401. Contribute to science directly by volunteering some of your computer's processing power!

Comment #139785 by rod-the-farmer on March 6, 2008 at 1:45 pm

Devolution asked about BOINC being a memory hog. Nah. I have been running the SETI tool for many years, just about since if first came out. You can set the BOINC software to run ONLY when you are not doing something else. Pick a timeout of 3 minutes or more, and only when your PC is idle that long will it start crunching numbers again. It stops once you do anything, even move the mouse. My PC has a hyper-threading processor, so I can have part of it run SETI all the time. I agree that it will consume a bit more power. The figure someone gave of several hundred dollars a year seems way too high. Details please ?

I have my own SETI team, so I will continue using that. Not nearly so many members, though.

402. Crossing the Divide

Comment #139778 by rod-the-farmer on March 6, 2008 at 1:35 pm

Great article. As a long time (life long ? well, at least since about 10) atheist, I can sympathise with those who are reluctant to stand up in front of family and neighbours. Lucky for me, those of my relatives who are big bible believers, are at least willing to accept me as a nice person, notwithstanding my beliefs about Dog. The JW's came to the door a few months ago, and I said "Boy did you come to the wrong house, I am a militant athiest. Sorry my driveway is 1/4 mile long." My next-door neighbour, an elderly lady, has a lot of relatives in the area. I do what I can (plow her driveway, cut parts of her lawn) as a "good neighbour", to make up for the occasional profanity she might hear when I whack my thumb with a hammer, etc. Or maybe the JW's told this rural community about the devil living next door to her.

403. Lords Approve Abolition Of Blasphemy

Comment #139760 by rod-the-farmer on March 6, 2008 at 1:17 pm

Big T said

all the remaining candidates seem to believe in evolution,

404. How to abandon your God

Comment #139498 by rod-the-farmer on March 6, 2008 at 2:05 am

cowalker said

In America there is a small group of Catholics who consider themselves "traditional" who are constantly nagging the bishops and the pope to enforce Church law in their parishes. They want thunderous denunciations of contraception from the pulpit on Sunday. They want public condemnation of movies and TV shows and books. They want politicians who aren't constantly trying to get abortion made illegal to be publicly refused Communion. Instead they get tolerance and nuns who speak at Mass about meditations on god's feminine side based on walking the labyrinth.

405. How to abandon your God

Comment #139391 by rod-the-farmer on March 5, 2008 at 5:42 pm

I bet the Catholic Church was either aware of this trend through their own observations, or is trying to develop a strategy to deal with it now this survey has come out. But from my observations, the decline is almost totally due to general disgust with the number of child abuse cases laid at the feet of RC priests. How they will respond to this will be interesting to watch.

Another item perhaps worth consideration is that if the number of conversions (from one branch of faith to another) has gone up dramatically in just a few years, I would think that bodes well for us in the secular/atheist group. We are sort of the lowest common denominator. Once you start considering leaving one faith, it should be easier to abandon them all. Sort of a glass ceiling effect. Once broken, that scent of freedom from dogma may be intoxicating. Maybe we need some marketing snazz. Help get rid of the bad rep that atheists seem to have in some quarters. "Join the Atheists, and see the world (as Nature meant you to see it)." Get rid of all dogma.

406. Bulldozers tear down giant religious teapot

Comment #138795 by rod-the-farmer on March 4, 2008 at 7:36 pm

Another article on intelligent thinking - this one about the rights of women in Islam.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=247122

(shakes head)

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

Comment #138400 by rod-the-farmer on March 4, 2008 at 9:08 am

When one enters a jewish home, one is sometimes invited to "Have a nagela". This is the original name for a HHHHash brownie. Note the guttural HHHHH.

408. Church exhumes Padre Pio

Comment #138393 by rod-the-farmer on March 4, 2008 at 9:02 am

Ygern mentioned

a calendar of these 'miraculous intact saints' by a nun, you know the type, a different corpse for every month of the year (charming).

