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A Light in the Darkness
Mar. 1st, 2006 04:40 pmI've known about this blog for some time and really enjoy this Moslem's take on things. I just wish he was the norm and not the apparent abberation (though there probably are many more like him who either can't or won't speak up). Go here.
Many years ago I remember reading a story by Philip Jose Farmer called "Moth and Rust" (1953) where an underground organization attempts to overthrow the repressive combination of church and state known as the sturch. It seemed unbelievable then but now...
In light of that I've been trawling the Internet sea and have come up with some interesting catches.
Theocracy Watch about the Rise of the Religious Right in the Republican Party. Scary.
Found an iteresting site called Truthdig: Drilling Beneath the Headlines with Sam Harris' An Atheist Manifesto where he points out most of us are atheists in regard to Zeus and Thor (it's just that some of us have extended it to include Yahweh too).
The Panda's Thumb which is "the virtual pub of the University of Ediacara. The patrons gather to discuss evolutionary theory, critique the claims of the antievolution movement, defend the integrity of both science and science education, and share good conversation."
The Skeptics Annotated Bible. The site has a link to The Skeptics Annotated Quran.
Real Live Preacher is the blog of Gordon Atkinson, the ordained minister of Covenant Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas. He's written a very interesting post on exactly what the Bible says in regard to homosexuality.
A collection of the cartoons that the Moslems are protesting against and others here.
I just came across the Universist Movement and it sounds very intriguing. I've always been a seeker unable to fully accept the established scriptures of any faith (yet I believe there is something beyond us) so it's nice to know that there are may be others like me out there. I'm leaving now to explore the site.
In light of that I've been trawling the Internet sea and have come up with some interesting catches.
Theocracy Watch about the Rise of the Religious Right in the Republican Party. Scary.
Found an iteresting site called Truthdig: Drilling Beneath the Headlines with Sam Harris' An Atheist Manifesto where he points out most of us are atheists in regard to Zeus and Thor (it's just that some of us have extended it to include Yahweh too).
The Panda's Thumb which is "the virtual pub of the University of Ediacara. The patrons gather to discuss evolutionary theory, critique the claims of the antievolution movement, defend the integrity of both science and science education, and share good conversation."
The Skeptics Annotated Bible. The site has a link to The Skeptics Annotated Quran.
Real Live Preacher is the blog of Gordon Atkinson, the ordained minister of Covenant Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas. He's written a very interesting post on exactly what the Bible says in regard to homosexuality.
A collection of the cartoons that the Moslems are protesting against and others here.
I just came across the Universist Movement and it sounds very intriguing. I've always been a seeker unable to fully accept the established scriptures of any faith (yet I believe there is something beyond us) so it's nice to know that there are may be others like me out there. I'm leaving now to explore the site.
Well the news on the pro-choice front in South Dakota is bad (read here). They would ban all abortions except for when a woman's life, not her health, was in danger. Consider what would happen if this woman lives in SD (from pandagon.net):
I continue to state that I agree with anti-choicers that abortion is murder. However, much as they feel about war, starvation of minorities in third world countries, and criminal executions, it is completely and utterly justifiable homicide.
No one has the right to anyone else’s body. Period.
I don’t support the draft because of this, I don’t support forced organ/blood/tissue donation because of this, I don’t support rape-isn’t-a-real-crime because of this, and I don’t support forced pregnancy because of this.
It’s very sad that this means that some embryos/fetus’ will be destroyed over this, but it’s a damn sight better than all the actual, living people who will be affected by the other choice. Because even for the women who never have an unwanted pregnancy, they will spend more than 3 decades of their lives, on average, being absolutely terrified of it.
*disclaimer* I am a mother. By choice. I have never had an abortion, although I strongly considered it several times. Once, I decided that a having a child was the correct choice for me. The other times nature made the decision for me. I am now having to consider the possibility of a late term abortion for a very much wanted pregnancy, due to medical complications which could leave me blind. The fact that my choice is between giving birth too soon which could leave me with a severely disabled child that I do not have the resources to properly care for or killing a fetus that I have already named, planned for, and imagined as a child for several months. Or losing my sight and being unable to care for my children for a while until I learn how to do basic tasks while blind, and giving up completely my ability to work until I learn skills such as braille. Did I also mention that I am the only one with health insurance, so I and my whole family would lose our only way of even affording health care?
And people have the gall to tell me I am selfish for considering the abortion.
I'm posting this link to Angry For a Reason to get the word out of a partial solution for early unwanted pregancies.
I continue to state that I agree with anti-choicers that abortion is murder. However, much as they feel about war, starvation of minorities in third world countries, and criminal executions, it is completely and utterly justifiable homicide.
No one has the right to anyone else’s body. Period.
