Archive for July, 2009
Reminder to enjoy life
Posted by CyberLizard in Stuff on July 30, 2009
Sandra Tayler is a blogger I follow who is also the author of a terrific kids book, “Hold on to Your Horses”. Howard Tayler, creator of webcomic Schlock Mercenary, is fortunate enough to be married to her. I value her insights into parenting as we seem to have children with similar behaviour patterns. This post by her, Learning to slow down made me smile and brought a little happy tear to my eye.
I looked again at the silver head in front of me. There was a fluffy silver head in the passenger seat. I suddenly pictured them as one of those long-happily-married couples. I could picture him opening the door for her and them walking slowly together so that observers can not be sure who is lending balance to whom. Such couples have seen a lot of things in their lives and they have learned the lack of value in most of the rushing.
I hope to be there someday with my own personal Goddess. Read the rest of the post for some good advice.
What kind of idiot walks into an open manhole while texting?
Posted by CyberLizard in Me, WTF on July 26, 2009
I asked myself that question when I first heard about this. Geez, talk about stupid.
Fast forward to today. I’m on a family trip to Disney. Walking through the park the idea strikes me that it would be fun to tweet what’s happening. No need to stop, I can tweet on the go. I was going at a pretty good clip, too, when an evil pole jumped in my path. Running into a waist-high pole at approximately 3mph is not a pleasant experience. My first thought was, “oh shit, didn’t Houdini die from an unexpected blow to the gut?”
The internal bleeding has probably slowed to a trickle by now. I’ll save the pics until the bruise really starts to ripen and look impressive.
So I found out what kind of idiot walks into open manholes (or silver poles) while texting. Me.
UPDATE: Pics!
Now that's impressive!
122nd Carnival of the Godless
Posted by CyberLizard in Atheism on July 26, 2009
Welcome to the 122nd edition of the Carnival of the Godless, a collection of the absolute best writing in the atheist blogosphere*.
* the best writing that was submitted and that I picked to be showcased, anyway.
The internets is an overwhelming place. Finding content that is interesting, informative and entertaining can be a hit-or-miss affair. In the past, blog carnivals played an important role in the dissemination of information by providing a one stop shop on articles about a specific topic. That role seems to be diminishing as the blogosphere becomes more crowded and other forms of social media have achieved greater prominence. There’s a very good discussion about carnivals, the cause of their decline and what can be done to save them happening over at Atheist Revolution.
Personally, I love hosting carnivals. I’ll admit, as one of the smaller bloggers, I get a thrill out of seeing my hits spike when I host one. But a less selfish motivation is the sense of community that a carnival can bring. So on that note, I bring you a collection of atheist writers commenting on current events, the state of atheism, religion in general and whatever else tickles their godless fancy.
Sciency Goodness Godlessness
The atheist community is often represented by scientists. This makes perfect sense when you consider that science is the method for understanding the natural world and atheism is the rejection of the supernatural world (oversimplification, I know). The following writers show us how science and our ever increasing knowledge of how the universe operates inform their positions on atheism.
In the news recently was the appointment of Francis Collins as the director of the National Institutes of Health. This appointment raised some eyebrows. Collins is a geneticist and was head of the National Human Genome Research Institute, successfully leading the Human Genome Project to completion. He is also the author of a book entitled The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief.
This is all background for Joel’s first grant application to the Collins NIH posted at Your religion is false. I’ve never submitted a grant application to the government, but I would imagine they are something like this.
With a terrific insight into both the amazing geology of the Grand Canyon and his own background, (((Billy))) The Atheist shows us the poverty of a Young Earth viewpoint. I’ve never visited the Grand Canyon, but Billy’s piece moved me to make it a priority in my life to someday make the trip.
“Intelligent Design” is always a popular subject, with science finding new information every day to poke holes in the “theory”. At The Evolving Mind, Andrew Bernardin tells us how a study involving chromosomal abnormalities demonstrates Imperfect Design and Natural Abortions Galore.
