Utterly Meaningless
  • LOTD

    Filed on December 11, 2009 at 4:11 am under by dcobranchi

    The Tea Party is for Christians only. Good to know.

    Tea Party people stand for values

    I am concerned for our country. Our liberties are being taken away, one liberty at a time. There are people who have no idea what is going on.

    For those who don’t know, 9/12 is nine principles and 12 values.

    The principles are:

    1. America is good.

    2. I believe in God (Christ); He is the center of my life.

    3. I must always try to be more honest than I was yesterday.

    4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not government.

    5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.

    6. I have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; there is no guarantee of equal results.

    7. I work hard for what I have and will share it with whom I want. Government can’t force me to be charitable.

    8. It’s not un-American for me to disagree with authority or share my personal opinion.

    9. The government works for me. I don’t answer to them, they answer to me.

    The 12 values are: honesty, reverence, hope, thrift, humility, charity, sincerity, moderation, hard work, courage, personal responsibility and gratitude.

    These are the principles of the Tea Party people. This is why they are marching and trying to tell the government to stay out of our lives.

    Watch Fox News or listen to Family Radio Network if you want to know the truth.

    Clydean Sawyer
    Fayetteville

    WACKOS VS. WACKOS

    Filed on December 7, 2009 at 5:04 am under by dcobranchi

    OneNewsNow takes on Conservapedia’s Bible Project. Inanity ensues.

    LOTD– STILL CLUELESS AFTER ALL THiS TIME

    Filed on December 5, 2009 at 7:15 am under by dcobranchi

    Mr. Castillo is back. I’m not sure why.

    All schooling should be evaluated

    When I wrote about home schooling (“Home-schooling may limit education,” Sept. 30), there were many thinking that I was talking about them. I was talking about myself, and how I was home-schooled by the church, and the many untruths that were told to me while growing up, and how I was divided by religion and race by untruth.

    I also understand that those who are home-schooled get the necessary tools to be self-supporting and find good jobs or move to excellent careers.

    What I have witnessed here in Fayetteville is young people graduating from public schools with a diploma saying they had finished 12th grade, and cannot pass a basic entrance exam into military service, or obtain a good job.

    We, the adults, whether we have school-age children or not, need to look at all schooling, making sure that our country has a future by having a well-founded school system, and an education that gives our children the tools they need to make a good living that is non-biased, and to be able to support their future families, however we choose to school our children.

    Anthony P. Castillo
    Fayetteville

    Now I have a question: Was he really homeschooled?

    OPEN MOUTH, INSERT FOOT…

    Filed on December 4, 2009 at 12:12 pm under by dcobranchi

    Be “reassigned”

    NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — In a management shake-up Friday, General Motors acting chief executive Ed Whitacre pulled long-time auto executive Bob Lutz out of his role as head of marketing, putting him in a new role as an advisor on global design and product development.

    I have absolutely no evidence that this move was related to Lutz’ call for the federal gov’t to increase gasoline taxes, but if I were CEO I think I’d want my head of marketing to have some sense of the market. Calling for the feds to raise gasoline taxes in a terrible economy just so GM can sell more cars is just plain stupid.

    FUCK GM

    Filed on December 2, 2009 at 7:51 pm under by dcobranchi

    How to lose friends and negatively influence consumers:

    Government help at the local and national levels will be needed to make a car like the Volt a commercial success, said Lutz in a question-and-answer session following his speech.

    First, federal gasoline taxes would need to be higher to push the price of fuel up to the point that paying the extra cost of a battery-powered car would be worthwhile.

    “We’re not advocating that,” he said, “but if we don’t do that it’s going to get very difficult to sell these vehicles.”

    Shorter GM: Yeah, the car is uncompetitive, so we want the feds to punish every other car company and all consumers so that we might be able to sell a few more Volts.

    Fuck ’em and the car they rode in on.

    THE STOOPID!

    Filed on December 1, 2009 at 5:18 pm under by dcobranchi

    It burns!

