Goodbye Yage
Yage
March 20, 2000 - December 28, 2008
He will be missed greatly
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. And remember…
xkcd Reads My Mind… Again
There seems to be no limit to just how much xkcd reflects my own life.
Being godless in the workplace
This is more of a rant than a well-thought out post.
In just a little over one month into my new job (more on that in a bit), the issue of and concerns about my humanism/atheism has already come into conversation twice. I work in a Fuji digital/film processing lab in southern middle Tennessee. Every night I’m subjected to christian propaganda in the form of general conversation and apparel (i.e. t-shirts with such witty wording as “Not perfect, just forgiven”). I carry a book with me almost every night to have something to read during my breaks and lunch. So far I’ve steered clear of taking such blatant titles as “The God Delusion” and “The Portable Atheist” with me mostly because I feel the issue of my non-belief is not an appropriate area of discourse for the workplace so I usually take a general science book with me. But “science” itself, it seems, is enough to get the dusty cogs in their brains going.
Twice I’ve had the question put forth to me, “So, do you believe in God?” And twice I’ve answered, “No, I really don’t believe in anything supernatural.” The first person asked an interesting follow-up question, “So.. are you, ya know… happy?” … The second was more down-trodden, “Man, that kind of makes me sad to hear that. Everybody has to believe in something.”
In the two brief discussions I’ve had with these two people, I’ve tried to entertain their personal beliefs without stepping all over them. (I save the stepping for the intertubes.) I’ve even held back a few questions and laughter that would serve no good purpose. One of them kept coming back to the “debate” with questions like, “So how do you explain good and evil?” to which I replied, “What else would there be?” and “We just made all that evolution stuff up.” To which I quickly replied, “No, we just figured it out. There’s a big difference.”
Both seem to be very fond and ignorant of the Bible… “The words in red are what Jesus said.” … as well as ignorant of other religions and modes of spirituality. It’s pretty obvious they’ve never experienced a spiritual moment from anything other than the religion they were brought up in. They’ve never explored the topic of religion in an academic sense and are oblivious to other culture’s religions. I keep wondering what our country would be like if we had comparative religion studies in our high schools. I’ve explained to both of them that I’m a bery spiritual person, just not a religious one… I find my spirituality in the awesome mysteries and wonder of the universe. Pictures like this evoke a spiritual response from me. Hell, just thinking about how massive our universe is evokes a spiritual response. I’m reminded of one of my favorite Carl Sagan quotes…
Many religions have attempted to make statues of their gods very large, and the idea, i supposed, is to make us feel small. But if that’s their purpose, they can keep their paltry icons. We need only look up if we wish to feel small.
Putting “Life” into perspective is a humbling and empowering experience that everyone should take part in. It allows you to see life for what it truly is. An amazingly rare and wondrous thing worth saving and worth making it better for all. Viewing the Earth from space allows you to see the made up lines we’ve created to separate ourselves from one another and to see our little insignificant planet as a single organism that must work together in harmony if it is to survive. Realizing there is no supernatural afterlife awaiting you when you die begs the venture of making all there is to make of this life. As Richard Dawkins put it…
The ‘here and now’ is not something to be endured before eternal bliss or damnation. The ‘here and now’ is all we have; An inspiration to make the most of it.
As it stands, I’m going to continue trying to avoid the ‘I’m a godless heathen among you’ conversation while on the clock.
I’ve now broken two principles because I need this job so much at the moment … damn you U.S. economy. Granted, the $1,300 paychecks are nice, but they don’t make me feel any better about myself. The whole situation is a bit loony. I’m attempting to be a nobody that stands out amongst the crowd. Does having a contradictory goal affect the outcome? Hmmmm.
Okay… my little rant is over… When I write a real post regarding my new job, some of this will make a little more sense. Right now, after a 12 hour shift… I’m pooped. Lights out.
Obama’s Weekly Address of hope
This week’s ‘weekly address’ from President-elect Obama has a message of real change. Not in government, but in how humans work together to better each other instead of focussing on our own wants and needs alone.
President-elect Obama and Secular America
One of the many reasons I voted for President-elect Obama (I love saying that). I wanted a president that understands secularism and its importance in American government.
President-elect Obama’s full ‘Call to Renewal’ speech.
An Open Letter to Senator Obama by Kate
I read this moving letter by Kate at The Radula and felt it needed to be shared. Remember, It’s not just election day that’s important but everyday after that matters too. Holding our politicians accountable to their word and promises is our responsibility.
Dear Senator Obama,
In a few hours I will be seeing you in Albuquerque NM. I have no hope what-so-ever that you will see me among the crowd of thousands, or that I will have the honor and privilege of speaking with you in person, but there are a few things I want you to know.
Now I’m no Joe the Plumber, and I don’t even hope to suddenly start earning a quarter of a million dollars and buy my own business. I’m a mom, and what I want is to be able to work, to keep a roof over my head, and clothes on my children’s back and food in their bellies. I want them to have a future they can be proud of.
It’s not the economy, sir. Or not just the economy. I’ve been working at odd jobs since I was five, been saving money, been paying taxes and had farm employment at the age of 11. I’ve gone to college, got a few degrees, and had a profession before chronic illness put an end to all that. And in all that time I’ve never begrudged a single tax penny that was spent on educating others and giving hope to the poor and disadvantaged, for the promotion of science and technology, and for keeping green spaces in America.
