What is an "A+" atheist?

I guess this is a growing movement. I heard some about this from a recent podcast and really have been dealing with it ever since I have been trying to be in some sort of organized atheist movement back in 2009. I see flames and arrows going back and forth. It is odd that when compared to the mountain of religious issues we have to deal with as atheist that how you act as an atheist is really becoming such a major issue.

But as I have learned, no two atheists are the same.  Here are some concepts I “believe in as an atheist.

Me and "Jesus" Reason Rally

·         I believe that according to the Constitution that the right to bear arms should not be infringed, but in keeping with the Constitution they should also be regulated.

·         I believe abortion is non-negotiable option for woman and that it is a right inalienable to all women.

·         I believe that the right for labor to organized as a sacred as the right to vote and should be encouraged and supported

·         I believe that the global climate is changing; however I have yet to see conclusive evidence that shows humans are the primary or significant cause.

·         I believe that food ‘lifestyles” such as vegetarian, vegan, raw food, organic and etc. are simply a way for people to have a “one-upmanship” toward other people that do not share their view. No data or study has concluded that any on these diets are healthier than any other reasonable diet.

·         I believe that one of the major purposes of the government is to “provide for the General Welfare”, which means that as citizens we are obligated to support our country with our taxes. This means those that benefit most have a greater burden to serve the country with the prosperity.

·         I believe that when able, a person should help others and leave people alone when harm could result. TO me, one example is donating blood.

·         I think it is reasonable and responsible to recycle, and conserve energy, to dispose of waste properly and do your best to care for the environment.

·         I believe that gender equality is required and respect is the norm. As men and woman, we have many interactions, the goal is to make them positive, and make it right when we make mistakes.

Hemant Mehta FreeOK

·         I believe that human sexuality should not be a barrier to forming legal relationships with consenting adults. Marriage is a legal contract and as long as the parties agree, government has no business intervening.

None of these views are dependent or driven because I am an atheist. None of them are related to me having a past history as an evangelical Christian. I know atheists that have opposite views of each and every view I share. Does that mean we have nothing in common, of course not. It means we are a group of dynamic people that have a manifold of views that represent about every idea and concept of human existence. Should we alienate someone because they do not share our view on promoting our concepts concerning God and the supernatural?

I recall in 2010 at the Skeptic on III conference a panel discussion concerning accomidationalists and confrontationalists.  This was the first time I had come across these concepts. However, it wasn’t the first time I had dealt with them.  In 2009, when living in Ponca City, OK, I and a friend started a meet up group called Northern Oklahoma Freethinkers. By the second meeting we already had divisions starting. Those members that wanted to “bash” religion and those that just wanted to talk about science and positive concepts. There were those that felt that being a atheist meant you were associated with a certain political party.

I

PZ Myers, Richard Carrier and D.J. Grothe, Skepticon III

t was clear that we had to limit the topics or qualify the topics to not offend some people. Personally, I loved the rigorous discussions and found them very engaging. But it was respectful, or at least we tried our best to be. It isn’t perfect. But what is the goal? What are we trying to do?
We have maybe as many answers to this as we have atheist.

For me, as an ex-evangelical Christian, it is to point out the futility of their faith. I find it perfectly

Me as a Christian DJ, circa 1990

acceptable to ridicule someone that thinks their make believe faith in something should be respected. But I know this isn’t the way everyone wants to be, that is fine. I have many personal reasons for my view. My past has brought me to this point and how I view religion is based upon many years of seeking and study on the subject.

I have learned that many people raised in a secular family find the confrontationalist point of view to be quite aggressive. And for them, that is right. But there are many of us that are ‘victims” of the dogmatic indoctrination of religion. I respect those that want to take the quiet and gentle approach. To me, it isn’t a matter of A+ or A- or anything like that, it is a matter of making the idea of God less acceptable by a wide range of methods.

I agree with people that have different tactics than I do. But should I be marginalized because I like to confront adherents in their churches? Should I be ridiculed for thinking crosses all over the country are as offensive as seeing a hangman’s noose or a guillotine?

I have my point of view and it is different than yours, I get that but I also share the same goals and ideas. What is the “best” way to be an atheist?

I don’t know and neither do you.

What I do know is that I wish I had someone like me to help me come out of my religious delusion when I was entrenched in it. We need all of us.  As I see it, by all means possible.

