Comments by Colwyn Abernathy

451. Religious groups want Russian cartoon channel shut down

Comment #146035 by Colwyn Abernathy on March 18, 2008 at 1:55 pm

Boo fucking hoo. I can't stand 700 Club, yet Robertson's perfectly free to produce and air it, despite how vile it is.

452. The Great Tantra Challenge

Comment #144586 by Colwyn Abernathy on March 16, 2008 at 11:24 am

OOO! I read this on this week's SWIFT. Glad to see it here, too!

453. Two More Fleas

Comment #144132 by Colwyn Abernathy on March 15, 2008 at 6:52 am

Has anyone provided a proof of God's inexistence?
Not even close.

Has anyone provided a proof of Zeus's inexistence? Even less so...

DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY PROVE GOD EXISTS! My oh my, I'm suddenly very tired...

454. Seven new deadly sins: are you guilty?

Comment #141327 by Colwyn Abernathy on March 10, 2008 at 9:19 am

Lust Smothered in fire and brimstone

Sautee until golden brown...serves 13.

455. Crossing the Divide

Comment #139771 by Colwyn Abernathy on March 6, 2008 at 1:27 pm

In many ways I envy you, but I guess in some ways I'm better off for having experienced what I did. Many of the best lesson I've learned were from mistakes; mostly my own - some from others.

A good point. It is our experiences that partly shape who we eventually become, and even that becoming is in a state of flux, ie: you aren't the same person today as you were yesterday. At some point in everyone's life, we must take responsibility for our own growth (or lack of) and our own actions and words.

When it's a 2000 year long line of mistakes you don't know who to be angry with, so you just do the best with what you were handed.

Anger isn't necessarily a prerequisite for such a long line of 'mistakes', so long as you view them as that, instead of intentional misleading out of fear, ignorance, and resistance to change. It's disheartening to be unable to share such enlightenment and exhaultation of the liberating power of knowledge and discovery. Especially with people we care the most about.

456. Crossing the Divide

Comment #139766 by Colwyn Abernathy on March 6, 2008 at 1:22 pm

The truth isn't that terrible. It is miraculous and wonderful. It is the stubbornness and ignorance that causes the unhappiness.

Agreed. Truth is liberating, and the only way to arrive at the truth is to explore, question, and observe. If we cannot ask the question: "Is this true, or is this simply what I want to be true?" then we will not be able to grow as thinking, conscious beings.

457. Crossing the Divide

Comment #139761 by Colwyn Abernathy on March 6, 2008 at 1:18 pm

"The whole history of the progress of human liberty shows that all concessions yet made to her august claims have been born of earnest struggle. . . .If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters." -Frederick Douglass

Without questions, there can be no knowledge. As long as religion refuses to question even its most dearly held tenets and beliefs, it will forever be resistant to reason, growth, and reform. It fears questions, because to enlighten its followers would mean their dissolution, and ultimately, its destruction.

458. Lords Approve Abolition Of Blasphemy

Comment #139667 by Colwyn Abernathy on March 6, 2008 at 11:33 am

So, does this mean that Jerry Springer: The Opera is going to get a wider showing? ;)

459. Richard Dawkins' US Tour begins this week

Comment #139276 by Colwyn Abernathy on March 5, 2008 at 1:15 pm

Damn...no Philly? I'm disappointed.

460. Hebrew University researcher: Moses was tripping at Mount Sinai

Comment #139267 by Colwyn Abernathy on March 5, 2008 at 12:37 pm

So Moses was off his tits on hallucinogenics......always said religion was drug induced

Just picturing him now at a rave with his glowsticks in hand smashed on E's ha ha ha

You asked for it....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbPKhAwX004

461. Hebrew University researcher: Moses was tripping at Mount Sinai

Comment #139266 by Colwyn Abernathy on March 5, 2008 at 12:32 pm

"I experienced visions that had spiritual-religious connotations," he says.

And I spoke with the goddess while tripping face on psilocybin. Cuz I was predisposed to such an experience, that's what I got. It wuz kewl... ;)

"Y'all get the impression the walls are breathin'?
I do, Mom."
-Bill Hicks

462. Church exhumes Padre Pio

Comment #139263 by Colwyn Abernathy on March 5, 2008 at 12:21 pm

Oh, posted this on the Pew Poll Faith article, but since this one's on Catholics, I figured it's worth reposting for those who missed it the first time.

