Tim Minchin

Government responds to petition against 'homophobic' Pope's visit

The British government is, of course, ignoring all the important points of a petition.

Speaking to PinkNews.co.uk, Mr Tatchell complained that Downing Street had agreed to keep the petition open until October but had "unilaterally declared it closed on June 6th".

He added: "The government's response ignores all of the issues raised in the petition apart from the cost of the visit.

"It has nothing to say about concerns expressed on women's reproductive rights, gay equality and the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV.

"In particular, it ignores the Pope's collusion with anti-Semitism by his rehabilitation of Holocaust denier Bishop Richard Williamson and his plan to make a saint of Hitler's Pope Pius XII.

"Amazingly, there is not a word in the government's response about the child sex abuse scandal and the Pope's role in its cover up."

Wonderful, right?

Here's a link to the 'Protest The Pope' official website, which I have joined.

I intend to take part in the protests if I can afford to get to them. If not, I shall have to make do with a big sign in one of my front windows.

Mel Gibson and his fans

Brilliant, another man who think's it's the victim's fault if she gets raped. This man is an asshole. We got a good idea of that with his last drunken rant, this just confirms it. Little wonder his agent has dropped him.
- Me

@whisperelmwood I'm sure he's not so stupid. He's saying he run to advise her (in his most momentarily frustrated frame of mind) if she attracted the wrong kind of attention and gets raped.

Teasing men is simply cruel. Doing it in front of your man is to disregard him. What redeeming qualities do you really need to defend in this woman? (Comment removed by moderators, but turned up in my email anyway)

@whisperelmwood you're a fool. You sound like a woman. (Comment removed by moderators, but turned up in my email anyway)

@whisperelmwood foolish words.

----

Yes, I am a woman. This has what baring on this? Other than perhaps my understanding how it feels to be treated like shit by an arrogant, racist and sexist man?

Mel Gibson is indeed stupid. He is racist, sexist, bigoted, arrogant and an asshole. He is not telling his ex-girlfriend any such thing as 'advice', he is purely, outright ranting his head off at her in the most disgusting way.

It is clear from his ranting that he does indeed think that if a woman dresses provocatively, she deserves it if she get's raped. That is disgusting, despicable. And no, no it is not her fault, EVER, if a woman get's raped. Dressing 'provocatively' or 'sexily' in no way should allow any man to touch her without her permission - if a woman wants to dress like that, fine, she's allowed and should not have to be scared of some asshole forcing himself on her because of it.

Dressing like that is in no way 'teasing' men and is in no way 'cruel'. If a man can't keep it in his pants, that is HIS problem, NOT hers.

Grow the fuck up.

Regards,
A woman pissed off at Mel Gibson's fans' attempt's to excuse his sexism and racism.

Comment Moderation

Sorry guys, I have to put moderation on for a bit, I've been getting nothing but porn-links in the comments section the past couple weeks. As soon as it's settled down, and they've pissed off to bug someone else, I'll take it off again.

Evolution Song

Speaks for itself.

Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani

Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani is a forty-three year old mother of two children, 16 & 20 year old respectively. Both Sakine's children and her lawyer tried everything they could to stop the stoning sentence, as a result of committing adultery. However, her stoning is finalized by the Iran's court. Sakine is in Tabriz prison awaiting her imminent stoning sentence.

I'm sure you've all heard about this by now, but here's the petition that is an attempt to repeal her sentence:

Stop Stoning [of] Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani

This is a vile and despicable act, being enforced by a medieval patriarchy on a helpless woman for a jumped up charge. Sign the petition, if you can do no more.

There is also a 'protest' taking place on the 11th of this month:

July 11: International Day Against Stoning

Stoning is execution by torture, an act of sheer barbarism and a hideous crime against humanity. Stoning is practised by Islamic governments and groups imposing the Islamic Sharia law. Hundreds of women and men have been killed, or are awaiting death, in this gruesome way.

Such savagery and barbarism must not be tolerated. Stopping stoning must be a priority for all humanitarian organizations and individuals throughout the world. We must put an end to this barbaric act once and for all.

Offical Stop Stoning Now website.

