All entries by this author

In which I talk some more

Dec 30th, 2011 4:17 pm | By

I did a podcast for the Buffalo Beast. I have the remains of a cold so there are one or two quick barks which are me coughing, but other than that I think it’s all right. It was fun.

I should figure out where the Discovery Institute is some day…… Read the rest

(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)



Acid in the name of god

Dec 30th, 2011 11:15 am | By

I think people who leave Islam should leave it for atheism, not for Christianity, but I also think people who do leave Islam for Christianity should not have acid thrown in their faces. Umar Mulinde, who used to be an Islamic teacher and is now a bishop of the Gospel Life Church International, had acid thrown in his face on December 24th. It destroyed one of his eyes.

 

From his hospital bed in Kampala, he told Compass that he was on his way back to the site for a party with the entire congregation and hundreds of new converts to Christianity when a man who claimed to be a Christian approached him. “I heard him say in a loud

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Uganda: acid attack on ex-Muslim Christian bishop *

Dec 30th, 2011 | Filed by

Bishop Umar Mulinde, a sheikh before his conversion to Christianity, was attacked outside his Gospel Life Church International building in Namasuba.… Read the rest



Vaccination saves lives *

Dec 30th, 2011 | Filed by

Advising Aboriginal parents not to vaccinate their children is a little bit like the deliberate manufacture and sale of shonky children’s play equipment.… Read the rest



More revelations of threats to Pakistani journalists *

Dec 30th, 2011 | Filed by

A level of danger pervades the industry, and for the last two years, CPJ has ranked Pakistan as the world’s deadliest country for journalists.… Read the rest



More desk chair tourism

Dec 29th, 2011 3:23 pm | By

I did a post on Google Earth tourism last March.

Something I’ve just discovered in the last few days is that the chateaux of the Loire Valley have been very thoroughly visited by the Google van – blue lines all over everything, so you can see the gardens, the approaches, outbuildings, and the chateau from far and close and from all angles. You could spend hours just looking at one chateau. Look up Chenonceau or Chambord, if you’re interested.

Versailles has also been thoroughly Google-photographed.

I should check out the Taj Mahal one of these days…… Read the rest

(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)



RBB

Dec 29th, 2011 3:10 pm | By

You know about Rock Beyond Belief, right? The fun day of music and rabble-rousing for foxhole atheists?

Current Lineup

Speakers
Dan Barker
Ed Brayton
Richard Dawkins
Margaret Downey
Jen McCreight
Dale McGowan
Hemant Mehta
Nate Phelps
Al Stefanelli
Todd Stiefel
Mikey Weinstein
Music
Baba Brinkman
Jeffrey Lewis
Spoonboy
Words Such As Burn
Roy ZimmermanWhen:
Saturday, March 31st, 2012 Time: Noon – 8:00PM
Where:
The main post parade field on Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Cost: Free to everyone. This includes service members, spouses and family, and civilians from the surrounding areas that may wish to attend.

It should be hella fun, plus a good idea and much needed. Attend and/or spread the word.… Read the rest

(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)



Celebrities and Science 2011 *

Dec 29th, 2011 | Filed by

Sense About Science issues its annual report on celebrities pushing claims that appear to make little scientific sense.

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Her provocative behavior

Dec 29th, 2011 12:27 pm | By

So repeatedly calling a woman a slut is actually a form of harassment?

An indictment was filed Thursday against Jerusalem resident Shlomo Fuchs, 44, an ultra-Orthodox man who hurled sexist slurs at a female soldier on a public bus in the capital.

The court also stated that sexual harassment does not only apply when the harasser demands something of sexual nature from the harassed, but also when the harassed is humiliated based on remarks relating to his or her sex. The judge ruled such was the case in this incident, since “there is no dispute that Fuchs spoke bluntly and shouted harsh and humiliating words at the soldier aboard the bus, calling her a ‘slut’ three times.”

And that’s … Read the rest

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Haredi man hurls sexist slurs at woman aboard public bus *

Dec 29th, 2011 | Filed by

Shlomo Fuchs called soldier Doron Matalon “slut slut slut” because she would not move to the back of the bus when he told her to.… Read the rest



Comedy Hour

Dec 29th, 2011 10:37 am | By

Priests. Greek Orthodox priests, Armenian priests. Cleaning up the “Church of the Nativity” in Bethlehem. For the Orthodox Christmas on January 7. Scrub scrub, dust dust, polish polish, sweep sweep. Bash bash. Bash bash bash bash bash bash.

 … Read the rest

(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)



Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests fight each other *

Dec 29th, 2011 | Filed by

Bemused tourists looked on as about 100 priests fought with brooms while cleaning the church in preparation for Orthodox Christmas.… Read the rest



Jesus appears in a sock *

Dec 29th, 2011 | Filed by

He looks a bit peevish.… Read the rest



Tiny dog

Dec 28th, 2011 4:53 pm | By

Another one. Just for fun.

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Disinfecting

Dec 28th, 2011 4:46 pm | By

Jason Thibeault says why it’s useful that Rebecca Watson draws the pus of frothing misogyny out into the open where we can see it and then pour bleach on everything in sight.

Maybe not so good for her, but for all of us. These magical superpowers of hers are probably a curse for her own sanity, but they are a boon for our society, for our respective communities. It’s excellent that she can draw so much attention to the problem, and can draw out the people who are, in essence, part of it, where they can make examples of themselves. The “touch of boorishness” that she can draw out of complete strangers just by mentioning this nonsense is

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We have to base our behaviour according to scripture

Dec 28th, 2011 11:14 am | By

It appears that David Cameron is jealous of theocracy. He wants him some of that extra goddy power!

Prime Minister David Cameron has said the UK is a Christian country “and we should not be afraid to say so” in a speech in Oxford on the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible….

And he staunchly defended the role of religion in politics and said the Bible in particular was crucial to British values.

Catherine Pepinster, editor of the Catholic weekly The Tablet, is chuffed.

“But what Christianity is really about is putting the least first. It requires us to feed the hungry, visit prisoners, have time for the lonely, fight for the oppressed, and love our enemies.”

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Israelis rally against Haredi extremism *

Dec 28th, 2011 | Filed by

They held signs reading “Free Israel from religious coercion” and “Stop Israel from becoming Iran.”… Read the rest



Cameron in praise of theocracy *

Dec 28th, 2011 | Filed by

“He staunchly defended the role of religion in politics and said the Bible in particular was crucial to British values.”… Read the rest



When PMs link religion and state – be afraid *

Dec 28th, 2011 | Filed by

Then you get “We have to base our behaviour according to scripture, God’s revealed message,” and hell on earth.… Read the rest



Just for fun

Dec 27th, 2011 5:00 pm | By

Cooper on the beach.

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(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)