Catholics Come Home TV Advert
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLok_ACKAVU

463. Church exhumes Padre Pio

Comment #139252 by Colwyn Abernathy on March 5, 2008 at 11:44 am

He added, however, that it was not possible to see Padre Pio's stigmata, which were said to have disappeared just before he died without leaving any scars.

My my, that's AWFUL convenient, innit? A story close to my heart. My father was dying of cancer when my HS girlfriend told me she knew of a guy who had relics from the monk, including a bloody glove and, get this, SCABS! Man, Catholics are weird. But, my father had agreed to meet and pray with him and his (slight retch) relics, in what HE thought was going to be a one on one. Turns out, her whole immediate family turned up, which embarrassed my father. But, we all prayed anyway, minus my sister, a Baptist, who spent the time praying in her room in her own way.

He died anyway, less than a year later. Guess the relics were fakes...OR, holy relics don't have the power to heal. The chemo did more to help my father than flecks of dried blood and a plastic encased crusty glove.

464. What's the Point of the Archbishop of Canterbury?

Comment #139144 by Colwyn Abernathy on March 5, 2008 at 8:01 am

Archbishop is higher than the Prime Minister? ORLY? I dinnae know that!

EDIT: Yank...if anybody's new here.

465. America: slouching towards the Enlightenment

Comment #138470 by Colwyn Abernathy on March 4, 2008 at 12:06 pm

Oh, here's one of the TV ads via youtube.

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

466. America: slouching towards the Enlightenment

Comment #138468 by Colwyn Abernathy on March 4, 2008 at 11:58 am

Speaking of jumping ship, the Catholic church has launched a new ad campaign in the States. Gander this nonsense:

http://catholicscomehome.org/

PPffff...Developed the scientific method?! Funny how they never want to apply that to their own dearly held beliefs...

467. God, power and money

Comment #137705 by Colwyn Abernathy on March 3, 2008 at 11:17 am

Two words...Peter f'ing Popoff... >:(

468. Please Call Earth. We Still Haven't Found You.

Comment #137704 by Colwyn Abernathy on March 3, 2008 at 11:16 am

XKCD's take on Drake. HA HA HA! Rhymes...

http://xkcd.com/384/

469. Dispatches: Holy Offensive

Comment #135117 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 28, 2008 at 2:46 pm

AHAHA! Fiesta Mag...classic. I dinnae think the Scripture would be into OK! ;)

470. Earth's Final Sunset Predicted

Comment #135115 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 28, 2008 at 2:44 pm

"Sorry for the Inconvenience."

:( Miss you, Doug...

471. Dispatches: Holy Offensive

Comment #135076 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 28, 2008 at 2:00 pm

Wow....putting scriptures to bed like a guru....I had never heard of that...

Neither had I. It's like they WANT us to poke fun at them! Oh, the potential for gags.

472. Dispatches: Holy Offensive

Comment #135002 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 28, 2008 at 12:34 pm

SPOT ON MR BEAN!!! ;) I hate mustard, mustard offends me: the smell, taste, texture. Sooo...NO MUSTARD FOR YOU! Come on, that's ridiculous!

473. Earth's Final Sunset Predicted

Comment #134991 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 28, 2008 at 12:30 pm

"If it's done right, that would just keep the Earth moving fast enough to keep it out of harm's way. Maybe life could go on for as much as 7 billion years."

Assuming we don't nuke it first...

http://endofourworld.ytmnd.com/

The Timmy Age 5 edition:
http://atleasttheresmoreoriginalcontentthantheotherone.ytmnd.com/

Now with intolerance!

474. Earth's Final Sunset Predicted

Comment #134977 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 28, 2008 at 12:22 pm

http://thefutureofourworld.ytmnd.com/

Epic...world ending maneuver?

475. Evidence can't shake your faith if your faith excludes it as evidence

Comment #132828 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 25, 2008 at 8:51 am

"Suppose an angel of the Lord were to appear before Dawkins, even as he was delivering another lecture on the delusion that God exists"

Well, SOMEBODY'S never heard of Occam's Razor. Eliminate the probable first. If it cannot be explained by something simpler, ie. hallucination, optical illusion, etc., THEN what is left, however improbable must therefore be true. By working the other way round, you can posit just about anything you want, which is what theists do.

