









301. Saudi Marriage Officiant : 'It Is Allowed To Marry A Girl At The Age Of One'.
Comment #199132 by Border Collie on June 25, 2008 at 8:17 am
Obviously still stuck in the women/children are chattel thing. Interesting how chattel rhymes with cattle. I just love how pathology institutionalizes itself so it can be be peachy for the perpetrators. I wonder how old those seventy something virgins are in Heaven? They should really stick to beastiality until the girls are at least 18. Sick is sick is sick ...
302. Philadelphia Set to Honor Darwin and Evolution
Comment #198808 by Border Collie on June 24, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Not taking issue with anyone here, but I hope we can get away from talking about "belief" in evolution or "believing" in evolution. I think we're adopting the wingnuts' language when we do that. Sort of like it could be disbelieved. I think it was Alan Watts who described "belief" as a 'fervent wish that something is true'. I don't fervently wish that evolution is true. I don't "believe" in fossils; I see them. I'll work on coming up with a better word. Maybe some of you guys who are a lot smarter than I am can help. I see evolution. After reading Darwin, I understand it to a small degree. It makes complete logical sense to me. I don't think that there will ever come a time when I "disbelieve" it. So, anyway ...
303. Philadelphia Set to Honor Darwin and Evolution
Comment #198567 by Border Collie on June 24, 2008 at 9:03 am
Thanks, Steve!!! LMAO!!!!!!!!!
304. Philadelphia Set to Honor Darwin and Evolution
Comment #198558 by Border Collie on June 24, 2008 at 8:54 am
Even when I was a dumbass little kid (like 6), forced to go to fundamentalist Baptist churches in Texas, I wasn't able to 'take' the Bible literally. How can it be taken literally? It cancels itself out. Where DID those other women come from that Adam's and Eve's son married? And that's just one of the first, easy ones. Oh, I forgot, don't question God, God works in mysterious ways and we'll get our answers in Heaven. Can't wait.
305. Science is not philosophy
Comment #198550 by Border Collie on June 24, 2008 at 8:42 am
OK, so one more apparently rational person goes to see the movie, thus, validating it with the dollar yet again. And, it's 'critiqued' one more time, keeping it twitching in its death throes, when it could just die the natural death it deserves. Validation by the dollar is the same whether it comes from a IDiot or an atheist. I love EricTheRed's comment!
306. Carlin on Religion
Comment #198300 by Border Collie on June 23, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Fifty years ago started saying the things we wanted to say, but were afraid to. Too late now,
but imagine this ... a Carlin - Hitchens "debate" ... we'd have no unbroken ribs ...
Good-bye Mr. Carlin, this reality won't be the same without you.
307. The Flea Delusion
Comment #198110 by Border Collie on June 23, 2008 at 8:21 am
I appreciate the flea books being identified. The book stores here in Cowtown will put the fleas in the science section and, otherwise, I have to sort through them to ascertain which are science and which are baloney. Sometimes it's not so obvious, by title, which ones are the fleas.
308. The Flea Delusion
Comment #198101 by Border Collie on June 23, 2008 at 7:58 am
Spinoza ... thanks ... I thought it was the same guy. Those corporate coach guys are generally nothing but corporate evangelists anyway ... 95% screaming, 5% usable information. He's just looking to maybe make a little money and promote himself ... book with give him some bragging bytes while he's administering emotional enemas to corporate sheeple (love that word - thanks Rod).
309. Award-winning comedian George Carlin dies
Comment #198093 by Border Collie on June 23, 2008 at 7:43 am
Mr. Carlin started off as a rock and roll DJ at KXOL in Fort Worth way back when I was a little kid and AM radio was THE thing. Makes me wonder sometimes if being stuck for a while in a redneck, overly religious, ultra conservative city doesn't help light the fuse on an open minded, intelligent, very funny rocket like George. Damn, what a guy!
310. The Flea Delusion
Comment #197715 by Border Collie on June 22, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Is this "Haas" the people skills corporate coach/emotional enema experience guy?
311. On this Day: Galileo Sentenced for Believing Sun Is Center of Universe
Comment #197712 by Border Collie on June 22, 2008 at 2:15 pm
I guess it's good that Mr. G didn't live during the Bush administration ... he'd have REALLY been in trouble.
