Monday, May 30, 2011

Interesting Today 5/30/11

This will be the last Interesting Today post on this blog!! I've decided to move it to its OWN BLOG! 
To follow, go to: Interesting Today

the whitest kids you know
via noagendatv.com - the 'new pledge of allegiance' 

we are beautiful
beautifully written 

dog bless the usa
what a great idea and much more productive than praying 

minister: germany to go nuke free by 2022
leaders of the pack 

'state secrets' defense is a cover-up for torture
i live in a country where we aren't better than this.... wrong, just wrong. 

memorial day: remembering those who didn't have to die in afghanistan
and iraq.

wall photo from Religion Sucks

Building and Maintaining Knowledge & Understanding

After I watched  Carl Sagan: The Frailty of Knowledge [Carl Sagan Tribute Series, Part 13] recently, it really brought home how valuable it is to, not only, retain the knowledge that we've acquired to pass on to future generations, but also, to ensure that its destruction is something that is never an option. The possibility that future generations won't have available to them what has already been discovered is frightening to me, as well as, the prospect that some believe denying it intentionally is important; that is even more frightening.

Knowledge and the understanding of our world is important because it helps the people within our societies continue to discover new things and for the betterment of our society, as a whole. It enables us to connect with the world and the people around us. It helps us to solve problems to the benefit of ourselves and others. Greater understanding makes us a better people.

Take knowledge and understanding away or a previous foundation of knowledge on which to build to get to the next level and it will hinder the ability to do so! It's as simple as that. Understanding of something helps us to go to the next point and the next point and the next point.

If the foundation of what we have learned is taken away, we must then start all over again. How much further could we possibly have been had ignorance and power not decided the next course in the video above? Religion was afraid of the people thinking for themselves, the powerful who directed the religion destroyed the knowledge to maintain control over the people. Foolish, sad, backwards and something that is happening in our country as well.

As one example in our current history, look at the battles we're having over what should be in our history books. Another example is saying that Creationism should be taught in schools as science! When we go down that path the religious right wants to take us, we change what is taught and ensure the up and coming children 'lose' their foundation of understanding. It's no different than what happened in Alexandria. This current nip and tuck of select items forever changes their perception of their past and what their future is based on.

Hypatia, in the video above, was an important figure in our history. Her memory and her sacrifice should be honored by our continued thirst for knowledge and understanding, and its preservation for future generations should be guarded well.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Interesting Today 5/29/11

huge implications for the way we view the sexes... awesome! let's mix it up and not make it a priority!

and the inevitable... not that bad of a solution.

let them! and then replace them with secular agencies

'consensual' he said... i thought christians didn't do that shit - adultery and pedophilia? fucking hypocrites

'play fighting' and then accidentally dropping 10 stories... yeah, more like bitch slapping each other and pushing themselves over the balcony

well, duh!

self-absorbed, profiting media whore.. just like her mother

who are they kidding... some are shits with jesus. they are so christian, they're unchristian

Friday, May 27, 2011

Interesting Today 5/27/11

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^l |^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| l
| ♥ KEEP THINKING & USE YOUR BRAIN!.||”"”;..,___.
|……___________=====_| l______________l _||__|…, ] | |
“(@)’(@)”""""*l'(@)l'(@)l """""(@)'(@)""""'(@)
         Keep this Convoy Going! We can make a difference!!

god is black and performed another immaculate conception!


