Comments by steveroot

Comment #87601 by steveroot on November 12, 2007 at 3:04 pm

5. Comment #87593 by Bonzai on November 12, 2007 at 2:53 pm

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Malaysia_Conference_Considers_How_To_Practice_Islam_In_Space.html

"Muslims also have to turn towards Mecca to pray and working out which direction that will be while hovering above the earth might also be challenging."

What's wrong with "DOWN"?
Steve

502. In a consumer society, browsing for belief

Comment #87599 by steveroot on November 12, 2007 at 2:59 pm

19. Comment #87592 by wednesdayguevara on November 12, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Comment #87511 by steveroot on November 12, 2007 at 10:41 am

Your surname is Root and you're a dentist? That's awesome. :)

Just my screen name. :-)
Hint:
http://richarddawkins.net/article,1821,Jury-Awards-Father-11M-in-Funeral-Case,AP
Steve

503. Exorcism death shocks archdeacon

Comment #87523 by steveroot on November 12, 2007 at 11:10 am

And they criticize the U.S. for waterboarding "detainees". Really, such hypocrisy!
Steve

I must add this: Where did this "Dr." Kaakaa get his degree? This is beyond *bat-shit* crazy... it's *kiwi-shit* crazy.

504. Dr Bari: Government stoking Muslim tension

Comment #87516 by steveroot on November 12, 2007 at 10:47 am

71. Comment #87486 by Dr Benway on November 12, 2007 at 8:56 am

I don't wish to interfere in British politics either, but...

Dr. Benway for Prime Minister!!

;-)
Steve

505. In a consumer society, browsing for belief

Comment #87511 by steveroot on November 12, 2007 at 10:41 am

11. Comment #87466 by wednesdayguevara on November 12, 2007 at 7:45 am
Post your favorites!
"Prevent truth decay. Brush up on your Bible."
Ouch! That hurts me!
Steve (DDS, limited to endodontics)

506. Allan Gregg interviews Richard Dawkins

Comment #87306 by steveroot on November 11, 2007 at 6:40 pm

15. Comment #87269 by PeterK on November 11, 2007 at 3:49 pm
--there can be no consciousness anywhere, not by nobody, not no how.

Coincidentally, I'm watching "The Wizard of Oz" and just heard that line! Now it's "I DO believe in spooks..."
Steve

507. In a consumer society, browsing for belief

Comment #87301 by steveroot on November 11, 2007 at 6:10 pm

5. Comment #87299 by bluebird on November 11, 2007 at 5:38 pm

If you have a hankering for pancakes, look twice at the sign before entering :/

Maybe you'll get served a griddle-mediated apparition of the virgin Mary! Can you say "eBay"? ;-)
Steve

508. In a consumer society, browsing for belief

Comment #87214 by steveroot on November 11, 2007 at 1:50 pm

First!!
Speaking of marketing, where do those slogans that appear on the church signs come from? There must be a source somewhere. How can so many clergy people be so clever?

E.g.: "Need a faith lift? C'mon in!"
(making fun of those cursed with speech impediments)
"Sign is broken- come inside for message"
(I really saw this one last weekend)
"Pause to think and you'll have cause to thank"
(WTF??)

Of course, any one who would actually be influenced by one of these is an imbecile of the first rank.

Post your favorites!

Steve

509. Georgia plans service to pray for rain

Comment #86962 by steveroot on November 10, 2007 at 4:51 pm

36. Comment #86951 by fin on November 10, 2007 at 1:59 pm
steveroot:

I can't wait to know the answer:
*YES
*NO
*WAIT

... which is explained in:
http://godisimaginary.com/video8.htm

Good catch! And don't forget:
http://www.whydoesgodhateamputees.com/
Steve

510. Georgia plans service to pray for rain

Comment #86641 by steveroot on November 9, 2007 at 7:55 pm

I can't wait to know the answer:
*YES
*NO
*WAIT

The suspense is killing me!
Steve

511. Suffering, Evil and the Existence of God

Comment #86412 by steveroot on November 9, 2007 at 7:09 am

27. Comment #86071 by clodhopper on November 8, 2007 at 4:09 am

"I am indeed self-replicating life and to this end is my end directed."

