The Planet - September 22, 2013

POLITICS

Keeping the insanity "real," the House GOP decided that the honorary position of "science laureate" was just too damn useful for them to support. The initiative was stopped. An unpaid position that's only purpose is to promote science across the country is just way to damn subversive for these cave dwelling tea party members of the house. Their thought is that science is political, which of course it is not; scientists would say the same things no matter who is in charge. An anonymous high ranking house member stated, "fear and ignorance, it's what we're all about." Not really, but someone might as well; the truth is evident.

In Kansas, Governor Brownback had promised on the campaign trail that he would reduce poverty. Besides the amusement that one might get from any conservative saying he cares about the plight of American workers, it was an out and out lie. The state hit a new high in child impoverishment in 2011. Policies that were instituted by the crazy man has had their desired effect, the rich get richer, the poor get poorer.

For better, or worse, atheists are sticking their noses into politics. A political action committee has been created that will spend its money on either atheists, or at a minimum, those candidates who will support the separation of church and state. 

House republicans voted to cut $40 billion from the food stamp program. Only conservatives can hate fellow Americans so openly without retaliation. Republicans think that an average of $138 dollars a month is way to generous to feed the starving. For these bastards and their caviar covered filets, shit on the shingle is way too good for the poor.

FOX helped out by passing around videos on "The Great Food Stamp Binge." Fraud and waste has been proven to be less than 1 percent of the program, but the fiends from FOX perverted that data.

This is where one would normally see a horrible image of a starving child, but apparently no child is starving in the U.S. First I tried searching for "starving children" images on google. I didn't want to put up another photo of an African child starving; we've all seen them. I wanted starving white children. The only ones found are black and white photos from the early 1900s, or maybe even earlier, or old eastern European images. Then I tried American starving children, still very few photos of white children, and again when there were, they were old black and white photos. Then I tried U.S. starving children, same basic results.

Apparently, every white child in this country is fat, dumb and happy. Congratulations America.

EDUCATION

Our friends in North Carolina, those tea party statesmen that have done all they can to restrict voting rights, mandate arms carrying in playgrounds, and all other whacky dumb fuck shit, has decided to ban a literary classic from school libraries. "Invisible Man," a Ralph Ellison classic that won the National Book Award in 1953 about social conditions surrounding blacks, no longer has any "literary value" according to old white conservatives in the State. We'll see about this.

A library aide was fired in upstate New York for having a library reading competition. One child kept winning, because you know, some of us like to read. The Director of the library, who apparently was fired as well, started the controversy because the young one winning the contest every year was involved in "no-good-dirty-rotten-book-stealer." Apparently this dimwit thought the winner should be chosen at random, because you know, that encourages reading.

GUNS

They finally fired that police chief who liked to make videos of himself shooting weapons while talking about "fucking libtards" and anyone else he's hating at the moment. Just think, that guy probably has a legal permit to carry firearms, and he hates everyone who disagrees with his moronic viewpoints. Jump him if you see him and kick his ass before he starts shooting is all I can say. Self-defense for real.

FOX reflects on the real problem of gun violence. Increased institutionalization. They must never listen to the real news.

In my lovely state of Michigan, ten minutes from my home, 2 men got into a crazy road rage battle while driving. They were both legally carrying weapons. They pulled into a car wash parking lot, got out of their cars, and started firing those weapons. Both are dead. That's what everyone is missing when it comes to the gun control battle, normally sane people can get pissed. It used to be you would take a swing at someone, now it's the O.K. Coral in every little town in the country. Rage is never in the equation when discussing the legality of carrying instruments that serve one purpose only, killing.

Guns are not for defense, running and ducking for cover is defense. Again, guns are made for one purpose only, death.

HATE

A very small town in disrepair attracts white supremacists. Leith, North Dakota has been falling apart for years; what better haven for a bunch of knuckle-dragging neanderthals to inhabit. This is America, where we allow freedom of hate. The townspeople aren't that happy about the prospect of a takeover, especially, as you can imagine, there one and only minority citizen. Only 24 people live in the town, I think they're in for a battle.

Then there's the idiocy that follows all things non-white. Our new Miss America had the audacity to be born of Indian descent. Oh no you don't. This is one of the best Bill Maher monologues I've seen, he hits the nail on the head when it comes to American's new pastime, hate. Read it or watch it.

ATHEISM

We all need a chuckle now and then, thanks Snoopy.

