1. New Zealand man sells his soul to 'Hell'

Comment #203805 by markg on July 3, 2008 at 4:31 pm

So when we die ........ we're all going for pizza and beer in NZ?

Not necessarily. For those of us in the U.S. who may not be able to afford the travel expense in the afterlife there's another option: http://www.hell2u.com/

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

Comment #203385 by markg on July 2, 2008 at 7:15 pm

The theory of intelligent design...

ID is not a theory. It's only a really bad idea.

3. Obama Wants to Expand Role of Religious Groups

Comment #203365 by markg on July 2, 2008 at 5:58 pm

That's dissapointing to see Obama wants to continue the faith based malarcky started by Bush. I hope (if elected) he doesn't end up doing this: http://www.theonion.com/content/video/bush_tours_america_to_survey

4. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #199427 by markg on June 25, 2008 at 6:40 pm

AWhaleofATale,

I think you posted on the wrong site. This is a clear-thinking oasis. What you are are looking for is www.crazybatshitbibleverses.com

5. God hates Mars

Comment #199412 by markg on June 25, 2008 at 6:07 pm

{edit} continuing form MaxD's post...
According to this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman Batman is a philanthropist. Surely he has given charitably to fund some sort of medical research.

6. Award-winning comedian George Carlin dies

Comment #198394 by markg on June 23, 2008 at 6:25 pm

Come on people, where are your manners? Let's try and keep this website clean and give it some more class.



feces
urine
fornication
vagina
fellatio-giver
maternal fornicator
mammary glands

I'll miss you, fornicator.

7. Muslim countries win concession regarding religious debates

Comment #197665 by markg on June 22, 2008 at 1:04 pm

289. Comment #197383 by Fanusi Khiyal

I think your connection of DDT ban with R. Carson is a post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy

Further the environmentalist movement has been against draining swamps as another way of fighting this scourge.

You're kidding, right? Destroying an ecosystem to eliminate one pest is the solution?

What's with the hangup on DDT? The fact is DDT and other pesticides are still being used to fight malaria.

http://www.junkscience.com/malaria_clock.html

And this is a disgrace:

junkscience.com is exactly that: junk science
The same website that says global warming is a myth and has contributors such as Steve Milloy, an anti-environmentalist who formerly advocated on behalf of the tobacco lobby saying smoking doesn't cause cancer.

See this: http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=10175

"Sanity now appears to be returning to the malaria debate. At meetings on the implementation of the Stockholm convention, WHO put out another restatement of its position, this time stressing the commitment to an eventual phase-out of DDT, while noting that its use would continue until adequate substitutes were found."

emphasis mine

8. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #197367 by markg on June 21, 2008 at 10:24 pm

Hi Quine,

I agree with your post. I was just slightly surprised to find he's Christian after reading the blog on corn evolution by human selection.

9. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #197358 by markg on June 21, 2008 at 9:01 pm

8436. Comment #197353 by Quine
Here is an excellent article for those interested in the evolution by human selection of teosinte into maize.

I found that article/blog also, via google. He seems to be of the Ken Miller school of thought. If you check out some of his other blog posts you'll find he's a reformed christain and a biology professor at Calvin College (christian liberal arts college) in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

10. Muslim countries win concession regarding religious debates

Comment #197339 by markg on June 21, 2008 at 7:25 pm

276. Comment #197075 by Fanusi Khiyal
This is why we have eighty million dead from malaria thanks to that narcissistic whore Rachel Carson and the DDT ban.