409. Survey shows Non-Religious Outnumber Those of Every Single Faith (But One)

Comment #137999 by rod-the-farmer on March 3, 2008 at 6:10 pm

Re Comment #137964 by markg

It is not well known, to be sure. Playing with only one arm made that arm stronger....since he was heavier on that one side, he did, in fact, have a list.

410. Survey shows Non-Religious Outnumber Those of Every Single Faith (But One)

Comment #137789 by rod-the-farmer on March 3, 2008 at 1:34 pm

I didn't see the survey tracking WHERE people came from/went to. I suspect a substantial number left the small, local churches, which tend to have shrinking congregations, and increasing trouble making the financial ends meet. So they try out a mega-church, which "sounds like fun", plus it offers day care for the little kids. Exposed and accustomed as they have been, especially in the U.S., to large scale events like rock concerts and big, splashy TV programming, it may be an easy flip between the two "channels". These people are looking to be entertained rather than hear a preacher with a thought provoking sermon.

Kind of like classical music or jazz. You have to be a bit (or a lot) educated to appreciate it. I of course am biased....Handel, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt etc. are divine. I would give my left arm to be able to play piano like Liszt.

411. Survey shows Non-Religious Outnumber Those of Every Single Faith (But One)

Comment #137698 by rod-the-farmer on March 3, 2008 at 11:11 am

Some of us still use the wording of specific religions, even if we are no longer an attendee at services

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/74367

(snigger)

412. A natural phenomenon

Comment #137477 by rod-the-farmer on March 3, 2008 at 1:11 am

His legacy is such that I predict there will come a time where "Attenborough" will become a noun. People will say "So and so did a real Attenborough" or something similar. How can you/we not love him for his contributions and enthusiasm.

413. The Encyclopedia of Life, No Bookshelf Required

Comment #136916 by rod-the-farmer on March 2, 2008 at 3:05 am

Laurie Fraseer reported a creationists conference saying

that training in a field of science was no match for the enlightenment that comes with the inspiration one gets from a personal relationship with the Lord, to great applause from the audience. How do you argue with that?

414. Berlin gallery in Islam art row

Comment #136582 by rod-the-farmer on March 1, 2008 at 1:08 pm

Any one know if the single Danish cartoon that caused the most fuss, is copyrighted ? If someone wanted to, say, print T-shirts with it, or put a poster on the side of their truck, or otherwise display it prominently, would the artist object ? Maybe he needs the licensing money to pay for protection ! I am beginning to feel that the only way to stop this sort of protest is to flood the world with the "offensive" material. I think we all need to step up to this issue, and be part of the solution. Maybe then these overly-sensitive muslims can finally grasp that in western societies, free speech trumps their right to be offended. If they want to control the media in their home countries, that is their right. But once they emigrate, they have to adopt the mores of the host country, including free speech. Or go back home. Don't try to impose your beliefs here.

And besides, if pictorial representation of mohammed is forbidden to muslims, there is no way to determine if the Danish cartoon was of mohammed, unless it specifically said that on the image. Who could tell, if there is no history of images ? All it would show is a bearded guy with a head covering that represented a bomb about to go off. He could be Ali, or whoever.

415. America: slouching towards the Enlightenment

Comment #135673 by rod-the-farmer on February 29, 2008 at 7:42 am

Geoff you are really bad.

416. Taking evidence seriously

Comment #135664 by rod-the-farmer on February 29, 2008 at 7:36 am

Rather than do a study about the efficacy of homeopathic medicine, I think we should start spreading the rumour that antibiotics were developed by evolutionists, using evolutionary concepts, and are packaged in containers made by evolutionary companies. If the Roman Catholic Church can get many Africans to believe condoms have holes in them (and whatever other lies they tell), then maybe we can get fundies in the west to avoid modern drugs. It will take a while, but that may well get rid of many of them.

