Flyingsaucesir's Profile

Anti-Vax For Jesus: Conservative Christian Lawmaker Calls Vaccines ‘Sorcery’ | Michael Stone

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 2, 2020:

The fanaticism of evangelical Christians and Orthodox Jews alike may carry the seeds of their own destruction. While people who accept modern science protect themselves from measles, polio, influenza, and a host of other diseases, the anti-vaxxers put themselves squarely in the cross hairs of a variety of deadly pathogens.

Conservative Christians Claim Democrats Impeached ‘God-Fearing Americans’ | Michael Stone

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 2, 2020:

The latest ploy by Trump supporters to conflate impeachment of Trump with impeachment of all Christians is intellectually bankrupt. It is just a lot of hot air, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. It is true that Trump has a lot of support among evangelical Christians. Over 80% of evangelicals who voted in 2016 voted for Trump. But 20% did not support Trump, and that margin appears to be growing. The evangelical magazine Christianity Today, which was founded by legendary televangelist Billy Graham, recently published an op-ed calling Trump "immoral" and arguing for his removal from office. The author of the article, Mark Galli, recognized the evidence presented in Trump's impeachment hearings for what it is: shocking, scandalous, compelling, and, above all, real. This is an important development. It shows that Trump's support among his base is eroding. Now there has been a vocal backlash within the Christian community. Many Christians have condemned the Christianity Today piece. But the magazine's publisher is standing firm in its position that Trump's actions vis-a-vis Ukraine constitute abuse of power and warrant his removal. This shows that the evangelical community is not monolithic. This crack in Trump's foundation can only widen.

The hospital clerk asked my religion before a medical procedure.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 31, 2019:

Atheism is not a religion per se, but an atheist can be religious. The word religion comes from the Italian word "religgio," which means re-linking (as in making a spiritual connection). Religion is normally associated with spiritual quest, but spirituality does not necessarily mean belief in the supernatural. Anyone who seeks connections to their origins, as a scientist who studies evolutionary biology or cosmology does, is, in a sense, practicing religion. When the student of biology finds the origin of her own species in bacterial cells, and realizes that she shares familial relationship to every other living thing on planet Earth, there is a kind of spiritual awakening. When the cosmology student apprehends that the atoms that comprise his body were forged inside stars, and that he is literally made of the same stuff, stardust, that makes up rocks and trees and clouds and oceans, he is uplifted, and his spirit soars. (You see what I just did there? I elevated science to a spiritual plane and at the same time demolished organized religions' supposed monopoly on spirituality. Rock on free thinkers!)

Between 1419 and 1712 Europe went through 42 significant Wars (there were many more small ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 29, 2019:

The violent, murderous, genocidal streak in the Christian psyche is not something restricted to a dark and distant past. It was only a few decades ago that Serbian Christians committed mass murder on Bosnian Moslems. Beware your Christian neighbors!

PA GOP Wants Death Certificate, Burial For Fertilized Eggs That Don’t Implant

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 29, 2019:

Just another attempt by Christians to impose their moronic beliefs on others. It's appalling, but not surprising.

Maybe adding appeal to secularism, rather than talking stink on religion, is a more productive ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 24, 2019:

In describing humanist or secular philosophy, we should not be afraid to use religion as a foil, and point out the flaws in religious thinking. Explaining what something IS by showing what it is NOT is an effective rhetorical device. For example, if you want to explain what representative democracy is, you may draw comparisons to fascist dictatorships. Using real examples from history moves the discussion from the realm of pure abstraction into the real world in which we live. This is important, because the choice between secularism and religion, like that between democracy and fascism, has real consequences for peoples' lives.

Sickening and unfair to those of us that pay taxes.[religiondispatches.org]

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 24, 2019:

Let's face it: churches are businesses. They should pay taxes like everyone else.

I’ve listened patiently for a few months trying to understand the dichotomy between Agnostics & ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 22, 2019:

I would characterize myself as philosophically agnostic but functionally atheist. As one trained in science I have to admit that the fact that there is no evidence of a thing's existence does not prove its non-existence. So I have to leave open the possibility of god's existence. I cannot say for sure there is no god l. I just don't know. That's the agnostic me. However, as an individual who is familiar with world mythologies and the human tendency to anthropomorphize and ascribe intention and intelligence to all manner of inanimate objects, and at the same time taking stock if the glaring absence of evidence, I have to say that the probability of god's existence is vanishingly small. If I were to quantify that probability, I would say I am 99.999999999999999999% sure there is no god. There is my functional atheist. I object to being labelled an atheist. The term pre-supposes theism as the "normal" or "correct" mental state. Furthermore, if we look at the English lexicon, we find no special terms for people who do not believe in witches, Santa Clause, the tooth fairy, or any number of other fictitious characters. The term "atheist" has historically been used as a pejorative, an indictment, an accusation. It is not a fair term. It is chauvinistic. It strips away a person's right to critical thinking.