I don’t support the draft because of this, I don’t support forced organ/blood/tissue donation because of this, I don’t support rape-isn’t-a-real-crime because of this, and I don’t support forced pregnancy because of this.
It’s very sad that this means that some embryos/fetus’ will be destroyed over this, but it’s a damn sight better than all the actual, living people who will be affected by the other choice. Because even for the women who never have an unwanted pregnancy, they will spend more than 3 decades of their lives, on average, being absolutely terrified of it.
*disclaimer* I am a mother. By choice. I have never had an abortion, although I strongly considered it several times. Once, I decided that a having a child was the correct choice for me. The other times nature made the decision for me. I am now having to consider the possibility of a late term abortion for a very much wanted pregnancy, due to medical complications which could leave me blind. The fact that my choice is between giving birth too soon which could leave me with a severely disabled child that I do not have the resources to properly care for or killing a fetus that I have already named, planned for, and imagined as a child for several months. Or losing my sight and being unable to care for my children for a while until I learn how to do basic tasks while blind, and giving up completely my ability to work until I learn skills such as braille. Did I also mention that I am the only one with health insurance, so I and my whole family would lose our only way of even affording health care?
And people have the gall to tell me I am selfish for considering the abortion.
I'm posting this link to Angry For a Reason to get the word out of a partial solution for early unwanted pregancies.
Buffy the Theory Slayer
Jan. 21st, 2006 03:14 pmI found out today that astronomers have discovered a large object half the size of Pluto out there in the Kuiper Belt and have named it Buffy. Because of it's strange orbit, Lynne Allen (one of the researchers) said, "Maybe Buffy is going to be a bit of a theory slayer". Previously another KBO was found and named Xena and it's moon Gabrielle. If it turns out Buffy has a moon will they name it Willow or Xander or Giles or Dawn or Spike or Angel or...?
For more about it go here.
For more about it go here.
Today's Whimsies
Dec. 29th, 2005 05:42 pmCame across this in Tuesday's New York Times to be sung in response to intelligent design proponents:
The song (lyrics by Dr Donald U. Wise, an emeritus professor of geology at the University of Massachusetts), to the tune of "Battle Hymn of the Republic," goes like this:
My bones proclaim a story of incompetent design
My back still hurts, my sinus clogs, my teeth just won't align
If I had drawn the blueprint I would certainly resign
Incompetent Design!
Evo-Evo-Evolution. Design is but a mere illusion
Darwin sparked our revolution. Science shall prevail!
Also there's the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster that makes a strong case for another alternative to (un)intelligent design.
My pants are doing their annual shrinkage *g*. From the beginning of November to about mid-January after my birthday bash I put on about 5 pounds. Then I keep them for a few months until the weather becomes warm and I lose my appetite and the 5 pounds only to start the cycle up next November.
I peeked in on Larry King last night only to find him hosting a bunch of mediums and quickly changed channels. I don't know whether I don't believe in them or don't want to believe in them. While I do believe something of us survives death, the idea of my parents continually hanging around, however possibly helpful in trying circumstances, becomes a bit squicky if I picture them hovering while I'm in the bathroom or having sex or doing something I shouldn't be doing.
The song (lyrics by Dr Donald U. Wise, an emeritus professor of geology at the University of Massachusetts), to the tune of "Battle Hymn of the Republic," goes like this:
My bones proclaim a story of incompetent design
My back still hurts, my sinus clogs, my teeth just won't align
If I had drawn the blueprint I would certainly resign
Incompetent Design!
Evo-Evo-Evolution. Design is but a mere illusion
Darwin sparked our revolution. Science shall prevail!
Also there's the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster that makes a strong case for another alternative to (un)intelligent design.
My pants are doing their annual shrinkage *g*. From the beginning of November to about mid-January after my birthday bash I put on about 5 pounds. Then I keep them for a few months until the weather becomes warm and I lose my appetite and the 5 pounds only to start the cycle up next November.
I peeked in on Larry King last night only to find him hosting a bunch of mediums and quickly changed channels. I don't know whether I don't believe in them or don't want to believe in them. While I do believe something of us survives death, the idea of my parents continually hanging around, however possibly helpful in trying circumstances, becomes a bit squicky if I picture them hovering while I'm in the bathroom or having sex or doing something I shouldn't be doing.
Well I watched the Xmas ep of "Bones" last night and I must say the show is growing on me as they slowly flesh out the characters. I sometimes feel so out of things as Angela's father was played by Billy Gibbons from something called ZZ Top and though I googled I still am unclear about them. Are they truly famous? I am so unhip.
For all you writers out there I came across this community![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
multilingual that might be able to help you if you need something translated into another language for your story. I plan to add it to my reference sites.
For all you writers out there I came across this community
multilingual that might be able to help you if you need something translated into another language for your story. I plan to add it to my reference sites.
