1. PLEASE WRITE IN SUPPORT OF PZ MYERS

Comment #208715 by Gibster on July 11, 2008 at 7:11 am

My email:

Mr Bruininks,

I am an Australian living in the UK, and had never heard of your University until I started reading PZ's blog. The esteem and affection he holds for the University of Minnesota is obvious to everyone who reads his blog, and is of incalculable value to your University's reputation.

If myself or anyone I have contact with was in a position to be dealing with your University at any point, I would not hesitate in recommending it as a place which obviously values freedom of expression and free enquiry.

I trust that the recent controversy surrounding PZ's "Cracker" comment, and particularly the call from Bill Donohue to sack PZ, will not cause you to take any undue actions.

I implore you to use this controversy as an opportunity to further enhance your University's reputation by condemning Bill Donohue, and expressing your commitment to PZ, and to freedom of speech.

Best Regards,

2. Religious groups want Russian cartoon channel shut down

Comment #146428 by Gibster on March 19, 2008 at 4:38 am

The Consultative Council of the Heads of Protestant Churches in Russia sent a letter to Chaika on Wednesday, accusing 2x2 of promoting "cruelty, violence, homosexual propaganda, religious hatred and intolerance" by airing cartoons such as "South Park,"...

It might be a good idea if those bozos actually watched the show.

Cruelty ? No, it might show it, but it does not promote it.
Violence ? Same.
Homosexual propaganda ? If "propaganda" means treating people like equals, then they're guilty.
Religious hatred ? Appropriate lack of respect certainly. Hatred ? Definately not.
Intolerance ? Emphatically not. They're all for tolerance. It's the heads of the protestant churches that are against tolerance.

3. They prayed to cast Satan from my body

Comment #145009 by Gibster on March 17, 2008 at 7:06 am

This story sounds quite like stories coming from the cult of scientology to me.

My girlfriend used to love Gloria Jeans.. And they did a white hot chocolate which was fairly agreeable. Well, we have to make sacrifices.

4. They prayed to cast Satan from my body

Comment #144997 by Gibster on March 17, 2008 at 6:47 am

I'm from Perth. The heat isn't "relentless". It relents for a few months during winter...

I'm so sad to hear this story from someone from my home town. There aren't many overly religious people in Oz, but the ones that are, do sometimes go overboard....