Kindly direct your end elsewhere or we'll end up with another book cover!
Steve ;-)

512. Pat Robertson Says Giuliani Presidency Appears in Book of Revelation

Comment #86266 by steveroot on November 8, 2007 at 9:49 pm

You should check out the Borowitz Report (www.borowitzreport.com). He has had some very clever and funny pieces, many involving religion.
Steve

513. Mother dies after refusing blood

Comment #86162 by steveroot on November 8, 2007 at 1:08 pm

78. Comment #86156 by Tyler Durden on November 8, 2007 at 12:41 pm

And if your "struggling" with masturbation, you're obviously not doing it right :-)

Wet myself when I read that! ;-)
Steve

514. Fox News Discussion on 'The Golden Compass'

Comment #86132 by steveroot on November 8, 2007 at 8:08 am

58. Comment #86131 by donmak on November 8, 2007 at 8:06 am
Not that I care if a person is gay or not ... but with the moral pretense of Christianity and Catholicism I must ask:

Is it just me or is that Priest really really gay?

Shhhhhhh!

That business about "pushing on kids" kinda gives the game away. ;-)
Steve

515. Fox News Discussion on 'The Golden Compass'

Comment #86126 by steveroot on November 8, 2007 at 7:54 am

I saw a photo of the Pope recently, and he don't look too healthy. I actually feel sorry for these guys in a way- it probably shortens their lives to be in such a goldfish bowl (a position as basically untenable as the whale over Magrathea). But I digress...

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary to choose a new Head Sphincter (where the Papal Bull comes from), I hope the collegial fellows will consider Father Jonathan Morris for the job. He's young enough that his long tenure would allow some of these sticky issues to be resolved. :-)
Steve

516. Mother dies after refusing blood

Comment #86121 by steveroot on November 8, 2007 at 7:46 am

71. Comment #86077 by Philip1978 on November 8, 2007 at 4:43 am

There- don't you feel better now?
Steve ;-)

517. Same Flea, Different Name?

Comment #85961 by steveroot on November 7, 2007 at 3:34 pm

26. Comment #85898 by D'Arcy on November 7, 2007 at 12:43 pm

That is a horrible book cover, right enough. I wonder what "O.P." stands for. I've never come across that before. Old Person?

I may be wrong, but I think OP stands for opening post.

"Obnoxious Prick"? :-)
Steve

518. Judgement Day: Intelligent Design on Trial

Comment #85957 by steveroot on November 7, 2007 at 3:22 pm

I saw this last night as a trailer on the NOVA broadcast. Planning to not miss it!
Steve

519. Mother dies after refusing blood

Comment #85666 by steveroot on November 6, 2007 at 6:53 pm

63. Comment #85660 by Goldy on November 6, 2007 at 5:45 pm
More from the Beeb

A quote from the JW spokesperson in that article:

"Many believe blood equals life and no blood equals death - it is not that simple. Abstaining from blood often cuts out the chance of other diseases and other health outcomes."

Yes. Like DEATH.
Steve

520. Jesus Camp: A scary movie that should frighten us all

Comment #85621 by steveroot on November 6, 2007 at 2:04 pm

27. Comment #85614 by scottishgeologist on November 6, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Be sure to check out the "Baptist sexuality" section and for a real hoot, try the "Hackers for Jesus" link:
http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news0201/hackers.html
It is quite simply pant-wettingly funny....

Praise!
Time to change 'em ;-)
Steve

521. Mother dies after refusing blood

Comment #85617 by steveroot on November 6, 2007 at 1:49 pm

56. Comment #85576 by Bonzai on November 6, 2007 at 8:35 am

At the risk of sounding like a cold hearted bastard, natural selection works in mysterious ways.

Sadly, natural selection does not apply unless the twins also exsanguinate before reproducing.