417. Dispatches: Holy Offensive

Comment #135652 by rod-the-farmer on February 29, 2008 at 7:21 am

I agree with Geoff.....pick as many of the Museums in London as you can. I also agree Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) was great. Fellow roadracing enthusiast. Funny, many of those I have met are athiests. I guess that is because you have to be, since so many of the events are either on Saturday, Sunday or both. We have no time to attend services ! That fits in with Christopher Hitchens argument, I think it was. "It (atheism) does not need constant re-inforcement ?"

I had to laugh at the protester who was invited into the church. When he spoke to the very calm actor who had a major role in "Jerry Springer", he accused the actor of blasphemy, yet admitted right up front he had not seen the play. So who do you think TOLD him the play contained blasphemy.....duh....his priest. No doubt about it. Sheeple, right there on screen, in a church not their own, but clearly identifiable, anyway.

418. Earth's Final Sunset Predicted

Comment #135604 by rod-the-farmer on February 29, 2008 at 6:14 am

the sun's gravitational pull will have weakened enough for Earth to escape final destruction

419. Are they running for President or Pastor-in-Chief?

Comment #134677 by rod-the-farmer on February 28, 2008 at 5:06 am

My favourite verse from the bible would be "The End"

420. The Encyclopedia of Life, No Bookshelf Required

Comment #134166 by rod-the-farmer on February 27, 2008 at 10:53 am

Sorry, gimlibengloin, but your link has no answers to the questions I raised about Noah's Ark. Your response claimed I raised questions about Genesis, and thus you directed me to a site addressing this question. Nope, not me. The Ark story was my target. In my opinion, posing the questions I listed reveals the problems with that story - common sense says that cannot be quite how it happened. And I did not raise ALL of them. Just the first level questions. Also, PLEASE do not conflate the origin of life with evolution. Two separate issues, but a common creationist attempt to confuse the question. Evolution assumes life already existed, then tries to explain the incredible variety of species.

421. The Encyclopedia of Life, No Bookshelf Required

Comment #134025 by rod-the-farmer on February 27, 2008 at 6:36 am

I would like to have been there when Noah said to his neighbours "I need (1) all your animals, (2) two of each of all the other animals on the planet, (3) all your feed crops for the next three years so I can feed them all, (4) all the lumber within a 500 mile radius, and (5) you have to transport all that yourself, because my family & I are busy building a boat (which we have never done before - we are farmers, not boat-builders). So....get a move on, it is starting to rain. And no, you can't come for a ride on it."

422. The Encyclopedia of Life, No Bookshelf Required

Comment #133891 by rod-the-farmer on February 27, 2008 at 2:15 am

It is now working. Go to the

http://www.eol.org/home.html

and click on the intro. I would suspect that anyone on THIS blog will end up with a big smile on his/her face, after seeing it, and understanding what they want to do with this.

It will be interesting to follow the evolutionary links function, and what the fundies say when this feature becomes common knowledge.

423. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133355 by rod-the-farmer on February 26, 2008 at 5:54 am

I recently went into a bookstore chain outlet, and while I did see a lot of religious books, I also saw many if not most of the Four Horsemen displayed as well. Mind you, I live in Ontario, Canada, so that means certain differences right there.

There is a DOUBLY interesting article in todays news, which I sent to Josh, but it may take him time to decide to post it.

Many In U.S. Drop Their Childhood Religion

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/25/national/main3873100.shtml?source=search_story

The above link comes from CBS, but ABC also had the same story. What was even more interesting is that BOTH news sites deleted this article from their "main page". Possibly due to the hundreds of comments they each received. I had to use the Search function to find it again.

424. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133349 by rod-the-farmer on February 26, 2008 at 5:30 am

Several times in this and other blogs someone has raised the question of "Just how popular ARE these flea books, anyway ?". Is there anyone with knowledge or contacts in the publishing industry who can do the research and report back ? Of course, it is entirely possible that some fundie churches or their supporters are buying the flea books in quantity, to hand out to their flock. I suppose detailed questions may reveal that sort of "fiddling the books".