What I learned in Sunday School

Sometime it takes longer for concepts to soak into head than others. Like when I talk to someone about construction, I have a history working in this field and so I can normally keep along with the conversation, likewise with many automotive principles, while complicated can be understand at least in concept and talked about as an intelligent customer or consumer.

However, today was the first time I think the real driving and motivating force of Christianity came through my head. I had an atypical day off one recent Sunday and took advantage of the time to go and check out a local “Sunday School” class. The main issue with finding a Sunday school class is that there is no unifying time for them to start. So you have to drive around and look at the signs or go up to the door and see when this or that church decide it is time to learn about their God and the Bible. This particular day took me past four options before 9:20 am. The first place didn’t have anything posted, which I always take as a sign that they really don’t care what you know only that you believe what they say. This was a more Charismatic church, go figure. The next two were Lutheran, about two blocks apart, one was Missouri synod, the other was Wisconsin Synod, and the first one was having Sunday school at 9:30 and the other and 9:45 am. Across the street near both of these church is a Catholic Church and School; it seems that is one religious road. Since it was just after 9:00 I decided to look a bit further, this took me to a Baptist Church. Not like Westboro Baptist Church but I would guess a more typical Baptist church. I got there about 9:20 am and they started at 9:45 am, of course. Three churches three different start times.

I spend a few minutes in my care listening to “Ask an Atheist” podcast before I go into join them. I walk around and use the toilet before the class to get the only relief I will find in that place, more than likely. Of course this being Sunday at church, people tend to “dress up” well I wore shorts and a polo shirt, you know, typical clothes. I saw they had three CO-ED classes. So I had to look at the rooms and guess which one I thought would give me the best “bang” for my buck. [No money traded hands during the making of this story.] So I saw a classroom with some questions listed concerning the Gospel of John. I thought, A-ha, questions, I’ll be able to speak. So after making my choice I went into the room and in typical Baptist fashion, no one was sitting on the front seats, so I did. “I ain’t no Baptist.”

Prior to the class starting some older woman came up to me to get me to fill out a card with my name and personal information. I asked her, “What is this for?”

She said, “It is so we can have a recorded of your attendance.”

“I really don’t see any reason for that.” She looked at me oddly and went back and sat down.

Now, one thing that has soaked through my head is that Church is the place to tell stories about other people and pretend you’re doing something. You know, prayer requests. Well they mentioned a few and some other shit that really wasn’t anybody else business. So this is my conclusion on prayer, it is the way people can find out about other people’s lives while acting like they care about them.

Back to the class, the teacher was about in his mid-60s and was what you might think about an older gentleman, raised in the church Baptist member, short hair, and hearing aid and in an old but nice suit. I have noticed that if you “break” a social norm in church, you either get totally ignored or much more attention than you desire. This day I got ignored.

The leader of the class began by stating that he would have to leave after 20 minutes due to some baptism. Hearing this made me so sad to hear such news.

“Crap, I thought non-believers are growing faster than this.”

So the leader of the class began his discussion of John the book, There were several topics mentioned including Nicodemus, spiritual mysteries, physical mysteries, salvation, titles, and several other issues, not to mention, John 3:16, which oddly didn’t come up. But the discussion of salvation sure the hell did.

But as I listened to the lecture, because the only questions, which were few, were answered with the “whisper” voice you hear if you attend Sunday school, you don’t want to be WRONG in Sunday school. That might mean you’re learning something.

As the leader of the class continued his lecture I could tell that it wasn’t the content that he was getting wrong as much as failure to see the illogical connections he was making.

Picking and choosing from this story or that story of the Bible or just simply taking a story out from life and incorporating that as support for a the statements of foolishness. That is when I realized, they don’t care about facts, and they just care about their story.

It is like living with role playing people but these people think their game is real.

This was the church: http://southcountybaptist.com/#/new-to-scbc

Bible Warning label

Skepticon IV in Springfield, MO

In case you are not aware of this years Skepticon, it should be bigger and better than last years which was quite large and  well attended. The Line up for speakers include PZ Myers, Rebecca Watson, Joe Nickell, Jen McCreight, Dan Barker, Greta Christina and many more great speakers and "leaders" in the skeptic and free thought community.

