Oh, BTW, the Bigot Scouts also think that Wicca isn't God-based enough for them. So, not only to you have to believe something, you have to believe something that they approve of. I wonder how many BSers want Fundamentalist Islamic boys in their troops?

Well, we (the Godless Marchers) have already inspired some bubbleheads to recognize that we exist and to complain that we need praying for. This is great. Not only that, they are pointing out how dangerous we are by citing stats from the "American Religious Identification Survey 2001 that was conducted by the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. In 1990, only 8% of the adult population -- 14.3 million Americans -- chose "identifying with no religion" to define their faith. Now, that percentage stands at 14.1% of the population or 29.4 million Americans." WHOOOHOO! Isn't that more than voted for Bush in the last election? Keep it coming, bubbleheads. I want Falwell complaining bitterly about us on Sunday. The Weekly Standard has already chimed in (good links in that one), but they are a bunch of eggheads. I want preachers.

Eleanor Clift rips the Moron-in-Chief: "How does he get away with such crass duplicity? The media doesn’t want to disturb the story line. Gore was the prevaricator; Bush was intellectually challenged. So when Bush fiddles with the facts, the media doesn’t see malevolence. They see a man who’s not articulate, who doesn’t speak with lawyerly precision. And they can’t believe how believable he is."

I am taking the day off tomorrow to go down to DC to participate in the Godless American March on Saturday, so I won't be making any updates before I come back on Sunday (unless some kind fellow atheist loans me a web terminal...). If you are an atheist, and will be at the march, I'll be walking behind the New Jersey Humanist Network banner. I'd love to meet you. If you work for Ashcroft, and are taking pictures for your files, I'll be walking behind the American Atheists banner and I am a tall, blonde woman leading a yak. Yes, the yak is an atheist, too.

I haven't gotten to Steven Pinker's new book yet, but UPI has a good interview with him on the blank slate topic: "Q: You are an atheist, although less strident about it than your fellow evolutionary scientist Richard Dawkins. Do you ever worry that by pitting Darwin vs. God, mano a mano, evolutionists are encouraging Creationism, since an awful lot of Americans would pick God if forced to choose? A: My criticism of religion in "The Blank Slate" was defensive, meant to counter the argument that morality can only come from a belief in a soul that accepts God's purpose and is rewarded or punished in an afterlife. I think the evidence suggests that this doctrine is false both logically and factually." And, of course, they comment on his hair...

CNN: "Canada issued a travel advisory this week urging Canadian citizens born in Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and Syria to consider avoiding travel to the United States."

CNN: "A minister and his wife were fined $100 each for restraining a boy and praying over him. Assembly of God pastor Dwight Sandoz of Minatare and his wife, Nadine, were found guilty of false imprisonment of a minor. Scotts Bluff County Judge Glenn Camerer said at Monday's bench trial that they had good intentions but broke the law." What good intentions? Converting him?

Independent: "The joke, during the endless presidential election recounts in Florida two years ago, was that Russia and Albania would send poll monitors to help the United States with its unexpected bump on the road to democracy. Now, the joke has become reality."

Toyota will only make hybrid or fuel-cell cars by 2012. Cool. I hope my 1992 Toyota (it is a Toyota, I think) makes it 'til then. Then again, since Georgie Boy will probably have gotten us the whole Middle East by then, why shouldn't I buy a huge SUV that gets eight miles to the gallon. Gas will be cheap, *cheap*, CHEAP!

The Vatican (with HP's help, they need the 'good' PR) has posted on the net a selected number of works from its private library. "Vatican officials chose the items from the library's collection of 1.6 million printed volumes, 300,000 medals and coins, 150,000 manuscripts and 100,000 prints." Huh, nothing about their role in Nazi Germany though. A review at the preceding link claims that the reckoning won't come until *all* of the Vatican's records are opened. I wonder how long that will take. Let's see, the Reformation was how long ago?....

The Bigot Scouts (a.k.a Boy Scouts) have made homophobia a center point of their worldview by not allowing gay Scoutmasters (or gay scouts themselves). But, now, there is also another limus test for the boys, they have to believe in God. "The Chief Seattle Council of the Boy Scouts has given Eagle Scout Darrell Lambert about a week to decide "in his heart" if he's truly an atheist. If he insists on sticking to his belief that there is no God, the Council will terminate his membership." "The 19-year-old has earned 37 merit badges, been a quartermaster and three-time senior patrol leader, and now he's an assistant Scoutmaster and a field leader in training as part of the Search and Rescue Program. In his senior year in high school, he racked up more than 1,000 hours of community service." But, he is a scumbag atheist, and hence, a moral reprobate in the eyes of Scouting. (In the interests of full disclosure, I was a Scout from the time I was eight (cub), until I was 17 (college). I guess they tolerated me at the time because my parents made me go to church. Yes, yet another fact about my life that shocks the pee out of people. More from the list: I was a confirmed Lutheran, I worked for the US military and intelligence for most of my career, I have *never* taken drugs, and (*gasp*) I love baseball. Was it worth it? Absolutely. I now know sign language, how to pitch a tent, how to tell an F-15 from an F-16, how to throw a slider, and how to tell when someone is a lying, hypocritical, sanctimonious, bubblehead. I can spot 'em a mile away.) Anyway, speaking as a former trustworthy, loyal, brave, clean (not so reverent) scout, I'd like to add a great big "Fuck you, scouting!". Remember what I said about being able to spot 'em? I have a better idea. All the cool stuff that Scouts do, while they are teaching you to be close-minded and intolerant? Do the same things with your own kids, boys and girls both, and all their friends. Except skip the bigot parts. You'll love it. They'll love it. And you won't be making future hate-mongers. Boy, it is a good thing I am feeling forgiving today. Thanks to Boing Boing for the ref.

