1. Pelosi, Reid shunning Ten Commandments?

Comment #181313 by room101 on May 16, 2008 at 10:25 pm

THIS guy is the son of atheist Murray-O'hare? Boy, where did she go wrong???!!!??

RE: shaunfletcher #23

I agree. What pisses me off the most, is if you asked this tard to name the 10 commandments (ala Stephen Colbert asking that pious councilman some time ago - priceless) I bet you dollars-to-doughnuts he couldn't do it...

2. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #179200 by room101 on May 12, 2008 at 9:29 pm

Re: 11. EvidenceOnly

Nice...this is one my fav's:

In Jerusalem, a journalist heard about a very old Jewish man who
had been going to the Wailing Wall to pray, twice a day, everyday, for a long, long time.

So she went to the Wailing Wall to check it out, and there he was.

She watched him pray and after about 45 minutes, when he turned to leave,
she approached him for an interview.

"I'm Rebecca Smith from CNN. Sir, how long have you been coming to the Wall and praying?"

"For about 60 years".

"60 years! That's amazing! What do you pray for?"

"I pray for peace between the Christians, Jews and the Muslims. I pray for all the hatred around the world to stop and I pray for all our children to grow up in safety
and friendship."

"Sir, how do you feel after doing this for 60 years?"

"Like I'm talking to a f#### wall."

3. Dumb and Dumber: A discussion between Ben Stein and Glenn Beck

Comment #175476 by room101 on May 5, 2008 at 1:34 pm

Beck credits himself as being open-minded - not necessarily pandering to either the conservatives or democrats. But he's not fooling anyone. He is a FOX news O'Reilly-esque right wing nut-job who happens to be on CNN.

Interesting how he never seems to have in-depth interviews with science-literate people who can refute Stein's BS in 5 minutes.

BTW - CNN.com had an essay from Beck today where he lambasts Obama for waiting so long to come out and denounce his former pastor, Reverend Wright, regarding Wright's ludicrous comments the past couple of weeks. Interesting how Beck doesn't mention at all McCain's connections with Hagee or every other president's connection with Falwell, Robertson and Graham, all of whom have exclaimed equally fowl things - if not worse - than Wright.

4. Science leads to killing people

Comment #171111 by room101 on April 28, 2008 at 10:15 am

So, science leads to killing people. And Ben Stein wants ID taught AS SCIENCE. He even made a movie about it.

Errrrr....sooooo, then ID will also lead to killing people??

My head hurts.

5. Science leads to killing people

Comment #170725 by room101 on April 27, 2008 at 10:58 pm

mordacious1:

Can he really be this ridiculously pathetic or is he just making an easy buck off the ignorant religious turds?

I wonder this myself. After listening to Mark Mathis' evisceration at the hands of the Sci. Amer. editors I wondered how someone so ignorant and duplicitous could believe what he was actually saying. Then I realized: he most likely doesn't. He's just trying to sell his product, is all.

I could picture Mathis at the end of that interview removing his headset, looking at John Rennie and the other editors and saying: "Look guys, I don't really believe Stein's crap. I'm just trying to make a buck, you know???"

6. Science leads to killing people

Comment #170704 by room101 on April 27, 2008 at 10:35 pm

OverUsedChewToy:

Good thing Thunderf00t finally got a feature-his vids are top-notch

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree! I encourage everyone to check out Thunderf00t's collection of videos on youtube. They are without a doubt some of the best amateur and scientifically literate videos that debunk creation science and all of its' lunatic drivel and assertions.

7. Ben Stein Vs. Sputtering Atheists

Comment #164982 by room101 on April 20, 2008 at 10:56 pm

Jebus f'n kryst - do people just make up any ole s*** they want to and publish it nowadays?!?!?!?

Thank you rev. Bozell, or whoever the hell you are. Thanks for ignoring all of this movie's dishonesty and outright lies that have been splattered all over news and web.

Now go pick up your check from the Discovery Institute and run along...

8. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #164970 by room101 on April 20, 2008 at 10:39 pm

theonlything2fear:

On behalf of all "sheep" on this site:

Blow me.

9. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #164962 by room101 on April 20, 2008 at 10:22 pm

theonlything2fear:

...um, still waiting for your ID "arguments" as posed by Robotaholic and geodesic17.