425. Pakistan blocks YouTube over blasphemous video

Comment #133275 by rod-the-farmer on February 26, 2008 at 2:22 am

JuxtaMonkey
I think the reason you (and the rest of us) cannot see this video yet is that it has not been released yet! Which makes the Pakistani government action all the more laughable. Pre-censorship. Do they ban triple X films ? When several newspapers in EU reprinted those offensive cartoons, I was truly hoping that ALL newspapers around the world would do the same thing, to show solidarity, and help muslim fundies understand that freedom of speech is entrenched in western societies. I thought for sure Pat Condell would be one of the reasons an islamic country would ban YouTube. Maybe even this site !. On that, has anyone heard from Josh lately ? I recommended he post some cartoons by Dan Piraro, of Bizarro fame. But Josh has not responded to either me or Dan.

426. Church is paying a high price for its celibacy rule

Comment #132882 by rod-the-farmer on February 25, 2008 at 11:08 am

From my limited experience, a lot of the reduction in numbers of people called to be priests or nuns is aligned very closely with the loss of a faithful congregation. I hear many Catholics expressing deep disgust at all the stories of kiddie-diddlers among the priesthood. That HAS to translate into disapproval, either on a personal level, or from your family & friends, if you were considering signing up. It would be bad enough if it happened only in one parish, or only in one country, but this phenomenon has reached pretty much every corner of the Catholic world. I have met some RC priests, some in my families home, and to think that almost every one of them either participated, or condoned this sort of thing, makes me want to wash my hands. I am not yet certain if this loss of faith among the RC community will drive many of them into rationality, and the atheist camp. Worth watching, and maybe a question for future census takers.

427. How he was sentenced to die

Comment #132769 by rod-the-farmer on February 25, 2008 at 7:39 am

Regarding comment #39, by tduvally

I think you may have this all wrong. What I found on the web here

http://nycreligiousfreedombills.com/wrfr.aspx

is pretty much the opposite of what you suggest is the idea behind it.

428. How he was sentenced to die

Comment #132612 by rod-the-farmer on February 25, 2008 at 3:35 am

I wrote to, and/or telephoned my Canadian Member of Parliament, the Canadian Prime Minister, and Mr. Karzai, the leader of Afghanistan. My point was that Canadian troops are dying in Afghanistan, but that we should call them all home the very next day if this man is executed. We are there to help defend the legitimate government of that country, because they share at least some of our beliefs. The circumstances of this mans' alleged crime indicate we do NOT share beliefs, and therefore the Canadian troops should be brought home. To date I have not had a response from any of them, but I have heard the Canadian government expressed their concern over this issue, to Mr. Karzai.

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

Comment #132606 by rod-the-farmer on February 25, 2008 at 3:19 am

Regarding Comment #132467 by Quine

I tried the link to the PBS Evolution series, but all I got was a small part of the entire program, NOT the section where the one student was taken aback by seeing a real fossil come out of the ground. I guess I have to buy the entire program - Evolution (The Mind's Big Bang/What About God?) (DVD) - $29.95 for 120 minutes. I sent them a note asking if they do volume discounts, in case there are a number of us interested in getting a copy. Stay tuned for a response.

430. The coming religious peace

Comment #132046 by rod-the-farmer on February 24, 2008 at 2:35 am

Thanks, scottishgeologist

I watched the Mark Driscoll video. Was there anyone but me who detected the unapologetic patriarchy in this man ? Only MEN, it seems, can lead a church. Geez Louise. Good speaker, articulate, certainly. But bushwa. Any MAN who insists only MEN can be leaders loses my vote in a second. The "Coming Religious Peace" is a good read. Not at all sure I agree. I see too many stresses and strains between secular societies and religious individuals (typically, but not restricted to immigrants) in recent months. I would like very much to be more hopeful, but the birthrate of secular families in just about any country, is far lower than that of the local religious nutters. I fear they will overwhelm us by sheer numbers.

