Atheists in the Great White North

Looks like Canada has something else to be proud of these days, of course if we forget their currently elected retard that is. Religious fundamentalists can now forget their put on outrage that he pocketed one of their cookies for later (see above) and focus on more a serious assault on their freedom to believe in fairies.

What assault you may ask?

The most heinous assault to those who gleefully profess blind faith and expect others to do the same...

...the assault of questioning!

The Supreme Court of Canada has overturned a ridiculous previous reading that prohibited Atheist Organizations from running ads questioning the existence of supreme celestial dictators on the sides of buses.

Imagine the offense the devout will now face as they board buses that read, "There’s probably no god, now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

I have to say that I think it's a little unimaginative of the Canadian groups to use the exact words that were used on buses in the U.K.

I was thinking something more along the lines of, "My God has more superpowers than yours!"

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Holy Corn Ears Batman!

Drivers through the Midwest and beyond must be getting a little relief from the endless expanse these days, or at least those driving Highway 95.

The American Humanist Association has started putting up billboards around the state reading, "Want a better world? Prayer not required."

This was their second attempt as apparently the predecessor, "Don't believe in God? You are not alone" was deemed a little too controversial.

Perhaps those thinking it was in bad taste have missed billboards like the one below that dot the roads of America. Talk about controversial?

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Happy Canada Day! Who's the Old Bat? #2

Call it lazy, but I'm repeating last year's Canada day post. Kinda like watching the same movie every Christmas. If you've read it before, click over here for something else to cheer about.

The fireworks are set, the beer is chilling and hopefully the snow isn't flying. As you get ready to celebrate your national day and possibly take part in that truly Canadian tradition of pondering, "What does it mean to be Canadian?" A good question, and one that should be reflected upon often and critically at that. A question that can have many answers, depending on who you are, but one that doesn't have this one answer: British

Yes, Canada was a colony and historically has links to the U.K, but if the British want to revel in a modern day, absurd, anachronism such as a monarchy, it is their choice. One that actually costs them around 150 million pounds a year. Why on earth would a country as racially integrated as Canada want to continue with such an elitist system defies logic. A country that welcomes anyone under the pretext of being equal is in fact ruled by a privileged family that lives in another country and thus the newly arrived immigrant nor their offspring, nor someone born in Canada can ever aspire to be head of state in their country. A fine welcome indeed.

What is not often thought of though is the real and ultimate threat that the link to a foreign power having a foreign queen can actually lead Canada into. We only have to look back to the Iraq war for a case in point. A turning point in the history of Canada where they were able to say no to their strong neighbours to the south and refuse to participate in an illegal war. The irony in their decision though was that their head of state, the Queen of England, actually gave her blessing to the illegal war and later bungled occupation. If the world ever gets around to trying injustice in international court, will Canadians be forced to stand trial for the decision of a foreign leader?

Monarchist apologists often use the lame excuse that if the monarchy is done away with, then there will be nothing left to distinguish Canada from its neighbour to the south. An argument like this doesn't even merit a response as it is so utterly insulting, a semi-socialized medical system would be a far better argument, or perhaps the country's non-bellicose past.

Which leaves us with the last gasp comment by feeble-minded monarchists who pine for the days of white-rule and colonial ways. Somehow, they state, a Queen can protect the country from evil-doing Prime Ministers. The mass protests in the U.K before the Iraqi war aside, how is it that an unelected head of state can protect a country from a supposedly democratically elected Prime Minister? The conundrum confounds really.

So enjoy the fireworks and for the moment we'll forget the travesty of your current Prime Minister combined with possibly one of the world's greatest environmental disasters and drink a toast to the forthcoming Canadian, Australian and Kiwi republics!

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Classroom Epiphany #31

June's now coming to an end...last classes for some, the beginning for others. My 'last classes' start at 9am, is that too early to take them to the bar?

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Teens aren't as Dumb as we Think!

Nearly two thirds of teenagers don't believe in God, according to a study by Penguin books.

Makes you wonder what happens to people as they age, doesn't it?

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Tales from the Eco Fair

Contrary to what I'd like when temperatures are hovering around 40º, I'm suddenly working more than I had expected. Classes are coming out of the woodwork and with the prospect of the long, dry summer ahead, I'm not in a position to say no to any of them.

With that in mind, I really have little in mind. Though judging from the vast majority of visitors to the blog, I am seriously considering turning it into a S+M porno site, seems to get all the hits. (just look at the feedjit widget below for proof)

Till that happens though and your rubber fantasies are fulfilled, I have posted a few reactions to the recent ECO Fair here in Caceres over here.

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Beer's Good for Me

Researchers at Granada University in Spain have come across a discovery that will undoubtedly please athletes and sports enthusiasts - a pint of beer post-workout or match is better at rehydrating the human body than water.

Professor Manuel Garzon, a member of Granada's medical faculty, made the finding after tests on 25 students over several months. Researchers believe that it is the sugars, salts, and bubbles in a beer that may help people absorb fluids more quickly.

Good thing that I've been wise to this and have been doing so for many years now.

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Classroom Epiphany #30

Children's classes are over for another academic year, I can once again breathe deeply. Take off my phony Children's Teacher hat and hang it up once again till the charade begins again.

But before I start up again I thought I'd have a look at a few books to use next year.



More here

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Just Ain't Natural...

Or maybe it is...

Seems a yearlong study just completed at the University of California at Riverside offers several fascinating competing theories about why same-gender sexual behavior (in animals) has endured.

So, next time you hear some priest moan on about the 'natural law' of men and women forming the family, a little food for thought.

But wait, these priests are the same people who said the earth was flat for so long, aren't they? I guess a little science can't get in the way of their faith.

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How do you say Atheist in German?

The so-called Atheist bus is back, this time riding up the Rhine and finishing off in Berlin.

As it has in every country, the slogan has been tweaked to suit local tastes.

This time it reads,"Close to certainty, there is no God."

Strangely enough, in a country where two-thirds of the citizens of its capital city say they aren't religious in any way, the adverts were banned from public buses and therefore organizers had to resort to a touring bus.

Not surprisingly, this bus was followed by a group of believers who had "And what if there is a God?"

Well, if there is one, I for one am not very happy with how things are around here, can we vote for another then?

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Things I've Yet to See Here

The businessman on his way to work or a meeting. But what about the way my colleagues will look at me? I mean, can't I afford a car?
Likelihood of seeing on the streets in the next 5 years?
Slightly higher than women 4 in 10

The businesswoman on a bike off to work. But what about sweating?
Likelihood of seeing on the streets in the next 5 years?
3 in 10

There is some French guy up in San Sebastian that insists on walking around and cycling in the buff, but I can't really see it happening down here. Ibiza might be another story though, but really, it can't be too comfy.
Likelihood of seeing on the streets in the next 5 years?
0 in 10

Bike culture just isn't very popular here, even though last Sunday was a big get out and bike day here in Caceres, nothing like Chicago's Nude ride on Sunday however(Or London's or Madrid's...etc). The police kindly closed off some streets and the local got out and rode the roads of this city, only for the bikes to be mothballed until the next event. Bit short of Vancouver's planned Car Free Sunday's, but we can only dream I guess.

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The Ayatollahs are Big Twits

The blogsphere is alive with theories on a supposedly new twittvolution in the Mullah's Islamic Republic. But from personal experience, take things with a grain of salt. Things aren't always as they seem in the land of Cyrus.

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