BTW, you've been trolled, dickhead.

10. Flea of the week

Comment #163583 by room101 on April 18, 2008 at 3:04 pm

If we were to chip in to send this woman anywhere, I think we need to send her to TAM6...

I like this idea - the lineup for this event is pretty spectacular as it is - so who better than Paula to give the keynote address?

...AND we could fly in Pat Condell for the entertainment portion...

11. Reviews of Expelled

Comment #158556 by room101 on April 10, 2008 at 6:10 pm

Sossijj:

Thanks for the link. Mathis is eviscerated. I'm wondering why he would ever consent to doing an interview with a room full of people a lot smarter than he is.

And don't you love Mathis's response whenever he gets cornered (which is quite often) about why his movie portrayed this or that: "I wasn't involved in the decision making process of the film.", or "I'm not a scientist."

Don't you love it when they do that? "I'm not a scientist, but..". But WHAT - You're too lazy to get your ass to a library or do any research?! If ya ain't no scientist and don't kno' nuthin, then why are you making movies and commenting on science?

What a fk'n weasel...

NOTE: I hope this podcast is made into a link on Richard's front page - It is truly deserving of it. Mathis really gets it (and he doesn't even know it).

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=a-conversation-with-mark-mathis

12. Discussion between Richard Dawkins and Paula Kirby

Comment #157320 by room101 on April 8, 2008 at 11:00 pm

Paula:

I'm assuming friends, family, and co-workers have heard of this event and will be viewing this (or have already)...

I'd be interested to know how your new-found celebrity, as it were, has affected you if at all? Hopefully it's mostly praise, and none of your co-workers have left bible verses stuck to your cubicle wall with a knife.

13. Discussion between Richard Dawkins and Paula Kirby

Comment #157288 by room101 on April 8, 2008 at 9:06 pm

Wow, wow and WOW.

I echo everyone's praise, Paula. You brought a warmth and charm to the setting and I credit this incredibly engaging talk by Richard to not only the format (agree wholeheartedly with Cartomancer), but also to your presence.

Cartomancer - I agree, it's so nice to let Richard be Richard - to let him expound on Paula's questions and not get caught up in having to explain evolution or gene sequencing in ridiculous 15 second sound bytes (ala Fox news interviews) or ping-pong back and forth between a theist and moderator.

It upsets me how someone can listen to this wonderful talk and still choose NOT to enlighten themselves and remain in the dark.

14. Get out of here, atheists!

Comment #156344 by room101 on April 7, 2008 at 11:15 am

The Chicago Tribune link provided above has the audio for this exchange...I recommend listening to it.

Davis is a certified nutjob - she starts off calmly and end ups wailing and berating this guy in classic "Sunday preacher" style.

I hope this gets more national airplay - people like her and Sally Kerns need to be weeded out and exposed (disposed).

15. Cult leader Pyotr Kuznetsov tries suicide after realising he was wrong about doomsday

Comment #154668 by room101 on April 3, 2008 at 2:55 pm

Oh, this story has all the requirements for a potential Pat Condell video. Can't wait...

16. Fleabytes

Comment #154234 by room101 on April 3, 2008 at 12:41 am

Quine:

Oooops...thanks for pointing that out.

17. Fleabytes

Comment #154202 by room101 on April 2, 2008 at 9:12 pm

Maybe my question has been answered elsewhere - apologize if it has, but:

Has anyone heard the results of (or even attended) Paula and Dr. Dawkins' lecture this evening in Inverness? Interested if it even took place as I was glancing at Dr. Dawkins' schedule (above left) and it says he will be in Grand Rapids, Michigan tomorrow - that's quite a turnaround schedule!

18. Happy Birthday, Richard Dawkins!

Comment #149967 by room101 on March 26, 2008 at 11:15 am

A very happy birthday to you, sir.

I echo everyone's well wishes and thanks for all of your efforts, and for sharing them and this site with us.

19. Does God answer prayer? ASU research says 'yes'

Comment #148496 by room101 on March 23, 2008 at 8:03 am

Good f***** Christ...This is my graduate university (MBA, 1995).


