Comments by BigJohn
Comment #151782 by BigJohn on March 29, 2008 at 11:22 am
Comment #151544 by Richard Dawkins
Ditto, Richard. I am a few years older than you and my hearing has deteriorated quite a bit. I can't understand anything said by the squeaky voiced South Parkians, so, I don't know if it's funny or not. I couldn't tolerate the noise(rap) in this video in which the "music" and the vocal components compete at equal decibel levels, and thus, are equally devoid of intelligibility.
I guess I'm turning into an old poop.
52. Happy Birthday, Richard Dawkins!
Comment #150022 by BigJohn on March 26, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Happy Birthday, Richard.
and many more...
If you hurry you can catch up with me.
53. Should Galileo's tomb be opened for DNA tests?
Comment #141512 by BigJohn on March 10, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Maybe they could check for the astronomer gene, but, really, why bother with any of it all?
54. Richard Dawkins' US Tour begins this week
Comment #140474 by BigJohn on March 7, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I would definitely drive the five hours to Austin if I could be certain of getting a ticket. However, with tickets being available at the door on a first come first served basis I don't want to take the chance.
55. In Defence of Selfish Genes
Comment #139900 by BigJohn on March 6, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Why, may I ask, is this being discussed here and now? This altercation occurred between 1979 and 1981.
Comment #137295 by BigJohn on March 2, 2008 at 3:57 pm
"Begs the question"?? Please...
57. Ayaan Hirsi Ali asks for protection
Comment #127943 by BigJohn on February 15, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Well, I gave all I could give, $150.00, I don't know what else I can do. How about you?
58. Murder plot against Danish cartoonist
Comment #126137 by BigJohn on February 12, 2008 at 1:43 pm
So, when these evil cartoonists devise their blasphemous cartoons, do they refer to photographs to get the image right? Or, perhaps there is a portrait of Mohammad somewhere that they refer to. Otherwise, how do the Muslims know that the cartoon is about Mohammad instead of about someone else.
59. Banks are helping sharia make a back-door entrance
Comment #116447 by BigJohn on January 26, 2008 at 1:54 pm
As is apparent from this, the jews and arabs are closely related in both culture and heritage.
60. Ore. Court: Boy Has Say in Circumcision
Comment #116441 by BigJohn on January 26, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Why anyone would want to whack off a chunk of anyone else's body boggles my mind. How does one decide which part to chop? What reason is there to choose one particular part over another?
Religion seems to be the worst basis for choosing because it depends on which religion one accepts as true. Notice that all religions which want to excise bodily parts want to remove sexually related items. Can you think of any reason why? It's called control. Personally, I intend to keep my prepuce, after all it's almost 70 years old and I've grown fond of it.
61. Heath Ledger Death: Baptist Group To Protest At Memorial
Comment #115675 by BigJohn on January 24, 2008 at 2:12 pm
The WBC folks are so gay and feel so guilty about it that they must react this way in an attempt to cover up their secret feelings. I have found that folks that I have known who were overly angered by gays also exhibit a morbid curiosity about the subject. This has always made me curious about the source of their anger but I suspect that is guilt arising from conflict between their religion and their inner feelings.
62. Stop revisionist Christian nation House Resolution 888
Comment #114034 by BigJohn on January 21, 2008 at 8:59 am
I sent a letter to my Congressman who is one of the sponsors:
Dear Representative Gohmert,
I am writing today to urge you to vote against House Resolution 888, "Affirming the rich spiritual and religious history of our [Nation]."
I am convinced that there are many people in the country and even in Congress who would like to turn this country into a Christian theocracy. They barely even take the trouble to hide it at this point. Aside from being filled with inaccuracies about the Founding Fathers and how they arrived at their ideas for our Constitution, this Resolution is clearly an attempt to establish one religion as the "official" religion of the United States. I am simply aghast that this is even being considered.
I note with disappointment that you voted for H.Res 847, "Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith." As an agnostic atheist I do not agree that faith in God is a virtue. And, because you are a representative of the government, I find it incredibly inappropriate for you to express your approval of any one religion, any several religions, or any lack of religion.
