Freethinkers

Jon Stewart does Beck.

nobody@vox.com(Snowy) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:03:19 -0800

Stewart

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The Cat's Out of the Bag

nobody@vox.com(WannabeTesla) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:25:48 -0800

It's been a long night, so this will be brief, but I will probably expand later.

After being backed into a corner during a conversation with my parents tonight, my wife and I vocalized our atheism. It was inevitable it seems, but I do not feel the timing was right. It happened regardless, and at first things seemed to going well until my mother promptly had a massive anxiety attack. I was afraid we were going to have to take her to the hospital.

Dad did about as well as I could reasonably expect, but he is clearly hurt.

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Letter to the Editor - Clean coal

nobody@vox.com(petermcc) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:33:08 -0800

Fumes

How's this for an elegant put down of the current plan by the Victorian government to base our future on "Clean Coal" technology.

It has been submitted to a few papers, by Noel, to see if it gets a run.

I'll also be writing a piece myself over the cheapest option for our aging coal plants in the next day or two.

Nice work Noel. Blogging should be your next career advancement. No Editors to get past!!

_Business Opportunity_!

Following the successful promotion of the "Clean Coal" technology study to the Victorian Government, "Oxymorons Inc" is now seeking interested parties to join with us in Phase 2 of the project.

This vertically integrated Phase 2 will be titled "Dry Water".

Our basic business model is to capture and dehydrate the huge water surpluses in the nation's northern river systems, using (of course) solar energy.

We will then refine and package the product in cardboard boxes which can readily be transported by air, rail or road (at minor cost) to Victoria’s brown coal plants It is then just a simple matter of adding tap water to reconstitute and apply the resource.

As a further revenue stream, surplus ‘Dry Water” packages could be sold to the State’s . drought-affected areas.

Applicants with some technical capacities could be useful, but essential skills required will include the abilities to write successful Government grant applications, and to lobby vigorously the progress of same.

N.L.Matthews

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Darwin & Comfort

nobody@vox.com(WannabeTesla) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:29:12 -0800

AronRa has some thoughts, and he does not agree with Ray Comfort.

Cameron and Comfort dissing Darwin

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Zeitgeist Analysis Part 2

nobody@vox.com(Paxton) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 22:25:03 -0700

This is the second post in a series analyzing the claims made in the film/documentary/video Zeitgeist, which can be viewed in its entirity here. Follow this link to see all of my posts about this movie. Zeitgeist is a film in three parts that presents conspiracy theories about the origins of Christianity, the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and the Federal Reserve Bank. I have decided to analyze the claims of the movie because some of them I know to be true, and some seem highly unlikely or based on inadequate information. I am an amateur doing amateur research. If you wish to criticize, do so, but be nice; don't hold me to the same academic standards you would a PhD writing his thesis.

Boiler plate out of the way? Check.

Claim 2: Horus' life mirrors the life described for Jesus. He was born on Dec. 25th, was born of a virgin (Isis-Mary), was accompanied by a star in the east. 3 kings adored him. became a teacher at 12, and was baptized by atep, had 12 disciples and fellow travelers, performed miracles, was known by similar names (the light, lamb of god), crucified, buried for 3 days, then resurrected.

So am I going to become an Egyptologist to analyze this claim? No, but there are some issues on the face of the claim that can be examined.

First, that Horus, like Jesus, is said to be born on December 25th. First of all, this claim sounds more ridiculous than it is. December 25th on which calendar? But in fact, the birth of dieties from a number of different religions is said to be in late December. This is not a mistake, since that is when winter solstice is, a time of great importance for ancient cultures, be they nomadic, agricultural, or hunter-gatherer. It marked the time that days stopped getting shorter and started getting longer. It's not surprising at all that many cultures celebrated this period.

But, most importantly, it is widely acknowledged even by those who have no doubt of the historicity of Jesus that his exact birthdate is unknown. It's not surprising, then, that the celebration of Jesus' birthday on December 25th was done because that is when pagan celebrations were already occurring, particularly the Roman festival of Sol Invictus, or Natalis Invicti, which was a celebration of the coming end of winter.

