This is a really good discussion between Adam Carolla (another atheist Jew) and the CREATOR of my favourite show on TV, Seth MacFarlane.
I knew MacFarlane wasn't religious, but he actually he states he is an atheist in this interview. Mortality and morality are the topics. Enjoy.
H/T Atheist Media Blog
Carolla seems to be obsessed with death and mortality. With me, it comes and goes in phases. Most of the time I just find myself more and more accepting of the idea of when you are dead, you are dead, that's all folks.
When MacFarlane spoke of morality in nature, I thought for a moment "does he read my blog?" He cites the same thing I do when explaining how religion doesn't cause us to be moral. It is evident in nature. I tend to use chimps as quick examples when debating theists, but his bat example is a good one.
His "not to be a dick" comment just reflects the perception of the rebellious God hating atheist that many theists wrongly accuse us atheists as having. He goes on to explain that being an atheist seems to be the logical default.
So why do I find it great that MacFarlane is on the atheist team? I think it has to do with our innate tribal buttons. I posted about this when dealing with the obsession that a great inventor, an actor, or a sports player is a Jew, that many Jews have. Or how many people tend to support sports teams from their own city even though none to almost none of the players are from the same city.
But it is more than that in this case. Family Guy and American Dad are extremely funny and witty shows. It just feels so good that they come from an atheist perspective after all. Because most atheists know, that our way of rationalizing things collectively is much more pure than the way theists do it. It sort of makes me feel special that Seth is an atheist, because I'm an atheist too.
This brings me to a recent study of the brain. Yes, we are starting to find out that there is a difference in the way the atheist and theist brain works. It seems that religious people do not have the same anxiety levels when they make an error that non religious people have. And they tend to make less mistakes as well which could be attributed to less stress.
The ho hum attitude that theists have after making a error doesn't help when it comes to correcting future errors though.
My conclusion from the study is that if you have a simple task to get done, let a theist do it. But if you are dealing with something complex, let an atheist do it. Sure there will be mistakes, but it won't be for lack of trying.
This brings up a good question. If you were to go in for a major operation, would you want someone who cares about making mistakes (who is apt to make more mistakes) doing it, or someone who cares less about making mistakes doing it? I guess it depends on how complex the operation is.
I do think this study correlates well with evolution and science versus creation. It reflects the ho hum mind numbness that goes with those who deny science and take the simple less stressful route that Godidit and the bible is the only science book you need.
Science is always ongoing, and mistakes have been made, but science is always correcting mistakes and learning from them.
I wonder if there will be a study confirming that some people are more inclined to be atheist because of their brain's nature over nurture. That would make me feel sort of special.
March 24, 2009
March 18, 2009
More Ranting
AIG Bonuses
This AIG bonus fiasco is just so maddening. Now, the finger is being pointed at Obama. Looks like he is far from infallible after all.
But this whole mess is showing how insane corporations really are and how inept and blind governments are.
First off, these bonuses are "retention bonuses." They are given to entice the exec from going to another firm. I'm not sure that there is much of a market for execs who were responsible in bringing a mighty company to its knees from within, especially during a recession where other companies are cutting jobs.
And the bonus money is staggering. In some individual cases the amounts are higher than most average people make in an entire lifetime. And when you think that these types of bonuses were handed out regularly prior to collapse of the house of cards, is it any wonder that these companies did collapse? Obviously, companies don't even have to be profitable for these bonuses to be given out. And for public companies like AIG, the money comes out of shareholder value. Again, no wonder that the stock market hit the skids.
As for Obama's glaring oversight in not putting a stipulation in regards to bailout money so that it can't be given out as bonus money, well, it is a great reality check for both the public and his administration. If the Republicans were in power though, I'm 100% sure they would have made the same mistake.
Pope says condoms not the solution to combat Aids in Africa
More asshattery from the Vatican. Forget scientific fact. The World Health Organization states that proper condom use cuts down the chances of getting Aids by 90%, noooooo, the freaking Pope has to focus on the infallibility of condoms instead.
He is telling the people of Africa to abstain instead of having sex. The Pope may be an expert on abstaining, but it is a very difficult thing to do in the real world thanks to the fact that we are innately and culturally driven to have sex, being the human animals that we are.
And to tell many barely literate and illiterate people to not use condoms is borderline criminal.
