Comments by RickM

1. Former state science director sues over intelligent design e-mail

Comment #203545 by RickM on July 3, 2008 at 6:01 am

Great! Boy, she didn't waste any time.

2. Who Was More Important: Lincoln or Darwin?

Comment #202067 by RickM on June 30, 2008 at 7:23 pm

Everybody knows Darwin and Lincoln were near-mythic figures in the 19th century. But who ever thinks of them in tandem?

Not me; end of read.

3. Aliens need Christ's redemption, too

Comment #201483 by RickM on June 29, 2008 at 6:19 pm

Of the great public figures the only one speaking in favour of the role of reason in modern life turns out to be the Pope.

What a fucking joke; end of read.

4. Analysis of SB 733: 'LA Science Education Act'

Comment #192295 by RickM on June 12, 2008 at 5:45 pm

Louisiana Will Face Lawsuit If New Law Brings Religion Into Public School Science Classes, Says Americans United

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Church-State Watchdog Group Warns Against Using Anti-Evolution Legislation To Advance Fundamentalism In The Classroom

The Louisiana House of Representatives today approved a measure that opens the door to teaching creationism in public schools, an action that is likely to spark litigation, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Approved by a 94-3 vote, the so-called "Science Education Act" (SB 733) allows public school teachers to use "supplemental materials" when discussing evolution.

See;

http://www.au.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr009=7gq874stu2.app5b&abbr=pr&page=NewsArticle&id=9881&security=1002&news_iv_ctrl=1241

5. Opponents of Evolution Adopting a New Strategy

Comment #189223 by RickM on June 5, 2008 at 9:05 pm

"If the teaching of weaknesses is mandated, a textbook might be forced to say that evolution has an "inability to explain the Cambrian Explosion," according to the group Texans for Better Science Education, which questions evolution."

Can someone please explain to this organization that the "Cambrian Explosion" is an antiquated term from the 50's and an "explosion" did not exist. Evolution does just fine in explaining the fossil record of the Cambrian.

Recommend: Evolution: What the Fossils Say and Why It Matters by Donald R. Prothero

6. The Challenge of the New Creationism

Comment #187290 by RickM on June 1, 2008 at 7:45 pm

I give up - pegs cpu at 100%, no audio.

7. 1968 Supreme Court case of Epperson v. Arkansas

Comment #185742 by RickM on May 28, 2008 at 12:16 pm

IDers; disgusting, lying bastards.

Swede,

No prob with Firefox here. Just dragged the .rm file to RealPlayer.

8. Religion is a product of evolution, software suggests

Comment #185189 by RickM on May 27, 2008 at 7:07 am

Wonderful.

I was born an atheist. I have always been an atheist. I have never been indoctrinated or brainwashed in this nonsense. I have never had a need for this stupid magic.

I guess the gene pool just left me out.

9. Missing matter found in deep space

Comment #182909 by RickM on May 21, 2008 at 5:44 am

Oxygen?

If oxygen is left over from very, very short lived early stars, I would think there's yet heavier stuff out there.

I've heard of the filament structure idea before as well. Is this stuff left over from old stars as the universe is "yanked" apart by expansion?

Well, interesting article; need more details.

10. New Tool To Understand Evolution Of Multi-domain Genes Developed

Comment #182470 by RickM on May 20, 2008 at 7:48 am

Great article; thanks.

11. The Neural Buddhists

Comment #180439 by RickM on May 15, 2008 at 12:54 am

Couldn't read the whole article; wondering why this guy has a job as a writer.

12. Church of Scotland mediators to quell disputes

Comment #178230 by RickM on May 11, 2008 at 1:08 am

I'm surprised the ignorant twits don't drop down and pray to the frigging organ.

13. Evolution's Critics Shift Tactics With Schools

Comment #176211 by RickM on May 6, 2008 at 10:59 pm

"Several states have passed science standards requiring students to think critically about evolution."

If they are going to require students to "think critically", then I want to see them attend a course in "Critical Thinking".

"Asked what evidence he presents to bolster evolution, Mr. Cowan paused. "I don't have any," he said".

