Psychodiva's Mutterings FCD

so- I found him

2011-02-16T21:15:00.000Z

Mr Octavius giraldo-Vay - designer and engraver of really bad jewellery

Wants to meet people

is on Wayn

peddles his crap all over the net

The saga continues

2011-02-16T21:02:00.001Z

After getting himself banned for a week from the RA forum the git has now set his lapdogs on me:

ANTEK
New Member!

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: ..........
Posts: 2

Dear psychodiva

Pleas stop your hacker because I am getting bored ( he is really good).
I'm being attacked and you know packet filtering and all this shit makes me sleepy.
My lawyer is pushing me to contact Dutch and British authorities with all evidence collected and ruin your career (he contacted google and youtube already).
I am not interested in cyberwarfare with atheists. Nobody attacked your FB, blog or email and you know that so tell him to stop this fucking java script (this one is my favourite) on my facebook and those boring hijacking attacks.
You don't want to have new enemies.

Thank you

good night

nice and threatening eh? Like all bullies he thinks that mention of 'authorities' will scare me into doing- well- whatever it is they hope I'll do- forgetting as he (Cal) has been informed by me over the years - that i worked in the crimnal justice system here for quite some time and it does not phase me at all.

so- i asked him what he was going on about- I have no idea how to hack anything or set hackers on anyone- and a quick look at this guy's youtube page shows that there is nothing wrong with it - so he is accusing me of things that are lies.

he goes on

You posted my private message from hacked fb account, it is not a joke.
I don't mind being hacked but atheists you know. I don't like to cooperate with police.
It is between you and me
Think about it, I will cancel my profile now we have nothing to talk about.
Good night

no idea who the git is so no idea how to go about finding an FB account that belongs to him- and definitely no idea about hacking anything- then of course he obviously remembers about the threats re the police not working with me and backs down on that lol promises to cancel his profile- and still hasn't

I wonder if this is the guy?

I get stalked

2011-02-15T09:48:00.000Z

For some time I have been arguing with an idiot on ravingatheists.com forum - he asserts that religion is a mental illness and I ask for evidence- so he gets abusive and insulting. he has no ability to debate and no logical way of thinking so resorts to name calling instead (and calling it 'witty' insults lol)Recently he decided to start stalking me- to research me and then accuse me of child molestation - so from now on he has an enemy- me and all my friends :) this is a missive I received from him this morning

ROTFLMAO...I see what I was told about you been the Psycho nurse in ..... that is insecure & have mental problems.
Hey piece of shit retard this is a friend told me about you:

"I took my little daughter and run away to UK, did some work for F1 before the crisis, now we moved to NL, in Poland we have religion in public schools I had to protect my child against cognitive dissonance
Psychodiva ...... lying bich is a psychiatric Nurse".

So, the corrupt insane retard that is MOLESTING children is YOU, not me. Get a brain,

So there. Sorry the truth I present hurts, Please get educated & get that retarded brain fixed...and please quit insisting you are a mentally healthy, atheist, person. You are not, just an envious retard that can't stand the TRUTH. remember moron I've read your book.

he has a youtube channel where you can see his demented ramblings

he is on Think Atheist with a video supporting pedophilia - which is one of the many arguments I have had with him and probably why he is turning it back on me- as he thinks pedophilia was invented by christianity and it was all ok before then. He has even stated in exchanges with me on Raving Atheists that he has slept with boys in the past and that it is ok - of course when called out about this he backpedals and says he was 'just playing' to get a response from me.

He was brought up catholic in a very rich household and it shows in his disdain for anyone who doesn't have as much money as him- he calls people 'peasants' and accuses us of being 'jealous' of what he has (which is a rather over-designed and tawdry gilt-laden piece of trash in Chandler, Arizona, full of bad antiques) - he is an engraver / jewellery maker of tawdry overdone pieces who thinks that he has made connections between lots of disciplines- has never studied any of them in his life and instead skim reads papers looking for 'connections' to 'suport' his ideas. Yet thinks he is a polymath and has the right to tell people who have actually studied these disciplines that they are wrong-he even said yesterday that sam Harris didn't know anything about neurology- because he didn't agree with his 'idea' about religion being a mental illness lol. If you have the audacity to ask for supporting evidence, papers, research- anything that would give his idea a little backup- in fact if you disagree with him in any way at all he will rant and yell and insult you like a two year old child with ADHD and then accuse you of 'attacking the messenger and not the message'(which is what he does constantly).

He accuses people of being 'false atheists' because they were brought up in a country that has a religion - conveniently forgetting that he was brought up catholic and conveniently ignoring the fact that I was actually brought up with no religious beliefs at all.

Go see him on any of these sites and see what I mean- also- don't hold back- tell him what you think- the more people that do, the better.

For my Mum

2009-07-14T20:24:00.001+01:00

Mum died peacefully with her family around her this afternoon- this is for her- it describes her so well and it is she I have to thank for my rebelliousness, my bolshyness and my love of life

Warning - When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple
When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple

with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

and satin candles, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired

and gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

and run my stick along the public railings

and make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

and pick the flowers in other people's gardens

and learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

and eat three pounds of sausages at a go

or only bread and pickles for a week

and hoard pens and pencils and beer nuts and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

and pay our rent and not swear in the street

and set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

By Jenny Joseph

My Time of Day

2009-07-04T11:55:00.000+01:00

My time of day is the dark time
A couple of deals before dawn
When the street belongs to the cop
And the janitor with the mop
And the grocery clerks are all gone.

When the smell of the rainwashed pavement
Comes up clean, and fresh, and cold
And the streetlamp light
Fills the gutter with gold

That's my time of day
My time of day.

1950
Frank Loesser

2009-06-27T17:21:00.001+01:00

Q: How can I make an interesting blog?

Asked by scotthut

A: lol- mine is not interesting - so yu may want to head on over to Sean the blogonaut or Nullfidian or Pharyngula.

Ask Psychodiva a question.

I get published

2009-06-19T00:35:00.004+01:00

On Raving Atheists I have regular knock-down drag-out verbal fights with an idiot called Calpurnpiso- who think he knows a bit about psychiatry, psychology, neurology etc etc - anyhoo- he gets soooo annoying sometimes I just have to take the piss out of him because he really is not at any level of knowledge in any of the subjects other than what he has read in a few papers and text-books to have any real intelligent and useful discussion or debate with - he just thinks he is- and when I refuse to debate him he always assumes I am backing down - he has an 'idea' about religion and psychosis being connected in some way- which I'll admit is an interesting idea- but he just reads loads of random things and connects the dots in his head in a very random fashion akin to those conspiracy theorists and woo-merchants and well- homeopaths. If he actually came up with a coherent theory or hypothesis it may be worht talking about- but he doesn't- and every time I ask him- he gets abusive.

So I got mad one night and sent off a thing to the Urban Dictionary- not expecting it to be accepted - and it was!!! so here we are- I have defined a new word - to calpurnpiso is to be:

an annoying person addicted to and obsessed by a single theory, for which they have no evidence and to which they stick despite all evidence to the contrary.

See: RavingAtheists forum for hundreds of similar- if not identical posts:

Calpurnpiso says:"This is exactly my point. Religious-psychosis attacks brains susceptible to this form of schizophrenia mixed with temporal lobe epilepsy disease. This is my hypothesis since the cause of about 90% of neurologiocal disorders, including schizophrenia, TLE is unknown. If the cause of schizophrenia or TLE was known I would not be so certain religious DELUSIONAL BELIEFS, which are not unlike those produced by the schizophrenic, TLE, Drugged, Traumatized brain, are a form of mental illness!.

The brain is an organ like any other organs of the body, and they ALL are susceptible to illness some genetic and some acquired. Aren't some people born with underdeveloped optic nerve? Though having normal vision the brain can't interpret them correctly. Only over 50 years ago, these people would be labeled mentally retarded!"

it can be seen on this page here

the one thing I regret is- he will probably lap it up - and he is one of the biggest arseholes and wankers I have ever met in the decade or more I have been on the net.

ah well- I still got published in the UD !!!!!!

The law has no place in scientific disputes: Simon Singh petition - sign it!!!!

2009-06-04T19:42:00.002+01:00

The law has no place in scientific disputes
We the undersigned believe that it is inappropriate to use the English libel laws to silence critical discussion of medical practice and scientific evidence.

The British Chiropractic Association has sued Simon Singh for libel. The scientific community would have preferred that it had defended its position about chiropractic for various children's ailments through an open discussion of the peer reviewed medical literature or through debate in the mainstream media.

Singh holds that chiropractic treatments for asthma, ear infections and other infant conditions are not evidence-based. Where medical claims to cure or treat do not appear to be supported by evidence, we should be able to criticise assertions robustly and the public should have access to these views.

English libel law, though, can serve to punish this kind of scrutiny and can severely curtail the right to free speech on a matter of public interest. It is already widely recognised that the law is weighted heavily against writers: among other things, the costs are so high that few defendants can afford to make their case. The ease and success of bringing cases under the English law, including against overseas writers, has led to London being viewed as the "libel capital" of the world.

Freedom to criticise and question in strong terms and without malice is the cornerstone of scientific argument and debate, whether in peer-reviewed journals, on websites or in newspapers, which have a right of reply for complainants. However, the libel laws and cases such as BCA v Singh have a chilling effect, which deters scientists, journalists and science writers from engaging in important disputes about the evidential base supporting products and practices. The libel laws discourage argument and debate and merely encourage the use of the courts to silence critics.

The English law of libel has no place in scientific disputes about evidence; the BCA should discuss the evidence outside of a courtroom. Moreover, the BCA v Singh case shows a wider problem: we urgently need a full review of the way that English libel law affects discussions about scientific and medical evidence.

Signed

Click here to read additional comments from signatories

Sign this stament now

Main Page

Stephen Fry, Broadcaster and Author:
“It may seem like a small thing to some when claims are made without evidence, but there are those of us who take this kind of thing very seriously because we believe that repeatable evidence-based science is the very foundation of our civilisation. Freedom in politics, in thought and in speech followed the rise of empirical science which refused to take anything on trust, on faith, on hope or even on reason. The simplicity and purity of evidence is all that stands between us and the wildest kinds of tyranny, superstition and fraudulent nonsense. When a powerful organisation tries to silence a man of Simon Singh’s reputation then anyone who believes in science, fairness and the truth should rise in indignation. All we ask for is proof. Reasoned proof according to the established protocols of medicine and science everywhere. It is not science that is arrogant: science can be defined as ‘humility before the facts’ - it is those who refuse to submit to testing and make unsubstantiated claims that are arrogant. Arrogant and unjust.”

Professor Richard Dawkins, FRS, University of Oxford:
“This splendid manifesto hits so many bullseyes, I feel like adding my signature to every line of it. The English libel laws are ridiculed as an international charter for litigious mountebanks, and the effects are especially pernicious where science is concerned.”

Fucking Catholic crap carries on

2009-05-31T13:52:00.002+01:00

Bill Donohue's behaviour on this programme is typical of the hysterical crap he puts about claiming that his fucking religion is persecuted- his behaviour is so obviously that of a Merkin who is used to this crap being listened to and is used to behaving in such an obnoxious way - I love that he is taken down and given a new one by the guy who was a victim of abuse himself. Go listen and rage. - he calls it a 'moral panic' he says he has 'read about child abuse' and fails to remember that this is a judicial review that was undertaken, not one of his stupid little polls.

What. A. Fucking. Bigotted. Idiot

Swine Flu Scams

2009-05-25T11:21:00.004+01:00

Found this on the Skeptic Zone's Website - I couldn't put it better myself- so here it is.

Swine Flu Scam Alert

You might also want to visit the site- it is packed full of excellent interviews and podcasts.

While I'm at- I found this over on the site - a most excellent pamphlet indeed!

Anonymous needs to respond

2009-05-24T17:26:00.004+01:00

I'm not often lost for words- ask anybody that knows me- give me the box to stand on about certain subjects and I will yell- but this time? this time I'm just speechless- the Catholic Church- that 'holder of the wisdom of ages', that institution that is purported to guide people through the world towards a heaven of their imagining- well, I always knew it- I had read previous reports to which I had access due to my work - but this one? I am incoherent with rage. I will not quote from it- quotes can be found all over the web, accounts of torture and abuse that we have come to expect in Rwanda, Darfur, and other places - but Ireland- well again - a country that is so in the grip of an insitution such as the catholic church should have expected this to happen - anyone who has ever, like me, treated or assessed sex offenders would know this was going to happen - Ireland needs to kick this 'church' out once and for all.

It sounds like a cliche but reading it brings tears to my eyes- I also don't cry often - what I do do however, is therapy for kids and adolescents who have been abused- I hear stories of abuse every day and want to run and punch the dad or mum or other carer that has perpetrated this abuse on these vulnerable and scared kids that sit in front of me begging me- in actions but never words - to help them, so incoeherent with rage against the world that allowed this to happen to them that they can only communicate it through anger and destruction.

These Christians have carried out sustained and systematic torture of children over decades and they are going to get away with it- why? because they are part of that 'grand' institution the 'catholic church'. No other institution would get away with it- if a bunch of social workers under the guise of caring for kids in group homes were to do this they would not be able to hide, to keep their names out of the report - they would be named, they would be prosecuted, they would never again be permitted to work with children- what do these fucking priests get? Anonymity - well lets give it back--

Anonymous- I challenge you to turn away from the useless hounding of scientology and actually do something useful - start doing to the catholic church what you have done to scientology.

Protest outside the abbeys, the churches, the cathedrals, the seminaries where these people indoctrinate the massess - hand out the leaflets warning people against what the catholic church can do to a family- they have after all been doing it far longer and with far more success than the scientologists will ever do.

Please set up protests- I will join- i know members of my family will join. I believe the only way justice is going to be won against this monstrous institution is for the world to protest and to let the catholics know that it will no longer be tolerated.

So come on Anonymous- get off the wagon of scientology and make some real change in the world- you are a group that is already geared up for protests of this sort - you are perfect for the job- accept the challenge!!

Training

2009-05-17T14:00:00.002+01:00

This blog- sparse as it has been for the past year anyway - will now proceed to get more sparse as I start reading for my upcoming training in child and adolescent psychotherapy with the Tavistock Clinic. I f eel like I am having to relearn a lot of things from when I first trained in psychiatry back in the 90s - but from a different angle- no more medical model for me- but I have been working against that since I first qualified. My only regret is that I didn't find psychoanalysis training ealier in my career as to do it full time now would mean a loss in pay for me :( mortgages and other expenses mean I cannot give up my job so I am doing the training part-time and all the stress and overwork that entails means of course that this blog and many other things will fall by the wayside.

However- I can also see this blog being an outlet for my thoughts on my training and the process of changing me from psychiatric to psychoanalytical thinking - so maybe it will just evolve.? we shall see.

Car Booting

2009-05-04T09:12:00.001+01:00

Not a very atheist post this- but maybe it shows we have normal lives just like everybody else lol.

We spent most of Saturday clearing out the garage - finally we can get into it without crampons and a rope!!!!! anyhoo- on Sunday we got up at 6am and went off to the local car boot sale with two cars packed with goodies! we managed to sell a lot of old books and videos, a lot of old toys and some other junk and stuff that had just been hanging around in the garage for ages!

My daughter made enough money to go on a trip to the cinema :) and I made a little to go towards a new TV set :) which is cool.

While there we of course did the trawl ourselves- I found a rusty old oil lamp and a plaque / face mask of Bachus for the garden- plus some old metal rings and what looks like an old razor but when i finally got around to looking at it properly turned out to be a cigar clipper :)

Then right at the end I haggled with a guy who let me have a load of old documents from the 20s and 30s- a couple from the 50s- for £3! so I am happy :) I got into conversation with the bloke who asked what I did with the papers and I told him artwork and stuff to relax- he asked why I need to relax and I told him lol- why are people always so impressed by what I do for a living? it is not that bad- not as if I have to clean out toilets or clean up sick or put my life at risk like some people do.

I am also wind-burnt as we were sat in the middle of a field for 5 hours! freezing to death with cold wet feet lol I was sure I was going to go home with trenchfoot!

