Febuary 05, 2010
Christ at the Super Bowl
by Dyran

Is it possible for both the Colts and Saints to loose in the Super Bowl. Reading those articles made me want to puke. So, does god dislike the team that looses on Sunday, or can the loosing team blame any nonbelievers they may have.

January 11, 2010
Finally
by Dyran

Finally, people are suing to get the ridiculous Proposition 8 taken out of the California state constitution. According to the article two couples are suing on the basis that Prop 8 is based on discrimination and should not be allowed.

According to the article the trial was supposed to be broadcast over the internet, but the pro Prop 8 people objected that their witnesses could be harassed if people were able to see who they are. They just don't want to be seen being bigots. I say, fuck 'em! Don't let them get away with discrimination behind closed doors.

The words of the pro Prop 8 lawyer are very telling about the stance these cretins are taking. He claims that Californians “have been generous in extending equal rights to gays and lesbians.” Yes, just like the south was generous to blacks with the whole “separate but equal” bull shit. How did that work out for them?

Another gem is that Prop 8 expressed “no ill will or animosity toward gays and lesbians, but rather a special regard for this venerable institution(marriage).” So, they believe gays and lesbians aren't good enough for marriage and they'd destroy this “venerable institution”? Just like women would ruin the country if they were allowed to vote? I can imagine this fucker back in 1919 arguing that he has nothing against women, but we can't have them voting can we?

This just shows once again what this whole thing is about. On one side we have a minority trying to get equality. On the other is are a bunch of homophobes using non-rational appeals to emotion and an ancient superstitious text to deny them. I have not heard one rational argument for denying gays and lesbians marriage. It really all comes down to gays are different and different is bad. Every lie that has been spread about them has been disproved.

One more thing. I do find it amusing that the right, who are trying to say the government is taking your freedom away with health care reform, are the first to deny freedom to gays. Just asking for a little consistency guys. Just a little bit please.

December 14, 2009
We Make Jesus Sad
by Dyran

So I'm driving around town trying to stay awake and I run across an interesting billboard about Christmas. It said, “Jesus misses hearing you say Merry Christmas,” and this got me thinking. Who is this actually for? I mean, you can't stop Christians saying Merry Christmas about a thousand times a day so it can't be for them. Maybe it's for our circumcised friends with the strange hats. How about Muslims? Maybe even us atheists? Do they really expect this to have an affect on us?

I think this is a response to the supposed “War on Christmas” I hear about every year. A war where the phrase “Happy Holidays” is thought of as a weapon of mass destruction, tearing society to shreds with it's nonspecific sentiment. Everyone run for the hills! Last holiday season I overheard a group of ladies discussing how they refused to say “Happy Holidays” and that everyone needed to realize that it was Christmas. I could tell by their tone of voice that they really thought they were taking a stand for something important.

Time and again it seems that the Christians in this country think their's is the only religion anyone follows. Any push back against their beliefs is seen as a major affront and is accompanied with cries of persecution. If Christians really want their own time of year then move Christmas to June. Jesus wasn't really born on Dec 25, 0001 so why can't they just change the date again. That way it wouldn't be competing with all those other pesky holidays like Hanukkah, winter solstice and New Years. By the way, I still wouldn't say it. I'm under no obligation to since I don't believe in it.

The other amusing thing about the billboard was how it turned Jesus into a sock puppet for the person or organization that paid for it. I thought a lot of Christians believe we're supposed to fear god. I hear it all the time. I was at a wedding over the summer where the preacher drilled in how we were all supposed to be good god fearing Christians. Generally, when you fear someone you don't put words into their mouths. Nothing shortens a life like trying to speak for a dictator without his consent(or is blessing the right word here).

Of course, as Russ pointed out when we were discussing this, they've put every word ever attributed to god into his mouth. A growing number of us has realized this, we're just waiting on the rest to figure it out. I might start randomly wishing people Happy Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or HumanLight just to confuse them. I may even throw in Happy Festivus just for fun. I encourage everyone else to do it as well. Just to watch them squirm.

December 07, 2009
Athiest Holidays
by Dyran

I know it's been a while since either of us posted anything to this site and I apologize to any one who may care. I guess I lost a bit of interest for a while as well as being distracted by a few things. Mainly Torchlight and Borderlands. It had been a while since I'd done some serious gaming and I guess I kind of binged a bit.