476. Evidence can't shake your faith if your faith excludes it as evidence

Comment #132824 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 25, 2008 at 8:42 am

"evangelical atheists." You know, I really wish they'd QUIT USING RELIGIOUS TERMINOLOGY TO DESCRIBE PROPONENTS OF REASON...

I'm just saying, is all...

477. Physicist Neil Turok: Big Bang Wasn't the Beginning

Comment #132809 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 25, 2008 at 8:17 am

Must...resist...Turok...Dinosaur...hunter...ref...er...ence...

478. State Approves Evolution As 'Scientific Theory'

Comment #130344 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 20, 2008 at 11:19 am

Annabanana: Why, in the name of the FSM, would we want to placate any of these morons?

Because they have a vote. No one wants to do the right thing even if it means losing one's position...cowards.

479. Fleabytes

Comment #130202 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 20, 2008 at 7:09 am

"It would appear that all humans are made in God's image, but some are made more in his image than others."

Animal Farm reference....FTW.

480. Fleabytes

Comment #129726 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 19, 2008 at 2:07 pm

Paula...Epic PWNAGE...well written and thought!

481. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128840 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 18, 2008 at 4:30 am

Oooo, I LOVED Snow Crash! I knew that guy's name sounded familiar. While I don't think he's the ONLY American novelist worth reading, (John Scalzi's Old Man's War should be on your list) I'll definitely check out his other work. Thanks!

482. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128518 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 17, 2008 at 9:22 am

While I don't understand how sci-fi nanotech is possible, ie: how can a machine that's made of atoms be smaller (or the same size) than a single one be made, I can understand practical nanotech. Example, my SanDisk(TM) MicroSD chip I use for my phone can hold 2GB of storage. (1GB physical and 1GB virtual[compressed]) The hard drive in my old '93 Packard Bell(TM) only held a max of 650MB, even with primitive compression software. (that would FUBAR parts of my data) And the drive was approx. 25-35X times larger than my SanDisk(TM). Data storage and transfer has gone nano, and has been for some time. Were my father still alive, he'd marvel at how far our technology's come since his death in '96. I really don't think people ACTUALLY understand practical nanotech.

483. US military accused of harboring fundamentalism

Comment #127938 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 15, 2008 at 7:06 pm

Space Age weapons in the hands of Stone Age minds. I love my country, but I can't help being embarrassed by it.

484. Pleas for condemned Saudi 'witch'

Comment #126863 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 14, 2008 at 11:24 am

You think that's bad, she turned me into a newt!

A newt?!

485. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #125413 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 11, 2008 at 10:29 am

"It is called liberalism. A liberal society allows an individual to do whatever he or she wants, provided it doesn't harm other people. You can choose to wear PVC hotpants or a veil. You can choose to spend all day praying, or all day mocking people who pray."

Well, we really shouldn't spend ALL day mocking those who pray, there's PORN to download! To the Batranet!

486. The challenge of finding peace in Lourdes

Comment #124776 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 10, 2008 at 7:57 am

"- the pub where the the uncaring landlady "selfish Jean" inspired our hero to write one of his greatest works"

JK Rowling reference...FTW

487. Battle of the Chambersburg billboards

Comment #124768 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 10, 2008 at 7:29 am

Geoff:

"I find it funny as well as dishonest to put forth that a lack of belief in gods is equal to a "hatred" of America. Our founders envisioned a secular nation, where anyone may follow any creed they wished. Would that make THEM anti-American? And since when does Christian=Patriot? Doesn't a patriot believe in the freedom of expression, even if said patriot disagrees with that expression. Belief in an imaginary sky daddy is delusional, but I refuse to deny anyone the right to believe in said imaginary sky daddy."

Posted! :)

488. Battle of the Chambersburg billboards

Comment #124762 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 10, 2008 at 7:10 am

Ummm...Eddie, your thoughts?

Be very careful

'Ello, we're the ROMANS!

489. The Passion of 'Anonymous'

Comment #124755 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 10, 2008 at 6:47 am

Oh and regarding the Volcano... anyone ever play the monkey island games (thinks of volcano god)

Acidophelous?

Murray's still my boy.

Was it an EVIL looking doorstop?

490. The Passion of 'Anonymous'

Comment #124707 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 10, 2008 at 5:39 am

PPffff...religious bigotry?! What about Lisa McPherson? Elli and Jeremy Perkins? Would Lisa and Elli still be alive if they weren't involved in Scientology? We'll never know. And what's with church elders receiving COMMISSIONS on donations?! All tax-free?! Tho I DO agree with Wise Beard Man, by breaking the law, those that fight the good fight are hurting those who are also trying to make a difference, hence Scientology can force the "religious bigotry" card. Be better, do it legally!

