Comments by Gregg Townsend

401. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #213427 by Gregg Townsend on July 18, 2008 at 12:54 pm

Steve,

I would never attempt to insult you or your husband by making jokes. I apologize if I've gone over the top here by trying to advance the inside joke inadvertently started by Appleby.

-- Gregg

402. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #213425 by Gregg Townsend on July 18, 2008 at 12:49 pm

1739. Comment #213420 by Cartomancer

You call ME a wayward infidel? You're the one who described the trousers as sparkly, not me. Clearly the Sinod of 1202 declared the trousers were in fact "luminescent"! So you can't even quote your inane scriptures of The Cuff (or is that off the cuff, I can never remember) correctly.

Again, did you read the rebuttals at the link I provided? http://quotesofstevezaraswife.com

403. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #213412 by Gregg Townsend on July 18, 2008 at 12:37 pm

1730. Comment #213406 by Cartomancer

...so of course they haven't let you see the holy scriptures contained in their gusset.

Clearly you don't even know your own scriptures. Gussett?! WTF

Clearly, Versace translation says CUFF!

Get it straight.

404. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #213403 by Gregg Townsend on July 18, 2008 at 12:31 pm

1720. Comment #213395 by Cartomancer

I believe it so it must be true.

All your personal assertions have been refuted here:

http://quotesofstevezaraswife.com

Get back with us after you've studied. It's not our responsibility to educate you.

405. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #213394 by Gregg Townsend on July 18, 2008 at 12:23 pm

Quetz,

I was wondering if Tez has all that in his head or a PDF file that he can just copy and paste from.

INCONTHEIVABLE!

406. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #213380 by Gregg Townsend on July 18, 2008 at 12:13 pm

1690. Comment #213362 by Cartomancer

THE GHOST OF OSCAR WILDE TELLS ME EVERYTHING WHILE I'M ON THE TOILET!

Evidence please.

THE UNIVERSE WAS CREATED IN THREE WEEKS BY A GIANT SPARKLY PAIR OF TROUSERS!

This is just an assertion.

EVOLUTION IS A CONSPIRACY RUN BY HM CUSTOMS AND EXCISE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HEDGEHOG PEOPLE FROM THE PLANET BIRMINGHAM VII!

Opinion with no evidence.

407. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #213315 by Gregg Townsend on July 18, 2008 at 11:35 am

Carto,

I think it's clear that he's an imposter Muslim. He's really a Sicilian Catholic who is trying to discredit Muslims by posting insane shit on the internet.

408. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #213307 by Gregg Townsend on July 18, 2008 at 11:30 am

Sicilian? So Joe, your really a Catholic then??

409. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #213247 by Gregg Townsend on July 18, 2008 at 10:34 am

9081. Comment #213237 by epeeist

I may not have a way with words, but my lack of coordination more than makes up for it.

410. The Return of Religion

Comment #213222 by Gregg Townsend on July 18, 2008 at 9:56 am

482. Comment #213216 by thewhitepearl

I'm really not a whiskey drinker.

Whiskey is an aquired taste best experienced by sipping from a short glass over ice while enjoying a good cigar.

411. The Return of Religion

Comment #213219 by Gregg Townsend on July 18, 2008 at 9:51 am

483. Comment #213218 by severalspeciesof

I hope to make the next list.

Fucktard! (directed at Roger Scruton)

412. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #213217 by Gregg Townsend on July 18, 2008 at 9:48 am

One day, I'll learn to understand what people say.

Please continue with the discussion.

413. The Return of Religion

Comment #213211 by Gregg Townsend on July 18, 2008 at 9:38 am

480. Comment #213209 by Ian Bamlett

Ian,

To quote the sage Ibn al-Rawandi, "Stupid is as stupid does."

I'm weary of RM

414. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #213202 by Gregg Townsend on July 18, 2008 at 9:21 am

Steve,

So as society advances and the necessity of believing in the irrational becomes less and less, the religious become more desperate to remain relevant in this new environment? Is that what you're suggesting?