The Planet - September 12, 2013

GOD

Nice blog by Jeff Schweitzer talks about one of our favorite lines, "Science Is Not Religion." The rebuttal centers on a recent thought by social psychologist Christine Ma-Kellams' thought that "in many ways, science seems like a 21st century religion."

Yeah, I've heard that somewhere before. In fact, over and over the thought rises to become king of the manure mountain for a couple of days. Please, let it go. 

The U.S. Pledge of Allegiance "one nation, under that figment of your imagination" line is being litigated once again. The litigation focuses on the thought that under god discriminates against those who've decided they never liked fruit cakes anyway. Basically, reciting the pledge is religious indoctrination. 

When I was growing up, I'd always be looking around to see who was saying that "under god" thing. The percentage of my peers saying those words by rote always amazed; I think some years I was the only one in the class making up words. 

I really enjoyed mythology while in school, so always said zeus, thor, janus, etc., when reciting the damn pledge every morning. It's all about control, control of our minds. If only I'd known about the flying spaghetti monster and his noodly appendages then; ah, what fun.

Of course, the right doesn't like any of you. The above litigation story was discussed on Fox, where Dana Perino basically stated that if you don't like god, you don't have to live here. Dana should heed her good book and not talk in public, it's a sin.

EDUCATION

Zack Kopplin, the young man in Louisiana who started a campaign to get rid of their Science Education Act, is still campaigning for real science in schools. For those who aren't up to date on that act, it allows teachers to bring supplemental materials that refute evolution and global warming into the classroom. I don't know how many caught him on Maher last April, but it shows how education, regardless of age, is a powerful tool. He slams conservative economist Stephen Moore with reality, it is a joy to watch.

This type of activism seems to be starting to gain ground. In Britain, Esha Marwaha started an online petition to stop the education secretary, Michael Gove, from removing references to climate change for those under 14.

Then there's Texas, which always seems to find its way into the news. The Texas State Board of Education was infiltrated by creationists. The Texas Freedom Network requested records of the reviewers, and the agenda they are promoting is inexcusable.

“I understand the National Academy of Science's [sic] strong support of the theory of evolution,” one reviewer wrote. “At the same time, this is a theory. As an educator, parent, and grandparent, I feel very firmly that ‘creation science’ based on Biblical principles should be incorporated into every Biology book that is up for adoption.”

Another wrote that, “While I understand the theory of evolution and its wide acceptance, there should be inclusion of the ‘creation model’ based on the Biblical view of history.”

Are we talking about biology or Bible study? Reviewers seem to have confused one for the other.

Dr. Raymond Bohlin, a reviewer affiliated with the creationist Discovery Institute, repeatedly plugged the Institute’s own work in his objections to the textbooks.

“There is no discussion of the origin of information bearing molecules which is absolutely essential in any origin of life scenario. Meyer’s Signature in the Cell easily dismisses any RNA first scenario. The authors need to get caught up,” he wrote.

GUNS

Yes, we need more of them, because we haven't put one in the arms of every psychopath in the country yet. Last Sunday, a 46 year old gentleman shot an 8 year old boy who was playing outside, celebrating his 8th birthday. 

It took three years for the first national park death. The tea party congress has decided that guns are needed everywhere, a three year old girl shot herself because her parents are dumb fucks who think they are safer with weapons always handy.

Happens everyday, and we ignore it every day.

And George is back. Threatens wife and father-in-law and destroys the video evidence of his insanity. Another great tea party hero. Poor guy just can't seem to get a break.

WAR

First, a fine quote from Bertrand Russell:

"Killing an enemy in a modern war is a very expensive operation. We should now be much richer if war did not occur. If men were actuated by self-interest, which they are not — except in the case of a few saints — the whole human race would cooperate.

There would be no more wars, no more armies, no more navies, no more atom bombs.

There would not be armies of propagandists employed in poisoning the minds of Nation A against Nation B, and reciprocally of Nation B against Nation A.

There would not be armies of officials at frontiers to prevent the entry of foreign books and foreign ideas, however excellent in themselves.

There would not be customs barriers to ensure the existence of many small enterprises where one big enterprise would be more economic.

All this would happen very quickly if men desired their own happiness as ardently as they desired the misery of their neighbors. But, you will tell me, what is the use of these utopian dreams?"

Utopian indeed, but sorry, humans have not evolved to that state yet.