    This anti-NASA piece made my brain hurt. Just a little taste (since misery loves company):

    $577 million for heliophysics, the study of the sun and its effect on the solar system, equaling the amount of Missouri transportation projects to be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

    Of course. Studying the Sun is wasteful. Much better to give that money to Missouri to fill in potholes. I mean, it’s the Sun! It’s 93 million friggin’ miles away! That’s like even further away than France.

    I AM GOD!

    Filed on at 3:26 pm under by dcobranchi

    And so are you.

    [via PZ]

    SICK OF CYBER MONDAY

    Filed on November 30, 2009 at 6:22 am under by dcobranchi

    It was a cute marketing gimmick when most folks had high-speed access only at work. Now nearly everyone does their online shopping from Thursday at midnight on. Please kill Cyber Monday once and for all.

    LA LA LAND

    Filed on November 23, 2009 at 11:16 pm under by dcobranchi

    Did anyone outside Seattle know that there was a big soccer game (match?) yesterday?

    OH! MY! FSM!

    Filed on November 22, 2009 at 8:12 am under by dcobranchi

    The LOTD really does capture well the “spirit” of Fayetteville, NC.

    Thanks to those who help others

    I am impressed by the quick response of those concerned who came by to help me take care of my car that suddenly stopped on my way to my doctor’s appointment.

    I can’t find a word of how to express my feeling of gratitude towards those men who came by and, with their helping hands, pushed my stalled car out of the roadway into a proper place. (This goes to the Ray Auto Parts service technicians, Auto Zone parts manager, military man and to Brian of the I&M Repair Shop.)

    Here in North Carolina, particularly in some areas, we can still find beautiful Christian people who have a good heart and are willing to help. Truly, they believe that God, the creator, exists. I believe that there are many souls rejoicing in heaven because of people like them who have love for one another.

    By doing so, we fulfill to follow the steps of our Lord, Jesus Christ, in the glory of God through the works of the Holy Spirit.

    Thank you and many more blessings come to family Christian people and to those who sincerely believe.

    Leonor L. Aguilar
    Spring Lake

    I wonder if Mrs. Aguilar has ever read (and understood) the story of the Good Samaritan.

    MISSPENT YOUTH

    Filed on November 21, 2009 at 9:50 am under by dcobranchi

    You remember all those stories we told ourselves about becoming professional pinball (or video game) players? Totally silly. Except that some folks really can make a little money playing games. Jonathan (age 10) was among 10 gamers invited to participate in a Flash game tournament based on his scores on some game site. First prize is a $2000 Alienware laptop.

    He’s made it to the finals.

    51?

    Filed on November 20, 2009 at 6:07 pm under by dcobranchi

    This story is really strange. A guy strangled his wife while he was dreaming. Weird, huh? The article says that fewer than 50 cases of this disorder (called “automatism”) have been documented worldwide. What’s even weirder is that I’ve had this happen to me. Years ago I was having some kind of violent dream and sat up in bed, drew back my fist, and was preparing to punch Lydia. It was only her shouting at me that woke me up before I could really hurt her.

    MORE BLOOD

    Filed on at 5:56 pm under by dcobranchi

    Nine more hours today. I decided to try to listen to the wingnuts as performance artists in an absurdist comedy. They make much more sense when viewed that way.

    LOTD

    Filed on November 16, 2009 at 10:47 am under by dcobranchi

    Mary Ann Lauer is right about only one thing here. Rush Limbaugh is quite intelligent (compared to her).

    Popularity not worth appearing weak

    The world doesn’t “like” us any better. They liked us fine before. They just need to be reminded. Ask a Frenchman if he speaks German, and if he says “no,” reply “You’re welcome.” Remind him of the 60,757 Americans buried in France, giving their lives to restore France’s freedom. The same throughout Europe: There are more than 104,000 American serviceman buried there. All we asked in return was a place to bury our dead. How many French, Dutch, Italians, Belgians or Brits are buried on U.S. soil, defending us against our enemies?

    We don’t ask for praise, but we don’t need to apologize, which is what our president did on his recent trip overseas. And that deserves a peace prize? He has made us appear weak so, of course, they like us. Many other deserving people who have been mentioned in other letters have been passed over for this honor.