312. Where do US lawmakers stand on science?
Comment #197696 by Border Collie on June 22, 2008 at 2:02 pm
There's a new oil drilling "reality" show on Tru TV in the US. Their website is probably where most politicians in the US learn their science. Note the following Q/A quote from the site (How 'bout that last sentence?!):
Does oil really come from dinosaurs or is that just a myth?
They don't call it "fossil fuel" for nothing. Plant and animal life from about 300 million years ago was "cooked" beneath the earth's surface to create oil, natural gas and coal �quot; your basic fossil fuels. While dinosaurs were part of that fossil mix, most oil comes from prehistoric marine plankton and algae. Exxon may have claimed to "put a tiger in your tank," but it's more likely part decomposed saber tooth tiger.
313. The Flea Delusion
Comment #197678 by Border Collie on June 22, 2008 at 1:36 pm
LMAO at the posts. You guys are way too funny and witty for a guy who's just eaten lunch! I think these fleas should try writing some sort of proactive, instead of reactive, book. I don't care about what ... doesn't matter. I think they'd find it infinitely more difficult to come up with their own original stuff. Like that will happen ...
Comment #197573 by Border Collie on June 22, 2008 at 10:39 am
Discovery Institute ... if the LSEA is not a ploy to get religion or creationism into science classes, then what is it? Oh, I know, I know, it's just the foam-padded crowbar. And, if "strident British atheist Richard Dawkins" is not a US citizen, not a Louisiana legislator & not on a Louisiana school board, what on Earth are you going on about? Therefore, shut the f&%k up and go away. Please.
315. 'I despise Islamism': Ian McEwan faces backlash over press interview
Comment #197543 by Border Collie on June 22, 2008 at 10:02 am
My, my, seems like more and more people and groups have difficulty with the truth being stated. Every totalitarian whatever wants to shut the artists (and rationalists) up first. Pathology just doesn't like looking into that mirror. And while we're all sitting around equivocating, worrying, nervously twitching and sanctimoniously posturing in our politically correct neuroses, the Islamists are loading their AK's and strapping bombs onto their fourteen year old boys and girls. Am I saying the West is perfect? Not by any means. But, the spreading ocean of poison known as Islam is NOT a mirage. Right on, Salman, Ian, Richard and all others who promote sanity on this planet!
316. Christianity 'could die out within a century'
Comment #197477 by Border Collie on June 22, 2008 at 8:08 am
Christianity dying out? Just about as much chance as superstition and stupidity dying out. Christianity dying out and leaving a huge vacuum for Islam to fill. Oh, wouldn't that be lovely?
317. What Happens When a School Board of Religious Zealots Will 'Lie for Jesus'?
Comment #197236 by Border Collie on June 21, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Lying for Jesus? Oh, God, tell me it isn't so!!! Boo, hoo, hoo! My world is shattered!!! Just kidding. No, really, any of you guys who were raised by/with fundies already know that they are some of the worst liars on the planet. I do some work in real estate and any time I walked into a house-builder's office and saw a stack of religious books on his desk (yes, it's common in Texas), I'd just turn around and walk out like I was lost because I knew that everything he would say to me would be a lie. It happened too many times.
318. What Happens When a School Board of Religious Zealots Will 'Lie for Jesus'?
Comment #197231 by Border Collie on June 21, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I DO NOT put up with people asking me "Are you saved?" any longer. My response varies, but is essentially all or part of this: "Are you? It's none of your f'ing business. You have no right to ask me that question. Are you being paid for this? Get out of my face now or I'll call the police. (yelling) Religious abuse! Religious abuse! and/or the always welcome 'Bite me or F' you'. Most of the time I just walk away, if I can. You can't believe how pernicious and persistent the "are you saved" a'holes are in Texas. I've even threatened a few with physical harm. But, sometimes I really feel like having fun with them so I 'escalate to the ridiculous' by singing/praying/praising very loudly and ridiculously and doing the fundy sway (like the football wave). Along with that, I've even started to limp and asked them to cure me. Sometimes I just pretend that I'm deaf. So, see, if you have a slightly crazy streak like me, you really can have fun with fundies ... if you're so inclined.
