"Equal time"

From the state that gave us grunge rock, Nike shoes, Microsoft's home offices and Mt St Helens, I give you some new "tolerance:" OLYMPIA, Wash. -- An atheistic sign is included in the state Capitol's holiday display that includes a holiday tree and a Christian nativity scene. The sign, a new addition this year, is sponsored by the Freedom from Religion Foundation. The sign reads, "Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds." Annie Laurie Gaylor, foundation co-president, said in a prepared statement that the sign is a reminder of the "real reason for the season, the winter solstice." The solstice, on Dec. 21 this year, is the shortest day of the year. Isn't that sweet? This isn't the same group that did the bus signage in DC. That would be the American Humanist Association. They, at least, made a pretense of saying that they were doing the signs on the buses in order to market to "like minded individuals who feel left out during the holidays." Yes, they did that by taking a swipe at Christians with there "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness sake" message. However, that strikes me as smarmy rather than mean spirited. This signage, in Olympia, is decidedly mean spirited. The problem with both instances is the same. Both efforts are pathetic marketing. If you have any desire to be persuasive, in the least, you damage your appeal by actively attacking the competing party. Of course, I don't believe this is a real attempt at gaining equal time for a message. This is done for the simple reason that they want to be offensive jerks. How do I know that? Well, I'm not a christian because I'm a saint. I'm an offensive jerk and I know an offensive jerk behavior. I know it because I excel at it. I played hockey for 16 years, I have the penalty minutes to prove that I'm an exceptional offensive jerk. So call this what it is: It's the pathetic, banal response of the pseudo-intellectual narcissist. They are so sure of their intellectual superiority over the masses that they clamor to have the attention and adulation of those they despise. In this desire to stroke their own ego, they lash out like a spoiled child at anything that distracts from their self-anointed elevation from the masses, by the masses. When they see anything that distracts the hated masses from worshiping them they attack it. In this, religion is not an opiate of the masses, as they so quickly call it. It is an inhibitor to the opiate of recognition they seek. They are foolish, spoiled brats who want to break the things of others because, unlike the members of the competing religions whom are not diminished by the worshiping of other faiths, they are diminished by all who do not worship them. They are driven by pride, because there is no beneficial, philanthropic desire that drives them. They are owned by ego and hubris as they seek to destroy the beliefs of others. That is why they fail. That is why they are not persuasive. That is why these little cute efforts make them look like the bitter, hateful ones. I'm sure that someone out there is going to read this and say "See that guy says he's a Christian but that wasn't very loving or accepting. He's a hypocrite." Well, no shit Sherlock. However, check the references. I'm not claiming to be perfect. Christ was. And guess what? He forgives me for the fact that I'm a little pissed. And as for the Freedom from Religion Foundation, I'll add you to my prayer list and I'll send you a Christmas card this year. Mine will look like this: God ---> The earth ---> Solstice---> Christ "Sorry, God's still the reason for the season. He made the solstice." Enjoy.

Welcome wagon ....

Plus... igloos!!!!

S.T.F.U ... I mean ... really ... just S.T.F.U.

... A divorce lawyer from Lethbridge [Alberta] with a second-rate patronage job just ordered a Canadian pastor to stop communicating to anyone, ever, about gays. Not to stop "hate speech" -- whatever that malleable legal definition is. She just told him to shut up, period. And then she orders that Rev. Boissoin and his group are: ...prohibited from making disparaging remarks in the future about Dr. Lund or Dr. Lund's witnesses relating to their involvement in this complaint.. Again, not banned from "hate speech", whatever that is today; but banned from disparaging remarks about Lund, an anti-Christian activist, who now is "protected" not just from Rev. Boissoin's alleged anti-gay remarks, but from his political criticism of his own tormentor. Apparently, being a busy-body human rights complainant-of-fortune is a new "protected ground" of hate speech. Become one, and no-one can ever say anything "disparaging" about you again. Ever. Not even in an e-mail. ... I'll do it, and I'll say it: IMO, Lori Andreachuk is a moron.

Garden Nazis ....

Dear [name redacted], [name redacted], and [name redacted] and other Members of the Board of Directors of Carleton Condominium Corporation [number redacted] Re: Gardening areas per your note of May 28, 2008 Thank you for responding so quickly, however, I have a few questions: You wrote: Your plans for hostas and impatiens along the back path, north to the gate of #5, are aligned with our original plan, as discussed on Sunday. Throughout the grounds, we tend to use white and several shades of pink impatiens – we’ll drop off a plug or two to illustrate, but any shades of pink and/or white would align well with the common grounds impatiens. (We prefer to avoid orange impatiens.) So … what about the orange nasturtiums? What about fruity nasturtium which often gets pickled? Can they be supplanted by any other colour? What’s so great about white or pink impatiens? What have you got against orange impatiens? What about peach impatiens? If I didn’t hope for a better future, I’d call you garden variety racists. Very best regards, c.c. [good neighbours, so I’ll keep them out of it]