1. Why Dawkins is right and his critics are wrong

Comment #239582 by Laurie Fraser on August 30, 2008 at 12:28 am

Good point, Sciros - does it come with armour plating (just to add more weight and keep the hungry at bay)?

Seriously, although I agree with much of what Teratornis has to say about our addiction to oil and motorised transport, there are many other ways we should be reducing our consumption of energy. For instance, in my area the local council has virtually zero energy efficiency mandates for new houses, so you see these great big brick boxes with black roofs and no eaves being stuck up that require air-conditioning on most days of the year. (And we commonly get 40 degrees plus throughout summer.) I built my place on a passive solar design. Even at the height of summer last year, when we had a week of 45 days, the downstairs never got above 27 degrees. So it can be done, and easily. And, as domestic needs account for about 25% of all energy use, enormous savings in that use can be made with very little effort.

2. Genesis and the origin of the Origin of the species

Comment #239581 by Laurie Fraser on August 30, 2008 at 12:19 am

Sorry, irate - you're wrong. Mad and stupid - a nominee for the Golden Fucktard award.

3. Why Dawkins is right and his critics are wrong

Comment #239577 by Laurie Fraser on August 30, 2008 at 12:10 am

So, irate, etc, - I live in a solar-powered home (2.5 Kw photovoltaics and wind turbine.) Does that mean I'm free to buy an SUV?

4. Why Dawkins is right and his critics are wrong

Comment #239562 by Laurie Fraser on August 29, 2008 at 11:37 pm

Now you're talkin, 8! Starts at 10.30 our time.I dare say our boys are in with a chance.

Damn - gotta go and do some chores for SWMBO. See you later, mate.

5. Atheists: The Last Political Outcasts

Comment #239556 by Laurie Fraser on August 29, 2008 at 11:27 pm

Bye, Coco - cook that hubby a nourishing meal, and don't forget to have his slippers ready! ;)

6. Why Dawkins is right and his critics are wrong

Comment #239553 by Laurie Fraser on August 29, 2008 at 11:15 pm

Come on, 8. Everyone knows that you Kiwis are so strong you could carry your work gear on the ends of your ...

7. Atheists: The Last Political Outcasts

Comment #239552 by Laurie Fraser on August 29, 2008 at 11:14 pm

Coco, Indeed. Way ahead musically, for sure. And an acute sense of the absurd in politics. And the solo in Watermelon in Easter Hay is what I want played at my funeral!

8. Atheists: The Last Political Outcasts

Comment #239546 by Laurie Fraser on August 29, 2008 at 10:44 pm

Comment #239543 by CocoCantare

If anything typifies the parlous condition of politics in the modern world it is this sort of nonsense. It has even started reaching into Australia, where we have long had a healthy disrespect for those who take Jesus on the hustings. At least, in Australia, you can be an aspiring politician and declare your atheism without any fuss. When that changes, I'm moving to New Zealand, an altogether more civilised country (with the exception of 8teist and Goldy :-P )

BTW, check out the ever-prescient Frank Zappa on the subject;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQcE2dq3YD0

9. Atheists: The Last Political Outcasts

Comment #239542 by Laurie Fraser on August 29, 2008 at 10:31 pm

Hi Titania, H4D, Coco (Oh well, I suppose it's "goodnight" Hawt), I hope you're right, Titania - there are many of us around the world who are mighty afraid of the consequences of another Republican victory. The evil fuckers have done uncountable damage to the world for so long. Mind you, nobody's that enamoured with the Dems, either; but at least Obama will have the opportunity (and obligation, one would think) to rectify the grosser sins of Bush and the Halliburton cut-throats.

10. No atheist burials in Co Donegal

Comment #239529 by Laurie Fraser on August 29, 2008 at 10:08 pm

I wonder what Father Jack would have to say about these shenanigans, irate?

11. Atheists: The Last Political Outcasts

Comment #239527 by Laurie Fraser on August 29, 2008 at 9:46 pm

Hi Coco, Tia is great. Yesterday, we were in the chook pen. She went in to look for eggs, came out, put her hands on her hips, got her serious look of frustration going on her face, and said: "Grandad, those BLOODY chooks haven't laid any eggs again!" Gotta love that.

Back to topic (of sorts.) The neo-cons are, as H4D rightly pointed out, a far graver threat than "liberals" (whatever that over-used word means these days). As I've posted before, their belligerence in replying to terrorism with full-scale war against innocent populations; their denial of climate change; their headlong rush to use every bit of oil on the planet as quickly as possible (I note the McCain's VP choice is a proponent of the Alaska pipeline); their manipulation of religious idiocy via the anti-abortion jihad; and their determination to browbeat every country in the world into a version of little America, just to name a few of their evils, demonstrates their utter contempt for the planet and its creatures.