Remember what untold prosperity would come to us if we only let Business run Government? How about this: Edison schools has been selling off "textbooks, computers, lab supplies and musical instruments the company had provided" for cash. They've moved *into* the schools they run in Philly 'cause they can't pay their rent! But it is OK, 'cause the company will make the students work for free! Whee! How about a CEO President? How about churches running government programs? Yahooooo! Let's try privatizing Social Security! The stock market will make us rich, *rich*, RICH!! (am I making my point here?)

Remember folks:

One of the first betrayals of the American people by the Bush II administration was the gutting of the Microsoft antitrust trials. As if you need it, here is more proof that you must vote for anyone next week who isn't a Republican. So far in 2002, they have given twice as much to Republican candidates as Democrats, obviously to thank the GOP for their great, and cheap, service.

The BBC has an article about the "ordeal" of the newly released prisoners who faced "the harsh conditions inside Guantanamo Bay". The article describes conditions very differently from the pro-US articles I have seen. For example, "they had been locked in tiny cells in sweltering heat for long periods", they had "been completely cut off from the outside world for 11 months", and "[t]hey didn't beat us up, but they interrogated me intensively for 15 days". Now, I'd like to believe that we (the US) have not been responsible for anything remotely resembling an "ordeal". My problem is, *I don't know what to believe*. Obviously, those released can be exaggerating, the BBC might be spinning the story. But, I have no faith that our current administration, with its constant lies and secrecy, could restrain itself when not under the watchful eyes of the world. We have only seen a few old men come out of Cuba. Will they all have stories similarly mild?

CNN: "The family of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone has asked that Vice President Dick Cheney not attend Tuesday night's memorial service in Minnesota". I wouldn't have him either. Supposedly, the family was angry over Republican campaigning yesterday.

Apple has released Darwin 6.0 for x86! They have been slashdotted (or their license server has), I haven't been able to get in for two days now. I'll finally be able to get some use out of all those abandoned PCs. (Ick. The link hammers my Mozilla. Maybe it is time for wget...) Add this to the fact that Java JDK 1.4.1 is also out for OS X and I have to ask "Why am I using Windows at all?"

I have failed to fully get through Wolfram's A New Kind of Science. I have officially removed the bookmark that languished on page 765 for months. His ego didn't make up for the fact that I saw nothing new in what he was saying (how did he miss Fredkin's Thesis?). Maybe I'm not smart enough. So, I'll just have to read the reviews.

I've found a good analysis of the blogging phenomenon as it relates to journalism. Probably a well-known site, but new to me.

Slate is running a daily Bushisms page. This is unfair because no one, not even politicians, speak in polished sentences that look good in print. Totally unfair, and I love it. Some of these rank up there with Quayle's "Good Offense" speech. I think what really makes these funny isn't the poor delivery, but the lack of mental acuity that they indicate. "There's no doubt in my mind that we should allow the world worst leaders to hold America hostage, to threaten our peace, to threaten our friends and allies with the world's worst weapons."

From Kevin Raybould at Lean Left on baseball and good luck charms: "When I hear people talk about this [World] Series, all I can see is the fleeting image FOX showed of Dusty Baker's three year old son crying as the Angel's celebrated their victory. At one point, the Giants were 7-0 in the post season when Dusty's son was a batboy. He was their good luck charm, as far as he was concerned. He was even reported to have said that he HAD to go to the ballpark, sick or not (he stayed home from game 4 with a cold - a game that the Giants lost) - the team needed him. In his mind, in the peculiar logic of small children, he thought the Giants lost the World Series because HE let them down, becasue he was no longer lucky. A couple of years ago, before my son was born, I would have noted that, and moved on. Yesterday, it broke my heart." Dusty Baker had a policy of welcoming children into the dugout. I think there were eight of them down there last night. It was great to see them all, horsing around, and I think it made a big difference in the behavior of the players. They seemed more adult, less petulant. There was no helmet throwing, no yelling, no smashing water coolers, unlike the behavior of some players on the Angels. Aside from Darren Baker almost getting creamed at home plate, it seemed an admirable decision. However, allowing a child to think that they are responsible in any way for the success of a baseball team is as short-sighted and unfair as an adult can be. When my wife and I saw Dusty Baker carrying Darren, tears streaming down his face, our hearts broke too. Dar, our 15-month old son, was sitting between us, without a care in the world. Update: Bud Selig, Commissioner of Baseball, who gets my vote for Grinch, has decided to curtail the whole thing. "We look ridiculous and very unprofessional." So, it is back to watching grown men kick dirt on one another, headbutt umpires, and spit in their faces. Very professional.

