Comments for Human Tales

Comment on 0013 Human Tales - The Un-Anointing of a Polk County Road by Bill Calhoun

Tue, 15 May 2012 16:02:57 +0000

Many years ago, my wife and I explored the possibility of retiring in Lakeland, Polk County. Man, am I glad we passed on that idea.

There’s obviously something in the water there that activates a “stupid” synapse in some public officials’ brains.

Just think, a traffic ticket there could be punished by locking you in a room and exposing you to 24 hours of Billy Graham.

Comment on 0014 Human Tales - Mormon Mythology, Morality, and Mitt Romney by Chris Robison

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 01:10:04 +0000

I didn’t get a chance to see this talk when you gave it, though I remember wanting to. Your delivery was great, with what I thought was a good mixture of humor, information, and humanity toward the subject at hand. After listening to this, I know a lot more about Mormonism than before, and the mindset you outline throughout the talk explains a lot about the family and social dynamics of the several Mormons I knew back home. Keep up the good work!

Comment on 0014 Human Tales - Mormon Mythology, Morality, and Mitt Romney by xpalmer

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:44:06 +0000

1. Sorry the recording quality is not perfect. 2. A Mormon prophet is chosen not by who is the oldest at the time of death of the previous prophet, but by who has served the longest in the quorum of the 12 apostles at the time of the previous prophet’s death.

Comment on Rehash of Florida No Aid Clause Removal by Michael Charles Augustine

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 04:47:03 +0000

Religions are exempt from taxes and should not also be allowed to accept money from the government that they do not have to pay taxes into. A moment of quiet reflection does not need any change in prayer laws. Clever wording in order change the prayer in school law is a thinly veiled attempt to set precedent and allow open prayer in schools. I believe it is better to avoid prayer in schools that should remain secular so as to accomadate the many religeons that occupy the school. In that way it may also be preserving freedom of religeon for the many different persuasions.

Comment on Our Adopt-a-Street sign has been vandalized. by Daniel H

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 22:06:26 +0000

Well said, James. I particularly love the bit about atheists picking up litter while the vandals deface city property.

Is there a way to know when you guys are meeting for cleanups without having to reactivate my Facebook account?

Comment on Our Adopt-a-Street sign has been vandalized. by Seer

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:52:39 +0000

It might be worth it to print some bumper stickers on blue with white writing that just says “Atheists” so you can put the sticker up every time it gets vandalized.

Comment on Our Adopt-a-Street sign has been vandalized. by Mark

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:34:35 +0000

@Steve Pinkham

It only takes one person

Comment on Our Adopt-a-Street sign has been vandalized. by xpalmer

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:38:16 +0000

Good job man on the op-ed letter!

Comment on Our Adopt-a-Street sign has been vandalized. by Steve Pinkham

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:16:56 +0000

If that happened anywhere else in NC I would be unsurprised, but I got the impression that Asheville were a bit more progressive. Oh well, I guess basic decency is still above our southern brethren.

Comment on Not All Problems Stem from Religion by Kevin

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:37:41 +0000

Like you, I have vision problems that keep me from driving, at least until the self-driving vehicles are ready. I’m also an atheist and humanist. The voicemail message you left may have been as effective as a prayer, but at least there’s the potential for someone on the other end to hear it, right? I’ve also had to call and complain about a bus blowing past a stop, leaving me to call a cab, but Asheville is small enough that I actually talked to a person. That probably didn’t do much more than the voicemail, but I know that the incident was reported to the manager of the bus system and city staff from the transit department. I’m a member of the Asheville Transit Commission, so I meet with them at least once a month.

(Why doesn’t the captcha-like check have an audio version for those of us with vision issues? I have a magnification program, but for someone dependent on a screen-reader, that would prevent comments altogether.)

Comment on Our Adopt-a-Street sign has been vandalized. by aghost

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:49:04 +0000

the actual sign only made it exactly one month :/ goddamned atheists beautifying everything! next thing you know they’ll be planting the devil’s flowers and having vegetarian picnics in the park.