491. Christopher Hitchens on Books & Ideas

Comment #123647 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 7, 2008 at 12:43 pm

AHAHA!!! Blessed are the Cheesemakers. Monty Python reference...FTW

HA HA!! BALL Python!

492. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123641 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 7, 2008 at 12:32 pm

Heh heh...gay ceiling, drinks the blood of puppies...classic. Spot on, Jon. Well, a step is a step is a step. Homosexuality USED to be classed as a mental disorder as well. :) Slowly but surely. Okay, thanks for the clip, I think we should get back on topic.

493. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123637 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 7, 2008 at 12:26 pm

This is worrying language. I've heard this kind of stuff in other contexts. You can imagine where...

Err...the Declaration of Independence? No..no...uh, ya got me. What were you thinking of?

494. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123635 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 7, 2008 at 12:24 pm

This kind of silly remark does not strengthen your credibility

Mebbe not...but then, neither does pointing out the Emperor is nekkid. ;)

495. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123631 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 7, 2008 at 12:18 pm

Bird Man...

HARVEY Birdman, Attorney at Law!

I'LL TAKE THE CASE!!

Get ready to feel the power....OF ATTORNEY!!

496. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123619 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 7, 2008 at 12:08 pm

You should move to Oregon we don't have any of those religious laws (or very few) and we just legalized same sex unions a couple days ago!

Really? Pity it isn't actual "marriage," but it's a step in the right direction. I've yet to hear a rational explanation why homosexual marriage is still "wrong". The natural argument falls flat, as well as the so-called "dissolving" of the "family unit." Um...doesn't marriage mean BEGINNING a family? It still boggles my mind how people STILL use these faulty arguments.

EDIT: When, in truth, their "feelings" on the issue break down into the Argument From Nausea: "Ew, that's gross. They can't do that!" I, of course, can make the same argument against mustard. Can't stand the stuff, even the smell, therefore, you can't have any either. It's ridiculous.

497. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123599 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 7, 2008 at 11:39 am

The best thing for society is to do away with all religious laws and have only secular laws like in the US.

Contention: Most states still have so called "blue laws" which prohibit the sale of certain "vice" items such as alcohol and, in my state, Pennsylvania, automobiles. (I think that has something to do with the whole "day of rest" thing) So, if I get into a car accident Saturday night, and I need to buy a new ride to get to work, I'm screwed because it apparently "offends" religious sentiments. They're outdated, IMHO. In addition, it's STILL ILLEGAL in many states for a non-believer to hold ANY kind of state office. SRSLY, LITERALLY illegal, which, of course, I needn't really point out: is unconstitutional.

498. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123596 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 7, 2008 at 11:34 am

He stresses that "nobody in their right mind would want to see in this country the kind of inhumanity that's sometimes been associated with the practice of the law in some Islamic states; the extreme punishments, the attitudes to women as well".

Hmm...then WHAT, pray tell, about Sharia law is reasonable, as WELL as not already on the books. If all that's on the books is what's reasonable in Sharia law, WHY BLOODY BOTHER CHANGING IT to appease one subgroup?! What makes them so much more "speshul" than the rest of us?

499. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123589 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 7, 2008 at 11:26 am

No..No F'ing WAY! If they want to follow Sharia law so bad, they can move to Iran. I really don't see how a repressive set of laws can maintain any sort of social cohesion. If you don't like it move someplace where you do.

500. Ad 'likely to offend gay people'

Comment #123001 by Colwyn Abernathy on February 6, 2008 at 10:46 am

DOOD...this isn't the 50's FFS. The idea of the nuclear family (Ironeez...I sees it) is a product of TV shows like Ozzie and Harriet, Leave It To Beaver, etc. With women entering the workforce, sticking them back in the kitchen wasn't gonna fly. So we got our "traditional" family form FROM TV SHOWS! It was scandalous that Lucy was pregnant on her show. So people get squeamish, big deal. Now the false claim of "gay people want to "abolish the family"" can be taken to task...I mean, don't they want to START families? That they're being barred from doing so (adoption/fostering) would make those barring them from starting families the ones who "want to abolish the family" wouldn't it?