Today is a bank holiday so I intend to catch up on some ATC I am supposed to do and also a 'welcome to hell' pack I have to do for a swap :)

Tomorrow it is back to work- but not really as we are moving offices and I spent most of Friday packing y stuff up- so we are spending most of next week moving to the nice new place and settling in- only two appointments with kids and one meeting during the whole week- it will be like a holiday :)

The blue and the dim and the dark cloths

2009-05-03T16:52:00.004+01:00

Aedh wishes for the Cloths of Heaven

Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

W B Yeats

1.

sadness

2009-04-29T18:15:00.001+01:00

sadness, originally uploaded by psychodiva.

just seeing if the link works from Flickr :)

this is one of the photos I took on my visit up to Hull

35th Humanist Symposium- or Humanity's Extremes

2009-04-12T10:15:00.016+01:00

Welcome to the 35th edition of the Humanist Symposium- please be gentle with me as this is my first time :) the allusion will become clear as you read on.

Now, I'm supposed to try and find a connection between the various submissions that will help people relate to them in some way.

I at first found this difficult due to the apparent disparate nature of the posts but as I read on I found myself thinking that the overall theme of this month's symposium could easily be stated as 'The extremes of human nature': many of the posts covering topics such as death and sex but also some posts which could loosely be placed under the heading of extreme thought or an investigation of human feelings.

Which left me in a quandary- do I place the posts under these self-imposed headings or do I let the reader find their own groupings?

I decided that as I had the opportunity for an audience I would give my own thoughts on the posts some airing as this little blog is unlikely ever to have such an audience again :)

So- on to the submissions - under the loose heading of:

'Life as we know it'

Comes a post from Daylight Atheism which reminds us that life often needs support in a more practical way and asking us to think about how we, as atheists might lend that support through charitable means while also urging us to ignore the attitude of the 'perpetually disgruntled' in accusing us of being 'holier than thou'. I know I searched for a long time to find a charitable organisation without ties to any religion to which I could donate with a clear conscience - they are out there and Daylight Atheism appears to have found a good one.

I believe we have only one life and we should live it to the full - blinding myself to nature by laying a human face or feelings onto natural processes removes for me the wonder inherent in this world.A Nadder has a thoughtful post that reminds us of the extremes of nature and the way that the human habit of anthropomorphising blinds us to the real glory and wonder that can be seen if we only care to look.

Now for that allusion- under the loose heading of:

'A variety of sexual experiences'

Comes a wonderful satirical post from Cafe Philos designed to make us think about the inherent bigotry in religious beliefs about sex and sexuality.

Hot on the heels of that is a post by Glowing Face Man about human sexuality and the way religious belief constrains and changes it from something to be enjoyed and celebrated into something 'dirty' and deniable. In my practice as a therapist for kids, I come butting up against this 'belief' every day- it is a belief that I wish could be removed from the consciousness of many of the adolescents I see- it is a belief that hurts and maims the personality of many a teenager and carries on throughout their lives into adulthood and parenthood- it is a belief that makes me sad for all those people who do not enjoy life as a result of it.

To top off the sexuality theme a post by The evolving mind writes about a study undertaken by Prof Michael King into the use of therapy to change sexual orientation. As a therapist myself I found this disturbing and intriguing and hope that the wealth of possibilites for future posts is explored by evolving mind.

And from life comes......

'Death as we know it' which is explored by Living with Mormonswho writes with obvious sadness about attending the funeral for a friend who was a Mormon and successfully extrapolates this out to religious funerals in general and urges us to celebrate the life of the person, rather than the religion under which they lived.

And finally we have:

Human Nature and Extremes of Thought, a very loose heading indeed but probably containing some of the most thought-provoking submissions:

The Philly Chief over at You Made Me Say It proposes an alternative response to the assertion by many religious and non-religious people that 'you were never a real.......'.

Which brings me to loss of faith / religion which is explored by a submission from grrlscientist over at Living the Scientific Life which has a very good review of a book by William Lobdell about losing his religion- I must say that as a British native I had no idea who this person is but the review made it clear and helped me decide whether to read it or not. The most thought-provoking piece of the review comes at the end when the question is asked - who do people turn to in a crisis of life or faith? Are we as atheists, agnostics or Humanists ready to help people at these times?

Now to be completely honest with ourselves, in a crisis many of us will turn to what could be called 'prayer'- I know I have in the past- I may not have called it prayer but the way I was brought up, as an English child absorbing the culture of my time, a culture that told me 'when in crisis pray', I found it a hard habit to break and one that we all need to be more honest and thoughtful about- the post submitted from Blag Hag does just that and is another post that I would urge warrants further exploration in future posts.

Bigotry and anti-atheism is highlighted by The Atheist Revolution in a post about college student, Zac Smith, who wrote in his local college paper about the bigotry experienced as an atheist.

Epsilon Clue submits a post that at first glance I thought should go under the 'sex' heading but on closer reading is talking about application of the scientific method to everyday occurences, thoughts and questions - not the least of which are 'morality and feelings'- which leads me on to the human feeling of 'unhappiness'.

I see so many unhappy and damaged people in my everyday clinical practice - children and teenagers that have really good reasons to be unhappy, so that when I hear someone say they are unhappy due to, what to me is a spurious and unworthy reason, I have a tendency to get on my soapbox -why do people these days think they have a 'right' to be happy? Raptitude.com proposes a new way of looking at the 'struggle for happiness' that made me rethink my stance on the matter. Well worth reading and I would also urge a few more posts about the subject with deeper exploration of the new 'script'.

Lastly we have a post that can't really be placed under any heading - apart maybe from one that says- 'read this cos it is weird' :

Coquetting Tarradiddles (yes that's right) not only has a wonderful blog name but also a wonderful post on the extremes of human belief related to science and shows us that in the end religion is not the only harbinger of doom and repository for weird and wonderful thinking.

I hope you enjoy the submissions as much as I did and think about submitting to the next symposium which will be held at Bloc Raisonneur on 3rd May. Submissions can be made using this form.

blog carnival later

2009-04-12T09:34:00.001+01:00

will be later today (UK time) as I have spent thre last two days knocked out on medication :( sorry

Humanist Symposium

2009-03-25T14:22:00.002Z

I shall be hosting the next Humanist Symposium from 12th April. There should be a good variety of posts for your reading pleasure :) I look forward to it

The Woo is great in you !

2009-03-18T00:05:00.004Z

So- it's Monday morning and over here where I am it is time for the dreaded assessment clinic- other wise known as 'hell'.

So, I'm sitting in 'hell'- listening to this mother drivel on about this child- who will not talk to me and just sits there peeking out from behind her hair or for variety every now and then squirming in the seat and bringing the collar of her jacket up to her nose - and peeking out from behind that.

'Daddy' has also come (believe me this is a rare enough occurence for it to be mentioned with horns blowing and choirs singing) anyhoo- 'Daddy' is sat there on the other side of the girl alternately looking at the huge desk diary he has brought in with him and trying to speak whenever mum takes a breath- which is not often as far as I can tell.

(This seems to be a gender thing- why is it women can talk without breathing - or using circular breathing- and men can't? - answers on a postcard please)

Anyhoo again- 'Mummy' starts explaing to me that 'we' are not sleeping well, and 'we' are a very unhappy little girl who is refusing to go to school, and 'we' scream and kick 'Mummy' and 'Daddy' whenever they try to get 'her' to school. 'We' are not eating properly and 'we' have been quite ill this past year with horrible tonsillitis but now 'we' have had 'our' tonsils out 'we' are ok.

I have this vision at this point of a whole family being operated on at once in one theatre and it is at this point that I wake up and realise she is not talking about herself *sigh* but actually about the little girl who so obviously doesn't want to be in this room right now.

I haven't heard anyone speak in this manner for years so forgive me for being tardy on the Monday morning realisation.

Anyhoo- I do the assessment and 'Mummy', in response to my usual question of 'what have you tried before' and 'what have you found that works?' comes back with

"Well, we went to a homeopath and we felt a lot better afterwards didn't we?" This said while looking pointedly at little girl now hiding behind a cushion and then looking at 'Daddy' pointedly in a way that said- 'say you agree!'

My answer to this?

"Um"

"We also think maybe being a Scorpio could have an influence on her personality - what do you think?" "WE can be very stubborn you know - can't we?" - again looking at little girl who is now turned around in the chair looking at the wall.

My answer to that?

"Well"

and all the time all I could think was- what the fuck? What. The. Fuck. ??????

They come to me looking for help with mental health problems and give me this crap and woowoo about homecrapathy and astrobollocks?!!!!

Of course- being the ultimate professional that I am I said.

" I don't think I'm the right person to see your daughter- I'm thinking more along the lines of creative work as she finds it so difficult to communicate in words- what do you think? - I can make an appointment with our occupational therapist"

'Mummy' is still talking and 'Daddy' is still trying to talk as I usher them out the door. I still haven't seen what colour the little girl's eyes are- but boy am I thankful for hippy-dippy occupational therapists that don't want to hit people when they hear the words 'homeopathy' or 'star sign'.

Next week- the tale of the JW and Mormon families :)

TIM!!!!!!!

2009-03-09T22:55:00.001Z

Just booked to see Tim Minchin in October - coolness!!!!!!

here is a taste

I just realised how long it is since I blogged anything - bit busy these days- studying and whatnot - may get better soon :)

Pretentious Book Meme

2009-02-14T20:36:00.003Z

From Geoff Arnold

Apparently the BBC reckons most people will have only read 6 of the 100 books here.
Instructions:
1) Look at the list and put an ‘x’ after those you have read ENTIRELY
2) Add a ‘+’ to the ones you LOVE.
3) Star (*) those you plan on reading.
4) Tally your total at the bottom.

Here’s my response:

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen X+
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien X+
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte X
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling X
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee X+
6 The Bible X (including all the books they left out :)
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte X
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell X
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman X++
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens X
11 Little Women - Louisa M AlcottX
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy X
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller X++
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare X (yes even the Sonnets)
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du MaurierX
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien X+
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger X+
19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey NiffeneggerX++
20 Middlemarch - George EliotX
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret MitchellX
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott FitzgeraldX
23 Bleak House - Charles DickensX
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy X+
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams X+
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh X+
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor DostoyevskyX
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck X
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll X+
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame X+
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens X
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewisx (some only- they are a bit boring)
34 Emma - Jane AustenX
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen X
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis X EH? already in the CON?
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled HosseiniX
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres (EEK TRIED- BUT A MORE BORING FATUOUS BOOK i CANNOT IMAGINE)
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur GoldenX+
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne X+
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell X
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan BrownX (shamefully yes- but with much throwing of the book and swearing at the author)
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins X+
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM MontgomeryX
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy X
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood X++
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding X+
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan*
51 Life of Pi - Yann MartelX+
52 Dune - Frank Herbert X+
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons X+
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen X+
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth*
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens X
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley X+
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon X+
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez*
61 Of Mice and Men - John SteinbeckX
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov X
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre DumasX
66 On The Road - Jack KerouacX
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy X
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding X (EEK hated it tho)
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville X+
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens X
72 Dracula - Bram StokerX
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett X+
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson X+
75 Ulysses - James Joyce X+
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia PlathX++
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome X
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace ThackerayX
80 Possession - AS Byattx
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens X
82 Cloud Atlas - David MitchellX
83 The Color Purple - Alice WalkerX++
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo IshiguroX+
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert X
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White X
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Alborn
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle X
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph ConradX++
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain BanksX++
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams X
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute X+
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre DumasX
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare (again with the repeating- isn't this included in the works? ) X
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald DahlX
100 Les Miserables - Victor HugoX

Well 81 isn't bad is it? So I read a lot :) always have, always will.

Some of the books on the list I would never read- I do not like Salman Rushdie's style and his subject matter does not interest me. I have never understood why Thomas Hardy is considered a classic- I hate the books- especially Tess- he did NOT understand women at all. I only read those boks and a few others on the list because I had to at school :)

I tag- anybody that reads this :)

Scaremongering in the Media

2009-02-08T16:01:00.008Z

More scaremongering by the media about the MMR vaccine has recently led to Bad Science being threatened by lawyers for LBC and Global radio who are responsible for the airing of a radio show by one Jeni Barnett - a minor celebrity who thinks she can sound off about vaccines with little knowledge or evidence to support her claims.

Ben Goldacre of Bad Science has been told to take down an audio clip from Ms Barnett's show that he was using to illustrate her complete and utter idiocy on the subject - they are obviously embarrassed by her and trying to protect themselves- but then look at her blog and you will see what the result of idiocy is- anger and insults towards people who know more than her- and interestingly- accusations that doctors and nurses would leave her to die in pain were she to refuse the drugs they offered- shame on you Ms Barnett!

Links to audio clips can be found here

I as a nurse treat idiots like you every day-I keep my views to myself about such idiocy because I am there to do a job- not to impose unfounded views but to present idiots like you with scientifically backed evidence so that you can make an informed decision. You are presenting a wide audience with unscientific views and asking them to believe you - and expect the medical profession to mollycoddle and give in to every stupid idea and treat you- regardless of the your beliefs or unfounded unknowledgeable views.

You on the other hand are now probably responsible for a few more children getting measles or mumps, possibly going blind, possibly having fallout from the illness for the rest of their lives- an illness easily avoided by a vaccine that does not cause autism, does not harm the child and actually prevents great suffering- you need to travel to a country where measles and Rubella are pandemic- see the harm they cause.

Calling them 'childhood illnesses' in the way you do is leading people to think- as you obviously do- that it is good for children to suffer through them - well bollocks- do some real reading and then come back to me with some evidence that shows it is good for a child to suffer from these horrendous illnesses- maybe we should all get smallpox again-according to your logic it might make us more robust after all?

Dr Peter Strebel, an immunisation expert at the WHO, stressed that even in countries with good health services, measles could be very serious.

"Parents and doctors need to be reminded that measles is a highly contagious disease," he said. "Even healthy and well-nourished children, if unvaccinated, are at risk of measles and its complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis and, although rare, death."

Contrast this with Jeni's opinion from the broadcast:

“if its viral, and childrens immune systems are strong whats the problem?”

For information about the harm caused by Vaccine denial go here to a wonderful website called 'What's the Harm?'

Mealses

Mealses

Rubella

Mumps

A reasonable aproach to the bus 'problem'

2009-01-17T12:30:00.002Z

yes- an actual christian who talks sense- they are out there people :)

Stephen Tomkinson in The Guardian's 'Comment is free' column writes

But the atheist bus poster still seems an odd thing to make such a fuss about. For a start it doesn't say anything nasty about God, just that he probably doesn't exist. Many people have said much ruder things about him, and he always seems to take it pretty well.

Makes me think that Stephen's faith is a lot stronger than the bus driver's

And then he goes on to channel me- only in a much more eloquent way :)

It also happens to be a statement of the basic religious beliefs of a lot of British people. Considering the number of religious groups who advertise on public transport, if all drivers took Heather's stance, the result would be pretty chaotic. No Christians, Muslims or other believers could drive an atheist bus. And if a bus had a poster with a verse form the Bible about Jesus dying for our sins, no atheist or Muslim could drive it. If it advertised the Qu'ran – you get the picture.

The best quote? How I wish all religious people would reach this conclusion

In fact, speaking as one myself, I think it shows quite a cheek for Christians to make a fuss about this. We've spent decades covering public places with verses from the Bible, and posters promising that if you let Jesus into your life everything will be all right for ever.

Then as soon as the opposition get the money together to do the same thing we're outraged, and think that God is as cross as we are.

go over there- tell him he is a reasonable human being- I'm sure he is going to get it in the neck from a lot of fundamentalist idiots - so some support from the odd atheist might not come amiss.

Christian Refuses to Drive Bus

2009-01-16T19:39:00.002Z

Not much of a headline that eh? well this Christian in Southampton decided he didn't like the atheist slogan / advert on the side of his bus and refused to drive it- so what else could the headline say?

Lets have a think and play with this one shall we?

Muslim refuses to drive bus - because the bus has the Alpha Course adverts on it-would he (very rarely she I should imagine) get away with it? probably

Muslim / fundamentalist christian (any religion that hates women really- which is - lets see- oh yeah- all of them!) anyway- refuses to drive bus with adverts containing 'uncovered' women on it - would they get away with that? probably

Atheist refuses to drive bus with Alpha Course, or any religious advert on it- would they get away with it? probably not- what do you think?

This guy has apparently been told by his managers that he will only have to drive the bus if it is the only one available- what next?

