A fine shirt
It's not the easiest task to find a good atheist t-shirt,. Sure, there are many out there, but frankly, most of them are crap. However, the good folks at T-Shirt Hell have made this very nice and funny one.
Saudi Arabia does it again
According to CNN, a 75 year old woman in Saudi Arabia has been sentenced to 40 lashings, 4 months imprisonment and deportation. Her crime? "Mingling" with other men. The two other men found in her house, by officers of The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, were buddies. One of them was breastfed as an infant by the woman, and the other was the young man's friend. They were caught while delivering bread to the elderly woman.
And this happens in a country which is seen as an ally in the region by the West (or rather by the US).
The Saudis have a very strict interpretation of Islam, called Wahhabism, which punishes unrelated and unmarried men and women who mingle. Under their religious logic, even raped women can be sentenced for unadultary, while the men, of course, run free.
The only reason why the Saudis are allowed to carry on with their barbaric, religiously motivated acts and punishments, is of course their oil, which the U.S. is dependent on. Perhaps a rise in other energy and fuel sources could put more pressure on the Saudis to end the inhumanity.
The Vatican shows it's true colours
During the weekend, the following newswire bulletin was distributed through a number of news outlets. The story was of a nine year old girl who had gotten pregant, most likely after her uncle had raped her.
The Catholic church excomminicated the girl's mother and the doctors who performed an abortion on the child. They did so because the survival of the 80 pound girl was a stake.
The regional archbishop José Cardoso Sobrinho executed the excommunications, defening the action with "God's law is above human law".
This is a good illustration of the warped woreld view of the Vartican and the Catholic church. Words almost become meaningless.
A nine year old girl gets raped by her uncle, gets pregnat, and the people who save her life gets punished? Shame on you, archbishop!
The Catholic church excomminicated the girl's mother and the doctors who performed an abortion on the child. They did so because the survival of the 80 pound girl was a stake.
The regional archbishop José Cardoso Sobrinho executed the excommunications, defening the action with "God's law is above human law".
This is a good illustration of the warped woreld view of the Vartican and the Catholic church. Words almost become meaningless.
A nine year old girl gets raped by her uncle, gets pregnat, and the people who save her life gets punished? Shame on you, archbishop!
Why religion should and must not have special privilege
Let's say you have a family, which for political reasons, decide to home school their children.
Let's say this family teaches their kids that the ethinic group they belong to have a divine charter, that by virtue of blood and family, they've been chosen. They have a special palce in the world, and the rest of the population is, by extention, subhuman, due to a lack of ethnnic cleanliness.
This would not be accepted, nor should it, by the rest of society.
But say the same family is Jewish, then it would be alright, as it would be a home schooling in a religious context.
Now, this not a big problem in Norway, thankfully. But in America and other nations, home schooling based on religious belief, is not uncommon.
Another problem with this is that the children will not be exposed to other childen and other views. It is a brainwashing of children.
I'm all for children learning their heritage and traditions, to know where they come from, but this could and should happen as an exyracurricular activity.
Furthermore, although I'm sure there is a certain standard set by the government for what parents must theach their children (math, social science, history and so forth), there is no real control that these children are taught the ludicrous pesuedoscience of creationism for instance.
Let's say this family teaches their kids that the ethinic group they belong to have a divine charter, that by virtue of blood and family, they've been chosen. They have a special palce in the world, and the rest of the population is, by extention, subhuman, due to a lack of ethnnic cleanliness.
This would not be accepted, nor should it, by the rest of society.
But say the same family is Jewish, then it would be alright, as it would be a home schooling in a religious context.
Now, this not a big problem in Norway, thankfully. But in America and other nations, home schooling based on religious belief, is not uncommon.
Another problem with this is that the children will not be exposed to other childen and other views. It is a brainwashing of children.
I'm all for children learning their heritage and traditions, to know where they come from, but this could and should happen as an exyracurricular activity.
Furthermore, although I'm sure there is a certain standard set by the government for what parents must theach their children (math, social science, history and so forth), there is no real control that these children are taught the ludicrous pesuedoscience of creationism for instance.
In praise of: Aquavite
Norway's schnaps, the aquavite or water of life, is a very good tipple indeed.
Other countries, such as Denmark, Sweden and Germany, also make aquavite, but the Norwegian is special as it is matured in casks, giving it a nice golden colour.