Senator McCain got an earful from a supporter about any military action against Syria. I do not think we will get involved in this; how many wars can we afford? And that's how it has to be framed, since killing civilians doesn't seem to ring a bell with so many Americans.

Happily it appears that we will give Syria a chance to comply with mandates to destroy their chemical weapons.

Whenever you hear about chemical weapons, and the need for war, remind them that President Reagan closed his eyes to Iraq's Sadaam using chemical weapons against Iran. That won't quell the blood lust of the incompetent, but will at least give them pause.

POLITICS

Texan republicans still wish to secede. Smitherman, another crazed, rightwing, low-hanging fruit, had this to say in an interview:

“We are uniquely situated because we have energy resources, fossil and otherwise, and our own independent electrical grid. Generally speaking, we have made great progress in becoming an independent nation, an ‘island nation’ if you will, and I think we want to continue down that path so that if the rest of the country falls apart, Texas can operate as a stand-alone entity with energy, food, water and roads as if we were a closed-loop system.”

Smitherman said he feels Texas officials must do what they can to prepare the state.

“This was one of my goals at the Utility Commission and it is one my goals currently as chairman of the Railroad Commission. That’s why I stress so vehemently oil and gas production, permitting turnaround times, and everything that enables the industry to produce as much as it can, as quickly as it can,” he said.

Oh please oh please oh please.

Florida, with the second highest rate of uninsured, (second to Texas, imagine that), has decided not to expand medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Hey, half a million kids without insurance is not such a bad thing, another war should clean up that mess.

WORK

Finally some good news. Indiana's "right to work" law has been ruled unconstitutional. Michigan jumped on that bandwagon right after Indiana passed their law, hopefully all states inflicted with these wage destroying laws will have them declared the same. 

With income inequality at an all time high and union membership at its lowest point since the depression, we need some legislative relief.

The Planet - June 13, 2013

god's greatest

Religion continues the full court press when it come to defending imagination from reality. Though mixing sport metaphors, the only good defense would be to close line the bastards as they try to move their cause forward.

The attacks come on so many fronts it can be bewildering. Here are a few of the latest infringements on a Secular America, and a Secular world:

In America, religious corporations are merging with independent hospitals. MergerWatch is stating that once a religious entity takes over said hospitals, they are run using religious doctrine as their guide, not by scientific findings. In Sierra Vista Arizona, pregnant women having c-sections were denied tubal ligation because their hospital had joined a Catholic health system. Hey, maybe we need faith based medical care for everyone for a year or two. Well, that'd probably only last a week or two before the whiners were tossed out.

In our hospitals, and in our schools:

In Wisconsin, the voucher program is more than 20 years old. There was a thought that privately run schools would do a better job, but after a couple of decades this has proven to be false. No problem though, Tea Party favorite Governor Scott Walker and his conservative legislators want to expand the program from the Milwaukee area to the rest of the state. The voucher program has been, and still is, the religious right's way of dismantling our secular public education system.

Crackheads around the country embrace the takeover. Disgraced Representative Michelle Bachman's radio host buddy Bradlee Dean ranted about christian parents having no excuse for having their kids in public school. You know, that horrible International Baccalaureate program is only a global scheme to take away our guns and to indoctrinate students into embracing homosexuality. Yeah the dude's a rusty piece of work, but unfortunately, there are those who think he's correct.

Though we know that the voucher program is also a way for those so inclined to get a hold of the billions of dollars that flows through the education system, it is also the easiest way to subvert secular education. In Colorado, the Court of Appeals ruled that the "Choice Scholarship Program" does not violate the prohibitions against public funding for religious institutions, even though 18 of the 23 "private partner" schools are religious. More and more legislation is seen in states across the country that subvert education. Bobby Jindal used ALEC's model legislation to create a massive voucher program that would privatize public schools in his state. Nice.

Freedom From Religion goes after Liberty High in Pickens County South Carolina. They've had numerouscomplaints about violations referencing the separation of church and state. Valedictorian Roy Costner tore up his school approved speech and recited the lord's prayer. What do we learn from this? Well, according to Mr. Costner, no one locally has a problem with religion in school, so why not do it. What an excellent thought. Ignore the law if it doesn't fit with your views on the world. Let every fucking pot smoker out of jail then asshole. I know many areas where no one has a problem with it, yet it is still the law. Oh that's right, it's only about you and you want to be treated special.