Religidiots are holding us to ransom- they are holding governments, companies and individuals to ransom: standing there stamping their foot like a 6 year old who has just been refused the sweets they really really wanted - crowing about their 'rights' and being 'persecuted'.

Lets try this another way?

Man refuses to drive bus because it has adverts containing black people on it - does that sit well? would they get away with it?

Yet this guy is allowed to be bigoted and ignorant towards something that basically just doesn't agree with him - poor thing, his faith is so weak that he cannot stand to have it just mildly questioned.

Every day my eyes and ears are assaulted by images and sounds of religion yet I don't moan (apart from on here), I put up with it unless it impinges on my lifestyle or interteferes with my work or family - sure he is entitled to his beliefs- no matter how half-witted they are- but he is a public servant and he should act like one- imagine if I brought my beliefs (or lack of them) into my consulting room- what a ruckus that would cause?

This guy needs to shut up and go away and just drive his bloody bus.

Persecution complex

2009-01-11T18:50:00.002Z

It appears that christians these days feel persecuted- they feel this because they cannot stand tall and shout at people about their religion with impunity any more, they feel this because they no longer have carte-blanche to dictate to government and populace their own brand of 'morality' derived from an old fiction book, they feel this because they are finally realising that the pendulum is swinging to its proper and rightful place- and they call it persecution. They should look the word up in a dictionary - persecuted they ain't - what they need is a relaity check and maybe a history lesson.

Here is a list from them of why they feel persecuted- and a sorry excuse for persecution it is when considered against the amount of harm done in their god's name over the last couple of thousand years.

Top Ten Instances of Christian Bashing in America, 2008

INSTANCE #10: Jack Black Musical Video

INSTANCE #9: Bill Maher Gratuitously Attacks Pope

INSTANCE #8: ESPN Anchor Dana Jacobson's "F--- Jesus" Remark

INSTANCE #7: Minnesota University Professor Desecrates Communion

INSTANCE #6: Religulous the Movie

INSTANCE #5: Chaplains Fired for Praying in Jesus' Name

INSTANCE #4: Colorado Law Criminalizes the Bible

INSTANCE #3: Barack Obama Defames Christianity

INSTANCE #2: Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin Is Attacked

INSTANCE #1: Radical Homosexuals Assault Prop 8 Marriage Supporters in California

BONUS INSTANCE: Senator Grassley's Abuse of Power

Hardcore?

2009-01-01T12:04:00.002Z

Friendly Athiest started a meme- so here we go- lets find out how hardcore and atheist I am- according to his rules anyway :)

1. Participated in the Blasphemy Challenge.
2. Met at least one of the “Four Horsemen” (Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris) in person.
3. Created an atheist blog. Well Duh!
4. Used the Flying Spaghetti Monster in a religious debate with someone.
5. Gotten offended when someone called you an agnostic.
6. Been unable to watch Growing Pains reruns because of Kirk Cameron.(never watched it the first time around- is it an American show?)
7. Own more Bibles than most Christians you know.
8. Have at least one Bible with your personal annotations regarding contradictions, disturbing parts, etc.
9. Have come out as an atheist to your family.
10. Attended a campus or off-campus atheist gathering.
11. Are a member of an organized atheist/Humanist/etc. organization.
12. Had a Humanist wedding ceremony.
13. Donated money to an atheist organization.
14. Have a bookshelf dedicated solely to Richard Dawkins.(well not soleley- but I do have a bookshelf full of philosophy, history and science books- including those by the four horsemen)
15. Lost the friendship of someone you know because of your non-theism.
16. Tried to argue or have a discussion with someone who stopped you on the street to proselytize.
17. Had to hide your atheist beliefs on a first date because you didn’t want to scare him/her away.
18. Own a stockpile of atheist paraphernalia (bumper stickers, buttons, shirts, etc).
19. Attended a protest that involved religion.
20. Attended an atheist conference.
21. Subscribe to Pat Condell’s YouTube channel.
22. Started an atheist group in your area or school.
23. Successfully “de-converted” someone to atheism.
24. Have already made plans to donate your body to science after you die. I'm an organ donor, so I think that counts. ( I want mine to go to the body farm here in the UK)
25. Told someone you’re an atheist only because you wanted to see the person’s reaction.
26. Had to think twice before screaming “Oh God!” during sex. Or you said something else in its place.
27. Lost a job because of your atheism.
28. Formed a bond with someone specifically because of your mutual atheism (meeting this person at a local gathering or conference doesn’t count).
29. Have crossed “In God We Trust” off of — or put a pro-church-state-separation stamp on — dollar bills.- (maybe I should look at the UK currency for this?)
30. Refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.(see above- we don't have one but singing God Save the Queen might count?) - so yes I refuse to sing it because I am an anti-royalist as well :)
31. Said “Gesundheit!” (or nothing at all) after someone sneezed because you didn’t want to say “Bless you!”
32. Have ever chosen not to clasp your hands together out of fear someone might think you’re praying.
33. Have turned on Christian TV because you needed something entertaining to watch.(regularly!)
34. Are a 2nd or 3rd (or more) generation atheist.
35. Have “atheism” listed on your Facebook or dating profile — and not a euphemistic variant.
36. Attended an atheist’s funeral (i.e. a non-religious service).
37. Subscribe to an freethought magazine (e.g. Free Inquiry, Skeptic)
38. Have been interviewed by a reporter because of your atheism.
39. Written a letter-to-the-editor about an issue related to your non-belief in God.
40. Gave a friend or acquaintance a New Atheist book as a gift.
41. Wear pro-atheist clothing in public.
42. Have invited Mormons/Jehovah’s Witnesses into your house specifically because you wanted to argue with them. (no but I have leaflets to swap with them :) )
43. Have been physically threatened (or beaten up) because you didn’t believe in God.
44. Receive Google Alerts on “atheism” (or variants).
45. Received fewer Christmas presents than expected because people assumed you didn’t celebrate it.
46. Visited The Creation Museum or saw Ben Stein’s Expelled just so you could keep tabs on the “enemy.” (only virtually - some good stuff on youtube :)and I could only make it through the first five minutes of that bloody awful film- which I downloaded by the way as I will not give that idiot my money :) )
47. Refuse to tell anyone what your “sign” is… because it doesn’t matter at all.
48. Are on a mailing list for a Christian organization just so you can see what they’re up to… (I'm also on a scientology one )
49. Have kept your eyes open while you watched others around you pray.
50. Avoid even Unitarian churches because they’re too close to religion for you.

Ranking?
0-10: Impressive, but not too far from agnosticism. There's quite a bit of room for improvement, so I'll keep updating it.
11-20: You are, literally, a “New Atheist.” But you now have something to strive for! Go for the full 50!
21-30: You are an atheist, but babies aren’t running away from you. Yet.
31-40: You are the 5th Horseman! Congratulations!NOT BAD EH!?
41-50: PZ Myers will now be taking lessons from you.

Hallelujah

2008-12-25T16:57:00.002Z

I am addicted to the X Factor- there - I said it- I admit it - I am sad (although the best bits are the auditions when I get to laugh at all those people who were obviously told by their mums that they could sing- and believed it ever since)

But the wrong person won this year - don't get me wrong - I kind of rather like wotsername- Alexandra? but she is just another soundeelikee Mariah/Whitney/Beyonce/Leona and I won't be buying any of her albums as I cannot stand that kind of whiney crap.

Diana Vickers should have won- even if she does say 'Yeeeeewwwwww' in a very annoying way- at least she was different from the rest of them and would have at least done justice to the most marvellous Leonard Cohen song that Alexandra has proceeded to Whitneyise in the UK charts :( (and don't get me started about Leona's ruining of 'Run')

So- in answer to the awful Whitneyising of Hallelujah we have the awesome Tim Minchin singing-well-- Hallelujah of course:

enjoy (apart from the girl singing with him that is )

Another Meme

2008-12-21T10:03:00.002Z

I have hurt my back and despite this managed to go and see Handel's Messiah performed last night so am a little tired today- as most days it apears :) anyhoo- a meme via HJHOP :)

You highlight the things you have done- simple :)

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightning at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors (Denmark?)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Ridden an elephant

Apparently God Hates Santa too

2008-12-12T17:34:00.003Z

The Westboro Baptists have weighed in on the war going on in Olympia in Washington State in the USA and actually made PZ Myers laugh :)

I went to find out why- and this is the reason

"You'd better watch out, get ready to cry, You'd better go hide, I'm telling you why 'cuz Santa Claus will take you to hell. He is your favorite idol, you worship at his feet, but when you stand before your God He won't help you take the heat. So get this fact straight: you're feeling God's hate, Santa's to blame for the economy's fate, Santa Claus will take you to hell."

a bit of a farce really- but at least it is getting it all out in the open- making these idiots realise that free speech applies to everyone and not just the particular christian sect they happen to be a part of - of course- I liked the atheist's sign best :)

Over My Head

2008-12-12T15:02:00.002Z

1. Put your iTunes on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag 10 friends who might enjoy doing the meme as well as the person you got the meme from.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Ways and Means- Snow Patrol (mmm I suppose that could work)

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Half the Fun- Snow Patrol (lol depe3nds on what day you catch me)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Les Fleur - 4Hero :D

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Wreck of the Day- Anna Nalick (that is sooo true lol)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Circlings- Bobby McFerrin (ROFL)

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Stop and Stare- One Republic (yup that might work)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
La Ritournelle- Sebastien Tellier (eh?)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Angry- Tim Minchin (not a song but on my list - find it- its really good!)

WHAT IS 2+2?
This is the life- Amy McDonald (lol)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Stand Up- Flobots

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
How to be Dead- Snow Patrol (mm - welll---- mmmm)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
I Don't Want To Talk About It- Everything but the girl (definitely works :) )

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Chocolate- Snow Patrol (I like that!)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Breather- Anna Nalick (lol- true!)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
America- Razorlight (not sure that is relevant at all lol)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Weather to Fly- Elbow (yup that works)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Love is a losing Game- Amy Whiney- er Whinehouse (not so much of a hobby lol)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Black & Gold- Sam Sparro

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
You Do Something to Me- Paul Weller (lol- true)

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Digging my Heels in- Tim Daniels (mm?)

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Whatever's Left- Snow Patrol (sounds good to me)

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Little Fluffy Clouds- The Orb (yup true)

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Whistle for the choir- The Fratellis (eh?)

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Tiny Little Fractures- Snow Patrol :(

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Invocation- Bobby McFerrin (that actually works lol)

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Marlowe- Bobby McFerrin (lol- the ghost?)

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Bedshaped- Keane (wha?)

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Spitting Games- Snow Patrol (did they have them? why would I change that?)

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Sweet about me- Gabrielle Climi

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Over My Head - The Fray

lol that was totally random but also fun :)

again- tag anyone who reads it:)

Endless

2008-12-10T21:27:00.002Z

Questions that is- because I'm a little empty-nbrained tonight and cannot think of anything to rant about - although there is a shitload of stuff to rant about- its just me- anyhoo- I found this on Facebook- and decided to answer them- if it turns into a meme I tag anyone who reads it- which will not be many lol

1. What was the highlight of your week?
So far? Making a breakthrough with one of my patients

2. Whose car were you in last?
Mine

3. When is the next time you will kiss someone?
Probably Phil tomorrow morning

4. What color shirt are you wearing?
Noshirt- currently in my jammies

5. How long is your hair?
a longish bob- not quite to my shoulders

6. Are you good looking?
nah

7. Last movie you watched?
I hate to admit this- but I got home from work and ended up watching The Devil Wears Prada - decent vapid brain-off film

8. Who were you with?
Bag

9. Last thing you ate?
Muesli

10. Last thing you drank?
coffee

11. When was the last time you had your heart broken?
In school- when I was 12 and my 'boyfriend' left

12. Who came over last?
Ness, Diane and Kelly

13. Are you happy right now?
reasonably

14. What did you say last?
Thank you

15. Where is your phone?
right next to my elbow- I am on call tonight

16. What color are your eyes?
grey/blue

17. Are you left-handed?
No

18. Spell your name without vowels:
Pm Kng

19. Do you have any pets?
1 cat of my own and two that live in the house with me

20. Favorite Vacation?
Up in the Rockies or New Zealand

21. What do you dislike currently?
The fucking NHS Trust I work for

22. What are you listening to?
HUsband watching some crap in the lounge

23. If you could have one thing right now what would it be?
money enough to pay off people's debts

24. What is your favorite scent?
Jasmine

25. Who makes you happiest?
Husband

26. What were you doing at midnight last night?
PLaying Stalker

27. When is your birthday?
November

28. Who has the same phone as you?
Those people on Spooks

29. Last time you went swimming in a pool?
Last year sometime

30. Do you read your horoscope?
no bloody way- utter bollocks

31. Where was the last place you bought something?
Tesco on Sunday morning- bagels and croissants

32. How do you feel about your hair right now?
ok- it straightens nicely and I just got rid of the grey :)

33. Do you bite your nails?
NO!

34. Do you have any expensive jewelery?
Not much - well none that I can think of- I don't rwally do accessories

35. Do you have any expensive clothing?
yes- PerUna and FatFace are my favourite shops

36. Myspace or facebook?
Facebook

37. How fast have you driven a car?
120 up the M1 :)

38. Have you ever smoked?
yes- gave up almost 2 years ago

39. What was or is your favorite subject in school?
History - nearly became a historian but ended up doing psych instead

40. Do you have Verizon?
whatever that is- no

41. What type of boy or girl do you usually fall for?
Men I fall for tend to be normal looking- not overmuscular but definitely a little on the intellectual side

42. Do you have any hidden talents?
I can do the majorette thing with the batons :) I used to tap dance. I can play the penny whistle

43. Favorite Song?
Curreently Hallelujah by Cohen sung by Tim Minchin.
Or My funny valentine is my all-time favourite

44. Do you like to sing at all?
all the time in the car where no-one else can hear me :)

45. Dream Job?
teaching forensic psych

46. Where does most of your family live?
Scotland- Hull

47. Are you an only child or do you have siblings?
3 sisters, one bruvva

48. Would you consider yourself to be spoiled?
no way- the least spoiled of the lot!

49. What was the first thing you thought when you woke up?
Bloody hell!

50. Do you drink?
no- not for years

51. Know any other languages?
A bit of German, Russian,French, Latin

52. Ever write a coded message?
all the time when I was a kid :)

53. Have you ever been IN a wedding?
??eh?? yeah I got married

54. Do you have any children?
yes- 2

55. Did you take a nap today?
when would I ever have the time to take a nap? I haveback to back clients all day!

56. Who has the same birthday as you?
Voltaire

57. Ever met anyone famous before?
yes- James Marsters, Alexander Siddig, Joe Pantoliano, Tom McBeath, Bill Marchant,all the cast of Stargate andBabylon 5 - many many many more- I used to attend a lot of conventions and run an online magazine :)

58. Do you want to be famous one day?
I want o be respected in my profession

59. Any Pet Peeves?
Parents who don't parent and then expect me to 'fix' their kids

60. Are you multitasking right now?
yes- watching West Wing on the other computer and trying to fill a box with stuff for a secret santa and also planning some art work and thinking about who I am seeing tomorrow

61. Do you like Britney Spears?
no way

62. What is your least favorite chore?
cooking

63. Last place you drove your car?
Up the A4 to work

64. Ever been out of the country?
yes loads

65. Where were you born?
Salisbury

66. Could you handle being in the military?
Um- yeah - dad was a soldier, husband was a soldier- so been there done that

67. What is your average cell phone bill?
£40

68. Who are you thinking about right now?
my dad

69. When was the last time you laughed REALLY hard?
this evening when watching Top Gear and they 'tested' a car by staging a military assault on a beach :)

70. How many pairs of shoes do you own?
30? many

71. Are your toes always painted?
no

72. How many piercings do you have?
6

73. What are you doing today?
I will be going to bed- after i have read a few papers I printed out for research

74. Have you ever been gambling?
no- hate it

75. When is the last time you updated your page?
this page? now

76. Do you like rollercoasters?
yes- they do not like me tho- they give me waaay bad migraines

77. Have you ever been to disneyland or world?
no- yuk yuk yuk

78. Do you have a favorite cartoon character?
Wallace and Grommit

79. Last thing you cooked?
chicken kiev

80. How's the weather?
bloody cold

81. Do you e-mail?
Yes

82. What's the stupidest thing you ever did with your cell phone?
dropped it in Bath on a night out

83. Last time you were sick?
years ago- I have a phobia

84. What counties have you lived in?
Germany, Holland, England

85. Do you wish you could move?
still hoping to get to New Zealand

86. Do you take all the QuizPox.com quizzes?
??eh?

87. What is your dream car?
one that goes

88. Have you ever wanted someone you cant have?
yes - generally Hugh Jackman

89. If you could be anywhere right now where would it be?
New Zealand

90. Are you happy with your life?
reasonably

English Country Winter

2008-12-07T11:37:00.005Z

Woke up this morning and found the whole world (well the bit outside my house) looked like Narnia :) so me and the daughter went for a walk - here are some of the (many)pictures- and yes Sean- it was bloody freezing :)

I knew it

2008-12-04T21:57:00.005Z

That dark side of me will out

even in a rainbow *sigh*

Your rainbow is strongly shaded black and indigo.