So, sitting on the throne in a Walmart bathroom, i look over & someone has printed, neatly, in black...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 22, 2019:

Given Trump's history of misogyny and sexual assaults on women, it's hard to understand how ANY female could be a supporter. To empower the violator and invite more abuse and mistreatment, she who scribbled the graffiti must be a pathetic creature, more an object of pity than scorn. I just feel sorry for her.

As time goes on, I notice fewer and fewer posts related to philosophy and meaning which are not ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 21, 2019:

The change I notice is an increase in talk about religion and a decrease in talk about politics. Following the 2016 election of Voldemort there was a lot of shock and disgust expressed. That has quieted down lately. I suspect it will pick up again as we get closer to the 2020 election. There is reason to be hopeful: while some 35% of American voters say they will vote for Trump no matter what, 45% say they will vote for anyone but Trump. I am encouraged by these numbers, but by no means lulled into comfortable complacency. The Russians are still working social media to sow division while Republican-controlled States are purging their voter registration rolls of likely Democratic voters. And Fox (Faux) News continues to be the font of right-wing ideology and propaganda we have come to know and loathe. 2020 promises to be a very interesting year. Fasten your seatbelts kids! It's going to be a wild ride!

I tire and worry about the number of criminals that have flocked to religion to buy their sins away.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 21, 2019:

As tirades go, this one is fact-based, cogent, and coherent. You expose the link between buying indulgences and mass murder, i.e. an unreasonable fear promulgated by religious leaders for their own gain. Well done!

Did you find calm when you left religion behind?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 21, 2019:

I never really was a believer, so I don't have a before-and-after story. But I find yours illuminating and consistent with what I have heard from others.

So coming up to Christmas please tell me Athiests what you think of the Holiday season since you ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 20, 2019:

Christmas is as much about consumerism as it is about religion. While I am not a big fan of either, it is apparent that the two things are linked by a cause-and-effect relationship. Arguably the religious belief in man's God-given dominion over nature has given rise to the false and dangerous attitude that Earth's resources are boundless and inexhaustible. Which is why collectively we continue to trash the planet's land, air, and water. And why, if we do not act with resolve and alacrity, we will soon drive the climate into an unstoppable feedback loop of catastrophic warming. This would have the effect of ending civilization and of driving mass extinction, thus drawing the curtains on our consumerism. If there is a silver lining to this menacing storm cloud it is that there is a certain balance, a certain symmetry in all this: the belief carries the seeds of its own destruction. Nature heals itself.

Maybe it's just me, but when I see a post wherein someone points out a fallacy in ideas of god I ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 4, 2019:

I was never indoctrinated in the first place. I was encouraged to read and allowed to figure things out on my own. So I gradually moved from 50% sure there is no god to 99.99999999999% sure.

Kanye says he may legally change his name to 'Christian Genius Billionaire Kanye West'

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 4, 2019:

Kanye...what a dork.

From Friedrich Nietzsche's book, Thus Spoke Zarathustra: .

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 4, 2019:

I was feeling kinda down earlier this evening. Then I watched an old episode of Malcolm In The Middle. I never watched this show when it was first running. I suppose it was what could best be called television snobbery. It was just beneath my standards. But today I laughed out loud a few times, and now I feel a little better. So much for my fucking standards.

Are There Any Non Believer Humanitarian Activities?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 1, 2019:

In San Diego there is a group called Sunday Assembly. They regularly feed the homeless.

freshly minted ex-facebooger: I just deactivated my Facebook account.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 1, 2019:

In leaving Facebook you have probably made a wise decision. The company has shown itself to be totally irresponsible in allowing false content to be spread around by actors who are hostile to democracy. It was just this type of content, originating in Russian military intelligence, that was so successful in sowing discord and division in the US that it won Trump the 2016 election and got people to vote for Brexit in the UK. Mark Zuckerberg has announced that Facebook will not take down demonstrably fake news, insisting that his company is not a publisher, but merely a platform. And Facebook executives know full well that the more outrageous the content, the more is shared, and the more their advertising income increases. It's all about money for them.

