601. Prayer refusal pupils 'disciplined'

Comment #204771 by mordacious1 on July 5, 2008 at 6:07 pm

erm...I think I have to go reprimer my jeep.

602. Prayer refusal pupils 'disciplined'

Comment #204764 by mordacious1 on July 5, 2008 at 5:54 pm

Wanna bet?

603. Prayer refusal pupils 'disciplined'

Comment #204759 by mordacious1 on July 5, 2008 at 5:41 pm

Uh oh. Now I'm busted.

I can rebuild a computer from the ground up, and fix almost any problem. When it comes to blockquoting or putting up an avatar, I haven't a clue how to do it. My wife is suprised that I'm blogging, since I don't even email. She bought me a cell phone with all kinds of functions, camera, bluetooth, etc. I can answer it and make calls. I just don't have an interest in learning more.

So, there it is...maybe I'll ask my 13 year old how to do it.

604. Tablet Ignites Debate on Messiah and Resurrection

Comment #204757 by mordacious1 on July 5, 2008 at 5:30 pm

What, they couldn't spring for some quality chiseling?

605. Decades Later, Still Asking: Would I Pull That Switch?

Comment #204754 by mordacious1 on July 5, 2008 at 5:18 pm

Decius

No, I don't agree. Everytime I tell the story people tell me that they could see themselves pulling the switch, with few exceptions. This tells me alot about them. It's like using a hypothetical.

606. Christians challenge teaching of evolution

Comment #204743 by mordacious1 on July 5, 2008 at 4:29 pm

Goldy

I thought that you were going to spend some quality time with the family after their trip, and yet, here you are.

607. Crack annoyance squad wanted

Comment #204741 by mordacious1 on July 5, 2008 at 4:16 pm

I went to a catholic sermon back in the '60's where the priest said that Australia barred immigration to catholics. Was this ever the case? I always questioned this guy because he eventually had to be removed from the church in a strait jacket during mass (it was awesome). He was preaching a sermon on women not wearing sleeveless dresses to church, and he totally went bonkers. Took eight guys to hold him down. He ripped the bolted-down front pew right off the floor. They probably had to do an excorcism on him.

608. Prayer refusal pupils 'disciplined'

Comment #204740 by mordacious1 on July 5, 2008 at 4:06 pm

Laurie

Again, your face tells me alot about you, I like your avatar.

609. Decades Later, Still Asking: Would I Pull That Switch?

Comment #204734 by mordacious1 on July 5, 2008 at 3:58 pm

I hope that this experiment wasn't fraudulent. I love telling this story to people, whether true or not, it gives some insight into human nature.

610. Christians challenge teaching of evolution

Comment #204733 by mordacious1 on July 5, 2008 at 3:53 pm

Laurie

"...American gullibilty years ago."

Did you know that "gullibility" is the only common usage word not listed in either the OED or Webster's?

611. Prayer refusal pupils 'disciplined'

Comment #204729 by mordacious1 on July 5, 2008 at 3:46 pm

Steve
'
I can see your face, and it does tell me alot about you.

OK, thewhitepearl, now you're just messing with me.

612. Prayer refusal pupils 'disciplined'

Comment #204717 by mordacious1 on July 5, 2008 at 3:20 pm

thewhitepearl

I liked your old avatar better, can't see your face in this one, and a face says alot about a person. Just an opinion.

613. Prayer refusal pupils 'disciplined'

Comment #204713 by mordacious1 on July 5, 2008 at 3:15 pm

If this happened in an american school, the teacher would be out the door. I took comparative religion in college and did not have to pray to anything to learn about the religions. A demonstration would be acceptable. UK should rid its schools of its religious connections, IMHO.

This being said, I'd like to see the RDF come up with some Profiles in Courage award for children, politicians, and anyone else who takes a stand against religion when it is not popular to do so. Especially children, they really have to be strong minded to go against this much authority, although this might have been because they were christians. I had a student opt out of going on the California Missions field trip, because her mom wouldn't let her step into a catholic church.