I frequently find myself in complete agreement with you, and in general, I am proud to have you as my Representative in Congress. I hope that you will not continue voting in support of un-Constitutional bills such as Resolutions 847 and 888."
I am utterly confident, having brought the matter to your attention, that your detailed knowledge of American history will enable you to recognize that most of the historical claims made in House Resolution 888 are not supported by the historical record. I also trust you'll be as appalled as I am by this bizarre attack on our great nation's historical record. Thus, I'm sure you'll do the right thing and vote against H. Res. 888 should it come to the House floor for a vote.
Here is his response:
Thank you for contacting me regarding our most precious rights. This nation was founded under the divine presence of God and it should remain so. I am pleased to know we have such similar views.
When taking the oath of office, I became committed to serving my constituents, God, and country. There is much work to be done to reform some of our current policies. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, with oversight in the areas you mentioned, I will be an active voice in Congress and will work to restore those guiding principles that have made us strong.
Ronald Reagan once said, "Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged." It is my prayer that we will turn our eyes upon the God who has so richly blessed our nation.
Once again, thank you for contacting me. I appreciate having the opportunity to serve you in United States House of Representatives.
I guess he didn't read my letter. I wrote back suggesting that he read my email before responding. No reply to that yet.
63. Fish out of water: Your Inner Fish
Comment #111063 by BigJohn on January 13, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I sent a link to this article to a bunch of folks. Some will be shocked when they read it and some will refuse to believe any of it. One or two will think it interesting and plausible.
Comment #110725 by BigJohn on January 12, 2008 at 7:34 am
We need a dozen more Norman Borlaugs. Bill Gates could finance them.
BTW, thanks to Penn for introducing many of us to Norman Borlaug through his radio show.
65. Six Reasons to be an Atheist
Comment #108151 by BigJohn on January 6, 2008 at 5:51 am
Reasons for being an atheist:
#1) I was born that way.
#2) ahh...er...umm...well...see #1
Comment #107798 by BigJohn on January 5, 2008 at 11:43 am
Everone, email your U.S. Reprehensible Representative!
Mine is in his inbox now, waiting to be erased.
67. The religiosity test: Doubters need not apply
Comment #106213 by BigJohn on January 2, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Ty_Webb: I think maybe you added a superfluous 'm' to your spelling. But, on the other hand, wasn't their famous archangel named Moron I?
68. Pope's exorcist squads will wage war on Satan
Comment #104727 by BigJohn on December 29, 2007 at 8:57 am
Hey! don't knock the hat. It's encrusted with enough gold and jewels to pay for feeding an entire African nation for a week or so...if someone could get it away from him.
And, look at that crucifix! it's grotesque and hideous.
69. 'Gospel of wealth' facing scrutiny
Comment #104421 by BigJohn on December 28, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Q: Just how does one creflo a dollar?
A: Prey on the vulnerable.
70. Carl Sagan's COSMOS begins airing on Jan 8th
Comment #104407 by BigJohn on December 28, 2007 at 12:53 pm
What horrible video quality! I have never been favorably impressed with VeohTV anyway Try watching this full screen and you'll see all the stars are 1/8" squares.
And, I don't have The Science Channel, so, I'm out of luck.
71. Russia prohibits denial of Santa
Comment #104030 by BigJohn on December 27, 2007 at 3:33 pm
al-rawandi, I have the same problem only perhaps a little more often.
Comment #103746 by BigJohn on December 26, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Jack Rawlinson...don't think I didn't consider them, but, I didn't want to be judged as immoderate because then where would it end? We old geezers are pretty cantankerous, you know?
Comment #103659 by BigJohn on December 26, 2007 at 12:37 pm
I think that the ban on partial birth abortion should be lifted and the right to abort a child be extended to three months after birth. Then, if the woman feels, postpartum, that her right to control her body was violated then she can whack the kid herself. On the other hand, maybe it should be extended to two years, some kids are really badly behaved in their twos.