12. Atheists: The Last Political Outcasts

Comment #239517 by Laurie Fraser on August 29, 2008 at 8:45 pm

Hawt - couldn't agree more. Wasn't it Richard Nixon who proudly boasted that "We (the U.S.), with only 4% of the world's population, use 50% of its resources." - sheesh!

13. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #238879 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 5:20 pm

Night wp.

14. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #238876 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 5:12 pm

Interesting, Goldy, that the asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iraq, etc. turned out almost invariably to be decent people who have become an asset to this country, rather than the queue-jumping terrorists they were portrayed as by John Howard and his despicable band of criminal cut-throats.

We've closed down Manus and Nauru detention centres, and the new policy is to put asylum seekers into the community on special visas while their applications are processed. Der - that wasn't so hard, was it, Howard, you pathetic, evil little cunt.

15. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #238868 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 4:57 pm

Hi wp, Goldy, Diacanu - I don't see anything wrong with saying g'day and asking after one's health.

Goldy - yeah, unfortunately you'd be right there. We had a decade of the worst government and worst PM in our history, and it's had an effect on the way people think. Hopefully we'll show some resilience and bounce back. A very dark time in our history, indeed.

16. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #238857 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 4:46 pm

Good morning/good night, Hawt.

17. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #238854 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 4:40 pm

A rather (ahem) stimulating discussion while I've been asleep, folks. I see the efforts to redirect threads to the topic have been a dismal failure.

Hawt: "If Australia is an example of how deportation can turn out after a couple hundred years or less, it seems like an argument for the idea! "

As deportation affected overwhelmingly working-class people from the poorer parts of England and Ireland (in particular), the Australian cultural tradition has included a very healthy disrespect for pomposity. However, we have inherited from the Australian indigenous people a very laid-back approach to life (a damn good quality, in my opinion.)

Edited for typo.

18. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #238489 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 8:29 am

Anyway, wp, sic her!

Gotta go to bed - it's 1.30 am.

Night all.

19. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #238484 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 8:23 am

Shhhh, wp- you know, the long thing with the handle? Hitting?

*looks around very nervously*

I've already been reprimanded by the Prof once tonight.

20. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #238479 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 8:16 am

I was just looking for porn ;) Yeah, I'm erased - can't even leave a comment on her home page. Please, feel free to flame her as only you can do, wp (and I'm not even going to mention the willow wand.)

21. A Teacher on the Front Line as Faith and Science Clash

Comment #238475 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 8:09 am

Not just "quite a series", mate - I saw all of the matches, two of them in person (Adelaide and Sydney), and I've never seen batting like Dravid, Tendulkar etc put on. Dravid was the star of that series.
A shame he was out of sorts in the last series.

22. A Teacher on the Front Line as Faith and Science Clash

Comment #238472 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 7:55 am

Ha ha - as if you guys don't have one or two good players! (BTW, the test series between Aus and India what - 4 years ago? - was the best series of cricket ever played!

23. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #238468 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 7:49 am

Comment #238455 by Gregg Townsend


Gregg, you bastard - now I've vomited all over my keyboard!

24. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #238465 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 7:43 am

whitepearl - the bitch banned me from posting comments! Can you believe it? She needs a concerted flame-throwing offensive from all the good folks at RD net.

25. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #238463 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 7:40 am

Why did you put an absolutely adorable child as your avatar?

26. A Teacher on the Front Line as Faith and Science Clash

Comment #238459 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 7:36 am

Comment #238454 by root2squared

Well spotted, r22!

27. B.C. health official says mumps outbreak began with unimmunized religious group

Comment #238442 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 7:02 am

Comment #238440 by hungarianelephant

Yep.

28. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #238441 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 7:00 am

Oh Al - you need sound for this one, trust me! And you wouldn't hire on her intelligence, that's for sure. She's banned me from the comments section on her videos - I must be doing something right.

29. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #238429 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 6:36 am

Evening Quetz, Al - sorry to interrupt, but wanted to draw your attention to the following:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah8DDMZXqI8&feature=related

This lunatic would be perfect for your court, Al - and I'm sure, after looking at her excrescences, you'll find an appropriate position.

(She makes wooter look like a genius.)

30. Atheism could be science's contribution to religion

Comment #238328 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 2:10 am

Hi Dhamma - no, I didn't edit it. I think some people thought I was accusing the letter-writers of endorsing NOMA, when I naturally assumed people would realise I was talking about the editorial itself.

