12:14 AM - Help me think up a new display name! (Updated!)
Current mood: quixotic
Category: quixotic Blogging
I have been using the handle "Judging by available evidence, God has OCD" for something like 2 years now.
It kind of fits me. I am an atheist, so it doesn't bother me to point out a human characteristic of God.
It is kind of memorable, I have gotten at least 30 friends requests that stated they wanted to add me because of my display name. Also, it has become somewhat attached to me as a blogger, and I would be loathe to lose my online "identity" amongst my friends.
The thing is, I don't know if I want to keep it, it just seems a little old.
Furthermore, I have become affiliated with The BullShit Press. www.myspace.com/bullshitpress I would like to write articles in the same vein, basically calling Bullshit wherever I see it. I am not completely sure that this moniker is aptly suited to that. This doesn't mean I will stop blogging about atheism, I just don't want to be limited to that one subject.
BUT, if I change it, what should I change it to?
Something suitable, AND memorable, is what is I am looking for, of course.
So, for suitability, it should say something either about me, or what I do. I guess some pertinent details about myself, at least what I am willing to share with the public at large, would probably be helpful, so here are some of those details now...
I like drinking whiskey, and solving the worlds problems.
I am a devoted parent, and husband.
I am a pretty nice guy, but can be a little brusque at times.
I read, A LOT, mostly scifi and fantasy.
Obviously, I am an atheist.
I would probably be described as Libertarian, but I like to mix in conservatism, as well as a couple of liberal views (I like the idea of universal health care, for example.)
I am a Mechanic.
I also deliver food part time.
I sometimes drive like a maniac :)
I put in a bunch of hours working each week.
My name is Paul Short.
I am 6 feet tall. Make of that what you will...
Now, for something memorable...
Well, that is what I am struggling with. I DO have a few ideas, though....
Such as:
Paul:chugging whiskey, and talking smack.
Paul:chugging whiskey and shooting straight.
Leaving my name off, the same 2 up above.
Hey Paully!
Paul Speaks.
Paully Speaks.
Paul, running of at the lip.
Paully, talking smack...AGAIN!
Of course, I have thought of other variations of the above themes.
I am partial to a display name that has Paul, or Paully in it, as well.
Now, this isn't something I want to take too lightly. I will probably keep the new display name for quite a long time. Also, a Google search for "Judging by available" will bring my profile up as the number one result, and that will obviously be lost, but it would sure be nice to Google my name, and not have to go ten or more pages into the search returns to find "me."
So I figured I would enlist the aid of my friends.
What do you guys think? Should I even change my display name? If so, do you like any of the ones listed above? Perhaps you have a better suggestion that I haven't thought of? Let me know!
Update:
WOW! I have gotten some VERY creative ideas from you folks, and I have gotten a real kick out of them!
Now, after Tallying up thoughts, from blog comments, and emails, I have reached something of a decision.
The emails really did it, almost all of them begged me not to change my display name. It would seem, that while the name seems old to me, most of you REALLY like it!
Have no fear, though, your thoughtful efforts have NOT been in vain!
Over the next couple of days, I am going to be updating my profile, and blog. I plan on using some of my favorite ideas here in those areas, and it SHOULD be entertaining! I am looking forward to where these ideas are going to lead me....
Thanks again, folks, for all your hard work!
It has really meant a lot to me....
I am STILL waiting for the promised interview by a key player in my next planned blog, but I should post it by Monday, interview or not...
They provided a loving home for me. I was never left wanting for my needs, or for love. I had a great childhood. Somewhat tumultuous at times, but great.
They were catholic, and they sent me to catholic school. I grew up thinking everybody was catholic. When we would pass a church, no matter what the sign said, I figured they still thought the same way as catholics did.
As I got a bit older, I finally heard the word "Atheist."
So I asked what an Atheist was. My grandmother told me it was someone that worshipped the devil.
Oh boy, was I devastated! I just couldn't imagine someone wanting to worship the devil. I mean, really, why would you worship that bad old Satan?
