Do certain members of Congress truly feel they are working with white supremecists?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 14, 2021:

Those who repeat the lie that Trump won the election but was robbed through electoral fraud are supporting a white nationalist narrative. "Do certain members of Congress truly feel they are working with white supremecists [sic]?" I cannot speak to how they feel, but some in Congress are indeed working "working with" white supremacists.

It was between checking self at mental institution or checking self at hotel to rest / eat / sleep ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 24, 2020:

Not sure what I just read...feels like I walked into a dark movie theater somewhere near the middle of the feature. Anyway I gather you are one of the many brave and selfless healthcare workers battling through this pandemic. Thank you! Rock on sister! Glad you got some rest!

study-milky-way-may-be-full-of-dead-alien-civilizations

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 24, 2020:

There are many potential causes for the end of civilizations. Climate change has been a major cause of such changes in human history. Climate change may nudge a society into civil war, as it did recently in Syria. On longer time scales, we see that on average, species only last about 2 or 3 million years before going extinct. It could be that their branch on the evolutionary tree withers and dies, or it might be that they evolve into a new and distinct form. In any case, most species do not last long on cosmic time scales. The Drake equation has many factors whose values we can only guess at. Lately (the last couple of decades) we have started to get a better understanding of how many planets are out there, and how many of those might have conditions that could sustain life as we know it. But we are still only at the rough-estimate stage. As for how many if those life-supporting planets produce technological civilizations, or how long such civilizations may persist on average, we only have one example we can observe, and that experiment is not yet concluded. But if current trends continue, we may have an answer all too soon.

Federal Judge to Pro-COVID Christians: “The Constitution Is Not a Suicide Pact” | Hemant Mehta |...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 24, 2020:

I found no basis in the article for calling the church members "Pro-COVID." The fact that they apparently do not fear the virus does not necessarily mean that they wish to contract it or pass it on to others. It seems they are rather ignorant and possessed of and unwarranted feeling of security (probably stemming from their equally ridiculous faith in God), but that does not make them "Pro-COVID." We should all fight the impulse to paste labels on people, even those with whom we disagree. We only hurt our own cause by making spurious accusations, IMHO.

The Most Common Religious Identity For Young Americans Is ‘None,’ Study Suggests | HuffPost

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 24, 2020:

I have been hearing about this trend for some years now. It is good news; a sign of progress. 🙂

I will no longer be buying anything from Adidas. [fearofgod.com]

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 24, 2020:

This post would be better if it included an objective description of the Fear of God organization. Who are they? What do they stand for? What do they do?

Pastor: Planes Don’t Crash If There’s a Christian “On That Airplane Praying” | Hemant Mehta ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Dec 13, 2020:

From people who have lived through close calls where it looked like the plane was going down, we know that lots of passengers pray to God the plane does not crash. Now this pastor wants us believe that the people on planes that actually do crash were not praying? Ha! They were praying their asses off!

On Vote Shaming: 21 Ways Supporting The US Establishment Is Worse Than Voting Third Party The ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 30, 2020:

If you have not formed a strong opinion about how people should vote in this election, then you have not been paying attention! Trump's colossal mishandling in this pandemic, his ridiculing of health experts, is right in line with his denials of climate science (which in the long run poses an existential threat not just to the US economy but to the survival of our species). This is just for starters. The number of lies he has told while in office runs past 20,000 so far. The number of dictators he sucks up to is only exceeded by the number of allies that he has alienated. The number of children he has waiting in long-term detention, separated from their families, outnumbers both. The number of Americans he would deny healthcare is over 20 million. And the list of indictments goes on. Any one of the above is grounds for disqualification from holding high office. We urgently need a change of leadership, and there is only one viable choice: Joe Biden. There is no point in wasting votes on third party candidates that have no chance of defeating Trump. Now is the time for a unified and full-throated repudiation of Trump and his sycophantic minions. IMHO

US coronavirus: Nation could see deaths in the 'multiple hundreds of thousands,' group says - CNN

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 30, 2020:

Yup, we will very likely pass two hundred thousand deaths from covid, and the number could go to double that before we can vaccinate enough people to achieve heard immunity. And this was totally avoidable, as the experience of other countries has shown. Trump has bungled this crisis BIGTIME!

"Belief is the death of intelligence" - Robert Anton Wilson

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 25, 2020:

So true!

