December 2008
2 posts
Winter Solstice Sign Only Lasts 1 Hour Next to...
This from CNN:
“An atheist sign criticizing Christianity that was erected alongside a Nativity scene was taken from the Legislative Building in Olympia, Washington, on Friday and later found in a ditch.”
“Most people think December is for Christians and view our signs as an intrusion, when actually it’s the other way around,” he said. “People have been...
November 2008
4 posts
Tolerance fails T-shirt test -- chicagotribune.com →
The Return of the Meme →
I’m coming out of Blog dormancy to give a shout out to Scepticon and Ben. Scepticon tagged me in a meme to which I will respond below. Ben gave a shout out a while back with a visual…
September 2008
5 posts
“LARRY KING: You must be … proud that at this stage in our history a black...”
– http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/09/26/chris.rock.lkl/index.html
The Atheists, The Untouchables →
I have my political favorites but regardless of where I find my votes may go I will stay true to my belief that only through separation of religion and politics can we create an environment…
The Trib on How Religion Guides Palin →
Palin has called on people to pray for the cooperation necessary to build a natural gas pipeline across Alaska, labeled the U.S. mission in Iraq a “task that is from God” and argued that students…
July 2008
1 post
CNN || Evangelical movement touts 'Jesus for...
http://m.cnn.com/cnn/ne/politics/detail/133789/full
June 2008
2 posts
George Carlin, 1937-2008
“He was relentlessly amused by humanity — in one of his most famous lines, he pointed out that ‘if you’re born in this world you’re given a ticket to the freak show. If you’re born in America, you’re given a front-row seat’ — but refused to consider himself a cynic. He preferred ‘disappointed idealist.’”...
Illinois man changes name to 'In God We Trust'
This news appeared in the Red Eye under fun news, or was it funny news? http://mobile.redeyechicago.com/news.jsp?key=136980&rc=fun_news
May 2008
5 posts
Religion Gets Help From Non-Believers →
According to a New Scientist article, “religion only takes hold if non-believers help believers out ??? perhaps because they are impressed by their devotion.”
James Dow, an evolutionary…
Religion Gets Help From Non-Believers →
According to a New Scientist article, “religion only takes hold if non-believers help believers out – perhaps because they are impressed by their devotion.”
James Dow, an evolutionary…
How Would You Like This Picture in Your Wedding... →
I was surprised by 3 things today while reading the news about Jenna Bush’s wedding:
1. The W. Bush protesters outside the wedding
2. The wedding memorabilia
3. The gas station signs…
The Sacrality of the Toilet Seat →
I’ve been gone for a while, and I thought I may not write again, until I read about the Wisconsin woman who let a 90 year-old woman die and rot atop the toilet in her home.
Although she was…
April 2008
7 posts
Earthwatch volunteers and big-ass cars
I was tempted by my evil half this morning to think that people who show up at an earthwatch volunteer event solo in an suv or van, should be sent home. Carpool or stay home! At the same time I wonder if such folk volunteer because deep down they feel guilty for driving those gas-hungry engines…
New Scientist Opinion Piece: Scientism vs....
‘I recall physicist Steven Weinberg saying: ” most scientists don’t think enough about god to be called atheists.” This is why I am less concerned about so-called scientism than about religionism.’ Tinyurl.com/3q2hvh
NYT: Immigration, Outsourced
http://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=154513&f=28
Teller on Atheism and appreciation of supernatural
“Does your Atheism enhance your appreciation of the supernatural? Teller: absolutely. If you think there really is a possibility that, say, witchcraft is valid, you can’t appreciate it as art—as invention and poetry.” Psychology Today, April 2008
March 2008
2 posts
MEN WHO DO HOUSEHOLD WORK MAY GET MORE SEX
http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Ffeatures%2Flifestyle%2Fliving%2Fsns-ap-sharing-chores%2C1%2C2684054.story
February 2008
5 posts
CNN || Castro resigns as president
“The United States will help the people of Cuba realize the blessings of liberty,” Bush said upon hearing the news that Castro resigned. When Bush employs his famed narrative of the US as the liberating nation I think of trouble. The fact that the word ‘embargo’ was not mentioned makes me think the US still hasn’t figured that one yet. Next we’ll tell Cuba that...
CNN || Kosovo declares independence from Serbia
http://m.cnn.com/cnn/lt_ne/lt_ne/detail/75124/full
Saudi Arabia bans all things red ahead of...
http://m.cnn.com/cnn/lt_ne/lt_ne/detail/73023/1
CNN || BlackBerry out of service in North America
I knew there was a reason to have a sidekick…. http://m.cnn.com/cnn/lt_ne/lt_ne/detail/72794
January 2008
9 posts
Romanian Cinema Rising →
True equality: Both sexes can be ingrates
http://mobile.chicagotribune.com/news.jsp?key=142742&rc=sp
Packers Fan Tapes Jersey to Son →
“let’s take secular nonsense and pious... →
…says Isaac C. Rottenberg in a Rocky Mountain News Speakout commentary.