Not true. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT#Criticism_of_restrictions_on_DDT_use :

"Although the publication of Silent Spring undoubtedly influenced the U.S. ban on DDT in 1972, the reduced usage of DDT in malaria eradication began the decade before because of the emergence of DDT-resistant mosquitoes. Paul Russell, a former head of the Allied Anti-Malaria campaign, observed in 1956 that eradication programs had to be wary of relying on DDT for too long as "resistance has appeared [after] six or seven years."[18]

and

"Criticisms of a ban on DDT often refer specifically to the 1972 US ban (with the implication that this constituted a worldwide ban), while ignoring that DDT has not been banned for public health use in most areas of the world where malaria is endemic.[112] Reference is also often made to Rachel Carson's Silent Spring even though she never pushed for a ban on DDT. In fact, she devoted a page of the book to consideration of the relationship between DDT and malarial mosquitoes, with cognizance of the development of resistance in the mosquito, concluding:

It is more sensible in some cases to take a small amount of damage in preference to having none for a time but paying for it in the long run by losing the very means of fighting [is the advice given in Holland by Dr Briejer in his capacity as director of the Plant Protection Service]. Practical advice should be "Spray as little as you possibly can" rather than "Spray to the limit of your capacity."

and

"A commentary on the current state of global malaria control was published in the May 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The authors identify "3 critical factors that are currently absent or in too short supply" for making progress in the fight against malaria: "leadership, management, and money," while making no mention of restrictions limiting the use of DDT. They also single out resistance of the malaria parasite to chloroquine as the cause of increasing malaria mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, not restrictions on DDT.[81]

11. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #194460 by markg on June 16, 2008 at 9:01 pm

designer please?

I'll help RtG: http://about.ralphlauren.com/default.asp?ab=footer_aboutus

I wouldn't be caught dead in those clothes, but the car looks nice.

12. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #192637 by markg on June 13, 2008 at 6:45 pm

ReceivedTheGift,

I hope you got a gift receipt because what you got is a crock of shit.

1 Corinthians 3:18-20 Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."

1 Corinthians 1:19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the lord and shun evil.

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

So God wants people to be stupid or loves stupid people, such as yourself?

Keep uselessly stirring the air with your prayers to your imaginary friend.

Mark Bless

13. Storm erupts over 'virginity' divorce

Comment #189759 by markg on June 7, 2008 at 7:29 am

Appleby,

Here's some other reading material that may answer some questions for you:

Warning: XXX-rated

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/34118

14. Louisiana's latest creationism bill moves to House floor

Comment #186589 by markg on May 30, 2008 at 6:52 pm

Teratornis,

Just check out the porn on the Internet.

Okay, if you say so, that's where I'll start.

Seriously though, very informative post as usual. Glad you're now on the side of reason.

15. Richard Dawkins Responds to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Comment #184366 by markg on May 24, 2008 at 8:28 pm

GordonYKWong,

Your clearmind link, fittingly, leads to absolutely nothing. Was that intentional?

16. A Tribute to Douglas Adams: Towel Day May 25th

Comment #184361 by markg on May 24, 2008 at 7:15 pm

OK, I'll participate, but only right after a shower in the morning.

17. The Faith of Flanders

Comment #184351 by markg on May 24, 2008 at 6:22 pm

Simpsons is hardly sympathetic towards Christianity. As someone who who grew up in a Christian evangelical environment (church until I was 15 and started protesting having to go, Christian school grades 1-7) I can tell you the parody is spot on. Where else can you hear a character on prime time TV singing those campy old sunday school songs? The show is hellarious.

18. Richard Dawkins Responds to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Comment #182331 by markg on May 19, 2008 at 6:38 pm

Neuro,

You may as well go outside, find a rock and name it 'clearmind' and then read what you just wrote to the newly named rock. I wouldn't want to say clearmind is as dumb as a rock, because then I would be insulting rocks. So I'll say he's dumber than a rock.

19. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #182320 by markg on May 19, 2008 at 5:00 pm

gr8hands:
Did Life Begin In Ice? from Discover Magazine's February 2008 issue shows that the chemicals always organized themselves into more complex structures without anyone's assistance.

I tried submitting that article to this site a few months ago, to no avail. I've submitted other items and they never appeared, so maybe I'm doing something wrong. Or they didn't want them.

Here's the alternative way to submit an article, though it's not on the front page: http://discovermagazine.com/2008/feb/did-life-evolve-in-ice/?searchterm=ice life origins

20. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #179185 by markg on May 12, 2008 at 8:52 pm

Goldy,

People in the US started complaining a few years ago before it started to reach US$2 per gal. Many (most?) have no clue what the price is in other countries.

21. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #179177 by markg on May 12, 2008 at 8:34 pm

It didn't have to be explained. It's just that some people may take it seriously. Someone like clearmind/wooter, for instance.

edit: ghuckin, when you say 'American' are you refering to North, South or Central America?

22. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #179173 by markg on May 12, 2008 at 8:20 pm

Where are these places you speak of, Burma and China? Are they in California? What, there's a whole world outside the US? [/sarcasm]

23. The Stupidity of Dignity

Comment #179161 by markg on May 12, 2008 at 7:50 pm

comment by Prieten
It takes billions of years to make oil. Our food supply has been expanded by confounding nature through the use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, all by-products of fossil fuels.

The cheap energy we have been using to overcome nature's limits is running out. What does this mean for the Earth's ability to sustain its population (one that is also living longer and longer)?

Are you really Teratornis posting as Prieten?

Just kidding...

24. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #178660 by markg on May 11, 2008 at 8:56 pm

If anyone needs any more proof txpiper is not here to seriously discuss evolution then check out his posts here: http://www.christianinformant.com/index.php?board=12.0

25. Evolution: What is 'Natural'?

Comment #178549 by markg on May 11, 2008 at 3:19 pm

Dr. Benway,

I'm not sure if this was ever clarified, is it the "three strikes" rule as in baseball (where he may bat the next inning) or as in legal system where he goes to prison?

26. Atheists are nice people who will roast in hell, says Cardinal

Comment #178369 by markg on May 11, 2008 at 10:01 am

"wanker" is a mighty big word for a Yank ... hope you didn't hurt yourself ...

Ha ha, very funny. Of course, I was joking around when I commented, if that wasn't clear to anyone. Just trying out some British slang, and no I didn't hurt myself.

Incidentally, my avatar is a character from this idiotic old show on Comedy Central: http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/crank_yankers/index.jhtml

27. Atheists are nice people who will roast in hell, says Cardinal

Comment #178091 by markg on May 10, 2008 at 1:25 pm

comment by Border Collie
Hey, will one of you Brits translate "nipping to the shops"? At least I'll learn something. Thanks.

I'm not a Brit, I'm a Yank but I'll take a bloody stab at it, in case they are having tea or at the Pub. 'Nipping' means 'going' according to this British slang dictionary: http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/n.htm
Now piss off ya wanker.

28. Atheists are nice people who will roast in hell, says Cardinal

Comment #177810 by markg on May 9, 2008 at 6:25 pm

Great, it's about time we had a roast. A few weeks ago it was baking night at RD.net. I was sick for days from all the baked sweets.

I'll bring the suckling pig, oysters and get some marshmallows for the kids.

29. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #177254 by markg on May 8, 2008 at 8:32 pm

MPhil,

Sorry, I wasn't trying to criticize. I didn't understand and so my lame attempt at humor...

Thanks for explaining it.

30. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #177245 by markg on May 8, 2008 at 8:14 pm

Mphil, sorry this is from a few pages ago:

Something that is not a FACT can never become a FACT.

If I say, 'Barack Obama is the President', that is not a fact. However, if he is elected in Nov. and I say the same thing again, it is now a fact. As Ricky Ricardo would say, 'You've got some 'splanin to do'. hehe

31. Truly Bizarre : Indians Throw Babies 50ft From Roof To Thank God.

Comment #174907 by markg on May 3, 2008 at 7:32 pm

comment by RationalistHT

Aren't babies' brains hurt by jostling around in their skulls? And wouldn't this tend to do that?

I was wondering the same thing. Even though some of the force of impact is absorbed by the catching, I wonder what is happening to the infants' brain inside it's skull. Or what if they landed in an odd position and broke a bone or did other damage? I wouldn't be surprised if that happened.

edit Notice they don't do this to anyone old enough to put up a fight such as older child or adult? Gee, I wonder why.