So, now I am an Atheist, and I know that what she told me was wrong.
But I couldn't help but wonder what other Christians are taught about atheists. It turns out to be pretty much the same thing I was taught. Most of the Christians I have spoken to have told me that. If you look at some of the blogs by Christians here on myspace, it is apparent they were taught the same.
Never mind, just watch some evangelical TV, Even better, watch some You tube.
If you listen to just the Christian side of the argument, then you would be led to believe that Atheists are nothing more than nihilistic, and hedonistic tools of Satan. We are liars, murderers, rapists, pedophiles, crooks, drug addicts, and swindlers.
They would claim our lives are empty, and meaningless.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
I live a life some would call blessed.
I have my wife.
She is a strong women. Actually, she is one of the strongest people that I know. She is never afraid to stand up for what she believes in. One of the things she believes in is ME, and let me tell you, there is NOTHING that can compare to the feeling that gives me.
When life gets rough, and I am feeling down, she always keeps telling me how we will see our way through it, just like we always do.
She has this special way of making me laugh no matter how bad I feel. OK, she is a funny bitch, but, man, it takes serious talent to make me laugh at times like that. She has that talent.
She has been such a good surrogate mother to my son (from another marriage) that, without any coaching, he has recently taken to saying he has a mother, and it is her.
If I had NOTHING else in my life to be thankful for than my wife, it would be about 10 billion times more than most people have.
She is not a Christian. Neither is she an Atheist. She is a Wiccan. Yep, she is a witch.
I have more than my wife.
I have a 17 year old son. Sometimes i wonder how I managed to have such a child. His mother has put him through hell. By most yardsticks, he should be the kind of problem child that you see on Jerry Springer. He has faced so much adversity, it amazes me that he hasn't become a mass murderer.
He isn't though. He has faced life with an almost stoic behavior. He has learned to take adversity and learn from it. He doesn't get the greatest grades in the world, but they are pretty decent. From watching my wife and I, he has become one heck of a resourceful human being. He stands up for his friends, and is loyal to them. He has a great sense of the appropriate to him (most times, and NOT always on the net....) He can go with the flow, or stand up and fight, when the cause is just. When he makes a mistake, and it is pointed out to him, he will accept his responsibility for it, and apologize. He will try to make up for his mistake. In all, he is a MAN well beyond his years.
I am so proud of my son I could just burst.
I have not raised him with Christian beliefs.
So it would seem that I have much to be thankful for.
It doesn't end there, though.
My step daughter came to live with us last summer.
Let me tell you, that has been a wild ride for me.
To begin, I never envisioned myself as father when I was younger. Then my son came along. Unplanned, but I finally grew up, and realized that I needed to be the best father that I could be. I am not the greatest father.....
Still, I figured I could make do. I also figured I was lucky I didn't have a daughter.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
While she was 14 when she came to live with us, and I didn't have her with me for most of her life, I have to tell you, I wish I had. she is an extremely bright young lady (even if she won't admit it) who has brought so much joy, that I can hardly express it in words.
Like her mother, she can crack me up in a heartbeat. She excels in school. She stays out of trouble (most of the time), and is a warm generous soul. I love her as if she were my own flesh and blood.
It still doesn't end there.
I have a small business, and I am well respected in my field.
I work a part time job, with awesome co workers that I wouldn't trade anything for.
Of course, there is always whiskey ;)
Kind of throws that empty life theory out the frakken window, doesn't it?
To move on.
While still a child, I was told that there were two subjects that shouldn't be discussed at the dinner table. Politics, and religion. This was taught to be doubly important if someone outside the immediate (read, lived in the house with us) family. It could bring discord to an otherwise happy time, and that should be avoided at all costs.
This practice is a good idea. I am a gourmand of great taste, and must agree that nothing should be allowed to interfere with the flowing of the gastric juices.