To show your condemnation against stoning and support for Sakine, during the week of 5-11 July, take stones to your city centres, universities, media outlets, workplaces… and put them in a public place, with a message in support of Sakine and against stoning and executions.

'Virginity Spot Test'

Oh now what the hell is this?


Convicted Rapists Go Free After Acupuncturist's Absurd "Virginity Test"

In Vietnam, acupuncturist Pham Thi Hong has announced the existence of a virginity spot, a small red spot that she alleges male virgins have on the back of their ears, which disappear after engaging in sexual intercourse with a woman. Her outrageous claims and vehement insistence that three men convicted of gang rape were innocent because they possessed a virginity spot led Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet to reopen the case. The men convicted of gang rape were then released.

What. The. Fuck.

Right. Let's just hand over the judicial system of every fuckin' country to the Woomiesters! Them and their utterly wondrous wooey powers will SAVE US ALL.

Because NO-ONE is going to try and use these stupid fucks and their stupid fucking woo to fuck with the system at all, are they?

Ass holes. Stupid fucking, stuck up their own asses, assholes.

Muslim's attack lecturer

Alleging blasphemy, fanatics hack [off] lecturer's hand

In a truly surprising turn of events - I joke - a Lecturer accused of blasphemy has had his hand lopped off in an attack by Fundie Muslim's.

In a horrific instance of Talibanism, Muslim fanatics in Kerala on Sunday chopped off the right hand of a college lecturer, accusing him of setting a question paper with a derogatory reference to the Prophet.

Lecturer T J Joseph was returning home from church with his mother and sister around 8.30 am in Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district when he was accosted by the attackers. "We had just got into our car when a van pulled up in front. Around eight people armed with swords and knives emerged and pulled out Joseph after smashing the windscreen.
They then chopped off his right hand and stabbed him in the left thigh," said Joseph's sister, Mary Stella, a nun.

Such a wonderful and adult way to react to someone making an alleged derogatory comment about ones diety!

And they wonder why people are so pissed off with them. Assholes.

Homeopathy; a load of piss

And oldy, but a goody.

Paradolia

Or Pariedolia, whichever spelling you prefer.

Daily Mail has today preinted any article showcasing some examples of Jesus appearing in random stains and objects! So much fun!

Face of Jesus seen from the heavens by internet fan using Google Earth

My own paradolia has given me these reults for each image:

The fields: Hitler (rather effemenite, but still Hitler!)

Pipe stain: The face of David

Iron: Darwin

Bottle: Disney version of Zeus

Marmite lid: John Lennon

Frying pan: This is the only one that looks like the westernised version (albiet a little longer/horsier in the face) of Jesus - though I'm also seeing Mona Lisa!

What do you guys see in these images?

The bastards are suing Quackwatch

Doctor's Data, a laboratory that caters to chelation therapists and other offbeat practitioners, has sued [Quackwatch's Stephen Barrett, M.D.]

On June 18th, Doctor's Data filed suit against me, the National Council Against Health Fraud, Inc., Quackwatch, Inc., and Consumer Health Digest, accusing us of restraint of trade; trademark dilution; business libel; tortious interference with existing and potential business relationships; fraud or intentional misrepresetation; and violating federal and state laws against deceptive trade practices. (On June 29th, Consumer Health Digest was dropped as a defendant.) The complaint asks for more than $10 million in compensatory and punitive damages. The suit objects to seven articles on my Web sites:

• How the Urine Toxic Metals Test Is Used to Defraud Patients
• CARE Clinics, Doctor's Data, Sued for Fraud
• Be Wary of CARE Clinics and the Center for Autistic Spectrum Disorders (CASD)
• Three brief articles in Consumer Health Digest:
  • Slate article blasts the urine toxic metals test
  • Shady clinic and lab under legal assault
  • "Autism specialists" sued
• Laboratories Doing Nonstandard Laboratory Tests

Quackwatch is a great site, one I frequent regularly, and this is frustrating as hell both for Dr. Barrett and for his fellows and followers. As Pharyngula has stated, it's going to be an interesting thing to watch, but also a bit ironic, because it's just going to make the fact that Doctor's Data are a fraud far more widely known.

