drl2Blog

Do as I say, not who I do

Atheism and Religion, Politics No Responses »

Jun 262009

Ensign and Sanford are the latest in the GOP (your) Family (not mine) Values crowd to be embroiled in sex scandals. (Who will be next? These things always happen in threes, you know!) These latest are particularly interesting – in Ensign’s case, because it appears he may have used his position to arrange for financial reward and punishment for his mistress, and in Sanford’s case, because he apparently spontaneously abdicated his duties in pursuit of his South American love interest.

Maybe Sanford is smarter than we think – he left the country to have his affair, so he probably can’t be charged under South Carolina’s archaic anti-adultery law. However, that alleged higher law he brought up during his speech reserves a harsher punishment for him than the fine and/or prison time prescribed by state legislation:

The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, even he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. (Leviticus 10:20)

Governor, are you sure it’s a good idea to be bringing up “God’s Law” right now, in a state that’s part of the literalist-leaning Bible Belt?

The Terrible Threes

Uncategorized No Responses »

Jun 262009

I’ve lost track of the number of times in the last 24 hours I’ve heard or seen some variation of the phrase “these things always happen in threes” in relation to the recent spate of celebrity deaths, usually referring to Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson.

NO, people, these things do not happen in threes. They only seem to happen in threes because you keep resetting the counter when it reaches three! If the saying was “these things always happen in sevens”, everyone would be counting a few deaths further back and wondering who number 7 would be, and then when someone famous passes away, you’d shout, “Aha! Seven again!” and reset the counter.

Now there is, perhaps, something interesting in the common choice of three as the number in which groups of related “things” happen. Two is just coincidence, but three makes a pattern, which might just fire off a few extra neurons in the pattern-matching hardware we call our minds…

The celebrities, they're a-droppin' like flies

Uncategorized No Responses »

Jun 252009

First Farrah Fawcett, then Michael Jackson – apparently today was a bad day to be a famous white female. While MJ will get the most attention, of course, it seems to me that Farrah’s fight against cancer makes for a much more compelling story than Michael’s fight to become a species unto himself. I’m sure negotiations are already underway over the rights to turn both stories into TV movies.

No, I’m not what you’d call a fan of his – I’ve been largely indifferent to his music, and found his later behavior (alleged and otherwise) to be creepy and sad at best. Fifty’s not a half bad run, but still, there’s a little pang of sadness for him in my cold, cold godless heathen heart. My condolences go out to his friends and loved ones, and to Farrah’s as well; those are the people who will have a missing place in their lives that will be remembered long after the rest of us have moved on to the next news cycle.

We lost Ed McMahon a few days ago, too, something I wouldn’t have mentioned except that I was reminded today of a story about him:

The navy sent my father to training outside Chicago in the year when the first Superbowl took place. He and a friend went into the city on leave on the night of the game and the first bar they found was a little more upscale than they might otherwise visit, but they settled on it because it had several TVs and wasn’t too crowded, so they could hear and see the game. Ed McMahon walked in just as things got started and sat down right next to them; they ended up watching Superbowl 1 with him, and he bought them drinks and sat and talked to them late into the night.

Upgrades done – for now

Programming No Responses »

Jun 252009

My server has been upgraded to support .Net 3.5 and PHP 5, database moved to MySQL 5, and WordPress bumped up to the latest 2.8 version. A few of my old plug-ins went away and the theme I was using isn’t available in an up-to-date version, so I’m experimenting with others. Now to actually start posting again…

Remodeling

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Jun 242009

The site will be flaky and/or down on and off for the next few days – I’m performing overdue upgrades to a number of items after recovering from some glitch that was making me unable to log into wordpress for a while.

Blog Against Theocracy

Atheism and Religion No Responses »

Apr 122009

Well, it’s that time of year again: the annual Easter weekend Blog Against Theocracy, to which I’ve intended to contribute for the past two years, but for which my record of actual participation has been… limited.

I had grandiose ideas this year about doing some actual research on current or past theocratic societies – pointing out some of the abuses of power that came with, say, the Church’s domination of European life through the middle ages, or perhaps a cautionary tale of what life is like under the theo-tyranny of Kim Jong Il today.

But time passed, other business took precedence, and it became clear there wasn’t going to be time for research. So, I thought to myself, why don’t I do something a little more light-hearted? I could find one of those fear-mongering “what if atheists ruled the world” type screeds that are not uncommon on theistic web sites, and write a parody of it (as if those things aren’t self-parodies by their very nature).

But now, as I sit here during the brief lull after the morning egg hunt and traditional devouring of candy and before the afternoon dash to visit a bunch of relatives, I’m guessing even that intention will have to be put aside.