32. Police: Girl Dies After Parents Pray for Healing Instead of Seeking Medical Help

Comment #174184 by markg on May 1, 2008 at 8:17 pm

Here is an update http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=745889

The parents have been charged with second-degree reckless homicide.

33. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #172553 by markg on April 29, 2008 at 6:01 pm

MPhil,

You look like you could be in Metallica (before they got old and cut their hair) or some other band. No offense meant.
How did you animate your picture? Also, it's nice to see what people really look like - I imagined you older. Seeing you, al rawandi and others makes me feel older now.

This from a guy who's avatar is a puppet -non sock variety.

34. Anti-Evolution Film Misappropriates the Holocaust

Comment #172526 by markg on April 29, 2008 at 4:59 pm

comment by dloubet:
Is there some official Hebrew lower caste that Ben can be a member of, or do we just get to call him unclean?

If you look in a Yiddish slang dictionary, these words would describe Ben Stein:

bubkis - nothing, but less than nothing if possible
shmuck - idiot
shmendrik - jerk, but so much more
shlemiel - clumsy dope, klutz
shmeckle - penis

35. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #170150 by markg on April 27, 2008 at 12:46 pm

clearmind had a brain fart:
I do not need to see such a dream. I believe in God already.

(Do you ascribe supernatural character to them, such as messages from God? If so, are all of your dreams messages from God, even the naughty ones you occasionally have? If not, how do you tell the difference? Do you only get "God" dreams after you've stopped taking your meds for a period of time?)

I explained it already. But let me put it another way:

Dreams are the reflections of our daily life, our beliefs, fears, loves, likes dislikes; They are like a mirror which reflect what we are what we do and we have in our minds; Divine dreams are the true ones which God helps us if we are doing something wrong.

If your mother says, Rian, please believe in God or Allah. Please I am begging you. Or in your dream, you died and they put you in grave and they left. Suddenly you noticed that you are not dead and your soul leaves your body dress and go up to heaven to face God. Suddenly you woke up. It was a dream and you just said abruptly "THANK GOD it was a dream."

Each of us have faith in our hearths but a few of us just buried it with some illogical ideas and we can't revivify it.


To MAXD
Why should we take anything from dreams too seriously?

Dreams can be divided into three categories;

1. Divine ones that can help people to lead to the truth
2. If you think of something deeply in a specific day, then, you can dream something about that thing which boggled your mind all day.
3. That depends on person's state of mind; some people can have bad dreams because of their abnormal psychology and mental state of their mind.

Yours go for item 2.

I know that atheists avoid talking about spiritual; based conceptions but dreams are true and we see our dreams WHILE OUR EYES ARE CLOSED. How is that possible? Because our eyes are the windows of our souls.

This may make sense to you then, a quote by a famous American who seems to speak your language:
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/multimedia/bushism_wings_take_dream.mp3

36. Soldier Sues Army, Saying His Atheism Led to Threats

Comment #170086 by markg on April 27, 2008 at 10:55 am

Michael P. said:

Jeremy Hall's story, and related issues, are being covered right now on CBS Sunday Moring; I don't know if it will be available online.

Here it is:


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/27/sunday/main4048492.shtml

37. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #169349 by markg on April 25, 2008 at 7:56 pm

riandouglas,

Someone else can probably explain this much better, but you can reload comments while you are composing your post.

The alternate thread is where posts may end up if the poster is offensive and a complete troll. It takes a lot of obnoxious posts to end up there (see Vox Day/Irrational Atheist thread).

edit: Diacanu beat my slow typing fingers.

38. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #169347 by markg on April 25, 2008 at 7:47 pm

clearmind said:

silkworms...How come they eat leaves but produce milk?

Are you aware their are other creatures that eat leaves and produce milk? Cows, goats, sheep, humans, etc?

39. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #169280 by markg on April 25, 2008 at 5:12 pm

So Caesar created himself?

Not sure about this, but he definitely created a tasty salad.

40. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #169278 by markg on April 25, 2008 at 5:05 pm

Corylus, do you have any baking advice for Devil's Food cake? For the sponge cake, what temp. and how long in the oven?

41. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #169268 by markg on April 25, 2008 at 4:52 pm

Corylus

One question. Where did the eggs, flour, sugar, butter, etc. come from?

42. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #169258 by markg on April 25, 2008 at 4:47 pm

Remnant said:

I might tell you later about a new theory of nothing from something or nothing from nothing.

Oh great, here we go again with more proselytizing and bible quoting.

43. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #169240 by markg on April 25, 2008 at 4:32 pm

Christian Definitions

God is the creator of the universe

ID teacher(at an unaccreditted Christian school): Today we are going to study the universe.
Student: Who made the universe?
ID teacher: God did, let's just talk about the universe.
Student: Where did God come from?
ID teacher: God has always been here.
Student: But God can't just happen. Someone or something had to make him.
ID teacher: We are here to talk bout the universe.
Student: Yes but God can't just happen out of nothing. There must have been a God maker.
ID teacher: That's not true. Biblical research has shown that a God maker is unnecessary.
Student: But...
ID teacher: We cannot discuss old myths and
your mis-guided beliefs. Do you want to get me fired?
Student: But there must have been a God maker.
ID teacher: You are not being biblical, you believe the bible and better get with the program if you want to succeed in life. Christian people don't believe evolution.
Student: But I learned...
ID teacher: You are being disruptive! do you want detention or a referral?
Student: No
ID teacher: Then sit down, be silent, and listen. Now students, let's talk about this universe.
Student: What about the Flood?

44. Rep. Davis: The Worst Person in the World

Comment #163698 by markg on April 18, 2008 at 7:53 pm

Check out this recent "Worst Person" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/24116754#24116754

Olbermann names atheist Rob Sherman worst person for referring to Rep. Davis as "Negro".

45. The Child Preachers

Comment #163690 by markg on April 18, 2008 at 7:24 pm

Son.of.God

I want to be a preacher.

As I recall, you were a preacher, about 2008 years ago. Edit: Is old age getting the better of your memory?

46. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #163678 by markg on April 18, 2008 at 6:54 pm

I now understand why creationists don't agree with evolution, Christians don't believe in reason and logic. That's simple enough to explain. To bad as a Christian you can't explain how God created anything. That would give a little validity to your 'Theory', that is, it is only a theory and NOT a proven fact. I do have one question though, how can you possibly believe that modern science (in multiple fields) is falsified by a bunch of Bronze-Age myths written by dumb goat-herders.

47. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #163658 by markg on April 18, 2008 at 6:07 pm

comment by tstinchcombe:

...except that apparently Robertson didn't actually say it: http://www.snopes.com/katrina/satire/robertson.asp

If that's true, and it seems likely now, I stand corrected. Looks like an urban legend that maybe originated from a satirical "news item."

edit: Here are some real crazy things (alegedly) said by Robertson: http://en.thinkexist.com/quotes/pat_robertson/

48. The simple falsehood at the heart of Expelled

Comment #163647 by markg on April 18, 2008 at 5:27 pm

comment by theonlything2fear

I just can't seem to get beyond the title

This seems to be the problem of many recent visitors linked here from Expelled website. Try opening the book and reading it. It's easy, hold the book in your right hand, with your left hand grasp the cover and open it to your left. Continue this procedure with each page until you get to Chapter 1. Next use your eyes to read the words on the page...

49. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #163641 by markg on April 18, 2008 at 5:12 pm

comment by BillySands

No idea who Ellen Degeneres is

Ellen Degeneres is a comedian who happens to be a very out Lesbian. She now also has her own nationally syndicated talkshow. She's also famous for partially causing Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, according to Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.

Sorry for more U.S. references, that's one area I'm an expert, having lived here my whole life.

50. Victims: Pope Benedict Protects Accused Pedophile Bishops

Comment #162379 by markg on April 16, 2008 at 7:45 pm

Thanks for the entertainment, have to go count sheep now.