So, does the fact that at least according to some scholars Horus' birth was on December 25th prove a connection. Not really; again, it's fairly clear that the date chosen for the celebration of Jesus' birth was chosen because of Sol Invictus, which was celebrated when it was due to the winter solstice, which was a celestial event celebrated by cultures worldwide because of it's important significance in regards to the seasons. Is it possible that Sol Invictus was, in turn, influenced by Egyptian sun-worship? Possibly, yes, but again I don't find the fact significant.

Isis' name

The next claim is that Horus, like Jesus, was born of a virgin (Isis in the case of Horus). I wasn't able to find references stating that Isis was a "virgin," unless necrophilia doesn't count toward losing your virginity. She impregnated herself with the reconstructed body of her dead husband, Osiris, and thus begat Horus. This doesn't sound much like the Nativity story. And this is ignoring the fact taht Isis in some Egyptian traditions wasn't Horus's mother, but his sister, sometimes she is not Osiris's wife, but his sister, as well, or possibly the wife of Ra, who sometimes is considered synonymous with Horus. All this interchangability of roles can be attributed to the fact that the Egyptian religion lasted about 10,000 years, allowing for many variations of the pantheon to form and be espoused by many different sects and cults.

The next claim is that Horus, like Jesus, had a birth that was accompanied by a star in the east, three kings adored him, and he became a teacher at 12. Yeah. Where did you read that? The only descriptions I could find of Horus' birth story had no resemblance to the Nativity story and had no star in the east and no three kings. I could also find nothing about Horus becoming a teacher at the age of 12. That is to say, I could only find references to these similarities on sites that were making a case for Egyptian-Christian syncretism, and not simply as a reference to Horus and not with anything resembling references.

Next claim: Horus was baptized by Atep, as Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Again, I can find no good reference for this, or even who Atep supposedly was. Atep is not a name of any of the Egyptian gods or mythical beings that I could find references for.

And all the rest of it: Horus had 12 disciples and fellow travelers, performed miracles, was known by similar names (the light, lamb of god), crucified, buried for 3 days, then resurrected. Where are they finding this stuff? I can't find anything about Horus having 12 disciples, fellow travelers, or even people who carried his luggage.

He performed miracles, but that's sort of what gods do. It's sort of their raison detre.

He was known by similar names. I was unable to find any references to Horus as the Lamb of God, which would have been an odd thing to call an Egyptian diety, anyway, since theirs was a polytheistic religion. I wouldn't doubt that Horus was sometimes called "the light," since he was a sun god at all, and wouldn't find that fact to be significant.

Was Horus crucified? No, he was stung to death by a scorpion. He was resurrected, but there is no reference to it having happened three days after his death, and the method of his resurrection was a magic incantation spoken by Isis. It's also notable that resurrection wasn't an uncommon theme in Egyptian religion, since Osiris, Horus' father, was also resurrected after being reassembled by Isis to become the ruler of the underworld.

I'm sorry, but the more I read about the Egyptian religion(s), the less I can believe this argument that the myth of Jesus is based on the myth of Horus. The stories of their respective lives bare little resemblence, and the fact that some of the similarities cited seem to be simply made up doesn't bode well for the rest of the film. However, I have begun this journey, and I shall carry on.

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We Have A Major Muslim Problem

nobody@vox.com(TedWest) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:49:18 -0800

Earlier this week, I wrote about the filthy dog Muslim who ran down his daughter and then ran himself. She was gorgeous. She's currently dead. And yesterday, a filthier dog Muslim killed other daughters' fathers.

I haven't heard any of the coverage since I first mentioned this latest terrorist attack because it doesn't matter what's being said, and I certainly don't want to hear any excuses.

And once again, there were warning signs that were ignored.