Back to the RDF award. People, like the Texas Science Curriculum advisor who is sueing over her lost job, would be a good candidate. These kids could be nominated, if they were doing it for reasons other than being christians and not just wanting to have anything to do with other peoples' faith. There was a student who sued over a blurb in a science textbook that stated that there are other "theories" than evolution, eg. ID, and won. Congressman Stark of CA, who admitted he was an atheist, would also be in the running. I think this would recognize the individuals who take a stand against religious nonsense. The battle is in the trenches folks and an endorsement by RD himself would be something to be proud of.

614. Does the Pope wear Prada?

Comment #204394 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 10:39 pm

If he was dressed by a carpenter, wouldn't he be dressed in something made of sawdust or bent nails? At least plaid shirts, levis, and work boots...right 8theist? Bib overalls?

[edit] And a hard hat rather than a cone head.

615. Richard Dawkins on Doctor Who

Comment #204390 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 10:33 pm

Clearmind

What Styrer said.

616. Christians challenge teaching of evolution

Comment #204368 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 9:22 pm

It's not so perfect, some people still misspell "too".

617. Does the Pope wear Prada?

Comment #204365 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 9:18 pm

deleted due to wrong thread, oops, sorry josh.

618. Does the Pope wear Prada?

Comment #204362 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 9:15 pm

Maybe Victoria's Secret?

edit: Might have a push up bra under that cloak.

619. Christians challenge teaching of evolution

Comment #204360 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 9:13 pm

Our local school district received a donation of dictionaries, regular dictionaries, from a local church. They refused the donation because there was a stamp in the front stating: "Donated by the such and such church". That's all it took for them to be sent back. I was very proud of them.

620. Christians challenge teaching of evolution

Comment #204358 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 9:07 pm

You know with all the links from the UK and NZ lately, it seems like you guys have more crazies than we do. But don't worry, ours still outnumber yours. The cretins here are just busy praying at gas stations so they can fill up their SUV's.

I said quietly, with no bolds intended.

621. Does the Pope wear Prada?

Comment #204351 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 8:58 pm

I thought he wore satan. Oh, I think it's spelled satin. my bad.

622. Christians challenge teaching of evolution

Comment #204349 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 8:55 pm

These guys just don't give up, nothing better to do I guess. Anyone know how to undo the bold, I don't want it to seem like I'm screaming.

623. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #204336 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 8:02 pm

As far as Al forgetting a word in Arabic, I used to speak 3 languages fairly fluently, and I'd forget various words constantly, including English. Now I have, 25 years later forgotten one language almost entirely, the second about 50%, and my English is going down the tube fast. Don't use it, lose it. I think the more languages one crams in one's brain, the more difficult it is to seek out certain words.

624. Stephen Hawking's explosive new theory

Comment #204332 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 7:50 pm

Steve

That's like saying "I wish Columbus hadn't discovered America, so he could keep sailing and discover Hawaii".

Physics is going to be exciting whether they discover the Higg's bosun or not. I think that they will, which will be good. But don't worry, there are so many other things yet to be discovered. Columbus discovered America (sort of), and someone else discovered Hawaii.

Every time we put a piece of the puzzle in, we get closer to completing the puzzle. But don't worry, this is a jumbo puzzle and it's nowhere near completed. Is that enough metaphors for everyone?

625. Stephen Hawking's explosive new theory

Comment #204281 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 3:09 pm

Oh crap, how did I miss this discussion going on?

Some extremely interesting points made.

Let's not discuss them NOT finding the Higg's particle. That is just too depressing to think about, since all the evidence points to its existence.

Stenger: I agree with Steve about some of the things Stenger proposes. But I find myself being persuaded not just by his physics, but by his writing style and abilities to put forth his arguments. I love to read his books. I just have to be careful to go back and extract the facts and his ideas, then think about them without getting wrapped up in the totality of his writing.

Thanks all for having an enlightening discussion.