Atheism, Activism, Awareness
One of the reasons that we even have blogs about atheism is that people are making the effort to stand up against the irrational bigotry against atheism. The following authors give us their insights into promoting atheism and participating in the efforts to spread the good news of not having any gods.
One technique that is used to shut down criticism of religion is wielding the club of “respect”. This club is often used to shut down discussion of the flaws in religion by claiming that we need to have the proper respect for religions and the religious. Yunshui lets us know what he thinks that R-E-S-P-E-C-T is all about over at at Right To Think. Unfortunately for us, we won’t be hearing much from Yunshui in the near future as he is leaving the blogoworld for the time being. Congrats on the arrival of Babyshui!
Blogs aren’t the only way to promote the atheistic viewpoint. Adrian Hayter gives us good tips on How To Be A Successful Atheist On Twitter posted at the aptly named blog, The Atheist Blogger. One tip I can add is not to insult the #jaffacakes. Oh, and follow @ah8r. And @CyberLizard. That last was not so much a tip as a command.
We atheists turn up in the most unusual places. Did you know that there are Atheists in Mississippi? vjack tells us all about them at Mississippi Atheists.
In the world at large, being an atheist isn’t exactly the best way to make it to the top of the popularity charts. It can also be hazardous to your health. Jennifurret shares some of her family’s concerns for her well-being while out being an activist for atheism and her responses in Apparently I’m in mortal peril posted at Blag Hag. She also has another interesting piece up about the nature of atheism on teh internets – Oh noes, atheists are taking over teh internets!!11!one!!.
Legal Battles
Not only are atheists discriminated against by individuals, there are significant efforts to either write anti-atheist bigotry into law or fight efforts to remove instances of it from current laws. Part of our goal as atheist bloggers is to make the general public aware of these efforts and to encourage and promote the fair treatment of people of all beliefs, including those with no religious beliefs.
Not every country enjoys the protections of the USA’s Establishment clause ensconced in our Constitution. Not only are many countries lacking these protections, their governments are actively passing new laws based on religion, as M. Rundkvist shows us in Ireland and Lithuania Pass Old Testament Laws posted at Aardvarchaeology.
Here in the USA, we have the nominal protection offered by the Constitution. However, that doesn’t stop those who want to promote their own religious agenda over all others from trying to sneak their bigotry into our government. Why Atheists Object to Engraving “In God We Trust” on the Capitol Visitor Center posted at Atheist Revolution by vjack gives a good overview of exactly what this supposedly innocuous national motto really means and why it needs to be removed.
Personal Atheism
Atheism isn’t just a movement or a cause. It is also a part of who we are as unique individuals. There are a great number of misconceptions about atheism and atheists in general. It is important for us to share our own personal stories in an effort to show the world that we are not (all) baby-eating monsters.
Angela84 wants to share, in her words, “Just one person’s view on religion and atheism. Please add comments! Tell me what you think, or what you believe!” with her post LORD WHAT FOOLS THESE MORTALS BE! at ~angela’s random thoughts~. I would encourage you to pop over and welcome her to the fold.
Love makes the world go around. Or something like that. There’s no question that love is an incredible and powerful emotion. Some theists like to think that they have the love market cornered. Stephanie Zvan gives us several examples of Atheists in Love posted at Quiche Moraine. *sniff* I love you guys! [/emo]
Religion in General
Sometimes our blogging leads us to point out the flaws in religion and religious thinking. It may come in the form of trying to reveal religion as the magical thinking it is, or it may be a post debunking the lies spouted by the creationist movement in their misguided efforts to discredit evolutionary theory. Even just recounting the historical facts of atrocities committed in the name of religion can promote our cause by countering the claims of the benefits of religion. These posts take on religion and religious thought.
Analogies are a useful tool to bring an otherwise incomprehensible idea into focus by framing it a situation or idea that we are familiar with. PhillyChief does a good job revealing the ridiculousness of the thought processes of religions in Closed-minded? posted at You Made Me Say It….
I have run into the argument that everyone’s entitled to their opinion many times. This is another tool used to stifle criticism of religion. Staks talks about his own experiences with it and his response at Dangerous Talk.