Skepticon IV is going to be worth attending.

This years event goes from November 19th and 20th with a special event happening November 18. That Friday a group will take a look at the "Creation Museum of the Ozarks" which is currently located in the Springfield area but is slated to be moved down to Branson when they get the funds. I believe PZ Myers is scheduled to be a part of the tour and bus transportation is trying to be arranged but as of right now it seems driving is the only option.

Beside the lecture, some of the best part of a conference like this is the chance to talk one to one with these speakers in a friendly and open area. Not to mention that the conference itself is paid for so their is no cost to you to attend.  But if you are like most attendees, you will want to buy some new books and other items to use and have the speakers sign.

While the weather in Springfield can be a bit tricky, the average is cold and rainy. Not too much snow normally. Last year is was quite pleasant so it would be reasonable to expect some rain and colder temperatures.

At the Skepticon IV website there are forums to request rides to ask for riders and to seek out places to stay. The Union Plaza Hotel, where the speakers will be staying have a special rate and if you go on line the group rate code is SKPT11. If you call them direct you just mention the conference to get the rate.

The rooms are quite large and the prices are the same for a double or a king. The give a $20 discount to the conference attendees so each room is $79 per night. You can get that rate for up to 5 nights. Not sure why you would need that but it is nice to have that option. In addition, the Plaza Hotel is about three blocks from the theater where the event is being held. It is not across the street in the convention center this year. I am not sure why that is. Maybe it had to do with them scheduling a gun show last year.

Be sure to sign up Today as the space may fill up fast. I have no idea of the configuration of the place we are going to be at this year but if it is a typical theater then it will not be so easy to move around it like it was last year.

here is the link: http://skepticon.org/

via The Friendly Atheist

Another Secular Student Alliance event: This one at Wichita State University

I just learned, via facebook, that the SkeptICTs of Wichita State University are going to have a free event this May 21, 2011. It is being put on by the Air Capital Skeptics. I guess this is the day for "Rapture" as it is being held as a "Rapture Day" event. Apparently another religious adherent has taken it upon himself to figure out the day that Jesus is going to return to Earth. Or at least begin the Rapture.I think it should be May 22, so we wo0uldn't have to deal with their crap anymore.

There is going to be a great line up for this event. If you can make it it would be greatly worth your time. I am not sure if I can yet. But if I can I sure will.

Here are some of the speakers, remember have your questions ready after they talk, you don't get to ask question in church,
Blair Scott, he is a really nice guy with American Atheists;
Darell Ray, author of The God Virus,
Richard Carrier, historian, I got to talk with him after his lecture in Springfield, really nice guy;
David Fitzgerald, He is with San Fransisco Atheist and the Center for Inquiry
JT Eberhard, I actally stayed at his apartment during Skepticon. He had a nice hotel room. Anyway he is bercoming a very prominate member of the atheist movement.
Sam Singleton, Atheist Evangelist,  We had a nice conversation but sadly more desire to talk than time to do it in.

Plus you will have a change to meet all kinds of cool people from around the country. Who know by the time some more people may be there to speak. Be sure that there will be some people there to protest and bitch and moan about how horrible using your mind is and not walking by faith.

Which brings me to my final comment. There was a video of a blind woman walking into a subway station and then falling onto the tracks. Several people helped her and signaled the train to stop.

When asked how she felt about the help she received she said that GOD used the people to rescue her. I think God would have been much more compassionate if he would have stopped her from falling onto the tracks. Or even better had her not be blind to begin with.

Some notable People I have met face to face.

Some notable people that I have seen or have interacted with over my life. [in no particular order] This doesn't include any concerts of personal speaking engagements to a group unless I had some direct contact with the person. The list is not exhaustive.The last part refers to how I interacted with them.