So far the religious hasn't started to blatantly kill non-believers in the U.S., (except for a few doctors and nurses, but I guess they don't matter), so sorry that's not true around the world.

Blasphemy in the world:

In Syria, a teenager was executed for blasphemy. Someone overheard him supposedly saying that "even if the prophet mohammad comes down (from heaven), I will not be a believer." Apparently the young man was executed in front of his parents. Oh, for the love of god.

In Pakistan 16 people are on death row for blasphemy convictions and another 20 are serving life sentences.

We should add to the quote, "for god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son," the following: "of course, he hated man and slaughtered all of our sons."

Well, what else have we got. I loves me some Pat Robertson, why not?

Pat takes on whatever Pat wants, and no one sane listens:

Pat, the southern baptist nutjob, links demonic games like Dungeons and Dragons to suicide. Such a compassionate man, he's like a loving god in the flesh, all fire and brimstone and other crazy shit. Poor guy was angered by the Jets shameful treatment of Tim Tebow, and knows that gays in the boy scouts will destroy the organization. Accommodating the few kids who want to have sex with each other is horrific, demonizing them much better.

The Planet - May 27, 2013

American Angst

Since the last major election, we've heard conservative after conservative come out and bemoan the current state of affairs within the republican party. Every Republican talking head is making the rounds letting America know that Conservatives are listening, and they are ready to change. Yes sir, that's the plan.

Great thoughts, lousy results.

Even Mr. Conservative, Bob Dole, stated in a recent interview the following:

WALLACE: What do you think of your party, the Republicans today?
DOLE: I think they ought to put a sign on the national committee doors that says “closed for repairs” until New Year’s Day next year — and spend that time going over ideas and positive agendas.
WALLACE: You describe the GOP of your generation as Eisenhower Republicans, moderate Republicans. Could people like you, even Ronald Reagan — could you make it in today’s Republican Party.
DOLE: I doubt it. Reagan couldn’t have made it. Certainly Nixon couldn’t have made it, cause he had ideas. We might have made it, but I doubt it.

Well, the new and improved Republican Party is out with their picks for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the great state of Virginia. Yes, they did find some color, (that bleached out heroin addict look is so yesterday), in their pick for Lieutenant Governor; E.W. Jackson. He is a minister, and his thoughts are unhinged in regards to current society. He's all about fire and brimstone, and he wants nothing to do with society today.  His big black book of boogie monsters and angels is all the "truth" he needs. He's delusional.

This gentleman has compared Planned Parenthood to the Ku Klux Klan, despises blacks for their "slavish devotion" to the Democratic Party, and has referred to gays and lesbians as "sick people psychologically, mentally and emotionally." Anti-women's health, anti-anything that helps us build and maintain a civil society.

Ah, do you hear the doors opening to all of us? The big tent party's first nationally watched election since being stomped last November, and after promises of getting rid of the more extreme parts of the party, jumps right back in with crazy.

Shame on me for thinking anything else.

But for all that he is saying, it is nothing new. It's the Tea Party rhetoric that's been hampering the country's progress for years. It is the same culture wars, the same nonsense that they've been pushing since the Religious Right sunk their talons into the party. But this is actually even worse. Much, much worse than one might think.

This is the statement that should grab the attention of every atheist:

"I say the things that I say because I’m a Christian, not because I hate anybody, but because I have religious values that matter to me. Attacking me because I hold to those principles is attacking every church-going person, every family that’s living a traditional family life, everybody who believes that we all deserve the right to live. So I don’t have anything to rephrase or apologize for. I would just say people should not paint me as one-dimensional."

Now think about this. He doesn't hate gays, he doesn't hate women, (just their bodies), he doesn't hate the poor. He's just a christian with christian values, and that means that our favorite abomination of intolerance, (religion), will be legislating laws. He's a good god-fearing man that has strong beliefs when it comes to the laws of the bibles, and maybe Mother Goose And Brothers Grimm as well. If god says being gay is wrong, then it's wrong, no matter what is real. If woman desire control of their bodies, that's a sin. If the sick die and the poor starve, it's how life is meant to be lived.

The big tent party is back baby!

The Planet - May 5, 2013

CLIMATE CHAOS

Apparently eating slightly more healthy may help stall climate change. During Earth Week, measurements of carbon dioxide emissions surpassed 400 parts per million. A recent study claims that by reducing consumption of animal products by twenty-five percent would essentially stall the process of climate change. So , eat your damn burgers but every fourth one make it a veggie burger please. You'll be healthier, live longer, and you won't piss me off. All good, especially the pissing off part.

