BEEP! BEEP! IT'S ME.

"Begin at the beginning,and go on till you come to the end: then stop." (Lewis Carroll, 1832-1896)

Alice came to a fork in the road. "Which road do I take?" she asked."Where do you want to go?" responded the Cheshire cat."I don't know," Alice answered."Then," said the cat, "it doesn't matter."

"So long as I get somewhere," Alice added as an explanation. "Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."

"All right," said the Cat; and this time it vanished quite slowly, beginning with the end of the tail, and ending with the grin, which remained some time after the rest of it had gone. "Well! I've often seen a cat without a grin," thought Alice; "but a grin without a cat! It's the most curious thing I ever saw in my life!"

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Name: Beep Beep
Location: Australia

I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. Like Arthur Dent from "Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy", if you do not have a Babel Fish in your ear this blog will be completely unintelligible to you and will read something like this: "boggle, google, snoggle, slurp, slurp, dingleberry to the power of 10". Fortunately, those who have had the Babel Fish inserted in their ear, will understood this blog perfectly. If you are familiar with this technology, you will know that the Babel Fish lives on brainwave radiation. It excretes energy in the form of exactly the correct brainwaves needed by its host to understand what was just said; or in this case, what was read. The Babel Fish, thanks to scientific research, reverses the problem defined by its namesake in the Tower of Babel, where a deity was supposedly inspired to confuse the human race by making them unable to understand each other.

"DIFFICILE EST SATURAM NON SCRIBERE"

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Thursday, August 31, 2006

“Philosophy is the science which considers truth”


Watch : ~ Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl - Philospher's Song

The Philosophers' Drinking Song Lyrics : ~

Immanuel Kant was a real pissant
Who was very rarely stable.
Heidegger, Heidegger was a boozy beggar
Who could think you under the table.
David Hume could out-consume Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel,
And
Wittgenstein was a beery swine
Who was just as schloshed as
Schlegel.
There's nothing
Nietzsche couldn't teach ya'
Bout the raising of the wrist.
Socrates, himself, was permanently pissed.
John Stuart Mill, of his own free will,
On half a pint of shandy was particularly ill.
Plato, they say, could stick it away--
Half a crate of whisky every day.
Aristotle, Aristotle was a bugger for the bottle.
Hobbes was fond of his dram,
And
René Descartes was a drunken fart.
'I drink, therefore I am.'
Yes,
Socrates, himself, is particularly missed,
A lovely little thinker,
But a
bugger when he's pissed.

LINKS: ~

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Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Spare the Quarter-Inch Plumbing Supply Line, Spoil the Child

Illustration by Mignon Khargie / Salon.com


Saying no to "timeouts," some fundamentalist Christians "train up" their children by carefully hitting them with switches, PVC pipes and other "chastening instruments."

As a young, new, Christian parent, Meggan Judge, 26, of Anchorage, Alaska, was looking for guidance in raising "Godly children." She found advice that clicked for her when a friend loaned her a popular -- and controversial -- Christian parenting book called "To Train Up a Child," written in 1994 by Tennessee pastor Michael Pearl with his wife, Debi, who claim to have raised five "whineless" children.

Neither Pearl has advanced training in child development or a related field. "These truths," the tall, white-beaded Michael Pearl, 60, writes in his book, "are not new, deep insights from the professional world of research, but rather, the same principles the Amish use to train their stubborn mules, the same technique God uses to train his children."

What is this connection some god believers have with pain and suffering and righteousness? Ooops. I forgot. When your charismatic leader is someone who is tortured to death for someone else's "sins" , it is obvious how you can get a little screwed up about morality.

Apparently it is moral to: ~
  • conduct proxy killings. That is, kill a person who didn't commit the crime in lieu of punishing the real offender.
  • believe in collective punishment. That is, punish every man, woman and child for the crime of a supposed ancient ancestor.
  • believe that pain is the invisible friend's way of showing how much he cares about you.

Pretty screwed up stuff, if you ask me.

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LINKS: ~


"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod
of correction will drive it far from him." — Proverbs 22:15

"I feel it’s my obligation to whip him. In the name of the Lord of course. I feel it’s my obligation to whip him, and if I can’t do it then I look up some of my athletes to help me." - Jerry Falwell

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Monday, August 28, 2006

Are You An Atheist Or An Agnostic?



I am compiling a blogroll of atheists and agnostics. Do you consider yourself to be in either of these categories? And if so, would you like to be added to the blogroll?

Please leave a reply here.