James Randi – author, Flim Flam, Leading skeptic and magician, originator of $1,000,000 challenge, meal in Springfield, MO

Kathleen Sebelius – former Kansas Insurance Commissioner and Governor, Secretary of Health and Human Services - KSNT-TV

D. J. Grothe – head of JREF and well known skeptical podcaster for “Point of Inquiry” and now “ For Good Reason” Same place, St. Louis Skeptical meetup, Michael Dowd event

Micheal Dowd – author, Thank God For Evolution - Lecture at Unitarian Church, St. Louis

Rebecca Watson – internationally known skeptical podcaster and speaker - Springfield, MO

Sam Singleton – The Atheist Evangelist, Springfield, MO, e-mail Facebook

Victor Stenger – Professor, University of Colorado, Center for Inquiry, author, God The Failed Hypothesis - meal, Springfield, MO

J.T Eberhart – Flying Spaghetti Monster, Missouri State University, Co-organizer of Skepticon - Stayed at his apartment

P.Z. Myers in Springfield, MO

P.Z. Myers – Associate Professor University of Minnesota-Morris, writer - w/ protesters at Skepticon, Special event in the pub.

John Schlitt – singer, Head East, Petra, musician, Christian Speaker - Concert [twice], Life Christian Center, St. Louis, MO

Geoff Moore – Contemporary Christian Musician - after concert, Norman, OK

Ron Dryden – Senior pastor, Cathedral of Praise World Outreach Center, Oklahoma City, OK, new members class, worked at KOKF owned by Dryden

Best selling book by Richard Dawkins.

Richard Dawkins – author, The God Delusion, Climbing Mount Improbable, evolutionary biologist, professor, public speaker - Norman, OK [question] Charlette, NC [question]

Abigal Smith - graduate student in Oklahoma studying the evolution of viruses, especially retroviruses, and how that evolution impacts our health - Evolution debate, Yukon, OK

Jen Peeples - aerospace engineer, former military test pilot, and foxhole atheist - Pridefest, Austin, TX

Don Baker – computer scientist with an interest in evolutionary biology and the nascent science of memetics - Pridefest, Austin, TX

Bob Saget – American stand-up comedian, actor, and television host - KDNL-TV

Jerome Bettis – retired American football halfback who played for the NFL's Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers – KDNL-TV

Bill Clinton – Former President of The United States of America - [twice] Topeka, KS, Oklahoma City, OK

Barack Obama – President of The United States of America - Several times, St. Louis, MO

Claire McCaskill – U.S. Senator, Missouri - Speaking, Victory Party

Russ Carnahan – U.S. Congressman , Missouri – Interview, speech

Fred Phelps – ex-lawyer, Reverend, founder of Westboro Baptist Church - Shawnee County Jail

Nate Phelps – estranged son of Fred Phelps - Clayton High School

Former father-in-law, Steve Abrams

Steve Abrams – former head of Kansas State Board of Education, Kansas Senator, ex son-in-law

Sam Brownback – former U.S Congressman and U.S. Senator; current Kansas Governor interview KSNT-TV, KWCH-TV

Todd Tiahrt – former U.S. Congressman from Kansas - KWCH-TV interview

Henry Hyde – U.S. Congressman-Illinois, interview, KWCH-TV

Joan Finney – First female governor of Kansas - WIBW-TV

Ray Preston – reporter, KMOV-TV - Worked with

Andy Banker – reporter, KTVI-TV - Worked with

Mary Fallin – former Lt. Governor and current Oklahoma Governor - interview, pictures

Joel Olsten – famous pastor from Texas - photos, events

Bob Dole – Former U.S. Senator-Kansas, Former Republican Presidential Canidate - picture with

Dan Baker – Former pastor, musician, president of FFRF - Springfield, MO

Richard Carrier – Historian, author, philosopher - Springfield, MO

Joe Nickell – paranormal investigator - Springfield, MO

Debbie Goddard – Center for Inquiry - Springfield, MO

John Corvino – writer, Moral activist with LGBT, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan - Springfield, MO

Steve "Jake" Jacobs and I; Mr. Wizard?

Steve “Jake” Jacobs – Mr. Wizard IV, Discovery Channel Contributor for “Mythbusters” Director of Informal Science Education - former teacher

Todd Barber – JPL, NASA, California Institute of Technology, Saturn's Cassini mission, Mar's Rovers - mutual friend of my best friend

Stephen Curtis Chapman – Contemporary Christian Singer, Springfield, MO, St. Louis, MO

Judgment and judging and the curse of expectations

I find the way people act to be a good indicator of what they believe regardless of what they say they believe. My daughter back in September on a visit to see her asked her stepdad to adopt her. Of course prior to this action I had no clue whatsoever that she had even entertained the idea. Needless to say it hit me like a brick wall on fire. I couldn't believe it. The daughter that I love so much and had worried about and worked so hard to cultivate a good and open relationship was asking this of me? How could this be?