Of course, whenever there's a way to help stave off severe weather patterns and global warming, you know someone has the job of confusing the issue. Science deniers over at the FOX fools network decided to interview Joe the bastard, I mean Joe Bastardi, who once again perverted the science on climate by pointing to a late snow storm. Because you know, that's all it takes. One freak weather pattern means all the science is gibberish, even if he never mentioned the intense heat wave last year, doesn't mention the arctic ice meltdown, and doesn't even throw in the La Nina weather pattern that is effecting the U.S. with cooler temperatures. Hey, when your audience has less intelligence than the rocks in your garden, who cares?

Yet on another front, milk consumption is down again. For the last twenty years milk has been on a downhill slide. If more people gave up on copious amounts of dairy, that would help the planet as well. Factory farms polluting the environment and cranking out tons of poisoned dairy just isn't embraced by mother earth. 

Of course, our friendly theists, given a chance, will fuck up this world and every living thing on it. If you believe that the world has a set day to end, what does it matter that we're destroying it ourselves? As an example of how pervasive the thought is, in 2010, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy stated the "the earth will end only when god declares it to be over."

Christian conservatism at it's best. No worries, god's in charge. Any action taken cannot destroy what will be destroyed by that big fluffy thing that resides in their wittle minds.

GUN GROUPIES

Jim Porter takes over as the new president of the NRA,(Needle-nozzle Rat-faced  Asswipes). Jim calls the Civil War the "War of Northern Agression." You thought the last guy was a little strange? This guy says he believes that civilians should be taught how to fire military weapons so they're ready to defend the country when called upon, or better yet, ready to contest tyranny. Obama is a fake president and this guy is digging in to fight the battle. I'd join the NRA to get close enough to this guy to spit on him, but I hear to be a member these days you have to cut off your balls and worship the Buddha-bellied Porter to join. I hope he digs a big trench to defend himself against the "tyrannical government" running the show these days; at least we'd have a chance to bury this perfect example of a "big gun little dick" neanderthal.

Conservative controlled Kansas is ready to embrace Mr. Porter with laws that would make it a felony to enforce federal gun laws. Not to be outdone, and for our great amusement, Arizona has decided to add legislation to the existing laws prohibiting local governments from destroying weapons. Oh joy. Voluntarily surrendered guns will not be destroyed, but sold back to the public or used by the police force. Get rid of those animals on the endangered species list and replace them with one endangered specie, guns. Savage people need savage slogans, maybe something easily understood by the nattering, reality show watching, cousin fucking inbreds that seem to enjoy this nonsense. I'll let them come up with it, why help stupid?

And stupid exists. The Needle-nozzle Rat-faced Asswipes have another great concept to protect the home. Store your guns in your little idiot offspring's bedroom. That's the ticket. Just in case little Bobby can't find the gun hidden in the house somewhere, show him right where he can find it. The thought behind this is if there is an intruder, do you want to run around the house getting a gun, or run to your child's room to protect him. Just put the gun in Jimmy's closet, all is good.

The Needle-nozzle Rat-faced Asswipe convention in Houston Texas had some great stuff for women. Since women are more anti-gun then men, the professors of advertisement have come up with some really cool shit. My favorite so far is women's underwear holsters. Yes, that brassiere that one may think holds a couple of fun loving puppies, may now also contain a lovely pink gun and matching holster. I am all in favor of this new development; I mean, can you imagine being on the street where there's a lady defending some damn thing by stripping so she can reach that gun? You'll be able to spot them ahead a time, they're the ones driving the vehicle with a bumper sticker proclaiming that "I Carry a Gun, A Cop is Too Heavy!"

With recent killing of children in schools, capitalist America responds. No, we're not doing background checks or limiting magazines, no sir. We are now producing Bulletproof Whiteboards! For only 300 dollars you can have a whiteboard for lessons, and self-defense. 