Remember When Fascism Was a Catholic Problem?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 23, 2020:

Given the opportunity, I'm sure they (the religious right) would take up their fascist old ways. It's only enlightened laws based on the First Amendment and the liberal education (especially in the sciences) that those laws protect that is presently keeping religious fascism at bay. And what is really scary is that right now we are seeing the erosion of the 1st Amendment separation between church and state with a variety of political appointments, such as Betsy De Voss to the Dept. of Education, Niel Gorsuch and Bret Kavenaugh to the Supreme Court, and William Barr to the Justice Department. They are grabbing the levers of power and are using them to push their own religious agenda forward in spite of the Constitution.

I now get opioid addiction.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 23, 2020:

Yeah bra, don't get hooked. And I wish you a speedy recovery!

This week, Sudan abolished the death penalty for apostasy, while "secular" Turkey arrested someone ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 23, 2020:

Yes, it is hard to watch. And if we are not careful we will see similar things become normalized in the USA. Fascist Christians are on the march!

Orange County school board votes for kids to return to school without requiring social distancing, ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 23, 2020:

The Orange County hawk is a strange bird indeed! With its over-developed right wing and atrophied left, its corkscrew flight is not only dizzying to those who witness it; the birds themselves are prone to spectacular errors in navigation (and judgement).

Robert Jeffress: We Allowed Atheists and Infidels to “Pervert Our Constitution” | Beth ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 23, 2020:

I saw this recently in connection with the Black Lives Matter movement: "When you are used to privilege, equality feels like persecution." Historically, Christian churches have enjoyed a lot of privilege in this country. Witness their tax-exempt status. It's time they got some equality.

Tucker Carlson Had No Clue How to Respond to This Satanist | Hemant Mehta | Friendly Atheist | ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 23, 2020:

I never really thought about what Satanism means to its adherents: "the ultimate rebellion against tyranny..." But it makes sense. And it is both interesting and gratifying to know that they embrace "...Enlightenment values, and the rise of pluralism and diversity and multiculturalism..." Apparently Satanism and agnosticism have something in common. 😉👍

“Closet” Agnostic/Atheist.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jul 23, 2020:

Congratulations on breaking free of religious dogma! The important thing is that you are a free thinker. What your friends make of it is their problem, not yours. Anyone who does not accept you as you are is not a true friend. IMHO

Does Trump have PSP Frontotemproal Dementia? I am sure that he does.

Flyingsaucesir comments on May 26, 2020:

Let's not let him off the hook with a disability excuse. Trump is a sociopathic, malignant narcissist.

Are you playing a musical instrument while stuck at home?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Apr 27, 2020:

I play a little guitar most days, usually half a dozen songs. I might even sing too. 🎸☺

Experiment finds that gravity still works down to 50 micrometers Sensitive gravity test fails to ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Apr 8, 2020:

I have always been rather skeptical about ideas like hidden dimensions and parallel universes. It's nice to get any crumb confirming one's position. I'll take it! ☺

Would "the apocalypse of peter" have changed your mind about christianity?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 28, 2020:

Nope. I just don't believe in things when there is no independently verifiable evidence of their actual existence. Period.

CORONA VIRUS STATISTICS UPDATE Get the latest of the worldwide stat from here ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 26, 2020:

We have already seen Trump attempt to downplay and shrug off the true nature of this new emergency, to the real detriment of our collective ability to positively deal with it.

Other retailers closing during pandemic – not Hobby Lobby

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 24, 2020:

I will take that "grooming us to be better" comment as a tacit acceptance of Darwinian evolution. For when a population is exposed to a lethal pathogen, and those with lower natural immunity are removed from the gene pool, the surviving group is, in a way, better. Being composed of resistant individuals, the group is better able to withstand that pathogen. Of course, there is a better way of achieving such resistance: it's called a vaccine, and it does not require the untimely deaths of many community members. The Hobby Lobby people would probably object to my interpretation of their statement. Oh well.

What projects are you working on while shut-in?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Mar 20, 2020:

I'm overhauling the drive train on my mountain bike: three new front sprockets, new cassette (nine rear sprockets), new chain, new rear derailer. I previously obtained the parts and was waiting for a rainy day to do the installations. Looks like that day has come. When it rains, it pours.

WHY BERNIE WILL BE A GUARANTEED FAILURE?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Feb 10, 2020:

You raise so good points. But let's note that ALL candidates say they would do stuff that is long-shot. Look at it this way: if Dems do not take the Senate, it does not matter which Dem gets the presidency because Repugs will block everything. We know this from experience. Hell, the ACA was a Republican plan first, but they didn't want Dems to pass it and fought to and nail to prevent passage. Then they lied and lied about how bad it was, how it was going to destroy healthcare. But people like it anyway! Much to the Repugs' chagrin.