Oh yes. I remember. My old friend religion was at work here. The Christian was showing the true nature of what it means to be an adherent. Reality isn't what matters but it is the perception of what make her comfortable. The trip went ahead as planned but needless to say the call from her Uncle on the morning I left for Kansas was a most distracting thing to deal with. Her Uncle happens to be the attorney that was handling the case.

So a trip that was designed to be a fun time with my daughter and girl friend became a horror filled nightmare. Why? Well that really is the question. Had I ever hurt her or abused her or did anything to her detriment? No. All I ever wanted for her was to be happy and healthy and smart. The last time I saw her she had made a point of wrapping a present for me and giving it to me for Christmas. What had happened from the caring loving daughter I had last scene then? During the year I would call her and also send her text messages. For awhile I got messages back but I figured she was busy and such.

But this was much more than a communication situation. It was the influence of religion in all that moved my loving daughter to a hostile person. It was through the encouragment of people that are self rightous and would prefer to hurt me and distroy Madeline rather than show the love and charity and compassion that their religion asks for them to do.

How many times must we forgive? Is it three times? It is seven times? Even if you have forgiven seventy times seven you have only just  began to forgive. What are the characteristic of love? Aren't they long suffering, patience, tenderness, forgiveness, gentleness, self control, faithfulness and kindness? When did God give up on those that believe on him and call on his name?

I see the hand of my self righteous ex-wife at work in the actions and words of my child. The burden of anger and frustration that I feel is so intense  and so burning with rage that I can barely explain it. How I want to teach all of them what is the right way to act. how I want to force them to confess their evil deeds and turn to me and ask my forgiveness.

How I want to steal my daughter for the influence of the lies that she has been force to accept as true. And even more evil that I wish I could do to them for the hurt and pain and anguish they have caused me.

I am not sure how many of you are familiar with the story of The Good Samaritan. It is a parable from Jesus and talks about the compassion of one given to another that is undeserved or at least rightly with held. The Samaritans were a sect of the Jewish people that had a slightly different view of how to worship God than the more Orthodox Jews. The Samaritans felt you could worship God where ever you wished and the more Orthodox Jews felt this was only done in the temple. Because of this the Samaritans were hated and viewed with utter contempt by the Jews.

So as the story goes, the man was on a journey and was beaten and robbed and left to die on the roadside. [a pathway in today's meaning] As the man laid in need a priest came by and walk by him and did nothing to aid him. Likewise the same with the Rabbi that walked that way. One could understand this situation. the bandits may very well be waiting nearby to beat and rob the person that would help the Samaritan.

Then as we all know finally The Good Samaritan comes and helps the man, binds his wounds and takes him to an inn where the Samaritan pays for his rest and recuperation asking nothing in return. yet even saying to the inn keeper that anything the man needs that when he comes back he will pay for that as well.

Jesus asked the ones that listen to the story who was the one that showed mercy? The answer was hard for them to say. Because the right answer were the people that were despised, the Samaritans. So what was answered was, "The one who showed mercy."

This is the way I have to react when people treat me with cruelty and bitter anger and hate. Am I going to answer their evil with evil? Am I going to judge them by my worse fears? Or am I going to hold out hope that my tolerance and hope for them will lead to a path that we both can share and help each other?

While I am sure it would thrill my ex-wife to no ends to have me become angry with my daughter she has no way to fathom the love I can show. Some say that the love of God stretches as far as the east is from the West. I don't know about that. But I do know that when you show love it helps you and the person you show it too.

Maybe if more Christians were more eager to show God's love we could dispense with the divisions in the world and our country and focus on helping one another instead.

Great evil and malice has been shown toward me yet I will not act in kind. I will judge this situation by the actions of what has happen to me. But I will do it in patience and with reflection on my own human frailties.

What is worse; to destroy someones body or destroy someones mind will? How about both are bad and not do either to the best we can.

Why do people seek to cause others harm? I could only guess that it has to do with false expectations. As humans we tend to project certain ideas and results on people and groups that we think we have a valid understanding of. This is part of human nature. Sometimes these expectations are worth merit but more often than not they are a best guess.