Comment #197171 by Border Collie on June 21, 2008 at 9:31 am
Sorry, guys, but RD can't hold a candle to screeching, screaming, stomping, sweating, spitting, pounding, eye-rolling, trembling, etc., fundamentalists when it comes to being strident. Ain't that a shame?
320. Louisiana's Latest Assault on Darwin
Comment #197169 by Border Collie on June 21, 2008 at 9:27 am
Like I said before, if someone would just attach a rider to this bill prohibiting crayfish eating, frog gigging, Tobasco Sauce using, bass fishing, football playing, snuff dipping, pickup driving, pirot paddling, cousin marrying, etc., this bill would not pass.
Comment #197160 by Border Collie on June 21, 2008 at 8:59 am
What, like Darwin/evo need a defender? But, if RD is such a "defender", then fine. His fortitude is beyond belief. Any science class worth its salt would, in its normal course, discuss the ups and downs of Darwinism/evo. They don't need a legislative act to force them to do so. And, they certainly don't need this wolf in sheeps' clothing stifling intellectual freedom. There are probably thousands of Christian schools and churches in Louisiana ... why not teach their ID/creationism "stuff" there? And, if "we're not a colony anymore", why are their panties in a wad over anything RD says or does? Well, maybe it's the evidence based intellectual force of RD's and Brother Darwin's arguments. That's just my opinion. And, as always, legislate your little chickens&%t ID/creationism agenda into the public schools. Fine. But we get to teach Darwin/evo in the churches and Christian schools. Tit for tat. And, as the old joke goes ... "We won't think in your churches if you won't pray (or teach ID) in our schools."
322. Science teacher dissed evolution
Comment #196779 by Border Collie on June 20, 2008 at 12:34 pm
If this guy actually burned flesh, I'd say his personal problems go way beyond teaching religion in a science classroom. Seems like he might need to be in an involuntary therapeutic environment for a few decades. The school administration and school board might check in for a few therapeutic sessions also.
323. Pastors Challenge Law, Endorse Candidates From Pulpit
Comment #196770 by Border Collie on June 20, 2008 at 12:27 pm
If there's anything I loathe more than religious wingnuts, it's the IRS ...
324. Lawsuit filed over 'I Believe' plates in S.C.
Comment #196750 by Border Collie on June 20, 2008 at 12:03 pm
DPB ... great comment ... ha, ha, ha, ha ...!
"cheapen, compromises, shallow" ... Like it takes the State to do that? Hell, let 'em do it, who cares? Maybe they won't have any $ left over to buy the little Jesus fish. I can't wait until one of them shows up on Cops, drunk and stupid, with the "I Believe" license plate.
325. Muslim countries win concession regarding religious debates
Comment #196731 by Border Collie on June 20, 2008 at 11:34 am
I vote for Hitchens to head the UN! Yippie ki yo!!! He has more going on in his little finger than that bunch has in their collective grey matter. And, maybe the Rev. Barry Lynn also. Hey, he IS a rev.
326. Muslim countries win concession regarding religious debates
Comment #196727 by Border Collie on June 20, 2008 at 11:32 am
"Only religious scholars should be allowed to discuss matters of faith" ... That must be one of the stupidest statements to EVER pass human lips ... and I mean since since we were throwing rocks and eating raw antelope appendages on the savannahs ... I say fill the UN with bonobos! At least it would be fun to watch. Jesus H. F'ing Christ, what a bunch of f'tards ... my dog has more going on in his brain than that entire room ...
327. Muslim countries win concession regarding religious debates
Comment #196678 by Border Collie on June 20, 2008 at 10:21 am
Thus, suicide/homocide bombings, flying jets into skyscrapers, stoning women to death, etc., are matters of faith, so we won't be able to discuss such. My, my, isn't that convenient for the perpetrators.
"Hey, wow, I feel like blowing something to bits. What? Don't question my motives, infidel! My motives and actions are matters of faith!"
crabsallover ... thanks for the links. Jeez, what a bunch of do-nothing wankers who need to get real jobs. And, puuuulease, don't question the barbarity of these a-holes ....