I felt obligated to post something, though, however short and pointless it might be. I felt this way because I think the Blog Against Theo is a great idea that deserves that extra little bit of linkage I can give it. More importantly, though: I had to get that naked picture of Christopher Hitchens scrolled down off the screen.

A Quick Addendum from Kerschplat

Atheism and Religion, Uncategorized 1 Response »

Mar 272009

Science man Myers try say science people more handsomer than orcish not-people? Kerschplat begging difference. In spirit of reason argument, he present contrariness evidence, exhibit A: Christopher Hitchens.

‘Nuff being said.

I have a COMMENT!!

Uncategorized No Responses »

Mar 272009

While performing a much-needed pruning of the comment ads that my spam filter didn’t quite catch, I came across an actual comment – and I only approved the poster a month and a half too late! Thanks, George! Uh, sorry about the delay…

This time PZ Myers has gone too far!

Atheism and Religion, Gaming No Responses »

Mar 272009

Yeah, it’s been a few months since the last time I put up a blog post promising it wouldn’t be a few months before my next one, but today while reading a blog I normally enjoy, I read something so horrendous that I was inspired to finally try to remember my password to log on to this here site and post something to express my outrage.

PZ Myers, biologist and outspoken opponent of things superstitious, today for the first time since I’ve been reading his blog made a statement that deeply offended me. I am thoroughly outraged.

He writes:

Not only are the paladins of evolution handsomer, wittier, more charming, and with a deeper grasp of the truth than the orc-like hordes of creationism, but even our ancillary skills are wielded with more effortless panache than our opponents’ primary talents.

Yes, he actually wrote that, and apparently stands by it since it’s still right there for anyone to read. I thought long and hard about just how to reply to this… this disgusting piece, and finally realized that I’m just not qualified to address it in the way it truly deserves.

But I know someone who is.

I mailed a link to Prof. Myers’ screed to an acquaintance. As this screen grab from our webcam chat shows, he was quite visibly disturbed upon reading it.

After he composed himself, I offered to let him use my highly trafficked (my wife looked at it at least twice in 2008… once without me leaving it up on her screen!) blog to issue a reply. So without further ado, please welcome my first ever guest blogger, Kerschplat the Uruk Blackarrow.

Thank to Don for letting use of blog space. Apologize for bad human words – Kerschplat usually eat people, not talk them.

Kerschplat angry today when read hairy science man compare orcs to creationists. Angry long time, then hurt – even cry little – then angry again. Angry feel more natural.

Orcs not have problem with Theory of Evolution. Easy to believe complex organism crawl out of slime – Kerschplat himself crawl out of slime every morning, then go looking for complex organism to squash and eat. Kerschplat live simple and honest life – he disagree someone, he not make up fact or ignore evidence to support argument – he shoot opponent in back, fair and square.

Kerschplat still too angry for eloquent waxiness in reply, so simply say this: Me demand PZ Myers to issue public apologizing to orc kind – included goblins – for slanderous remark. If no say sorry, Kerschplat not afraid to call on evil forces from darkest depths of underworld: lawyers. If PZ not sorrying, Kerschplat take legal action. Maybe get free camera.

Since have attention, Kerschplat do little self-promotion. Am something of artist – squeeze fluids from fallen foes for paint colors – and make picture of early aquatic life frolick near shoreline before emerge onto land. Attach below – please to give feedback in comments. Kerschplat open to critcism so for people who say bad things, Kerschplat do honorable thing and not use slow, painful kill method.

Thank muchness,
Kerschplat

There you have it, an emotional reply from someone to whom this grievous insult was directly… uh… directed. Stick that wafer into your fiery pit of despair and smoke it, Myers!

(Yes, I truly am a master of Photoshop!)

Should've tried water-to-wine instead

Atheism and Religion No Responses »

Jan 022009

Those African Christians sure do seem to be a devout bunch, making a name for themselves through amusing escapades such as getting lost at sea on a balloon chair for God or the persecution of accused child witches.

Not to be outdone by Balloon Boy, one Franck Kabele, apparent recipient of a vision from God informing him it was time to go out and perform a miracle, led his congregation to a beach and told them he was going to walk on water.

Astute readers will probably already see where this is going.

So Mr. Kabele strolled out into an estuary, brimming with his love and faith in Christ… and drowned.

(This piece of news dates back to 2006, but for some reason has been making the rounds in the last week or so. Maybe his followers have finally tired of waiting for him to come back from the dead?)

Want something a little more recent? Check out http://www.paliban.org, a new site spoofing those whose belief system might be frighteningly similar to that of our former potential vice-president.