Another Norwegian speciality is the linieakevitt, or line aquavite. The line in question is the equator, as the aquavite has to pass this twice. It started as a failed business venture, when Sverre Lysholm attempted to sell aquavite in Indonesia. It didn't sell at all, and upon the ship's return to Norway, they discovered that the aquavite had developed into fine spirit indeed.
So if you can find it, pick up a bottle and enjoy a good glass of aquavite!
Skål!
Other countries, such as Denmark, Sweden and Germany, also make aquavite, but the Norwegian is special as it is matured in casks, giving it a nice golden colour.
Another Norwegian speciality is the linieakevitt, or line aquavite. The line in question is the equator, as the aquavite has to pass this twice. It started as a failed business venture, when Sverre Lysholm attempted to sell aquavite in Indonesia. It didn't sell at all, and upon the ship's return to Norway, they discovered that the aquavite had developed into fine spirit indeed.
So if you can find it, pick up a bottle and enjoy a good glass of aquavite!
Skål!
Questions for monotheists (Jews, Christians and Muslims)
Let us for one instant go along with the Christians', Muslims' and Jews' claims that the bible and the koran are the word of their god (or gods, depending on your view). And let us further, for one moment, accept the notion that this deity indeed is all knowing and omnipotent.
A few questions will then arise, such as why there is no, absolutely NO, mention of the world beyond the Middle East in any of their so called holy writings? Why no mention of England, France, North America, Africa beyond Egypt and Ethiopia or Asia beyond Asia Minor?
Why no mention of winter as experienced by large parts of the northern hemisphere for several months of the year?
As these writings are supposed to be the literal word of some all knowing deity, one would assume said god would manage to sneak in at least a mention of the rest of the world, especially when knowing how these religions would spread across the globe.
The issue of heroin hand-outs
Just in time for Christmas, the Norwegian Minister of Health proposed that the government might want to hand out heroin to the worst users, the so-called incurables.
The reaction from the other parties was as expected. The most common reaction was that doing such a thing, even just proposing it, would be an acknowledgement of a failed drugs policy in Norway.
Anyone who has visited Oslo in recent years have seen how succesul the drugs policy has been.
The main street of capitol in the country repeatedly rated the top nation to live in by the UN, is littered by junkies and addicts, either just standing around, chatting or asking bypassers for money. The trade is done openly, in daylight, a few hundred meters from Parliament.
To hand out heroin to the worst affected users, as has been done in Switzerland, has proven to be a success. Crime goes down as the users no longer have to commit theft, brugarly or prostitution (now outlawed) in order to acquire drugs. Furthermore, such an arrangement will not recruit others as it would be a very strict and controlled scheme.
This is just... messed up
This is just beyond words. Quite sad actually:
http://www.liquidgeneration.com/Media/Videos/LG_Originals/Top_10_Lists/10_Craziest_Child_Preachers/
Scraping the bottom of humanity
Right, as I?ve jumped on the blog bandwagon, I?ve taken a stroll to see what the more blogs on this host site are like, as well as a few others around the world.
Lo and behold. I thought reality-TV was bad, but do me dead with a large piece of dead red meat!
What a bunch of selfabsorbant, shallow cocks and shecocks (Thanks, Charlie Brooker) are out there!
By all means, let?s not use this medium to establish a meaningful conversation and exchange of ideas, arguments and as a collective of human beings, help evolve the common consciousness and improve our existence, or even expand our horizons.
No, instead, let?s use this to promote shallow ideas and ideals of beauty, consumerism and just think me, me, me, me.
One blog offered insightful tips on how to get to a tannin salon if there was too much snow to walk and the salon was more than 500 meters away. In case you couldn?t figure it out, it gave tips on how to manipulate the parents into driving you there, so you don?t ruin your make up, hair and the boots you recently purchased for a sum which could feed a sub-Sahara village for the next 15 years. Bloody lazy bastards.
Another was a stunning pictorial tale from a prominent, Norwegian glamour model, whose boyfriend apparently had bought her a nice holiday, pre-Valentine?s Day. Shot with a poor quality mobile phone camera, shaky pictures and silicon implants aplenty, the images fit well with the written narrative which was punctuated by poor spelling and even worse grammar.
Perhaps it is me. Perhaps I?m getting too old for this sort of thing, at the tender age of 32. But I would like to think not.