I did read some headlines that said something about The Fort Hood Scumbag having been harassed, that he was deploying to Muslimland, and that he claimed to be a Palestinian. The accuracy or inaccuracy of any such headlines are irrelevant. All you need to know is that the guy was a Muslim, he attacked America's finest, and that the people who made it possible for him to be in a position to do that were, unfortunately, not among the people he killed.

Interestingly, there was a story yesterday about some scared liberal movie director who made a film in which he's blowing up all sorts of Christian symbols, and he's quoted as saying that he wanted to blow up some Muslim crap in Mecca - you know, on film, but he was afraid - because Muslims do it for real.

It is clear to anyone who can still think that Muslims terrorists, acting alone, are probably now a greater danger than terrorist sleeper cells.

No wonder Muslims won't eat pigs - it would be cannibalism.

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Naughty Friday funny - At the retirement home

nobody@vox.com(petermcc) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:18:50 -0800

Little old dears

One day, while going to the store, I passed by a nursing home. On the front lawn were six old ladies lying naked on the grass.

I thought this was a bit unusual, but continued on my way to the store.

On my return trip, I passed the same nursing home with the same six old ladies lying naked on the lawn. This time my curiosity got the best of me, & I went inside to talk to the Nursing Home Administrator.

'Do you know there are six ladies lying naked on your front lawn?'

'Yes,' she said. 'They're retired prostitutes, - they're having a garage sale.'

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Sorry, Repubs, it's all bad news. Obama's stimulus is working.

nobody@vox.com(Snowy) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:24:45 -0800

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/markets/productivity-soars-as-us-on-the-mend/story-e6frg926-1225794888461

US productivity soars as jobless benefit claims lowest since January

Luca Di Leo
From: Dow Jones Newswires
November 06, 2009 6:30AM

US productivity, or output per hours worked, surged in the third quarter to hit its highest level in six years as the world's largest economy emerged from its worst downturn in decades.

Meantime, the number of US workers filing new claims for jobless benefits fell by more than expected last week to its lowest level since the start of the year, data from the Labour Department showed.

Non-farm business labour productivity rose by an annual rate of 9.5 per cent in the July-to-September period as the economy recovered and employers saved money by slashing staff. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had predicted a 7.0 per cent increase in third-quarter productivity.

A rise in productivity is ultimately good for companies, workers and the economy. More productive companies have greater profits, which allow them to pay higher wages. That also allows the economy to grow faster without generating inflation.

But during a difficult time for the economy, a short-term productivity rise can be a sign that companies slash workers faster that they cut output. In other words, stretching existing workers means hiring fewer new ones.

Still, economic recoveries have in the past generally followed a consistent pattern: first productivity grows, then employment rises, and finally wages increase.

Over the past few weeks, economic data have continued to show that the worst recession since the Great Depression appears to be winding down, with clear improvements in manufacturing and the housing sector.

Gross domestic product, a broad measure of economic activity, rose by an annualised 3.5 per cent in the third quarter as the US government's massive stimulus plan boosted consumer spending.

"Message to the Fed: subdued inflation trends it is," said Jonathan Basile, economist at Credit Suisse, in comments on the two latest economic reports.

In its declaration that interest rates would remain near zero for "an extended period," the Federal Reserve yesterday included new qualifiers explaining the conditions that would justify keeping rates low: "low rates of resource utilisation, subdued inflation trends, and stable inflation expectations."

The Fed voted to maintain the target federal-funds rate for interbank lending at a record-low range of zero to 0.25 per cent to bolster the fragile economic recovery.

Productivity is defined as output per hours worked. It rose 6.9 per cent in the second quarter of the year, revised up from a previously estimated increase of 6.6 per cent.

A key gauge of inflationary pressures within the productivity report plunged. Unit labour costs fell 5.2 per cent last quarter at an annual rate. Economists had expected a 4.5 per cent decline.

"Modest unit labour costs indicate that there are few short-term worries about inflation," said Steven Wood, chief economist at Insight Economics.

Big productivity gains are common at the end of a recession or beginning of a recovery. But the increases come at the expense of jobs.