Um, should I be worried??? ;o)

20. EXPELLED!

Comment #147801 by room101 on March 21, 2008 at 9:36 am

I'm NOT amused by any of this.

And I can tell you without reservation that the general public's reaction to this movie will be apathetic at best, but they will probably will come out of the theater feeling as if there really IS a controversy, which is the sole purpose of this film. And that big, bad science is, in reality, this secret cabal of fascists whose sole existence is to prevent the formation of new ideas.

21. Two More Fleas

Comment #142530 by room101 on March 12, 2008 at 4:02 pm

"With high style and light-hearted disdain, David Berlinski deflates the intellectual pretensions of the scientific atheist crowd. Maybe they can recite the Periodic Table by heart, but the secular Berlinski shows that this doesn't get them very far in reasoning about much weightier matters."

-Michael J. Behe, Professor of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, bestselling author of Darwin's Black Box and The Edge of Evolution

/begin sarcasm here:

Come on, people, back off. This Berlinski dude has his book endorsed by one of the great scientific minds of our time...

/end sarcasm here:

22. Two More Fleas

Comment #142439 by room101 on March 12, 2008 at 1:42 pm

Great. 2 new fleas.

Paula - you're on the clock ;o)

23. Whale Evolution

Comment #130929 by room101 on February 21, 2008 at 1:58 pm

Absolutely fascinating...

I especially enjoyed the segment featuring Frank Fish (appropriate name, eh?) and his comparison of swimming patterns between 4-legged land animals and their cousins (seals, whales). It never occured to me to consider their similar swimming styles (up and down, using their pelvic muscles for thrust) as compared to fish (side to side movements with their fins).

This was only 7 minutes long, but I caught myself saying "wow" when it was over. Really neat stuff.

24. Fleabytes

Comment #129932 by room101 on February 19, 2008 at 7:21 pm

Paula:

Wow...I certainly echo everyone's praise. You're a gifted writer and your prose is very elegant - not too surprising to all of us as we see it daily when reading and enjoying your posts.

Now, on to more important matters. When exactly did you say you'll be debating Dinesh? ;o)

25. Ben Stein Wins Intelligent Design Money

Comment #127884 by room101 on February 15, 2008 at 5:13 pm

Stein is scheduled to receive from Biola University the Phillip E. Johnson Award for Liberty and Truth...

LOL...that's rich.

Hey, how about the "Kenneth Lay award for business acumen" ???

26. Ben Stein Bribing Schools to See His Anti-Evolution Movie 'Expelled'

Comment #112559 by room101 on January 17, 2008 at 1:10 pm

Hmmm..maybe Stein is worried that no one is going to want to see this film, and this is an attempt to put rear-ends in the seats. I can't really see why the devoted would rush to see it anyway - if you believe, you believe.

Clearly he's worried that it might go straight to video.

27. The Mind of the Market

Comment #109392 by room101 on January 9, 2008 at 1:35 am

Sorry to off topic --

briancoughlanworldcitizen:

Un-f******-believable.

Having read one of atheismsucks' blog leader's (William Hawthorne) statement announcing the impending atheist's raid on his site (looks like you and Steve Zara have already had a go at them), I find myself confused and confounded. Listen to what Hawthorne says:

If atheism were intellectually defensible, one would have expected these raiders to calmly present their arguments at our site for critical evaluation, try to answer objections, and carry on in a civil discussion to see if any truth (even a little bit) might be arrived at. Instead, what we found were lists of rhetoric and assertions without arguments, deceitful complaints that they'd been "censored", bickering about "ad homs", and so on and so forth

Assertions without arguments? Deceitful? Whaaaaaaaaaaaa??? That doesn't sound anything like the sane/rational/witty banter that you and Steve have abundantly provided us throughout this site. Either you guys had an off day or they make stuff up as they go ;o)

Also, I love this:

I think we should give the raiders a second chance here. Raiders, go ahead and present whatever arguments (not mere assertions) you have for atheism. (Here's a caveat: If you only post sound bites and rhetoric with no logical support, you will be called out for your intellectual shallowness, so don't complain about "ad homs" afterwards if this happens to you.)...If you feel that theism is unfalsifiable, you'll have to argue for a criterion of falsifiability and then argue why theism fails to satisfy the criterion.)

