Comments by Caudimordax

Comment #296405 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 2:03 pm

36. Comment #296382 by DalaiDrivel

Sorry Dalai! I was referring to a Bernstein who had everyone on another thread going because he claimed he shouldn't be expected to support gay marriage "just" because he's an atheist.

You mentioned civil rights - it was the churches who claimed (I should say "pointed out")before the civil war that the bible condones slavery. Blacks have had civil rights (at least technically) for some time, yet racism continues to exist without any reference to bible BS. Racists now make up their own stuff to justify their irrational beliefs. My point is that some people just have a visceral fear of "otherness" and use the bible to shore it up.

And I hope I not getting you worked up. That is not my intent at all.

352. 'Prop 8 - The Musical'

Comment #296388 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 1:50 pm

29. Comment #296360 by decius

I liked the little I read. I like the sensibility, but generally I also like over-the-top vocabulary and construction. I recently started re-reading Ernest Bramah's The Wallet of Kai Lung. Perhaps "droll" would be the appropriate word.

353. 'Prop 8 - The Musical'

Comment #296380 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 1:45 pm

"Heh no. I am short (5'6")"

I hate it when people who tower over me claim to be "short."

354. 'Prop 8 - The Musical'

Comment #296377 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 1:44 pm

30. Comment #296361 by Steve Zara

Awesome. Loved the cake! Did it light up?

355. 'Prop 8 - The Musical'

Comment #296362 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 1:33 pm

28. Comment #296355 by DalaiDrivel

Does the name Bernstein mean anything to you? Well, I hope you are right, because, as you say, then the argument is easier. But I'm afraid there is a homophobia embedded in our culture that is all to often gussied up with religious justification, and that's why the religites focus on some bible passages and ignore others. IMHO.

Edit: "why God would create homosexuals" He didn't create them, you silly person! They chose that "lifestyle." ;-) I just think you're giving religites WAY too much credit in the thinkology department.

356. 'Prop 8 - The Musical'

Comment #296353 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 1:22 pm

24. Comment #296342 by decius

Yum! Yes, I need to look into that - curious how you came across such a thing?

357. 'Prop 8 - The Musical'

Comment #296341 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 1:08 pm

"ink distilled from my own tears."

That really made me laugh - the funniest things always seem to have that stab of sadness in them (for me, anyway.)

358. Atheists want God out of Ky. homeland security

Comment #296321 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 12:45 pm

SACRAMENTO Evil Atheist Conspiracy

Are they accepting new members?

359. 'Prop 8 - The Musical'

Comment #296312 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 12:37 pm

17. Comment #296302 by DalaiDrivel

If it was pondered enough to disrupt sleep, I imagine we would be having a lot more crises of faith and conversions to atheism.

I would still submit that neither indulgence of homosexuality nor shellfish negatively affect the sleeping patterns of Christians.

I don't have any trouble at all picturing Fred Phelps & Co. tossing and turning in their seething hatred of homosexuals and never having a crisis of faith. I was just trying to say that these people spend way too much time not minding their own business, and that the bible quoting is post hoc (hope I'm using the right term) justification for some twisted emotional reaction to other people's preferences.

360. 'Prop 8 - The Musical'

Comment #296279 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 11:12 am

"Does it keep you up at night in sweat-dripping fear to know that two men in the next house are passionately love-making?"

"Well, no."

I really think that for a lot of people that answer would be, "Well, yes." If they (as a group) had a visceral loathing for shellfish, they would quote that part of Leviticus.

361. 'Prop 8 - The Musical'

Comment #296277 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 11:09 am

Does this sort of thing make its way to television?

Are you kidding? It mocks - er - quotes the bible!

Although Bill Maher and Lewis Black have managed to stay on the air.

362. Atheists want God out of Ky. homeland security

Comment #296273 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 11:04 am

111. Comment #296265 by Evilcor

BTW, such is the perversion of power I'm willing to bet that some TSA drone somewhere actually HAS asked the period question.

Nothing like a HS diploma, two weeks of training and a badge to make someone "mad with power." (I'm sure someone will tell me I'm wrong about the qualifications.)

BTW, I wish I could read that church sign on your avatar.

363. Atheists want God out of Ky. homeland security

Comment #296260 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 10:46 am

What're they gonna do, blow up a plane with oatmeal? Be serious.

All the same, even if you're a quaker, is that the government's fucking business?

I am being serious, I'm just not very good at sounding serious. My husband was raised Quaker, so if asked about baptism, he would have to say "no."

Don't know if you read my edit - I think the ACLU should definitely be all over this.

Edit:

The company (Quaker Oats) has no formal ties with the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). When the company was being built up, Quaker businesspeople were known for their honesty (Truth is often considered a Quaker testimony).

364. Atheists want God out of Ky. homeland security

Comment #296254 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 10:40 am

107. Comment #296249 by Evilcor

What about Quakers? They don't get baptized (horrified my mother) - but they consider themselves "christian."