And, yes... you sound like a cold-hearted bastard! ;-)
Steve

522. Jesus Camp: A scary movie that should frighten us all

Comment #85601 by steveroot on November 6, 2007 at 11:11 am

19. Comment #85473 by Philip1978 on November 6, 2007 at 1:35 am
steveroot
That Landover Baptist Church thing...
Please tell me that is not real, that has to be joke surely...???
I haven't seen a smiley face...it can't be Poe's law!!

I didn't think a smiley was necessary. Oops... we're talking about *religion* here. My bad!

Just for grins, look up the "letters" section on LBC... some people really *do* need the smileys, and I know you're not one of them! :-)
Steve

523. Mother dies after refusing blood

Comment #85526 by steveroot on November 6, 2007 at 4:11 am

48. Comment #85516 by windweaver on November 6, 2007 at 3:46 am
To get an insight into just how crazy JWs are when it comes to the issue of blood check this out:

http://www.watchtower.org/e/hb/index.htm

From The Watchtower:

"Have the dangers since been eliminated so that transfusions are now safe? Frankly, each year hundreds of thousands have adverse reactions to blood, and many die."

Bat-Shit Crazy.
Steve

524. Response to Theodore Dalrymple

Comment #85343 by steveroot on November 5, 2007 at 2:14 pm

26. Comment #85334 by squinky on November 5, 2007 at 1:53 pm
By the way, neanderthals may have been able to speak...

They also may have had red hair!

http://anthropology.net/2007/10/25/red-haired-neandertals/
Steve

525. Jesus Camp: A scary movie that should frighten us all

Comment #85333 by steveroot on November 5, 2007 at 1:52 pm

10. Comment #85324 by Klaatu barada nikto on November 5, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Landoverbaptist is always funny, but 18 grand for registration. Jesus Chr.. :)

What's a tithe when it comes to keeping Pastor Deacon Fred happy? :->
Steve

526. Jesus Camp: A scary movie that should frighten us all

Comment #85312 by steveroot on November 5, 2007 at 1:17 pm

1. Comment #85301 by Klaatu barada nikto on November 5, 2007 at 1:03 pm

Now, just issue them assault rifles and the transformation will be complete.

Your wish is granted! :-)

http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news0703/biblecamp.html
Steve

527. I didn't know the FLEA CIRCUS was back in town!

Comment #85266 by steveroot on November 5, 2007 at 11:40 am

135. Comment #85253 by phil rimmer on November 5, 2007 at 11:15 am

"Please reconsider. Fleas are ultimately harmless."

Try telling that to a victim of Yersinia pestis! ;-)

I see no reason to ban the WF from the site, FWIW.I doubt he carries anything anyone here is likely to catch.
Steve

528. Mother dies after refusing blood

Comment #85231 by steveroot on November 5, 2007 at 10:23 am

What a god-damned shame.
@tieInterceptor: it's not eligible for those awards because she has already passed aong her genetic material- in duplicate.

Another "faith" is "christian science". A good friend of my wife took 8 years to die of a squamous cell carcinoma on her eyelid because she was a "good" c. scientist. At her funeral, one of her cultish friends expressed her happiness that the dead one was in a "better place". I nearly vomited on the spot. The woman was a walking skeleton for the last few months before she went to "glory" and, though she never complained, I suspect she was in pain. There is a good book about this cult:
God's Perfect Child: Living and Dying in the Christian Science Church, by Caroline Fraser.
What amazes me is a) how many prominent people are/were CS and b) how they would be willing to let their children die for lack of medical attention (generally and fortunately prevented by legal intervention). Also interesting: CS are allowed to receive dental treatment (it's not *medicine*, after all!) and women are allowed obstetric services. This is the definition of "FUBAR".
Addendum: see
http://www.childrenshealthcare.org/
Steve

529. I didn't know the FLEA CIRCUS was back in town!

Comment #85188 by steveroot on November 5, 2007 at 8:56 am

102. Comment #85168 by BAEOZ on November 5, 2007 at 8:09 am

I'm still working on the theory that Dr. B is an hermaphrodite with a giant cock.
Prove me wrong!