31. It's no wonder evangelical atheists need to shout so loud

Comment #238326 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 2:07 am

Nevertheless, blakjak's putative instructions to his passengers make him one of the most creative obscenity users on this site for a while (apart from Diacanu, of course). may I use an internet twit's acronym? ROTFLMAO

32. Atheism could be science's contribution to religion

Comment #238318 by Laurie Fraser on August 28, 2008 at 1:42 am

Comment #238294 by Richard Dawkins

Thanks, Richard - yes, my criticism was directed towards Nature. Sorry if I was ambiguous, other posters.


Edit - Vaal, you've left your bold on.

33. Atheism could be science's contribution to religion

Comment #238287 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 11:58 pm

More NOMA nonsense, and from Nature, of all places.

34. A Teacher on the Front Line as Faith and Science Clash

Comment #238284 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 11:46 pm

Comment #238272 by root2squared

I was joking, mate. What's your blog address?

35. A Teacher on the Front Line as Faith and Science Clash

Comment #238269 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 10:01 pm

Hey, root2squared,

Why don't you just call yourself "2"?


*sorry*

36. It's no wonder evangelical atheists need to shout so loud

Comment #238222 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 6:59 pm

Barry Cooper, PhD, is a professor of political science at the University of Calgary

37. Plan to exhume cardinal is 'homophobic'

Comment #238217 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 6:52 pm

Ah, well, whitepearl - your time will come. Meet that wonderful man who will protect, guide and command you, bare footed and pregnant in the kitchen baking casseroles and warming his slippers for when he comes home.

A woman's ultimate dream!

38. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #238130 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 3:43 pm

Thanks Goldy, I'm all over it. Going up to Bathurst today to do some serious smiting! Now, I really must go to work. Bye!

39. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #238127 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 3:38 pm

Attention! Official Dawkins Thought Police message: back on topic, you lot, or it's the gulags.


(Now must go to work. Ta Ta.)

40. A flea we missed?

Comment #237762 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 5:52 am

"Round earth theory"? When did this happen, al?

41. Porn pastor's wife vows to stand by him

Comment #237758 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 5:43 am

Comment #237753 by pewkatchoo

I agree, pewkatchoo. In Australia we have had several examples of pious religoids hiding quite extravagant peccadilloes behind their "virtue"; when they are disrobed, for want of a better word, at least it shows the gullible that the emperor is, indeed, wearing no clothes.


Ishruul - that avatar is wicked!

42. Richard Dawkins on Talkback Radio

Comment #237755 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 5:35 am

Comment #237745 by Quetzalcoatl

Won't matter anyway, Quetz - the Rapture will have come and gone well before then. (Which poses an interesting philosophical question: what is the point of the universe continuing if God's prime creation has ceased to be in the real world?)

Vaal - I'd prefer to be a machine-gun on the wall! (oops, sorry, wooter-types; that was a joke. It is NOT a death-threat, David.)

43. Porn pastor's wife vows to stand by him

Comment #237747 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 5:24 am

Hi 8 - gotta be past your bedtime, mate. Just wanted to thank you for the link to the Liveleak Darwin award thingy - fucking priceless!

44. Porn pastor's wife vows to stand by him

Comment #237737 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 5:02 am

And provided video evidence!

45. Porn pastor's wife vows to stand by him

Comment #237734 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 4:53 am

Correct, Quetz - remember intelligent design and the female breast?

46. Richard Dawkins on Talkback Radio

Comment #237733 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 4:52 am

No, Peace, isthat has spoken. The sun is precisely one million years old. Not 4.6 billion, not 6,000. We have it from the horse's mouth, so to speak, and we shall hold him to this unusual "fact."

47. Porn pastor's wife vows to stand by him

Comment #237728 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 4:48 am

Quetz - it's French for "I have a stiffy."

irate - in that case, my man, you have my authority to call it as you see it!

48. Richard Dawkins on Talkback Radio

Comment #237727 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 4:46 am

Well, Vaal, I'm trying to get my head around what subjects he could possibly teach, considering that his comments about any and every subject are so occluded by stupidity.

In fact, I am reasonably convinced that he/she/it is too stupid for any position other than lollipop man, which he would probably fuck up anyway.

49. Richard Dawkins on Talkback Radio

Comment #237720 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 4:35 am

isthatclear - may I ask you what subject/s you teach?

50. A flea we missed?

Comment #237719 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 4:33 am

Tyler - "Perhaps we should stop treating Robertson like a rational-thinking adult, and more like a child, who constantly seeks assurance from a higher source of authority, while walking around with a security blanket, all the while mocking what he clearly doesn't understand. "

Absolutely spot on!