Well, fine. Can this teacher's accreditation be withdrawn?

14. Does science make belief in God obsolete?

Comment #170105 by RickM on April 27, 2008 at 11:35 am

I clicked the link and there's articles by Pinker, Hitchens, et alia. So I'll probably take a look.

However, the question pisses me off.

"Does science make belief in God obsolete?"

It's a "when did you stop beating your wife?" question.

15. Lynchings in Congo as penis theft panic hits capital

Comment #167580 by RickM on April 24, 2008 at 7:16 am

And then there's the guy that buried a Red Sox jersey at Yankee Stadium in order to curse the Yanks.

Story:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gZ3fKIj-9CxoCJT-pEAGd8FDwfUQD903V7S00

The jersey is on eBay at $125,000 with less than 2 hrs. to go:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ortiz-Yankees-Curse-Jersey-to-benefit-the-Jimmy-Fund_W0QQitemZ120248650648QQihZ002QQcategoryZ24889QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

16. Lynchings in Congo as penis theft panic hits capital

Comment #166769 by RickM on April 23, 2008 at 12:22 pm

I'll rent mine out for a buck a stroke.

17. Discussion between Richard Dawkins and Paula Kirby

Comment #157593 by RickM on April 9, 2008 at 10:07 am

Great presentation by Prof. D.

Paula,

Very nicely done.

18. Happy Birthday, Richard Dawkins!

Comment #151746 by RickM on March 29, 2008 at 9:51 am

A very happy birthday Prof. D. I'm not far behind ya; hope your knees and hips don't bother you as much as mine.

19. Fleabytes

Comment #150990 by RickM on March 28, 2008 at 12:13 am

If you have the opportunity, try Negro Modelo, heche en Mexico. Best beer I've ever tasted.

20. Fleabytes

Comment #144611 by RickM on March 16, 2008 at 12:17 pm

Richard M and Mphil,

Former student here as well. Mostly finger style. Gave up due to diabetic neuropathy in hands (my playing degraded with practice). Sold Taylor 510LTD, Agile 3000P, Ovation Classic and a Lucida Picado (about a year ago).

The furthest I got was about 2/3's of Classical Gas. Had an MP3 of it, but can't find it. I think I deleted it in disgust after selling my guitars. I was very depressed.

I had the Ovation since about 1979 (if memory serves).

Sigh.

Never was a Via fan. Mostly liked Blues, Blues Rock, Flamenco and any acoustic finger style. Love classical music and classical guitar style but not so much of a classical guitar fan.

21. Fleabytes

Comment #144584 by RickM on March 16, 2008 at 11:22 am

5538. Comment #144449 by scottishgeologist
You mentioned Steve Vai back there.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0QKbnCDW94

(The guitar duel between the kid and the "devil" in Crossroads)

SG,

I just have to see your Steve Vai and raise you a Tommy Emmanuel ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-PxdznWjAk

Accoustic Rulz!

I'll bet Paula will love this.

22. Fleabytes

Comment #143999 by RickM on March 14, 2008 at 8:29 pm

edit $data7.RDNet.Fleabytes
c/god/late bronze age myth/ f/l
exit

There, that should fix things.

23. Fleabytes

Comment #142048 by RickM on March 11, 2008 at 7:13 pm

we are hardwired because we are made in the image of God.

I am totally amazed at the Universe. So much so that I cannot conceive of it as being self-existent, or having come from no where and nothing. Therefore I worship its Creator.

I realise of course that most of my comments can be dismissed by claiming (and please just tick the box on which one suits you it will save you time)
a) I'm mad
b) I'm bad
c) not very Christian

Oops! Clearthinker, you missed one:

d) schizotypal magical thinker

Ah, let's see. I'll tick the d) box.

24. Hebrew University researcher: Moses was tripping at Mount Sinai

Comment #138412 by RickM on March 4, 2008 at 9:24 am

Whoooooooo! All the pretty colors!

25. Church exhumes Padre Pio

Comment #138389 by RickM on March 4, 2008 at 8:59 am

So many defective Bull Shit meters.