Carl Sagan: The Frailty of Knowledge [Carl Sagan Tribute Series, Part 13]



welcome to church & morality?
via atheist images


 global warming will bring violent storms and tornadoes, NASA predicts
written back in 2007, at least somebody has a clue and they are getting it right!


cat mom hugs baby kitten - too cute!


holy fuck!
via wwjtd.net - end of the catholic church as we know it? we can only hope!




fox news forgot first amendment forbids christian graduation from public school? of course, they did and as usual, continue to spread misinformation because their listeners are too lazy to figure out the truth


rapturology
via toomanytribbles


children full of life: moving documentary about children and their homeroom teacher
life lessons that will help impact our planet in a positive way


paypal cofounder hands out $100,000 fellowships to not go to college
what an excellent idea!


why the rich love high unemployment
because their beloved money comes before people, that's why

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Interesting Today 5/26/11

why is it people are always surprised when we try to fuck with nature?


oregon senate votes to end faith-healing defense for parents - secular coalition for america
a step in the right direction

this situation needs to stop! help if you can.


a holey fairy tale
from beginning to end


amy poehler at harvard college class day

one more thing to add to the growing list of why i don't like him

fascinating!

wish they could suspend him permanently

wtf? get a grip, you asshole!

ooohhh!! 'clapping hands' - i heart science!


composite video of officer ian birk shooting john t. williams

here we go again...

really? for a group of sexually uptight people why would they have a saint for that?

atheist for a day
via darkmatter2525 on youtube.com


open-mindedness
can we please get some??


scaly sea monster discovered under brooklyn bridge
ewwwww! click on montauch monster, that one's even worse!


dawn elizabeth rash attacks her roommate with butter, cops say
was she getting ready to saute him? lol


toughest sheriff's department involved in drug ring
i'm betting when he spends time in that jail the convicts are going to be plenty happy


god is imaginery
50 simple proofs

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Interesting Today 5/25/11

"To say that atheism requires faith is as dim-witted as saying that disbelief in pixies or leprechauns takes faith. Even if Einstein himself told me there was an elf on my shoulder, I would still ask for proof and I wouldn’t be wrong to ask."
Geoff Mather
"It is a counterfeit love that is contingent upon authority, punishment, or reward. True love is respect and admiration, compassion and kindness, freely given by a healthy, unafraid human being." - Dan Barker, Losing Faith in Faith
"The message of Christianity is irrelevant to me because it's completely empty and ultimately untrue. It is not a religion of love any more than Islam is a religion of peace. All religion lies about what it is and what it does. Arguing with Christians about what their religion is supposed to be is pointless because their religion is NEVER what it's supposed to be, it's only what it is." ~ Ray Garton
so we have the religious right to thank for equal opportunity. go wing-nuts?!?!

and this is something new??

by penn jillette

this is hilarious and accurate!

we already have them... they sit in church pews on sundays and wednesday nights

wow! discriminatory as hell!

well duh!

oh there's much more to come!
but i want it to be over... it want rational, please!

chipping away at roe v. wade, II 
we are going backwards back to the stone ages

elizabeth warren attacked at hearing: why she scares the hell out of republicans
because she's for the PEOPLE and not the corporations! 

freedom of information laws are used to harass scientiest, says nobel laureate
one more thing to stop scientific progress.... aarghh! 

senate goes on record about ryan plan
yeah, baby.. make it easy for everyone come next election cycle

God is a Parasite

Last weekend, I spent the non-rapture enjoying interesting and stimulating conversation with people of like mind. I certainly wish that concentrated dialogue was available more often, but also, that it would present itself during my day-to-day interactions, as well.

After listening to the lecture given by Dr. Darrel Ray, author of The God Virus, a thought crossed my mind about the organism he had discussed, the parasite Toxoplasm Gondii. It's the parasite that uses the cat as its host and the one we usually don't hear about until a woman gets pregnant. She is generally issued the standard warning to make sure she doesn't clean the cat's litter box, should she happen to own a member of the feline species. Personally, I didn't know about it until I read every woman's must read book "What to Expect When You're Expecting" when I found out I was entering in to the world of motherhood.

The lecture centered on how the virus of religion gets spread around and continues to be spread through various means. In this talk, Dr. Ray speaks about the discovery that mice infected with the parasite actually lost their ability to fear cats. Logically, with the mice being infected, the cats would have a much easier time enjoying the delicacy they usually have to put forth some effort in catching. Once the infected mouse is eaten, the cat becomes infected with the parasite, then the cat's feces, containing the parasite get deposited in the litter box until the person who cleans said litter box comes in direct contact with the parasite and possibly becomes infected with it. The human who contracts the parasite generally will not exhibit symptoms beyond what feels like a bad cold or the flu. But, interestingly, Dr. Ray also said that humans who become infected have been shown to be more neurotic. Upon further independent research after the conference, I found that there is also a link to the increased possibility of schizophrenia when infected with this parasite. Fascinating stuff!