However, if it isn't dinner time for you right now, I think it is well past time to discuss some things about religion. I am one of those people that like to haul a problem out into the open, and work it out. No matter the emotion, no matter the hurt feelings, work it out, forgive, and forget, and then MOVE ON!
The problem is all the emotion that is attached. When an Atheist makes the statement that he/she doesn't believe in god, it is often met with a look of, well, disbelief. This can grow eventually to outright hostility.
That hostility intensifies if the atheist is to share WHY he/she doesn't believe in god. We are labelled "god bashers" and such. This is generally because we read the bible, and find the god portrayed in it to be repugnant. We often face discrimination because of this.
We find we have to accept laws based on a belief we don't share.
Eventually, tired of being on the defense, many of us take the offense. This can be blown out of proportion. It can lead to attacks on Christianity. Usually verbal. Since we tend to be law abiding citizens, (look at the statistics,) that is usually about the extent of it.
Occasionally, some of us care enough to challenge a particular law that annoys us. Heck, we even win that fight, sometimes.
However, I think most of us would be content NOT attacking Christianity, or indulging in god bashing, if it wasn't for those laws.
Really, we don't believe in god, and if we weren't forced to tailor our lives as if we did, then we probably wouldn't bother discussing "him." I know that I, for one, don't allow being an Atheist to be the defining point of my life. It just so happens I don't believe in god, that's all.
I am not saying we desire freedom to murder, or other things that harm people, but the laws that infringe upon our private lives have just got to GO!
Oh, and we would appreciate it if you leave us out of your religious wars as well. Really, kill each other as much as you want, but leave us OUT! OK?
Now, I have written a couple of blogs here on myspace that have enjoyed some "popularity." In the first one, I flat out threatened to destroy Christianity. That got some response, let me tell you. I titled that one " I have this to say to all believers."
Then, I wrote " I don't believe in god(prove me right or wrong)."
That one went through the roof. THAT was the blog that garnered more than 500 "hate" mails, and no less then 37 death threats from so called Christians. It spent three days as number three of all blogs on myspace. Over a week in the top ten. Over 8,000 comments, and STILL no one can prove a damn thing either way.
That blog has proved a few things that most posting in it didn't expect it to prove, however.
What did it prove?
Well, I have "learned" that one of my thoughts was correct. By enforcing civil debate, when someone, from either side, would post some thoughtless comment laden with vitriol, both sides were apt to jump on them. That shows Christians AND Atheists CAN work together.
I have also gained friends from it. Some Atheists, but also some Christians. Even "hard core" Christians. That shows that Atheists and Christians CAN be friends! It's all about mutual respect.
I have learned that some people NEED religion. "God" has saved them from drug abuse, or violent lifestyles, and divorce.
Look, there are WONDERFUL things about religion. I am not entirely sure that this world would be better if religion were to disappear. Some days, however, I would be willing to give it a shot. Fortunately for Christianity, those days are few, and the feeling passes quite quickly....
So, here is what I REALLY have to say to all believers.
Why can't we each do what we feel is right, Let's agree to do no harm to our fellow man. Lets agree to not try to govern each others lives. Lets agree to disagree, and move on. Lets try to make this world a better place, for ourselves, and our children.
Is that so much to ask?
Currently
listening
:
American Beauty
By
Grateful Dead
Release date: 2003-02-25
Welcome and thank you for stopping by. Please be aware and advised, this is an ATHEIST BLOG. Here is some information and my rules: 1) I do not like Religious Ideology; 2) Atheists have the voice of reason on my blog; 3) I will delete any comments that are abusive, non-related to the "blog theme" and not debated in a civil manner; 4) I welcome input from all walks of life. However, this is my blog and I will make the "ultimate" decision on any/all comments. I encourage "civil" discussion. We may not agree on "ideology". However, we can agree on "respect" and at least listening to different perspectives. If you would like to subscribe, then please do so. Thank you for visiting!