There's a link to help with the legal funding (badly needed I should think) so if you can spare some money and are inclined to do so, go make a donation: Donate to Quackwatch

London Gay Pride

photograph from Guardian

I hope everyone who managed to attend the London Pride 40th anniversay event yesterday enjoyed themselves!

One of these days, I intend to attend one myself - just gotta get the time, the money to get there and the perfect outfit XD

London Pride Offical Site

Thousands march with Pride across London

'Million' take part in London's Pride celebrations

In pictures: London's Pride 2010 celebrations

The annual London Gay Pride parade

Pride 2010: From section 28 to Home Office float, Tories come out in force

Young muslim actress attacked by family

In something of a shocker - alright, I'm lying - a young female Muslim actress has been attacked by her father and brother. It is surmised as a result of her dating a Hindu man.

Afshan Azad's Family Tries To KILL Her: 'Harry Potter' Star's Brother & Father Attack

It seem's her brother actually managed to harm her, as he is being charged with ABH (Actual Bodily Harm), while her father is being charged with threatening to kill her.

I do wonder if this would have been reported on at all, if the girl wasn't from the Harry Potter films. I hope she recovers well, though and doesn't let this shameful act get her down.


[Edit]

Here is a further article on the attack:

Dad charged over threat to kill Harry Potter star.

She was allegedly attacked at her home in Longsight, Manchester, on May 21 this year.

Now her father Abdul Azad, 54, and brother, Ashraf Azad, 28, both of Beresford Road, Longsight, have appeared in court.

Abdul is accused of threatening to kill his daughter and Ashraf of threatening to kill and assault occasioning actual bodily harm against his sister.

Both men appeared at Manchester magistrates court and the case was adjourned until later this month for committal proceedings to crown court.

And another, which mentions that her father and brother are both out on bail, until their next court appearance on the 12th.

Afshan Azad Harry Potter Star Attacked by her Family

The two appeared on a Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, and have been released on bail. They are due back in court on July 12.

I find myself hoping she is being adequately looked after while those two are free.

'Freedom of Worship'

This man is SO FAR up his own ass, I don't know where to start.

"For those with ears to hear in Gaston Hall that day, the promotion of the so-called LGBT (lesbian/gay/bisexual/ transgendered) agenda had just been declared a human rights priority of the United States, in the same sentence in which the secretary of state had offered an anorexic description of religious freedom that even the Saudis could accept."

pberiault

And a comment on the video caught my eye:

This is not about equality because homosexuals already have that. It is about trying to get attention and have others be force to say what they are doing is okay. We don't have to do this. Why would we? What they do is dangerous even to themselves. Homosexuality is linked to sexual abuse of minors, more so than any other activity. So it is not discrimination to say that homosexual practices are a negative to our society.

My response is pending approval:

The LGBT community does NOT have equal rights yet. I can't believe you are also linking homosexuality to pedophilia! That is such an erroneous claim, with zero evidence to back it up! Yes it IS discrimination to claim LGBT is a negative to our society, it is discrimination and bigotry and pure hate speech based on nothing but homophobia from the religious masses.

YouTube's comment boxes have severely limited text availability these days, you can barely talk to someone on that forum, let alone argue with them. I wonder if my commet will even get through the moderation.


[Edit]

Another comment that caught my eye:

No, it's not that simple. Part of the so-called "gay agenda," for example, is to use our public schools to try to convince children that homosexuality is normal and acceptable: this is not equal treatment, it's propaganda. Further, the "gay agenda" in my state, WA, includes SPECIAL rights for gays that NO OTHER group gets: the right to "express" characteristics of your minority status without fear of discrimination at work or in housing. That is not equal at all.

pudgenet

And my reply, currently pending approval:

Homosexuality IS normal and IS acceptable. These 'gay agenda' things you complain about would not be needed in a truly equal world, LGBT people would be able to express themselves without fear of reprisal - which they currently do, hence the need for these rights being put in place, they are there to protect them from the types of homophobics that react violently or in discriminatory ways! You're right that it's not equal, but not in the way you obviously assume.

Belgian Police investigate witness death threats

And isn't this just the icing on the damn cake?

Belgian child sex abuse police probe death threats.