As I was listening to Dr. Ray's lecture, my next logical thought was 'religious people are neurotic', so does that mean they are infected with Toxoplasma Gondii parasite? Not that much of a leap, really, if you think about it. I was so excited at the prospect that this could be a testable idea that I asked Dr. Ray immediately after he finished giving his talk, if that theory had ever been tested? Had there ever been any research done along these lines? He said no, but it would make for a hell of a medical dissertation! Brilliant! Useful if I was going for my doctorate, but I'm not. The possibility to test this theory and ultimately, prove it, would be fabulous.This idea will definitely be put in my To Do folder should the opportunity ever arise where I could set it in motion.

But let's fantasize for a moment that the research had been done and it could be shown that a little parasite, along with the ability to make a mouse less afraid of a cat, could also make a human more susceptible to believing there was a god. Knowing that irrational thinking was a medical issue means we could vaccinate against it and logical thinking would make an unprecedented showing in the world! Imagine No Religion... Since the evidence would show this to be true, believers of the world would finally understand they are being controlled by something other than an invisible man in the sky. It means they would have to drop their ideology once and for all. THAT would be an incredible world to live in.

It is an interesting fantasy or maybe a forthcoming reality...we'll see. I'll just put it out there... any medical students want to take a bite out of the fantasy of the believers? Make my day! I'll help in anyway I can.

**UPDATE

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16911  Fascinating article about breakthroughs in understanding schizophrenia better. If schizophrenia only currently affects 1% of the population, then the assumption that I made above would be really hard to prove UNLESS the current understanding of schizophrenia is now flawed with this new information. Could schizophrenia be on a broad spectrum like autism where you have mild cases to outright delusional? Well, then we would be back to square one as to god being a parasite and once again, something to prove. Anyone?

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Interesting Today 5/24/11

The Rapture will NEVER happen!!! very angry and passionate individual
they are forcing our hand... those assholes


woman tries to sell daughters virginity for $10,000
disgusting


harold camping reveals latest rapture prediction
oh, boy... i can hardly wait, more stupidity!


sex, hygiene and sex survey
we're clean, we like to fuck and we pee in the shower


up until the 1940's, americans didn't even get tornado forecasts
and it was actually banned in weather forecasts!


15 hilariously inappropriate slogan ads
ha ha ha ha ha ha !


we can say this at graduation, right? i'm guessing they would say no!
via friendly atheist

Monday, May 23, 2011

Interesting Today 5/23/11

it looks purdy!

adults are behind this... wow, i don't think i've ever heard of a 16 yr old having the power to intimidate adults like this. their stupid is showing.

OH YEAH!!!!!

uuucccckkkk!!

well, this outta be interesting

at least somebody is

he should just say i'm sorry and STFU...

via pharyngula

tell me something i didn't already know


of course, that's what he's going to say. did you expect him to say 'i was wrong!' ?

politics, as usual. will you people get some backbone and stop being politically 'correct' ALL the time!

once again... who's looking out for THE PEOPLE?

this is why some people should be sterilized, ya think?