What is says about you: You are a proud person. You appreciate mystery. Friends count on you for being honest and insightful. You may meet people who are afraid of you.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

As far as I can see it is a typical psychometric test using opposing words- so pretty ordinarily accurate to an extent in that it generalises too much- but accurate as far as it sums me up in a vague way :)

And then there is this neat little Dewey-Decimal system thing- totally random and based on the amount of letters in your name- but what the heck- it came up with a good one for me :)

Pamela King's Dewey Decimal Section:

335 Socialism & related systems

Pamela King = 6135211947 = 613+521+194+7 = 1335

Class:
300 Social Sciences

Contains:
Books on politics, economics, education and the law.

What it says about you:
You are good at understanding people and finding the systems that work for them. You like having established reasoning behind your decisions. You consider it very important for your friends to always have your back.

Find your Dewey Decimal Section at Spacefem.com

Pamela King's Dewey Decimal Section:

082 Collections in English

Pamela King's birthday: 11/21/1961 = 1121+1961 = 3082

Class:
000 Computer Science, Information & General Works

Contains:
Encyclopedias, magazines, journals and books with quotations.

What it says about you:
You are very informative and up to date. You're working on living in the here and now, not the past. You go through a lot of changes. When you make a decision you can be very sure of yourself, maybe even stubborn, but your friends appreciate your honesty and resolve.

Find your Dewey Decimal Section at Spacefem.com

And finally the Geek test :) - which tells you what decade your Geeliness comes from- I appear to be quite modern :)

Tim Minchin's Reason for the Season

2008-12-04T12:53:00.003Z

I love this guy- he makes me laugh until I am crying and he speaks sense when all others are speaking utter bollocks- this is Tim Minchin's rant about Christmas from his blog last year - well worth reposting:

The History of Christmas. by Tim.

Christmas to me means writing a column about Christmas. The only time I ever get asked to write columns is at this time of year. An editor of a music magazine somewhere says, Who are we going to get to write a column about Christmas? We need someone moderately well-known, musical and preferably comic. And some spotty intern says, How about moderately-well-known musical comedian Tim Minchin? And the editor says… well the editor says, Yes.

I do understand my task here. I understand that I am expected to produce some amusing whimsy about turkey with in-laws and drunken blowjobs at office parties and why no one ever gives Myrrh and more. What ever happened to Myrrh?, I might write, and you might think, Good point, C-grade celebrity Tim Minchin, good point. What did ever happen to Myrrh? And that would be nice. Because we would have achieved empathy.

But instead I am going to write a short History of Christmas. Note: everything I write is true.

Go.

Christmas was originally a Roman pagan festival of lawlessness called Saturnalia. For a week, no one could get arrested for wrecking shit or going nuts. There was lots of singing in the nude (a practice recommended by Tim), plenty of shagging (also recommended by Tim), some rape (not recommended by Tim, but you can watch heaps of it on CSI SVU – I heart modern morality), and some eating of human-shaped biscuits (Tim impartial). It was fun for everyone. Well… nearly everyone. See, at the beginning of the week they’d find a dude who they didn’t like (could be a chick, whatever, lay off) and they’d feed him loads of food and make him shag and party and stuff and then at the end of Saturnalia they’d kill him. Totally kill him dead. Kill the living fuck out of him. Ostensibly in order to ward off evil forces and enemies of Rome.

Saturnalia was – understandably – pretty popular. Completely amoral behaviour (not immoral – who am I to judge?) and a wee bit of human sacrifice. If they’d had cameras, it would have made perfect reality TV. (But they didn’t have cameras, not for many many years yet. In fact not until Joseph Nicéphore Niépce squeezed out his first image over an 8 hour period in 1827. Eight hours! Bet he didn’t delete that fucker, even if it made him look fat or whatever.) So when the homies who were running the increasingly pop cult of Christianity wanted to get more members, they decided they’d just tell everyone that Jesus (or whatever his name was) was born on the final day of the festival, which was… wait for it… December 25th. (Actually, the most likely date of the big J’s b’day is thought to be September 11th. How fucking weird is that? Someone make a documentary.) In this way, the Christian leaders back then were very similar to the leaders of the Pentecostal churches of today: to increase membership, you just change the frickin rules dude. Reinterpret the story. Like reinterpreting the Lord of the Rings to make it about lanky people with hairless feet on a journey to get rid of a necklace. Don’t fucking start me.

So Jesus was introduced and the hitherto pagan Romans just shrugged their shoulders and went with it. They didn’t really care about the justification for getting nude and singing and rooting and eating person-biscuits, as long as they still got the week off. Of course, even back then the Christian church was pretty into their moral directives and all, and they weren’t really sure how the traditions of Saturnalia fitted in with said directives, but they really wanted to get their numbers up, so they just started calling it Christmas and let the Romie Homie’s get on with the raping and the eating of the gingerbread men (or women, whatever, lay off).

To reiterate: the church put Jesus’s name to a festival of sexual abuse and human sacrifice in order to increase income. Oh, and here’s a cool thing: you know how Jews are always banging on about how their people have been so mistreated through the ages? Blah blah blah. Well in 1460ish, Pope Paul the Twoth revived some of the old Saturnalia ways for the amusement of the Roman people by force-feeding a whole lot of Jews food and booze and then making them race naked through the streets while all the good Catholics laughed at them. I think it’s a hilarious idea, and I don’t know why Jews are so sensitive. Maybe ol’ Pope Benedict should revive the tradition, but use gays instead of Jews. It’d be just as funny I reckon.

I know what you’re thinking: “But where does Tim Allen come into this?”. I’m getting there, alright?

Nicking bits of other cults was the bit of business development strategy that made Christianity what it is today. Another example: the church encouraged decorating Christmas trees when they were trying (successfully) to pinch the members of the pagan hippy mob, the Asheira cult. Oh and I assume you know about Santa? He was a Turkish bishop called Nicholas who was the dude who first called Jewish people the “children of the devil”. Bless him. He was idolised by these sailor dudes who took his bones to Italy where he usurped the stocking-filling attributes of a local lady-deity known as The Grandmother. The cult spread to the Germans and the Celts where Nick got mixed up with Woden (big white beard, rode a flying horse), then the Christians took him on board to try to… wait for it… increase membership. Time passes, Coca Cola hires a Swedish artist to make a Santa who drinks coke, and now here we are, 5 years old in Myer Perth city, sitting on the knee of a fat man in a red suit who is touching our thigh and asking us what we want for Christmas and the answer is: to get away from you, you obese, sweaty, antisemitic paedo fuck.

Hold on, hold on, I’ve skipped a bit. Roughly one thousand nine hundred and fifty three years after the birth of Joshua (or whatever his name was) and twenty-two years after the birth of Santa Cola, a boychild was born in Denver, Colorado to Gerald and Martha Dick. His name was Timothy Dick. Timothy Allen Dick.

Tim Dick’s dad died in a car accident when he was eleven, and his mum married an Episcopalian deacon two years later. When Tim was twenty-five he was arrested on drug (dunno which type) charges and spent two years in gaol, after which he changed his name to Tim Allen and made the hit ABC comedy series Home Improvement before bringing us the cinematic joy of The Santa Clause 1, The Santa Clause 2 and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause.

A clause can be defined as an article, stipulation or proviso in a treaty, bill or contract. In the case of Allen’s seminal trilogy, it is a pun.

In the case of the above sentence, the word seminal is a pun.

Have a spoofy Christmas.

Darn it I got Tagged

2008-11-27T18:50:00.002Z

6 Things Meme via Sean

These are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random, arbitrary things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

6 Random Things:

1. I have had an overwhelmingly full-on week at work and am exhausted right now and actually quite irrationally pissed off at depressed and suicidal people - and I still have a pile of notes to finish in at least 6 files I have brought home with me :(
2. I am trying desperately to read about three books right now and failing miserably due to number 1 above.
3. I am hungry but not in any frame of mind for cooking - so don't know what to do
4. I too wanted and still want to be a doctor- what stops me is the money it would take for the training and the loss of my pay packet while training- I have no fear of blood or yukkiness in general and have quite happily watched post-mortems :)
5. saying that- I do not actually like the sound of a knife on skin- so I watched them with my fingers in my ears lol
6. Sometimes I wish I wasn't so fucking good at what I do=- then I wouldn't get so many referrals! but there you go.

I think they were random enough?

I don't know who to tag - mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Book Meme

2008-11-18T19:25:00.002Z

Just cos:

From Whisper

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 56.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next seven sentences in your journal along with these instructions.
5. Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST.

There was a chill in the air, for autumn had arrived in full. Gordon zipped up the old letter carrier's jacket and adjusted the leather bag as the straight-backed old woman handed him an old roadmap. "I had Jimmie Horton mark the places we know of, where homesteaders have set up. I wouldn't bother any of them unless you have to. Mostly they're a suspicious type, likely to shoot first . We've only been trading with the nearest for a short time. Gordon nodded.

from The Postman by David Brin (trying to catch up with my Nonbelieving Literati commitment :)

I tag anyone who reads this- which probabaly means you Sean :)

Education can be dangerous

2008-11-14T23:24:00.003Z

at least it is if you are a female in many countries throughout the world- not least of which is Afghanistan.

Atifa Bibi, aged only 14 has to fight for an education that is taken for granted by most girls in the west, Most girls do not have to run the gauntlet of acid being thrown in their face to reach a classroom and achieve an education that should be their right.

Look at her face, think how you would feel if this was your daughter, friend or sister - and go tell the government of Afghanistan what you think about this disgusting act.

Picture from The Freethinker

Might as well just start burning the books right here

2008-11-13T19:19:00.009Z

pic from New Humanist

Because Waterstones certainly isn't championing free speech.

The booksellers just cancelled a book signing event by poet Patrick Jones at the urging of Christian Voice- a 'group' consisting of a load of right-wing loonies who think they speak for every Christian in the UK and led by the major loon himself- Steven Green- who likes to think of himself as a leader in both morals and philosophy- titles for which he has not to this day proved himself either able or worthy.

Anyway- they used bully-boy tactics to get Waterstones to cancel the signing of the book Darkness is where the stars are because they didn't like the content of a poet's poetry! mainly because it speaks against religion and talks about sex in a way that 'offends' them- well at this point I'm tempted to misquote Christopher Hitchens and say 'so what!'

As I said in my e-mail to Waterstones about this absurd cancellation - my sensibilities and eyes are offended on a daily if not hourly basis by all the religious crap I have to see and hear - yet i do not seek to cancel their free speech? why should they be permitted- even encouraged - to do so to those of us who do not share their beliefs?

It brings to mind Nazis, KKK, South Africa during Apartheid, Saudi Arabia right now, Indonesia- and many many more places where people are not free to speak their minds lest it 'offend' the sensibilities of some group or other.

I am urging you now to spread this around- to ask people to boycott Waterstones unless they reinstate the event - to not give in to the bully-boy tactics of a group of loonies- to tell CV to get lost. Or better yet- go to the CV website where they are crowing over their victory and make your voice heard there- e-mail them your thoughts here -info@christianvoice.org.uk - tell your friends in Anonymous that Waterstones may need protection from a crowd of underhanded bullyboy christians who want to prevent free speech.

Why is Waterstones giving this loony fringe group such power and influence? Thin end of the wedge.

Write to Waterstones here

comments@waterstones.com

- speak your mind- tell them what you think and that you won't be silenced by any group or any threats made by that group.

New Humanist article here
Richard Dawkins forum about the cancellation here
National Secular Society views on the matter

Patrick Jones will be on Radio Wales at 7.40 am tomorrow to 'debate' the issues with the idiot Steven Green of CV

Silent Sunday - At the going down of the sun

2008-11-09T11:51:00.000Z

PMomma Returns

2008-11-08T15:06:00.002Z

and about time to - no seriously- there has been an awful lot of stupidity on the web for the last month or so- idiots slinging unfounded accusations and behaving like- well- idiots! PMomma has weathered it all with the support of family and friends and I for one am glad to see her back where she belongs!

Silent Sunday - Women Respond to Palin

2008-11-02T08:54:00.000Z

Link here

A Meme for Saturday

2008-10-25T10:40:00.003+01:00

From one of my favourite craft blogs comes a different kind of meme - and isn't it nice to know that the word meme has crossed into the 'normal' world?

The Rules:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search. (Use the advanced search and scroll down and click on Creative Commons License so you use shareable photos!)
b. Using only the results on the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr (or other online group) name.

Unfortunately the middle one at the bottom didn't take :(

1. Malc & Pam, 2. Sweet Chestnut, 3. Smell of Desire - {P7204436}, 4. A Step Into The Dark Red Night, 5. marvel heroes, 6. 24 Μαργαρίτες, 7. Mighty Winds, 8. Valentine's Brunch, 9. Research work in Psychology Department: University of Newcastle, Australia, 10. Craft closet, 11. Waiting for the Storm, 12. Psychodiva

Into the Darkness

2008-10-24T14:12:00.004+01:00

From the Perplexed Observer - something I agree with and was reminded of when I read the post about the latest Beyond Belief gathering. Combined with a heartfelt post from Blurp about that small ball of dread surrounding the election results:

With the US Presidentail Election rapidly approaching and bearing in mind they have a creationist on the Republican ticket plus the Republicans have been less than supportive of science and consider intelligence and education to be 'elitist' here is a very apt quote from Carl Sagan from 'The Demon Haunted World'

Science is more than a body of knowledge; it is a way of thinking. I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time -- when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the key manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness.

As Blurp says:

I'll be carrying around this ball of uneasiness in my gut until the morning of Nov. 5th (hopefully it won't be dragged-out) when I can either give a big sigh of relief or I don't know what. If McCain/Palin win I may cry, through my coffee at the TV, go numb, check the house prices in Canada... I can't even think about it.

I hope that the US electorate will vote in the right person- or I fear a lot more than the USA will sink into darkness.

The Wheels on the Bus

2008-10-21T15:58:00.003+01:00

are atheist ! - well at least some of the slogans on the side of the bus will be if this campaign takes off this time round. Last time it was tried there did not appear to be enough publicity- this tinme Richard Dawkins has pledged to match the funding up to £5,000 - so some time soon you will see a slogan such as this on the side of a London Bus :)

photo from The Guardian story by Ariane Sherine

You can donate here
the campaign website is here.

I'm laughing a little at some of the comments on various websites noting that if this was attempted in the USA the money would have to cover rplacing all the buses that get burnt out on a daily basis :All too true I think.

Doors and Windows and digital art from Bag

2008-10-15T13:34:00.004+01:00

Started a photography project while I was over in Normandy last month- these are the results so far. The project is for use as stock photos in my artwork but also because I seem to have an unnatural interest in doors and windows :)

here are a few examples

The whole project can be found on Flickr

And more from Bag over at her Blog

The better Palin

2008-10-15T11:14:00.001+01:00

If I was a US citizen I would much rather have Michael than Sarah - another video that made me laff!

Sexism or just hate?

2008-10-13T11:34:00.001+01:00

a boy in the US has been banned from wearing makeup - is this fair?

why is hatred of the Goth culture so rife in the US?

Is this for real?

2008-10-13T11:28:00.001+01:00

you tell me

alerted to this by Blurp- thank you- and can't stop laughing at it- the tune is unfortunately catchy tho - so beware! and watch out for the verse at around 1.50!

PMomma

2008-10-12T17:07:00.004+01:00

I first met PMomma on a craft forum where we both found we had the same sorts of ideas about various things- not the least of which was religion - having found her blog through chatting with her on that forum I settled down to read it on an almost daily basis. She, along with Sean and a couple of others are my daily reads - and I miss her, a lot- her sense,her humour, her quirkiness and her human-ness.