Comment #103362 by BigJohn on December 25, 2007 at 9:35 am
@FightingFalcon
Ron Paul does not appeal to me anymore after I read this from his War on Religion article:
"The notion of a rigid separation between church and state has no basis in either the text of the Constitution or the writings of our Founding Fathers. On the contrary, our Founders' political views were strongly informed by their religious beliefs. Certainly the drafters of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, both replete with references to God, would be aghast at the federal government's hostility to religion. The establishment clause of the First Amendment was simply intended to forbid the creation of an official state church like the Church of England, not to drive religion out of public life."
He obviously has not read the Constitution.
75. Priest who committed suicide for rebirth cremated
Comment #103147 by BigJohn on December 24, 2007 at 11:13 am
Well, he won't do that again...
I wonder how many, if any, will lose their faith over this stunt?
Comment #102375 by BigJohn on December 22, 2007 at 2:21 pm
We older folks remember Alley Oop riding his dinosaur Dinny.
77. Way of the Master Radio talks about Dawkins' Christmas Comments
Comment #101633 by BigJohn on December 20, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Richard sounds a lot like Clint Eastwood when he sings Christmas carols on this show.
78. Religious Freedom in Military Questioned
Comment #101627 by BigJohn on December 20, 2007 at 3:50 pm
I was all for Ron Paul until I read this:
"Certainly the drafters of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, both replete with references to God, would be aghast at the federal government's hostility to religion.(my emphasis)" from his The War on Religion
He is obviously not a Libertarian or he would be fully conversant with the Constitution which has no reference to god in the military, or anyplace else, whatsoever.
79. Creation college seeks state's OK to train teachers
Comment #99029 by BigJohn on December 15, 2007 at 9:25 am
Oh, no, here we go again...I'm so proud to live in Texas.
80. THE FOUR HORSEMEN - Available Now on DVD!
Comment #99026 by BigJohn on December 15, 2007 at 9:06 am
Just out of curiosity, where was this filmed taped recorded?
81. THE FOUR HORSEMEN - Available Now on DVD!
Comment #99022 by BigJohn on December 15, 2007 at 8:52 am
I'm going to wait until this afternoon to watch this so I can pour a glass of Johnny Walker Black and pretend I was sitting right there observing. On the other hand, it is afternoon somewhere isn't it?
82. Jumbo shrimp, creationist astronomy
Comment #98784 by BigJohn on December 14, 2007 at 10:09 am
I agree, use QuickTime Alternative. It doesn't try to take over your entire computer like Applw QuickTime. Go here and get rid of the even more obnoxious RealTime Player plus codecs for all kinds of other stuff while you're at it: http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_Lite_Codec_Pack.htm
83. How can the Earth be so perfectly suited for life by coincidence?
Comment #98474 by BigJohn on December 13, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Bingo! Crosius, but don't forget to point out that the way we're destroying our precious support system right now, no one will be around to discuss this stuff for a lot longer.
84. What are your qualifications to question religion anyway? Just who are you?
Comment #98473 by BigJohn on December 13, 2007 at 5:30 pm
In my necessarily humble opinion, this jejune question sounds peevish and childish. It wouldn't spark any debate from me.
85. U.S. Congress Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith
Comment #98286 by BigJohn on December 13, 2007 at 12:28 pm
I certainly hoped this was a joke but it's not. I just sent a note to my reprehensitive who voted for this:
"Re: H. Res. 847: Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith (Vote On Passage).
Needs a paragraph like this added:
Whereas the Constitution of the United States no longer holds sway over the Country a resolution representing religion may now be passed thus obviating the differences between the peoples of the Country and alienating any who think differently from the majority.
I think I will move to Saudi Arabia for a few years in order to get used to the way things will be here in the United States before long."
86. An Open Letter to Richard Dawkins
Comment #96587 by BigJohn on December 10, 2007 at 6:27 pm
This is just a CYA letter in the hope of recovering from the whipping Richard gave him on 'Have Your Say' the other day.
87. Richard Dawkins on 'Have Your Say'
Comment #96561 by BigJohn on December 10, 2007 at 5:54 pm
I could see the Hitler/Stalin argument coming from 1.609344 km away when Fr. Miller showed up. I'm tired of it, you're tired of it, but, they haven't much else, so, we'll have to listen to the same old crap time after time, ad infinitum, for ever and ever, amen. Well, ad infinitum for them, but, for us thankfully there will be an end.