Comment on White House Responds to Pledge of Allegiance Petition by xpalmer

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:43:40 +0000

Nice post man. “Ask any school-aged child that is not Jewish or Christian if they feel that having to say “under God” brings them strength or instills a sense of proud heritage.” Nice.

Comment on 0005 Human Tales - Vegetarianism, Blasphemy, Modesty, Sex, Morality by xpalmer

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:03:03 +0000

Obv, I can’t spell “vegetarianism” to save my life. Oooo, that would suck if there actually was a spelling enforcement execution squad. I’d be doomed.

Comment on 0005 Human Tales - Vegetarianism, Blasphemy, Modesty, Sex, Morality by Jason Torpy

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:57:18 +0000

Here’s a 21-day vegan kickstart from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I would suggest this because it has lots of ideas, and reporting on one person’s 7-day no-meat trial probably won’t provide any relevant results.

http://pcrm.org/kickstarthome/

Also consider this - cheese and eggs are worse for you than lean meats. cheese and eggs result from lifelong harvesting which prolongs the suffering of the source-animals. If you move toward a vegan diet, give up cheese and eggs first as they are crueler, less healthy, and worse for the environment, then move to higher-order animal meat, and then lower-order animals meat (ie, cows to scallops). Or preferably, just go vegan.

Also see http://www.forksoverknives.com/ a popular new medical documentary which is essentially promoting a vegan diet although they avoid the word vegan.

Comment on 0005 Human Tales - Vegetarianism, Blasphemy, Modesty, Sex, Morality by Jason Torpy

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:52:25 +0000

I would clarify that feeling is more akin to responding to stimulus. Even microscopic bacteria can ‘feel’ and respond. But that is different than feeling pain in a way that is akin to suffering. It is relevant to make a distinction between response to stimulus and feeling pain (also apply to fetuses).

Second, you should make a distinction between living and dying. Humans have taken away the ability of farm animals to fend for themselves and bred them en masse to live lives of torture and suffering purely for the pleasure and convenience of humans. It’s like reverse genocide to not just kill of a species but to create one for subjugation.

Argue about tiny crustaceans and flies but don’t suggest a grey area about chickens, cows, buffalo, tuna - they feel pain. Also, being ok with steak because it tastes good is taking pleasure in suffering.

Here’s a post at Humanist Network News. If you want to get offended by a vegan argument, here you go. http://www.americanhumanist.org/HNN/details/2011-03-why-vegan-priorities-are-humanist-priorities As you consider your response, consider how religious people respond to Dawkins.

Comment on What is Skepticism?: An Elevator Speech by xpalmer

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:10:27 +0000

Thanks for the extra book list, Jason. I intend to write a “What is Humanism” elevator speech soon. Thanks for your input on that too.

Comment on Not All Problems Stem from Religion by xpalmer

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:07:36 +0000

Thanks EllenBeth!

Comment on What is Skepticism?: An Elevator Speech by Jason Torpy

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 01:37:37 +0000

Humanism is based in two primary concepts - scientific naturalism and human-based, rational ethics. Scientific naturalism states that science is the best way to understand the world, and that through science, we know that the Earth, the universe, our bodies, and all the ways these things interact operate through natural, not supernatural, magical, or mystical means. The scientific method involves applying certainty only according to the weight of the evidence; evidence being comprised of empirical observation, theoretical mechanism, and peer affirmation. Human-based rational ethics provides a method to live our lives best by doing right by those around us. We can best understand what is right by using our evolved empathy as social animals and by applying reason, including ethical tools such as deontology, consequentialism, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics.

A concise list of 60 books introducing atheist, humanist, and skeptical topics and authors: http://www.militaryatheists.org/booklist.html

Comment on Not All Problems Stem from Religion by EllenBeth Wachs

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 01:21:36 +0000

That was pretty funny.

Comment on 0004 Human Tales - Jail or Jesus, Gut God, Jennifer Carrol, DADT by xpalmer

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:49:54 +0000

Here is the longer version of the soldier telling his dad. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DVAgz6iyK6A