431. Bart Ehrman, Questioning Religion on Why We Suffer

Comment #129939 by rod-the-farmer on February 19, 2008 at 7:33 pm

What came to my mind on reading his story was "Who PAID for all this time at school ?" Next, how do they feel now that he has rejected all that he learned ?

432. State Approves Evolution As 'Scientific Theory'

Comment #129673 by rod-the-farmer on February 19, 2008 at 12:56 pm

I went to the ABC News web site article. There are already 216 comments about the story, AND a place you can vote on the subject. Here are the results, so far


The Florida State School Board votes this week on new science standards that mandate teaching evolution. Do you think schools should be required to teach evolution?

Of course. In the 21st Century we should all accept the science of evolution.
267

Absolutely not. I believe in creationism. Evolution should not be taught.
71

I'm on the fence.
10

It should be up to each school to decide for themselves.
9

Total Vote: 357

I suppose we should be pleased that so many people voted for the first choice.

433. Archbishop's 8 March centennial message: Let Sharia Law govern women's lives, Amen!

Comment #129485 by rod-the-farmer on February 19, 2008 at 7:42 am

Status update re my comment #23

I contacted a local billboard advertising company. They charge $1200 Cdn. for a four-week display, and that includes the printing of the image. It will be in a medium city, approx. 300,000 people. When I told the contact person the image I had in mind was a drawing of a woman in a burka, with the text "Help eliminate slavery" I was told this would have to be sent to their corporate office for approval. It will take a day or two for a response to come back. I may post their response.

My current financial state is unfortunately such that I am not able to afford this myself.

434. Why do we believe in God? 2m study prays for answer

Comment #129435 by rod-the-farmer on February 19, 2008 at 6:13 am

Uh-oh......Danger, Will Robinson.......The Templeton Foundation is going to fund this ? I hope the investigation team made it a contract issue that any preliminary results, no matter where they pointed, would not cause the funding tap to be turned off.

435. Potentially Habitable Planets Are Common, Study Says

Comment #129429 by rod-the-farmer on February 19, 2008 at 5:57 am

Every time one of these "more planets found" articles appear, I wonder if there is someone updating the Frank Drake Equation. Surely the ratios have changed in recent weeks/months.

I too am a SETI supporter, and have several computers at home running the software, plus I have created a team of some colleagues who do SETI as well.

http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/

436. Cutting Edge: Baby Bible Bashers

Comment #129418 by rod-the-farmer on February 19, 2008 at 5:06 am

What jobs do the white kids family have ? They seem to be well up the income scale, based on the house and motorhome. I noted the young black kid was driven around in what appeared to be a Mercedes. If there was any doubt the goal of some/many/most evangelists is to make money, just listen to the father. I feel I need to take a shower now, and wash off the dirt. My teeth have been clenched from the first video. I have to stretch my jaw just to get them to release.

437. Archbishop's 8 March centennial message: Let Sharia Law govern women's lives, Amen!

Comment #128678 by rod-the-farmer on February 17, 2008 at 3:13 pm

What can the ordinary citizen of a western country do, to help expose & eliminate the misogyny inherent in Islam ? Hand out cards to veiled women, offering to help them escape via a sort of Underground Railroad ? How would you do that without their guards seeing ? Put up billboards in suitable locations ? Build a web site offering the same service ? Refuse to deal with (Islamic) countries that do not offer absolute equality of the sexes ? My own idea is that some one should establish an investment group, something like the "green" ones, where the fund managers only invest your money in countries & companies where women have equal rights. Since in the west, an increasing number of women control either the family investments, or have their own, I think this would be rather popular. That of course ignores men like myself, who would immediately direct our own investments to such an "equal rights" fund. I can imagine those islamic countries seeing their investments start to dry up, asking why this is happening ? The answer is that those in the west (and elsewhere) feel that a country/company who almost completely restricts the contributions of 50 % of their population, is obviously not as good an investment as one who does allow full participation by women. No one is forced to invest their money in such countries, so we have a choice where that money goes.