    How about Obama staying home and making us feel better about ourselves? Do we really care if the other countries like us? They want our money, they want to come to our country and not learn our language, and still accept our charity here also.

    It may be that Rush Limbaugh speaks the truth you are afraid to hear. He’s really quite intelligent and undeserving of name-calling.

    Also the “motivational” speech given to school children? The final speech was totally different than originally planned. It was changed after many parents complained upon hearing it.

    Mary Anne Lauer
    Foxfire Village

    If I remember my WWII history correctly, the war started in 1938 and we immediately jumped in on the Allies’ side. What’s that? You say we didn’t get into the war in Europe until almost 4 years later when Germany declared war on us? And that we were officially neutral while Germany took France? But I thought we were Europe’s savior.

    As for Obama’s speech being changed after many parents complained upon hearing it, I call “Bullshit!” Many parents complained about what the super-genius Limbaugh and his dittoheads thought was in it. That’s a completely different animal.

    BOYCOTT AMAZON.COM!

    Filed on November 13, 2009 at 6:49 pm under by dcobranchi

    Why? Because the idiots at the AFA put them at the top of their (alphabetically sorted) “nice” list. I’m shopping at all of the stores on the “naughty” list, of course. BN.com, here I come!

    BLEEDING FROM THE EARS

    Filed on at 6:45 pm under by dcobranchi

    I drove up from FAY to NJ today. Nine hours in the car. Along the way I must have heard bits and pieces of about 37 different Republicans and their water-carriers pontificating about the decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in the US. What fucking morons! I swear all 37 don’t come up to 100 points on the IQ scale. Combined. The absolute dumbest “concern” was expressed by some really, really dumb congressman who wondered if Mohammed were acquitted would he be released into the US. Now why would/how could anyone even think that was a possibility? Do we have a special line at ICE for alleged terrorist masterminds who escape conviction?

    RANDOM HED OF THE DAY

    Filed on November 11, 2009 at 9:27 pm under by dcobranchi

    I have no idea what this means but it sounds cool:

    The Nudes of Dr. Moreau
    An Internet Bricoleur Questions Photographic Ontology

    I’LL TAKE AN “A” FOR $200, ALEX

    Filed on at 9:19 pm under by dcobranchi

    A: This NC school decided to sell better grades as a fundraiser
    Q: What is “Reason #4,506,345 to homeschool”?

    DAMN YANKEES!

    Filed on November 5, 2009 at 5:34 pm under by dcobranchi

    And “God Damn Godzilla!”

    I’m a born (in the Bronx) and bred Yankees fan, so I’ve been walking around wearing a smile all day.

    OH, GOD!

    Filed on November 1, 2009 at 10:23 am under by dcobranchi

    Another Life in Fayetteville LOTD. This one is all about home ed and the Truth:

    Religious blinders create division

    Cheers to you, Kelly Biermann, for a well-written letter (“Home-schooling a positive experience,” Oct. 14). As a graduate of a North Carolina homeschool, I would like to add that you can participate in the North Carolina Home School Graduation. The graduation takes place every May at the N.C. Home School Convention in Winston-Salem. The ceremony is very similar to graduating from any public high school.

    The speech given to my graduating class was very moving. The speaker told us that he was very sorry because his generation and our parents’ generation had let things go for far too long. His speech (as I understood it) could be summarized to say that we the graduates have a lot of work to do to turn this country around, and this was almost 10 years ago.

    What I’m trying to say is that the general public fails to understand that this is “One Nation Under God” and it is “Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all,” but when you take God out of the picture it makes us divisible by money, race and culture. Where is the line that divides true liberty from liberalism? How can we provide justice when you throw the Judge out of the equation?

    The Bible may not contain the only laws, but it does contain the most important ones. If we as people would throw our religious blinders away and find true faith, then we could find the truth: Jesus.

    Justin Hall
    Hope Mills

    That may be the most religiously bigoted letter I’ve ever seen. Talk about blinders!