What is the Pope thinking? Be consistent to his falling Catholic flock? Make more babies, some whom will become Catholics in the future?, regardless of the fact that the world can't handle too many more people on it as it is, especially those who will burden world health care systems because they were tragically born with Aids.
The Pope is a very bad man.
Pint Sized Meat Eating Dinosaur
Looks like some creationists may grin at the news that fossils of a 5 pound dinosaur was recently discovered. Obviously, this was the dinosaur that Noah took on the Ark with him, forever solving the question about how he could bring dinosaurs on the Ark.
Of course, the dating of the fossil (75 million years old) has to be wrong, because dating processes are unreliable, which is proved by the fact that the earth and universe are less than 10,000 years old.
Some questions still have not been answered, like exactly when did these little dinosaurs evolve into the big ones that scientists seem to find. And when and how did dinosaurs die out?
Maybe Ken Ham has the answers since he now has decided to put up a Darwin Exhibit in his comical Creation Museum.
Looks like Ham has decided that micro evolution is fact, after all. But only within "kinds." Question for Ham, what mechanism or restriction prevents one "kind" from evolving into another "kind"?
This AIG bonus fiasco is just so maddening. Now, the finger is being pointed at Obama. Looks like he is far from infallible after all.
But this whole mess is showing how insane corporations really are and how inept and blind governments are.
First off, these bonuses are "retention bonuses." They are given to entice the exec from going to another firm. I'm not sure that there is much of a market for execs who were responsible in bringing a mighty company to its knees from within, especially during a recession where other companies are cutting jobs.
And the bonus money is staggering. In some individual cases the amounts are higher than most average people make in an entire lifetime. And when you think that these types of bonuses were handed out regularly prior to collapse of the house of cards, is it any wonder that these companies did collapse? Obviously, companies don't even have to be profitable for these bonuses to be given out. And for public companies like AIG, the money comes out of shareholder value. Again, no wonder that the stock market hit the skids.
As for Obama's glaring oversight in not putting a stipulation in regards to bailout money so that it can't be given out as bonus money, well, it is a great reality check for both the public and his administration. If the Republicans were in power though, I'm 100% sure they would have made the same mistake.
Pope says condoms not the solution to combat Aids in Africa
More asshattery from the Vatican. Forget scientific fact. The World Health Organization states that proper condom use cuts down the chances of getting Aids by 90%, noooooo, the freaking Pope has to focus on the infallibility of condoms instead.
He is telling the people of Africa to abstain instead of having sex. The Pope may be an expert on abstaining, but it is a very difficult thing to do in the real world thanks to the fact that we are innately and culturally driven to have sex, being the human animals that we are.
And to tell many barely literate and illiterate people to not use condoms is borderline criminal.
What is the Pope thinking? Be consistent to his falling Catholic flock? Make more babies, some whom will become Catholics in the future?, regardless of the fact that the world can't handle too many more people on it as it is, especially those who will burden world health care systems because they were tragically born with Aids.
The Pope is a very bad man.
Pint Sized Meat Eating Dinosaur
Looks like some creationists may grin at the news that fossils of a 5 pound dinosaur was recently discovered. Obviously, this was the dinosaur that Noah took on the Ark with him, forever solving the question about how he could bring dinosaurs on the Ark.
Of course, the dating of the fossil (75 million years old) has to be wrong, because dating processes are unreliable, which is proved by the fact that the earth and universe are less than 10,000 years old.
Some questions still have not been answered, like exactly when did these little dinosaurs evolve into the big ones that scientists seem to find. And when and how did dinosaurs die out?
Maybe Ken Ham has the answers since he now has decided to put up a Darwin Exhibit in his comical Creation Museum.
Looks like Ham has decided that micro evolution is fact, after all. But only within "kinds." Question for Ham, what mechanism or restriction prevents one "kind" from evolving into another "kind"?
March 15, 2009
Something Is Really Wrong
The economy has cost good working people jobs and homes. Some people feeling completely destitute have started killing themselves and even taking out family members. I'm not even the type of people who have conversations with God, before they go out and do the deed, I'm talking about real people snapping because of bad economic times.
The enraging part of this whole mess is that AIG is giving out $165 million in executive bonuses, after getting a government bailout. What the fuck is that? It is beyond my mind's comprehension and is just as impossible for my mind to conceptualize as does the beginning of time, or the ends of the universe.
The enraging part of this whole mess is that AIG is giving out $165 million in executive bonuses, after getting a government bailout. What the fuck is that? It is beyond my mind's comprehension and is just as impossible for my mind to conceptualize as does the beginning of time, or the ends of the universe.
