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August 2008 Blog Posts (281)

"We will act as Americans, not partisans"

McCain orders GOP convention curtailed because of Gustav; Bush, Cheney cancel

ST. PAUL, Mn. - John McCain tore up the script for his Republican National Convention on Sunday, casting himself as above politics as Hurricane Gustav churned toward New Orleans. "We will act as Americans, not partisans", he declared.

There is still going to be a rather large… Continue

Added by Hessenroots on August 31, 2008 at 10:00pm — 6 Comments

Sunday, 31 August, 2008 18:34

Sunday, 31 August, 2008 18:34

Nilknarf Daily Haiku

signs and confused minds

three hundred sixty degrees...

just pick the right one.

Another pleasant day... nice wake-up, gentle sun... nice breakfast, just perfect weather early, although the heat/humidity went up later on....

I'm feeling strange, though, and I don't really know why; just a little disconnect between my mind and reality, and I have to use my intellect to decide which is… Continue

Added by Douglas Franklin on August 31, 2008 at 7:07pm — No Comments

Married to Christian Zionist

There are days (like today) when I just can't stand it. I want to wrap my bitter little hands around his throat for believing in such a murderous, sadistic concept. (Er...) How he can be so fucking idiotic and such a smart person at the same time? How do we live under the same fucking roof?

I just told him that Israel was was horrible and that the US is wrong to support Israel just because his precious Jebus might come back, and then I stormed out of the room. So, of course, he's mad… Continue

Added by AtheistJoy on August 31, 2008 at 1:00pm — 3 Comments

Dissent done right 1

More than just about any other single value, I want my kids to get the importance of dissent. I want them to be willing to voice a reasoned minority opinion and to encourage the same in others.

When we moved to the red-state South, I knew (blue to the core as we are) that at some point we'd end up taking our lumps from one majority or another. No big brous-haha so far, just some minor fish-out-of-water moments: Laney having the occasional… Continue

Added by Dale McGowan on August 31, 2008 at 11:00am — 2 Comments

News

Reading up on news blog posts always leaves me upset lately.

Attacks against women, secularism, and nearly anyone with common sense abound everywhere. I know that ignorance is not bliss, but jeez, being constantly reminded that the world is full of such crazies sucks.

Added by Sha on August 31, 2008 at 12:03am — No Comments

Pre-emptive Strike on RNC protesters

Buckets of urine, slingshots, anti-bus weapons seized in raid on anti-RNC protesters

"Ramsey County sheriff's deputies found weapons and devices to disable buses - among other items - in searches in the Twin Cities last night and today.

Authorities said the items came from "key members of the RNC Welcoming Committee," a self-described anarchist group. "

A few press releases… Continue

Added by Hessenroots on August 30, 2008 at 11:51pm — No Comments

Saturday, 30 August, 2008 22:33

Saturday, 30 August, 2008 22:33

Nilknarf Daily Haiku

Veracity replete

Common honest truth suppressed

Follow the money.

Really nice day, for various reasons, including the weather.

Lana came over about 18:00, she had been cleaning house today and was tired... we watched Across the Universe and it was excellent... just about every Beatles song that they made, I think.

We started watching Silver Streak but she was too tired to stay for… Continue

Added by Douglas Franklin on August 30, 2008 at 10:59pm — No Comments

"Theocratic Sect Prays for Real Armageddon"

I'm perhaps a little too worried about this, but I found it rather horrifying. I've heard of similar cults, but this is the first I've heard of this one. I know it's a long article, but read some of it, at least. I think it's good for us to be reminded of just how crazy people can get.

http://www.alternet.org/story/96945/theocratic_sect_prays_for_real_armageddon/?page=entire

//Theocratic Sect Prays for Real Armageddon

By Casey Sanchez, Southern Poverty Law… Continue

Added by Lauren on August 30, 2008 at 3:51pm — 2 Comments

Narf!

How curious that you're Brain,
and I happen to be Pinky.
Let's take over the world!
or let's ponder all things kinky...

Added by Rosa on August 30, 2008 at 1:30pm — 3 Comments

Phishing With God

I am sure we are all familiar with the vast array of scams on the internet but this, in particular, caught my eye.

When I opened my inbox this morning I was greeted with this:

Being an inquisitive sort, I went to visit their site and see what they are about. The first thing to strike me as odd was the lack of any link to tell you what this organization is about. They begin, immediately, asking for personal information without so much… Continue

Added by Rev. Mathew G. Thompson on August 30, 2008 at 8:00am — 5 Comments

Friday, 29 August, 2008 22:53

Friday, 29 August, 2008 22:53

Nilknarf Daily Haiku

in love, the birds sing;

with love, all the wrongs righted...

love is everything.