The Onion has an NRA schedule of events posted here. They probably think it's a great joke, and it is, but I think of it as being too close to reality for comfort. Here's a few to get you started:

The National Rifle Association is holding its 142nd annual meeting in downtown Houston this weekend. Here are the scheduled events:

FRIDAY, May 3

• 12 p.m.: Welcoming introduction video from President Obama
• 12:30 p.m.: Security forced to hold back squealing teenage girls in attendance as Wayne LaPierre takes stage
• 12:35 p.m.: Quick joke about how everyone in attendance must have passed a background check to warm up the crowd
• 1 p.m.: Most unconscionable words you could ever imagine met with enthusiastic cheers from thousands of people
• 3 p.m.: Remembrance of the victims of Sandy Hook with an extended moment of loud, scrambling excuse-making
• 6 p.m.: Reasoned, level-headed debate on whether the Second Amendment continues to hold relevance

RAMPAGING RELIGION

The year of 2013 brings us more bills to set the clock backwards hundreds of years, all made possible by our theist friends. Montana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Indiana, (the Mississippi of the north), and Arizona are all trying to infiltrate the public school systems with creationism once again. We keep striking it down, but they never quit. It's like the never ending supply of protestors at abortion clinics; the fun never stops. 

Louisiana's Governor Bobby Jindal would like to seecreationism taught side by side with evolution. His statement, "what are we afraid of," deserves a little bit of thought; very little. We're sure not scared of your fantasies about how the world began, we know it as a truth that this is false. All we're afraid of is raising another generation of imbeciles that will continue to destroy all that is good.

I know that some of this may sound a little far-fetched, but all you have to do is listen to Mr. Romney. Recently Mitt advised the graduating class of Southern Virginia University to graduate and then have a load of young ones. The Quiver Full philosophy to keep you women home and useless continues without hardly a blip on the left's radar.

RACE RIOTS

Here's one little example of how race is still used as talking points for the ugly white Americans who still exist in this country. Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern says she's seen "a lot of people of color who didn't study hard because they said the government would take care of them." State Representative Leslie Osborn proposed the constitutional amendment that would eliminate the use of Affirmative Action in the state government. Kern, deciding she had room in her mouth for her other foot as well, continued boldly into the twilight zone by arguing that minorities earn less because they don't work as hard. Whoa nilly, the ride is getting bumpy. She also states that "we have a high percentage of blacks in prison and that's tragic, but are they in prison because they are black or because they don't want to study as hard in school?" Kern was a teacher, so relies on first hand experience. Black americans are basically lazy fools who get what they deserve. 

She's not new to controversy, she also introduced a bill to ban Sharia law and another that would allow creationism in public schools. Her thoughts on gays are as obnoxious, "gays are infiltrating city councils and are the biggest threat our nation has."

Hey thinking ladies, some of your gender makes me sick. No more than my own, just saying.

Time for tequila.

The Planet - April 21, 2013

American Angst

The Boston Marathon bombing has troubled the perceptions of many. Though there's been a sane discussion on the sitehere, the news of that day was filled with false reports and ridiculous speculation. CNN decided they had the scoop; "a man with dark skin was arrested."  Though retracted, for part of the day the thought that was implanted in white America's head was once again be afraid of the dark skinned human. While commentators backed off the "arrest," they still left us thinking for hours that yes, another possible terrorist attack had occurred.

Though know one knows the why yet, endless speculation produces useless distraction for people with nothing better to do. Get a life.

Glenn Beck's faithful are waiting for Monday, when their favorite clown will once again delve into conspiracy nonsense. Useless, except as an example of how simple minds don't work, Beck explains how the injured Saudi student is part of the Muslim Brotherhood who is working in cahoots with the Saudi government and secret Muslim Barack Obama. Time to try impeaching the president once again.

Though foolhardy, this man makes money by deceiving the public. Rhetoric like this should be compared to the old example of yelling "fire!" in a crowded theater. We all know that a small percentage of Americans will believe anything, and more than likely they own a few firearms and know how to use them. This type of nonsense endangers all of us.

Beck wasn't the only one of course. Initial responses from Red State, Pamela Gellar and the New York Post, all blamed Muslims for the attack. Possibly the worst was FOX pretend news commentator Erik Rush tweeting about Muslims;  "Yes, they're evil. Let's kill them all." 

Basically all the current media fools jumped on the bandwagon with horribly inaccurate comments.

Gun Groupies

Even thought slightly buried by the bombing in Boston news, the failed bill to make background checks necessary before one can purchase a gun should remain firmly in the public eye. There have been many responses to the failed legislature, but once again the comedy channel has the only shows that make you realize how inane the debate is.