The Christian Right could be irrelevant by 2024

Flyingsaucesir comments on Nov 26, 2019:

From your lips to gawd's ear!

State Rep’s Outline For Killing Non-Believers In Holy War Is Referred To FBI | Talking Points Memo

Flyingsaucesir comments on Nov 26, 2019:

I have heard that Samuel Johnson once wrote, "A horse is a dangerous and stupid animal." If what is written about Matt Shea in the article is true, then he definitely fits Johnson's definition. This is not at all fair to the horse, though.

Should the USA try to keep Muslims out of their country?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Nov 26, 2019:

Do you mean, should Americans try to keep Muslims out of the USA? No, I don't think so. It's unconstitutional to favor one religion over another.

To any educators in the group.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Nov 7, 2019:

I have been teaching high school science for 20 years. Evolution is one of my favorite subjects. I very matter-of-factly lay out the theory, present the evidence, and let the chips fall where they may. Some people cannot accept it, and that's a shame but it does not change the facts. And who knows? Some day an acorn I planted years before may grow into a mighty oak. One can hope. Meanwhile, some others get a lift from an awakening freedom to think for themselves. Ineviablt someone will ask me if I believe in god. My standard reply is, "In science, belief is irrelevant. Next question."

Who’s your favorite of the Four Horsemen?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 27, 2019:

I refuse to choose. I love them all!

Land of the free.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 25, 2019:

If Trump has his way we will all soon be (Russian) serfs.

I started a retail job in the inner city a couple of months ago.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 27, 2019:

Jesus would not have cared what you believe as long as you lived right. Your coworkers are not very good Christians.

We, as a country, need many more women and men who, in their careers in both public service and in ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 27, 2019:

Why indeed? I suspect it is because telling truth to power can be stressful. Not everyone is cut out to be a warrior.

‘Science does not try to undermine religion – religion is simply irrelevant to science’

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 27, 2019:

I have been teaching high school biology (with an emphasis on evolution) for 20 years. Every year I have a handful of young students who vociferously object to the notion of humans sharing common ancestry with apes (and reptiles, and earthworms, and bacteria). Time and time again I hear, "I believe the Bible." To those students I say, "That's all well and good, but in science belief is irrelevant. Belief is just a strongly held opinion. Do you have independently-verifiable evidence to support your position? If so, show us. We would love to see it!" While they chew on that I continue to wheel out evidence that we DO share common ancestry with all other species on Earth. Am I able to convince the ardent believer on the spot? Usually not (the fence-sitters generally do come around). But I suspect that in the believer's mind I have planted seeds of doubt that will one day bear fruit. For what it's worth, I'd like to believe so. 😎

An Interesting News on NPR Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050 Maersk — the world's largest ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 16, 2019:

Part of the answer may be wind power...a reprise of the venerable sailing ship. And part will probably be biofuels. It's nice that they are at least talking about zero carbon emissions, but 2050 is not soon enough to avoid catastrophic climate change. We have to get to net zero emissions by 2030.

To fellow scientists: How do you deal with people in social settings that speak with authority ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 3, 2019:

When it comes to climate science (the denial thereof), because it is an imminent existential threat, I will go to the mat every time. On other, more philosophical topics, I pick my battles.

Any Christopher hitchens fans here ???

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 3, 2019:

Yes! My favorite Hitchens quote: "Religion poisons everything."

WARNING! WARNING! DANGER WILL ROBINSON DANGER! So I had a desperate thought today.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 1, 2019:

I know where you are coming from sister. You and I and LOTS of other people are feeling isolated and lonely. I heard talk (on NPR [National Public Radio]) of a recent study that gave some big numbers (which I did not write down because I was driving) but apparently it (lonliness) is a VERY common element in modern life. Congratulations for not giving in to the temptation to attend church! As a free thinker among believers you would probably have felt your isolation even more acutely. And there is nothing quite so sad as feeling alone in a crowd. I wish I had a silver bullet to offer you, but alas all I can say is hang in there kid!

