1. Richard Dawkins Responds to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Comment #181299 by Pao Chang on May 16, 2008 at 9:26 pm

So that's the rabbi that debated with Hitchens. The guy likes to go into hysterics. This is how debates between religious yobs are conducted: Who can say the most, the loudest, with no logical content, the quickest: hands gesticulating wildly and all the rest of it.
Sheesh!
I think the good rabbi needs a stiff Scotch to calm down.
Peace in the Way....quietly please.

2. Hitchens vs. Hitchens

Comment #158280 by Pao Chang on April 10, 2008 at 9:29 am

"I suggest you look up past discussions between Hitchens and Chomksy. They are easy to find on-line. You may get a different impression. "


Thanks to Steve Zara for that suggestion, I will. I am not aware of any disussions between Noam and Christopher. Perhaps I assume too much about the "Chompster"
Pao

3. Hitchens vs. Hitchens

Comment #158193 by Pao Chang on April 10, 2008 at 7:38 am

Re: Comment by EMMETT 158044.

Very well put emmett. A very reasoned and balanced argument.
Christopher Hitchens seems to have the habit of answering a question with a question. And I really don't think that Mr.(prof.? doctor?lol) Hitchens wants his questioned answered.
It is a typical ruse of Alpha Dog behaviour to answer a question with a question.
One technique of many in order to crush your opponent in a debate. Oh, and please everyone understand, I very much enjoy the verbal repartee. Educational and fun. Hitchens is indeed a CHARISMATIC .lol
A debate between CHRISTOPHER AND NOAM CHOMSKY. This would be a colloquy between two very different personalities.
Mr. Hitchens would use this debate, if it were to happen, in order to COMPETE AND TRY TO WIN, winning seems to be his main focus--to a lesser extent does he wish to educate.
Noam Chomsky would use the debate in order to INFORM. Noam wouldn't care about WINNING a debate so much as educating.
Pao

4. Anti-Quran Film Fitna Pulled From Web Due to 'Threats'

Comment #154863 by Pao Chang on April 3, 2008 at 9:00 pm

"but Christianity has a bloody history, too" I love this quote. EVERY culture and sub-culture has a bloody history. The problem is we are experiencing intimidation, the threat of violence, people willing to resort to physical violence RIGHT NOW, TODAY. And they are offended by what?
Some cartoons and a Movie? Sheeesh!!! Develop a thicker skin already!

When is humanity going to mature? I despair.

Pao

5. Upside-down church sculpture on hit list

Comment #154853 by Pao Chang on April 3, 2008 at 8:15 pm

No doubt about it, that sculpture is ugly. But there is humour there. Perhaps in another location would be more bang for the buck. It doesn't seem to say much in front of those apartment buildings. Perhaps if it was moved to a public place in front of a Mosque? Ooooohhh! Ouch! Re: comment 154821
Pao

6. Anti-Quran Film Fitna Pulled From Web Due to 'Threats'

Comment #152393 by Pao Chang on March 30, 2008 at 11:54 pm

Geert Wilders eh? An interesting political figure to get into philosophical bed with. OOPS! hey, I'm not implying that physically....oh well. lol

Be careful my friends. Thoughtful consideration of who you are supporting might be in order. I think most muslims consider him the spawn of the devil.

By the way, the film is easily accessible on UTube. You just have to become a member and you'll gain access. It's impossible to censure the 'net, at least until 11 pm. my time. Thank god. (tee hee).
Pao

7. In His Name We Pray, Ramen

Comment #152365 by Pao Chang on March 30, 2008 at 8:18 pm

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I found this debate on Utube. It's, of all things the PBS Firing Line program.
If the video gets through to you please pay attention to Prof. Miller in the second half of this segment. His Butterflies and Whales argument is a knockout punch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyTb0TAiIqA&feature=PlayList&p=64014337D0FFEF14&index=6

Pao

8. I always aim to misbehave

Comment #152357 by Pao Chang on March 30, 2008 at 7:49 pm

The video had me in stitches, and "Pee Zed" Myers guerilla tactics with the phone call was perfect.
So, who are you guys affiliated with? East Coast or West Coast Gangsta Rap? You gonna get a dial-up with Eminem aka Mike Mathers? or P. Diddy?