Stewart and Colbert in recent weeks have brought up the following thoughts. When it comes to magazine size, a conservative, (paraphrased), response was "why ten, why not nine or eleven?" Insinuating that any limits would seem to be haphazard at best. The response from the Comedy Central titans was something to the effect of "Yeah, why set a speed limit at seventy, why not sixty or eighty?" Why? Because you guys were all elected to make laws and that is what laws do, set limits. If you don't want to make laws, why are you in the legislature?

Even better, Stewart's response to the argument that "stopping legal citizens from purchasing guns won't stop criminals from getting them." What an odd response by conservatives. The thought that any type of even minor gun laws being passed is "criminals will still get guns why law abiding citizens cannot." Well, criminals steal, kill, etc., and we have laws for that. Maybe anarchy is what they are promoting. No laws on anything? Back to the speed limit analogy, screw that 70 mile an hour speed limit, criminals don't obey it. Press the pedal to the metal and drive spectacularly!

No matter. No laws protecting the populace will have any support from our elected Representatives. Senators and Congressmen who only take orders from people with deep pockets, and only pretend to listen to you when they need a vote.

The Planet - April 4, 2013

The Mad Skills Of Mighty Mortals

We are Mighty Mortals, and we are Mad. The "mighty" part is easy. We breathe, drink and eat, ignoring the final moment of our meandering lives. With mad skills we debate, we love, we friend; for most of us, we have no real fears. If there is fear, that experience is provocatively engineered; keeping us distracted, keeping us worried, keeping us busy. We exhort the subject matter of the day like there is no tomorrow where we will end. Working, playing, loving, laughing; no worries for us. Squabbling like children at the playground, too many of us never grow, never mature. We play games with life so we feel alive.

Yet none of this has anything to do with reason or thought, which is why our skills are so mad.

Mad skills belong to the preacher, who distracts thoughts of reason with platitudes and lies. Befuddling our minds with nonsense, a dream that our minds relate to. A falsity of why and where we are, a mind numbing diatribe of foolishness that keeps our minds off of our short existence. Keeping progress under lock and key, keeping us at odds with our humanity as we kill for nothing but a figment of our imaginations. A skill so depraved that it enslaves our children's minds so no future exists that embraces peace, only poverty enslavement and death. Exchanging kindness and love with depraved righteousness. A skill so demonstrable, that humans kill not only others, but themselves. In acts of either madness, or sacredness, depending on the storyteller, we destroy instead of build.

Mighty mortals latch on to their favorite religion. Never minding that they believe every other religion is phony; because theirs is different, it is real.

We insist that our grand scheme of life forever is better than all the others. In religion, in everything. At a friends house, I am corralled into watching one of the many reality shows that clog up the airwaves. We know they're made up drama and scripted and have nothing to do with reality, yet he says no, this isn't like the others, this one is different. It is the best. Well, no it isn't. It's the same nonsense. Just like your religion is the same nonsensical crap that wounds other lands. None of it is great or real in any sense.

Mad skills of imagination we do have.

Mad skills belong to the politician, who warps the events of the day. Who can change the mind of a constituent with a well turned phrase. Who can take a subject that we all agree upon, and make it seem as if there's a needed opposing view. Who can anger the masses with a sly twist of words, who can move their nation into a direction that no citizen really wants. Riches and fame, not statesmanship, is the goal of the governing party. Only self enrichment matters, you do not.

What mighty mortals we let them become. We can't tell the difference anymore. Your local politicians might as well be the newest and greatest advertised fitness regime. There is nothing there that is special, nothing different, nothing needed. The expectations of grandeur never are realized, yet it is forgotten in a moment. Here's the next greatest ruler, the next better mousetrap; here for your perusal and consumption.

You will like it.

Do we have atheist conmen as well? I'm sure there are nonbelievers aplenty taking what the rubes willingly give. What mightier mortal is there than one who knows reality, and takes advantage of those who do not. How simple to copy the prose of a preacher to fill your pockets. It does take work, but is only a puzzle that the mind begs to solve. To live knowing only one life exists, to enjoy it to the the fullest by taking what is others; this would seem to be an avenue that probably has been, and perhaps, possibly should be, travelled.

Atheism doesn't seem to say much when you think about it. One point, and one point only; the supernatural does not exist. It doesn't tell us to live a moral life. It doesn't tell us what we ought to be doing. That one point may hopefully lead to a better human, but what if it does not?

Critical thinking and philosophy seem to focus more on what we should be, instead of what we are not.

The mad skills of mighty mortal atheists might need more focus. We know what is, but do we know what can be? Will only not believing really change anything?