Maybe I'm looking for the impossible.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jun 29, 2019:

My friend, it sounds like you know more than enough science to understand biological evolution. It's really quite simple. Natural selection allows what works better to persist while eliminating less fortunate forms. DNA mutations provide a steady stream of new forms to try out. Forms that work survive to be further improved upon in later generations. Let this process play out over billions of years and it produces some wonderful and amazing critters. The key is that, instead if always starting from scratch, nature works by taking what exists and modifying it. Here are the five basic points of the Theory of Evolution: In every generation, DNA mutations give rise to organisms with different adaptations within a population. Darwin called this diversity of abilities "natural variation." In every population there is always over-reproduction, so individual organisms have to compete for resources. (Thomas Malthus famously wrote about this "struggle for existence," and Darwin was well acquainted with Malthus's work.) The environment constantly eliminates those individuals that are less fit. Those that are better suited to the environment tend to survive and pass on their good genes. Darwin called this sorting process "natural selection." Over generations the process of natural selection acting upon the population's natural variation leads to changes. The beneficial mutations accumulate in the gene pool. With time descendants look less and less like their ancestors. Darwin called this process of change through the generations "descent with modification." (If a small group of individuals leaves the main population to set up a colony in a different environment, that group may evolve separately from the mother population, thus forming another branch on the tree if life.) The Earth is very, very old, and descent with modification has been going on since the first cells self-assembled from organic molecules present on early Earth. (In considering the Earth's great antiquity, Darwin had the advantage of familiarity with the work of two early geologists: James Hutton, and his student, Charles Lyell.) The ancestry of all present species can be traced back to a single, ancient, common ancestor. That's it. Five points.

Is the universe infinite?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jun 25, 2019:

Last I heard, it (the universe) is finite but unbounded. If this reminds you of the sound of one hand clapping, you are not alone! 😛

Should churches be maid to pay taxes

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jun 24, 2019:

Yes, churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples should pay pay taxes. IMHO.

Is anyone else as scared as I am about global warming?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jun 24, 2019:

I am sorry to say that your fears are well-founded. It appears that we have about ten years in which to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in order to keep global temperature rise under 2 degrees Celsius. Beyond 2 degrees, feedbacks in the natural system kick in and temperatures spiral upward uncontrollably. Feedback mechanisms include things like decrease on Earth's albedo (reflectivity) due to disappearance of ice cover, and massive increase in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations (and consequent temperature increase) due to melting permafrost. If proposals to add sulphur dioxide to the atmosphere to counteract the loss of albedo sound crazy, you are right. The acid rain resulting from such so-called geoengineering would devastate our agriculture (and forests). Technologies that can suck CO2 out of the atmosphere are in development, but they will be expensive and will have to be implemented on a massive scale. Bottom line: tough times ahead.

Supreme Court Cross Case: Memorial Can Stand On Public Land : NPR

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jun 21, 2019:

I have to agree with the dissenters (Ginsburg and Sotomayor) in this case. The cross is a religious symbol and as such it not only promotes one religion over all others but also over non-religion. Since it is on public land and is being maintained by the State it violates the First Amendment and is therefore unconstitutional. I do not agree with Justice Alito that its removal would constitute a State move against religion, any more than pulling a thorn from ones foot it a move against flowering plants. The cross does not belong there, period. I believe I have a solution to the problem. Just cut the arms off the cross and leave the upright part standing. Then it becomes an obelisk, a neutral symbol. It is a fair compromise. Doubtless the religionists would object, but that just goes to show that it is the religious symbology, staking out this land as a Christian country, that matters to them. They need to suck it up and get over it. This country was founded on secularism.

Trump refuses to apologize to Central Park Five after their criminal convictions were vacated

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jun 19, 2019:

Donald Trump is completely devoid of common decency. He is a sociopath. If you expect him to do the right thing you will be disappointed.

We Have Five Years To Save Ourselves From Climate Change, Harvard Scientist Says

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jun 16, 2019:

Five years...might as well be five minutes. It means that at some point our carbon emissions will have to go negative. In other words, reducing emissions to zero will not be good enough. We will need to suck carbon out of the atmosphere. Meanwhile, as the responses of government and industry lag behind the curve, individuals can do a lot to reduce their own footprints: reduce/eliminate meat and dairy from their diets; stop traveling by air; ride a bicycle or walk whenever possible; reduce driving by eliminating unnecessary trips; line dry clothing; limit heating and air conditioning to times of extreme temperatures; generate electricity at home with solar panels or wind turbines where appropriate; drive an electric car; recycle and reuse wherever possible; eat locally-grown, organic food; have fewer children!

Bob Dylan was a great songwriter. Can't stand his singing voice.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jun 15, 2019:

I remember making a similar comment about BD's voice about 35 yeas ago (that it was not at all good). My interlocutor strenuously objected, which surprised me, because I thought everyone felt like I did. Now, decades later I have to say that I rather like Dylan's voice. I'm not saying its a particularly good singing voice, but it's familiar, it's real, it's good enough, and now part of my cultural heritage. I'm cool with it.

