People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. – attributed to George Orwell, Winston Churchill etc, and likely to have some basis in Orwell’s comment about Rudyard Kipling: “He sees clearly that men can only be highly civilized while other men, inevitably less … Continue reading Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Rough Men and taking a stand
Tag: religion
What the Boss Likes – PA State Atheist/Humanist Conference, Harrisburg Crowne Plaza, September 28-20, 2012
A bit on the side of short notice, I’ve just discovered that the local atheist and free-thought groups in Pennsylvania are having a conference here in the state’s capitol the end of September this year. They have an excellent list of speakers. I’m not a member of any of the local groups, not being that … Continue reading What the Boss Likes – PA State Atheist/Humanist Conference, Harrisburg Crowne Plaza, September 28-20, 2012
Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – War on Religion
The culture wars have been revived yet again by the Romney campaign. Unable to get people to stop asking him for his tax records, and pointing out he has no economic plan other than Bush policies taking to extremes, Romney has returned to the usual attempts to create wedge issues between Americans, right out of … Continue reading Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – War on Religion
What the Boss Likes – New Frontiers
Curiosity has landed! And another step on the “new frontier” has been taken. WOOT! We’re also still taking steps on the new frontier that John Kennedy spoke of back in July 1960. Why is this on my mind? I watched “Justice League: New Frontier” yesterday. It starts with the paranoia of the 50s and ends … Continue reading What the Boss Likes – New Frontiers
Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Bombastic nonsense, Pennsylvania style
Seems that some Pennsylvania legislators can’t help themselves when it comes to being hateful idiots. The latest in bombastic lying comes from US Representative Mike Kelly, representing all or parts of Armstrong, Butler, Crawford, Erie, Mercer, Venango and WarrenCounties (contact him here ) These are in the central western to northwestern part of the state. This would … Continue reading Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Bombastic nonsense, Pennsylvania style
Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – The slow slow progress of science
It seems I spend a lot of time trying to explain to my relatives how the scientific method works: observation/idea which creates a hypothesis, which is either confirmed or disproven by observation/experimentation and if proven, becomes a theory (a great explanation in more detail here). A theory, in this case, in the scientific sense, isn’t … Continue reading Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – The slow slow progress of science
Not so Polite Dinner Conversation – Tell them when they are wrong because they vote
If they can vote then they need to know the facts. As many people do, I got a forwarded email from an older relative. This wasn’t my “Uncle Jim” of recent internet meme, but from "Aunt Jane". This particular email was promulgating various lies and half-truths about how horrible stamps mentioning the Muslim holiday of Eid … Continue reading Not so Polite Dinner Conversation – Tell them when they are wrong because they vote
Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Critical thinking, the lack of it and the usual result on the theistic mind
I’ll admit it was nice when I still was sure that some magical being that is omnipotent and omniscient agrees with whatever you decide it does. You can claim anything for this god and be sure that it has your back. If something happens that wasn’t what you wanted, you just convince yourself that this … Continue reading Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Critical thinking, the lack of it and the usual result on the theistic mind
What the Boss Likes – SCOTUS decision on health care
Oh my, what *will* the GOP/TP do when Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion and didn't obey their will? He was joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan. Thank you all for doing what's right for the country. Unsuprisingly, Justices Anthony Kennedy, Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas were … Continue reading What the Boss Likes – SCOTUS decision on health care
Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Pennsylvania legislators tell the truth….inadvertently
In a prior post, I discussed the voter ID law and how it would impact those who would tend not to vote for the Republicans/Tea Party. And now we know that the Republicans meant it that way by their own words. House Majority Leader Mike Turzai - R, Allegheny County has forgotten his talking points … Continue reading Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Pennsylvania legislators tell the truth….inadvertently
