Kirk Cameron and Ray are at it again!

If you pay any attention to the creation vs. evolution debate, you know that Ray and his clone Kirk Cameron are releasing Charles Darwin's "Origin of Species" in its entirety, just days before its 150th anniversary, with one catch. Ray is going to put his own foreword in the beginning of the book. All 50 pages of it.

There's so much wrong with this I don't even know where to begin. I've gotten to the point where I believe that Ray is totally void of any kind of critical thinking skills. I've lost count of the number of questions that I've asked him at his blog, all of which went unanswered. I know that Ray's a very busy person, what with all the books to sell and money to steal from otherwise good, honest people. But he can't convince me that he's so busy that he can't take five minutes to answer even one of my questions.

Ray and Kirk plan to go to the University of California at Berkley to distribute their book to students, as well as students in the top 100 universities in the country. I want a ringside seat if he comes to Penn State. Now that would be entertainment!

Meanwhile, the goons over at the WND is tripping over their tongues in defense of this ruse from Kirk and Ray. Cameron states, "An entire generation is being brainwashed by atheistic evolution without even hearing the alternative; and it's radically changing the culture of our nation." Irony of ironies! Once again, Cameron doesn't, nor has he ever, stated the fact that there are many Christians including geneticist Francis Collins, biologist Ken Miller, and paleontologist Robert Bakker, who accept evolutionary biology as fact.

Besides, Kirk, everyone in the United States who is capable of learning has heard about the creation narrative(s) in the Bible. A poll conducted in 2004 by ABC News revealed that 60% of those surveyed believe that Noah's flood was a historic event, and about 61% believe in Biblical creation. Ergo, we've all heard your alternative, Kirk. It's bullshit, and people are starting to realize it.

The introduction is also supposed to mention Isaac Newton and Francis Bacon as examples of scientists who believe in God. But typical of Ray, what he doesn't mention is these men were occultists and alchemists. The article also mentions Copernicus. A word to the buffoon who wrote this article, it's spelled Nicolaus Copernicus, not Nikolas Capernicus.

Kirk and Ray also want to discuss the intricacies of DNA. I don't know if they knew it or not, but DNA was discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick. Watson is an atheist, while Crick, who died in 2004, was an agnostic "with a strong inclination towards atheism". But, again, this is something that you'll never hear come from the mouths of Ray and Kirk.

I'm still scratching my head over what Ray thinks will happen when this fiasco takes place. Ray, if you're reading this, seriously - what the hell? People, particularly students, are starting to realize that Biblical creationism is demonstrably false, hence the reason so many are starting to think for themselves. Do you think these same students are just going to drop what they're doing, confess that you're right and every scientist who accepts evolution is wrong? Do you really think you're going to make a difference?

Again, Kirk and Ray, take my advice. Instead of blathering on and on and on and on and on about how scientists who've dedicated their lives to the scientific method push a lie in order to save their jobs (which is itself a lie), get an education. Go to an accredited university like Penn State, the University of Chicago, M.I.T., Arizona State, or USC, and study any of these sciences:

Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Genetics
Geography
Paleontology
Astronomy
Geology
Seismology

After you've attained a Bachelor of Science in any of these disciplines, then you can make a reasonable argument against evolutionary biology. But just repeating that creationism is a scientific alternative to evolution doesn't make is so. Again, creationism can retreat to the safety of a creator when all else fails and the evidence is stacked against it. And since science deals with what we can empirically observe in a natural world, a supernatural creator is not a scientific hypothesis.

One year from now when your book has been all but forgotten, I'd like for you to reflect on how monumental of a failure this debacle has been for the both of you, and everyone at AiG.

YouTuber ZOMGitsCriss summarized it best. Hit play.

Kentucky census worker found hanged.

Last week I was offered a job with the census bureau as an assistant manager in State College. It's the first time I found true, meaningful work in well over a year, so you better believe I'm thrilled! But that thrill was somewhat diminished about ten minutes ago.

Part-time census worker, Bill Sparkman, was found dead hanging from a tree in Kentucky with the word "Fed" scribed on his body. There are conflicting reports whether the word was found on his belt or on his chest, as well as this truly has something to do with anti-gub'ment, right-wing conspiracy nutjobs.



If this does indeed have something to do with anti-government fear, mark my words - when all this alarmist rhetoric about the census dies down in 2011, those same right-wing nutjobs who can't find their collective asses with both hands and a road map are going to hail fear-mongers like Glenn Beck and Alex Jones as heroes.

This is getting scary.



Yeah, that's it, Glenn - unarmed people that are desperate for work and have no arms of any kind are going to walk up to your home and try to take your guns and owner's permit away. You're a loon.