"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence."
Where's the beef? :-)
Steve

(Welcome back, Dr. B!)

530. You big, fat pile of bacteria

Comment #84832 by steveroot on November 3, 2007 at 9:02 pm

11. Comment #84828 by ridelo on November 3, 2007 at 7:01 pm
At the other side of the spectrum: I visited an elderly person in a geriatric clinic. They had a few cases of the 'hospital bacterium' there and they allowed young children (babies!) to come there with their parents.
The nurses were wearing masks when they attended the affected rooms but they said that healthy people shouldn't be afraid of contamination.
Am I a germophobic when I disapprove of this behavior?

Maybe not completely. Assuming the "hospital bacterium" you refer to is MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), there is justified concern in exposure of very young individuals to this organism. See the Mayo clinic site:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mrsa/DS00735/DSECTION=1

Here's what they say about the risks of catching it "out and about":

These are the main risk factors for community-acquired (CA) MRSA:

* Young age. CA-MRSA can be particularly dangerous in children. Often entering the body through a cut or scrape, MRSA can quickly cause a wide spread infection. Children may be susceptible because their immune systems aren't fully developed or they don't yet have antibodies to common germs. Children and young adults are also much more likely to develop dangerous forms of pneumonia than older people are.
* Participating in contact sports. CA-MRSA has crept into both amateur and professional sports teams. The bacteria spread easily through cuts and abrasions and skin-to-skin contact.
* Sharing towels or athletic equipment. Although few outbreaks have been reported in public gyms, CA-MRSA has spread among athletes sharing razors, towels, uniforms or equipment.
* Having a weakened immune system. People with weakened immune systems, including those living with HIV/AIDS, are more likely to have severe CA-MRSA infections.
* Living in crowded or unsanitary conditions. Outbreaks of CA-MRSA have occurred in military training camps and in American and European prisons.
* Association with health care workers. People who are in close contact with health care workers are at increased risk of serious staph infections.
Steve

531. Jury Awards Father $11M in Funeral Case

Comment #84231 by steveroot on November 1, 2007 at 1:10 pm

58. Comment #84194 by gr8hands on November 1, 2007 at 12:01 pm

steveroot, no, I tried to get www.gr8hands.com but some dentist already had the website. I thought about complaining to him, but he looked down in the mouth, so I resisted. (sorry for the groaner!)

I've heard it before. :-)
Q: when is it time to see the endodontist?
A: 2:30 (LOL)
Personally, I'd avoid a dentist who had a web site like that ;-)

But if I had Phelps in the chair I could think of a few things I could do to *normalize* his outlook on life. Operative word: "think"! :-) Sadly, I could never do that even to the likes of that scum.
Steve

532. Jury Awards Father $11M in Funeral Case

Comment #84183 by steveroot on November 1, 2007 at 11:39 am

51. Comment #84137 by gr8hands on November 1, 2007 at 9:13 am

Thank you, Sir! Well done.
(Are you a dentist? Inquiring minds...)

And look: we have a TOOL among us! Hi, Hammerhead.
"When your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail."
Cheerio!
Steve

533. Are the 'New Atheists' avoiding the 'real arguments'?

Comment #84136 by steveroot on November 1, 2007 at 9:08 am

21. Comment #83898 by Friend Giskard on October 31, 2007 at 3:29 pm
I wonder how Edmund Standing feels about having wasted three years of his life studying this shit.

I wouldn't call that time "wasted"! If I could spend three years preparing to write something so cogent, I would consider it time well-spent.
Steve

534. Jury Awards Father $11M in Funeral Case

Comment #84130 by steveroot on November 1, 2007 at 8:38 am

46. Comment #84125 by debaser71 on November 1, 2007 at 8:22 am

The woman also suffered bad burns on her crotch. I think she suffered much more than the family discussed here.