What strikes me is that most people use their blogs as an online diary, exposing every single tedious bit of their mind numbingly boring lives. ?Today we ate tacos and had ice cream for dessert?, ?Here?s me at the bar, puking up 12 shots of Slippery Nipple?,?Here?s me with my tits hanging out?. As I said, a bunch of selfabsorbant, whining cocks and shecocks.
How about recommending a book, a film, share some thoughts and reflections on a subject which does not involve gorging oneself on shoes, fast food, designer clothing or cry about the bloody weather.
Use that fantastic brain of yours and stop being a stain on the underwear of humanity.
Suffer the children
I?m a strong supporter of gay and lesbian rights. I applauded the new marriage legislation in Norway, which makes gay and lesbian marriages equal under the law as with heterosexual marriages. The fact that they can call it marriage, and not partnership as before, is a great step forward. Unlike certain Christian factions, I do not see how this threatens the institution of marriage. Of course, these guys also believe marriage was invented in the bible. Enough about that.
I also support the right for gays and lesbians to adopt children. To think that homosexuals are any less capable of parenting or love their children is ludicrous to say the least. I think it is far better for a child to be adopted by a loving couple, be they straight or gay, rather than spend their childhood in some institution.
That being said, I?m now coming to the point. I?m not a supporter of government funding of IVF treatment for lesbians, for the very same reason I oppose government funded IVF treatment for heterosexual couples. I do not think it is a human right to children and I think the government?s money, that is our money, can be spent on better things. There are already too many people on this planet, and there are too many orphans too.
The desire to have a child of one?s own, in this regard, genetically, is a selfish act. It is not about the child at all, but rather the desire of the prospect parents. It is a basic human desire, and quite understandable. But to grant government funding for IVF treatment based on this, is to start on a slippery slope. Another example then would be sex, which is also a base human desire, and of course, what leads to kids. So then it could be argued that the government should pay, or at least subsidise, sex for those who aren?t getting it on otherwise.
It is not the government?s job to handle every unfulfilled desire of it?s citizens. And as such, government IVF for any couple should be axed.
No escape from reality
There is a scourge of the holy airways. A scourge which has plagued us for years. And it is called reality television.
Of course, it has no resemblance to reality, at least not in the terms I?ve grown accustomed to it.
The concept is fairly simple. A group of ?real? people, usually 10, 12 or 14, is given a task to solve, and the grand price is at the end, be it a brand new car, record contract, money or the chance to work for Donald Trump or Diddy or Sean Combs or whatever his nome du jour would happen to be at present.
Of course, these people are not actors, and as such their reactions to the challenges, test and trials are ?real?, as are the conflicts, the rivalries and outbursts broadcast around the globe or available by a few clicks on the computer. But I?ve never been, or heard of anyone, being locked up in a bunker ?Big Brother? style, apart from during war and that is hardly comparable, being stuck on a desert island with cages of bamboo or having to stand on a log in the water.
What strikes me about these series, especially of the ?Survivor? or ?Greatest Race? variety, is how bloody dull people are. People are boring to begin with, so why would I turn on the television to be ?entertained? by other boring people?
Another characteristic of the average reality TV-participant, especially the American ones, as far as I have managed to gather from reruns on Norwegian television, is that they are far more conflict orientated and vicious than their Scandinavian counterparts. In fact, just having seen the end of yet another episode of ?The Apprentice? on Sunday morning, they appear to me to be children in the sandbox, shouting, screaming and generally frumping about because they couldn?t have it their way. Then of course, before the almighty Donald, they play the blame game, accusative fingers are pointed before the almighty Donald dispenses his sage wisdom and judgement and utters the tagline ?You?re fired?.
But it is not all bad in the reality TV-world. I do enjoy some. Such as the audition rounds of ?Idol?. What fun it is to see talentless, inflated egos try out for a record contract after years of being told by family and senile grandparents that they have such wonderful singing voices and they should have a go at it.
Well, welcome to the cutthroat reality of the recording industry. It is absolutely delightful to watch naïve 17 year olds with no business singing, getting that ego bubble burst. I swear, you can actually hear it pop some times. Or see that little flicker die inside their empty skulls. It is cruel, but it is damn fun. Then it just goes boring, and some wanker wins it all, never to be heard from again, unless said wanker is a semi cute girl with nice tits and arse, pumping out run of the mill pop songs.
This is the exception to the rule. The tidal wave of drunken people falling over on an all expenses paid trip to some Mediterranean resort or bachelors trying to choose the right gold digger is inescapable. And it is not only contained to the television. The tabloids are filled with the latest exploits, chewing up and spitting out the D level celebrities that are reality television participants.