Police investigating claims of child abuse by Belgian clergy have told the BBC they are probing death threats against witnesses and magistrates...

...Jean Marc Meillure, a spokesman for the public prosecutors office, confirmed that an investigation was under way.

"There are some threats against certain people around the case, and the prosecutors office is investigating that," he told the BBC.

He said the threats had been made against people who gave the authorities information or made a complaint, or against some magistrates.

I wish the authorities over here and in Ireland would be as stringent as the Belgian Police. It looks to me like they've got them running scared over the whole thing, if they're now also having to investigate bloody death threats to the people involved.

UK and US authorities? Take a cue from the Belgian authorities and do the bloody job right.

Buffy vs Edward

In this re-imagined narrative, Edward Cullen from the Twilight Series meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It's an example of transformative storytelling serving as a pro-feminist visual critique of Edward's character and generally creepy behavior. Seen through Buffy's eyes, some of the more sexist gender roles and patriarchal Hollywood themes embedded in the Twilight saga are exposed - in hilarious ways. Ultimately this remix is about more than a decisive showdown between the slayer and the sparkly vampire. It also doubles as a metaphor for the ongoing battle between two opposing visions of gender roles in the 21ist century.

I read the first book in the Twilight saga - it didn't take long, I wanted to get it over with asap - and found it to be one of the worst written, Mary-Sue, Self-Insert pieces of shite I've ever read. And that was quite apart from the apalling gender stereotyping!

Not only is Bella the girliest girl of all girls that ever there were, she is also the stereotypical 'damsel in distress' and plays it up to staggering hieghts at all times. She's also (as far as I can tell, unintentionally on the part of Meyer) callous, selfish, bratty and arrogant. And for some reason, she's also the heart-throb of the new school she starts at, despite the fact that she dumps every suitor on the way-side the moment she realises Edward is 'cool'.

And, as if Meyer was fishing for some character flaw (that was intended, rather than accidental, and an apparent attempt to make Bella three-dimensional), she's also the clumsiest character I've ever read. Oh - and to top off the vampire 'romance', she's also so scared of blood, she faints at the mere thought of the sight of a pin-prick amount.

Edward is no better. He's downright creepy. He's 107 years old, for goodness sake! 107 and apparently lusting after a seventeen year old! So lusting after her, in fact, that he spends his nights - apparently vampires in Meyer's world don't sleep - watching her sleep. He's big and burly and oh so dreamy (blech) - I mean emotional, when he's not being terribly victorian and reserved. He's also possessive, aggressive and downright condescending.

What the hell, Meyer, were you thinking when you decided the vampires in your world glitter, by the way?

I tried to read the second book and literally gave up after about three pages. Bella had gone from bratty, self-absorbed, damsel-in-distress to suicidal, (I'm turning eighteen! I'm getting old! I'll look older than Edward! PLEASE BITE ME!) bratty, self-absorbed damsel-in-distress. Ugh.

This video just makes me insanely happy.


[Edit - an explanation of the video can be found here: WIMN's Voices ]

Children's Drawings

I found this post today: Children's Drawings Brought To Life and me being the person that I am, I first marvelled at the ingenuity behind translating these children's images into semi-real life, and then went on to marvel at the drawings themselves.

These images are clearly drawn by east-asian - I'm guessing Japanese - children, but if you look at them, they look exactly the same as any image drawn by any child in the 1st world nations. I say the first world, but I have my suspiscions that the style and content of these images would change only superficially between the various nations of our world.

I'm left contemplating if the drawings mark a means of identifying psychological development of the children - is it a universal thing, for instance? Is it dependant on age and gender? Does the wealth of the nation they are brought up in play any part?

I'm pretty damn sure these questions - and more - have been researched, so I think I'm going to go have a look and see what I can find.

Vatican-sex abuse - further news

I blogged about this same case previously, but I was scouting and found another article on the subject.

Supreme Court rejects Vatican appeal in sex abuse case

The U.S. Supreme Court refused on Monday to consider whether the Vatican has legal immunity over the sexual abuse of minors by priests in the United States, allowing a lawsuit filed in 2002 to go forward.