A particularly nasty fight is being waged to bring creationism into our schools. The strategies of the creationists are often full of lies and misinformation. It is very important to counteract these lies by illuminating the truth. Eric Michael Johnson debunks the attempts to discredit Darwin in Darwin’s Connection to Nazi Eugenics Exposed posted at The Primate Diaries.
“Kill them all, let God sort them out.” I’m sure you’ve heard that phrase. Did you wonder where it came from? Turns out there’s a historical basis for it, as Jason shows us in 1209: Massacre of Beziers, “kill them all, let God sort them out” posted at Executed Today. Extremely disturbing story (as are most religious stories) that reveals just one of the more egregious examples of religion being used by men to dominate others.
LULZ
Of course, we’re all really in it for the lulz. And by all I mean me. If there were a god, I would hope that it would deliver something like this: Dear Joe The Plumber… posted at “Gone Fishin’: Postcards From God”.
Many atheists are converts from various religions. A large number are former christians who have gone through the ritual know as baptism. Both for a bit of blasphemous fun and as a serious statement on their non-belief, some atheists are being de-baptised. In his post on debaptism at Dr. Jim’s Thinking Shop and Tea Room, Dr. Jim encourages us to C’MON OUT, THE BLOWDRYER IS FINE!
And that’s the way it is. Thanks for all the terrific submissions. If I didn’t include yours, it was either spam, I hated it, or I just ran out of room. Keep up the great work in the atheist blogosphere!
Submit your blog article to the next edition of Carnival of the Godless using our
carnival submission form.
Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Technorati tags: carnival of the godless, blog carnival.
Be Cool: See the Forefathers on Saturday
Posted by CyberLizard in Local & State, Stuff on July 24, 2009
A bit short notice, but I just got the email:
Come join the The Forefathers this Saturday, July 25th, for the “Christmas in July“ event at Seven Sister’s Coffeehouse
Seven Sister’s Coffeehouse was recently reviewed (quite positively!) by the Orlando Sentinel
Seven Sister’s Coffeehouse is located at 911 N. Mills Avenue, Orlando, FL 32803 (just North of Marks St.) www.sevensisterscoffee.com/
The Forefathers will be performing Holiday Music and the band’s own originals (some featured on National Public Radio) from 7-9PM. The event starts at 5PM.
Really good music, really good coffee, really good people. If you’re near O-town, I encourage you to check it out.
It’s Rainin’ Memes, Halleluja!
Posted by CyberLizard in Uncategorized on July 21, 2009
I couldn’t help it, it just popped into my head. I know it’s a stupid title.
The “15 Books” meme is propagating its way around the intertubes. Spawned by Facebook, it has reached its insidious tentacles out across the blogosphere. People like to tag the biggest and best bloggers for these things, so it’s only appropriate that I be requested to add my contribution to the memeosphere (I think I just threw up in my mouth a little).
In order to placate the teeming hordes begging me to participate (2 people make a horde, right?), here it is, my annotated list of the top 15 books of all time. Actually, it’s just the first 15 books that popped into my head. Much easier. And as an assertion of my laziness, I’m not going to provide authors or links for any of them. Ha! Take that!
Top of my list
The Star Wars Question and Answer Book About Space
Lord of the Rings
The Hobbit
Alas, Babylon
1984
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Neuromancer
Mirrorshades: The Cyberpunk Anthology
Islands in the Net
Brotherhood of the Rose
Ninja
Mission: An American Congressman’s Voyage to Space
The Eye of the Needle
The Mists of Avalon
Dragonriders of Pern
If I were in charge, I’d fire Pat Buchanan
Posted by CyberLizard in Politics, Rants on July 18, 2009
I am still amazed at the depths of racism in this country. One of the best side effects of electing Barack Obama is that the GOP has decided to finally reveal itself as what it truly is: a bunch of racist rednecks, drunk on power, incapable of recognizing reality even if she sat on their face and wiggled. What kind of person can hire Pat Buchanan and still look at themselves in the mirror? He’s always been a douchebag, but now he just comes right out and admits that he’s a racist. Here’s a sample of his eloquence:
White men were 100% of the people that wrote the Constitution, 100% of the people that signed the Declaration of Independence, 100% of the people who died at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, probably close to 100% of the people who died at Normandy. This has been a country built basically by white folks, who were 90% of the nation in 1960 when I was growing up and the other 10% were African-Americans who had been discriminated against. That’s why.