Then we start the secondary campaign, a boycott. Contact those companies that still deal with the women-haters, and tell them we will no longer buy their products & services, until and unless they too stop dealing with the misogynists. Ask some pointed questions at their Annual General Meeting of shareholders. I'll bet there are a few dedicated individuals out there who would happily set up and maintain a web site listing those companies who would be targets for this kind of campaign. We shall overcome, to coin a phrase.

I wonder how much it would cost to have a billboard show a woman in a burka, with the simple caption, "Help eliminate slavery". Sure would get some attention. I think I will call and ask, Monday.

438. The Search for Truth, God and Braver Scientists in 'Expelled'

Comment #128471 by rod-the-farmer on February 17, 2008 at 4:34 am

One other thing I have not seen mentioned in any stories about "Expelled". Just where will it be shown ? Somehow I can't see the regular, commercial movie theatres showing this. It does not sound like it has a lot of general appeal. Of course, it would give us all some hope, if a few theatres DID show it, to a complete lack of interest, and the word got out it was a dud. Perhaps someone in that industry can tell us how many tickets a movie has to sell to be held over ? Even the mini theatres that seem to be so popular in N. America must have a minimum attendance figure. And if a cinema agrees to rent it, and it turns out to be a total dud, can they just replace it with another film without breaking any contract provisions ? Has anyone among the regular readers heard of a theatre being approached to rent this turkey when it becomes available ? Does such an approach come through the regular, automatic channels, or is this going to be a more manual sales pitch ? What sort of fee do they charge ? I stand ready to be educated.....

I am reminded of an interchange between Winston Churchill and George Bernard Shaw. Apparently Shaw once sent a note to Churchill that his new play was opening on Friday, and he had left two tickets for Churchill, saying, "Bring a friend, if you have one." Churchill responded that he was unable to come to the opening night, "but will come the next night, if you have one."

439. The Search for Truth, God and Braver Scientists in 'Expelled'

Comment #128466 by rod-the-farmer on February 17, 2008 at 4:21 am

As for jbacsa in comment #128223, presumably describing atheists

a notable exception are a wealthy, privileged minority who have no use for God.

440. Virus immunity 'created in lab'

Comment #127918 by rod-the-farmer on February 15, 2008 at 5:57 pm

"You have to be jolly careful that you don't end up on Queer Street."

441. Ben Stein Wins Intelligent Design Money

Comment #127910 by rod-the-farmer on February 15, 2008 at 5:47 pm

One can only hope that his first movie will not make it into mainstream theatres across the world. But if it does, it dies a quiet death for lack of interest. I am sure it will get some play in fundie churches, but that is preaching to the converted, so to speak.

442. US military accused of harboring fundamentalism

Comment #127449 by rod-the-farmer on February 15, 2008 at 9:52 am

Mike187

In the mid 1960's, cadets at RMC who did not wish to attend church services were offered the choice of standing at attention (maybe at-ease, not sure) outside the chapel for the duration of the services. But this stuff sounds a lot worse.

443. US military accused of harboring fundamentalism

Comment #127411 by rod-the-farmer on February 15, 2008 at 8:52 am

Truly scary. Not sure I ever want to visit the U.S. ever again.

444. Dumb and Dumber: Are Americans Hostile to Knowledge?

Comment #127406 by rod-the-farmer on February 15, 2008 at 8:49 am

This Kellie Pickler video is truly depressing. I am not alone in saying I have met a number of people who supposedly have a university degree, but could not find their posterior with both hands in the dark. But this air-head blonde is truly an embarrassment. I know National Geographic is trying to do something about this sort of abysmal ignorance. But I feel it will be like bailing out the ocean. WAY too much to get done in the lifetime of a human. If you gently confront these people, they just shrug their shoulders and say "Well, I never was very good at ----pick a subject---." (cringe)

Maybe we need to promote reading - a LOT more.

445. Exorcism undergoes a revival across Europe

Comment #126534 by rod-the-farmer on February 13, 2008 at 1:29 pm

Re my comment #48, I sent a note to Craig Whitlock, the reporter who wrote the article, asking

When a person is being treated by the priest/exorcist, if at any time he/she decides to
discontinue the treatment, is the treatment stopped immediately, or only if the person administering it decides to do so ?