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Interesting Today 5/22/11

SWEETNESS!!

accepting life on life's terms - good advice

via atheist images

what it COULD have been like... if it would only have happened.

man found dead in church on 'dooms day' & mom tries to kill herself and daughters prior to failed rapture prediction
this is some of the 'good' that has come from predicting a rapture, along with all the money those poor sheep of camping's have lost


how god is managing the rapture
too fucking funny


the founding fathers are tired of your bullshit
via thinkatheist.com


"You get religious when your rational immune system is under-developed." Darrel Ray


10 cutest cat moments


sam harris delivers like a comedian!


atheists take on end of the world predictions
Rapture Day at Wichita State University yesterday, made the news!


protein flaws responsible for complex life
human = protein flaws  lol yeah, there's a few!


are republicans losing their grip on reality?
the majority republicans believe in god, believing in god is a disassociation from reality... ergo... yes, the republicans are losing their grip on reality


jesus my lord facebook page
it's the video that makes me rail! what a CROCK 'O SHIT!!! take out any reference to god and it's just an analogy for 'the best in you' and if you believed in yourself you can do great things. DUH!!! when will people realize the YOU in this equation is vital? stop believing in imaginary beings and LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE!!!


you bug me, now science explains why
interesting read

After the Non-Rapture

Well, that part of human history can be put to bed now and added to the long list of previously failed end of the world scenarios. It was a fun day for me yesterday, but not all the people who took a part in this 'epic fail' can say the same.

I don't know how many willingly chose to believe what Harold Camping was spouting or how many actually participated in spreading the message of doom throughout the world, but one thing I know for sure... not one person who followed him got what they wanted. And for sure, many lost a lot in the process. Their money, their dignity and in many cases, their lives, as they knew them. And some, literally, lost their lives.

The innocents in this are the children. Some would say the adults are, also, victims and in a sense, yes, they are because when you are irrational or have been brainwashed, you forget how to think, but realistically, they are not victims because no one forced them to make the decisions they made. They participated whole heartedly in this delusion, as adults, and chose to suspend rational thinking. Had they not put away their thinking caps, they might have had an entirely different reaction to Camping's prediction that their last day on earth would be May 21, 2011.

Aol news reported that in 2009, the non-profit reported in IRS filings that it received $18.3 million in donations, and had assets of more than $104 million, including $34 million in stocks or other publicly traded securities. According to the Friendly Atheist, Camping took in $120,000,000 for this campaign. Who knows how much of this actually went to the campaign and how much went into Camping's pocket. My guess would be A LOT!

I think the other losers in this and I don't mean they lost anything... they ARE losers; these would be the people who are cashing in on the rapture.  What they did is no different than how Camping deceived his flock. Both profited from it and succeeded in making these people look stupid while taking everything from them. What motivated them doesn't matter if the end result is that it fucks over a whole bunch of people... you might say innocent people, I can't help but say ignorant people. Either way, I believe this should be a valuable lesson for them, but sadly, many of them will just wait for the next prediction.

This prediction and all the rest are ridiculous. Naked Pastor says it best in his jesus is coming soon edition. As a non-believer in jesus, christ, god... whatever the hell you refer to him as, I concur with the sentiment that it's never going to happen and has never happened. Maybe because I've allowed information to enter my brain through taking an active part in acquiring knowledge. Here's some history that was talked about yesterday during Rapture Day at the Wichita State University campus. Zoroaster was one of the original monotheistic gods and helped to establish a lot of the things Christians believe in today. If people would take the time to understand history and learn something (with an open mind), it would truly change their perspectives. Learning is FUN, especially when it makes so much sense and gives you the ability to take in the big picture and helps you make rational decisions! Maybe if religious people stopped only cracking open a bible or as we know, only holding it in their hands and repeating what they hear from others, they might not be so gullible.

Funny thing, many of the religious people would agree with me that the prediction was flawed, yet they are out there claiming 'yeah, Camping was wrong because according to the bible, no one knows when jesus' second coming really is, not even jesus'. They are STILL CHOOSING to be irrational! They are not losing anything by just 'waiting for it to happen' but, really, disassociation with reality still means you are GIVING UP something!  It's called - letting your brain take a vacation while your body is still at work!

*picture me shaking my head right about now.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Interesting Today 5/21/11 If you haven't been Raptured!