It’ isn’t just the economy. It’s education and health care. Without those, people like me cannot re-enter the job force, and the hope for the future of American economy is dim. Education, especially in the sciences, will allow our country to once again become competitive in the world market, create jobs, clean our environment, and provide needed advances in health care.
My daughter is a marine biologist in California, but her employment is in limbo because of the city hiring freeze. Her job is to provide educational opportunities for young children. The aquarium where she works will be cutting programs, freezing new requests for field trips, and has frozen hiring because of lack of funding. Not only does this mean that my daughter is not getting a paycheck, but it means that all of those children who go through that aquarium are not getting the exposure to marine biology and the positive encouragement and experiences in the sciences that our children need to keep them interested in their educations and engage them in science as a possible career path.
Sir, when I heard Senator McCain make that comment not once but repeatedly about the ‘overhead projector’, I nearly fell out of my seat laughing. Then I realized that there were so many people out there who did not understand what he was talking about, and perhaps had never had the opportunity or experience of visiting a quality planetarium as I had when I was younger. I remember the awe and excitement of seeing the night sky in the middle of the day, of seeing the stars and planets in their motion speeded up on the dome of the planetarium. It made such a profound impact on my life that I stayed with the planetarium astronomy club, then went on to college to pursue a degree in astrophysics.
If only other children could have the wonderful experience I have had!
I did go into the sciences as a career, and worked in engineering during the difficult economy of the 80s, then, when I became too ill to work, once again returned to college, got a degree in teaching, then got off social security until my illness progressed to the stage where I could no longer work. One of the problems I encountered in getting off social security and returning to the work force was that my health insurance would not cover existing conditions, and since my diagnosis is Lupus, that included an awful lot.
Now I hope to get into remission long enough to once again return to the work force, but in order to do so I will have to have an opportunity to have adequate health care. It’s my hope that I will be able to work long enough to pay my student loans, buy a home for myself and my children, and to put some money and security away for the day I am no longer able to work. Without adequate health care, that will be an impossibility.
Senator Obama, tonight I’ll be cheering for you, and having the audacity to hope that you will not only ascend to the presidency, but will make good on your promises to America, promises that will continue to give hope not only to myself, but to the millions of Americans who have lost hope, who have lost the opportunities to work, to provide for their families, to become educated, and to maintain their health.
Sincerely,
Kate
Wassup Obama!
True dat.
Pipe Wrench Fight!
What if the lyrics to those catchy 80s songs actually told the story that was portrayed in their whacked-out artsy videos? You might get something like this…
Currently, they’ve redone Tears for Fears’ ‘Head Over Heels’ and Red Hot Chilli Pepper’s ‘Under The Bridge’ as well. Be sure to check out all of them.
Tip o’ the pipe wrench to the creators.
Via: Pharyngula
You F*cking GO GIRL!
*Swoon*
Oh, Hellzzz Yeah!
So, now that you have some proper motivation. Go! Post a blog entry, comment on one (or more), make a video or whatever you can. Make your voice heard. Stand up for your secular American rights.
Happy Freethought Day!
From FreethoughtDay.org:
Over 300 years ago, on October 12, 1692, Governor William Phipps of the Colony of Massachusetts made a decision that brought to an end the horrendous Salem Witch trials.
A Christian, nevertheless he declared that spectral evidence (supernaturalism) would no longer be admissible in court, and so the trials, due to lack of appropriate evidence, came to an end. The governor’s decision was a distinct departure from the general community’s extant thinking and a giant step on the path toward the principle of legal neutrality that would, when the United States incorporated into its brand new Constitution a Bill of Rights, assure each U.S. citizen the freedom to follow his/her conscience regarding matters of ultimate belief.
Spread the joy of being a freethinker and support these fine organizations that fight to uphold these American secular rights we all enjoy.
American Humanist Association
Secular Coalition for America
You know who I’m voting for? ‘That One’
Palin on ‘Pyramid’
Be sure to check out all of Edward Current’s videos on YouTube.
How many churches do you need?
I’ve always been amazed at just how many churches there are in my little city of less than 20,000 residents. I used to joke that there was a different church on just about every street corner. I recently did a Google Maps search for “church” in Tullahoma, TN and nearly dropped my jaw.
Here’s the map. (scroll down the listings on the left side and start clicking ‘Next’)
With 10 churches listed on each page, I made it to page 8 before the results started to get into neighboring cities and towns.
Now, some of these churches are small, single building establishments with a small congregation and many of them disappear after a couple years of service only to be replaced by another funny named worship center a few months later. A few, however, dwarf entire subdivisions where people are struggling to feed their families. Take the newly erected Church of Christ at Cedar Lane. The size of this 15-acre complex-o-worship is gargantuan compared to the government-run Tullahoma Housing Authority subdivision right across the street and is as large as about half the apartment complex right next door. (Here’s a Google Maps image - the complex was still in construction when this image was taken, but you can still make size comparisons. THA subdivision is to the left, apartment complex is above.)
According to city-data.com, in 1999, 17.2% of Tullahoma residents live below the poverty level and 7.3% live below 50% of the poverty level. The median household income in 2007 was $36,500. So, when I think about all the money spent building, running and maintaining these houses of prayer, I’m never quite sure whether to laugh or cry. Imagine if just a fraction of that money had been spent on things that actually advance this small city and its residents (like our city’s school system and our fantastic Hands-On Science Center) instead of being spent on first century stupidity.
Honestly! How many churches do you need?
Best. T-Shirt. EVAR!
And mine just arrived courtesy the XKCD store. Now, if only it came in a Dr. Horrible lab coat style.