This stuff gives me diarrhea ...
328. Teen's death blamed on faith healing
Comment #196664 by Border Collie on June 20, 2008 at 10:06 am
Similarly idiotic to Muslim parents who beam with tears of ape-ish joy when their children go off to blow themselves to bits for Allah. Sorry folks, I don't care what Oregon says, fourteen year old kids are not old enough to make those decisions for themselves. And the parents escape into "religion" ... Hitchens is right. People with death wishes shouldn't have children.
329. It Doesn't Take an Einstein
Comment #196120 by Border Collie on June 19, 2008 at 10:21 am
I met Stephen J. Gould one time about twenty years ago. I'm speculating and probably projecting here, but he seemed to be an utterly worn out guy. Maybe he was ill also. I don't know. I do know that the fundies had been beating him to a pulp forever and that they continued such until he died. Even though he was an extremely courageous person in the face of all the abuse he took from the wingnuts, I think I can understand maybe why he wanted to make a statement about separating religion and science. The pressure from the religious goons here in the US is enormous, continuous and venomous.
330. The Mother, The Child, The School Board And The Psychic
Comment #196087 by Border Collie on June 19, 2008 at 9:30 am
Greyman ... thanks for your nice response. For any of you with "handicapped" children, I have enormous respect for you. In all fairness to the school itself ... not the roaches who dreamed this bulls&%t up ... I know that many/most times the schools simply don't have the resources (money, time, expertise, training, intelligence, desire, whatever) to deal with children with problems like autism. Many times, by law, the schools are put in the position of being forced to provide services which they simply can't provide. Lawmakers are typically very duplicitous on things like this ... forcing schools to provide while not providing funding to the schools to provide the required services.
Disregarding the issues of the school people involved in this, I would challenge any reader of this post, including myself, to be in a room with a child with problems, say, for instance, a child "with" autism, while that child is exhibiting bizzare repetitive behaviors, screaming, self-mutilating, masturbating, physically/sexually attacking you, whatever, and remain calm, composed, rational, etc. It is like no other challenge you've faced. You believe that you're a rational person until you're thrust into such a situation. Every archaic, primitive belief, superstition, whatever, you've ever heard of surfaces. This becomes especially difficult for caretakers/teachers/parents when the children reach puberty and start exhibiting the odd "sexual" behaviors. I guess to make a long story short, having a "handicapped" child of any sort is very difficult on all concerned. I just wish that these school people (and I'm conjecturing here) could have found a more adult way of informing the mother that they simply couldn't deal with or didn't want to have the daughter in their school any longer. From what little I saw on the video, the daughter didn't seem all that problematic. I've seen much, much worse. Apologies for the long rant.
331. The Mother, The Child, The School Board And The Psychic
Comment #196012 by Border Collie on June 19, 2008 at 7:55 am
After reading this story here and on the newspaper site a couple of times, I'll be surprised if there really is a "psychic" involved. I saw outrageous stuff like this happen many times when I was teaching handicapped children. Here's sort of how it works ... 1) Call the parent(s) with an "emergency", but don't state what it is.
2. Claim some outrageous incident which strikes directly at the heart of a parent's worst fears.
3. Attribute the claim to a lower level employee of the institution and further remove responsibility for the claim to someone outside the system like a "psychic". They can't attribute the claim to a psychologist or psychiatrist; there would be records.
4. Make an "official" report to further remove responsibility to an outisde agency which they know must respond.
From this point, they hope that responsibility for the child will just go away or be transferred to some othe state agency.
Seems to me that they just wanted to get rid of the child and or that the school fools have some real psychiatric issues with their own sexuality.
Typically, the "sexual" behavior(s) that autistic children exhibit are nothing more than another obsessive/compulsive behavior from a large variety of o/c behaviors that they typically exhibit.
"led them to suspect a bladder infection" WTF?! These people need therapy ... bad.
332. The Mother, The Child, The School Board And The Psychic
Comment #196003 by Border Collie on June 19, 2008 at 7:09 am
I used to work with/teach autistic kids. Raising an autistic child is hell. I would see parents age a decade in a year. And, now, this woman has to deal with these school idiots also. Their whole game was probably forcing the child out of the school because they didn't want to deal with her. This sort of wacko behavior occurs alot with schools and other institutions when dealing with children with severe problems. They know that the parents are on the edge of hopelessness and are very fragile all the time anyway and they know that sometimes just a little weird push will get the child and the parent to "just go away". Pathetic. Psychic, my ass. They might have just made the psychic thing up.