Then, this chucklehead explains what a proper logical argument is, and that we need to "Finally, and most importantly, double check to make sure your argument is valid (i.e. roughly the premises, if true, would logically necessitate the conclusion)." This can't be real, can it???

All in all, sounds like it's either going to be easy pickens, or a long, long, looooooooong, losing, uphill battle.

28. Can Atheists Be Parents?

Comment #107301 by room101 on January 4, 2008 at 11:24 am

Uhhhh, okaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy (*sacastically*)

Despite Eleanor Katherine's tender years, he continued, "the child should have the freedom to worship as she sees fit, and not be influenced by prospective parents who do not believe in a Supreme Being."

Huh??!? a 17-month old? Anyone else's mind implode upon reading this?

29. Huckabee: Guns, God and rock'n'roll

Comment #107014 by room101 on January 3, 2008 at 10:02 pm

The biggest cheer came when he introduced his biggest celebrity supporter, the martial arts actor Chuck Norris, whom he described as "a great American hero".

Uhhh..Huckabee thinks that a 2-bit ACTOR who plays a hero in movies is actually a "great american hero"? Isn't it borderline ludicrous to take something that isn't even real - a fantasy, if you will - and believe that it actually IS true, I mean --

--oh, wait.

PS: This just in: Huckabee kicks a$$ in the Iowa caucus. Hmm, maybe Chuck & Huck are the real deal afterall...

30. Changing my Mind

Comment #106263 by room101 on January 2, 2008 at 3:19 pm

She was hoist on her own petard

Love that phrase...I resolve to incorporate it somehow into my everyday conversation.

31. A War On Science

Comment #105685 by room101 on January 1, 2008 at 2:19 pm

gregonomic/epeeist:

Thank you both, and thanks for the link - very enlightening.

32. A War On Science

Comment #105437 by room101 on December 31, 2007 at 2:48 pm

Around the 24 minute mark the moderator states that Dembski put together a "mathematical model" to rule out evolution and "rule in" intelligence. Together, with Behe, the ID movement was now "ready to take on Darwin".

It may be simply my own lack of research, but I haven't heard much of Dembski's so-called model. Has anyone else in this forum heard of it? I had followed the Dover case pretty closely, read Hume's "Monkey Girl" book, etc., but this is the first time his model got mentioned that I'm aware of.

Why didn't this model play more of a significant role in the Dover case (other than the obvious: A). He didn't show up and B). The model is bull****).

Thanks.

33. The Evangelical Rebellion

Comment #103333 by room101 on December 25, 2007 at 7:40 am

By the way, this is sooooooooo off topic, but if you'd like to see some pics of the Scottish Highlands...

Paula:

Thanks. Beautiful countryside. A very nice "off topic" indeed...

34. CBC News: Sunday - Richard Dawkins

Comment #100149 by room101 on December 18, 2007 at 9:58 am

#17 Spiderdancer:

Absolutely top marks to Dawkins here. I've watched so many of these and this one was very good. Seemed to talk at a higher tempo than normal and with a smile. Not so aggressive but full of fluent answers.

Agreed. I like this Richard Dawkins interview. As brilliant as he is, often he comes across with a frown and appears to get frustrated (not that anyone can blame him - can you imagine going up against these pinheads all the time?).

Here he was calm, smooth, fluent and genuinely amicable.

35. How do you explain the lack of transitional forms in nature, the gaps in the fossil record?

Comment #98412 by room101 on December 13, 2007 at 3:02 pm

Wow - incredible when you hear people ask questions about the fossil record. I mean, it's like listening to a bunch of 5 year-olds, isn't it? "Where are all the fossils? Shouldn't there be billions and billions of them?" Makes you think that when these idiots look up in the sky they probably conclude that the sun is revolving around us (I mean, the sun DOES move across the sky while WE appear to be motionless, right?)

I would inquire the individual: Uhhhh - what makes you think that everything that dies gets fossilized? Do you realize just how rare an occurance fossilization is? It is extremely rare that any given organism would leave behind a fossil. The conditions necessary are highly unlikely.