I hope that she will continue to blog, if not as PMomma then under another name- she has often, in the past said what I wanted to say but more eloquently and with more humour- she is a great loss to the atheosphere - please come back when you are ready PMomma
The logo above is from Calladus' blog about the whole incident. More can also be found at Berlzebub's Inferno

Banned

2008-10-12T16:27:00.002+01:00

Apparently I am banned from the Iron chariots Wiki forum- just went over there cos I remembered I have a login and finally found time to look at things cos I am sat here with flu - only to find I am banned lol

Cannot think why other than that I don't get around to various places on the net very often- but surely if that is a criteria then a whole host of people should be banned from the site?

Of coursde it may also have something to do with me questioning one of their pages- I was earching for something to write a paper about magical thinking and superstition and all I got was a rude heading on a page - so I asked in the forum what it meant and was told something in acronyms- which I also questioned and asked them to explain- maybe I wasn't toeing the line?

who knows- I have emailed them for an explanation

Silent Sunday - Simon's Cat

2008-10-05T15:41:00.001+01:00

Bag and Matt

2008-09-21T17:19:00.003+01:00

Lovely day here- very warm- took this great photo of my daughter Bag and her fiance Matt in the garden- I like it :)

My Brilliant Daughter

2008-09-08T14:54:00.002+01:00

Just posted this over at a forum 'debating' the proposal to teach IDiocy and Evolution side by side :) I am proud!!

I'm in the UK - but these are my thoughts anyway.

I'll agree to them teaching creationism to my kids, so long as they teach ALL theories of creationism - not just the Abrahamic version - and they keep it in the Religious Studies classes.

That means teaching them about all the many and varied religious versions of how the universe/planet came to be - from the Australian Aboriginal stories, the Greek and Roman stories, the Incan and American Indian ones, right down to the Egyptian or the Mesapotamian, Celtic, Pagan and so on. It also includes the three Abrahamic versions, as well as the Sikh, Bhuddist, Taoist ...

People like to claim that there is a 'debate' about evolution and Abrahamic creationism/intelligent design - but there isn't. Evolution has evidence pouring out of it's ears, while Abrahamic creationism has .. a book. A book that was co-written over a thousand and a half years ago, by iron-age shepherds.

The religious lot can claim all they want that their books have as much precedence as scientific theory, but that will not hold water with anyone who actually uses their brains. Creationism and ID should be kept to the Religious Studies and that's that. I, personally, am not open to any kind of 'debate'.

Now - as for the actual proposal - I don't remember having to have debates about the strengths and weaknesses in my physics classes, or my chemistry classes or even my biology classes - why on Earth should we set up debates now?

If, in primary and secondary education, a class is sat down and taught that there are 'two sides' to the science they are being taught - it will not aide them in learning, it will confuse them.

You don't get taught the two differing theories of 'the Earth going around the Sun' and the 'Sun going around the Earth' and have the strengths and weaknesses pointed out in both, so the child/children can make their minds up about which one they accept.

Because all evidence points to the former being 'true' (for a given understanding of 'truth' - obviously not the mathematical one.) Some people may sit back and prefer the 'Sun going around the Earth' version - but there is little to no evidence for it - whatever strengths and weaknesses people may be able to come up with about it.

So why should this be done to evolution?

Now - if they want to do this in further education - college and university - fine. By this point the people taking the classes will be old enough to clearly understand what they are being presented with - and not only that, they'll also have (hopefully) had a good grounding in the actual sciences.

This is basically my problem with the idea - that doing it will undermine what is being taught. It is all well and good to promote debate and curiosity and the need to think further and more deeply - but it should not be done in a fashion which is highly likely to undermine the actual sciences themselves.

That is detrimental to turning out people who actually understand what they are doing - and lessens the chances of there being students who want to go further and take up the sciences as a career.

Of course - I need not worry so much about this, as we don't have quite as big a problem with Creationists/IDiots over here in the UK.

I figure I must have done something right after all?

'Honour' Murders

2008-08-25T12:17:00.008+01:00

Today I was skimming the news and blogs for interesting things to read and I came across a small article about a protest against the murder of a young girl by her father- this young girl Fereshteh Nejati had been married off at the age of 14 and was now, at 18, seeking a divorce. It appears her father did not agree with this and slit her throat so that her head was almost severed. Such honour.

I warn you now that the last photograph in the sequence linked from the piece is of Fereshteh's body and may disturb some readers - what it does for me is bring home the iniquity of such despicable practices.

There is a useful website Stop Honour Killingswhich contains more information than you could ever want about what happens to women who try to change attitudes, who 'dare' to act like human beings, who 'dare' to act against the 'wishes' of the men in their family, who believe women should be educated, who seek education themselves, who want to dress how they like, think what they want and marry whomever they choose- or not marry at all!

This is why these women and girls (often very very young girls) are murdered - they 'dare', they 'think', they 'want' - and all they dare, think and want is against what men believe they should or should not say, do or believe - and these men? they generally believe that women should not dare, think and want because their little holy book - interpreted by a priest/imam/ etc etc- has told them so and they have found it a useful way of controlling women and remianing at the top of the pile.

So what has religion done for women?

“Religion has been an important source of laws and administrative structures that kept women in an inferior position in society. In Hindu law, Rabbinic law, Christian canon law and the Islamic Shari'a, the testimony of a woman is either worthless or given less weight that that of a man. Indeed, in many societies, women have been relegated to a position of virtual slavery. They have no rights or freedoms by custom or in law. Throughout their lives they are completely dependent on males. A quotation from the Hindu book, the Laws of Manu, sums up the reality of the situation for most women in almost every society: 'In childhood, a female must be subject to her father, in youth to her husband, when her lord is dead, to her sons; a woman must never be independent.'

"The Phenomenon Of Religion: A Thematic Approach" by Moojan Momen (1999)

Many Muslims, for instance, are convinced that God takes an active interest in women's clothing. While it may seem harmless enough, the amount of suffering that this incredible idea has caused is astonishing. The rioting in Nigeria over 2002 Miss World Pageant claimed over two hundred lives; innocent men and women were butchered with machetes or burned alive simply to keep that troubled place free of women in bikinis. Earlier in the year, the religious police in Mecca prevented paramedics and firefighters from rescuing scores of teenage girls trapped in a burning building. Why? Because the girls were not wearing the traditional head covering that Koranic law requires. Fourteen girls died in the fire; fifty were injured. Should Muslims really be free to believe that the Creator of the universe is concerned about hemlines?”

"The End of Faith: Religion, Terror and the Future of Reason"
Sam Harris (2006)

Most religions fear educated women, fear what education can do for women - the end result of which is often the denigration of these religions and the loss of believers to reason, logic and reality:

More than two-thirds of Africa's illiterates are women. Women are regarded as inferior to men and are not expected to aspire as high as men, especially in what are considered as 'male' fields (engineering, computing, architecture, medicine, etc.). It is largely assumed that educating women would make them too independent; in other words, they would not do what they are expected to do - look after the house, bring up children, and cater to their husband's needs.

Women's Literacy rates

Religion also fears the Women's Movement:

The slogan that the personal is political may have been coined by women’s rights activists in the West, but it certainly became relevant for women in any society, where various repressive measures were followed in order to keep the personal from being political. In Bengal too, women had confronted the private/public divide from time immemorial. Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain (1880-1932) a forerunner of the women's rights movement for Muslim women, had time and again reiterated that orthodox religious leaders had played a retrogressive role for women. Men had used religion whenever women had tried to break the shackles of society.

Meghna Guhathakurta

Religion, often supported by governments who rely on religion to control people, also attacks women's rights activists

In an effort to intimidate feminist activists, the government in Nicaragua, in collaboration with right wing groups, has charged 9 renowned women's human rights defenders with criminal violations for their work. The women, notorious for their defense of women's rights, have a long history of struggle in favor of freedom, justice, democracy and socioeconomic development in Nicaragua.

They are being persecuted for crimes of omission surrounding the controversial case of Rosita, a 9-year-old girl who was raped, became pregnant, and received a therapeutic abortion, a form of abortion outlawed in Nicaragua in 2006.

Buddhism does not escape from this unequal treatment of women:

The Eight Heavy Duties are:

1. A nun, even if she has been ordained for 100 years, must respect, greet and bow in reverence to the feet of a monk, even if he has just been ordained that day. (Monks pay respect to each other according to their seniority, or the number of years they have been ordained.)

2. A nun is not to stay in a residence where there is no monk. (A monk may take an independent residence.)

3. A nun is to look forward to two duties: asking for the fortnightly Uposatha (meeting day), and receiving instructions by a monk every fortnight. (Monks do not depend on nuns for this obligatory rite, nor are they required to receive any instruction.)

4. A nun who has completed her rains-retreat must offer herself for instruction to both the community of monks and to the community of nuns, based on what is seen, what is heard and what is doubted. (Monks only offer themselves to the community of monks.)

5. A nun who is put on probation for violating a monastic rule of Sanghadisesa must serve a 15-day minimum probation, with reinstatement requiring approval from both the monk and nun communities. (The minimum for monks is a five-day probation with no approval by the nuns required for reinstatement.)

6. A woman must be ordained by both monks and nuns and may be ordained only after a two-year postulancy, or training in six precepts. (Men have no mandatory postulancy and their ordination is performed by monks only.)

7. A nun may not reprimand a monk. (A monk may reprimand a monk, and any monk may reprimand a nun.)

8. From today onwards, no nun shall ever teach a monk. However, monks may teach nuns. (There are no restrictions on whom a monk may teach.)

and religion continues to insert itself into the everyday life of women and the laws of whichever land in which they live:

Catholic politicians who defend abortion should not expect to remain full church members, Scotland's most senior Roman Catholic has warned.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien

So- what has religion done for women? Answers on a postcard please to..........

I leave you with this from Joss Whedon- the crucial quote coming at around 7 minutes

Monkey World

2008-08-24T16:51:00.005+01:00

For years I have watched the 'Monkey Business' programmes on TV and awwed / ahhhed over the baby Orangs and Chimps- yesterday I finally got to visit the place - Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre in Dorset. It was a gorgeous 'goldilocks day' (not too hot, not too cold) and fun was had by all- amidst the requisite cries of ahhhhhh! at the babies of course.

Silent Sunday

2008-08-17T14:08:00.006+01:00

Two films coming up later in the year - although both deal with the same subject they have differing ways of showing it. I'm looking forward to seeing both of these and thanks to Primordial Blog for the heads up on the first clip.

Oh My God: release date ?October USA

Religulous: release date 3rd October USA

Time Flies / News Roundup

2008-08-16T15:46:00.001+01:00

I just realised how long it has ben since I posted anything on here. One of the reasons, when I sit and think about it, is that I read so many blogs that I often feel all I want to say has already been said - does anyone else feel like that?

Another reason is the perceived lack of 'activity' over here in the UK- compared to the USA that is - although I suspect there may be an element of head in sand in my case :)

A further reason is the lack of time I have to post about things now- I am so overwhelmed with work most days that I come home and just 'veg-out' in front of the TV, do some art/craft work to relax or just spend time ranting at theists on Ravingatheists.com

And then there is the weather- we have so little sun here that on a nice sunny day I feel like I 'have' to be outside in the garden- today for instance I was all ready to go in the garden and do some clearing, maybe pick some more of my bumper crop of courgettes- then it started raining again- hence I am now able to write this post :)

So what stops you from blogging? I would be interested to hear about your reasons, excuses etc etc

Now on to the news of the week - ignoring the Olympics of course

Self Censorship

There are some interesting articles on the censoring by Random House Publishing of the book by Sherry Jones about Aisha, wife of Mohammed. It seems that Random House have been scared into pulping the print because Islamists / Moslems might not like it.

Salman Rushdie has something to say on the subject as does Johann Hari who writes a brilliant piece about it in The Independent.

I wonder how long we are going to let fear censor our freedom of thought and speech? It was after all fear that kept christianity in power for so long and enlightened thinking that finally put it out of absolute power and continues to push it to the margins where it belongs.

The idiot Prince

And so we move on to one of my least favourite idiotic people- Prince Charles and his whacky ideas about homeopathy, farming, economics and, well, just about everything of which he has no knowledge or experience really gets me riled up. I mean, anyone who thinks crops should be planted in the 'old fashioned way' - that is according to astrological signs and moon phases has got to be a complete and utter dolt.

This is a man who has a platform ready made for him - and he knows it- and what does he do? spout off unsupported, unscientific ideas about GM crops and generally make himself a pain in the ass to the whole scientific community.He would not even be listened to were it not for his title and birth.

Now of course I am no expert on GM crops - but then neither is he! Maybe he should shut up and let real scientists and people with real knowledge talk about the real effects of genetic modification- honestly- it is like listening to Papa Palpatine talk about sex!

Make me a ......

On TV we have had 'Make me a Christian' - my first thought was - out of what?- but moving on from that- the programme took a mixed bunch of people and tried to make them live a 'christian' life- although I fail to see any difference in the moral content of a christian and an atheists life I went along with it. The concept was interesting but badly executed and was nicely reviewed by Terry Sanderson of the NSS. One of my issues with the programme was that the only atheist they got for the show was a biker with tatoos :)

The programme follows on from last year's 'Make me Moslem' - so what I am waiting for now is 'Make me an Atheist' where we can take an Islamist a Christian fundie (I would like to see a fundie Mormon doing it as well), a Buddhist, a hippe-dippy crystal / homeopathy believer and make them spend time reading books other than their one religious text or 'psychologies' magazine / Altered Spirit in the case of the Hippie-Dippy - spend time listening to rational ideas and being taught to think for themselves and have to sit there and listen to all the contradictions and flaws in their beliefs and their precious little texts- now that would be fun!

Patron Saints

If Homeopathy wasn't enough whackiness for you we also have the Top 50 Saints for illness- an interesting article in The Times. My favourites are St Bartholomew- who can cure you of uncontrollable twitching, St Bibiana who is patron saint of hangovers and of course the wonderful example of St Dympna to all those who suffer from mental illness. It is interesting that there are at least three saints for alcoholics and the saint who covers VD is also in charge of hemmorhoids.

Of course my own patron saint would be St Jude if I actually believed in that superstitious crap :)

Evil Yoga?

Next is something that actually comes up in my work - I have a few rather religious families who I work with and who are quite adamant that I don't do any relaxation or mindfulness practice with their kids in my therapy (which is designed to stop them attempting to harm and kill themselves) in case some 'evil spirit' enters them - it makes my work difficult to say the least - and this is why they are so vocal against it - crazy eh? However, I intend to get hold of a copy of this book when it is in print again- if only for the educational factor (or the LULZ)

Starving for god

Yes I know this is in the USA but just this once I will break my rule as I think this is important- and shows what lengths people will go to for their 'gods'- or at least make thier children go to. This young child was starved to death for not saying 'amen'- a small, Greek word that means basically nothing, is a ritual, a rote, without meaning when said by most and misunderstood by most of the poeple who say it - yet he was starved to death by his religious parents because of it - and these people think they are better than me merely because I don't believe in their fatuous and vindictive god.

Concordat Watch

Finally I want to point you to a site I read regularly in order to keep an eye on what the Catholic Church is up to thrugh it's back-door machinations. This is an interesting piece on women's need for secularism but there are many 'revelations' to be had on the site.

The Genius of Charles Darwin

2008-08-03T17:42:00.003+01:00

Richard Dawkins has a new series out starting on Channel 4 Monday 4th at 8pm and running for three weeks

already my friends in the USA are jealous :) I'm sure it will appear on YouTube pretty soon tho

There is a great article about the programme in the Guardian by Charles Brooker - my favourite quote from which is:

Darwin's theory of evolution was simple, beautiful, majestic and awe-inspiring. But because it contradicts the allegorical babblings of a bunch of made-up old books, it's been under attack since day one. That's just tough luck for Darwin. If the Bible had contained a passage that claimed gravity is caused by God pulling objects toward the ground with magic invisible threads, we'd still be debating Newton with idiots too.

