Remember when we were awesome...

...and men walked on the Moon? Once upon a time, this country had a focus on social and scientific growth. Sports have always been an integral and important part of our culture, but not a driving force. Once it was realized that people can get really, really rich by packaging and marketing "sports ball," an industry of epic proportions was born. Now we have this.

With a steadily growing ignorance of the most crucial scientific pursuits, we will continue to see our collective decline as other countries rise around us. Have you ever heard of China's passion for (enter sports ball game here)? Other countries have their passions (cricket, soccer, etc.) and they can sometimes seem overwhelming, but I'd wager that their highest paid public employees aren't University soccer or cricket coaches. Anyone want to take that bet?

A Great Loss of a Great Man

Who will speak for us now?

I say we honor Hitch by raising our own voices, individually, without fear of retribution. Raise them so that all the world can hear.

I can't argue with this logic.

Jesus and Sharon

Chrissy Satterfield Supports Criminal Behavior and Elimination of First Amendment Freedom of Speech

What would Jesus say about Chrissy Satterfield? Would he support her vindictive support of criminal behavior? Would he bless her support of the elimination of the freedom of speech for those who don't agree with her?

This is the vandalism she supports:

Here are some of her claims and observations:

• "It seems someone didn't think the sign was an accurate depiction of our Pledge of Allegiance, so the vandals inserted "Under God" with spray paint – and I couldn't be more relieved. It's nice to know that I am not alone in my beliefs and that some people are still willing to stand on the right side of truth." - "The right side of truth," is open to debate in which radical right-wing Christians are not willing to engage.
• "Never would I encourage vandalism, but in this case I think I'll let it slide." - Change the word "vandalism" with another word describing a criminal act, like murder, theft, rape... You'll quickly see the slippery slope she's rocketing down.
• "Atheists have been vandalizing my beliefs for years, so it's about time the shoe was on the other foot." - A quick search revealed that Christians seem to be far more likely to vandalize Atheist billboards than vice versa. It seems that there are many like-minded Chrissy Satterfields out there who are willing to "let it slide."
• "That's interesting, because the Charlotte Atheists and Agnostics felt its only recourse was to deliberately insult those who understand the importance of "Under God." - Again, what she's saying is, "I don't agree with the message, therefore I am offended and feel those responsible must be punished."
• "They probably figured that because the Bible teaches Christians to turn the other cheek, we'll just take their abuse forever." - Actually, yes, that's exactly what Jesus taught in your Bible. Frankly, Christians seem to have the hardest time turning the other cheek at all. They are instantly offended by differing opinions, and instantly want retribution.
• "Besides, I can't count how many times an atheist and I have had a "conversation." They're not as calm and passive as Warren suggests." - Probably because you become instantly aggressive, belligerent, and completely fail to engage in a reasonable discussion of the facts.
• "The best part of this whole situation, though, is that these secular billboards  were part of a Fourth of July project that placed similar ads in Greensboro, Raleigh and a handful of other cities – and it totally backfired. They underestimated their demographic, and because the vandalism occurred days before the Fourth, no one could service the billboard until after the holiday. It's the small victories in life that make it all worthwhile." - It didn't backfire, the sign was vandalized. A crime was committed. Again, the support of criminal behavior, and how it is somehow just and a "victory."
• "This billboard campaign was a calculated insult to Christians, and the atheists thought it was appropriate." - This is speculation, but even if it were true, so what? Citizens of this country have a protected right to express opinions, regardless of their motives. Citizens of this country do not, however, have the right to commit crimes without expecting consequences.
• "Oh, people know you exist all right. Any time you have a problem, the Left is ready to hear you out. But anytime a Christian has something to say it gets swept under the liberal rug and dismissed like our rights aren't important." - The talking heads on Fox News and most of the "talk" stations on radio contradict this statement. Your media support and coverage is very strong, at least equal to - if not overwhelming - "liberal" media.

Chrissy, I wonder if you actually mean what you write, or if you just want the same kind of shock-attention Ann Coulter seeks (I use her as a comparison, because your diatribe could easily have been written by her).

The highways of America are riddled with church billboards. The countryside is festooned with churches. Christian fundamentalists (or otherwise) make up 8 out of 10 people in this country, vastly outnumbering non-believers (or believers of different faiths altogether). You have your own holidays, you hare heavily represented in all forms of media, and you are defended and protected rank and file in all levels of government. With your indisputable stranglehold on the culture of this country, you cannot reasonably claim to be so easily offended and oppressed. For thousands of years, your kind have been the oppressors. For millennia, your kind have cut down dissidents, squashed social discourse, and sabotaged social change for improvement. Knowing that you live in a land of laws, where opposing viewpoints are actually protected, you can no longer crusade out into the world to hang and burn those whose worldviews don't align with yours. So, instead, you scream about your injured sensibilities, you cry about the (delusional) oppression under which you are suffering. And, worse, you propose dangerous support of dangerous practices, both criminal and unconstitutional. Stop being so intellectually dishonest with yourself and your readers, stop feigning this overblown sense of offense and oppression, and find a more meaningful and constructive way to utilize your faith.

Ireland 4 Sale, Cheap!

Saw this ad at CNN and I thought, "Man, Ireland is really cheap right now. I'm tempted to buy the country and rename it to Juliania."

Will There Be Marshmallows?

Nothing expresses bigotry, hate, ignorance, and anti-intellectualism like a good old-fashioned book burning:

The Presidential MacBook

Cleverly disguised with the presidential seal, this is a MacBook Pro: