walked on the moon, the culmination of a feat embodying all that is best about the human spirit.
However in the modern fucked up world there are those who see Government conspiracy, who must undermine others. This is what happened two years ago when one – 37 year old Bart Sibrel- calls Buzz Aldrin- at the time of this video 72 years old- a liar to his face.
Hero of the Human Race – WIN
Uncategorized Catholic, Current Events, D'oh, politics, Rant, Religion, Science 11:45 pm
From Ireland’s new ‘blasphemy law’
Section 36
(1) A person who publishes or utters blasphemous matter shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable upon conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €100,000. [Amended to €25,000]
(2) For the purposes of this section, a person publishes or utters blasphemous matter if (a) he or she publishes or utters matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion, and (b) he or she intends, by the publication or utterance of the matter concerned, to cause such outrage.
As Les notes at StupidEvilBastard.com, this part of the bill makes it illegal to criticize any religion either verbally or in writing.
SO. Here goes.
There is no evidence of any god, Abrahmic or otherwise.
There is no evidence that anything in Genesis is true.
There is no evidence, indeed no reference outside of the Bible, of Jesus Son of god. There may have well been a wandering rabbi/heretic called Jesus, but the Romans never mention him. Don’t quote Pliny and Josephus, they talk about ChristIANS- it’s like says seeing Tom Cruise in a movie proves Scientology is correct.
You may be interested to know I have seen it argued that ‘Jesus’ was a name of a number of Jews, and had no special connotation- this is why Pilate is so careful with asking the crowd who to release, maybe Barabbas’ name was also Jesus (Bar Abbas=son of Abbas).
Whatever the truth of 2000 years ago, that cracker and wine certainly doesn’t turn into his flesh and blood.
Denying contraception on the basis of religious texts from thousands of years ago is evil, using them isn’t.
Ditto “Teh gays”.
While I’m about it.
There almost certainly is no god (see above re lack of evidence), not even Allah. Ergo Muhammed was not his prophet. (Cos there is no prophet Atheism; boom-boom. I’m here all week).
And Wiccans- No, you are not a Witch of any sort, black, white or spangly (A “Do what?” possibly, but not a witch). There is no Earth spirit.
MOST IMPORTANTLY.
It is wrong to hate someone because of a belief in something that isn’t your belief.
Now as an atheist I don’t care what you do in the privacy of your own home or place of worship. However
See, depite what you may think there is no such thing as a Militant Atheist- Not even Richard Dawkins. We don’t go around pushing newspapers through doors asking “Have you heard the Good News about Science?”. We don’t stand in town squares reading bits out of ‘Origin of Species’, or complaining when science shows that something we believe in isn’t true.
I’ll admit I was put out when Pluto was declared ‘not a planet’, but that is emotional attachment to a world view that proved to be wrong. Einstein felt the same way when Nils Bohr showed some of Einstein’s theories to be wrong. But it is just that- emotional attachment to a childhood. I’m never going to go there, and classification is an artificial Human construct. I am certainly not going to support a crusade or jihad demanding it be re-instated as a planet.
Now Ireland; I’ll admit the fact the Irish Sea is between you and me has made me a bit braver in posting this: I’m assuming you won’t go for the whole extradited thing via the EU (though I must say that is actually worrying me a little). But what are you going to do if the University of Dublin comes up with a bit of research that proves something that offends your Catholic mindset? Declare Science blasphemous and demand your fine?
Uncategorized D'oh 11:56 pm
Strained my back at work on Thursday. Dr says muscles have gone into spasm, and has prescribed diazapam, which was originally designed for this sort of thing. Most people know it better by the name Valium- the whole stress relief thing being a side effect. The problem is it is tending to knock me out: 45 minutes after taking one I am sleepy. I took one at 6 last night, fell asleep at just gone 7, and only woke up when my wife switched off my radio at 11:30. I too another one, and went back to sleep almost straight away. I’ve lost lumps of today for the same reason.
Though I can walk and sit upright now, whcih I couldn’t Thursday evening, I’m still in pain when I move- and that is any movement that put weight on my lower back: so going from laying to sitting hurts. I can stand without much trouble if I can use my arms to support me up. Standing is ok, but moving my legs hurts. Crossing my legs while laying hurts!
I’ll probably finish the course of the Diazapam (Tuesday) even if I feel almost 100%, but will have to avoid going to work as I will keep falling asleep!
Uncategorized D'oh, Humour, Internet, Random stuff, Weird 10:47 pm
Askimet does a good job at catching spam- of the thousands of spam that has been posted, all but 1 or 2 have been caught, and I don’t think any ‘real comments’ have been misdirected. I drop into the spam bucket occasionally just to double check:- usually it is just long strings of words related to either 1) sex or 2) cars and, I suppose, a forlorn hope they will somehow make it past filters, and some one will click the link.