Just curious. Who would not have joined this forum if it was called atheist.com?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jun 12, 2019:

I probably would have joined anyway. While I identify as agnostic, I function as an atheist. In other words, while I do not deny the possibility of God's existence, I think the probability of that hypothesis being correct is vanishingly small. A one-in-a-billion shot.

Why do so many men think sarcastic humor is positive?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jun 12, 2019:

As a straight man I am not seeing men's dating profiles. When I say I like sarcastic humor I have in my mind something along the lines of a Steven Colbert (or Bill Maher, or John Oliver) monologue where they verbally dismember Donald Trump. Its thoroughly enjoyable and appropriate.

Hi I'm thinking of get a tattoo.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Apr 27, 2019:

You might consider this: 9:3:3:1 It is the phenotypic ratio that Gregor Mendel observed in the F2 generation of his dihybrid cross experiments. It is significant in that it reveals that sexual reproduction produces diversity. And this diversity, which is the raw material upon which natural selection acts, has been the driver of our evolution. And it is all that stands between any sexual species and extinction. Sex, diversity, evolution, resilience; pretty evocative for just four little digits, no?

RICHARD DAWKINS ERROR CONCERNING THE ORIGIN OF LIFE Pursuing the concept that anything is ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Apr 7, 2019:

Anyone who has read Dawkins or knows the basics concerning biological evolution should know that he never said life evolved by random chance. Random chance is an important element in evolution, but it is not the whole shebang. Random mutations of DNA provide the raw material, grist for the mill, if you will, for natural selection, which is a decidedly NON-RANDOM process. Dawkins (and Gould, and Mayr, and Darwin, and many others) makes this very clear. The evolution of living things is a non-random process. Any discussion of the probability of life evolving at random is an interesting footnote at best. Unfortunately it is sometimes used by demagogues in their attempts to discredit established science. Focussing only on the random aspect of evolution is a distraction that reveals a gross misunderstanding of the process.

Science in America - Neil deGrasse Tyson - YouTube

Flyingsaucesir comments on Apr 7, 2019:

NDGT is such good communicator!

Just like in Spain sometimes the Bull Wins in a Bullfight, in Africa sometimes the poacher do not ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Apr 7, 2019:

If only this would happen more often! ?

Is anyone else bored to death with the entire atheist theist debate?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Apr 6, 2019:

Yes, very bored by it. The futility of the endeavor of trying to talk sense to people who are immune to logic and reason drains away one's energy.

Rick Scott, the very man who created HCA and defrauded Medicare for over a billion dollars.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Apr 2, 2019:

The President wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act merely because its chief sponsor was (is) a black man. Trump's racism is so pronounced that he is willing to kick millions of Americans off their health insurance just to destroy his predecessor's legacy. And this is not even his most egregious fault. This President has made the removal of environmental protections the centerpiece of his policy agenda. He has worked hard to make it easy for corporations to despoil the land, pollute the water, and defile the air. He is dedicated to obstruct progress in the development and implementation of the green energy technologies we desperately need in order to avoid climate catastrophe. His is a comprehensive plan: make Americans sick, injure Americans, and block their access to healthcare. Clearly, this President does not have our best interests at heart.

For those who have missed "Deadwood".

Flyingsaucesir comments on Apr 1, 2019:

Deadwood was a very entertaining show. I look forward to the movie. ?

Islam is not a religion, rather a death cult for apostates.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Apr 1, 2019:

We have all heard of such things happening in other religions. Why should Islam be any different? Once people go down the path of superstition they can become convinced of the rightness of even the most heinous acts.

I cannot comprehend the amount of bigotry and intolerance I see among my fellow atheists sometimes.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 30, 2019:

I don't disagree with anything you said, but what was it specifically that set you off? That kind of diatribe cries out for citation of particular incident(s), especially since the behavior to which you refer is, on the whole, anomalous. Free thinkers tend to be rather even-handed, logical, and incisive. Atheists and agnostics tend NOT to be demagogues.

The Loony Tunes Have Their Say on Public School Education – Christianity Style.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 30, 2019:

One thing for sure: they (the Christian demagogues) will never quit dreaming. But to make their dreams reality, they would have to either repeal the First Amendment or do away with public education. The latter appears to be the preferred route of Education Secretary Betsy De Voss. The best way to protect public education is to make damn sure of her boss's ouster in 2020. Let's get shut of the orange scourge once and for all!