333. Darwinists for Jesus
Comment #195963 by Border Collie on June 19, 2008 at 6:07 am
What on Earth was that last anecdote about?! ... The typical inability to separate sex and guilt?! I really wish writers wouldn't throw that "from left field" stuff in. Creepy ... Anyway, I was where this guy was for a long time. Still am to a small degree. However, it seems to be another attempt to absorb evo into the dominant paradigm/mythos of the culture. Has to be the other way around. The dominant paradigm/mythos has to keep up with science. Otherwise it (p/m) loses its relevance. Can't overlook the fact that evo is a completely new(er) thing which can't go backwards. Get a bigger god/view of life. Don't try to make evo fit your small god/view of life.
334. Charles Darwin: 'Is man an ape or an angel?'
Comment #195538 by Border Collie on June 18, 2008 at 12:31 pm
glenister_m ... good point ...
My response to "unbelievers & un-understanders" is usually ... "Come back after you've read Origin two or three times and we can talk."
335. George W Bush meets Pope amid claims he might convert to Catholicism
Comment #194711 by Border Collie on June 17, 2008 at 7:52 am
You know, if he converts it will cause an enormous amount of cognitive dissonance with the protestant fundies (like my parents and TWP's grand daddy) who have supported him all these many years. These protestant fundies love Bush, but hate Catholics. Maybe their brains will explode. So, if you guys see a Texas shaped mushroom cloud, you'll know what happened.
336. Rapture site sends unbelievers their last chance ... via email
Comment #194681 by Border Collie on June 17, 2008 at 7:28 am
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Actually, sounds like a pretty good cash flow generator to me.
337. Physicists in Congress Calculate Their Influence
Comment #194392 by Border Collie on June 16, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Mr. Holt said, "Proximity counts."
Damn, I love it, give that boy an A in English (and for having a brain)"!!! I mean it!
I didn't know there was anyone remaining in the English speaking world who doesn't say "close proximity" ...
Now, I'm gonna go an ultimate distance and get a hamburger.
338. Vatican bans Dan Brown film Angels & Demons from Rome churches
Comment #193959 by Border Collie on June 16, 2008 at 8:44 am
Dan, Dan, Dan, shame on you! You should know better than to write a book bringing the feminine principle into the largest, most jaded conclave of pedophiles on the planet. Run, Forrest, run!
339. George W Bush meets Pope amid claims he might convert to Catholicism
Comment #193954 by Border Collie on June 16, 2008 at 8:38 am
Just gets weirder every day. Maybe GWB is vying for King of the Earth or something like that. I mean, hey, The Pope, Bush & Blair ... the father, the son and the holy spirit. Makes me want to run screaming up to the New Mexico border and not come back to Texas for awhile. TWP ... you're absolutely correct ... I took the eastern route out of this brand of Christianity. I'm not saying that Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. don't have their "fundamentalists", they do, but overall, they're more simply an approach to life, a philosophy, not so much a fingernail-on-the-chalkboard religion. It's a long crooked path out of the general stupidity of religion.
340. Scientists confirm that parts of earliest genetic material may have come from the stars
Comment #193440 by Border Collie on June 15, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Imagine that ... life came from stuff in the universe ... no, seriously, fascinating ...
341. Stephen Hawking: ministers' £80m error puts science at risk
Comment #193438 by Border Collie on June 15, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Just another way to undermine science ... mistake or not.
342. Only a Theory
Comment #193433 by Border Collie on June 15, 2008 at 3:29 pm
OK, let's "teach the controversy" in every subject. How 'bout math and reading. I assert that Dick, Jane, Spot & Puff equal four entities. Now, surely, there is someone out there to challenge this assertion. I mean, maybe the rest of us have missed something. What has happened to the NPR announcers & interviewers? I thought NPR was aimed at intelligent people.