She did something stupid. She burned her sorry crotch. She got some money. Burns heal.
The family of this poor soldier will never be able to remember their son's funeral without the associated memory of these dipthongs' presence.
I think there's a big difference.
Steve

535. Jury Awards Father $11M in Funeral Case

Comment #84114 by steveroot on November 1, 2007 at 7:34 am

I'm all for free expression and tolerance of unpopular points of view. However, the WBC activities, even if technically "protected speech*, are clearly intended to be hurtful. The purpose of free speech is to permit the open dissemination and discussion of ideas without fear of reprisal. Their *must* be an acceptable compromise that allows the slime-balls to express their idiotic point of view while not spoiling the occasion for the mourners. Funerals are for the living; no one should have the memory of their last experience of a loved one marred by such behavior.

How about similar protests at a same-sex marriage? Or *any* marriage? Would this not be considered "disturbing the peace"? Why is it permitted at a funeral? If that dead soldier were my son, I would be quite likely to make his funeral an occasion to remember for at least one of those sphincter suckers. And I'm about as non-violent as they come.
Steve (the submitter! :-) )

536. Lessons in hate found at leading mosques

Comment #83630 by steveroot on October 30, 2007 at 6:02 pm

Inayat Bunglawala, the MCB assistant secretary-general, said: "Bookshops sell a variety of publications and we live in an open, democratic society where it is not illegal to sell books which contain antiWestern views."

Surely, then, in such an open, democratic society it would not be objectionable to publish anti-islamic material (even cartoons!). Fair is fair.

Steve

537. Debate between Christopher Hitchens and Alister McGrath

Comment #83285 by steveroot on October 29, 2007 at 1:58 pm

What's a Dr. Benway?

-a bit less ;-)

Speedy and complete recovery, please! Looking forward to seeing your characteristically terse commentary back on the boards.
Steve

BTW, what's with all the outpouring of sympathy and good wishes from these heartless atheists anyway?? Don't they know that "studies show" that when people know others are - um - wishing them well - yeah, that's it! - that they worry more?
Use the comment space below to present your rebuttal. Let's try and be clear and concise, as if this were to be used in a debate.

538. Debate between Christopher Hitchens and Alister McGrath

Comment #82972 by steveroot on October 28, 2007 at 11:50 am

454. Comment #81608 by Dianelos Georgoudis on October 25, 2007 at 12:58 am
It turns out that religious people donate more than nonreligious people even to secular charities. They donate more of their blood. And so on.

I am a 7 (seven) gallon blood donor and have done platelet pheresis about 25 times. I am registered with the bone marrow bank and will be a donor should the opportunity arise. Even if it is a fundamentalist who has been abandoned by god and needs my help! Just think of all those atheist humors being transfused into the faithful... is it any wonder they begin to question? How satisfying! ;-)
Steve

539. Face to faith

Comment #82851 by steveroot on October 28, 2007 at 3:08 am

8. Comment #82849 by fatcitymax on October 28, 2007 at 2:56 am
The more one learns about science and nature, the more awesome and wonderful they appear--and the more pathetic theism seems. The problem is that most people are too lazy to learn science and mathematics to any depth. It's much easier to believe in magic.

Exactly. The author suggests as much in the fifth paragraph:
"But its nature depends on what you make of the limits of science."
Operative words: "make of", as in "understand".
Steve

540. Debate between Christopher Hitchens and Alister McGrath

Comment #80795 by steveroot on October 23, 2007 at 4:15 am

349. Comment #80781 by Dianelos Georgoudis on October 23, 2007 at 3:14 am
...Let Christian conservatives in particular as well as Christians in general realize which of their beliefs do not stand the challenge of reason.

Have I died and gone to heaven? :-)
Steve

541. Debate between Michael Shermer and Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #80672 by steveroot on October 22, 2007 at 3:13 pm

65. Comment #80567 by steve99 on October 22, 2007 at 7:30 am

Just in case any of you would like to think even less of D'Souza...

http://news.aol.com/newsbloggers/2007/10/19/why-atheists-are-not-very-bright/

That was absolutely hilarious. To sum up:

1. Atheists claim that they can know everything.
2. They can't.
3. Therefore God.

Good synopsis! (LOL)
He doesn't understand Argumentum ad Ignorantium either: "the argument that relies on the ignorance of the audience".
Steve

542. Christopher Hitchens at AAI 07

Comment #80590 by steveroot on October 22, 2007 at 9:23 am

181. Comment #80553 by euthyphro on October 22, 2007 at 6:34 am

Therefore it is extraordinarily easy to give an example of a moral action, as accounted so by a religion, which can ONLY be performed by a believer, since righteousness, by definition, requires a relationship with a being whose very existence is denied by athiests and non-believers.

