OnlineCourses.net has put together lists of "Top" blogs for various topic, I guess as a way to get traffic to their site (it is working I guess). The topics are not very mainstream: Top Insect Blogs, Top Civil War Blogs, etc. One of the topics is 50 Awesome Atheistic/Agnostic Blogs. That's cool. But I don't deserve to be anywhere close to being that list, let alone in the Top 5.
I can't argue with the description of my blog though:
#3. The Atheist Jew: The Atheist Jew chronicles the opinions and experiences of a man who denies the existence of God, but by way of definition, is still technically considered a Jew. He explores a variety of issues, including popular culture, current events, and other controversial occurrences.
* Why We Love It: The Atheist Jew is comical, candid, and entertaining. He pokes fun at religious fanatics and, assuming it doesn't offend you, it's quite likely to make you chuckle.
* Favorite Post: Expect The Religious Right To Be Riled Up Over The Simpsons
The favorite post mentioned was hardly one of my best posts, and I was wrong about the prediction I made in it too. Kind of tells me that their was some effort in putting these lists together, but it isn't close to scholarly work.
There are many great atheist blogs out there, and more importantly, many of the bloggers out there post a heck of a lot more time than I do. I've really cut back here. I think my passion to fight has diminished, mostly because I've heard and refuted pretty much all the arguments against atheism, for God, and against evolution. I find the internet warriors and religious writers who continually conjure up reasons why God exists, why atheism is silly, and why evolution isn't true to be like gnats hanging out at the tail of a gnu (I'm the gnu btw).
Early on when I started this blog, I found it almost to be a duty to refute and teach. Maybe I will get back that desire, but right now it is definitely on hold.
February 13, 2011
February 1, 2011
Turning 50: So Far So Good
I turned the big 5-0 last Tuesday. It is almost unfathomable to me that I'm fifty. My favorite TV shows are Family Guy, American Dad, Two and a Half Men, and Dexter. I watch and enjoy The Simpsons at least 5 times a week too. I can't possibly be 50, yet I am.
Maybe the fact I am half of a DINK couple (double income no kids) has helped allow my mental age to stay around 25ish. There is probably some truth to that.
My main concern now is to avoid insomnia and the mortality thoughts that go with it.
Those thoughts about how time started, the rationale that I'm not immortal, and will die some day, and with that my brain and self awareness will die too. The same state I was in for at least 13.9 billion years before my parents did the nasty some time in April of 1960.
Those seem to come in spurts. I remember these thoughts preoccupying my nights when I was in my teens, early 30's, and I have a feeling as I come closer to the inevitable, soon again.
The good thing is we have the internet and lots of TV to choose from at 3 AM these days. I think that is great way to stop with the wasteful obsession of thinking about mortality. Why worry about it?
Like religion, you have plenty of time for that and worrying about mortality when you are dead.
Back to my age. 50 is just 50 times around the sun. It doesn't sound so bad when I put it that way.
Maybe the fact I am half of a DINK couple (double income no kids) has helped allow my mental age to stay around 25ish. There is probably some truth to that.
My main concern now is to avoid insomnia and the mortality thoughts that go with it.
Those thoughts about how time started, the rationale that I'm not immortal, and will die some day, and with that my brain and self awareness will die too. The same state I was in for at least 13.9 billion years before my parents did the nasty some time in April of 1960.
Those seem to come in spurts. I remember these thoughts preoccupying my nights when I was in my teens, early 30's, and I have a feeling as I come closer to the inevitable, soon again.
The good thing is we have the internet and lots of TV to choose from at 3 AM these days. I think that is great way to stop with the wasteful obsession of thinking about mortality. Why worry about it?
Like religion, you have plenty of time for that and worrying about mortality when you are dead.
Back to my age. 50 is just 50 times around the sun. It doesn't sound so bad when I put it that way.
January 10, 2011
Impale The Tuscon Shooter
In a world that was truly just, Jared Lee Loughner, mentally ill or not would be publicly impaled.
I know it sounds harsh to some, but when I saw the picture of the 9 year old girl who was one of the victims, the punishment of impaling was the only thing that crossed my mind.
Keeping him in the system is just wrong wrong wrong.
As an atheist, I value life. It is our only opportunity to consciously exist. When someone takes it away from the innocent, an eye for an eye is the only way to go.
Plus, a good impaling, if done by the government, could help reduce the deficit. Make it a pay-for-view event. Millions of people would pay to watch. Sure, some wouldn't, even some who agree with the sentence.