I will be watching and recording it :)

Just cos I'm bored and a bit sunburnt from too much gardening

2008-07-26T17:16:00.004+01:00

I have nicked this really old meme from Action Skeptic's blog who got it from Bronze Dog :)

Accent: Plain English and sometimes posh English - although I tend to pick up other people's accents cos I didn't stay any place long enough to have a proper one

Booze: I very rarely drink but if I do it tends to be a Margeurita

Chore I hate: Cleaning the toilets

Dog or Cat: Cats- multiple now thanks to my daughter - cannot stand dogs- I think they are beyond stupid cos I was spoiled when I was a kid by having guide-dogs around me - very highly trained is the only way I can stand a dog

Essential Electronics: MP3 player, Laptop, hair straighteners

Favorite Cologne: yuk

Gold or Silver: neither- don't really wear jewellery and would rather buy a book

Hometown: Don't have one- never stayed anywhere long enough- was born in Salisbury in Wiltshire

Insomnia: off and on through the years depending on stress levels

Job title: Specialist Nurse / Therapist

Kids: 2

Living arragements: Large house, was rattling around in it before daughter arrived back towing 3 cats behind her :)

Most admirable traits: umm - I'm a bloody good therapist?

Not going to cop to: Not being able to stand my so-called 'friend' for years before I finally told her to fuck off :)

Overnight hospital stays: a 3 month period prior to having my son- that was boring! 2 weeks when i had a stomach ulcer - ugh! 3 days for an op :)

Phobias: none

Quote: see the top of this blog

Religion: a tool for controlling women and reproduction so that men can hold onto power.

Siblings: 3 sisters. 1 brother

Time I wake up: 6.30 ish- I have to get up straight away or I lay there 'thinking'

Unusual talent or skill: I paint but thats not 'unusual'. I am very good at trivial pursuit or sinmilar games as I have a brain that retains useless pieces of knowledge- and I mean USELESS to anything except trivial pursuit!

Vegetable I love: Courgettes, peppers

Worst habit: I gave up smoking so not that any more - um- nagging :)

X-rays: only once I think- when I swallowed a pin :)

Yummy foods I make: Steak with mushroom sauce. Carrot cake

Zodiac sign: its all bollocks so i have no idea

please feel free to take the meme and run away with it- it gave me some entertainment for about five minutes- maybe I can read yours too :)

Atheist Nexus/ Atheist Bus and Blogger's Choice Awards

2008-07-11T10:05:00.004+01:00

I recently joined- through a friend- the Atheist Nexus social networking site: the day after I joined there was a lot of rumour and supposition and yes panic and paranoia going on about who founded it and why- answers were sought and aswers were given- although not yet to everyone's satisfaction.

Richard of 'Life without faith' has agreed to intervene and take over some of the administration of the site and try to faiclitate discussions/ answer questions.

On Atheist Nexus: Response to the Questions about Atheist Nexus.
From: Atheist Nexus (mail@atheistnexus.org)
Add contact Add contact
Sent:
10 July 2008 23:00:16
Reply-to:
do-not-reply@atheistnexus.org

To:
**********************

A message to all members of Atheist Nexus

Dear Members,

As many of you know, there have been serious concerns and questions about the legitimacy of Atheist Nexus and its founder Kym Membe. Because of this, I have agreed to temporarily take an administrative role in the site.

I have created a discussion group on the site dedicated to all the concerns. As some of you may know, I run the site: Life Without Faith. You could describe me as an evangelical anti-theist. I am a former minister and have helped many people let go of their faith and overcome the overwhelming fear of Hell. Kym claims to be a very recent de-convert and has struggled with this fear.

Please post your concerns and questions to the discussion group. I vow to deal with each legitimate one objectively and with all honesty. I will post the results in the discussion group and on my site. I have been given administrative access to Atheist Nexus and if that changes, I will immediately report it to you on my site.

I believe that Atheist Nexus has a lot of potential and could fill a need in our community. It has been said many times that getting atheists to agree on anything is like trying to herd cats. Let's prove that statement wrong. The only way we can make any real change in the world is through unity. There are core values on which we all agree. Let’s leave the rest personal preferences and civil debate.

Many of you have posted warnings and messages through MySpace, Facebook, forums, and your personal sites. I ask that you please post this message so that we can get the word out that actions have been taken to resolve the concerns.

As a starting point, I asked Kym to give us all some info about himself. Because of size limitations for this email I could not include it here. However, if you log onto the site it is posted on the About Us page: http://www.atheistnexus.org/about. If you are not comfortable logging into the site at this time, I will soon post it on my site as well.

Thank you,

Richard
http://lifewithoutfaith.com

Visit Atheist Nexus at: http://www.atheistnexus.org

--
To control which e-mails you receive on Atheist Nexus, go to:

I am so far enjoying being on the site- it fills a niche that has been left gaping in the atheist 'community' by the 'Facebook' and 'Myspace' tendency towards religion and against disbelief. I say give it a try- you can always set up a seperate e-mail account and use different passwords to join, you do not have to give personal information about yourself, you can just join in the frindship and discussion that I am currently enjoying- or you can sit in a little shell of paranoia and be scared of what those 'darn christians' will think of next to target you because you are so important.

Visit Atheist Nexus

Another interesting event I was put onto from being ont he Nexus is this - An online pledge to pay £5 towards an advert on the side of a bus to promote atheism- might amount to something, might not- but spread the word and see what we can do

Finally- go and vote for your favourite atheist blog and beat those awful unreadable christian sites - go to the Blogger's Choice Awards you can find Pharyngula there, the Anti Christian Phenomenon and also- since I nominated him- Sean's site too

The thin end of the wedge?

2008-07-11T09:39:00.004+01:00

Well- we finally manage to get rid of the blasphemy law and we end up with this instead. In what world is it still ok to discriminate on the grounds of your religious beliefs? This one of course.

Now- do a little exercise with me and replace every instance of the words gay, homosexual, lesbian and same-sex with the word 'black'or 'black marriage', then replace words like 'religious belief' with better words like 'prejudice' and 'hate' and see what it sounds like when you read it out. Would she have gotten away with it then? Maybe she would have in some parts of the world and its beginning to look that way here- it shows just how much more we have to fight to rid ourselves of this notion of 'religious privilege'

Pimping Vids and a nod to Sean

2008-07-06T14:44:00.003+01:00

Go read Sean's Blog - specifically all the posts about Mercy Ministries in Australia and see what good work he is doing making people aware of what goes on over there - then also go look at the vids on Youtube - such as this one here

And pimp them all over the net- specifically the ones made by survivors of this cult which takes women and girls in desperate need of help to deal with addiction, eating disorders and other psychological problems and instead ends up with exorcism and bible students.

In what way is this church doing good here?

2008-06-26T18:44:00.002+01:00

Christian church groups in Bucharest are protesting against an 11 year old girl receiving an abortion after being raped by her uncle. I ask you- in what way do they think they are doing any good? Who are they thinking of here? Not the child, not the foetus- I believe they are thinking of themselves and the feeling they will get if they manage to win this fight- that feeling of self-righteuousness that so many religious people get when they think they are doing their 'god's' work.

11 year olds do not need to go through pregnancy, it will have a serious affect on her physical and mental health, not to mention the emotional fall-out from having to either care for or give up the baby - in no way is this right for anybody. The child needs to have an abortion so that she can continue with her own childhood - such as it is following the trauma of abuse.

Silent (ish) Sunday

2008-06-22T14:14:00.005+01:00

Thank you UNHRC. Thanks you for your support of the oppressed everywhere - apart from of course where you see it is religion that is the opressor, or where it is women who are being oppressed - as is the case when it comes to religion because religions are invariably used by men to oppress women- but thats ok isn't it?

Of course discussion was allowed when it was black men being oppressed in South Africa, it was allowed when men sought to kill each other over 'religion' in Kosovo - but somehow, discussion of stoning women to death, so-called 'honour killings', not educating women because they are- well - women, discussion of laws not 'permitting' women to drive because they are-- women! and wearing of the oppressive patriarchal symbol that is the 'veil' - this is not allowed?.

I have lost all trust in you.

International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran

Women's Rights in Iran

Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia

Women's Rights in Afghanistan

poor

2008-06-19T08:05:00.001+01:00

I just failed- TheRadula found this great quiz and I failed it :) but that makes me happy

-9

As a 1930s wife, I am
Very Poor (Failure)

Take the test!

Adventures in London

2008-06-18T07:58:00.006+01:00

Just got back from London after 'showing' my friends around a bit- St Paul's, Tower, Houses of parliament, Big Ben- and the best of all- Camden Market :) can't beat a bit of history followed by modern alternative culture to show the real England :)

There are a few stories, not the least of which involves the London Underground, but I'll ask first before I put them on here :)

Now, after scaring them with stories of the 'magic roundabout' in Swindon I directed my poor American friend through hundreds of roundabouts to get on and then off the M4 and we are now back in Wiltshire and about to visit Bath - for more history - poor things :)

back later :)

Sea ARRRGGH!

2008-06-14T08:41:00.002+01:00

Just popping in to give quick support to anyone who is doing their bit against Scientology today in the Sea Arrrgh demos - more info can be found here and here. Look for protests in your local area here.

Good Luck everyone - hoping for another Epic Win!

Psychotherapy

2008-06-11T20:23:00.001+01:00

well- thats what I'm busy doing and learning right now - so I haven't had time to blog about anything at all- and not even been to Raving Atheists for a while :( - ah well- on with the slog- it's actually hard work doing the psychotherapy thing (as the therapist that is) yaaaaaaaaawn!!! I'm knackered!!!!!!

Things I just don't get

2008-05-30T15:50:00.012+01:00

I've been watching all the hype about the Sex and the City film and it got me to thinking- what else don't I get?

1. Sex and the City- what? she is NOT pretty, she cannot act, the scripts are hopeless - WTF? and what is that thing on her head????

2. Religion- well thats a given really - I do actually understand it intellectually and also from the viewpoint of a psychologist - but come on- how can people not get that it was all invented? I just want to shake them sometimes

3. Women who become nuns- I ask you - who willingly joins a patriarchal system in order to support that system's patriarchy? Also include women who voluntarily wear and support the wearing of the Burkha or who support female genital mutiliation or women who think they are less able and / or less than men. Women- wake up!!

4. 'Modern' art- ok-don't get me wrong I love abstract art- adore Kandinsky and many others but Damien Hirst? WTF? in what way is that art? and see below for my thoughts on the 'concept'.

5. 'Installation' Art- a bed- its a bed!- a pile of bricks - its a pile of bricks! ok- I get told it's the 'concept' that makes it art- so in what way does the 'concept' of a pile of bricks compare to the 'concept' of the Sistine Chapel, Starry Night or indeed anything at all by Klimt or Sisely?

6. Actors being 'spokes-people'- I love my friends who just happen to be actors, I love watching films and TV, I adore watching plays and I love the concept of acting - but how does the ability to act qualify someone to be interviewed about such diverse subjects as physics, morality, biology, evolution or world poverty? I find myself thinking 'who the fuck cares what they think?' 'why are they interviewing him / her instead of a real expert?'

8. Offal- why?

9. People who think mobile phones are a menace/ should be banned/ should never be used in public- I do agree there should be certain carriages on trains that are mobile phone free and the person (usually male) who constantly shouts into his mobile is very very annoying- but these dinosaurs who say they don't like them just because ... well because they don't like them - I need mine- I have a phone exclusively for work, on which young people can contact me if they are feeling suicidal or just want to chat, and on which parents can contact me when it all gets a bit too much trying to persuade their darling daughter to eat a normal diet or their son has attacked them yet again or failed to take the medication prescribed in order to prevent attacks - there are also doctors, psychologists, nurses, paramedics, firefighters, mountain rescuers etc etc who need to be contacted in an emergency - so these people who want to get rid of them- just make sure you don't ever ever want to contact a doctor or paramedic in a hurry - ok?

10. Mel Gibson- what a complete and utter absolute waste of space he is - he makes the most awful films, he canot act, he is a bigot, a racist and a misogynist - and yet people believe his idiotic, badly made, badly researched films- why?

11. Angels- the fluffy, cute, loving kind of 'personal' angel that i keep hearing about- where the fuck did people get this idea from? Angels in the Bible are killers. They go around 'smiting' people and killing first borns and bringing plagues and generally being god's street gang - bullies - and androgenous bullies at that - fluffy they are not- I wouldn't want any of those bastards coming to see me because whenever they do in the bible it means either pregnancy or death.

12. Yellow cars- I hate them- especially that acid yellow that hurts my eyes- come on boys - they look like big bananas - British Racing Green is cool, black is cool, dark blue, even purple or green- but yellow? nah

13.Perfume adverts- look, its a perfume, it is not a lifestyle, it will not get you that pretty girl / boy who lives up the road- it will not even mask that unwashed smell you have - it will just mix with it to make it worse :( Include here also Car Adverts and adverts for Trainers.

13. People who wear too much perfume / aftershave - it does not mask your unwashed sweaty smell- (see above) it merely mixes with it. Even if you are washed and smell nice to begin with we will never be able to tell now because you have so much perfume on we can see a visible trail lingering behind you- please! I like my nose, I like my taste buds- I don't want them assaulted by your horrible perfume as you whisk by me or stand next to me in the post office - it makes me sneeze, it makes my eyes water! STOP!

British Atheists

2008-05-26T12:29:00.002+01:00

I am trying to get together a list of all British Atheists who have blogs or webpages so that we can find each other- I tried this last year but real life intervened and I didn't get it going- so now I am making a concerted effort - visit

British Atheists (blog) and put your name and site / blog in the comments and I will start compiling a list

If anyone is good at making blogrolls could you contact me and either make one for me (cheeky I know :) ) or tell me how to do it- preferably the former lol

Silent- ish Sunday

2008-05-25T10:57:00.004+01:00

Lifting the Veil of Polygamy:

The full video can be found here on Google Video

A few times when listening to the women describe their lives in fundamentalism I got very sad and very angry. I also felt that the people in this programme could have carried on seeking 'truth' and straight out of religious control altogether - but the end of the video shows that they instead stayed in mainstream christianity- which is slightly better than fundamentalism but still controls- especially women - it just puts a better veneer on it.

Scientology vs The Kid- EPIC WIN!

2008-05-24T08:16:00.004+01:00

The Crown Prosecution Service has seen sense - and more than sense- now appears to have advised the Police on how to respond at demos lol

see here

"The CPS review of the case includes advice on what action or behaviour at a demonstration might be considered to be threatening, abusive or insulting.

"The force's policing of future demonstrations will reflect this advice."

A CPS spokesman said: "In consultation with the City of London police, we were asked whether the sign, which read 'Scientology is not a religion it is a dangerous cult', was abusive or insulting.

"Our advice is that it is not abusive or insulting and there is no offensiveness, as opposed to criticism, neither in the idea expressed nor in the mode of expression. No action will be taken against the individual."

The teenager's mother said the decision was "a victory for free speech".

"We're all incredibly proud of him. We advised him to take the placard down when we realised what was happening but he said 'No, it's my opinion and I have a right to express it'," she said.

(my bold)

I think we should all be proud of this young man - he showed us what free speech is all about. For too long this cult has relied on intimidation and threats to control publicity and prevent any serious investigation into their practices, more people standing up to them in this way will reduce the power of these threats.

Update:- Liberty- the Human Rights organisation is looking to support the young man in any action against the police - I don't think he will get far as lots of people are given notice of summons and then the case is discontinued by the CPS- but then Liberty are probably hoping for a test case now :)

And now the Guardian weighs in - the comments on this piece are more interesting and revealing than the piece itself :)

Scientology vs The Kid - Update

2008-05-20T22:56:00.003+01:00

The national press has now picked up on the ludicrous and abhorent summons issued to a 15 year old protester for stating his opinion about scientology.

See The Guardian newspaper's report here - makes me wonder if they have been trawling the blogs for their stories again. They do have a cool pic of a police constable taking the ~~large and offensive~~ rather small placard tho.

On other news- MPs have voted to keep the time limit for abortions at 24 weeks - I'll not blog much about it here as I have had an ongoing ~~debate~~ argument on the RavingAtheists forum all week and I'm argued out :) I'll maybe do something next week when I have a whole week off work

When is a Cult not a Cult?

2008-05-19T17:59:00.011+01:00

Apparently when the City of London Police say it isn't

The latest in the saga of Anonymous versus Scientology involves the City of London Police and a sign.

Apparently a young Anonymous protester was given notice on Saturday while protesting outside the COS on Queen's Road, London, that he was in breach of Section 5 of the Criminal and Public Order Act 1994.

The offence he was allegedly committing? Holding a sign saying:

“Scientology is not a religion – it is a dangerous cult”.