Comment #95076 by BigJohn on December 7, 2007 at 10:06 am
Here is a link to an article in my local newspaper, The Longview News-Journal. Maybe there is some hope. Now I am awaiting the letters to the editor to see what the local reaction is.
http://tinyurl.com/36jedu
Comment #94005 by BigJohn on December 4, 2007 at 3:14 pm
I posted this earlier today on:
http://www.thisistrue.com/blog-shift_happens_comments.php?page=2
The school board here in Texas seems to be paving the road downhill into the morass of Intelligent Design and(probably) 'teach the controversy' between the Theory of Evolution and ID. This retrogression in the teaching of science is proceeding apace with Governor Perry's appointment of Don McLeroy to head the Texas Department of Education and the forced retirement of Christine Castillo Comer, Texas Education Agency's director of science over a FYI email she sent. Texans will soon be falling behind the rest of the states as they continue to fall behind the rest of the world. A dismal outlook indeed.
91. Evolution Debate Led to Ouster, Official Says
Comment #92745 by BigJohn on December 1, 2007 at 11:39 am
I'm waiting to see how 'neutral' the board is when they introduce ID into the curriculum, which, given this latest action and the recent appointment of McLeroy, I am certain will happen fairly soon. Education in Texas, bad as it already is, is just going to get worse under these conditions.
Fortunately, my kids are grown and no longer live in Texas so my family will be safe from a phony education.
92. Sudan demo over jailed UK teacher
Comment #92472 by BigJohn on November 30, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Kill the bitch!! After all she allowed the children in her charge to name the teddy bear as they wished.
She should certainly die for her sins!
Seriously, I hope they got her out of the Sudan and into civilization.
93. Fox News Discussion on 'The Golden Compass'
Comment #85925 by BigJohn on November 7, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Since when are atheists required to prove the nonexistence of god? I haven't heard that vacuous remark in a while. It seems to me that if you claim the existence of an invisible entity for which there is no evidence then the proof is up to you.
94. Suffering, Evil and the Existence of God
Comment #85918 by BigJohn on November 7, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Theidiocy indeed.
95. Same Flea, Different Name?
Comment #85904 by BigJohn on November 7, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Comment #85818 by irate_atheist
Good review, but, you don't get a fee for it. It was just too easy a job to collect a fee for.
96. The New Atheists on Organized Freethought
Comment #82932 by BigJohn on October 28, 2007 at 9:48 am
If you don't like the RRS don't pay any attention to them. I don't.
If you do like them, go to their chat room on Stickam. After that you won't like them anymore.
97. Debate between Christopher Hitchens and Alister McGrath
Comment #79207 by BigJohn on October 16, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Sorry, but, McGrath's Monty-Pythonic appearance and bobbing about distracted me so much that I could not appreciate what he was trying to say. I find Hitchens to be much more solid and believable that the vacuous points made by McGrath dissolved into vaporous Christian proselytization.
98. A Nation of Christians Is Not a Christian Nation
Comment #76818 by BigJohn on October 7, 2007 at 11:22 am
Here's an excellent interview(as usual) of D. J. Grothe interviewing Alan Dershowitz on Point of Inquiry.
http://www.pointofinquiry.org/
Comment #75826 by BigJohn on October 3, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Well, I did not get to listen. I hope for a recording to be posted. I notice that some of the servers are now free...too late.
Comment #75807 by BigJohn on October 3, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Well, here I am at 7:30Pm CT trying for the last half-hour or 45 minutes to listen to this debate. None of the referenced websites will respond. I hope that someone makes an mp3 or something so that I can listen to it later. How disappointing that fixed-point.org was unable to support all of us who wanted to listen.
More Pages: Previous | 1 2 3 | Next
Over 1.5 million copies sold
Books by Richard Dawkins
The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing
by Richard Dawkins
The Selfish Gene
by Richard Dawkins
The Blind Watchmaker
by Richard Dawkins
The Ancestor's Tale
by Richard Dawkins
Unweaving the Rainbow
by Richard Dawkins