I don't get it, why do they pray to this dude? Shouldn't El be pissed?

26. Fleabytes

Comment #137131 by RickM on March 2, 2008 at 11:59 am

If you haven't read DR's reply to one of his flock, please take the time. It is remarkable.

http://www.fcosonline.org/index.php?topic=11.0

27. Fleabytes

Comment #136823 by RickM on March 1, 2008 at 7:25 pm

2624. Comment #136818 by Brian English:
RickM. I like the story. The only problem I see is that there's no historical evidence of a few hundred odd thousand people camping in the Sainai for 40 years. No evidence of these having been slaves in Egypt either.......I think moses was an invention.

I know, that's a problem. No historical evidence on that. After all, you'd think 400,000 folks touring the Sainai desert for 40 years would leave a pot or three; and archaeologists can't find a darn thing.

But as far as my hypothesis goes, I'm thinking, just maybe, and I know it sounds crazy, but; that camping trip is a made up thing. I think they just made it up for effect.

When Moses came across, I suspect it was just him and a few of his buds.

28. Fleabytes

Comment #136816 by RickM on March 1, 2008 at 6:59 pm

Ya'know guys, I got an idea; a theory - no, make that a hypothesis. I know, it may sound crazy, but hear me out.

What if this guy Moses was an Aten (monotheist) priest that got out of Egypt when the folks there got pissed at Aten hogging all the goat burning.

He gets to the northern highlands of Canaan and (being hard-headed) insists there's only one god.

The Canaanites ask, "Well who would that be, Baal? El?".

Moses says, "Well, er ... ah, no. It's Yahweh. Not only that, but the old Abraham story about El Shaddai ... well, it wasn't El Shaddai, it was Yahweh".

"But what about El and Baal and those guys?", the Canaanites ask.

"Those guys are just silly stories, just forget those guys", Moses responds.

"Oh", say the Canaanites.

And Moses, laughing to himself, thinks, "what a bunch of fucktards!"

And the rest is history.

29. Fleabytes

Comment #136801 by RickM on March 1, 2008 at 5:50 pm

2577. Comment #136757 by GOD HERSELF: HERE, STICK THIS UP YER THREE ASSHOLES!

ROTFLMAO

PS - BTW, he was with Asherah.

30. Fleabytes

Comment #134188 by RickM on February 27, 2008 at 11:18 am

1217. Comment #134177 by al-rawandi

Wouldn't it be a pisser if archeologists dug up some tabs telling us Moses was Akhenaten or some Aten priest having hauled ass out of Egypt. Imagine the Exodus consisting of Moses and a couple of his pals; forty years reduced to a ten day journey.

Would I be shocked? I think not.

And what would we have from the "Priest Class"? Silence.

31. Fleabytes

Comment #134164 by RickM on February 27, 2008 at 10:50 am

Robertson: I read the complete OT at least once every year. In the letter I do acknowledge that there are difficulties and things that are less comforting and convenient (something you neglect to mention). But I still honestly find the picture I have painted much more accurate than the selective caricature of Dawkins.

Mr. Robertson,

This is interesting. You read to HB once a year. Yet, as a historian, you ignore the myth of your second tier god (Yahweh, reporting to El on the organization chart). Isn't that discomforting? Isn't that a bit inconvenient? Shouldn't you be worshiping El?

You wrote a pamphlet criticizing TGD. Why don't you write a pamphlet criticizing the HB? Here, let me give you a jump start:

The HB is a document intended to exert influence and control over unsophisticated, uneducated, illiterate, death fearing, ignorant, gullible peasants of the first millennium BCE. It is a myth like all the other Canaanite myths.

PS - Don't even suggest that El is another name for Yahweh; it isn't.

32. Fleabytes

Comment #133663 by RickM on February 26, 2008 at 1:38 pm

1028. Comment #133579 by Paula Kirby: Gasp. Just had a thought. Wasn't the Second Coming due by now? Are you thinking what I'm thinking ...?