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Sunday, August 27, 2006

Embrace Your Inner Monkey

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Lyrics: ~

You're designed so intelligent
Ain't no way that was an accident
C'mon shake your monkey hips
My pretty little creationist
Oh yeah!
Ain't gonna anthropomorphise you
Or perversely polymorphisise you - yeah
Little girl you look so sweet
You gotta dance like a monkey, dance like a monkey, child
You just started ten thousand years ago
Presto Adam and Eve and go man go
Abel died, Cain took his life
And headed straight to the jungle to find a wife - wow!
Non-believers blame it all on apes
It's monkey time - I want to see you shake
Evolution is obsolete
You gotta dance like a monkey, dance like a monkey, child
Stomp your hands and clap your feet
You gotta dance like a monkey, dance like a monkey, child
Oh one more time yo!It's monkey time!!
C'mon pretty baby, won't you take a chance?
Be my natural selection, dance dance dance
Exorcise your demons with that monkey grin
'Cause we're gonna inherit the wind


~*~
The song, 'Dance Like a Monkey' has lots of clever references to the evolution/creationism/intelligent design 'debate.' In the video clip, the monkeys in an evolutionary science exhibit break out and cause chaos in the museum, all to teach an intelligent designer to embrace her inner monkey.
~*~
Part of it is based on the Darwin exhibit at the NY Museum of Natural History. The Flying Spaghetti Monster also makes an appearance as it is in some ways the mascot of the anti-intelligent designers (as well as Pastafarians).

"Cone in infirmo vestri monachus hips meus pulchellus parum creationist"


Link

Saturday, August 26, 2006

What Is Your Political Compass?

As you can see by this grid, I am closest in political opinion to Gandi.

Take the test: ~ What Is Your Political Compass?

This is the grid which shows the political positions of some modern leaders. On this chart, I am closest in opinion to the Dalai Lama. I figure I am in good company.

What is really comforting about my position on the grid, is the fact that I am about as far away from all the people whom I consider to be lunatics. I am enjoying the fact that George and Johnny are much nearer to being fascists and Hitler lovers than I am. I am a long way away from ALL of the authoritarian bossy buggers including Stalin. Life is good. Sweet :)

LINKS:

~*~

"Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life."

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Thursday, August 24, 2006

"Keep You Doped With Religion And Sex And TV"





John Lennon's lyrics, "Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV and you think you're so clever and classless and free" is a comment upon the effects and affects of popular culture and the myths created by it. The song, "Working Class Hero" was written by John and appeared first on the album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band in 1970.
~*~
John Lennon was born in Liverpool which was a major industrial centre. During the 20th century, Liverpool lost most of its manufacturing base and was in economic decline. It is still one of the poorest areas of Britain. So to be from Liverpool was to be working class. John became "The Working Class Hero" or the popular cultural hero for the working class. He was someone who escaped his roots, but who recognised how his roots and culture shaped him.
~*~
I am also an observer of popular culture. Not only an observer, but someone who attempts to examine and analyse popular culture. Popular culture, or "pop culture" is literally "the culture of the people" as apposed to the "high culture" of the elite. The culture of the elite might be considered that approved of by the courts, the nobility, patricians or the rich bourgeoisie.
~*~
The culture of the people consists of the cultural elements that prevail in any given society. Most modern popular culture has its origins in and is modelled through the mass media of:
  • music,
  • film,
  • television,
  • radio,
  • video,
  • books
  • and the internet.

There is a set of industries which make profit by inventing and promulgating cultural material. The mass media is perhaps the most successful and powerful industry which promotes pop culture and other cultural, political and religious memes.

~*~

Popular culture creates the myths which are politically, socially, religiously, or economically useful to the given culture of their origin. A myth, in popular use, or in popular culture is something that is widely believed but probably false. So popular culture helps create and spread the myths we most want to believe about ourselves. Cultural myths are the lies a society tells itself or believes in, in order to reinforce, preserve and strengthen the religious, political, social or economic group.
~*~
Some of these popular myths may include: ~
  • Our form of government is the best.
  • Our nation has the best of all cultures.
  • Our culture has the one true religion.
  • Our heroes are truly heroic.
  • Our group is the most intelligent.
  • Our economic system is the best.
  • Any other system but ours is evil.
  • Without our religion there would be no morality.