It's just another example of people being too lazy to do a little research (hell, just google "transitional fossil record" and see how many results you get). The July 2007 issue of Newsweek had a segment on "Tiktaalik Roseae", the latest fossil discovered in the Canadian artic that clearly shows a transitional form from fish to land animal. This find was also featured in the NOVA special on the Dover trial.

And that was in Newsweek. You didn't even have to subscribe to Nature magazine. But I guess in this country (US) if it's not on Entertainment Tonight or doesn't involve Paris or Britney, most people will probably miss or ignore it.

Note: I'm reminded of one of Ken Miller's lectures featured on YouTube. At one point, he describes a conversation he had with a paleontologist friend of his, and how she is baffled by all of this "no transitional fossil" babble taking place. She tells him that at seminars there are so many examples of transitional fossils that heated arguments take place as to whether these findings should be classified "reptilian like mammals" or "mammilian like reptiles".

36. Laugh at Sudan

Comment #96804 by room101 on December 10, 2007 at 11:56 pm

Awesome Pat...keep 'em coming

37. Mitt Romney's Faith In America address (as prepared for delivery)

Comment #94932 by room101 on December 7, 2007 at 2:46 am

But in recent years, the notion of the separation of church and state has been taken by some well beyond its original meaning. They seek to remove from the public domain any acknowledgment of God. Religion is seen as merely a private affair with no place in public life. It is as if they are intent on establishing a new religion in America - the religion of secularism. They are wrong.

Good f****** christ...Is it separate or not, dickwad???

Don't you love how he absolutely covered all his bases with this speech?

PS: Notice how he didn't provide answers to anything anyone really wanted to know about his faith (ie, do you really believe the garden of eden is in Missouri, etc.)

38. Evolution and Texas

Comment #94058 by room101 on December 4, 2007 at 4:53 pm

Didn't Dover put a stop to this nonsense? Legal precedent and all.

Was only binding in PA...however, the ruling (hopefully) and the subsequent fallout (ridicule, cost, etc.) should force other states to ask themselves: "Do we really want to go there?"

Then again, look who we're dealing with.

39. Papal encyclical attacks atheism, lauds hope

Comment #92490 by room101 on November 30, 2007 at 3:56 pm

"Comment #92370 by Arcturus ..."

And from now on, I don't want to see any catholic using any technology. They should all retreat in caves and put their hopes in God. For sure it will give them a quick ticket to heaven.

Here, here. And isn't it funny how the faithful turn to science and technology when they or a loved one gets sick, or need to cook their meals or heat their homes...

40. Sudan demo over jailed UK teacher

Comment #92460 by room101 on November 30, 2007 at 2:45 pm

And another thing...if none of the 7 year-olds in her class knew they were insulting Allah how the hell was Gibbons supposed to know??

I sincerely hope that part of the above demonstrations were focused towards the inept parents of these kids as they clearly didn't teach them rule #1: Don't insult big Mo...

41. Sudan demo over jailed UK teacher

Comment #92454 by room101 on November 30, 2007 at 2:25 pm

To Sarah Khawad, the secretary at the school in question who "ratted out" Gibbons: feel good about yourself now, bitch? Bet you're thinking you're going to get a big reward in heaven, don't you?

I say we do the following: After we give some cash to the Ayaan fund we gather a movement together and get tens of thousands of teddy bears with the name "muhammed" embroidered on them - then air-drop them over downtown Khartoum.

Oh, and another thing for the sudanese officials directing this thing: Do you really think this is going to help you to draw attention and win aid for all those suffering in Darfur?

Fk'n idiots...I say start the carpet bombing.

42. Fear of Barbara Forrest

Comment #92352 by room101 on November 30, 2007 at 10:31 am

I have to say on a general level I am deeply relieved in knowing that the secularists have on their side two implacable watchdogs in the persons of Barbara Forrest and Nick Matzke. Their efforts drove the proverbial nail in the ID'ers coffin in Dover.

43. Papal encyclical attacks atheism, lauds hope

Comment #92320 by room101 on November 30, 2007 at 9:29 am

Pope Benedict, in an encyclical released on Friday, said atheism was responsible for some of the "greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice" in history.

Really? I thought teddy bears were the problem.