This article goes a little more in depth and even highlights the point that the Vatican now has no claims of immunity on the subject. Which is as it should be. I find it deplorable that they have to take the 'employer' route to even get this to court in the first place - but if this is a loop-hole that works, then I hope they exploit it to the fullest.

Jesus and the 'personal relationship'

Came across this blogpost: You Do Not Have a Personal Relationship With Jesus Christ over at Atheist Revolution blogs.

1. It is unlikely that Jesus ever existed as a historical person as described in the Christian bible. But even if there was compelling evidence to support the historicity of Jesus, he would have died over 2,000 years ago.
2. There is only one way an individual can meaningfully be said to have a personal relationship with a deceased person.
3. The "personal relationship" you have is fundamentally a relationship you have with yourself.

It's a good read, and while short and to the point, it covers some of the bases admirably well. You should pop on over and give it a read.

Homeopathy again

I always get myself into these discussions. From a comment thread on FaceBook.

ARGH! They're talking about Homeopathy on The Wright Stuff, and 2 of them are defending it, saying it's helped them or people they know! IT'S FUCKING WATER.

A.K

Homeopathy might not work it's self but the human brain is an amazing thing. If people believe it will work then it might just work for them not because of their 'magic water' but because of their brain is telling them it is. The placebo effect has been scientifically proven in studies to aid patient recovery. I think of it like religion; they can believe whatever they want if it helps them so long as it doesn't hurt anyone and they don't try and make me believe it too. :p

K.O

K - the problem with Homeopathy is that it doesn't JUST play on placebo - it's not that simple. Homeopaths have a bad habit of getting their patients into woolly thinking, getting them round to stopping taking real medication, stopping seeing real doctors and so on. And further, they prey on the gullible, the desperate and the hypochondriachs, taking as much money from these people as they can while feeding them on false hope and magic.

Placebo and Nocebo effects are of course well documented and constantly being studied - but using that as an excuse to say 'oh well, homeopathy doesn't cause harm, so why not let them keep at it?' is a patently absurd way to think. Even not taking into account the individual concerns, there is the sheer cost of homeopathy - which is one of the main reasons I'm so happy they are being kicked out of the NHS, the amount of money spent on this sham could have been better spent elsewhere, and hopefully now will be!

http://whatstheharm.net/homeopathy.html

Me

If they're using it alone then yes, it's pretty stupid but then that's natural selection in action. What's the problem? The world could do with less idiots if you ask me. I don't see any problem with letting someone do whatever they want with a bit of water if they're taking their proper medication at the same time. I didn't realise it was offered on the NHS but then again they offer a lot of other forms of alternative medicines now, I think I even saw a flyer offering aromatherapy in the doctors the other week.

K.O

'Natural selection in action'? Seriously? Desperate people shouldn't be kicked the wayside like that, with such a callous non-thought. Most of the people in the link are CHILDREN, being harmed and or dieing because their parents are the woo-miesters, making conscious choices to stop giving their children the medication they need.

It is not as simple as 'idiots' either - there are plenty of perfectly intelligent people who have simply been blinded by the pseudoscience, their illnesses, their desperation or simply not had the chance to read the real research on the matter.

To just ignore them with 'natural selection' comments is - for wont of a better term - abhorent. Getting Homeopathy off the NHS, getting it removed from acreditted listings, getting the word actually out there that homeopathy is a load of shite, is what needs to be done. Not ignore it and leave the gullible and ignorant to suffer, because, hell, why should we care? It's natural selection, right?

Yes, there are a lot of CAM on the NHS, but this step of getting rid of Homeopathy is hopefulyl the first step in getting the rest removed. Chiropracty is also being examined - and hopefully that will be next.

Me

US republican senate nominee rules out abortion even for rape and incest.

Sharron Angle made some comments on the Bill Manders show.

I confess myself not in the least bit surprised by this news. Though it does disgust me - and make me pity you guys across the pond for having to put up with this sort of shit.

Here's a transcript:

Manders: I, too, am pro life but I'm also pro choice, do you understand what I mean when I say that.

Angle: I'm pro responsible choice. There is choice to abstain, choice to do contraception. There are all kind of good choices.

