The Good Atheist

Ok, there’s almost no way to know if this is a real headline (the internet is a liar, live with it), but I thought everyone would get a kick out of it. Did they really write “Shafted” for the victim? did the priest have a “monster whopper”? How much of a win is this?

(thanks for the link, James)

Here’s a pretty comprehensive video about why atheists care about religion. No, it’s not just because we’re a bunch of crusty fucks (although I fully admit that I might sometimes fall into that category). I also kind of dig the techno song playing in the background (in a cheesy electronic music kind of way).

props to GrrlScientist’s for the find

NASA has recently issued a statement calling on the public not to worry about the movie 2012 being scientifically accurate. Really? Is it just me or is the human race insanely stupid? We’re not even into the next decade, and already a bunch of very ignorant and scared people are threatening to take their own lives over the most insane pseudoscience in the Universe. Can we all stop being so concerned about our annihilation? Yes, we’re all going to die (some day); just be fucking grateful you’re alive and stop being afraid of shadows, morons!

Hey, just a reminder to everyone out there, if you feel like asking questions, don’t hesitate to email me! I’ve setup a new convenient and easy to remember email for everyone who wants to get in touch, so if you’ve got something on your mind you’d like to share, or if you have a question or comment you think is funny, don’t just keep it to yourself, dammit! Today’s hilarious mail comes from Mike:

I’m a long time atheist and I’m always uncomfortable after somebody sneezes.  Typically, I just say “bless you,” but I feel kind of disingenuous.  I’m currently moving to saying Gesundheit! (to wish them good health) — I’m writing to find out what do YOU say to somebody after they sneeze, if anything?

Well, most of the time I just say “put your fucking hand in front of your mouth you disease bag” (it might be my recent paranoia of getting the Swine Flu before I can get the vaccine), but I agree that it would be fun to try a new one. Maybe the next time someone sneezes you can just tell them “pax in terra”, which is Latin for “peace on earth”. Any thoughts guys?

NOTE: Mike’s been busy, and asked a bunch of far more qualified atheists what they thought:

PZ Myers – “If necessary, I ask them to please cover their mouths. Otherwise, nothing.”

Phil Plait – “I don’t say anything. ”

Don Baker (Atheist Experience) – “I usually say Gesundheit.  It’s hard to de-program yourself from all the kneejerk phrases that our culture has programmed us to say.  I still say “God damn it” sometimes when I’m angry.  Silly, huh?

Matt Dillahunty – “I usually don’t say anything…though I’ve said gesundheit in the past. The idea that we should say anything is a little absurd (what do we say when someone farts or hiccups?), but it’s not a big deal. The response is almost as involuntary as the sneeze. I’m not the slightest bit bothered by “bless you” or even “God bless you” and I’ve known plenty of atheists who have said both.

I personally find it pretty painful and embarrassing to listen to D’Sousa talk. At least Wright takes the stance that it could be some mysterious force out there in the Universe that directs evolution (it’s stupid, but lots of really smart people believe in this bullshit). D’Sousa, on the other hand, tries to make the claim that Christianity is the most scientific of all faiths, despite the obvious fact that his system of belief discourages skepticism and relies on a rigid and nonsensical dogma. I guess he’s got to defend what he believes, but it doesn’t stop his ramblings from being painful to hear. Luckily, he gets spanked by the Horsemen.

You might need to turn up the volume. For some reason it’s crazy quiet. Props to Sam Harris for posting this up on his blog.

Will Phillips is officially the coolest kid in the world. A few weeks ago, he refused to take the Pledge of Allegiance at his school so long as gays are treated as second class citizens. At first he got in big trouble (prompting the principle to take disciplinary action), but since no one can be forced to recite it (yet), Will isn’t in any trouble, although school officials have refused to apologize to him (man, how embarrassing is it when an 11 year old is the most mature person in the room?).

Poor Will has been at the butt end of anti-gay slurs, but he appears undeterred in his quest for justice. Man, when I was a kid all I cared about was candy and video games; I wish I had bothered to take a bit more of an active interest in the world. You know, so long as there are good people like Will around, there’s definately lots of hope for the future.

So what did you fucking accomplish today?

(props to TGA host Jeff Jones for the find)

The sexy cabal that is Skepchick recently interviewed Neil deGrasse Tyson on their podcast, so if you’re as big a fan of the guy as I am, then you might enjoy this. Now just to warn you, the interview is actually conducted by a dude. It’s the only one they have, so I have to imagine he’s a sex slave or something.

I was lucky enough to go to one of Dan’s lectures when he came to Montreal a few years ago. Dan is one of the “Four Horsemen”, but he doesn’t really get the respect he rightly deserves. Dan is funny, provocative, and looks like a cross between Santa Clause and Charles Darwin. What’s not to love? I know it’s long, but WATCH THIS!

Isn’t it fun when you can just make up shit and then pretend it’s true? Be sure to check out the crazy picture at the end with Jesus wielding a sword, riding a crazy steed; it’s almost as good as the one of him holding a rifle.

Today is Friday the 13th, and considering the fact that there are still lots of people out there who seem to think a number can be unlucky, I thought it would be fun to try and find out the story behind this superstition (you know, to seem all smart and shit). While there are lots of theories as to its origins, the truth is no one know exactly why it persists. I suppose it may not even really matter; so long as people are told that they have something to fear, typically they will respond in kind. Statistically, fear of this day actually causes people to act more cautiously, and car accidents have been reported in many countries as actually being lower than most other Fridays of the year.

2009 was a bit unique, as it has three Friday the 13th’s (that’s the most you can have in a given year). The next year when this occurs is 2012. You all know how disdainful I am of the crackpot theory that the earth is supposed to end on Dec 21, 2012, and I have to wonder if any of these idiots will try to make a correlation between all those “Black Fridays” and the stupid belief that an invisible planet will collide with Earth. Here’s hoping I didn’t give them another talking point!

I say spend the time walking under ladders, breaking mirrors, and stepping on every crack in the sidewalk.