March 8, 2009
If God Suddenly Disappeared......
......it sure as heck would explain the Holocaust.
I know the following Edward Current video has made its rounds, posted on many atheist blogs. But I think it is important to for as many people (especially believers) to see in as many places as humanly possible. And besides, I have writer's block again:
What the heck, I'll add this stupid quiz that I found on LFG's Link Viewer site:
Created by OnePlusYou -
I know the following Edward Current video has made its rounds, posted on many atheist blogs. But I think it is important to for as many people (especially believers) to see in as many places as humanly possible. And besides, I have writer's block again:
What the heck, I'll add this stupid quiz that I found on LFG's Link Viewer site:
Created by OnePlusYou -
March 2, 2009
My Solution To Save The Economy
I just want to start by saying I'm Canadian, but I'd like to see my plan implemented in both Canada and the USA.
The stock markets are hitting new 7 year lows. People are losing their jobs. All we hear about is bank and auto bailouts. It is ugly out there.
These heavy duty financial bailouts are pissing off the masses, who believe like me that it just isn't helping, that it is just like giving a crack addict more crack.
Reading that Frank Stronach just got his pay drastically cut from $70 million to a mere $10 million is just maddening. Maddening that he made $70 million in the first place, and that he still makes $10 million.
But he isn't the only one. Far from it. These corporate millionaires are a dime a dozen, and that is one of the biggest reasons why stocks are tanking. When an exec goes on private jets, buys a mansion and an Island, gets a huge salary with bonus, where do you think the money comes from? Inevitably it comes from a companies share value.
Ok, enough about what is. Now for my plan. It is pretty simple. Give every LEGAL adult resident $25,000. Just print the money up from the treasury. I know, I know, it is supposed to cause inflation or even hyperinflation (I took Economics 101 in university), but at this point, who cares? What are these bailouts going to cost us in the very near future? Nobody knows for sure, but I can tell you. It aint good.
The rest of the plan: The $25,000 is issued in form of a card that can only be spent on domestic goods and services. You just swipe the card to pay for the goods or services when you buy them.
It can't be spent on real estate or stocks though. Those will go up or down on their own. Leave them be, let them go where they are going to go.
Two more things. You only have a year to spend the $25,000 and there has to be a price freeze on all domestic goods and services while the spending spree is happening.
What will be the end result? Again, who knows? But I have a good feeling about this plan in my gut. And I doubt the result would be any worse than what we are seeing right now.
What does this post have to do with being an atheist Jew? Nothing. So let me add, screw Glenn Beck, and screw Anti-Apartheid week.
The stock markets are hitting new 7 year lows. People are losing their jobs. All we hear about is bank and auto bailouts. It is ugly out there.
These heavy duty financial bailouts are pissing off the masses, who believe like me that it just isn't helping, that it is just like giving a crack addict more crack.
Reading that Frank Stronach just got his pay drastically cut from $70 million to a mere $10 million is just maddening. Maddening that he made $70 million in the first place, and that he still makes $10 million.
But he isn't the only one. Far from it. These corporate millionaires are a dime a dozen, and that is one of the biggest reasons why stocks are tanking. When an exec goes on private jets, buys a mansion and an Island, gets a huge salary with bonus, where do you think the money comes from? Inevitably it comes from a companies share value.
Ok, enough about what is. Now for my plan. It is pretty simple. Give every LEGAL adult resident $25,000. Just print the money up from the treasury. I know, I know, it is supposed to cause inflation or even hyperinflation (I took Economics 101 in university), but at this point, who cares? What are these bailouts going to cost us in the very near future? Nobody knows for sure, but I can tell you. It aint good.
The rest of the plan: The $25,000 is issued in form of a card that can only be spent on domestic goods and services. You just swipe the card to pay for the goods or services when you buy them.
It can't be spent on real estate or stocks though. Those will go up or down on their own. Leave them be, let them go where they are going to go.
Two more things. You only have a year to spend the $25,000 and there has to be a price freeze on all domestic goods and services while the spending spree is happening.
What will be the end result? Again, who knows? But I have a good feeling about this plan in my gut. And I doubt the result would be any worse than what we are seeing right now.
What does this post have to do with being an atheist Jew? Nothing. So let me add, screw Glenn Beck, and screw Anti-Apartheid week.
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