Manders: Is there any reason at all for an abortion?

Angle: Not in my book.

Manders: So, in other words, rape and incest would not be something?

Angle: You know, I'm a Christian and I believe that God has a plan and a purpose for each one of our lives and that he can intercede in all kinds of situations and we need to have a little faith in many things.

The audio can be found here, on the HuffPost article: 'God has a plan'

This is truly disgusting - I've blogged about this sort of thing before, so I'm sure anyone who's read my previous comments will know how I feel about just such a subject.

Hopefully her truly hard-line tendencies will cause her great problems in furthering her career, but after watching US Politics, I have my doubts.

Did Jesus actually die on a cross? Do I care?

Little Evidence Jesus Died on a Cross, Says Scholar

The crucifix is the defining symbol of Christianity, a constant reminder to the faithful of the sacrifice and suffering endured by Jesus Christ for humanity. But an extensive study of ancient texts by a Swedish pastor and academic has revealed that Jesus may not have died on a cross, but instead been put to death on another gruesome execution device.

Well, this Pastor, Gunnar Samuelsson, has his doubts. He's taken three or so years of his life, studied as many texts as he could get his hands on, from about 800BC to the end of the second century AD and he has his suspicions that Jesus died in some other cruel way.

"If you search for ancient texts that specifically mention the act of crucifixion [as we understand it today]" he says, "you will end up with only two or three examples."

Not of course that it makes any difference to anyone how this supposed god-man died -

(I'm sure someone named Jesus, who was a great philosopher/teacher of his times, or even someone named Jesus who tried to start a new sect of the religion he was brought up under, did actually die - but so what? That is not proof that he actually was a 'son of god', it's simply proof that he was careless and got himself killed for his troubles.)

- at least not to me or I'm sure my fellow atheists, but it has apparently caused a bit of an uproar in theistic circles. Unsurprisingly, really.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Samuelsson's thesis has caused something of an unheavenly row. While fellow theologians have complimented his highly detailed research, many critics in the blogosphere have claimed that he wants to undermine Christianity.

While I find this article an interesting read, I find it neither adds nor subtracts anything from the issue as a whole. Discussing how, where or when a man named Jesus died is - at least to me - patently ridiculous if the central issue of whether or not that man actually was the 'Son of God' has yet to be proven.

Basically, what's the point? There is no evidence that this Jesus was anything other than an ordinary man, and there is no evidence that what is described in the Bible is anything more than pretty stories (and horrific stories) and an awful lot of badly written prose.

Until they get their fingers out and actually come up with some real evidence to prove their deity actually exists, I see little point in talking about the minutea of the religion.

Relocate Religious Books month!

If you didn't already know, Relocate Religious Books month starts on July 1st!

Here's the link to the FaceBook event: Relocate Religious Books month and a little blurb from them about it:

Visit your local library and move as many Bibles, Korans, Books of Mormon, etc., to the Fiction section or to the Mythology section as you can!

I intend to do this whenever I visit a local bookshop or library (despite the fact that I tend to buy my books, rather than borrow them!)

Court lets Vatican-sex abuse lawsuit move forward

It's nice to see that some people are actually taking this seriously:

'A lawsuit against the Vatican that had been dismissed as a publicity stunt moved forward when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal from the Holy See.'

It certainly sounds to me like the Vatican knew what was going on with the particular abuse in question, as they simply moved the abuser around, from Armagh in Ireland to Chicago and then on again to Portland, each move precipitated by reports of abuse.

Hopefully this case will get to go the whole hog, even if the man who committed the crime is dead, the Vatican needs to stand up and admit it was in the wrong to simply move this man around so he could continue to abuse children.

Well now...

It certainly has been a long time since I last actually posted in this blog, but a little incentive was really all I needed.

I've missed blogging about all the Catholic/Pedophilia business, so I may make a couple posts about that.

I think I've missed a lot of thigns in the news actually - so keep an eye open for some more posts on various subjects in the headlines.

And I have a small project of sorts that I wanted to do, so I'll start posting that as well soon.

I suppose this post is really just to tell y'all that I shall begin posting again on a semi-regular basis from now on XD

Sorry I've been away!