He was not holding a sign saying 'Fuck Scientology' or 'Scientology murders people' which would, in fact, have been insulting and designed to cause harassment, alarm and distress (despite the fact that the latter sign can be proved to some extent)

So- lets examine this.

The Public Order Act states:

5 Harassment, alarm or distress

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if he—

(a) uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, or

(b) displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting,

within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby.

(2) An offence under this section may be committed in a public or a private place, except that no offence is committed where the words or behaviour are used, or the writing, sign or other visible representation is displayed, by a person inside a dwelling and the other person is also inside that or another dwelling.

(3) It is a defence for the accused to prove—

(a) that he had no reason to believe that there was any person within hearing or sight who was likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress, or

(b) that he was inside a dwelling and had no reason to believe that the words or behaviour used, or the writing, sign or other visible representation displayed, would be heard or seen by a person outside that or any other dwelling, or

(c) that his conduct was reasonable.

(4) A constable may arrest a person without warrant if—

(a) he engages in offensive conduct which [a] constable warns him to stop, and

(b) he engages in further offensive conduct immediately or shortly after the warning.

(5) In subsection (4) “offensive conduct” means conduct the constable reasonably suspects to constitute an offence under this section, and the conduct mentioned in paragraph (a) and the further conduct need not be of the same nature.

(6) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

The crucial piece here is

displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting,

(my bold)

Now- do you consider the word 'cult' to be threatening abusive or insulting? - lets see what a dictionary has to say:

cult –noun
1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.
2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.
3. the object of such devotion.
4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.
5. Sociology. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.
6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.
7. the members of such a religion or sect.
8. any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific.
–adjective
9. of or pertaining to a cult.
10. of, for, or attracting a small group of devotees: a cult movie.
[Origin: 1610–20; < L cultus habitation, tilling, refinement, worship, equiv. to cul-, var. s. of colere to inhabit, till, worship + -tus suffix of v. action]

—Related forms
cultic, cul·tu·al

All of the above could, in my opinion, be applied quite truthfully and successfully argued in court (at least in the UK) to any religion- when considering Scientology the defnitions most suitable are, again in my opinion, numbers 2, 4 and 6.

Note throughout I am using 'in my opinion',something I am entitled to do.

The next applicable part of the Public Order Act is :

4) A person is guilty of an offence under section 5 only if he intends his words or behaviour, or the writing, sign or other visible representation, to be threatening, abusive or insulting, or is aware that it may be threatening, abusive or insulting or (as the case may be) he intends his behaviour to be or is aware that it may be disorderly.

As far as I am aware the young man holding the sign was stating an opinion,based on sound evidence, that he quite truthfully believes that Scientology is a cult. He is supported in this belief by an eminent Judge, Justice Latey, who stated, when handing down a judgement in 1984:

“Some might regard this as an extension of the entertaining science fiction which Hubbard used to write before he invented and founded the cult . Scientology is both immoral and socially obnoxious.”

(my bold)

People are, since the Coldbath Fields case in England in 1833, allowed to speak their minds on the streets of London - surely these protesters were merely stating their firmly held opinion?

Insult is of course in the perception of the insulted, something that Mary Whitehouse proved over and over again, and we all know that Scientologists do not like being called a Cult but why this sudden change in the COL Police?

Now for the conspiracy theory: it is rumoured that the COL Police are in the pockets of COS - and have accepted gifts and 'junkets' from the 'Church', so maybe this has more to do with their attitude than the actual law of the land? I do hope this is not the case.

Too long already in this country we have pandered to the foibles and ever-changing rules of the 'churches' and the various - and many- religions and beliefs designed to extract money from vulnerable people - now we just get rid of the anachronistic 'blasphemy' law and Scientology's 'Police in my Pocket' go and pull another misused law out of their hat. Call christianity a cult and most christians (in the UK)will laugh it off- call islam a cult and although you may have to watch your back for a few years you are unlikely to find yourself arrested by a puppet police officer - but call what is obviously a cult, a cult - and you end up in court for stating an opinion.

An interesting point here is that similar signs used in protests throughout London (not in the jusridsdiction of the COL) have not received any form of summons- could it be that the Metropolitan Police are not in the pockets of the COS? and have therefore not obediently bent over as the COL Police have done?

I feel very old saying this - but what has happened to free speech in this country? Have we all moved to Saudi Arabia without me realising it? When was the freedom to state an opinion removed?

Scientology is a dangerous cult

Einstein's thoughts on religion clarified

2008-05-14T19:52:00.015+01:00

After long years being held up by creationists and ID proponents as a scientist who believed in (their version of) god a letter due to go for auction on Thursday and written by Einstein in 1954 clarifies his thoughts:

The word god is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this

Something I think some people find hard to understand is the growth of theory (and here I mean theory in the scientific sense)over time and also often fail to understand that people's beliefs and thoughts often grow and change over similar periods in reaction to experience and increased knowledge.

Consider Einstein, a genius but also a man (and once a boy) of his own culture, era and family. Both parents were Jewish but not 'religious' Jews. He attended a catholic school and in his youth found religion to be enticing and moving - saying himself that he sought a 'religious paradise', but he grew out of that as most people do and found that rational thought, logic and a mind free of the shackles of organised religion served him better.

However, in his later years he voiced a longing for 'a cosmic religious feeling' and explored ideas of pantheism and other ways of viewing the universe which he had so eloquently explained to the world. This, in my opinion was natural for a man brought up in his time and place- the pomp and grandeur of the main religions would have seeped into him during his childhood and he would naturally miss the safety and certainty of religion as some do as they age.

I have a great love of religious music- nothing can surpass for me the joy of listening to Bach's St Matthew's Passion while driving home on a rainy evening (and trying to sing along)

(podcast of chorus available here)

I love cathedrals, with their grand architecture and hidden detail, their wonderful stained glass windows throwing rainbows of light on the paving trod by medieval monks and bishops but this does not mean I have a longing for the religion itself.

Einstein is allowed by virtue of his genius to be a little scatty I think, and to change his mind whenever he wants to- he even in my mind has the right to long for a feeling that was in older times called 'numinous' - I often have that feeling myself when I look at a mountain, stand in the middle of a thunderstorm or just walk through fields on a long summer's evening. At these times I too find I have a longing for a cosmic religious feeling but not a religion to organise it and tame it and tell me what to think and feel.

Einstein should, I think be fought over no more and just recognised for being human - and a genius.

Einstein and religion
The fundamentalist's view
Theory fo relativity

Update on EBay/Papypal dipute

2008-05-13T11:11:00.002+01:00

As requested by PayPal I sent the x2 DVD back to the git from whom I bought them- I send them recorded delivery and send the tracking number to PayPal.

A couple days later I go check on the dispute site and find that PayPal has refunded me the money- well the money I paid for them plus the original postage- but NOT the postage I paid to send them back, nor the time, effort and petrol money - looks like I just have to swallow that eh?

I go back and check a couple later again as I have not been informed that the dispute is settled- and I find the Git has appealed against the refund!- so I send an e-mail to PayPal asking for details and received a reply this morning:

Thank you for contacting us in relation to the status of your Buyer
Complaint PP-451-379-099.

We can confirm that the buyer appealed claiming to have not received the
item back.

This information has been added to the buyer complaint and forwarded to the
relevant department that is going to process and review it.

If we require any further information we will contact you directly via
email. Thank you for your patience and cooperation in this matter.

Please let me know if you need further assistance.

Sincerely,
Francesco

Protection Services Department
PayPal, an eBay Company

Copyright © 1999-2008 PayPal. All rights reserved. PayPal (Europe) S.à r.l.
& Cie, S.C.A. Société en Commandite par Actions. Registered Office: 5th
Floor, 22-24 Boulevard Royal, L-2449, Luxembourg, RCS Luxembourg B 118 349

well there you have it- the practices of a very bad and very obnoxious trader on EBay - still disuputing the claim even tho the tracker says he has received the items back - what can you do?

I intend to write to both EBay's and PayPal's head offices to give them my thoughts on both this 'person' and their companies' complaints procedures and lack of support.

on another note- it was good to have Bag down this weekend- she was at Bristol ComicCon doing some networking for her business :) In another five weeks or so she will be moving back here in order to save money up for thier own place :) cool eh?

Silent Sunday

2008-05-11T17:41:00.003+01:00

Joan of Arc

Real female hero

It seemed that their defence of free speech was not entirely consistent.

2008-05-09T22:01:00.008+01:00

Love the quote above from the National Secular Society's report on the final ending of the Blasphemy Law - some may see it as the thin end of the wedge- I see it as the start of a beautiful friendship lol - this law has been hanging around our necks for far too long in England (not sure if it extends to Scotland and Wales- shall have to look that up) and now- we can say what the hell we like - at least about the protestant church in England- without fear of being clapped in jail- not that anyone has recently- but it could have happened while this law was still around- so here is a little history for you:

The last person in Britain to be sent to prison for blasphemy was John William Gott on 9 December 1921. He had three previous convictions for blasphemy when he was prosecuted for publishing two pamphlets which satirised the biblical story of Jesus entering Jerusalem (Matthew 21:2-7), comparing Jesus to a circus clown. He was sentenced to nine months' hard labour.

In 1977, Denis Lemon, the editor of Gay News was found guilty of blasphemous libel for publishing James Kirkup's poem The Love that Dares to Speak its Name which allegedly vilified Christ and his life (Whitehouse v. Lemon). Lemon was fined £500 and sentenced to a suspended sentence of nine months imprisonment. It had been "touch and go", said the judge, whether he would actually send Lemon to jail.

In 2002, a deliberate and well-publicised public repeat reading of the poem The Love that Dares to Speak its Name took place on the steps of St Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square and failed to lead to any prosecution.

The last prosecution for blasphemy in Scotland was in 1843.

so-- what's next??
Disestablishment I reckon- what do you think? About time we kicked the 'Church of England' into touch? I think so.

In other news- that idiot Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor made a fool of himself on Radio 4 this morning- it was great to listen to and this kind of thing is the only reason I listen to Radio 4 on my drive to work- because I cannot stand John Humphry's smarminess and superior attitude otherwise.

You can listen to it here and on the same page to the right you can listen to Richard Dawkins - the reason why the Cardinal was so fraught :)and read what Terry Sanderson has to say about it all :)

And Stephen Green at Christian Voice is at it again- promising a protest against an as yet unmade and not even planned show involving the auditioing of thousands of people who want to play the part of Jesus in 'Jesus Christ Superstar' - not a bad show actually with one or two fabulous songs - but Mr Green- please! at least wait for the show to be made before you start getting your incedibly white knickers in a twist.

The abortion debate is beginning to get into full swing- with more research out about survival rates of premature babies - giving fuel to the fire - I have more reading to do on the science yet but I still remain on the side of a woman having the right to choose - where I do waver is the time limit and removing the necessity for a medical doctor to ok the procedure- which is a hangover from a very very patriarchal post-war society -where I don't waver is when any religious argument is brought to bear - and note I say religious and not moral or ethical arguments- which do have a bearing- more to come when I have done my reading.

see also here and here plus here for a religious view and here if you want to get involved and want a clear scientific view

Finally- the next Anti-scientology protest is tomorrow- so good luck and cyber-support from me for anyone who is going on them. Stay safe- stay Anonymous!

GO see this!!

2008-04-24T16:21:00.003+01:00

Blowing a family member's trumpet here-- but -- as one who can barely draw with the old-fashioned materials I found this fascinating

Bag's Art Blog

Made Me Laff!!

2008-04-21T20:57:00.005+01:00

Just a couple of pictures that made me laugh- in a sick and twisted way of course but you can't have everything :)

I am assured that this one below is not a photoshop job and that the sign was real- whether it was meant as irony I don't know- personally I think it was just a dumbass :)

The caption on this one says it all :)

yup- sick and twisted - I know

E Bay dispute

2008-04-20T11:54:00.002+01:00

This may bore you but I have to vent!!

I am currently in dispute with a guy on EBay from whom I bought a DVD for my son- I ordered in good faith a DVD of Resident Evil Extinction - listed as the Limited Edition Hologramme cover design.

1. I paid by Paypal- and the guy sent me a note saying I hadn't payed him- and would I pay - so I sent him details of my payment- including numbers and dates

2. I then received -two weeks later- a DVD titled 'Carmen Electra: The Lap Dance Hip Hop' which although it may have been of interest to some adolescent boys was not actually what my son wanted.

3. I sent the guy an e-mail saying he had sent the wrong DVD would he send the correct one please- he said he had- I said he hadn't and sent him details- he eventually admitted it- and

4. Arriving on my doorstep by recorded delivery- a Resident Evil Extinction DVD - not the correct one, not limited edition hologramme cover- but an ordinary cover- that is also - I suspect- a copy- as the cover is very badly printed.

5. I sent him e-mails saying he had sent the wrong one again- no answer at all for weeks-so I take it to dispute through PayPal - that was on 5th April

6. He sends a message back through Paypal saying I must send both DVD back to him for a refund- I say i don't trust him any more so can he send the correct dvd and send me compensation for the time and petrol and postage sending the damn things back is costing me - still no reply

7. no reply

8.no reply

9. I leave feedback on Ebay saying he has sent the wrong dvd TWICE - he replies to my feedback in a very rude manner and accuses me of lying - so I have now reported him to EBay and also escalated the dispute through PayPal - who tell me I have to send the dvds back to get a refund- which will only cover the cost of the original DVD!

Here is the feedback in which he accuses me of lying and wanting a refund for free:

Wrong DVD sent and wrong replacement DVD sent - still in dispute! Bad seller! Buyer:
culpepperpersuader ( 95 [Feedback score is 50 to 99] )
13-Apr-08 19:01

*
Reply by rareverryrare (14-Apr-08 12:53):
Correct item sent via Recorded delivery Watched DVD wants refund for free. BADDD
o
Follow-up by culpepperpersuader (20-Apr-08 10:52):
lying about me is wrong- I have contacted Ebay and escalated further

and some of the other info:

I tend to pay straight away with Paypal so was disconcerted to find that he hadn't even noticed I had paid- this should have been an indication I think:

Below is the invoice sent when he obviously hadn't even checked that I had already paid- I publish his address because I think he deserves to get lots of spam from anyone who reads this blog!

Greetings from the RareVeryRare Sales Team.

You are the winning buyer for the RESIDENT EVIL PART 3 DVD EXTINCTION LTD
ED HOLOGRAMMIC . Thank you for your business.

Your payment for this item hasn't been received yet. If you haven't sent
payment, please follow the instructions below.

Item title: RESIDENT EVIL PART 3 DVD EXTINCTION LTD ED HOLOGRAMMIC
Web Address: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350036162255
Item number: 350036162255
Buyer User ID: culpepperpersuader
Seller User ID: rareverryrare

Your total is: {TOTAL$

Please send me your postal address and payment. The following payment methods
are accepted: PayPal, Money Order/Banker's Draft, Personal Cheque, Other
Credit Card Services, Other

If you want to mail your payment, please send it and include a copy of this
page to:

R Lopez
16 Acklam Avenue

Sunderland, Tyne and Wear sr2 9sq

Again, thank you for your business.

Have a great day.

Regards and best wishes

RareVeryRare Team

this was my answer:

I made a payment the instant I purchased the item- through paypal - of £17.94 (inc post&pack) to
Unique Transaction ID #5LG64986JC2260301
To S Lopez
I can send more details if necessary.

this is when things really started to go wrong- I am still polite at this stage:

Dear rareverryrare,

Hi, you have sent me the wrong DVD- I paid for Resident Evil and got a Carmen Electra one instead
can you please send me the correct DVD and I will send this one back to you as soon as I receive it- I expect a refund for the postage I will use sending it back to you

- culpepperpersuader

and this was his reply- what else was there to explain?

Dear culpepperpersuader,

i dont know what you are saying. Can you please explain properly.

- rareverryrare

and my barely polite reply- just before I escalated it to dispute:

Dear rareverryrare,

everything was explained properly- you sent the wrong dvd- twice- I would like the right dvd

- culpepperpersuader

and having no reply to that I sent this:

Dear rareverryrare,

ok- you sent me A resident evil dvd- but not the right one!
I ordered the resident evil limited edition hologram dvd- and received an ordinary one- shall I now take this to dispute as I have had no contact from you other than to send me two incorrect dvd

- culpepperpersuader

and still no reply ended up with this:

Dear rareverryrare,

I haven't had an answer yet to my previous message- I received the wrong dvd and would like the right one- can you please answer me before I have to take it to dispute?