343. Breaking the Silence
Comment #193373 by Border Collie on June 15, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I saw a small piece of one of her video battles with that moronic cleric ... nothing better than listening to one intelligent pissed-off woman go toe-to-toe with a religious cave man!
344. Divine Impulses: Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Comment #193368 by Border Collie on June 15, 2008 at 1:13 pm
What's the "purpose" of female "circumscision"? In three words ... control of women ...
345. As the world becomes smaller, the need to understand each other's faith grows
Comment #193299 by Border Collie on June 15, 2008 at 8:22 am
OK, all together now, let's hold our collective breath until all the religions of the world come to understand, empathize and get along with each other.
346. As the world becomes smaller, the need to understand each other's faith grows
Comment #193298 by Border Collie on June 15, 2008 at 8:19 am
The good thing about articles like this is that I get to LMAO at the posts on a Sunday morning instead of lobbing moist cow chips at the church across the street. Oh, yea, let's have MORE religion! Damn. Just like the alcoholic thinks that MORE alcohol is going to solve his problems. Sing along now ... Drop kick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life ......
347. As the world becomes smaller, the need to understand each other's faith grows
Comment #193293 by Border Collie on June 15, 2008 at 8:09 am
Hey, Tony, how about Reasonism?
348. Behe's Empty Box
Comment #193288 by Border Collie on June 15, 2008 at 7:59 am
Unfortunately, it's important to keep up with the Behe's of the world because their brand of tripe is the only education that much of the US receives. In a country where the school systems have gone to hell, many people get most or all of their "education" from church, religious schools, TV, tabloids, etc. which is to say, no education at all. Yippie ki yo ...
Comment #193279 by Border Collie on June 15, 2008 at 7:09 am
Let's not get caught up in the minutia (stated goals, stated beliefs, etc.) of YECs, creationists, ID'ers, etc. I know what they want. I was raised with them, I live/work with them every day. Their goal is to get a crowbar of some sort into the school system, the political system, the whatever system and then really go to work. They see it all as part of the "great commission" ... to save the world. Their processes might be more sophisticated, but their goal is the same. And, it's not just Darwin they'll be after. It will be any and all reason. I hear it everyday. Even though Evo is the "hot topic", they take issue with math, English, literature, music, astronomy, physics, geology, anything and everything that doesn't fit their little world view. And, although we generally don't hear about it as much, they're working constantly in all of those other fields, always trying to change things to fit the fundie view. So, anyway, it's not just Evo/Darwin that's at risk here.
Comment #193276 by Border Collie on June 15, 2008 at 6:35 am
I don't remember that evolution was such a hot topic when I was a kid doing the fundie Baptist, YEC thing in a rural Texas church. It seems to have gotten much worse in recent years. Religion getting even more mixed up with money/politics caused that, I guess. At that time, Evolution, Darwin, Jews, Catholics, Communists, Atheists, Methodists, Church of Christ'ers and assorted "not saved others" were either taboo subjects or all were going straight to hell ... simple as that. No argument. Everyone believed it. I rather rubbed me the wrong way, though. I actually had some Church of Christ friends and they "seemed" like people to me. (That's another form of the abuse that RD talks about. So even if I'm/you're saved; my/your "other" friends aren't. So they won't be going to heaven with you. That sweet little blue-eyes country girl you have a crush on and your friend that you stand around and drink Grape sodas with will be suffering the torments of hell instead. When one is just a dumbass kid, that's a very hurtful thing to believe.) Then high school comes along and I hear about Evolution. I get a Time-Life book, Evolution. I read it. Makes perfect sense to me. I mean, really, when one is a country kid, it just isn't much of a jump from the everyday artificial selection involving cattle, pigs, sheep, dogs, chickens, etc. to natural selection. I still have friends who believe that if something is not mentioned in the Bible that it simply doesn't exist. I don't argue with them any longer. I don't try to convince them of anything. I'll just ask them, in a friendly way, something like (and this isn't exactly a scientific, logical or Darwinian question) "Are weiner dogs (or chihuahuas) mentioned in the Bible?" Then I just shut up and let them struggle with it. And, sorry, but, yes, the arguments and questions with the YECS and fundies have to be on a toddler or kindergarten type level ... in Texas anyway.