Oh, no! All us suckers are monitoring this thread to see what he's got to say and he's pulling a Jesus on us. He ain't comin' back.

33. Fleabytes

Comment #133436 by RickM on February 26, 2008 at 7:29 am

RickM: One in four adults ages 18 to 29 claim no affiliation with a religious institution.
1014 Paula: You mean three in four do? How depressing. My guess is that it would be about the other way round in the UK.

Yes, depressing. I was first encouraged as I took the one in four as atheist (an increase in the U.S.), but that's not how they define "no affiliation".

They show atheists at 1.6 %. I find that hard to believe.

See:

http://religions.pewforum.org/reports

34. Fleabytes

Comment #133193 by RickM on February 25, 2008 at 7:38 pm

One in four adults ages 18 to 29 claim no affiliation with a religious institution.

From CNN article on new Pew survey at:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/02/25/religion.survey.ap/index.html

Survey at:

http://religions.pewforum.org/

35. Fleabytes

Comment #132379 by RickM on February 24, 2008 at 5:01 pm

Steve,

I go back to IBM 1130 Assembler; back to the days of stepping through cycles, reading panel lights and setting switches.

That machine maxed out at 64k 16bit words.

36. Fleabytes

Comment #132176 by RickM on February 24, 2008 at 12:19 pm

Great title suggestions; here's my shot (borrowing a bit from Hitchens):

Brit printing:

The Persistence of Late Bronze Age White Noise; An Assessment of Theistic Drivel

North American printing:

The Persistence of Late Bronze Age White Noise; An Assessment of Theistic Bull Shit

Aussie printing:

The Persistence of Late Bronze Age White Noise; Crap Theists Say

37. Fleabytes

Comment #132154 by RickM on February 24, 2008 at 11:04 am

736. Comment #132039 by Philip1978: I have had magnificent discussions with David about history ... fingers always manage to find their way into his ears ...

Interesting. So you're suggesting Robertson is fully knowledgeable of his god's Canaanite roots and unscrupulously ignores the well documented historical reality. Why should I be surprised (LOL)?

My annoying persistence in asking "how can you ignore the fact that your god is a bronze age myth?" is therefore futile. Hmmm, I suppose so. But, I sure would like to see one of these Abrahamic theists pen a reply.

I've noted the books you recommend though I may be getting burned out on the sub-subject. My reading on the history aspect:

Incredible Shrinking Son of Man: How Reliable Is the Gospel Tradition? By Robert M. Price

The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts by Finkelstein and Silberman

The Early History of God: Yahweh and the Other Deities in Ancient Israel by Mark Smith

The Origins of Biblical Monotheism: Israel's Polytheistic Background and the Ugaritic Texts
I'm about a third through Origins of Biblical Monotheism(not a Paula silky smooth read); it's especially interesting for me as I had previously known little about the implications of the Ugaritic texts.

PS - I went over to Robertson's site at:

http://www.christianheritageuk.org.uk/Media/AllMedia.aspx?speaker=DavidRobertson

and listened to his talk; incredible.

I also went to page 2 and listened to part of (got sleepy) "The Origins and Canon of the Bible, Letters of the New Testament, Typology". This fellow (a Ph.D.) make some amazing statements.

38. Fleabytes

Comment #131986 by RickM on February 23, 2008 at 6:49 pm

Bonzai said: ...I do wonder how teachers are supposed to tell a 6 year old what happened to that man on the cross..

Never having been to a "bible class" as a child, I wouldn't know. But, you can be sure the evil "Priest Class" have their methods.

PS - Just finished the 1:15 audio (see above). This Robertson fellow is ignorant (not knowing) in some respects, but he's not stupid. I have to say, he is so deceptive and manipulative; he is without morals.

39. Fleabytes

Comment #131978 by RickM on February 23, 2008 at 6:06 pm

Listened to Robertson at:

http://www.christianheritageuk.org.uk/Media/AllMedia.aspx?speaker=DavidRobertson

Disingenuous, distorted, ignorant babble. Incredible. I would love to see Prof. D. debate this twit (I would love to debate the twit myself).