626. Sharia law 'could have UK role'

Comment #204236 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 1:13 pm

Quite a slippery slope this is. I think living in a country where Shariah law is acceptable would be...oh wait...it's Independence Day...Thank FSM.

627. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #204002 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 2:36 am

Hey, Prince Phillip has to be close to 90...eccentric is the word I think.

628. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203991 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 2:24 am

"Do you know where New Zealand is?"

Somewhere off the coast of Tasmania isn't it?

(just jesting, second time I've used that line this week. Ran into a Kiwi in a coffee shop a few days ago. She asked the same thing).

629. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203981 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 2:04 am

yeah, but forty pounds = eighty million dollars!

630. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203976 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 1:57 am

Goldy

Your last link says the annual cost of supporting the Queen/family is 40 pounds ($80 million). Wow, I didn't know the dollar had slid that badly in relation to the pound.

631. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203968 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 1:45 am

Brandywine

Who cares if the British want to pay for the Queen and her lot? It's their money. Besides, I think they recoup it in tourism to see all the pomp and what not.

You'd be suprised how much we pay out for our presidents, in and out of office. I really don't understand why people make anti-brit statements on this site, unless it's in jest of course. Just damn rude and ignorant.

632. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203958 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 1:35 am

Goldy

Yes, just read his/her past comments on royalty. Some obsession with the Queen's ovaries, can't figure that out. My next toast will be, "To the Queen's Ovaries". My wife will lock up the beer after that one, I'm sure.

633. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203948 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 1:26 am

Goldy

The muslims feel that they are the jews of Europe?

The jews probably reply: "What? I wish we had it so good".

I don't remember anyone bending over backward to make the jews feel accepted?

634. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203945 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 1:20 am

Hey, one of my favorite toasts that I picked up while serving with some Brits is "God Save the Queen". I don't know why I like it, historical I suppose. Of course, I don't have to pay for her and her family. Once Charles becomes King I won't be able to toast anymore, he's too weird for me.

635. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203933 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 1:08 am

Steve

It is the 21st Century. What religion isn't stupid? One could define stupid as: "Pointless or worthless" (that fits) or one could define it as "slow to learn" (that fits).

636. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203922 by mordacious1 on July 4, 2008 at 12:29 am

Yes. All religion is stupid and/or evil. You don't think so?

637. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203917 by mordacious1 on July 3, 2008 at 11:48 pm

"...another opportunity to remind the followers how islam is stupid/evil and therefore all religion is stupid/evil?"

Exactly. Now you're catching on. All religion is stupid/evil...that's almost an understatement, btw.

638. Former state science director sues over intelligent design e-mail

Comment #203876 by mordacious1 on July 3, 2008 at 9:39 pm

Yes, I was just there. You know, alcohol is a great muscle relaxer for your back, so pick up plenty on your way home.

639. Former state science director sues over intelligent design e-mail

Comment #203870 by mordacious1 on July 3, 2008 at 9:27 pm

I think I misread their statement. Rereading it, I think they mean the Chinese version of the flood is mythology, but the flood of the scripture is fact. One man's fact is another man's bullshit.

640. Science is thrilling - except in our schools

Comment #203864 by mordacious1 on July 3, 2008 at 9:18 pm

Goldy

Hey, don't laugh. The one guy got to visit Mt. St. Helens with Steve Austin, who I think is the 6 million dollar man.

641. Did newborn Earth harbour life?

Comment #203861 by mordacious1 on July 3, 2008 at 9:08 pm

steveroot

Your avatar is going to give me nightmares.

642. Former state science director sues over intelligent design e-mail

Comment #203860 by mordacious1 on July 3, 2008 at 9:05 pm

Goldy. If this is a cretinist site, how come they call the flood "biblical mythology"? I thought that these guys believed in the Noah story.

643. Former state science director sues over intelligent design e-mail

Comment #203851 by mordacious1 on July 3, 2008 at 8:37 pm

Goldy

Oh my. This is why I rarely talk with cretins anymore.