Black Forest Star Party 2009

In 2007, I had the good fortune of attending Stellafane, an amateur telescope making convention held every year in Springfield, VT. It was my first time to Stellafane, and certainly not my last. I was absolutely awestruck by the darkness of the sky there. It was so dark that the strobe lights of every plane that flew overhead practically blinded you. As I was standing there staring into space, I heard someone near me say, "This is dark, but the darkest skies I ever saw was at Potter County." I didn't realize it at the time, but he was talking about Potter County, PA, home of Cherry Springs State Park.

Whoever he was, that guy back at Stellafane 2 years ago was correct. Let me tell you...wow!

The skies at this year's BFSP were absolutely the darkest skies I had ever seen. It was generally a good time had by all, with the few exceptions. Disrespectful and inconsiderate smokers couldn't stop smoking even under the vendor tents. My feverish hatred for smoking was only magnified under the tents as I couldn't even breathe long enough to check out the wares. The worst part of the weekend is that the guest from Hands-On Optics was the victim of theft after someone walked away with a TeleVue Nagler 26mm eyepiece. There are all types of people that are into amateur astronomy, but it really disgusts me that even this pure hobby isn't immune from crime. I'd like to think that there is a mutual respect for fellow skywatchers. I'd like to think.

Anyway, the overall experience was positive, and I hope Luke had a great time since it was his very first time to BFSP. Much was learned this year, and I have no doubt that even more will be learned next year.

To the upper left is one of my 10 second exposures of the northern sky. For some reason, I couldn't get my mount to track. Very annoying. The bad news is, the stars started to trail. The good news is, there is some color showing up, even after 10 seconds.

Clear skies!

Glenn Beck can't spell!

Glenn Beck. This stooge is a gold mine for people who believe in rational thought.

Keep in mind, this is the same man that makes people believe that the gub'ment is comin' to take yer guns away, Obama is a racist, the Democrats are going to kill the elderly through the public option, and rallied about a million brainwashed, petrified sheep together in DC last week.

Sad. Hilarious, but sad.

Religion and social health

A youtuber that goes by the handle, Desertphile, has posted a video that displays the inverse relationship between religion and the health of any given society. Desertphile does great work, but has little time for bullshit.



Back in January, I told you about the inverse relationship between the most and least religious states in the country - Mississippi and Vermont, respectively. In almost every facet of life, people in Mississippi fall far behind the people in Vermont with respect to quality of life. Crime is higher, the quality of education is lower, IQ is lower, and health is consistently ranked as the worst in the country. The same traits can be said of the Southeast versus the Northeast.

On the word "Nazi"

Nazi. The word is thrown around at anyone and everyone who has a different point of view than anyone and everyone else. I really hate to get ugly, I really do, but it's about time someone stood up and said something about the usage of this word.

I'm not a liberal. I'm not a conservative. Nor am I a Republican or a Democrat. I don't hate races, but I despise certain ideologies. When I was a Republican, it made me furious when I would see a picture of President Bush with a Hitler mustache. And even though that I'm not a Republican anymore, it still makes me angry.

Now we have a black man as president. He has a much different point of view than Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Billy Cunningham, or any other right-winger on the radio or tube today. He might not be perfect, but at least we have a president that finally believes in science than dogma. Regardless of what he has so far done, the right-wing lunatic fringe attacks President Obama and his administration as Nazis, just for the sake of the health of unfortunate Americans who can't afford health care. And I'm sick of it.

I'm sick of Democrats calling Republicans Nazis, and I'm sick of Republicans calling Democrats Nazis. Whether you're a Republican, Democrat, progressive, capitalist, marxist, communist, conservative, or liberal, I urge you to take a look at the following images, then think about your fellow American. Let them sink in, then ask yourself if it's appropriate to call someone a Nazi just because they disagree with you.

Warning: these are graphic.












So, the next time you see Obama, Pelosi, or Bush on TV, think of these images, then remind yourself that no American has ever sent 6 million Jews to their deaths.

More FNC bias

The Fox News goon squad was out in full force this week after Glenn Beck's 9/12 demonstrations held in DC. In an interview on Fox and Friends with hosts Steve Doocy and Gretchen Carlson, Beck stated that 1.7 million protesters showed up. The stupidity of these people has been elevated to dizzying heights. If you want a good sample of the kinds of people that were at the rally, hit the play button.



Anyway, there's been a small spark of controversy that arose after comments made by Beck during an interview on Fox and Friends, in which he stated there were 1.7 million protesters at the demonstration. He stated that a university, which somehow mysteriously eluded his memory, confirmed these numbers. Along with hosts Steve Doocy and Gretchen Carlson, Beck verbally groped each other in a feel good celebration of complete lunacy.