Death Threats and Drained Bank Accounts: Life on the Wrong End of the Mueller Probe - POLITICO ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 29, 2019:

The post begins, "If you believe Attorney General William Barr, the special counsel report issued March 22 found no evidence that President Donald Trump’s campaign staff conspired or coordinated with Russia." I don't believe Barr. Maybe Mueller did not find enough evidence to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt (a high standard), but that is not proof of innocence. There was obviously lots of shady dealing going on. It is very likely that Roger Stone lied about his conversations with Trump and his people. On the bright side, Mr. Trump and his cronies face legal jeopardy for a multitude of financial crimes: money laundering, tax evasion, bank fraud, illegal campaign financing, and illegal use of charity funds. Many State charges are coming, and the President will not be able to pardon his or his criminal partners out of a reckoning. So there is reason to think that justice will eventually be served. Whatever sanctions he receives will be small consolation for the damage this President has caused the nation. His rolling back of environmental protections, his demonizing of the press, his empowerment of white supremacists, his disregard for truth and embrace "alternative facts," his misogyny and bigotry and racism, his hollowing out of the State Department, his gigantic addition to the national debt via huge tax breaks for the rich, his attempts at eviscerating the Affordable Care Act, and his lowering of the level of political discourse will negatively affect the country for years to come. Trump and his minions deserve to be slapped hard.

US citizens:. Did you vote for Donald in 2016?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 28, 2019:

Hell no!

Donald Trump is the most nauseating whiner-bully-loser I have ever even heard of.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 28, 2019:

Well said Walt!

What will cause the apocalypse?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 28, 2019:

Climate change will bring on the rest.

Missouri House votes to allow Bible courses in public school

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 28, 2019:

I doubt that law will withstand a challenge on constitutional grounds.

This is to inform as many members of Agnostic that if points are mysteriously removed from your ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 28, 2019:

Just curious: why do you give a s**t about the points? Isn't the interaction with the people the reason for being here?

Is there such thing as Atheist tattoos?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 28, 2019:

You might consider this: 9:3:3:1 It's the ratio of phenotypic combinations that Mendel got in the F2 generation in his classic dihybrid cross experiments. The underlying significance is that this ratio illustrates in microcosm the genetic recombination that occurs as a result of sexual reproduction. Sexual reproduction, it turns out, is a great driver of diversity, and diversity is the raw material that natural selection acts upon in biological evolution. So if you wear that number on your body you are celebrating sex, diversity, and evolution, and there is not even the slightest reference to any religion!

when i look at all the ppl here who believe every word from the global warming, now climate change, ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 24, 2019:

The scientific community has long since reached consensus: climate change is real, it's happening now, it's accelerating, and it is caused by human activity (burning fossil fuels primarily, and deforestation secondarily). It will be much worse much sooner than most people think, unless we radically change how we generate electricity and power our transportation systems. We have about ten years before we lock in very bad effects. We are staring down the barrel of mass extinction.

Americans used to eat pigeon all the time—and it could be making a comeback.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 24, 2019:

As climate change continues to raise its ugly head and the USA remains outside the Paris Accord it will not be long before the science deniers among us will be eating crow.

U.S.’s Biggest Christian Charity Reportedly Channeled $56.1 Million to Purported Hate Groups

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 23, 2019:

We should not be surprised. The god of the Christians is an angry, jealous, and vengeful god; a paranoid schizophrenic misogynist; a pumped-up facsimile of his human/animal creator.

We atheists and atheist allies hereby declare that from now on, March 23rd is Atheist Day.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 23, 2019:

For me EVERY day is Atheist day! ?

"You must be a member of this group before commenting." What group?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 23, 2019:

I wonder why they would want to place limits on who can comment. It seems kind of silly.

The first annual International Atheist Day is coming up on March 23rd! I'm the chairman of a small ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 23, 2019:

How about a visit to the local natural history museum?