Etc etc etc

Ad Nauseum

~*~
The cult of hero worship is also part of our modern popular culture. It is a cultural meme which fulfills a purpose in a society of animals which are, by nature, hierarchical. I suggest that we are hierarchical by nature because human society mimics our origins. Like the other hominids, we are pack animals with complex hierarchies.
~*~
The active beings in myths are generally gods and heroes. So it could be suggested that a basis of religion is hero worship. Hero worship is the creation of an ideal person, usually male, who has the characteristics and attributes to which others can aspire. This hero models the characteristics which are most favoured by his respective culture. Whereas the anti-hero might exhibit the characteristics and attributes which are seen in a less culturally favourable light, or those which might be considered a negative influence.
~*~
A cult hero can metamorphose from cult hero to anti-hero depending on chronology and geo-political climate. The juxtaposition of hero and anti-hero is a classic example of the false dichotomy and logical fallacy of "good Vs evil". This cult of the hero helps to create and perpetuate the complex hierarchies of humans by providing a model of behaviours which are approved of by a specific culture or cultures.
~*~
We are regularly exposed to cult heroes and anti-heroes via popular music.
For example: ~
Marilyn Manson's version of "Personal Jesus" makes an artistic comment on the cult of hero worship, and John Lennon's "Working Class Hero" makes a political comment about being a cult hero for the working class. Both songs are part of popular culture and both make comment upon the cult of hero worship. "Personal Jesus" is about the creation of cultural heros which take on the persona of gods. That is, they are cultural or political heros which are, at least in a figurative sense, worshipped. Whereas, "Working Class Hero" speaks of the political and social struggle of the poor and disenfranchised.
~*~
In "Working Class Hero" John suggests that popular culture acts as a drug. It keeps the masses doped, compliant, obedient and for most of the time, relatively happy. Popular culture acts as a conduit for Plato's Noble Lie. It is the suggestion to the mass of people that they are not responsible for their lot in life, but that it is part of god's plan for them.
~*~
So if you are born in poverty, like John, it was god's will. In other words, don't complain, don't ask for more, and be accepting of your lot in life. Your destiny was set at the time of birth according to god's will when he placed either gold, silver or bronze in your heart. Education and civil liberties or "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity" have been rationally denied to the working class throughout history based on the belief that people's station in life was designed by god. Plato's "Noble Lie" has been a popular cultural religious myth for centuries. Therefore to be a "working class hero" like John Lennon sang about, was to go against the odds, to be an anomaly.
~*~
Popular culture is not only a reflection of itself but it also contributes to the creation and promotion of itself. It therefore shapes the culture and is shaped BY the culture in which it is active. Popular culture acts as an envelope of societal approved practices and also as a mirror of societal habits, beliefs and practices. Popular culture helps to create the "Sweet Little Lies" which we so willingly wish to believe about ourselves.
~*~


"Working Class Hero" ~ The lyrics: ~

As soon as you're born they make you feel small
By giving you no time instead of it all
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool
Till you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years
Then they expect you to pick a career
When you can't really function you're so full of fear
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV
And you think you're so clever and classless and free
But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

There's room at the top they are telling you still
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
If you want to be like the folks on the hill
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

If you want to be a hero well just follow me
If you want to be a hero well just follow me


LINKS: ~

Link

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Scientists Find Brain Evolution Gene



Scientists believe they have found a key gene that helped the human brain evolve from our chimp-like ancestors. In just a few million years, one area of the human genome seems to have evolved about 70 times faster than the rest of our genetic code. It appears to have a role in a rapid tripling of the size of the brain's crucial cerebral cortex, according to an article published Thursday in the journal Nature.

What Kind of Monkey Are You? - Quizz

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Apparently I gotta learn to sling poo.

I thought that was what I do in here?

LINKS: ~

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Monday, August 21, 2006

Original Sin And God's Plan

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Transcript from the video:

"First. A lot of christians have told me lately that something can't come from nothing. If that is true, then where did god come from? Also, how could god create the universe from scratch when there was just a void? You know. Nothing. It just doesn't make sense. It's like they're wrong on two points. But that's not really what I was going to talk about today. I was going to talk about something that really does confuse me.

I mean first of all, god is good, right? I mean, he loves us?
So let me see if I understand this correctly. God created this paradise. Plants, a garden called eden, stocked with animals, adam, eve, the whole shabang. Now adam and eve are total innocents. They have no idea of what right and wrong is. Mainly because they haven't eaten from the tree of good and evil. And god tells adam that he is going to surely die if he eats from the tree. So how can adam and eve even know what death is as they have never experienced it as no one has ever died before? More importantly, how can they know that it is wrong to disobey god when they don't even know right from wrong?

So, because two innocents disobeyed god, without even understanding the consequences of what they were doing; god punishes NOT just them, but all of their decendants for about four thousand years. How is this a forgiving, loving, benevolent being? For about four thousand years, humanity carried god's punishment, so called ORIGINAL SIN. Then, after several thousand years, god finally decides to forgive us. Ok great. I mean four thousand years is a long time to hold a grudge. And I am still pretty uneasy about being punished for something my ancestor did. But hey, at least god could finally let it go.

God just doesn't announce that everything is forgiven. God impregnates a young girl and she gives birth to his son, Jesus Christ. God's plan is to have a specially born son purposefully tortured and killed. And only THEN will he forgive us. Let me re-emphasize this.
God's plan to forgive us after punishing us for over four thousand years, for what our ancestors did, is to send his son down to earth and have us purposefully TORTURE AND KILL him. What kind of loving, benevolent being would want an innocent person, let alone his own son, tortured and killed in order to forgive someone else?

Can you imagine, I mean what it must feel like to have your dad send you down to be purposefully tortured and killed? I just can't even imagine what that would feel like. I mean it definitely doesn't sound like a loving father. People say that Jesus died for our sins. But I wonder why a kind, loving and forgiving god would require that?
So I guess what I am asking is this ~ Why couldn't god just forgive us? He was the one who cursed us and punished us in the first place. Why would he require a blood sacrifice so he could forgive us? I just think it sounds utterly insane."

LINKS:

Discover Your Sins - Click Here

Greed:Medium
Gluttony:Medium
Wrath:Medium
Sloth:Very High