Watch Rachel not give an inch to this fucking moron.
Rachel, you’re a better person than I am to not try to reach through the monitor and rip is fucking head off.
Wow. Just, wow
Posted by CyberLizard in Science on July 18, 2009
Polydamas swallowtail caterpillar - Photo via Flickr courtesy of ecocentrikGuy under Creative Commons license
I just witnessed the most amazing thing. Over a period of less than five minutes, my family watched as a polydamas butterfly caterpillar transitioned to it’s pupa form, also known as a chrysalis. The most astounding thing, to me, was how quickly it happened. A gardener friend of mine clued me in to their secret: the caterpillar doesn’t wrap himself up in the chrysalis, contrary to what popular children’s books say; they shed their skin revealing the chrysalis underneath! How cool is that?
The magic of scientific fact and the miracles of the natural world are so much more impressive than anything that modern mythology (read: religion) can come up with. I am in awe of the capabilities of the humblest of little larvae. I don’t need to invoke the supernatural to appreciate the astounding world around me.
This is a spicebush swallowtail caterpillar; slightly different from the pipeweed version I watched. -Photo via Flickr courtesy of poppy2323 *away* under Creative Commons license
Down to business
Posted by CyberLizard in Blogging on July 17, 2009
I haven’t written anything serious for a while. Part of that has to do with the general busyness of life. Mostly it is due to my own laziness and weirdness. Every so often I go through cycles of thinking, “Who the hell wants to read what I have to say? There are so many terrific bloggers out there who write about this stuff much better than I can, what’s the point of me putting my crap up?” When you add in my ADD-influenced propensity to begin things and not finish them (or to not even start because it will never be as good as it appears in my head), that all leads to periods of less writing, aka blogging.
I’m not really a writer. I can write, but it’s not really who I am the way it is for some people. Sure, I won NaNoWriMo back in 2005 (don’t ask, you can’t read it; it was all done with pencil in Moleskine notebooks. Think about that: 50,000 words. In pencil. My hand is still recovering). That got the creative juices flowing, and for a brief time I thought that I could, perhaps, actually write. See, my whole life, that I can remember, I have been composing in my head what I call my “essays”. My mind never really shuts off and so it starts to ponder life, the universe and everything. It begins composing these essays as a way of organizing my thoughts into a more structured form. Unfortunately, I have a limited amount of mental RAM, so by the time I’ve gotten a little way into it, I’ve completely forgotten how it started. If I try to go back and recreate the beginning, I’ll then loose where I was going. They start to veer off into tangents and end up who knows where.
“So write it down!”, you’re going to say. I know you are going to say this because I say it to myself. This is a problem for two reasons. One is that these essays usually begin composing themselves at times where writing is impossible: driving, working in the yard, at really boring parties, during corporate meetings, etc. The second is that my mind is too fast for my fingers. It wants to follow its own thoughts while I’m still trying to craft that last sentence. In my head, sentence structure and phrasing take a back seat to the act of thinking itself. I can shortcut a sentence by inserting what I mean, rather than what I explicitly say. Once it’s down on paper (or screen) I am forced to compulsively edit and craft what I am trying to say, to try to make it comprehensible.
As a general rule, I am much better at writing by hand than I am typing. Even though I print, I am still faster than I am at typing (though I am a pretty good typist. 10+ years of computer programming has made it second nature). But more than that, I sometimes seem to have a kind of dysgraphia where I am completely unable to compose a sentence in front of the keyboard. I can write pages and pages of stream of consciousness type crap on paper, but put me in front of a computer with no specific topic and my mind locks up.
Another factor that contributes to my lack of writing is my anal retentiveness. I try to avoid debates and arguments because I loathe making statements based just on how I feel rather than on facts that I can document and recite. Even if I know that I have made a decision on a topic based on hard facts that I have researched, if I can’t repeat them at a later time, I’m reluctant to speak on that topic. I do that a lot. I’ll research something, find out all I can about it, make a decision, then promptly loose all the details, leaving me with a conclusion but not able to say specifically why I came to it. If it’s not something that I’m currently dealing with over a period of time as the primary focus of my attention, it’s leaves. Not completely, but enough of the detail has vanished that it sounds like I don’t know what I’m talking about if I try to explain. This is very frustrating for a person who likes to have things backed up with facts and who wants to know the how and why of things. Especially when trying to write from a skeptical point of view.
So we end up here. Not really any place much different from where we started, eh? Still, it’s loosened some of the bolts, sprayed WD-40 on the rusty writing joints, so to speak. Bottom line is that I’m going to try to make an effort to produce more original content rather than just forwarding funny pictures or making snarky comments about right-wing fundagelical asshats (although that is really fun. I don’t think I could stop doing that even if I wanted to. Which I don’t. Snark is hardwired into my brain).
Thanks for humoring me. And thanks for reading.
The devil is making me do it
Posted by CyberLizard in Blogging on July 16, 2009
See? I knew there had to be a logical reason I wasted spent all this time blogging.
Mark of the beast or harmless coincidence? You decide
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Slicing and Dicing: Responding to a Reader’s Comment
Posted by CyberLizard in Atheism, Religion, Responses on July 30, 2009
This started out as a reply to a recent comment on an older post of mine, but the commenting system told me it was too long, so I figured I’d address it out here.
In the original post, I was mocking an article the WorldNutDaily had published where they tried to prove “scientifically” that the jews were ruining the world. From the original article:
WND used these studies as confirmation of a jewish rabbi’s claims that this was the fulfillment of a biblical prophecy.
Now, to address Mike’s comments…
Thanks for noticing!
My intention was not to refute any of the scientific studies involved. I have not read them and have no beef with trying to figure out, scientifically, what the changes in the climate have been in a particular region of the world. What I’m mocking is the completely unsubstantiated claim that the rainfall patterns in the middle east have anything to do with the supposed “prophecy” of a book written by a bronze-age group of men.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. It’s not my job to un-prove something, it’s the job of the person making the claim that there is something supernatural going on. And, no, I don’t accept “the bible said so” as extraordinary evidence. Try again.
correlation != causation (“!=” means “does not equal”, for all you non-computery folks)
Let’s try this one: at the same time I picked my nose, a cat died. The facts remain, these two events happened at the same time. Therefore my nose-picking caused the death of a cat. They must be related. See what I did there? I could write for the WorldNutDaily!
Shyeah, and monkeys could fly out of my butt! (to paraphrase one of the great philosophers). Just because something could happen doesn’t mean that it did happen. You have to provide evidence that what happened wasn’t the result of observable, testable, repeatable natural phenomena, otherwise my claim about monkeys is just as likely as your claim about the intervention of a god. See Russell’s teapot.
I’m not sure what this has to do with anything. Are you saying that god makes us want to get warm? I don’t get it.
If I did try to “undermine something from the standpoint of, “It’s not possible because I don’t want to believe it” “, I would, indeed, be set up for a serious knock down. However, I did nothing of the sort. Reading comprehension much?
Um, yeah, that was kinda my whole point. The entire WND article was conclusions based on nothing more than “something as intangible as the existence of God “. I was just pointing out how ridiculous such “logic” is. I like to share the lulz!
And it will appropriately be regarded as nothing more than an (un)interesting coincidence until more substantial evidence than, “IT’S IN THE BIBLE!!!11!!” is provided.
Nice strawman, but I never attacked “belief with a different belief”.
Thanks for playing! Come again!
commenters, dumbfuckery, idiocy, Religion, Responses, stupidity, WND, WorldNutDaily
5 Comments