    SORRY, KIDS…

    Filed on October 31, 2009 at 6:29 am under by dcobranchi

    We’re not handing out candy this year. It’s eeeeevil.

    During this period demons are assigned against those who participate in the rituals and festivities. These demons are automatically drawn to the fetishes that open doors for them to come into the lives of human beings. For example, most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches.

    I do not buy candy during the Halloween season. Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the innocent whether they get it by going door to door or by purchasing it from the local grocery store. The demons cannot tell the difference.

    Yes, candy is eeeeeevil. But is it concentrated Evil? That’s what I want to know.

    MLB: HIRE ME!

    Filed on October 30, 2009 at 6:28 am under by dcobranchi

    More questionable umpiring in Game 2 last night, one against each team.

    I got both calls right in real time.

    OH, GOD!

    Filed on October 28, 2009 at 4:20 am under by dcobranchi

    Are y’all watching Mr. Deity Season 3? If not, you decent sample of random atheist liberals ought to be. The latest has Lucy/Lucifer arguing for science and rationality.

    CoH

    Filed on October 27, 2009 at 4:35 pm under by dcobranchi

    200th edition here.

    FUCK GM!

    Filed on October 26, 2009 at 10:36 pm under by dcobranchi

    For years and years they claimed that their surveys said consumers didn’t care about mpg. They lied.

    Well, this reinforces my earlier decision to never buy a GM product.

    DEAR DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE

    Filed on at 11:57 am under by dcobranchi

    Yes, I really was serious. No more money until after the Senate passes a bill with a real public option. Snowe’s trigger would be a billion dollar gift to the deservedly hated insurance industry. If the Democratic Party wants to commit electoral suicide, I don’t feel it necessary to assist the suicide with my dollars.

    UPDATE 3:20 p.m. Harry Reid has just announced that the bill put forward to the floor will include the opt-out public option!

    WORDS TO LIVE BY

    Filed on October 25, 2009 at 7:02 am under by dcobranchi

    The good doctor is speaking specifically about alternative “treatments” for cancer, but the ideas are equally valid for vaccines. The anti-science wackos should, but won’t, take note.

    JOHN DEWEY: PROTO-UNSCHOOLER

    Filed on at 5:55 am under by dcobranchi

    Yeah, the education guru had some radical ideas. And the fundies hated him, too.

    THE END OF THE WORLD AS THEY KNOW IT

    Filed on October 23, 2009 at 5:18 pm under by dcobranchi

    Oh, noes! All of the pastors are heading directly to jail because the Dems have finally passed the hate crimes bill. ONN is not happy.

    WORST. UMPIRING. EVER.

    Filed on October 21, 2009 at 4:52 am under by dcobranchi

    The umpires at last night’s Yankees-Angels game should not be allowed near an MLB park ever again. Blown calls left and right, including a rules interpretation by the crew chief that was so obviously wrong that I was amazed the Angels didn’t play the game under protest.

    The umpires are making a joke of the playoffs. MLB had better do something about how crews are chosen for the postseason. The current “system” is broken.

    POSSIBLY A FIRST

    Filed on October 17, 2009 at 6:10 pm under by dcobranchi

    Has there been another Canadian HEK who has won the Nobel in Physics?

    GIVE ME AN “H”! GIVE ME AN “E”! GIVE ME AN “R”!

    Filed on October 16, 2009 at 8:40 pm under by dcobranchi

    Since we’re talking about religion, here’s the LOTD. It’s a typical Life in Fayetteville one:

    Good deeds bring us closer to God

    People never cease to amaze me. I wrote and published a book, “Are You Going To Heaven?” I show people. I’m told, “I don’t need that, I go to church when I can or every Sunday.” That’s great, but that alone won’t get you to heaven.

    You have faith; what about deeds? “What do you mean?” I explain, read your Bible every day; start with James 2:14-24. The more time you spend with the Bible, praying, doing for others you don’t even know in nursing homes or hospitals, visiting the sick to cheer them up, that’s what God wants us to do.