Nice day, in many ways.

To start off, I got eight straight hours of sleep.

Felt damned good when I got up, except for the bruised places... and I think that I might have a coupla cracked ribs, too.

The price you pay for being stupid, heh.

I really made the right… Continue

Added by Douglas Franklin on August 29, 2008 at 11:16pm — No Comments

Playtime with the westboro cultists!

Being as I live about 20 minutes from the Xcel Center I can't help but go to the Republican Convention next week. I've mentioned in the past that I hope to get some good audio to use for the show (I'll definitely have pictures if nothing else) and I plan to stick to that.

I've been poking around the web and making phone calls to find out who's going to be where and at what time. It seems 11am Monday, on the steps of the capital, is the place to be. A number of groups have coordinated… Continue

Added by Hessenroots on August 29, 2008 at 4:23pm — 2 Comments

McCain has angered me

As a feminist and as a Democrat I was so amazed by both Obama's and Hillary Clinton's historic campaigns. I voted for Obama, but I would have supported Clinton if she had won and definately look forward to the day that I see a woman president. With that said, I'll be proud to vote for Obama and Biden, especially because of their support for women's rights.

Well, this morning, we all learned that McCain's VP running mate will be a woman. An anti-choice woman. Both McCain and Sarah… Continue

Added by Shireen on August 29, 2008 at 12:53pm — 7 Comments

More nucking futtery from my home town!

Delusional family sees fairytale image in infected wound

This was on the front page of the newspaper.

I am so ashamed.

I am posting the article to FSTDT!

Here is the text of the article for those who had difficulty viewing it.

The cat… Continue

Added by CriticalMessiah on August 29, 2008 at 8:30am — 5 Comments

It sucks in this closet!

I work at a little department store not too far away from my house and forgot to scan something that a lady was buying. Lucky for me, she caught my mistake and was really nice about correcting me. After I apologized, she waved it away and said "Don't worry about it.....God wouldn't have liked it"

I felt a rather large pang as I scanned and bagged her new purse. Then it hit me. When I bought "The Portable Atheist" I remembered that I hid it in its bag and covered the bag with my… Continue

Added by Jack Flynn on August 29, 2008 at 3:25am — 2 Comments

Thursday, 28 August, 2008 20:06

Thursday, 28 August, 2008 20:06

Nilknarf Daily Haiku

Even in summer,

the hints of fall always there...

knowledge of winter.

Not a bad day, and it kept getting better until a little bit ago, when Lana had to leave.

Started at 02:00, though.

And so far, no fainting today... yes, I think that I broke the streak.

I think that the main problem has been that my electrolytes are way off kilter... with a lot less sweating... but I've… Continue

Added by Douglas Franklin on August 28, 2008 at 8:50pm — No Comments

Finally, Justice for the Religiously abused.

Today, in the liberally minded England, a Manchester Crown Court jury found a Muslim man guilty of child abuse. Not that unusual....except that the abuse was a religious rite!

I don't think that anyone needs comment that this is real justice, and a real precedent establishing some of the criminal acts that religions have been able to get away with.

Thumbs up to that jury, even though I am sure that at least half of them were just Muslim hating Christians...at least they… Continue

Added by Tex on August 28, 2008 at 5:26pm — No Comments

First Annual Parenting Beyond Belief Column Competition

In the wee hours of my sleepless nights, I edit the Humanist Parenting site for the Institute for Humanist Studies. One of my IHS duties is to solicit and/or write a monthly parenting column for Humanist Network News, which also then appears on The Meming of Life.

In addition to my own… Continue

Added by Dale McGowan on August 28, 2008 at 2:00pm — No Comments

A bikini cat fight over belief/disbelief?

It's more likely than you think.

It's obviously a commercial for the book and it's obviously satire. (Is that a religious guy peeking over the fence?). Patriarchal idiocy, fun, or both? Demeaning or stereotype busting? Good/Bad Marketing?

I don't have a problem with the ad content (production values aside), but it bothers me for reasons I can't put my fingers on at the…

Continue

Added by AtheistJoy on August 28, 2008 at 7:00am — 1 Comment

Cooper's Hawk Strikes!

A raptor, probably a Cooper's Hawk, just picked off a Morning Dove in our back yard. In the Torey Pine tree about 50' away ripping the feathers off preparing for a feast.

We put out bird seed for our feathered friends. Mostly it's for California Towhees, Spotted Towhees, California Thrashers, and House Finches. Lately, however, the Morning Doves have been getting the "hawk's" share.

Added by Jim Winkler on August 27, 2008 at 9:32pm — 1 Comment