I found a report saying that 40% of Canadians believe that some people can tell the future (9% believe astrology). Thinking that was pretty bad, but knowing that it was worse in the US, I found that the NSF thinks the American figure is 60% (40% believe astrology)! "[T]he U.S. continues to depend heavily on foreign-born scientists and now faces increased competition from steadily improving scientific enterprises abroad." We became a superpower because of our science, and now we are giving it away. But, by all means, let's continue to teach our kids horseshit like "Intelligent Design". If Darwin can't be argued with, maybe he can be evaded.

Guardian: "The members of the Christian Coalition of America are some of the most passionate defenders of Israel in the United States. There's just one catch: they want to convert all Jews to Christianity." OK, the argument goes this way: The second coming is just around the corner. It will go well only if the Jews all convert to Christianity. They can only do that if they hold all of the land given to them by God. From the article: "I believe they do have to accept the Messiah." And if they don't? "I believe they will when they know who He is. I believe that one day they are going to wake up. It might take a third world war to do that." Just so you know, the Moron-in-Chief and Tom DeLay spoke at a conference on this idea. Another great quote from the article: 'Rev Barry Lynn, himself an ordained minister and head of the pressure group Americans United for Separation of Church and State, likes to start his speeches by saying: "The good news is that the Christian Coalition is fundamentally collapsing. The bad news is that the people who ran it are all in the government." Whenever he goes over to the department of justice, he keeps running into Pat Robertson's old lawyers.'

FBI: "The estimated 11.8 million Crime Index offenses (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft) in the Nation in 2001 represented a 2.1-percent increase over the 2000 estimate, the first year-to-year increase since 1991. Estimated violent crime in 2001 rose 0.8 percent over 2000 estimates. Estimated aggravated assault volumes decreased 0.5-percent from 2000 data. Robberies increased 3.7 percent, murders rose 2.5 percent, and forcible rapes increased 0.3 percent in volume. Estimated property crimes were up 2.3 percent over 2000 estimates. Motor vehicle thefts increased 5.7 percent, burglaries rose 2.9 percent, and larceny-thefts increased 1.5 percent. Hate crime data were provided by 11,987 law enforcement agencies. The 9,726 hate crime incidents reported in 2001 involved 11,447 separate offenses, 12,016 victims, and 9,231 known offenders. Law enforcement made an estimated 13.7 million arrests for criminal offenses (excluding traffic violations) in 2001." Thanks, George. Keep up the good work. Oh, except for those pesky parts of your own government that keep saying you *suck* at economic, military, domestic, foreign, environmental, health policy, etc. You know what to do.

FOUR FREEDOMS WE'VE LOST SINCE SEPT. 11: "* You've lost your freedom of association. The federal government can now monitor the doings of religious and political organizations, even if there's no reason to suspect that illegal activity is going on. * You've lost your freedom from unreasonable searches. The federal government may search and seize your papers and effects without probable cause and without a court warrant. It can also question librarians and book sellers about your reading habits, and threaten them with jail if they reveal to anyone that you're being investigated. * You've lost your right to a speedy and public trial. The federal government can now jail you indefinitely without your being charged with a crime and can so without holding a trial and without allowing you to confront your accusers. This is what you can expect if you are deemed to be a "terrorist" or are deemed to be "assisting a terrorist group." The definition of "terrorist" and "terrorist group" is purely up to the government, of course. * You've lost your right to legal representation. Conversations between attorneys and clients can now be monitored in federal prisons. That is, if you're fortunate enough to have an attorney. The federal government now has the right to deny you legal representation too."

Congrads to the Angels on winning the World Series. It was a great set of games, which is a shame considering that it was the least watched Series in a long time.

Found on Naked Writing: "The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality." - George Bernard Shaw

I cannot say Wellstone's death meant anything to me personally. I don't know how many children he had; I never met him, or ever even heard him speak. I only knew about him because I would catch his name on the news, usually when he made some one-man stand against the insanity that has taken this country so far from the ideals that made it something special. Upon hearing these stories, I usually shook my head and thought that it would be great if there were more people like him, but that by standing up so strongly, he was just going to loose his Senate seat for the only opposition left in Washington. Cowardice on my part, I know. Reading about him, his positions, his drive, his battles, I have realized that he could have meant something to me politically. And shame on me for not realizing it until he was gone. I want someone to represent me in the national political arena. I want someone to stand up and say, "I think conservatism sucks!" without getting cut off at the knees. I want someone to believe in. Like most Gen-Xers, I actively doubted such a person *could* exist in our system. I have never seen one in my lifetime. Now, I think I might have been wrong. Reading about Wellstone has given me a taste for what that leader might be like. So, maybe, he does mean something personal to me now.