    Many people swear, misuse the Lord’s name; it’s a no-no. Don’t swear in front of children, who pick it up not knowing it’s wrong.

    God wants people of integrity, open and honest. Pray, “Father, I trust you to work in and through me. Make me strong so I may accomplish all that you ask of me. Amen.” Don’t love the world or anything in it, for boasting of what one has or does is not from the Father. Men who do the will of God live forever. Don’t be afraid, the Lord your God goes with you, will not forsake you.

    Read Proverbs 6:16-19 and Proverbs 4:1-25 to get wisdom and understanding.

    All that I have accomplished was by God’s power and grace. All the glory must go to God!

    Esther Holcombe
    Fayetteville

    I think I’m going to write a LttE singing the praises of the FSM.

    PLAYING THE VICTIM CARD

    Filed on October 15, 2009 at 5:40 pm under by dcobranchi

    Poor Rush Limbaugh. It’s all Obama’s fault, of course.

    ANSWER: BARBECUED CHICKEN WITH ALL THE FIXIN’S

    Filed on October 14, 2009 at 6:23 am under by dcobranchi

    Question: What goes just right with a book and Bible burning?

    CANTON, N.C. (October 13, 2009)—The Amazing Grace Baptist Church in Canton, N.C. will celebrate Halloween by burning Bibles that aren’t the King James Version, as well as music and books and anything else Pastor Marc Grizzard says is a satanic influence.

    Among the authors whose books Grizzard plans to burn are well known ministers Rick Warren and Billy Graham because he says they have occasionally used Bibles other than the King James Version, which is the sole biblical source he considers infallible.

    According to the church’s Web site, members will also burn “Satan’s music such as country, rap, rock, pop, heavy metal, western, soft and easy, southern gospel, contemporary Christian, jazz, soul (and) oldies.

    “We will also be burning Satan’s popular books written by heretics like Billy Graham, Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, John McArthur, James Dobson, Charles Swindoll, John Piper, Chuck Colson, Tony Evans, Oral Roberts, Jimmy Swagart, Mark Driskol, Franklin Graham, Bill Bright, Tim Lahaye, Paula White, T.D. Jakes, Benny Hinn, Joyce Myers, Brian McLaren, Robert Schuller, Mother Teresa, The Pope, Rob Bell, Erwin McManus, Donald Miller, Shane Claiborne, Brennan Manning (and) William Young.

    During the book burning, according to the Web site, barbecued chicken fried chicken and “all the sides” will be served.

    Canton is 5 hours from here. That’s way too close, IMO.

    OH! MY! GOD!

    Filed on October 12, 2009 at 7:22 pm under by dcobranchi

    I miss the good ol’ days when Zero Intelligence would blast edu-crats for their complete idiocy in enforcing zero tolerance policies. This story, in my old home town, would have probably made his Top Ten of All Time.

    Finding character witnesses when you are 6 years old is not easy. But there was Zachary Christie last week at a school disciplinary committee hearing with his karate instructor and his mother’s fiancé by his side to vouch for him.

    Zachary’s offense? Taking a camping utensil that can serve as a knife, fork and spoon to school. He was so excited about recently joining the Cub Scouts that he wanted to use it at lunch. School officials concluded that he had violated their zero-tolerance policy on weapons, and Zachary was suspended and now faces 45 days in the district’s reform school.

    I had one of those utensils in Cub Scouts, too. The knife has a blunt end. You couldn’t cut butter with it, let alone a person.

    UPDATE: There’s even a bit of a homeschooling angle to this.

    “Something has to change,” said Dodi Herbert, whose 13-year old son, Kyle, was suspended in May and ordered to attend the Christina district’s reform school for 45 days after another student dropped a pocket knife in his lap. School officials declined to comment on the case for reasons of privacy.

    Ms. Herbert, who said her son was a straight-A student, has since been home-schooling him instead of sending him to the reform school.

    Heh, Traci– Maybe DHEA can give her a call to see if she needs some help.

    TOO FAT

    Filed on at 6:01 pm under by dcobranchi

    Here’s the kid:

    PRE-EXISTING CONDITION?