I’ve just found this
notscarednews
[I.P./email etc deleted to protect the strange]
I have to make it public. It’s suppose to be secret, however most people in Austin, Tx knows about it. The police department has machine that can read your mind. It can also change the way you feel. Sexual impulses, anger, and causing you to feel fear paranoia, basically anyway they would like to feel. This means it can cause a girl or boy to feel sexual. So sexual that they will have sex with strangers. This is just like rape. This is just one crime they commit with this machine. A machine that can read someone’s mind will be used to violate everyones civil rights. Ideas and secrets about company will be stolen by their competition with ease. People will be spied on in there homes, without a warrant. (this means someone will be able to watch you during intimacy without your knowledge.) There are a lot of people all over the United States knowing about this machine and the police department being able to use it. Start thinking about how the government has given the police department a weapon to commit not only one of the biggest civil rights violations of all time, but to commit war crimes such as rape and interrogation without the knowledge of the victim. I know it is hard to believe however if you happen to know someone in the police department, just ask if they have this machine. After that, I would also like people to think about how we are able to get the government to stop letting the police department violate civil rights and commit war crimes against there own citizens.
I know it’s bad form to feed the troll, but I like the idea of a Barrack’s Pet Weirdo. I will keep a look out for more posts
Uncategorized Capitalism, Current Events, D'oh, Elitism, Experience, Internet, Media, Other Places, Public Services, Random stuff, Rant, Religion, Science, TV, World 12:33 am
See that blue button with Richard Dawkins on it? Click on it (not yet- I haven’t finished ranting at you) and you will go to the Carnival of the Elitist Bastards. Who? A bunch of bloggers generally pissed off with everything being so damn stupid.
Why am I proud to be an elitist? The question should be why are you so unconcerned not to be?
We are people who are just annoyed that there is a movement against intellectualism. I am sick and tired of being clever being seen as somehow a bad thing. Someone who can kick, throw or hit a ball gets paid millions of pounds, while those who actually work worry about the recession.
People revel in not being good at maths.It’s seen as something funny. I know I’m good at day to day maths, but I am amazed how many people don’t understand basic principles.
“How does this affect you?” you say “why should you care?” Because a dumbed down population affects the economy and the planet.
People who don’t understand basic maths GET TO VOTE, often based on what they think will be best for the economy. They can’t do percentages, for FSM’s sake, how are they supposed to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of a Keynsian solution?
It is a fact that people, all of us, even Stephen Hawkins, are stupid to one degree or another. We are very good at ignoring evidence that doesn’t back up our personal beliefs. Jeremy Clarkson doesn’t like the fact that cars are contributing to destroying the planet. Solution? Insult environmentalists. Republicans don’t like the fact that Neo-Con ideas have screwed up the market. Call Obama a socialist. The Religious Right don’t like the fact that science shows the Bible isn’t literally true. Solution? Attack anyone who relies on evidence rather than 4000 year old fairy-stories.
And where does it leave us? Click on the break, and I’ll tell you. Forcefully. (more…)
Uncategorized Catholic, Contraception, Current Events, D'oh, Pope, Rant, Religion 4:25 pm
A nine year old is repeatedly abused by her step-father, and becomes pregnant. When it is discovered she is given an abortion. I’ll say that again- NINE YEARS OLD. What is the Vatican’s response? To excommunicate the mother and doctors.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7930380.stm
Oh fer fucks sake. Personally I believe there may be a valid debate to happen around the latest date for a termination. BUT this happened at 4 months (?18 weeks), inside the limit for many countries. This is what happens when you wed your world view to a mythology, and one that considers a foetus a human at the point of conception.
There is no happy ending to this story, but the idea that a nine year old could give birth to twins with no ongoing negative effects beggars belief. Her life is screwed up as it is. Why is the Pope giving her a kicking?
Uncategorized D'oh, Elitism, Jade Goody, Media, Rant 4:08 pm
In recent weeks much has been published about Jade Goody and her terminal cancer.
I’m sorry. I really don’t care that much.
It’s not that I’m a heartless bastard, but she is a stranger to me. Yes it is sad that she is so young- in her twenties- and that she leaves two small children. But lots of people die young, leaving children. We do not get the wall to wall coverage of them.
You may be surprised that the one person I DON’T blame for this over-exposure is Jade herself. She has been making as much money as possible from the media (Wedding in “OK” etc) as possible, so as to leave as much money as possible for he boys. Given her career as a ‘C’ list celeb, some have suggested she probably has more money than most, though if it was me I would still worry.
No I blame the idiots in the media (obviously) who think that we want to see it, that parasite Max Clifford, her ‘publicist’ (who will no doubt say he’s just helping her ’secure her childrens’ future- to him I say “On what percentage?”) and people like you, dear reader. (more…)
Uncategorized D'oh, Excitement, Experience, Public Services 4:03 am
Had a bit of an incident at about 11:30pm last night- my wife knocked the cooker and somehow switched on the hob. This caused a shallow frying pan to over heat, and the oil in it ignited. This in turn set fire to a plastic saucepan handle. When the fire alarm went off I rushed down stairs (everyone was in bed or going, or reading blogs), and ran into the kitchen. I turned off the hob, soaked a towel, throwing it over the flaming fat, and managing to cover the plastic handle at the same time. I then opened the kitchen window. I was in the kitchen for about 30 seconds to a minute.