If you have ever meet another person, out of the two of you one is more intelligent. That is a fact. But according to the Dunning-Krugger Effect, If you have two people both will assume to be above average in their intelligence. This, of course, cannot be right, only about 40 percent of the people can be above average. The rest are about average or below average intelligence. Having study this effect I have seen how I am a victim of my own self delusional behavior and tend to think what I think is right or best isn't always the best or right way after all.

This applies to our relationship as well. the amount of time one invest into a commitment tends to amplify the value of that commitment. I once collected stamps and loved to get new ones and find out where they were from and all about them. They were stolen from me when I was about 18 years old and that hurt me very much. Even to this day, all the time and effort and education I put into it still brings a bit of pain. But the truth is to someone that has no desire in stamp collecting my actions and feelings would be foreign.

Because of this I would have an unreasonable expectation of them to empathize with how losing my stamp collection made me feel. A reaction to that may be to get even madder at them because they fail to react as I would. This would be an unreasonable reaction on my part. Of course, this also applies to careers, politics, and religion.

We have by nature unreasonable expectations for others to accept our ideas and behave as we wish. I surely do that. But I try to be aware that my expectations may not be reasonable. Just because I have invested a lot of time and effort into them doesn't mean that others must feel the same as I do.

Sometimes the most simple things is to step back and say, Why don't you feel like I do? Or What to you think or feel about this?

Of course, this requires communication and since my ex-wife thinks it a great idea not to communicate, that left my daughter with very little of my influence. I know for a fact that if I hadn't been left out of the picture that I wouldn't be dealing with this Today.

It doesn't hurt to reevaluate your values now and then. You might find betters ones. After all, didn't Jesus change the way the Jews were thinking?

Why I Am Skeptical About Global Warming

While normally my blog deals with issues of religion and some with politics this is the exception. Global warming is an issue that I have tried to wrap my head around and have done some research into the issue.

Here are some facts that I think most people can agree on. One, there has been ice ages in the past. Two, there has been periods of relative warmth. Three, these periods are cyclical. Four, we are currently in a warm period. Five, the effects of these changes are clearly understood and the effects can be damaging to human habitation. Six, We have an idea as too how long these periods last between warm and ice ages.

I feel that most if not all of these six points can be accepted by almost anyone without having to challenge any sort of philosophical background one might have. With that said I want to explain my perspective on planet preservation and being a responsible component on planet earth.

For me believe it or not my attitude of how to care for the planet was forged in my time as a Christian. There are passages in the Bible that talk about being a responsible steward of the resources and such and the reason the Bible gives is because God says so. Of course, I don't feel that is a good reason but the ideas are a good base. If you are trying to reduce the impact on the environment things such as recycling and reusing and using less and being more efficient with cars fuel economy and things of that sort is unquestionably sound and should be encouraged and society should make a mechanism for us to do such things.

I find that people that pollute and waste food and other examples of waste should be educated as to the benefits to them personally and to the society as a whole of using the resources as needed. I have seen in the past when I was a child picnic areas that are covered in and blowing about with loads of trash and when you go to the trash can it is almost totally empty. I have seen much more recently public places where the spaces are clean yet the trash cans are over flowing for use.

I am glad to say that we are moving toward an attitude where it is more preferred to throw trash away than to throw it out the car window. Concerning the car window when I was a child I thought it was totally acceptable to toss trash out the window. But then I was a child and there was not the education in the general public to keep the roads and state clean. About the time I was becoming aware of things such as not throwing trash outside was about the time the Earth Ecology movement was beginning.

So over the past decades there has been a continued and constant push to help keep the Earth clean. All the things seem reasonable to me. Things like don't dump your car oil in a river or creek because that kills fish and its used down stream for crops and drinking water. What could be more reasonable.

As time went on there was more of a move to have the actions of people to be interconnected to the planet in general. At one time the great looming doom was the threat of a cooling planet. Then after several years that shifted to NOT global cooling but global warming. Evidence has been shown as to glaciers and ice sheets melting worldwide and I find the effects disturbing. However the effects of global warming, which I accept have yet to be directly connected to a cause and effect relationship to human activity.

That is to say if there is a direct cause and effect relationship of human caused or accelerated climate change it is not well explained to the general public. I am a person that loves to investigate subjects and feel that I can grasp concepts that are difficult. With that understanding, I feel that I have the skill of being able to distill the facts of these issue and explain them to others.