Mr. Robertson,

If you are trained as a historian, how can you ignore the fact that your god is a bronze age myth? The historical evidence is overwhelming.

40. Fleabytes

Comment #131969 by RickM on February 23, 2008 at 5:36 pm

Comment #131963 by Bonzai: Ouch..!!!

Just a joke.

41. Fleabytes

Comment #131953 by RickM on February 23, 2008 at 5:04 pm

Rick,

Who's that dude in your avatar? Look suspicious..

It's suspiciously me (in my Harley days). At least, compared to Steve, I'm stunningly handsome.

42. Fleabytes

Comment #131951 by RickM on February 23, 2008 at 4:59 pm

Fox; I should have known.

43. Fleabytes

Comment #131947 by RickM on February 23, 2008 at 4:54 pm

Bonzai said: There is a War On Terror (WOT) going on

Which channel?

44. Fleabytes

Comment #131935 by RickM on February 23, 2008 at 4:19 pm

Just watched Robertson's video at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2r1GPGDWrI

What a bunch of whiny nonsense. (Robertson thinks Jesus was a real person)

Mr. Roberson,

Why do Christians doggedly ignore the fact that their god (Yahweh) is a fabricated late bronze age myth?

45. Fleabytes

Comment #131923 by RickM on February 23, 2008 at 3:52 pm

593. Comment #131670: Clearthinker says: But the key question is 'why do you believe there is no god?

Mr. Robertson,

Wrong! The question is;

Why do Christians doggedly ignore the fact that their god (Yahweh) is a fabricated late bronze age myth?

All other questions are irrelevant.

46. Fleabytes

Comment #130818 by RickM on February 21, 2008 at 10:26 am

312. Comment #130804 by al-rawandi

Thanks for the note on the Armstrong book; currently reading The Origins of Biblical Monotheism: Israel's Polytheistic Background and the Ugaritic Texts by Mark Smith.

47. Fleabytes

Comment #130799 by RickM on February 21, 2008 at 9:52 am

History tells us that Yahweh is a myth; an imaginary character among the many mythological gods of late bronze age Canaan. The Robertsons of the world conveniently avoid their faces going flush simply by ignoring this.

With what are we left? Arguing against derivative points that are profoundly irrelevant. Arguing against a group of people that impact our society, impose conflict; a group of people that can not live without their ancient imaginary supernatural father in the sky. What a gross waste of human band width.

Yahweh is man fabricated.
Yahweh is a fictitious character.
Yahweh is not real.
Yahweh is does not exist.
Yahweh is a myth.
Yahweh is a myth.
Yahweh is a myth.

48. Fleabytes

Comment #130563 by RickM on February 20, 2008 at 9:40 pm

Paula,

I have not purchased any of these "fleas" expecting I already know what they say; you justify my decision.

Your arguments are lucid; extending my own thoughts (I thank you) with elegantly set-down logic. A page turner (46 pages in Word at font #12).

Just an excellent effort. Well done, Paula, very well done.

49. Bart Ehrman, Questioning Religion on Why We Suffer

Comment #130341 by RickM on February 20, 2008 at 11:09 am

Is there something I'm missing? I ask this seriously.

Ehrman claims suffering as his basic problem, yet he has a PhD. and never once mentions the history of Yahweh as a second tier god (in the divine council of El). The Abrahamic god is a cut and paste mythology. Why is this so often ignored? Does he actually think Baal, El, Asherah, et al are real? How can he not understand they are all man made? How can he not understand faith is irrational?

This all really befuddles me.

(I won't buy his book; I'm currently working on "The Origins of Biblical Monotheism: Israel's Polytheistic Background and the Ugaritic Texts" by Mark S. Smith)

50. Why do we believe in God? 2m study prays for answer

Comment #129982 by RickM on February 19, 2008 at 8:55 pm

I seriously doubt there exists an evolutionary force for religion. I suspect it is a distant derivative of other behaviors. Being funded by Templeton, I will not be the least surprised if the conclusions of this study find some "need" supported by inane philosophical arguments of the McGrath type.

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