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THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO ALL WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD
Hello Everyone:
I have a simple request for this blog. If you don't believe in God, then state your favorite arguments, links to blogs, videos and pictures in the comments section and pass this blog to as many people as you know in MySpace. I want to see how many people we can reach in MySpace that don't believe in God.
Remember, at the time this blog is written, the number one blog on myspace is just a bunch of repetition of the same phrase, "I believe in God," lets show that some myspace users can be creative and intelligent.
If you DO happen to believe in god, go right ahead, jump in, and try to refute any argument posted.
Thank you,
- Paul
P.S.
As an update.
Christians, please stop flooding my inbox. If you have a point to make, make it on this blog. That is what it is here for, so ALL of us can express our views in a popular, and public forum.
I have been mostly kind to those that have done so up to this point, but any new mails that attempt to make me see your side will be met with severe ire, very unkind, and VERY foul language!
1:47 AM - I have this to say to all Believers.(Intelligent and Civil debate encouraged)
Current mood: adored
Category: Religion and Philosophy
Update! Someone decided to post a pornographic picture on my front page. I have disabled HTML from comments for now, as I believe this was an attempt to have this blog deleted. The content was removed, and the user reported. I apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this may cause, now, on with the blog!
I know most of you have seen me say this in many a blog recently, but it has been suggested numerous times that I post this as a blog itself, so, here it is, in all its glory.
I have this to say to all Believers.
You just do not get it!
That is why atheists end up hurling insults, from lost patience in dealing with people who can be told, over, and over, and over, and over, what it is about your religion, and any other, that bothers us. And you just don't get it. Do you refuse to get it, or is it some wild anomaly that there seems to be a correlation between belief in a supreme being and thick headed stupidity?
Here it is, in a nutshell.
As an atheist, I really could care less what you choose to do with your time. If you want to spend it worshipping a detestable figment of your imagination, that is fine with me. Me, I just want to spend my precious free time learning as much as I can about the world around me.
I do not care if you choose to brainwash your children by sending them to bible camp, or Sunday school.
I could really care less how you feel about gay marriage.
I REALLY could care less what you deem as acceptable sexual relations.
I do not mind if you think I will go to hell if I do not accept Jesus into my life.
I could accept some of the more devout standing on the street corner pestering me with your belief's, I could walk away.
I couldn't give a shake of a pigs ass if you rubbed blue mud into your belly button at church every Sunday morning.
BUT!
You will not leave it at that. No, you can not be content to waste your life worshipping an imaginary being. No, you want to drag me into it. It cannot be denied.
Christians in general want to make laws that will force the rest of to live our lives by your delusion.
I do not want my children to be taught creationism, or ID, or any other name you can think of to call it. I do not want science classes to teach there is a debate about whether evolution is true, WHEN THERE IS NO DEBATE IN THE SCIENCE COMMUNITY!
I do not want my son raped by a priest.
I do not my wife, or my daughter, to be told what choices they have to make about their own bodies( I do not agree with abortion, but then, I am a man, I have no right to make that decision for ANYONE else. At least I can see that.)
I do not want to be involved in Muslims Holy War.
I do not want to see crimes, even murder, committed in the name of god(abortion clinic bombings come to mind.) Yes, I know, it is extremists that do that.
I do not want to be told what to do in my bedroom, or who I can, or can not, do it with.
All in all, I do not choose to lead my life by the teachings of the bible. I live my life by a moral code that fits into the confines of the law. I do not cheat, steal, kill, or otherwise hurt anyone. I am kind, and helpful to those in the community around me. Hell, just the other night, I wasted precious gas to let some guy follow me to the hotel he was looking for. He was elderly, tired, and could not follow the not so simple directions to find it. When we got there, and I refused gas money, he said "god bless you." He meant well, I did not try to tell him he was deluded, that would have been rude. I have fed the hungry. I do other things like that all the time, simply because I think we should all treat each other that way.
If you met me, and told me you were in need of my help, I would give it, whether you were a bible thumper or not. How many "believers" would do the same for me, if I told them how I felt about god, first?
But this does not mean I will be pushed around.