I then called the Fire Brigade (despite my wife saying “why are you doing it that if it’s out”.) They checked everything out and called a paramedic for me because of the smoke inhalation. While waiting they put me on oxygen, partly because I was coughing (due to the acrid plastic smoke).
The paramedic checked my O2 level in my blood, and then took me up the hospital. They checked my heart rate, and blood pressure which was 170 over 130! They were a little concerned. 20 minutes later this had dropped, but was still high. Because it was smoke inhalation I was put on pure oxygen for an over an hour. Another blood pressure test was more normal (high end of acceptable), and a blood test (“This will hurt”, “I give blood”, “This will hurt”. It did- turns out taking blood from an artery is a bit more hit and miss than taking it from a vein) showed no carbon monoxide.
I returned home (at 3 in the morning) wide awake, but with a sore throat! House smells and the toaster has been condemned by the Fire Brigade (was close to the fire), along with the two pans in question (traitors). They apparently have conducted a risk assessment (classing my 12 year old as a ‘Hazard’, much to his amusement), giving advice, and put up a couple of new smoke alarms.
Uncategorized D'oh, Humour 1:26 am
Sign Fail!
From a holiday a few years ago- this warning in Rye harbour.
Uncategorized Coffee, D'oh, Random stuff, work 6:38 am
Or I will spend all my time a walking zombie. Couldn’t get to sleep until well past 2am, woke up at least once, and finally got up at 5:45am. If you get caffine withdrawl headaches at weekends then that looks like a fairly big hint that I may be drinking too much at work (plus I’m getting some odd dreams- put it this way: I think Mrs Hussar got some ‘unwelcome attention’ at 3 in the morning if being elbowed awake one night is any indication).
Uncategorized Catholic, D'oh, Pope, Rant, Religion 6:31 am
…Because this time it’s personal
The Pope says in his Christmas message that ‘Teh evul Gays’ (This may not be a direct quote) are as big a threat to the world as the destruction of the environment
When the Roman Catholic Church defends God’s Creation, “it does not only defend the earth, water and the air… but (it) also protects man from his own destruction,”
It is not “outmoded metaphysics” to urge respect for the “nature of the human being as man and woman,” he told scores of prelates gathered in the Vatican’s sumptuous Clementine Hall.
The Catholic Church opposes gay marriage. It teaches that while homosexuality is not sinful, homosexual acts are.
from this BBC article. The problem of course it feels that we need protecting from loving someonewho happens to have the same plumbing as us. Because if you are looking for understanding about Gay issues, sex and other such topics, then who wouldn’t go to an ex-Nazi who’s been celebate most his life?
Uncategorized Current Affairs, D'oh, Rant 4:00 pm
What is the fuss? The worldwide economy is in meltdown, and the news concentrates on the prank phone call by two overgrown schoolkids. Yes Ross is probably overpaid (though I bet he gets nowhere near the £18m reported- thios was denied when this was first claimed, but – surprise surprise- the rags never corrected). Yes it was a stupid thing to do. But really, lets get some perspective.
There were virtually no complaints until that nasty right wing rag the Mail broke the story. So if they hadn’t said anything, no one would have been offended.
The person they phoned is famous for portraying the Spanish as being stupid, while being hit by a Manic-Depressive. As wonderful as ‘Fawlty Towers’ is, it is hardly the most sympathetic of comedies.
And the ‘poor sweet grand-daughter’ who has suffered this (?) is in a not very good ‘neo-goth burlesque dance troop’- I’m sorry, completely crap dance troop- called “Satanic Sluts”, who appeared on stage at Glastonbury simulating brutal lesbian sex while dressed in stockings, susspenders and basque.
Can we have some proper news now.
Uncategorized D'oh, Humour, politics 8:19 pm
That well know expert George Parr explains all.
New series Bremner Bird and Fortune, Sundays, November 08
Uncategorized Catholic, Contraception, D'oh, Pope, Rant, Religion 6:26 pm
The Pope (Benedict XVI) today re-affirmed the Vatican’s opposition to artificial birth control.
Contraception “means negating the intimate truth of conjugal love, with which the divine gift (of life) is communicated”. He went on to say he had no opposition to ‘natural” birth control- which either means abstenance, or hoping the woman’s period is regular enough that you can work out when she’s ’safe’ (though this isn’t a given). I’m not sure about the “John Wayne Method”- a fast draw before shooting (though how many men really have that much self control at orgasm?)
I’m not sure what he hopes to achieve. It won’t stop casual sex – “Do me big boy, but no jonnies- his Holiness doesn’t like them used while I’m fornicating” – if you are shagging around the ‘no jonnies rule’ is really not a major worry. The poor will have two choices- no sex in a marriage or risk another mouth to feed. All that he can hope is to drive more people in the developed world away from the Church.
Religeous leaders bemoan the fact that liberal countries are opposed to religeon. Could it be that liberal countries also tend to be somewhat educated as well?