With that said I have watch many documentaries about global warming and heard many prominent scientist talk about it as if it is a clearly understood facts. Yet I get to the end of the program or the lecture and think to myself, “I still don't see how humans are causing this.”

To be honest I find the predictions of the “Old Farmer's Almanac” to be just as valid as anything that I have came across in statements from the global warming. At least the Almanac is able to predict the general weather patterns about a year and a half out if not further. I would have to say that is much more accurate than the meteorologists on the TV are.

The bottom line to what I want to say about climate change is that I think being a planet responsible person makes total sense to me in many ways. I also accept that the idea of the changing of the climate is nothing to be running helter skelter about but making adjustments to deal with a naturally occurring phenomenon.

SO I think that most of the ideas about reducing and generally being responsible with the Earth's resources. But I do not yet see the cause and effect relationship of human cause or accelerated climate change.

From a Lion to a Crab

Just when you thought that there was nothing more crazy to discuss about astrology a new story has went viral. I first saw this on The Cobert Report. Now the story is really nothing new. I have heard it before so it isn't like it is a news flash but the pysudo-science tends to want to keep the old standard of zodiac in place.

I have seen shows on this several times but this was the first time I saw that there was a "new" sign added to the zodiac. The new sign is Ophiuchus: Nov. 29 - Dec. 17. It seems rather short but it is long enough to move me from the Leo to the Cancer sign. Luckily all my family and friends that are or were Leos are now Cancers.

Have you seen me?

Something looks oddly familiar to me about this new sign. Does anyone else see anything familiar with it? What is it?

Oh I know what it is. It is the same symbol that the medical profession has used for centuries and it called the rod of Asclepius. You can look it up by clicking on the symbol in wikipedia. If you have ever been to a doctor's office you must have seen this on the wall or somewhere around the office. Even paramedics use it.

The doctor will see you now.

The main thing is that it really means nothing whatsoever. When you understand some basic astronomy and then learn a little bit about the origins of astrology you realizes that not only are the signs not set to the right dates any more but the "readings" or "messages" are even more foolish than they initially appeared.

But not to be defeated I already found a site where the psychic reader was willing to address the science with hooky thinking. http://www.paganspace.net/forum/topics/zodiac-signs-did-not?page=3&commentId=1342861%3AComment%3A9550174&x=1#1342861Comment9550174

You may have to scroll down to find the comment by the person named Brigitte to see the actual comment I am talking about. It's not really worth you time except for a chuckle.

Here is another link to an article from 2005, because this is such a breaking news story.
http://ophiuchus.tribe.net/thread/c6760342-3edb-42ef-aad9-d9572ea9574f

From what I can find out so far the changing of the dates also has to do with the size of the constellation in the sky.

Keep it reasonable.
Thomas

My Predictions for 2011

If you really think about it, it makes no sense. It should be clear.

With the number of yearly predictions that physics and other soothsayers make each year I thought I would throw my hat into the ring and see what I can come up with.

These are in no particular order unless otherwise stated.

1. Justin Beiber will be in a drug situation where he is forced to confess his mistake and then goes on the TV talk shows and then puts out an album that sells millions.
2. NASA will announce that recent studies from Saturn and it's moon indicate an unusual phenomenon that Is best described as being created from an intelligent source.
3. Also a planet sized object will be found in our own solar system beyond the Kuiper Belt.
4. Due to the cold weather, a species of animal or plant will either be much more abundant or scarce.
5. A political religious group will hold a government agency hostage and make demands that cannot be met.
6. China will make great strides in it mission to the Moon by landing vehicles near American lunar sites.
7. Public opinion will turn against Ashley Simpson as she selects to have an abortion after news of her pregnancy is leaked.
8. A small band of two to five thieves will roam the southeast United States hitting movie theaters and fast food restaurants.
9. A prominent Texas lawmaker will be discovered to have a same sex relationship with a evangelical pastor.
10. Queen Elizabeth will die of natural causes and King Charles will be assassinated which makes King William the head of the monarchy.

And for a bonus one:  A hurricane will hit the Los Angeles area followed by a 5.5 to 6.2 earthquake.

Let's see how well I do next year at this time.