The line is crossed when you try to force your beliefs on me. Here in a blog, or in person, I will then fight you with all I have. I live in the USA, land of the free, and that means free from religion as well.
Now, if you will agree to keep your beliefs out of my life, then I will stop my defense.
But, you will not. So, I must seek to destroy your religion any way I can, just to be free of it. If that means calling you delusional, debating you in blogs, or in person, or proselytizing my own beliefs(Hey, if you bible thumpers can do it, why can't I?), then that is what I will do.
I am way too sure that is the way most of us feel.
There, in plain, simple, English, I have explained it to you, and, I bet, you STILL DON'T GET IT!
While reading some comments in another persons blog, I read some very sad news. I know that all of us must die, but I really hoped this man might be the one exception.
Through the years, he has brought so much laughter to my life. He has even made me think for myself at times. He could put a skew on anything, and left no sacred cow unslaughtered.
I wish I could be more eloquent, but I find that I cannot. So, here is the news that has left an empty place inside of me.
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Comedian-actor George Carlin, know for his raunchy, but insightful humor, died Sunday in Los Angeles, his publicist said. He was 71.
..
Carlin performed as recently as last weekend at the Orleans Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas...
Jeff Abraham says Carlin went into St. John's Health Center on Sunday afternoon, complaining of chest pain. Carlin died at 5:55 p.m. PDT, the Associated Press reported.
Carlin, who had a history of heart trouble, performed as recently as last weekend at the Orleans Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.
Carlin was best known for his routine "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television," which appeared 1972's "Class Clown" album.
When Carlin uttered all seven at a show in Milwaukee in 1972, he was arrested for disturbing the peace, the AP reported. The comedy sketch prompted a landmark indecency case after WBAI-FM radio aired it in 1973.
The case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court where the justices ruled on a 5-to-4 vote that the sketch was "indecent but not obscene," giving the FCC broad leeway to determine what constituted indecency on the airwaves.
"So my name is a footnote in American legal history, which I'm perversely kind of proud of," Carlin said. "In the context of that era, it was daring."
"It just sounds like a very self-serving kind of word. I don't want to go around describing myself as a 'groundbreaker' or a 'difference-maker' because I'm not and I wasn't," he said. "But I contributed to people who were saying things that weren't supposed to be said." Watch Carlin's 7 dirty words routine »
Carlin, who was also an author, was slated to receive the 2008 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in November.
"In his length career as a comedian, writer, and actor, George Carlin has not only made us laugh, but he makes us think," Stephen Schwarzman, Kennedy Center chairman, said in a statement. "His influence on the next generation of comics has been far-reaching."
In a typical wry response, Carlin said: "Thank you Mr. Twain. Have your people call my people."
Carlin hosted the first broadcast of "Saturday Night Live" in October 1975.
He played the character of Mr. Conductor on the PBS series "Shining Time Station" and starred in more than a dozen HBO specials. Carlin was also a regular on The Tonight Show. .. -->startclickprintexclude-->
5:29 PM - The Pros and Cons of Religion; Uprooting Religion, A Movement.
Current mood: pissed off
Category: Religion and Philosophy
I have been participating in a couple of religious blogs lately, so this has been on my mind. The blogs were basically a call for the California Supreme Court to uphold the "majority" opinion that Gay Marriage should be banned. Since the California Supreme Court had just done the opposite, this fundamentalist Asshat is "righteously" pissed off. That he is in fact an asshat is upheld here.
So, in the course of the arguments I engaged in, it came out that I most specifically deny the existence of God. I found myself defending these views, just a little, and attacking the faith of those that believed, once again, just a little. I was trying to point out that he was trying to get the supreme courts to trample on the civil liberties of other individuals, something they are meant specifically to defend AGAINST! One point of this nation being founded, was for freedom of religion. This can also be defined as freedom FROM religion. This man, David, wants to see his own personal beliefs rammed down the throats of the rest of the nation, and probably the world, if he was to get his way. Anybody who knows me, also knows that I am much faster to jump into the fray defending someone else being treated unfairly, than I do on my own behalf. Being the kind, and size, of guy that I am, most hesitate to be unfair to me :)
So, naturally, this pissed me off. So I went to town. I stayed respectful, did not curse(it WAS a christian blog, after all), tried very hard not to attack religion, and tried to be as informative and communicative as I could. Most of the people treated me the same, even while defending their position.