Keep Bangin' away at the movie. We're doing our part by spreading the word.
Pao

9. Happy Birthday, Richard Dawkins!

Comment #150068 by Pao Chang on March 26, 2008 at 12:29 pm

Happy Birthday Mr, Dawkins.
I sent this email to Christopher Hitchens. It forwards a suggestion Re: debate strategy.

Sir,
First, I bow to you the Alpha Dog in the Pantheon of disputation. I have watched most of your debates on UTube and I have read your articles, your books (god is not great) critical of Theism.
One of the videos I viewed was a two hour long discussion that included yourself, Dan Dennett, Richard Dawkins, and a fourth person I did not recognize. the title "The Four Horsemen" ? now that's funny.

Winding through the thread of the discussion in this taping was a concern of the group about strategy in debates with theists. What is the role of an Atheist vis-a-vis organized religion? Well, how about this?

One role of the atheist is to bring in reason and logic to the world of the religious so that they don't blow each other up--and us in the process. Let the theists know that they are more likely to fight amongst themselves because, obviously, their god is the right god and everybody else's god is the wrong god.

I have seen a lot of debates and I don't think this point is stressed enough: They are hell-bent on destroying each other. Let's keep reminding them of that. They hate each other at the worst. At their best, they barely tolerate each other. Where's the compassion they all like to talk about?

I suggest that you will do them a favour. You, as a moderating influence of logic and reason, will help them through dialogue and debate, to continually hammer home the fact that they are more likely to kill each other than any Atheist or non-believer. Most Atheists that I have met don't shout their points in an argument, wave their hands about like hysterical monkeys (sorry Darwin), stamp their feet, go beet red in the face like a steam engine about to explode, in short, an emotional and irrational outburst of a child denied candy before bed time. The above description is of the Rabbi you debated recently. It was difficult to hear his arguments while he was having apoplectic fits at the pulpit. I had to turn the video off and listen to the audio only.

I don't think theism will disappear in the near future but perhaps there is a need to calm them down. Once they have calmed down perhaps they will listen to REASON. Perhaps not. But I think the exercise would be great fun to witness.

Thank you,

10. It's Make Believe!

Comment #149015 by Pao Chang on March 25, 2008 at 12:25 am

If any of you want to see any more of George Carlin, just go to The UTube site and punch in George's name on the search engine. You could watch him all night, including these clips that were deleted.
Pao

11. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #148980 by Pao Chang on March 24, 2008 at 8:18 pm

Oops Sorry Kagehi. I'm new to the site and I flagged your Ben Stein comment as offensive by mistake. Slid the mouse the wrong way.

Ben's little scene was funny in that film. But Ben as an actor? speech writer? Commentator? Now that's funny.

These faux pas on the part of the ID people will serve them no good. The movie will die a very quick death. If the reviews say it is as technically bad as they say it is.
Pao

12. Discussion on PZ Myers being expelled from Expelled

Comment #148782 by Pao Chang on March 23, 2008 at 10:52 pm

It's a "crappy" film (re:lord's privy seal) that will have a brief shine in the limelight for maybe a week to a month if the film producers are lucky. The movie will then disappear into the 99 cent bin at the local video store just like the hundreds of other bad films CREATED annually.
When it comes to social events such as the fate of PZ Myers at the theatre, the public has the attention span of perhaps a week or two, and here I am being generous in my prediction, then it will be forgotten. As the media people like to say, "The story has no legs." Now if Mr. Meyers had been shot, well then, now you have a story. Just kidding.
However, I agree with Professor Dawkins and Prof. Meyers that there must be immediate response to this kind of idiocy and no matter the attention span of the general public.
Thanks guys, this is fun watching and reading.
Pao Chang