This is what we Democrats do well.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Feb 7, 2020:

I would also like to see the Confederate flag removed from all state and local government institutions.

Why are newscasters hedging their statements?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Feb 7, 2020:

The New Yorker doesn't pull its punches either. Nor do Harper's, The Week, or The Nation. All straight from the shoulder.

Attorney General Warns of 'Militant Secular Effort' to Drive Out Religion

Flyingsaucesir comments on Feb 5, 2020:

Barr makes a mistake that is all too typical of religious folk: that people who do not subscribe to their way if thinking are automatically amoral. The notion that morality springs from belief in a "higher power" is simply preposterous. Moral compass is a product of our evolutionary history as social beings. It is part of the reason for our success as a species, and is completely independent of belief in gods, devils, angels, ghosts, and other such inventions of the human imagination.

Not sure how this works but there seems to be a demeaning air toward all religious leaders here, ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 28, 2020:

MLK Jr. was intelligent and insightful. He was also determined and courageous. He gave his life for a good cause.

I saw in the paper today that the supreme court is deciding whether to use public funds to support ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 24, 2020:

To hear Republican Senators talk, it looks like the Senate is about to give Trump a pass on obstruction of Congress and abuse of office (attempting to extort a foreign country to meddle in the upcoming election). And that is in the face of overwhelming evidence that the president is guilty of both charges. If the Supreme Court then goes on to allow the elimination of the barrier between church and state, then this country will be the United States of America in name only.

What about believing even if you know it is not true?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 22, 2020:

Sounds like Pascal's Wager 2.0.

Mississippi Bill Would Force Teachers to Say the Ten Commandments Every Day | Hemant Mehta | ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 21, 2020:

These religious nuts do not respect the Constitution!

New haircut today. What do you think?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 20, 2020:

Looking good! 👍☺👍

Pope Francis assures atheists: You don’t have to believe in God to go to heaven | The Independent

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 16, 2020:

That's good to know. I suppose it goes a little way toward legitimising non-belief in the eyes of some believers. But it does little directly for atheists, since we don't believe in heaven or hell anyway. Perhaps it may give some believers pause when the fanatics in their ranks begin the next wave of persecution. Again, This Pope's words will probably not matter. (Especially since there is an emeritus Pope who does not see eye-to-eye with Francis.) The religious moderates will sit on their hands, keeping mum lest they themselves be labelled apostates, and the blood will flow.

Kentucky Christian School Expels Student For Eating Rainbow Birthday Cake | Michael Stone

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 16, 2020:

Sanctimonious pricks! They can't let a kid have his cake and eat it too?

How unwise to be a Christian.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 8, 2020:

Uh, BTW, Allah is the same god as that of the Jews and Christians. You probably know that already, but it isn't clear from the wording of your post.

Jesus empowers this idiot to speak publicly.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 6, 2020:

What do you expect from a misogynistic, patriarchal cult?

When someone says "There is no god" they're idiots! At that point it's up to then to prove that ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 6, 2020:

I think it is a good strategy to keep the onus of proof on the theist. But I would not call the atheist who expresses his opinion an idiot. I might say "poor tactician" instead.

Measles as a senior citizen?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 6, 2020:

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thini I read somewhere that New York was the first state to legislate a religious exemption for vaccinations, and they have now repealed that exemption. I expect other states will follow suit as people sicken.

How unwise to be a Christian.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 6, 2020:

Last I heard, there are over 40 thousand Christian sects!

Does god exist?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 4, 2020:

Probably not.

Love that this happened.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 4, 2020:

I am not satisfied with being allowed to put up a competing monument. The slab with the Ten Commandments violates the Constitution and should be removed. Period.

I'm sure many people on here have religious friends and family members that get on your nerves.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 4, 2020:

Just rip the band-aid off in one swift motion. Then he prepared to stand firm in the face of all kinds of bullshit from then on.

Am I wrong?

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 4, 2020:

No, you are not wrong. The onus of proof is on the irrational believer, not the rational skeptic.

Name one good thing that comes from the Christian beliefs.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 4, 2020:

I give up.

I was listening to One of Richard Dawkins books and it surprised me when he said that on his scale ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Jan 4, 2020:

I'm a 6.999999, for the reason you mentioned: it is not possible to disprove the existence of god(s), even in the glaring and absolute absence of independently verifiable evidence that "He" exists.

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!