If you're someone who observed Thanksgiving I hope you had a good one. We had the family over to our place and my wife whipped up a great meal for everyone. The one triumph was getting everyone to eat without any mention of a prayer. If you knew my wife's family you would definitely see this for the accomplishment it was. A house full of a Catholic Mexicans and no family prayer before the meal is no small feat. My wife's plan was to get the kids out of the way and eating first before any adults could try to round everyone up to mumble their incantations. We really didn't want a confrontation on what was supposed to be a happy family gathering and the plan worked great. The only trying thing I had to endure was my wife's sisters' assertions that they had mystical powers when they were kids because they could perform 'light as a feather stiff as a board.' I suggested that they should write their own physics book explaining why everyone else is wrong.

Other than that, it was nice to have everyone together for the holiday. Having a large feast with loved ones is a very human thing and has nothing to do with religion. I will be celebrating the rest of the holidays as well. We have a secular Christmas in my house because everyone loves giving and getting gifts and the holiday is a good excuse to do so. I just can't get into HumanLight. Maybe it's my upbringing that makes it hard for me to accept this new Humanist holiday. I will assure you that there will be no nativity scenes, nor happy birthday wishes to any imaginary infants in our holiday celebrations.

I am little torn on the whole Santa issue though. As a kid it was always so exciting going to bed and wondering what the fat little elf would leave you over the night. I remember trying to spot Rudolf's nose in the sky on the way back from my grandparent's house and how much fun it all was and I don't wanna take that away from my kids.

On the other hand, it is a false belief and some kids may not react well when they find out the truth. When I found out that Santa wasn't real I really wasn't upset at my parents or anything. I was still getting presents so what did it matter if it was a polar elf or my parents leaving them under the tree? It was still exciting to find out what I received.

The other objection I've heard is that by fostering this magical false belief in our kids will cause them to believe others. This feels to much like the dreaded slippery slope used by the enemy, so I'm not sure I buy it.

In the end I really don't think it's that big of a deal to be honest. Finding out there is no Santa is almost a right of passage as a kid. I could be wrong, but I'm not gonna sweat it too much. I may just try to use it as a learning tool for my youngest. Let her find out on her own the truth of the matter. I think it may be good experience for when she comes up against other irrational beliefs.

I'm gonna try to start updating a little more regularly. Not sure about comics, but I'll try to post some more of my ramblings.

October 23, 2009
Fuck Maine
by Dyran

Fuck Maine hard so it stays fucked. The same people who voted against equality for all are the same ones that got on and on about freedom and how 'great' this country is. Freedom and equality only seem to matter when it concerns these cretins specifically. They have no problem denying equality to others.

October 27, 2009
Hotel Ramblings
by Dyran

This week I’m languishing in a hotel in the ‘wonderful’ city of Dayton, OH for training on a new piece of equipment my company is starting to service. I’m spending my days being bored to tears and my nights cooped up in my hotel room. Dayton isn’t the kind of city you want to go roving around in if you can help it. You may be found floating in the river a few days later.

Being down here reminded me of a story one of my instructors told us a few years ago about a church down here in one of the nasty neighborhoods. He was a preacher in the area himself, so I think I can take his word on this. They never lie, do they?

Apparently, during a service a man came bursting into the church pursued by a few thugs. He was out of breath and scared shitless. He was followed a moment later by a couple of thugs who proceeded to drag him out of the church. No one lifted a finger, not even the preacher.

I can’t really say I blame the people there. Dayton has a bad reputation as a violent town and they knew that if they did anything the violence would turn to them. But I hear a lot from believers that they believe god (or Jesus) will protect them from harm. Do they have the courage of their convictions?

I think they know Jesus will not help them and if they helped that man they would be next. Jesus if fine protection from vague evil influences and threats like the devil and other demons, but when it comes to real life threats he’s about as effective as the rhythm method of contraception or using logic on a Teabagger. Deep down, most believers know this and generally take real world precautions like keeping your nose out of other people’s business: Especially when said people are armed.

Just thought I’d share this little anecdote to break up my boredom. I have just one more day of training left before I can head home and I’m trying really hard not to brain the guy sitting next to me. People say there’s no such thing as a stupid question, but this guy seems to have a talent for finding them. I have been dumbfounded by his skill at discovering the most inane and meaningless questions to ask. Just when I think he has reached a new low he out-does himself again. We may get to leave early tomorrow if we finish early so I’m going to pick up a ball gag on my way there and make sure we do. You may read about me in the news later in the day.