Quine,

Yes, they should practice their hobby in private. Amen!

415. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #213183 by Gregg Townsend on July 18, 2008 at 8:58 am

9069. Comment #213165 by hungarianelephant

They know they can't justify it in rational terms, so they fall back on faith.

In my mind, falling back on faith is the honest thing for the religious to do. I'm confused with the 'faithful' who come here and try to assert scientific 'proof' for religion. Why do they need a so-called rational reason for their beliefs if faith is such a virtue?

I reread much of the online debate between Sam Harris and Andrew Sullivan yesterday and I couldn't help admiring Andrew just a little because he was willing to admit his system of belief isn't rational but holds to it anyway.

416. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #213167 by Gregg Townsend on July 18, 2008 at 8:34 am

Frankus,

Welcome back

417. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #213144 by Gregg Townsend on July 18, 2008 at 8:02 am

9049. Comment #213123 by Diacanu

All together now;

"I'm not a slave to a god that doesn't exist!"

Hahaha. Thanks D!

418. The Return of Religion

Comment #212778 by Gregg Townsend on July 17, 2008 at 3:56 pm

Tyler,

Thanks for bringing us back on topic.

Oh, and for the record: Roger Scruton is a fucktard.

I'll drink to that. Cheers!

*grabs, hat and sunglasses*

419. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #212769 by Gregg Townsend on July 17, 2008 at 3:49 pm

Laurie,

Duck!!!!

420. The Return of Religion

Comment #212746 by Gregg Townsend on July 17, 2008 at 3:35 pm

Al,

She picked me. I enjoy cutting the grass and other gardening. I guess she figures fetching beer is a good trade or...

Did I ever mention that I can lick my eyebrows?

Coco and whitepearl,

Grey Goose dirty vodka martini. Mmmmm

421. The Return of Religion

Comment #212721 by Gregg Townsend on July 17, 2008 at 3:16 pm

Al,

You call it a problem yet did you notice...

The beer was being purchased for me and fetched for me without me having to do anything but place an order?

Problem? I think not!

422. The Return of Religion

Comment #212705 by Gregg Townsend on July 17, 2008 at 3:08 pm

Al,

My wife calls the beer I drink "snooty beer"... as in, "Hey hon, I'm going to the liquor store. Do you want any snooty beer?"

Takes some of the fun out of having good taste.

423. The Return of Religion

Comment #212689 by Gregg Townsend on July 17, 2008 at 2:52 pm

While science has over time shed more light on the context of such yearnings, it will never provide an answer because it can't ask questions about purpose. This is what he means when he says science "stops the enquiry."

Isn't it better to say; It isn't helpful to the process of science to think in terms of purpose. Never is a long time, and science may well find the answers.

One may say people who ask such questions and yearn for a transcendent purpose are misguided, weak, irrational, and so on. But this is unlikely to stop them from asking or yearning, nor does does it really address what seems a basic human need.

I'm not convinced transcendent purpose is "a basic human need." It seems more likely that purpose is the offspring of human arrogance.

edited for spelling

424. The Return of Religion

Comment #212652 by Gregg Townsend on July 17, 2008 at 2:00 pm

236. Comment #212642 by D'Arcy

Holy water target tossing.

425. The Return of Religion

Comment #212626 by Gregg Townsend on July 17, 2008 at 1:10 pm

Coco,

Welcome!

Maybe I need thicker skin, but part of the reason I've kept quiet and lurked for so long was because I was nervous I'd say the wrong thing and KaBoom!

Take it from someone who never really posts anything of substance (basically because I have no expertise in anything to offer). You're far more likely to get silence if you post something... unless you offer an opinion based on personal incredulity, or anecdotes, or make a blanket statement, or...

Oh, never mind, maybe you were right to fear it. :)

P.S. Be sure to spell check. And grammar check. hahaha

426. The Return of Religion

Comment #212549 by Gregg Townsend on July 17, 2008 at 10:23 am

174. Comment #212479 by Richard Morgan

Not even an honorable mention.

Note to self: Try harder to be strident.

427. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #212508 by Gregg Townsend on July 17, 2008 at 9:19 am

Sciros,

I'm of a certain age and find fashions for my socio-economic group are obtained easier online (unless it needs to be tailored, of course). If you're careful and patient you can get excellent deals on e-bay.

428. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #212459 by Gregg Townsend on July 17, 2008 at 8:36 am

Al,

I got this one.

Cristopher,

Party Rule #287 states: A right-ward 45 degree angle provides proper clearance for mustard drippage to miss the Izod logo.

429. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #212442 by Gregg Townsend on July 17, 2008 at 8:15 am

Elephant,

Those shorts are actually very in. I'm a fashion conscious metrosexual, so I know.

430. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #212426 by Gregg Townsend on July 17, 2008 at 7:49 am

Reflections of Laurie

Sure, I'll send as an email link.

[update] Done and PM'd back [/update]

431. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #212423 by Gregg Townsend on July 17, 2008 at 7:44 am

Because the purpose of the Amendment was to rest military power with the people to be able to oust the government or come together in the form of militias to defend the nation. Since the militia act of 1903, this power is now consolidated with the DoD.

That's what I'm on about.

No one will listen to me when I point out what the 2nd Amendment was about 200 years ago.

Hopefully they will listen to you.

432. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #212409 by Gregg Townsend on July 17, 2008 at 7:16 am

You don't hear many reports of drive-by battings or stabbings.

Which drives home (to me) what I don't like about firearms... collateral damage.

I'd go on but it would sound too much like an emotional appeal, which I don't like in myself or others.

433. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #212090 by Gregg Townsend on July 16, 2008 at 3:32 pm

Laurie,

Could you see your reflection is his Ray Bans?

434. Let's Get Rid of Darwinism

Comment #212086 by Gregg Townsend on July 16, 2008 at 3:27 pm

I sometimes cringe when watching a lecture by Prof. Dawkins and he says, "Darwinian Natural Selection."

As a layman, I've found the issue to be clearer if I think of it as:

1) Evolution is a fact
2) The mechanism for evolution is the theory of Natural Selection for which there is overwhelming evidence.
3) Darwin is credited with being the first person to bring natural selection to the public.

I accept the evidence for all of the above but I am NOT a believer in Darwinism (whatever that is).

435. Forget not to smite

Comment #212052 by Gregg Townsend on July 16, 2008 at 2:15 pm

8. Comment #209617 by Laurie Fraser

I always thought it was "smotipated"

436. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #211814 by Gregg Townsend on July 16, 2008 at 10:15 am

444. Comment #211788 by MPhil

But a discussion on policies to reduce violent crime?

I don't know how things in Germany are but here the local leaders could use all the citizen input/involvement they can get. There seems to be dearth of creative thinking going on. My wife, who is in local government, can recite studies that have evidence that alternatives to incarceration don't work because middle-class-white-males are the ones coming up with the alternatives! Involving prison inmates seems to generate the best alternatives.

You may be surprised how much you could contribute to the discussion if you have the time.

437. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #211801 by Gregg Townsend on July 16, 2008 at 10:02 am

Why would that bother me, the government has a role, certainly.

I'm projecting... my apologies!

You've made comments in the past expressing dislike for bureaucracy, so I assumed and made an ass of my self, again.

438. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #211778 by Gregg Townsend on July 16, 2008 at 9:51 am

MPhil,

Your right. I hadn't thought my way through, I suppose. I just thought someone should pick up Al's gauntlet because... well, reduction in violent crime should be discussed by citizens of the world. Don't you think?

439. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #211772 by Gregg Townsend on July 16, 2008 at 9:47 am

MPhil,

Sure, why not? I think it's reasonable to expect people at the shopping mall to not be carrying around a kitchen knife (concealed). Now I'm not saying you can't have a knife at home, but it should be illegal to walk around in public with a ginzu down your shorts.

440. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #211765 by Gregg Townsend on July 16, 2008 at 9:43 am

Al,

1) Are you interested in preventing violent crime?