QED. Can we move on, now, please?

By "Q.E.D." (quod erat demonstrandum, "that which was to be proven", more-or-less) you claim a well-demonstrated, logical thought process leading from a premise to the conclusion. This requires more than bible quotes.

Oh, I get it... you were just joking! Silly me.
Steve

543. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams criticizes popular atheist writers

Comment #80442 by steveroot on October 21, 2007 at 9:07 pm

148. Comment #80243 by octopus on October 21, 2007 at 1:25 am
For some religious people, when you die, you go to afterlife.
Does it happen with mental capacity that you had at moment of death?
For example, if 5 year old boy dies, his mind goes to afterlife as mind of a 5 year old?
If my 98 year old granny dies, would her mind go to afterlife at that particular state?

And what about those ever-present aborted embryos and fetuses? Sitting around comparing their tri-laminar construction, comparing each other to embryos and fetuses of lower life forms? ("You look like a newt!" "Do not!" ... and so forth.) Fascinating.
Steve

544. Report on Hindu god Ram withdrawn

Comment #80074 by steveroot on October 19, 2007 at 9:08 pm

54. Comment #80072 by 82abhilash on October 19, 2007 at 8:30 pm
I am using this opportunity to encourage a new audience to read Hindu scripture.

No offense, but do we have to study *Hindu* leprechology as well? ;-)
Steve

545. Report on Hindu god Ram withdrawn

Comment #80068 by steveroot on October 19, 2007 at 8:03 pm

48. Comment #79469 by Vendetta on October 17, 2007 at 11:17 am
Do you suppose they realize how silly an "army of monkees" is? Is it another victory for cognitive dissonance?

Can't get this out of my head:
"Hey,hey, we're the Monkees!"
Steve

546. Richard Dawkins Replies to David Sloan Wilson

Comment #79697 by steveroot on October 18, 2007 at 7:46 am

79. Comment #61951 by Clevor Trevor on August 7, 2007 at 2:32 pm

Just suppose God listens to prayers - and let's hypothesise that the 1.8 billion (approx) muslims are the favoured ones - and if he gives say 1 minute per prayer (and some of them go on a hell of a lot longer than that) - tell me, where does he find the time to listen, let alone answer them all?

Hyper-intelligent, pan-dimensional beings do not have a problem with this. On your knees!
Steve

547. Debate between Richard Dawkins and John Lennox

Comment #79692 by steveroot on October 18, 2007 at 7:18 am

546. Comment #79690 by steve99 on October 18, 2007 at 7:12 am

Besides, those insects don't have souls, so who cares?
Steve

548. Help Counter the New Atheist Crusade to 'Evangelize' America!

Comment #79691 by steveroot on October 18, 2007 at 7:14 am

65. Comment #79588 by briancoughlanworldcitizen on October 17, 2007 at 9:06 pm

I like the "I love Daddy" item strategically placed to dispel any ideas that you might actually prefer to *eat* children, as atheists are known to do!

;-)

Seriously, that was a nice piece. No psychoanalysis needed AFAIK.
Steve

549. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams criticizes popular atheist writers

Comment #79514 by steveroot on October 17, 2007 at 2:04 pm

Scottishgeologist, I can do worse Latin!

"O sibili si ergo
For tibus es in ero.
Nobili demis trux.
Sewatis inem?
Cowsendux."

I assume no translation is required!
This is what passes for thought as six of my students perform root canal treatment... since the clinic computers won't play video clips:-(
Steve

550. Do you have to read up on leprechology before disbelieving in them?

Comment #79149 by steveroot on October 16, 2007 at 10:03 am