But what caught my attention during the interview wasn't whether or not Beck had a brain fart. It was Doocy who stole the show when he asked, "Since when is it okay in this country, you only can agree with the president, and you can't dissent?" Beck responded, "Since January 20th? I mean I've never seen anything like this."

Now Doocy and Beck are concerned about the First Amendment? They supported the lie of WMDs in Iraq by the Bush administration that lead to the deaths of over 4,000 soldiers and over 100,000 dead Iraqis, and added $900 billion to the national debt, all the while trashing people who dissented from the war. Not to mention the fact that they compare Obama to Hitler, coloring the president as a Nazi and a racist. Sad. So sad.

Nice try, guys. I suggest you go grab a coloring book and some crayons and have fun.

Here's your crow, Mr. Wilson.

By now everyone who pays any attention at all to politics has heard about the uproar regarding the commentary that Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC...shock) made during the speech that President Obama was giving last week over health care reform. "You lie!" he yelled at the president, in response to the president's claim that his health care reform did not cover illegal immigrants. He apologized the very next day. But as is typical of Repubs these days, Wilson's attack has no credibility.

Meanwhile, Limbaugh is upset with Wilson because of his apology, and also believes that the president is lying. Hit the play button:



Limbaugh again opens his mouth when he should do Americans a huge favor and nail it shut. But I have to thank Rush because he just keeps on making his own party look ridiculously inept. Here's why.

In 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 was introduced on the House floor. The bill authorized federally funded health care for illegal immigrants. It was unanimously passed by both the House and the Senate, and President Bush signed it into law on December 8, 2003. The interesting part is, Joe Wilson voted for it.

So, open up wide, Rush and Mr. Wilson. Your crow is ready.

One more right-wing religious nutjob.

First it was Wiley Drake. Then it was Gordon Klingenschmitt. Now it's this guy. Meet Steven L. Anderson. He's the pastor and founder of the Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, AZ. He's also a first-rate ass clown.

Anderson is just one more in a growing trend of hate-filled zombies of the far religious right that wishes death upon anyone who doesn't subscribe to their point of view. He also says that homosexuals should get the death penalty. As typical of the far right, his target of choice is President Obama.

Last month Anderson told his congregation that he wishes the president would get "brain cancer so he can die like Ted Kennedy," then go to hell. Big words coming from a man who hides behind God while fomenting his brand of hatred.

In an interview with KSAZ Fox News 10 in Phoenix, AZ, he said "I will not take the law into my own hands. I will not take up any arms. It's a spiritual battle. It's a spiritual warfare."

He may not take up any arms, but members of his congregation sure will. His parishioners show up at his church frequently with sidearms on their hips. Take this guy for example. His name is Chris Broughton. Yep, he's the same guy that brought a loaded AR-15 to a convention center in Phoenix where the president was holding a town hall meeting last month. In a recent interview on the Alex Jones Show, Broughton said of Anderson's church, "It's the best church in the world."

These people are scary, folks. They perform a very delicate balancing act between the Constitution and terrorism. They're not afraid of death. They're not afraid of jail. They have only one agenda - stop President Obama and anyone who disagrees with them, and Jesus will reward them in heaven. That's what makes them so dangerous. They're one brain lapse away from a killing spree sparked by insanity brought on by their own version of Christianity.

Anderson is allowed to say that he hates Barack Obama. He can say every wicked thing in the world that he wants to about the man. But when he mentions that he prays for Barack Obama to die in one of his sermons, and the very next day one of his brainwashed minions shows up within firing range of the president with an AR-15, something needs to be done.

Stripping his church of 503c status is just the start, if indeed his church enjoys such status. This psychopath needs to be investigated and haunted by the Feds 24-7. I'm no fan of George Bush by any stretch of the imagination, but I have never wished death upon him.

I'm tired of neo-conservative, religious zealots like Anderson wielding the Bible as justification for their own fiery brand of hatred. Dirtbags like Anderson, Drake, and Klingenschmitt love to cherry pick verses from the Bible to support their very specific point of view. But you'll never hear them mention verses like 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Matthew 5:44, or Ephesians 6:12, that says our fight isn't against the flesh of men, but spiritual powers. Nor will you hear them mention any of the verses that say God alone puts men in positions of authority.

Watch Anderson spew his hatred below. Hit play.

------------------------



-------------------------

Happy Birthday, Neil!

On this day in 1952, the greatest progressive rock drummer of our time was born. Born Cornelius Ellwood Peart, Neil Peart has become one of the most influential musicians of our time. In 1974, he became the drummer and chief lyricist for Rush, and helped propel the band to a class all their own.

Last month he and his wife, Carrie, celebrated the birth of their daughter, Olivia Louise.

At any rate, congratulations, Neil! Here's best wishes for a happy birthday, and many more to come!