    Filed on October 11, 2009 at 12:08 pm under by dcobranchi

    Another nail in the coffin for the existing “health care” system. After Obama signs the HCR reform bill into law, I think we ought to send a big “thank you” to the insurance companies for making it possible.

    EDUCATION NEXT

    Filed on October 8, 2009 at 6:14 pm under by dcobranchi

    QOTD:

    We need to rethink the whole four year college experience – this isn’t working, and it may be setting us further back as a society.

    More here.

    DEAR RUSH LIMBAUGH,

    Filed on at 6:44 am under by dcobranchi

    You must eat at least once every 6 months. This is an absolute requirement for healthy living. Your government strongly urges you to eat at least once every six months.

    Signed,

    Kathleen Sebelius

    Limbaugh: “You’ll be healthier” if you don’t listen to the government. Limbaugh stated on his nationally syndicated radio program, “I’m not seeing these mass deaths from the swine flu. … All I see is a bunch of typical government panic and hype.” He added, “Who put the notion that you gotta have this shot, or this nasal spray — whatever the hell the vaccine is — whoever the hell put in your head the notion that you gotta do it? Government did. The Obama government, to be specific. It is one of my fervent objectives and goals … to convince as many people as possible that the damn government is not God, and nobody in it even comes close to being as competent as you are to run your life. And yet, ‘Oh my God, the government report says …’ The next time you hear ‘The government says…’ don’t believe it. You’ll be healthier, trust me.” [The Rush Limbaugh Show, 10/7/09]

    Limbaugh: “Screw you, Ms. Sebelius! I am not going to take it, precisely because you’re now telling me I must.” Limbaugh stated in response to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ call for widespread use of the vaccination, “Screw you, Ms. Sebelius! I am not going to take it, precisely because you’re now telling me I must. It’s not your role, it’s not your responsibility, and you do not have that power. I don’t want to take your vaccine. I don’t get flu shots.” Limbaugh later added, “I’m just like — I’m a contrarian, I’m a non-conformist — you have some idiot government official demanding, telling me I must take this vaccine. I’ll never take it.” [The Rush Limbaugh Show, 10/7/09]

    Limbaugh and Beck seem to be in a race to see who can kill more people by promoting anti-vax hysteria. Morons!

    BELIEVE IT OR NOT

    Filed on October 6, 2009 at 4:07 am under by dcobranchi

    These are two real projects from the Religious (Extreme) Right:

    Adopt a LiberalTM (Seriously. They really did register the mark.) [via Amygdala]

    The Conservative Bible Project [via the General]

    I think our side may be winning.

    WORST. PRODUCTS. EVER

    Filed on October 5, 2009 at 9:56 pm under by dcobranchi

    Obama Chia Pets. In Happy or Determined pose. Ugh!

    <---- PLEASE TAKE NOTE

    Filed on at 5:54 pm under by dcobranchi

    of the text ads in the left side bar. They help to spread HERP&ES. 🙂

    COMPLETELY COOL TRIVIA

    Filed on at 5:48 pm under by dcobranchi

    Why do identical twins have different fingerprints?

    LOTD

    Filed on at 2:26 am under by dcobranchi

    Snark or lunacy? You make the call:

    Big Green Machine can handle Iran

    I watched the United Nations General Assembly because I am still trying to wrap my brain around the purpose of the U.N.

    I did not learn anything new about the U.N. They are still a bunch of international politicians, most of whom are jealous of the United States.

    I did learn that there is a country called Iran with a leader named Ahmadinejad who sees the U.S. with disdain and he wants to wipe Israel off of the map. He denies the Holocaust and is aggressively pursuing nukes.

    Apparently, Iran’s neighbors share a similar ideology.

    If I were the leader of this country and to keep this sociopath in check, I would park the U.S. military, a.k.a.. the Big Green Machine, on both sides of this rogue nation and draw fire.

    I am not sure what countries flank Iran and I may be wrong about this shared ideology. As an American, I should probably look at a map and read a history book.