The US employment report for October, out tomorrow (AEDT), is expected to show that the jobless rate stayed close to a 26-year high of 9.8 per cent in September.

In a separate report, the Labour Department said new claims for jobless benefits decreased by 20,000 to 512,000 in the week ended October 31. That is the lowest level since January 3. The previous week's level was revised to 532,000.

Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had expected a decrease of only 5000 claims.

The four-week moving average of new claims, which aims to smooth volatility in the data, fell by 3000 to 523,750 from the previous week's revised figure of 526,750. That is the lowest level since January 10.

Initial claims still remain at a fairly high level, suggesting the job market has a long recovery ahead.

But some economists still see positive signs in the recent decreases in the four-week-moving average, and the latest 20,000 decrease in initial claims also may suggest an improvement in labour conditions.

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The Terrorist Was A Muslim? - That Would Be Odd

nobody@vox.com(TedWest) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:44:43 -0800

You know what they say, there are three things that are certain in life: death, taxes, and Muslim terrorist attacks...

12 dead, and the toll will likely rise. A deliberate act by Major Malik Nidal Hasan or some such crap (to be corrected as facts and time allows), "recently" assigned to Fort Hood, and get this - the "attacker' was a mental health professional... a psychiatrist

Which better describes this nation's mental health.

Mental health and Muslim? That goes together like a horse and rattlesnake.

And a Major Muslim? How could that happen?

If this results in Muslims finally being regarded with the suspicion they so richly deserve, then it will have served some purpose.

I mean, was there ever any doubt Muslim attacks would happen again? And bigger ones are being planned?

May God damn Allah!

And let the excuses begin...

None of this is confirmed as I write, much of it is my own speculation. If I'm wrong, I will not apologize.

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The Fox In The CNN House

nobody@vox.com(TedWest) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:32:55 -0800

Well, the results of the election are in, and the big winner was... Fox News!

And as expected, the big loser was... anything liberal.

CNN even finished behind it's surrogate, CNN Headline News.

Now THAT'S change you can believe in!

Meanwhile, Bobo said he didn't pay attention to the election results.

I'll pause here to give you time to finish laughing.

So you want a simple test to find out how ignorant a liberal is? Just mention Fox News and see how long it takes to hear a discouraging word. The shorter the period, the dumber he is. One third of the Fox audience is liberal. Granted, half of them are watching so they can find something to criticize, and the other half don't understand what the people on Fox are talking about because it's the first time they've heard about the subject, but a statistically insignificant number of liberals probably realize that Fox is the only place they can get all sides of a story.

In fact, liberals are snowy about the fact that the number of their species watching Fox is greater than the number of liberals watching the other cable news channels combined.

But who can argue that with liberals when they say Fox is biased? No one, that's who. Because Fox IS biased... in favor of presenting all the facts, free speech, allowing both sides to be heard, and they don't understand that the reason Fox airs more conservative views than liberal views is because conservative views make sense. In fact, I get angry at Fox because they air too much liberal nonsense.

Liberals, of course, don't see their views as nonsense - because they never carry them to their logical conclusion. There's always a leap... "We want the public option so that... people can live forever!"

FAME!

That's the liberal mind at work... and "work" is probably a mischaracterization as well as a statistically insignificant number, because most liberals are either unemployed or they "work" for the government! And of course, their jobs were all just saved - and many even got raises thanks to the stimulus. For joy!

Now here's something I found more interesting that the enormous Fox lead in viewers... it's the enormous Fox lead in the coveted 25-54 age group. There too, Fox handily beat the other networks combined, but what's so significant there is that if you're 25 and watching Fox, it's very unlikely you'll be able to watch the other networks with a straight face. I mean whenever I turn on MSNBC, it takes milliseconds to overwhelmed by the stupidity, the hate, the desperation that's being conveyed by the anchor of the hour.

So Nancy Pelosi thinks "we won!?!" I wonder, could other liberals think that as well? If so, keep on keepin' on, bro...

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