It's officially waaaaaaaaaaay past rapture time and everybody except those who died of natural causes, criminal activities, car crashes or arson are still here. Yet again, another doomsday prediction gone horribly wrong! Well, the next one is 12/21/2012.  See you then... too! 

god reschedules rapture
sorry harold camping... god forgot to tell you?!?!?!

harold went silent, his followers feels fucked. we can only hope logic will drop back into their noggin now.

son - of - a - bitch!

don't be pissed... sing-a-long!

they got to go... not us.

yeah... had it actually happened 

after the rapture

not the rapture, but a nice massive underwater rock quarry explosion!

I'M A MOCKER, SHE'S A MOCKER, WON'T YOU BE A MOCKER, TOO?!?!
(sung like Be a Pepper! - the old dr. pepper commercial)
"Hey Christian nuts, what happened to floating up to heaven today? Don't let the clouds hit u in the ass on the way out." Bill Maher 

Friday, May 20, 2011

Interesting Today 5/20/11 - Special Edition : If Jesus Comes Tomorrow...

 Would you Spit or Swallow?
Respond in the comment section below!


end of the world: 9 ways to tell the world has come to an end
hahahahahahahaha


for your entertainment tomorrow!

will someone please explain this to the religious who think that god has something to do with feeling good?

i'll be in wichita with my buddies, having a great time! :)

does it really matter? they did a great job and if yes, even better!!

she says americans are anti-intellectual... duh! reason and why it's important!

i feel sorry for the children, i don't feel sorry for the parents. get a brain!


so that's why he's not running in 2012.. he knew the scandal would break!

this is VERY unusual

buyer's remorse has set in, wish they would have made an informed decision BEFORE purchase

here's a new development we didn't see coming

it is perfectly within our rights to document when they dismiss the laws through their actions

when christians misbehave: self-induced religious fit
this girl needs some serious medical attention
wow! is this what they mean by having a close personal relationship with jesus?
it was awkwardly close and sensual for a bit!


thank you, ray!  :)

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Interesting Today 5/19/11

very cool!

looking forward to 5/22!

it's not... they just want you to think that and there are plenty of stupid people who believe that

not the one they claim to by their actions, the god they worship is money

lololol sorry... makes me laugh! christian porn? how can something like this EVER have been created when we have such prudeness and sexual backwardness and attitudes towards sex today? next question, how is this still standing?

this is the agency that is supposed to regulate the products before they hit the market
...and she was reading a bible when they arrested her

his price to do so... $529 million to create 800 high trained killers. christian and killing.. that's not supposed to go together in the same sentence, right? what am i missing here?

looks pretty
 
plain writing act to take effect later this year
it will become easier to understand how the government will fuck you 

peter fonda: obama is a fucking traitor
i don't know if i would go so far as to say he was a traitor, but i would say he didn't protect the us


patti davis posing nude in more magazine. she's 58... beautiful.
not just because she is but beautiful that she thumbs her noses at the rest of the world and lets it be known that being naked is not a bad thing, at any age. love that.

2-4-6-8 ...better than the christian agenda!

When are you FUCKING POLITICIANS going to focus on the PEOPLE?

Walker moves to ban hospital visitation rights for same-sex couples 
I am SO SICK of this god damn culture war being the pressing issue in this country! We need jobs, our deficit is too big, corruption rampant in our politics, the ability of good hardworking citizens to move ahead without continual economic upheavals thrown in their path... WHEN ARE YOU FUCKING POLITICIANS GOING TO FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE AND NOT YOUR DAMN IDEOLOGY?!?!?!?!?!?!
It's that simple, focus on the rights of ALL the people, not just one little segment that you'd like to discriminate against while you preach to us how christian you are. Do what's right for this entire nation, not just the small-minded religious group you trying to get your next election cycle vote from. Yes, they love you this time and maybe even the next, but watch out, the people's voice who will be heard will see to it that you won't stay there. The old who never wanted you in the first place along with the young who haven't been indoctrinated, the young who are learning not to hate, the young who have also had enough of the hypocrisy, the lies and power-mongering, are going to ensure that you lose your spot at the table of your imposing righteousness. 