Good question. Unfortunately, I don't know the answer; not sure if it's up to the priests individual judgment, or else if procedures spelled out by the Vatican. Sincerely, Craig Whitlock

446. Council pays psychic for exorcism

Comment #126482 by rod-the-farmer on February 13, 2008 at 10:39 am

Here is a Canadian TV commercial (one of a series) where a different kind of infestation is discovered in a home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMOh-kyDhis

It too required external help.....

447. Cal scientist reflects on Darwin's genius

Comment #126415 by rod-the-farmer on February 13, 2008 at 7:33 am

Response to bugaboo in comment #10

I am afraid the ID supporters often DO deny evolution has occurred. They sometimes agree in micro-evolution, but stop sharp at the idea of macro-evolution. Tiny steps are OK. Big ones that result in a change of species are not. The idea of repeated, successive small steps accumulating until there is a big step, is not one they can comprehend. I have often thought their problem stems from a complete inability to grasp the time scales involved. But if your brain is unable to get past the young earth premise, then scores of thousands of years, let alone millions of years, are beyond your imagining. These people inhabit a very small mental neighbourhood. The idea of vast distances in time & space is outside their scope. IMO this is the major reason why evolution supporters have such difficulty convincing faith-heads of the validity of evolution. Faith-heads can understand Gravity (they can see it) and some Optics (also visible). But something that happens over extremely long periods (species to species change) which they CAN'T see, has to be false. I wonder - suppose we took time lapse underwater photos of the mid-Atlantic ridge, slowly splitting apart, and secondly showed them the close match at the continental shelf level, between Africa and South America. This might help them discard the young earth concept. Once THAT is out of the way, maybe they can start to see that with Time, many things are possible. But I am sure there are some evolution-deniers who DO agree with the old-earth concept. They just can't accept the macro-evolution part.

448. Exorcism undergoes a revival across Europe

Comment #125955 by rod-the-farmer on February 12, 2008 at 10:24 am

I had another thought. Can someone ask these Polish priests (on our behalf) the following: Once a person is being subject to whatever "treatment" these priests proscribe for the exorcism, CAN THE VICTIM DECIDE TO STOP THE TREATMENT RIGHT THEN AND THERE, AND WALK AWAY ??? It would seem proper (?) to ask the victim at each stage "The next stage of your treatment is XXXXX. Are you willing to proceed further ?" If not, the treatment must stop immediately, or I would think the priest(s) would be open to some sort of criminal charge, like illegal imprisonment, torture, etc. I am thinking of that terrible situation in Romania, I believe it was, where the woman was tied up for days, and died. I don't know that a court of law would accept a priest saying "Of course we would not release the victim. He/she was possessed by the devil, and it was really satan speaking, asking us to stop. We do not listen to the devil. Too bad he/she died, but at least we got rid of the devil."

I am not familiar with the exorcism manual. Does it allow the victim to decline further treatment, or, once they start it, only the priest can call it off ? (Grimace). Thank Dog for rationality.

(See comment #60 for a response from the reporter)

449. Exorcism undergoes a revival across Europe

Comment #125760 by rod-the-farmer on February 12, 2008 at 1:52 am

Thanks, MaxD (comment #35) for this

Here is a clip from a woman who is a God-Warrior.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaKP4WfG3F4

450. Sentenced to death: Afghan who dared to read about women's rights

Comment #125609 by rod-the-farmer on February 11, 2008 at 5:06 pm

More video news on the topic, this from CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp.) Several interviews with Afghan people, including some female journalists and political figures.

http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/sunday/021008_2.wmv

As yet I have not had a response to my letters on this subject, which I sent to the Prime Minister of Canada (Stephen Harper), Mr. Karzai in Afghanistan, nor my local Member of Parliament. I doubt I will get one, unless it is the usual form letter.