44. 'Teddy' teacher jailed in Sudan

Comment #91887 by room101 on November 29, 2007 at 2:01 pm

I still don't understand why none of the kids knew not to mock their great deity. Didn't they learn that already in their madrassas or wherever the hell they get taught? And shouldn't their parents have instilled this great fear in them by now?

45. Why debate dogma?

Comment #91886 by room101 on November 29, 2007 at 1:59 pm

..what a waste of an enlightenment...

And...

if you want me to believe something, provide evidence or expect mockery and ridicule...

Amen. This is exactly how I feel regarding debating xtian idiots. Less debate, more mockery. I'm loving this guy more and more...

46. This Friday: Debate between Dan Dennett and Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #91828 by room101 on November 29, 2007 at 12:02 pm

From Quine:

Check out Pat Condell's little video on polite debates:

Thanks for the Pat Condell link. I have become a huge fan of his, and this video explains EXACTLY how I feel about debating these xtian idiots.

I get a pang in my stomach every time I hear about Dennett/Dawkins/Harris/Hitchens debating anyone anymore. The fact that we debate at all instead of just plain ridiculing them incessently legitimizes their side - gives them equal time.

I highlight my point from a recent video I saw on youtube, featuring a debate/discussion on a conservative talk show (Fox news) some time ago between Sam Harris and Ralph Reed, the former christian coalition leader and recently implicated in the Jack Abramoff scandal. It was absolutely sickening to see Reed and the host Laura Ingraham (picture Ann Coulter's more conservative sister - ugggh) take it Sam, not letting him get any words in edgewise and simply spewing their lies and dogma - complete with smirks, eyerolls, etc. Made me want to puke.

What upset me the most: The simple fact that placing a video image of Sam next to a video image of some idiot like Reed/Coulter/Ingraham/Hannity etc., not only legitimizes the debate between the two, but allows for both arguments to be presented as though they are EQUAL IN VALUE.

Think about that. Because it's on TV, your basic layperson equates the two personalities side by side on a TV screen as "experts" on the topic at hand. Both sides should be considered, right?

Anyway, I agree wholeheartedly with Pat Condell: Less debate, more mockery.

Peace...

47. Pupil defends teacher in Muhammad teddy furore

Comment #91547 by room101 on November 28, 2007 at 2:27 pm

Also...

It just dawned on me that none of these 7-year old children apparently knew that the Great One should not have his name tossed around and idolatrized as such.

Uhhhh...wouldn't you think these overly pious parents would have taught their kids this by age 7? It appears to me that the parents are suprised by the actions of the British teacher Gibbons - but I'd like to know why their kids weren't as taken aback by all of this, as well. I mean, they should have known, right?

48. Pupil defends teacher in Muhammad teddy furore

Comment #91516 by room101 on November 28, 2007 at 1:31 pm

Thank you, 7-year old sudanese boy, for coming forward and helping to clear this issue up for a bunch of your retarded elders.

Funny how a kid gets it, isn't it? Begs the question: At what point does he 'turn' and start to think the opposite like his idiot parents? Hmmmmm....

49. This Friday: Debate between Dan Dennett and Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #91505 by room101 on November 28, 2007 at 1:18 pm

It will be an easy task for Dan to show what we all know: "God is a manmade invention"

Sounds "easy" enough, doesn't it? But that really never is the case. It's all spin and delivery nowadays. Also, the setting/audience counts, too. Douche-ouza is a skilled orator who can talk about absolutely nothing and make it sound like something. I thought Hitchens would mop the floor with him in their debate - didn't happen. Not only that, he seems to be getting off debating the secular side and then gloating about how well he did on his website.

Let's see how Dr. Dennett does. I like that it's at a real university. Hopefully the audience will be comprised of mostly learned, open-minded individuals who will be able to not only provide Dr. Dennett the respect he deserves but also cut through the BS from that blabbering idiot.

50. Georgia gets rain, but it may not help

Comment #88961 by room101 on November 19, 2007 at 9:21 am

Hold on a second...

This was last Wednesday? That just happended to be the day after I sacrificed one of my kids to the Aztec Rain God, Tlaloc (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tlaloc)

I've been tracking the drought in that region of the country for months, and decided that I'd better do something about it.

So. Hey, Georgia: You're welcome.