I, for one, am looking forward to that day and it can't get here fast enough for me.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Interesting Today 5/18/11

welcome to this world via thinking atheist

chris matthews strikes again: sarah palins profoundly stupid
this all became public because she was a disgruntled employee? and here i thought it was because it was about a love child.

a catchy tune wrapped up in the truth, ride the wave

aha!!! he's been baptized by 'the gay'

the most pioneering divorce reform effort in 40 years 
another issue where the government does NOT belong! 

 "Invisible Pink Unicorns are beings of great spiritual power. We know this because they are capable of being invisible and pink at the same time. Like all religions, the Faith of the Invisible Pink Unicorns is based upon both logic and faith. We have faith that they are pink; we logically know that they are invisible because we can't see them." — Steve Eley

santorum: i respect mc'cains service, but he still doesn't understand how torture works 
what a douche bag

don gorske eats 25,000 big macs in 35 years 
i guess he's hoping they'll make him a big star like jared of subway
Best question to ask someone wearing a cross: "What does the lowercase t stand for?" -  Ryan from Atheist Facebook page

Paws Up. Hoedown. Lady Gaga goes to FarmVille

 

Six Feet Under "Rapture" death

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Interesting Today 5/17/11

that is awesome!

fields of watermelon burst in china farm fiasco
exploding watermelons... hah! 

fun with charts: making the rich look poor
this is why you need to look beyond what people tell you 

the obama deception: why cornel west went ballistic
excellent article and one that resonates with a lot of people 

fake doctor used toothpicks for 'acupunture', niles police say
was this your first clue he was a charlatan? 

if fox news had been there throughout history
i'm thinking there would be a lot of truth to this 

"I'm not a meteorologist. All I know is 90 percent of the scientists say climate change is occurring. If 90 percent of the oncological community said something was causing cancer we'd listen to them." - Jon Hunstman, in an interview with Time, on whether he believes in climate change. 

 "I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark." Stephen Hawking

talcum powder cures magnetism 
ha, ha, ha!! 

alleged cannibal arrested while feasting on his friend
he looks like the other cannibal, jeffrey dahmer... separated at birth?

 a blood test that shows how long you'll live?
but only if you have $700! 

first habitable exoplanet
only takes 3000 lifetimes to get there 

 "I was born gay, just as I was born black." Don Lemon 
not an ideology issue, just simple logic

god hates us 
via lol god 

australia's largest brothel to open in sydney
ANOTHER reason to live there! 

john stewart and bill o'reilly debate common's white house appearance
stewart won the debate

Monday, May 16, 2011

Interesting Today 5/16/11

i hope she nails the bastard in court now for this
"When two opposite points of view are expressed with equal intensity,
the truth does not necessarily lie exactly halfway between them. It is
possible for one side to be simply wrong." - Richard Dawkins
wow, first sane voice i've heard from an elected official in a long time!

i heart stephen hawking!

the wonderful irony of this show was the 'i'm here to raise up the glory of god man', matt elrod; who as such a strong competitor who spent the majority of his time banished to redemption island, prayed himself silly in his isolation, made it to the very last challenge to get back in the game and oops! god wasn't listening. he didn't listen to the other one, mike chiesel, the guy that matt helped to find his 'god' again. every time they said they have god on their side, he just lets them down. and even more funny, being a faithful viewer since it's inception, every time and i mean EVERY TIME, there is a jesus freak on this show, god always sees fit to let these players lose. so if your god is real people, seems to me he just don't give a shit. lol

most excellent discovery... thank you science

we can't even trust a miss usa candidate? what is the world coming to?

you couldn't tell the difference between cocaine and cheese? you're a police officer? really?

hey... if it works, it's gotta be better than what the other camp is proposing

may 21st will be upon us soon... so enjoy til then!

3000 new words added to the scrabble dictionary. scandalous and not fair to all those before the addition who couldn't use those words.  :(

it's about fucking time!

man licking shoes - only in ny city
the subway's version of walmart people