Who should get impaled? First off, the person has to be 100% guilty. No doubts. Insanity is not a defense. Child molesters (hard to prove 100% guilt), those who murder innocent bystanders intentionally, and terrorists.
I have a softer stance on domestic murders and thugs knocking off thugs. Life for them.
I wonder if Palin can get sued by some of the victim's families for her Cross-Hairs map?
And guns. We don't live in the 1700's anymore. Ban them already.
I know it sounds harsh to some, but when I saw the picture of the 9 year old girl who was one of the victims, the punishment of impaling was the only thing that crossed my mind.
Keeping him in the system is just wrong wrong wrong.
As an atheist, I value life. It is our only opportunity to consciously exist. When someone takes it away from the innocent, an eye for an eye is the only way to go.
Plus, a good impaling, if done by the government, could help reduce the deficit. Make it a pay-for-view event. Millions of people would pay to watch. Sure, some wouldn't, even some who agree with the sentence.
Who should get impaled? First off, the person has to be 100% guilty. No doubts. Insanity is not a defense. Child molesters (hard to prove 100% guilt), those who murder innocent bystanders intentionally, and terrorists.
I have a softer stance on domestic murders and thugs knocking off thugs. Life for them.
I wonder if Palin can get sued by some of the victim's families for her Cross-Hairs map?
And guns. We don't live in the 1700's anymore. Ban them already.
December 23, 2010
I Like Most Christmassy Music
Just putting it out there. The seasonal music is very comforting and enjoyable to me.
I like many of the songs about fictional characters like Santa, Rudolph, and Frosty. The stuff about the fictional character Jesus and Baby Jesus though makes me uncomfortable most of the time. I think it is partly due to me being brought up in a Jewish (non Christian actually) home, but the biggest reason is because of the emotions singers put into the fairy tale figure. That people buy into and even get so emotional over it makes my mind numb when I think about it too much.
My favorite song and version of it:
I'll say it again, MERRY CHRISTMAS. Nothing wrong with the expression. It is the same as wishing HAPPY HALLOWEEN.
I like many of the songs about fictional characters like Santa, Rudolph, and Frosty. The stuff about the fictional character Jesus and Baby Jesus though makes me uncomfortable most of the time. I think it is partly due to me being brought up in a Jewish (non Christian actually) home, but the biggest reason is because of the emotions singers put into the fairy tale figure. That people buy into and even get so emotional over it makes my mind numb when I think about it too much.
My favorite song and version of it:
I'll say it again, MERRY CHRISTMAS. Nothing wrong with the expression. It is the same as wishing HAPPY HALLOWEEN.
December 5, 2010
Expect The Religious Right To Be Riled Up Over The Simpsons
I'm in the middle of my favorite time of the week, Sunday night, when I watch The Simpsons, Cleveland Show, Family Guy (not on tonight), and American Dad, finally followed up by Dexter (a show that I watch with my wife).
But man oh man, the last scene of tonight's Simpsons is something that will be talked about tomorrow from the water cooler to cable news programs.
Spoiler Alert: A human Katy Perry was in The Simpsons house. The Simpsons were Muppets for that scene. Katy was introduced as Moe's girlfriend. The last scene had Muppet Moe trying to jump up to give Katy a kiss, but gave up and decided to kiss her bellybutton instead, except he was kissing too low. Katy said "that is not my bellybutton...I didn't tell you to stop."
Yeah, really, this is what happened.
Did a quick search and found it on Youtube (it probably won't last very long so don't be disappointed if it says video removed):
Anyway, I expect the Religious Right to go berserk over this. Should be a fun day tomorrow.
But man oh man, the last scene of tonight's Simpsons is something that will be talked about tomorrow from the water cooler to cable news programs.
Spoiler Alert: A human Katy Perry was in The Simpsons house. The Simpsons were Muppets for that scene. Katy was introduced as Moe's girlfriend. The last scene had Muppet Moe trying to jump up to give Katy a kiss, but gave up and decided to kiss her bellybutton instead, except he was kissing too low. Katy said "that is not my bellybutton...I didn't tell you to stop."
Yeah, really, this is what happened.
Did a quick search and found it on Youtube (it probably won't last very long so don't be disappointed if it says video removed):
Anyway, I expect the Religious Right to go berserk over this. Should be a fun day tomorrow.
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