As a week or so has progressed, my own personal views have been changing. See, I used to be what I referred to as an antagonistic agnostic. I would actively seek confrontations with believers just for the joy of ridiculing their beliefs. When I went to concerts, I would find the guy holding a sign that read "Jesus loves you", then I would tell him my mom loves me too, and she treats me like shit. Of course, there the debate would begin, with me having offended him. I was almost single handedly responsible for the "Jesus Freaks" at the Marilyn Manson concert in Orlando FL rioting, most of them ended up in jail. I must admit, I STILL get pleasure from that memory......
Anywho, I thought that I eventually saw the error of my ways. I grew up a little by the time I turned 25. They say age mellows one, and that seems to have been true. I figured that I should not belittle those with faith, as it is a comfort to them. Who was I to try to remove that comfort?
I have stuck to that. I was raised a catholic, I even wanted to be a priest. I have a mother, and two sisters, that are VERY strong in their Christianity. I have an uncle who is a priest. My grandmother, who raised me, was VERY catholic. My grandfather is strong in his beliefs, but he keeps those pretty much to himself. My views could offend them, and I love them very much, so I try not to discuss it with them. It is possible for families to be divided by a difference of views on religion, and I did not want to be responsible for dividing mine.
But enough is enough. I look at the world around me today, and I can SEE the root causes for many of our problems, both as a nation, and as a world. Pharmaceutical companies, Insurance companies, Corporate greed, and RELIGIOUS NUTJOBS account for most of our problems, as a society, as a nation, and as an international community.
We have Muslim Extremists who are the new Nazi's. You best believe, they want the whole world to be governed the same way the Taliban governed in Afghanistan. These fuck balls are willing to kill thousands upon thousands of innocent people, just to make a statement.
So called spiritual leaders around the world have duped followers into providing comfort for themselves, while demanding devotion to the point of poverty.
Here in the US, we have the so called moral majority, christian nut jobs who want the governance of our country to follow the teachings of the bible. And that is the crux of my argument.
Not satisfied with being allowed to worship as they choose, they want the rest of us to obey the laws they want to create, as dictated by their holy book of lies.
They are forever trying to take control of science. For those of you not in the know, creationists, and Intelligent Design supporters, do not want evolution taught as science. To accomplish this, they are trying to have Intelligent Design, or ID, taught alongside evolution, in the science classroom. This is just BUNK! No matter what you believe, ID CANNOT be called science. Science deals with what can be observed, measured, and predicted in the NATURAL world. To say that GOD(supernatural) had a hand in it, explains NOTHING in the natural world that can be seen or measured. As a supporter of evolution, I personally would not mind so much if it were to be taught as philosophy, but science? Please.
This country is staring at the fact that not enough students are getting involved in science and engineering. This will cause a large gap, that other nations will fill in the future. We have become great as a scientific leader in the world, but that may change. Along comes the ID crowd, trying to undermine us even more. Teaching ID in science would just be a start, next we would have a whole lot of linoleum lizards growing up to change the laws, following the bible. Enter theocracy. Does anyone remember WHY the dark ages are called the dark ages? While utilizing all the technology science has brought us, these bungholes want us to deny that same science, and plunge our nation into another dark age.
The catholic church wants us to NOT use birth control, condoms, or abortion. Do we really need uncontrolled population growth, children born of rape and incest, and uncontrollable spread of life threatening disease?
Fundamentalist Christians want us to legislate who can, and cannot marry, based on religious belief.
Muslim extremists think all infidels should either start believing, or DIE!