2) Do you think a gun ban in the US would reduce violent crime?

Ok, I'll bite.

1) Yes.
2) A bit. I'm all for heavier restrictions on acquiring a weapon (any weapon) and an outright ban for citizen ownership of concealed weapons (any weapon).

I know you won't like this but I support government research into possible education and social programs to address poverty, domestic violence, women's rights, immigration, alternatives to incarceration, legalizing drugs and using the tax revenue to combat addiction, with the aim at reducing the reasons for violent crime.

441. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #211724 by Gregg Townsend on July 16, 2008 at 9:15 am

403. Comment #211684 by Steve Zara

Sorry, Steve [edit]about hijacking your quote from Bonzai's quote[/edit]

My comment was more aimed at Bonzai who seems to load his comments from a position of fear.

For what it's worth I'm closer to your stance on this than anyone else's, but I could be persuaded in either direction.

442. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #211720 by Gregg Townsend on July 16, 2008 at 9:11 am

Tyler,

I think the Oakland (LA) Raider with my name was also Gregg...

I could be wrong.

443. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #211699 by Gregg Townsend on July 16, 2008 at 8:57 am

Sciros,

What I've tried to say and failed miserably is; I would like society (us, all of us) to get to the root of why people want to kill each other, address those issues and find a way to live in peace and without fear. Pollyanna I know.

Restricting liberties sounds like, to me, (in the words of epeeist) a quick fix.

I don't like guns. I'm not fond of the reasons why people own guns (although I understand them). I don't like bows, knives, frivolously violent television programs, rap music, rap culture, alcohol abuse. I don't like emotional statements based on fear.

I think the subject merits more unemotional conversation.

I see both sides of the argument.

That's what I was trying to say.

444. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #211669 by Gregg Townsend on July 16, 2008 at 8:29 am

I don't think what matters so much is not having owned ~~a gun~~ anything lethal. What matters is having a body that is succeptible to ~~bullets~~ anything lethal.

There, now we can live without fear.

445. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #211637 by Gregg Townsend on July 16, 2008 at 8:04 am

386. Comment #211626 by Sciros

Sciros,

As I stated before, I have the connections (machinists, gun smiths, material suppliers, welders [one who has even worked at an AK47 plant in Russia], gun powder hoarders, etc) to have a rifle made in short order and I don't even care to own fire-arms. What do you think Americans who love fire-arms could get accomplished.

:)

446. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #211631 by Gregg Townsend on July 16, 2008 at 7:59 am

383. Comment #211616 by epeeist

I don't think you have the solutions. What you have are some quick fixes.

Banning guns isn't a solution it's a quick fix.

You could murder me with you rapier. I don't own one at all and couldn't defend myself. Should you not be allowed to own your weapon?

447. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #211608 by Gregg Townsend on July 16, 2008 at 7:46 am

374. Comment #211599 by MPhil

I respectfully disagree.

Would it surprise you to know that I was addicted to cocaine in the '80s? I've not touched the stuff in 20 years without the aid of outside influence or institutions. All by myself. Would my first had experience with abuse and then kicking the habit be useful in helping others?

I've handled guns, owned guns safely and was a good marksman at one time in my life. I don't currently own any weapons for personal reasons and I despise handguns specifically. Would my experience be useful in creating policy?

I don't know for sure, but I'd like to think so.

448. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #211598 by Gregg Townsend on July 16, 2008 at 7:37 am

368. Comment #211588 by MPhil

So, should drug policy only be made by people who have taken Cocaine, Heroin, Crack and a few eightballs perhaps?

No. Yet, you might be surprised if you included drug users in treatment planning. If drugs were legal and controlled and abusers were consulted on how best to get them off the drugs Americans may be able to cancel the war on drugs.

Just a thought.

449. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #211595 by Gregg Townsend on July 16, 2008 at 7:34 am

Al,

You forgot;

-Competency test and licensing before becoming a parent.

450. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #211581 by Gregg Townsend on July 16, 2008 at 7:26 am

Al,