- culpepperpersuader

and then this- when there was still no reply:

Dear rareverryrare,

I still haven't received a reply to my two messages-
you sent me the wrong dvd and I would like to get the right dvd please - I paid for Resident Evil Limited edition and received some crap to do with lap-dancing.
I would have thought it a priority to answer me straight away and sort out this business before it has to go to dispute?

- culpepperpersuader

Now- my question is- how is this fair? I have spent time, money and effort in trying to sort this out - yet I will be the one who is out of pocket - and the seller just blithely goes along selling the wriong and copied dvds without sanction?

So- if you have a chance- make this guy's name public- and say something about the unjust way disputes are settled on EBay and PayPal

he is called on EBay 'Rareverryrare' - DO NOT BUY FROM HIM

UNHRC

2008-04-20T10:16:00.004+01:00

Just to be going on with- here is a speech by Keith Porteous-Wood of the National Secular Society to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - which is currently being eroded through the pressure of non human rights compliant countries who are pushing for a universal declaration of what basically amounts to curbing free criticism of any religion- particularly Islam:

Speech To European Humanist Federation To Mark The 60th Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

And an interesting article on the subject

Write to your MP, write to the UN, write to your Euro MP, tell them to stop supporting this crap in your name-tell them what you think before you no longer have the right to tell them- and no longer have the right to even think it!

Write to the media- publicise what is happening to Human Rights and freedom of speech - get the world to care about more than who the Next bloody Top Model is or who is the latest idiot on Big Brother.

Not really here

2008-04-20T09:52:00.003+01:00

well it has been a while hasn't it? - not up to my usual verbose self-and why?

the bedroom is sort of finished- I'll take some pictures soon- and I'm still moving things around and sorting out clothes etc. My leg / hip started hurting again despite the injection- and I appear to have caught a cold and become easily tired- so i have bene faling asleep most evenings- when I'm suppsed to be reading up on psychology stuff! I've also bene spending what little free time I have at the moment- writing up my application for my MSc in Child mental Health- and talking to the prospective tutor and my academic referees- so a little bit busy- I may find some time in the next week or so to blog a bit- so much has been happening both in the UK and with FLDS compound in Texas that my fingers were itching to blog about but I have to prioritise health and education at the moment :)

As a rather large man once said 'I'll be back!'

Silent Sunday

2008-04-13T10:56:00.002+01:00

Kelsey's Purpose Website

Studying

2008-04-12T10:36:00.002+01:00

Not been posting very regularly for a little while- and may not in the near future as I am studying at the moment - as well as busy doing the bedroom :)

also- had an injection in my leg the other day- hurt like hell but it is gradually getting better now - hopefully I will be able to go out for walks again soon :)

anyway- I may actually post something this weekend :)

2008-04-09T08:10:00.003+01:00

Q: I HAVE to be the 1st one to do this for you!!"Why are there morons in the world?? To provide comedic relief for the rest of us???"

Asked by Your sister

A: lol- I often think so- I like laughing at their antics as long as what they are doing doesn't hurt anyone :)

Ask Psychodiva a question.

2008-04-09T08:10:00.001+01:00

Q: Hi Psychodiva and welcome to Askablogr! (I was raised by a 1st Amendment lawyer and am passionate about free speech, so I love your header). Please take a moment to introduce yourself to the community

Asked by Chris DeVore

A: Hi :)

I am Pam, 46 years old, I live in the UK - I'm British- ex-army brat and my husband was also in the Army. I am a psychiatric nurse working with children and adolescents - I worked forensic psych until about 4 months ago- now I'm doing ordinary psych for a rest :)

I am an atheist and believe strongly in free speech and that the USA is not the only country that has it :)

Pam

Ask Psychodiva a question.

Blog Award

2008-04-05T22:05:00.003+01:00

I am starting my own blog awards :) largely because I find some fantastic stuff out there that makes me really think about things and some truly wonderful and sometimes beautiful prose that I could in no way match- so I have decided to award it all- well- 3 a month to be exact - although numbers may change depending on what is out there and what I have read- and the first one goes to:

Sean at 'Sean the Blogonaut' - for his series on the Mercy Ministry and what it has done to vulnerable young people - and for his continuing reaching out to these girls.

Another to 'Free Mind Joe' for this wonderful thought-provoking and thoughtful post.

Evolutionary Middleman for this post because it just struck a chord with me.

Google Bomb

2008-04-05T21:12:00.002+01:00

Knackered

2008-04-05T10:36:00.002+01:00

ok- not blogging much this week - or even on the webs much as I have been so overwhelmingly busy at work lately. Things are picking up with referrals and the acute level of referrals appears to be increasing - so I am up to my ears in assessments and everybody else seems to have pissed off on holiday lol

Anyhoo - I'll be back this weekend sometime - lots going on I should blog about- may have another rant about work - but also I am having a new bedroom installed and have some work to do in the bedroom before they install it- like watching Phil knock the old cupboard down - hard life eh? seriously- I have to move everything out into the spare room - which is an opportunity to sort and send things to charity shops etc- so busy busy :)

The room will be ready for when you get over here Donna :)

Just (April) Foolin'

2008-04-01T16:04:00.003+01:00

The New Humanist Blog has a wonderful piece on it today that to all intents and purposes is real- but look closely :)

In passing byelaw 08/04 (section 01), the borough council has made it mandatory for Catholic priests to forewarn their congregations that transubstantiation – the idea that at communion the bread and wine become the literal body and blood of Christ – remains unsupported by solid empirical evidence.

I only wish it were true - I would love for the catholic priests to have to do this :)

And then there's this - from the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster :)

So- do we then get 'equal time' in Churches?

2008-04-01T00:31:00.002+01:00

It appears that some Cleric from the 'Free Church of Scotland' (I hear my sister shouting "with every beer!") is complaining that a talk given by Richard Dawkins at the Millenium Institute in Inverness will not be 'balanced'.

There will be other talks available from the religionistas but apparently this cleric wants them to share a platform with Dawkins.

So- my question is- can we all now go to their churches and 'share a platform' with the priests, clerics, bishops, etc etc and have 'equal time' to talk sense into the congregation?

I am becoming heartily sick of these people, they want more than equality, they want the status quo and the power that they have had for centuries- and seeing it slipping gradually away from them they are panicking and talking about 'equality' and 'balance'- where was their balance in the last 2,000 years on their 'platform'?

I think if they want equality they should get just that - and put up with a few atheists,scientists and humanists telling the truth.

A blatant bit of Google Bombing

2008-03-30T23:15:00.001+01:00

EXPELLED
EXPELLED
EXPELLED
EXPELLED
EXPELLED
EXPELLED
EXPELLED
EXPELLED
EXPELLED
EXPELLED
EXPELLED
EXPELLED
EXPELLED
EXPELLED

:) That was fun :)

why don't you all join in :)

Dith Pran

2008-03-30T21:33:00.004+01:00

Has died of cancer at the age of 65. He was a true journalist, a fighter for his people and his story- written by his colleague Sydney Schanberg became the film 'The Killing Fields'

"I'm a one-person crusade. I must speak for those who did not survive and for those who still suffer. Since coming to America, I have visited Cambodia three times to evaluate the ongoing Cambodian crisis. The problems Cambodia faces are not only political but also economical and social. The Khmer Rouge have brought Cambodia back to year zero and that's why I'm trying to bring the Khmer Rouge leaders to the World Court. Like one of my heroes, Elie Wiesel, who alerts the world to the horrors of the Jewish holocaust, I try to awaken the world to the holocaust of Cambodia, for all tragedies have universal implications."

"Part of my life is saving life. I don't consider myself a politician or a hero. I'm a messenger. If Cambodia is to survive, she needs many voices." Dith Pran

A true hero lost

More hereand here

Silent Sunday

2008-03-30T14:25:00.001+01:00

Haiku Friday

2008-03-29T00:26:00.003Z

Wind blows, dark clouds race
Scents come, memories of spring
Sun will come soon

(I spent most of today alternately battling the wind and rain and basking in the sunshine- maybe it will make its mind up soon)

Finally - pictures from Ilfracombe

2008-03-26T23:07:00.003Z

there are loads- so be patient- or if you get bored- switch it off- bear in mind it pissed down most days and we got wet and cold but had fun anyway :)
The big red house was where we stayed- up on the top floor at the left of the picture.
The rooftops are an obsession of mine- I love taking pictures of rooftops :)
The rest are from the walks we did and the chocolate museum we found - mmmmmm

If you need to see them bigger- here is a link

Devon

Oldest Hominid in Town

2008-03-26T22:30:00.002Z

Scientists have gotten around to dating the jawbone and teeth found in the Atapuerca site in northern Spain and have found them to be between 1.1 and 1.2 million years old.

the latest find had anatomical features linking it to earlier hominins (modern humans, their ancestors and relatives since divergence from apes) discovered in Dmanisi, Georgia - at the gates of Europe.

The Georgian hominins lived some 1.7 million years ago and represent an early expansion of humans outside Africa.

The researchers therefore suggest that Western Europe was settled by a population of hominins coming from the east.

Once these early people had "won the West" they evolved into a distinct species - Homo antecessor, or "Pioneer Man", say the scientists.

The scientists now plan to investigate whether Pioneer Man might have been ancestral to Neanderthals and to even our own species Homo sapiens.

The Atapuerca Foundation has a cool website - thereis an English version available- click on th elink on the top right :)you have to then click on the little pictures that appear as you roll on the lower portion of the image - then you can access the menus at the top- annoying but still a good site

Happy Spring Equinox!

2008-03-23T11:00:00.011Z

The reason for the season?
Leaving aside my usual 'Silent Sunday'It may seem a bit ridiculous wishing you a Happy Equinox? Well, no more ridiculous than believing a middle-eastern man of around 30 was crucified, died for three days and rose up just to remind us all of what 'sinners' we are.

When I first started looking into religion as a way of fighting against the never-ending propaganda in the schools I attended I began to read about ancient beliefs and practices. I have now ammassed a library of books and articles on ancient and obscure religions and beliefs and looking at 'Easter' for the first time in many years makes me realise again that the Christian celebration is no different from those of a number of myths and stories used by primitive people in an effort to try and understand and control their world.

The Christian Easter story, when researched properly, is just a rehash of many, many celebrations of the Spring Equinox that have occurred for millenia around the world.

For example:

Cybele, the Phrygian fertility goddess, had a fictional consort who was believed to have been born via a virgin birth. He was Attis, who was believed to have died and been resurrected each year during the period MAR-22 to MAR-25. "About 200 B.C. mystery cults began to appear in Rome just as they had earlier in Greece. Most notable was the Cybele cult centered on Vatican hill ...Associated with the Cybele cult was that of her lover, Attis (the older Tammuz, Osiris, Dionysus, or Orpheus under a new name). He was a god of ever-reviving vegetation. Born of a virgin, he died and was reborn annually. The festival began as a day of blood on Black Friday and culminated after three days in a day of rejoicing over the resurrection."

Wherever Christian worship of Jesus and Pagan worship of Attis were active in the same geographical area in ancient times, Christians "used to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus on the same date; and pagans and Christians used to quarrel bitterly about which of their gods was the true prototype and which the imitation."

Source- ReligiousTolerance.org

The Christian Bible contains no mention of easter and indeed the Last Supper and celebrations mentioned at the time of the death of their god/king appear to be largely Jewish: From Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th edit., Vol. 8, p. 828:

“There is no indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament, or in the writings of the Apostolic Fathers…The first Christians continued to observe the Jewish festivals [God’s festivals of Leviticus 23], though in a new spirit, as commemorations of events which those festivals had foreshadowed. Thus the Passover, with a new conception added to it, of Christ as the true Paschal Lamb…continued to be observed.”

Many cultures have a tradition of a king-god who is sacrificed at Spring Equinox to ensure the fertitlity of the soil at planting time (in the north) and growing time (in the middle east):

Ostara, the Germanic fertility Goddess was associated with human and crop fertility. On the spring equinox, she mated with the solar god and conceived a child that would be born 9 months later on DEC-21:Yule

The indigenous Mayan people in Central American have celebrated a spring equinox festival for ten centuries. Their magnificent buildings are often aligned to catch the sun as it rises during the Equinox.

Babylonians honored the resurrection of their god, Tammuz, who was brought back from the underworld by his mother/wife, Ishtar at the time of the Spring Equinox.

In Britain the God/King Cernunnos gave his life for the fertility of the fields and became in early British Christian eyes the 'devil' with horns and hoof

Eostre was the Saxon version of the Germanic lunar goddess Ostara. She gave her name to the Christian Easter and to the female hormone estrogen. Her feast day was held on the full moon following the vernal equinox -- almost the identical calculation as for the Christian Easter in the west.

Various ancient civilizations (Mesopotamia, Sumeria, Babylonia, Elam) circa 3000 to 2000 BCE celebrated the New Year at the time of the spring equinox.

It has been celebrated in the area of modern-day Iran since the Achaemenian (Hakhamaneshi) period over 2500 years ago. It survived because of Zoroastrianism which was the religion of Ancient Persia before the advent of Islam about 14 centuries ago.

Many religious historians trace the Judeo-Christian concepts of Hell, Heaven, Resurrection, the arrival of the Messiah, and the last judgment to Zoroastrianism.

Zoroastrians believe that the Lord of Wisdom "created all that was good and became God. The Hostile Spirit, Angra Mainyu (Ahriman), residing in the eternal darkness created all that was bad and became the Hostile Spirit." Similar to the dualistic God/Satan aspects of Christianity

Source: ReligiousTolerance.org

In Britain the Venerable Bede notes how the Christians arriving in the country at the time absorbed many 'Pagan' practices in order to make the new foreign, middle eastern religion more acceptable to the British peoples:

"In olden time the English people – for it did not seem fitting to me that I should speak of other nations' observance of the year and yet be silent about my own nation's – calculated their months according to the course of the moon. Hence after the manner of the Hebrews and the Greeks, [the months] take their name from the moon, for the moon is called mona and the month monath.

Eostur-monath has a name which is now translated Paschal month, and which was once called after a goddess of theirs named Eostre, in whose honour feasts were celebrated in that month. Now they designate that Paschal season by her name, calling the joys of the new rite by the time-honoured name of the old observance"

Finally we have James George Frazer:

“Now the death and resurrection of Attis were officially celebrated at Rome on the 24th and 25th of March, the latter being regarded as the spring equinox, and…according to an ancient and widespread tradition Christ suffered on the 25th of March…the tradition which placed the death of Christ on the 25th of March…is all the more remarkable because astronomical considerations prove that it can have had no historical foundation…When we remember that the festival of St. George in April has replaced the ancient pagan festival of the Parilia; that the festival of St. John the Baptist in June has succeeded to a heathen Midsummer festival of water; that the festival of the Assumption of the Virgin in August has ousted the festival of Diana; that the feast of All Souls [following Halloween] in November is a continuation of an old heathen feast of the dead; and that the Nativity of Christ himself was assigned to the winter solstice in December because that day was deemed the Nativity of the Sun; we can hardly be thought to be rash or unreasonable in conjecturing that the other cardinal festival of the Christian church—the solemnization of Easter—may have been in like manner, and from like motives of edification, adapted to a similar celebration of the Phyrigian god Attis at the vernal equinox…It is a remarkable coincidence…that the Christian and the heathen festivals of the divine death and resurrection should have been solemnized at the same season…It is difficult to regard the coincidence as purely accidental”

(The Golden Bough, Vol. I, pp. 306-309).

I'll leave you with Dr Robert Price again - thanks to Sean for the video

PZ Expelled

2008-03-22T10:21:00.003Z

I'm just about to go shopping and have a nice meal out due to it being my anniversary yesterday :) so news roundup will come later - in the meantime- the biggest news on the blogosphere is of PZ Meyers being expelled from expelled- that 'godawful' movie about intelligent design / creationism not being alloowed to be taught in science classes in the US(sheesh who woulda thunk that it had to be science to be taught in science eh?)

anyway- breaking my usual rule of not blogging about the going-on in the US I have to post a few links

This one is to a clip of a discussion between Richard Dawkins and PZ about PZ being expelled

This one is PZ having a it of a chortle on his own blog about the huge own-goal these people have managed to get - read the rest of the stuff further up and the comments are pretty good too :)

And a link to the New York Times who has an article about the debacle :)

OK back later :)