I like that: not only dinosaurs and people coexist at the Cretin-museum, but the kid is already properly clothed, we homo sapiens advanced quickly. A few hundred years later they were writing the old testament, of course, by then they had forgot about dinosaurs so they didn't mention them.

644. New Zealand man sells his soul to 'Hell'

Comment #203759 by mordacious1 on July 3, 2008 at 2:04 pm

Let me change the old brain joke:

A man goes into the "Soul & Blues" store for some used souls. He sees the first container of souls and it's marked $100/lb. "Wow", he exclaims "How come so much? The owner says, "Well, those are priest souls, very, very clean. And you know we have to sort out the one's that, well you know had some indescretions, and that raises the price".

"I see", says the man. Then he looks at the next container of souls. "$200/lb, man! What makes these more expensive than priest souls?" The owner says, "Those are Bishop souls, much rarer to find good clean souls there, you know".

"Yes, I understand that", then he sees the next container,"Holy shit, $1000/lb, what in the name of god could make souls that expensive?"

"Erm, those are atheist souls", says the owner.

"Why in the fuck would atheist souls cost so damn much?"

Owner: "Do you know how many atheists it takes to get a pound of clean souls?"

645. Science is thrilling - except in our schools

Comment #203697 by mordacious1 on July 3, 2008 at 11:32 am

My daughter has had a couple of really good science teachers so far, but I feel that does not relinquish my responsibility to "teach" science every day at our house. Most of the time, my kids don't even know that we are doing "science", just their dumb old dad asking what they think about how weed seeds get transported around the property so easily. Or having snakes and other critters in the house and having them ponder the similarities to other organisms.

Parents who know little of science and refuse to learn something to teach their kids in a fun way are doing their kids a disservice. Science, as in all education, should start at home.

Bragging again: My daughter is 2 years advanced in science and really smacked the rest of her class this year (again), with extra credit she was off the charts on grading (118%), hee hee. The best part is, she feels little pressure, because science is just something one does. It is all around us, it is life itself....enough of my lecture, but you get the point.

646. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203668 by mordacious1 on July 3, 2008 at 10:44 am

muslimlady

You came and posted and disappeared. Can't stand the heat? Please do not enter the kitchen again, unless you are prepared to stay awhile.

[edit] My apologies if your husband caught you using the computer and you are receiving a beating while we speak.

647. New Zealand man sells his soul to 'Hell'

Comment #203655 by mordacious1 on July 3, 2008 at 10:23 am

You guys, our souls aren't worth shit, because we are all heading to hell anyway. The only souls that have value, are the souls, like Ted Haggart's who has been born again, and again in jesus and are for sure heading for heaven. People don't want a black, ravaged soul like mine...they want a crisp clean, white soul...like Tony Blairs.

But, if this Pizza chain wants my soul, they can have it for a large pizza and a couple of cold beers.

648. Did newborn Earth harbour life?

Comment #203652 by mordacious1 on July 3, 2008 at 10:12 am

Decius

Agree with you on the large moons. I don't think I will see too much exploration there in my lifetime, which is too bad, for me.

Of course, we can have manned landings on Mars too, so that makes it more attractive to some.

649. Who Was More Important: Lincoln or Darwin?

Comment #203648 by mordacious1 on July 3, 2008 at 9:59 am

The thing that really bugs me, is that this was the cover of the magazine. With the 150th of the Origin this week, couldn't they just have friggin' put Darwin on the cover and left it at that? Oh well, at least it wasn't Darwin v. Ben Stein.

On the other hand, I'd like to see a poll of americans who know who Darwin was. They probably had to throw Lincoln in there, so at least half the people would know at least one of them. It is just so stupid.

650. Did newborn Earth harbour life?

Comment #203646 by mordacious1 on July 3, 2008 at 9:48 am

A lot of speculation in this article, but that's OK. With all the speculation on early life that is being put out, some bright lad/lass will eventually put it all together and prove how life began. I think we are really moving forward on this and will someday have an accepted theory on the origin of life on Earth. We are close to closing that biggest of remaining gaps.