Gandhi slept nude with teenage girls, because his wife's face reminded him of a cow. When she sickened, he forced her to follow his teachings, and not utilize modern medicine, and she DIED. When his own ox was gored, however, this hypocrite used the best medicine technology could provide, and he LIVED!
Mother Theresa, oh yes, the same adored my many around the world, allowed brutal suffering, and many other atrocities, to go on in her homes that she established, while sending untold millions to the Vatican. I despise Mother Theresa, see here;
Now, don't get me wrong. Many churches, and religious organizations do a LOT of good in this world. Feeding the hungry, feeding the poor, and generally helping many communities through their charitable contributions. Seems to me though, that other groups of helpful individuals could do the same thing, without invoking a deity. I am a helping, loving, caring man, and I do not need a god to tell me that is how I should be. I will look to history for my immortality, not a pie in the sky figment of imagination.
Theism, all of it, is BULLSHIT.
So here is my proposal, my call, my challenge to all right thinking individuals in the world.
We need to teach our children that this world was NOT created by a supreme being, that forcing religious views down the throats of others is wrong. Teach them to teach their own children the same. Pass this word, and this challenge, to everyone you know. While churches are everyday trying to spread the word of god, we should be doing everything in our power to counter it. Who knows, perhaps, in a few generations, we, as a world, can put the stupidity of deity worship, and all of its inherent EVILS, behind us.
If you have any questions, comments, arguments, suggestions, criticism, other pros of religion, or cons of religion, please keep this in mind. Do not resort to ad hominem arguments. Attack ideas, not individuals. Anything else just makes you appear unintelligent.
Now, I posted a comment on page 61, but this pure bunghole may delete it, so here is what I said....
"
I only read one page of comments on here. So called "Christians" make me want to puke. Where in the bible does it say to FORCE your beliefs down someone else's throats? Let me say this.... A few years ago, a meta analysis of many studies that had come to the same conclusion, held that conclusion to be true. In homosexual men, there is a ratio between their 2nd and 4th fingers that is just like the ratio found on a woman. A heterosexual male has a significantly larger ratio. When I heard this, I ran right out(well not literally), and asked a couple gay guys that I work with if I could see their hands, and it was true! Apparently, while in the womb, the lack of testosterone that changes things mentally for these men also has an effect on this ratio... What is my point? They were born this way. It is NOT another challenge from GOD, it is just who they are! So, if you believe in god, then he MUST have meant for them to be that way, no? No, no, don't bother to argue with me, and if you want to load up my email box, go ahead, it won't bother me. Find out where I live, and confront me, I don't care, but I have to tell ya, it is a waste of your time. Gotta tell ya, this one is definitely going to find it's way to the blog of www.myspace.com/bullshitpress ! FORUNATELY, this countries lawmakers can NOT take the logical fallacies inherent in religion into consideration when making those laws, and all you self hating bigots are relegated farther and farther to the fringes as society moves on without you....."
From his own congressional webpage, a statement on marijuana, .S. Rep. Barney Frank's, who as of april 16th introduced a bill in congress for responsible adult usage.
2252 Rayburn Building · Washington, D.C. 20515 · (202) 225-5931
BARNEY FRANK STATEMENT ON MARIJUANA LEGISLATION
March 24, 2008
Washington, DC -- Congressman Barney Frank released the following statement regarding his plan to introduce legislation to remove federal penalties for the personal use of marijuana:
"I think it is poor law enforcement to keep on the books legislation that establishes as a crime behavior the government does not seriously wish to prosecute. For highly-trained Federal law enforcement agents to spend time prosecuting people for smoking marijuana is a diversion of scarce resources from their job of protecting public safety.
"The norm in America is for the states to decide whether particular behaviors should be made criminal. To make the smoking of marijuana one of those extremely rare instances of federal crime – to make a 'federal case' out of it – is wholly disproportionate to the activity involved. We do not have federal criminal prohibitions against drinking alcoholic beverages, and there are generally no criminal penalties for the use of tobacco at the state and federal levels for adults. There is no rational argument for treating marijuana so differently from these other substances.