Atheism is just another religion.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 21, 2019:

Uh, no. Atheism is not a religion. The poster has made several assumptions that are not valid. For instance, atheists do not necessarily spend a lot of time thinking about the non-existence of god(s). Once one has come to this (correct) conclusion, we are free to spend our finite mental energy on other, more important matters. And we do. Neither do most atheists go around trying to convince others of their position vis-a-vis the human invention known as a deity. And we don't go out of our way to ridicule people who believe in god(s). However, an atheist may occasionally find it necessary to rebut the ridiculous assertions made by a believer. The rebuttal may seem like ridicule to the believing person who has made a ridiculous statement (e.g. "the Earth and all it life forms were created in six days"). Do atheists hold meetings? Yes, occasionally. So do bird watchers and motorcycle enthusiasts. A meeting does not make a religion. Finally, atheism is not so much a reaction as a conclusion. After being bombarded for years or decades with ridiculous assertions for which no legitimate, independently verifiable evidence was ever offered, an intelligent person can finally say "Enough!"

[alternet.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 21, 2019:

The more Trump whines about the various investigations, the more guilty he looks. An innocent person would welcome the scrutiny, knowing that ultimately they would be exonerated. But not this President. Oh no...

Is the world getting better or worse? A look at the numbers | Steven Pinker - YouTube

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 19, 2019:

Pinker is probably right about the trend up to now. Things have been getting better over all. But they are about to get a hell of a lot worse. Global warming + feedback loops + ocean acidification + overpopulation = mass extinction.

Ilhan Omar is not deserving of her seat in The House.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 19, 2019:

To my knowledge Omar has only voiced opposition to Israeli government policies. This does not make her anti-Semitic. There is plenty in Israeli policy to criticize.

Hope this isn't a repeat - because it's really important article explaining why climate change ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 16, 2019:

In trying to understand the full import of climate change it really helps to know the history of mass extinction on this planet. The greatest die-off, known as the Permian extinction, saw the demise of around 95% of the species then inhabiting Earth. And that event was brought about by climate change. And that climate change was driven by a rapid buildup of greenhouse gases on the atmosphere. And that buildup was spurred by self-reenforcing feedback loops. And the only major difference between what happened then (about 250 million years ago) and today's situation is that it's happening about ten times faster this time around. And here I am spouting facts that many people cannot wrap their heads around -- because of the biases mentioned in the article -- but also due to a fatal lack of imagination. However, this may be beside the point. We should not expect people who have not studied mass extinction and climate science to get it. We should redouble our efforts to educate them AND couch our lessons in moral terms. And we should not wait for Joe Lunchbuckethead to get it before acting. Then it will be too late. If we have to drag those unimaginative masses kicking and screaming then so be it. There are times when those who know need to lead. Unfortunately right now, the voices of many members of the intelligentsia are muted by short-term political concerns. And even if they talk the talk, they don't walk the walk. They don't hesitate to climb aboard a jet (the mode of transport with the highest carbon footprint) or drive an Earth-destroying SUV to the grocery store. Those in the know need to lead by example. We need to tip the moral balance in favor of doing the right thing. It has to become cool to be a bicycle-riding, jet plane shunning climate warrior. ?

Paul Manafort indicted in New York moments after sentencing in D.C. case

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 14, 2019:

If these are completely separate offenses then double jeopardy should not apply. And since they are State charges he would not be able to skate on a pardon from Trump. So maybe the dirty SOB will get what he deserves. Fingers crossed!

In the Bush - Gore election (2000) the Florida race was too close to call.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 10, 2019:

Yep! Republican has become synonymous with hypocritical. Also spineless, corrupt, greedy, ignorant, atavistic,...

any merit to this? [sciencealert.com]

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 10, 2019:

The accepted wisdom is that photons are pure energy; massless particles of light. However, a distinction is made between REST mass and mass at the speed of light. Apparently photons do have mass while they are travelling at or near the speed of light. In fact, if we look at Einstein's famous equation explaining the relationship between mass and energy, E=mc squared, we can readily see that a photon, which we all agree is energy, MUST have mass. In the equation, if mass is zero, then c (the speed of light) must also be zero, and E (energy) would also have to be zero. But there IS energy in a photon and therefore there must be mass. The question then becomes, is the mass of the light in the galaxy sufficient to explain the galaxy's high apparent gravity? Maybe not by itself, but it looks like it might be part of the solution as to why galaxies don't fly apart due to their high rotational velocities. Maybe it is the mass of light AND the as yet undefined dark matter together that keep galaxies together.

Favorite-read recommendations?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 4, 2019:

Rachel Carson's Under the Sea Wind is a naturalist's peaceful masterpiece. Truly calming. I highly recommend it.

Relax, we all die

Flyingsaucesir comments on Feb 18, 2019:

A very good thing to keep in mind! ??