Rottenberg starts by quoting Washington University professor Jonathan Turley,
“This election, the candidates are talking so much about faith that one would think they wanted to be in the College of Cardinals rather than the Hall of Presidents.”
He doesn’t explain his secular nonsense comment , so I fear while he’s trying to...
“How to be the First Black Man to Win... →
Prince Akbar, aka Jus Rhymes delivered a wicked poem at the Green Mill poetry slam, Sun. Jan. 6, 2007. While the writing is a little rough, the delivery was superb and it represents a unique commentary to why Obama beat Clinton in Iowa. Here are some excerpts:
Psst. Hillary
You came in 3rd in IOWA
Probably wondering why.
Saying to yourself right now
‘How did I lose to a funny named black...
Green Mill's Jaded Service
After 5 years in Chicago I finally got to go to the famous Chicago Green Mill, the “former haunt of Al Capone.” It was exactly what other chicagoans said it would be, a tourist attraction with an average quality show, and not much more. In my book, Green Mill scores the highest when it comes to jaded staff. They roll their eyes at the show and treat customers with bovine-bored looks. A...
Huckabee Scores a 10 on the God-o-Meter →
©2008 Skepticum. All Rights Reserved..
OMG, Oh My God, or WOW? →
Chicago Tribune published recently a piece on the widespread usage of the im-speak OMG:
there are two kinds of people in the world: those who say “Oh my God!” and those who say something else. Even atheists have been known to cry “Oh my God!” on occasion.
I’m guessing that those who say something else say, “oh my gosh” or another way of saying “oh my god,” without saying “oh my god.”
While the...
OMG, Oh My God, or WOW? →
Chicago Tribune published recently a piece on the widespread usage of the im-speak OMG:
there are two kinds of people in the world: those who say “Oh my God!” and those who say something else. Even atheists have been known to cry “Oh my God!” on occasion.
I’m guessing that those who say something else say, “oh my gosh” or another way of saying “oh my god,” without saying “oh my god.”
While the...
December 2007
17 posts
A Very Brawly Christmas Week →
The post-Christmas days have been filled with news of conflict, from Benazir Bhutto’s assassination to a less noticeable story, but a very entertaining one nonetheless:
Seven people were injured on Thursday when Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests came to blows in a dispute over how to clean the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. (breitbart.com) … For a quarter of an hour bearded and robed...
A Very Brawly Christmas Week →
The post-Christmas days have been filled with news of conflict, from Benazir Bhutto’s assassination to a less noticeable story, but a very entertaining one nonetheless:
Seven people were injured on Thursday when Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests came to blows in a dispute over how to clean the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. (breitbart.com) … For a quarter of an hour bearded and robed...
Is Jesus the Reason for the Season? →
Sound Off’s Roland S. Martin wrote a commentary on CNN.com today in which he claims,
Because of all the politically correct idiots, we are being encouraged to stop saying “Merry Christmas” for the more palatable “Happy Holidays.” What the heck are “Seasons Greetings”? (…)
But this seeming backlash against Christianity is bordering on the absurd, and we should continue to remember that Jesus is...
Did the Sun Come up Today at All?
I was up at 5 to drive my friend to the airport, and by 7:30 as I was driving back I realized that it should have been light outside but instead it turned gray and continued to stay so. Feels like the longest night of the year has already started. Happy Winter Solstice!
Giving Cash as Christmas Gift →
I was following a Yahoo Answers! discussion on whether or not it is bad to give cash as a gift for Christmas. The two main reasons against giving cash were:
1. Cash is impersonal, it’s more thoughtful to pick out a gift for someone
2. If you give a certain amount to someone it creates the expectation that they should give the same to you.
Today I got a card with cash in it, and I thought it was...
Public Health vs Private Health →
Americans don’t often get to hear the realities of public health care in other parts of the world, even with the recent debate on universal health care.
Pajamas media reported today that according to UNICEF Romania holds the leading position in child mortality rates, and mothers’ birth-related deaths in the developing world. The costs of universal health care in Romania range from lives lost to...
Christmas Story, Real Story →
Walking home this evening I had one of the best laughs of the week when I noticed the Christmas Story leg lamp in a window. I was looking from window to window noticing the colorfully lit Christmas trees. After a few windows I expected yet another tree, but found instead something like this:
©2007 Skepticum. All Rights Reserved..
Christmas Story, Real Story →
Walking home this evening I had one of the best laughs of the week when I noticed the Christmas Story leg lamp in a window. I was looking from window to window noticing the colorfully lit Christmas trees. After a few windows I expected yet another tree, but found instead this:
©2007 Skepticum. All Rights Reserved..