"To those who say that the government should not be encouraging the smoking of marijuana, my response is that I completely agree. But it is a great mistake to divide all human activity into two categories: those that are criminally prohibited, and those that are encouraged. In a free society, there must be a very considerable zone of activity in which people are allowed to make their own choices as long as they are not impinging on the rights, freedom, or property of others. I believe it is important with regard to tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol, among other things, that we strictly regulate the age at which people may use these things and enforcement of the age restrictions should be firm. But criminalizing choices that adults make because we think they are unwise ones, when the choices involved have no negative effect on the rights of others, is not appropriate in a free society. If the law I am proposing passes, states will still be free to treat marijuana as they wish. But I do not believe that the federal government should treat adults who choose to smoke marijuana as criminals. Federal law enforcement is a serious business, and we should be concentrating our efforts in this regard on measures that truly protect the public."
DRILL PRESS: A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, splattering it against that freshly-stained heirloom piece you were drying.
WIRE WHEEL: Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light. Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned guitar calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, "Yeouw ...."
ELECTRIC HAND DRILL: Normally used for spinning pop rivets in their holes until you die of old age.
SKILL SAW: A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short.
PLIERS: Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood-blisters.
BELT SANDER: An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.
HACKSAW: One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle. It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes.
VISE-GRIPS: Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.
WELDING GLOVES: Heavy duty leather gloves used to prolong the conduction of intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.
OXYACETYLENE TORCH: Used almost entirely for lighting various flammable objects in your shop on fire. Also handy for igniting the grease inside the wheel hub you want the bearing race out of.
TABLE SAW: A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood projectiles for testing wall integrity.
HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK: Used for lowering an automobile to the ground after you have installed your new brake shoes, trapping the jack handle firmly under the bumper.
EIGHT-FOOT LONG YELLOW PINE 4 X 4: Used for levering an automobile upward off of a trapped hydraulic jack handle.
TWEEZERS: A tool for removing wood splinters and wire wheel wires.
RADIAL ARM SAW: A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to scare neophytes into choosing another line of work.
TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST: A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of everything you forgot to disconnect.
CRAFTSMAN 1/2 x 24-INCH SCREWDRIVER: A very large pry bar that inexplicably has an accurately machined screwdriver tip on the end opposite the handle.
AVIATION METAL SNIPS: See hacksaw.
TROUBLE LIGHT: The home mechanic's own tanning booth. Sometimes called a drop light, it is a good source of vitamin D, "the sunshine vitamin," which is not otherwise found under cars at night Health benefits aside, its main purpose is to consume 40-watt light bulbs at about the same rate that 105 mm howitzer shells might be used during, say, the first few hours of the Battle of the Bulge. More often dark than light, its name is somewhat misleading. The accessory socket within the base, has been permanently rendered useless, unless requiring a source of 117 vac power to shock the mechanic senseless.
PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER: Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids, opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips screw heads.
AIR COMPRESSOR: A machine that takes energy produced in a coal-burning power plant 200 miles away and transforms it into compressed air that travels by hose to a Chicago Pneumatic impact wrench that grips rusty bolts which were last over tightened 30 years ago by someone at Ford, and instantly rounds off their heads. Also used to quickly snap off lug nuts.
PRY BAR: A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part. (see CRAFTSMAN 1/2 x 24-INCH SCREWDRIVER)
HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.
MECHANIC'S KNIFE: Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to your front door; works particularly well on contents such as seats, vinyl records, liquids in plastic bottles, collector magazines, refund checks, and rubber or plastic parts. Especially useful for slicing work clothes, but only while in use. It is also useful for removing large chunks of human flesh from the user's hands.
DAMMIT TOOL: Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the garage while yelling "DAMMIT" at the top of your lungs. It is also, most often, the next tool that you will need.
strong
animated
adored
depressed
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pissed off
nauseated
stoked