Favorite-read recommendations?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Feb 12, 2019:

The only current non-fiction I can think of that is somewhat comic/sarcastic is Michael Wolfe's "Fire and Fury," which is about the first year in the Trump Whitehouse. It did not really strike me as all that funny, though it is certainly full of clowns!

General Motors CEO Collects $22 Million Salary While Cutting 15,000 Jobs

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 23, 2018:

Isn't that just DANDY? The workers get pink slips, the investors get their dividends and the CEO gets a golden parachute. I love capitalism!

When I hear people criticizing Trump for withdrawing from Syria and Afghanistan, I have to think - ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 21, 2018:

I think what they are objecting to is not the withdrawal, but the precipitous nature of the withdrawal.

Happy Solstice Everyone! [timeanddate.com]

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 21, 2018:

The REAL reason for the season! Yay!!!?

Tesla's new Solar Roof is actually cheaper than a normal roof | Inhabitat - Green Design, ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 19, 2018:

Damn, I just put a new roof on my house!

[yahoo.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 19, 2018:

Nope. Can't run the clock backward. Time for a fresh start.

Is a community of like minded individuals healthy or harmful

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 19, 2018:

It depends on what ideas they all embrace. If they rally around peace and respect, good. If it's rape and pillage they go for, not good.

A federal law has been passed that requires all bump stocks to be surrendered or to be destroyed.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 19, 2018:

In this case I have no problem with the confiscation without compensation. The device was intended to circumvent the law against automatic weapons. Anyone who bought one was cheating, and they deserve at least the light slap of forfeiture.

About a million years ago.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 19, 2018:

It's still funny...just not as funny. But that may have more to do with the times we live in than the not-ready-for-prime-time players.

After six months of being in a wheelchair and feeling hopeless, I'm now up and walking again.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 18, 2018:

First I want to wish you a speedy recovery. You obviously have a great attitude and that good old pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps get up and go. I hope you are soon back in top form. To what you wrote about loving loving and respecting the self I would add that we should develop a constant awareness of the miracle that is being alive. That we are here is is a spectacular and unique natural phenomenon. We literally are made of stardust. Like leaves of grass we rise up, to briefly look about and taste higher level consciousness. Then we return to dust. We only get one shot at this thing called life. Honor the opportunity. Make the most of it!

Oh my, Sarah is doing her smokey eye shadow again while trying to lie her ass off.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 18, 2018:

Sarah Sanders has no credibility with me. None.

WOW!

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 18, 2018:

Nope, it's not a good trade. Then Pence becomes President, pardons everybody (after the election). Meantime we have to run against Pence instead of Trump, and suffer a lot of resentment over Trump's ouster.

Anyone hating facebook even more now that have found this website?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 18, 2018:

I hate Facebook for the monster they created without knowing how to control it. The algorithms that give people more of what they have "liked" is the perfect weapon in the hands of a crafty ex KGB naked mole rat like Vladimir Putin. People are living in echo chambers, and literally losing touch with reality. And it has resulted in THE WORST presidency in my lifetime, and that goes all the way back to Ike (and I don't mean Turner).

Someone needs to listen to Comey very carefully in this interview.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 17, 2018:

To paraphrase what syndicated columnist Mark Shields recently said on the PBS Newshour, there is no Republican Party. There is a Party of Donald J. Trump.

I'm not too familiar with this group of individuals called the "Illuminati", I'm asking because I ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 17, 2018:

The membership of the international oligarchy is only loosely tied together where their business interests intersect. They are are just rich assholes pulling whatever levers they think will make them richer. They are a crafty, self-interested, craven lot, smart but not really wise enough to be called illuminated.

Taking one more spin through the parking lot.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 17, 2018:

Asshole. 'Scuse me: horny asshole.

Anyone else notice how few antibiotics are being developed now [pharmaceutical-journal.com]

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 16, 2018:

This another example of how you cannot leave the free market and private industry to solve all problems.

Wow is the majority of people here OVER 50?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 16, 2018:

This should be encouraging to younger people. As we age we do tend to become wiser. Not always -- for instance the orange gasbag in the WH is a case of arrested development (actual age 72; apparent age 13). ?

Don't buy your boss a Lamborghini!

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 16, 2018:

The average corporate CEO salary is something like 270 times the average employee's pay. It's obscene.

Trump administration hid report showing banks charged college students high fees - CNNPolitics

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 16, 2018:

Trump + Wall Street scions = billionaire crook cabal

Why I'm worried about immediate impeachment of the Bloated Bully. Look here: [thehumanist.com]