Sometimes Armageddon can?t get here soon enough.
Hijabs and the police
The Norwegian Police Directory recently approved the use of hijabs by female, Muslim police officers, as part of the uniform.Most certainly a move to increase the recruitment of Muslims into the police force, and especially Muslim women.
And in the name of tolerance, it is a good move.It removes what could be a hindrance for some women to join the Norwegian police, and perhaps removes the argument that the police is against ethnic minorities in Norway.
However, scratch a bit on the surface and there are a number of questions that arise. Fir one, would a police officer wearing a hijab be seen as neutral in certain settings, such as guarding the Jewish kindergarten in Oslo, or indeed the synagogue? How would the Jewish congregation see this?In light of the recent riot sparked by pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian protesters, how would hijab wearing police officers be regarded by said demonstrators?
And I would assume this would then be extended to include the Jewish kippah and the turban worn by Sikh males.
This also removes the visual neutrality of the police uniform. With any religious symbols being worn together with the uniform, the police then opens itself to any sort of criticism and questioning of neutrality, be they valid or not. And as such, no religious symbol or piece of clothing should be approved to be worn together with the uniform.
"Militant" atheism
Many religious and semi-religious folks have moaned about the rise of a "militant" or "fundamentalist" atheism in recent years, of which the main proponents are Oxford professor Richard Dawkins and journalist Christopher Hitchens.
I, for one, am a bit confounded by the use "militant" atheism. What I see these two actually do, is to confront the religious, asking the hard questions, showing that there is no evidence for what the faithful claim and arguing in clear terms for why religion and faith once and for all should be abandoned.
The religious, as well as others, have claimed this is to "shove atheism down people's throats". The faithful apparently know what they are talking about, as they have done so for ages, especially the so-called great monotheistic religions of the world, Christianity and Islam. Judaism, as you surely know, does not conduct any missionary activity, and for that I suppose we should thank them.
Both Christians and Muslims are guilty of violently shoving their beliefs down millions of throats over the past millennia, or slitting the throats of those who refuse to convert or happen to convert to a different denomination than what is acceptable.
And these people start to mope when actually confronted by someone who points out the fallacies, contradictions, delusions, genocides, infanticides and general misbehaviour not only conducted in the name of these gods (or this god, depending on your view), but are in these books deemed to be holy by the followers?
It boggles the mind.
However, my point is that this "new" breed of atheism is not militant. What it is, however, is confident and confrontational. As it should be.
Only by confronting delusional religious ideas as we would oppose delusional political ideas, by not granting religion the respect it demands for itself, and most certainly has not earned, can there be hope in stopping the creationists, the anti-abortionists, the suicide bombers, clergy ruining thousands, if not millions, of lives with mental abuse or indeed sexual and physical abuse.
It is time to let these Bronze Age notions become what they truly are, outdated relics.
I, for one, am a bit confounded by the use "militant" atheism. What I see these two actually do, is to confront the religious, asking the hard questions, showing that there is no evidence for what the faithful claim and arguing in clear terms for why religion and faith once and for all should be abandoned.
The religious, as well as others, have claimed this is to "shove atheism down people's throats". The faithful apparently know what they are talking about, as they have done so for ages, especially the so-called great monotheistic religions of the world, Christianity and Islam. Judaism, as you surely know, does not conduct any missionary activity, and for that I suppose we should thank them.
Both Christians and Muslims are guilty of violently shoving their beliefs down millions of throats over the past millennia, or slitting the throats of those who refuse to convert or happen to convert to a different denomination than what is acceptable.
And these people start to mope when actually confronted by someone who points out the fallacies, contradictions, delusions, genocides, infanticides and general misbehaviour not only conducted in the name of these gods (or this god, depending on your view), but are in these books deemed to be holy by the followers?
It boggles the mind.
However, my point is that this "new" breed of atheism is not militant. What it is, however, is confident and confrontational. As it should be.
Only by confronting delusional religious ideas as we would oppose delusional political ideas, by not granting religion the respect it demands for itself, and most certainly has not earned, can there be hope in stopping the creationists, the anti-abortionists, the suicide bombers, clergy ruining thousands, if not millions, of lives with mental abuse or indeed sexual and physical abuse.
It is time to let these Bronze Age notions become what they truly are, outdated relics.
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