    Patrick McNamara
    Pinehurst

    FEEL GOOD STORY OF THE DAY

    Filed on October 4, 2009 at 5:21 pm under by dcobranchi

    A really nice coming out celebration for a kid. Scroll down to the main body of the diary before reading the updates. It’ll make more sense.

    MISLEADING HED OF THE DAY

    Filed on October 3, 2009 at 10:29 am under by dcobranchi

    From USA Today:

    Social Security collectors up 19%

    Any normal reading of that would have a HUGE jump in the number of folks collecting SS. Not so, as the lede explains:

    The number of retired workers who began collecting Social Security benefits jumped by a record 19% in the 2009 fiscal year that ended Wednesday as aging Baby Boomers and the unemployed chose to retire early.

    More than 2.6 million retired workers entered the Social Security system, up from 2.2 million in fiscal 2008.

    STRANGE (ALMOST) COINCIDENCE

    Filed on at 7:37 am under by dcobranchi

    I drove back from WV yesterday. 8 hours in the car, alone with only the radio. Scanning through the AM band I came across some radio preacher (this is WV, remember) going on about Hell and all of the scientific evidence for it and how atheists are really going to have a bad day eternity. Somewhere along the way he mentioned that the famous atheist Tom Paine allegedly had some kind of death-bed conversion. I’m not sure how someone facing their death and succumbing to the mythologies of the day is supposed to be any kind of evidence for Hell, but I’m not a radio preacher. Their ways are too deep for mere mortals (and scientists), I suppose. And now for the (almost) coincidence. For completely unrelated reasons P.Z. Myers posted less than 24 hours later that Paine was not an atheist at all.

    Hmmm. It’s almost like someone is trying to tell me not to believe the radio preachers. 🙂

    NOT A HOMESCHOOLING STORY

    Filed on October 2, 2009 at 6:45 pm under by dcobranchi

    I’m not sure why the fact that their daughters are HEKs is relevant:

    AKRON — ”This is one of the worst cases we’ve ever come across,” said Akron Police Lieutenant Rick Edwards. A couple living on Akron’s near east side have been arrested with child pornography.

    Detectives believe the couple has been making kiddie porn for years.

    Truck driver Michael Lee Winland, 37, and Stephennie Murphy, 31, are both behind bars. They are the parents of two girls, ages 8 and 10, who were both home-schooled.

    SO MANY QUESTIONS…

    Filed on September 30, 2009 at 3:09 am under by dcobranchi

    and so clueless. The LOTD from my local paper:

    Home-schooling may limit education

    Homeschooling is great in teaching proper moral values and patriotic understanding of American ideas. The one-on-one instruction also gives children an opportunity to learn more by not being involved in other distractions we find in public schooling (“Home schooling takes off,” Sept. 4).

    My concern is the isolation of these home-schooled children. Are they getting a chance to see and learn from other cultures that are part of America? Do they get to interact with and understand other people? Are they witnessing one side of a particular culture, religion, political group and not having the interactions to other ideas and beliefs that would allow children to grow and form their own opinions based on all the facts?

    We have seen in the past family compounds or closed groups that held onto certain beliefs and found that many children were brainwashed and abused. They also were home-schooled without seeing outside communities.

    I’m also wondering if home schooling is a different way of segregation under a different name, since those who are home schooled fall into a certain income bracket. Many who fall into minority groups do not enjoy this income bracket and use the public school system.

    For those who are home schooled, are we robbing them of the experience of all the American people, so they can make their own decisions with facts and not just control information, therefore allowing true spiritual growth of our children?

    Anthony P. Castillo
    Fayetteville

    Yes. Yes. No. No.

    I hope that clears it up.

    AND THE WINNERS IN THE CATEGORY OF

    Filed on September 27, 2009 at 4:39 pm under by dcobranchi

    most hackneyed cliche are…

    Matt Fisher, Alden Ford, and Justin Tyler for “HomeSchooled” (New York, NY)

    Three highly intelligent but socially inept home-schooled brothers try to make their way in New York City.

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