My point is that in SOMEBODY'S database we've just connected every detail on your passport to your religious persuasion. I imagine it's intended to weed out muslims. . . which to be clear, is ALSO tremendously illegal.

Scary indeed. Definitely an ACLU undercover project.

365. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #296238 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 9:56 am

I don't think anybody here justifies it on the basis that the land was not claimed.

Here in Connecticut where Indian land ownership is an issue because of the casinos, my elderly, racist, religious and thankfully now dead, neighbor used to ask, "So if they own the land, where's their deed, huh? Can you tell me that? Where's their deed?"

366. Children of God?

Comment #296226 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 9:27 am

113. Comment #296222 by irate_atheist

Yuck! Keeping my samolians out of those red buckets. I understand they now accept credit cards. "Sorry, no loose change" not an excuse anymore.

367. Atheists want God out of Ky. homeland security

Comment #296212 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 8:59 am

98. Comment #296161 by Tezcatlipoca

Wow! That Roger Ebert piece should be here. I've always admired Ebert's intelligence. I'm sorry to say I used to be impressed by Ben Stein on his show.

368. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #296181 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 8:04 am

Decius, was that video from the same person who made "A New Pope?"

369. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #296179 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 8:03 am

Can I go back to the dots on the ballot?

Fill in one dot, vote "no" on gay marriage.

Fill in the other dot, have "arm twisted" by atheists and vote "yes" on gay marriage.

Fill in neither dot.....?

Oh, and it's an anonymous ballot, so no points for "standing up for a principle."

370. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #296024 by Caudimordax on December 3, 2008 at 5:47 am

I know I said something about this earlier or on another thread, but did anyone notice Bernstein going on about "going out of his way" on an issue he doesn't care about?

I pointed out that referenda on such issues practically never take place outside of a general election. So does filling in an extra dot on a ballot qualify as "going out of one's way?" Or didn't he vote at all?

371. Potentially Universal Mechanism Of Aging Identified

Comment #295580 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 1:24 pm

"Aging is natures way of reducing our efficiency to facilitate death."

I heard it as "Death is Nature's way of telling you to slow down." ;-)

372. 'Atheist bus' more like a bandwagon on highway to hell

Comment #295572 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 12:45 pm

134. Comment #295570 by splink

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Baby_P

But I still don't know what pet snakes have to do with anything. Favorite companion of atheists?

373. A New Picture of the Early Earth

Comment #295561 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 12:11 pm

37. Comment #295560 by Steve Zara

Don't blame you even a teeny bit. It was a bit of a slog.

374. A New Picture of the Early Earth

Comment #295558 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 12:07 pm

34. Comment #295554 by Steve Zara

You must have read his review of TGD on Amazon?

375. A New Picture of the Early Earth

Comment #295507 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 9:04 am

The only copy of Life on Earth I've ever seen is the two 25-year old VHS tapes we pirated off of PBS ever so long ago.

So did we - on a Sony BetaMax, more's the pity!

376. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #295506 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 9:02 am

Thanks. I forgot about that Hamas rejection of self government.

I'm trying to find out what that means. Can you give me a hint? Or point me to some info? If they reject self-government, what's the alternative?

377. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #295493 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 8:48 am

Totally off topic:

India's top tantrik tries to kill an atheist on live TV using the "ultimate destruction ceremony". Millions of superstitious people witnessed this epic failure and the world became just a little bit more rational.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HeJVUbpF8Mg&NR=1

Edit: Comment on a related video, "This guy is a fake tantric."

Edit: I guess it's not off topic. Religion certainly hasn't made this guy any nicer.

Edit: 42F (about 6C) in Connecticut.

378. A New Picture of the Early Earth

Comment #295478 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 8:24 am

13. Comment #295466 by beeline

Thanks for that - though it perhaps makes the lack more poignant. That image of the arctic tern was iconic. And I know it was a turning point in my life when I first saw those images of nudibranchs (maybe the first or second episode?).

http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/nudibranch.html

379. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #295474 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 8:19 am

744. Comment #295461 by Cartomancer

Wow! That is one complicated system! (Answer given in furlongs / fortnight)

380. A New Picture of the Early Earth

Comment #295456 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 7:55 am

At the very beginning of Attenborough's 'Life on Earth' he talks about the stromatolite and jellyfish fossils

I cannot believe that this series is STILL not available in the US! (Only region 2 DVDs available.)

Carto:

l'enfer, c'est les autres!

Nice!

381. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #295454 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 7:48 am

740. Comment #295450 by Cartomancer

I could get into trouble here, but I noticed when I was working in an office with a bunch of architects and a (female) co-worker was about to have a baby, that many of the men seemed to think that 10 ounces equaled 1 pound, whereas the women all understood that 1 pound was 16 ounces. I don't know - more familiarity with food purchases?

382. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #295453 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 7:43 am

"they couldn't have been Christians, they must have been atheists."

That is just so awful!

Yep, just us atheists getting a jump on the winter solstice gift shopping.

383. Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson Debate

Comment #295440 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 7:24 am

94. Comment #295430 by Logicel

Or like nobody noticing that it was Joshua Bell busking in the Washington DC metro:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html

384. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #295435 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 7:20 am

"That's huge. I was only just over a pound when I was born!"

You're joking, right?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_weight

385. Odontochelys, a transitional turtle

Comment #295433 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 7:18 am

"a creature with the upper body of an ape and the tail of a fish. "

You mean like a primitive mermaid? Well, gosh, that seems doable. ;-)

386. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #295429 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 7:14 am

1904. Comment #295421 by decius

Here in the good ol' US of A. To be fair, our vet's whole office staff is wonderful, they really care about our pets - but it would never occur to them that we don't get any comfort from thinking about an imaginary meadow in the sky.

387. Odontochelys, a transitional turtle

Comment #295424 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 7:10 am

Of course it's not a transitional fossil! It's just a fossil between one kind of turtle and another kind of turtle. What's needed for the big prize is something like, say between a bunny and a turtle. Something with a plastron and long fluffy ears.

388. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #295419 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 7:02 am

Goldy - Best wishes and congratulations to the whole family. Hope we'll be seeing some pictures eventually.

389. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #295418 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 6:58 am

1900. Comment #295405 by alan baylis

Almost as bad as the loss of a pet is the sappy card from the vet about how our pets are frolicking in heaven waiting for us to get there. Somehow I never remember in time to ask them please NOT to send it - it always makes me cry harder, and not in a good way.

390. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #295404 by Caudimordax on December 2, 2008 at 6:36 am

1897. Comment #295400 by decius

Maybe this is a silly question, but do you have to fly? Can't you travel by car, train, ferry, etc.? (I know how one's life can be circumscribed by caring for an older pet: one of my cats is a least 23 (we're not sure how old he was when we got hime, but we've had him for over 21 years) and he just keeps going and going and going.)

391. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #295099 by Caudimordax on December 1, 2008 at 7:11 pm

594. Comment #295088 by jgirolamo

Bleeeeeccchhhh!

I am your typical tongue speaking hand raising woman of God

I threw up in my mouth a little.

392. Potentially Universal Mechanism Of Aging Identified

Comment #294958 by Caudimordax on December 1, 2008 at 3:14 pm

Evilcor - Not to worry - I figured there was shome mishtake shurely, since I couldn't figure out what the reverse of what I wrote would come out to be!

393. Potentially Universal Mechanism Of Aging Identified

Comment #294876 by Caudimordax on December 1, 2008 at 1:25 pm

The face of the enemy on this issue? An over-55 protestant black man who dropped out of either high school or college.

Who voted most predictably for liberty? A 20-something white or Asian post-graduate who doesn't believe in god and makes a high-five, or low-six figure income.

When generations live longer, so do their outmoded ideas.

Q.E.D.

394. Review of 'The Four Horsemen'

Comment #294770 by Caudimordax on December 1, 2008 at 11:02 am

I think I saw bit of Zeitgeist on YouTube - the part about christianity claimed that the word "horizon" is a corruption of "Horus is risen." Hilarious!

395. Potentially Universal Mechanism Of Aging Identified

Comment #294763 by Caudimordax on December 1, 2008 at 10:49 am

I suspect the reverse, as the exit polls suggest for the passage of odious anti-gay measures here in the U.S.

It would be interesting to see the voting broken down as to age - certainly kids in college today are blinder to race than the previous generation, but I don't know if the same applies to sexual orientation.

From Gay Marriage and a Moral Minority

We now know that blacks probably didn’t tip the balance for Proposition 8. Myth busted. However, the fact remains that a strikingly high percentage of blacks said they voted to ban same-sex marriage in California.

396. Potentially Universal Mechanism Of Aging Identified

Comment #294672 by Caudimordax on December 1, 2008 at 8:51 am

When generations live longer, so do their outmoded ideas.

397. 'Atheist bus' more like a bandwagon on highway to hell

Comment #293937 by Caudimordax on November 30, 2008 at 11:22 am

Roger - right you are.

She was a founder member of the Irish feminist movement, though she has since rejected her radical past[1].(Wikipedia)

398. 'Atheist bus' more like a bandwagon on highway to hell

Comment #293907 by Caudimordax on November 30, 2008 at 10:53 am

2. Comment #293877 by notacrook

Yes that was a good rebuttal.

399. 'Atheist bus' more like a bandwagon on highway to hell

Comment #293899 by Caudimordax on November 30, 2008 at 10:48 am

I've never yet met an atheist with a sense of joie-de-vivre (unless, in the case of one well-known public atheist, a certain drunken cordiality) most of them seem to be miserable blighters. Read GK Chesterton's great poem 'The Ballad of the Sad Athiest'. It perfectly describes this kind of dreary and austere puritan.

Who the heck is he (?) talking about? Edit: I mean generally - lot's of jolly people on this site, after all.