another questionable god

all us football monkeys would like to believe there is a god of football, but heck - it's just our primal need for violence that's being marketed to sell things and nothing more.

modern gladiators in plastic and pads.

painting by Neil Shakespeare.

Intelligent Thought vs. inane makebelief

Science is the big news. Science is the important story. Science is public culture....Yet at the same time, religious fundamentalism is on the rise around the world, and our own virulent domestic version of it, under the rubric of "intelligent design," by elbowing its way into the classroom abrogates the divide between church and state that has served this country so well for so long. Moreover, the intelligent-design (ID) movement imperils American global dominance in science and in so doing presents the gravest of threats to the American economy, which is driven by advances in science and in the technology derived therefrom.This book — sixteen essays by Edge contributors, all leading scientists from several disciplines — is a thoughtful response to the bizarre claims made by the ID movement's advocates, whose only interest in science appears to be to replace it with beliefs consistent with those of the Middle Ages. School districts across the country — most notably in Kansas and later in Pennsylvania, where the antievolutionist tide was turned but undoubtedly not stopped—have been besieged by demands to "teach the debate," to "present the controversy," when, in actuality, there is no debate, no controversy. What there is, quite simply, is a duplicitous public-relations campaign funded by Christian fundamentalist interests.

It is to be hoped that the ID movement, because of the very publicity that it has sought and achieved, will be seen by the majority of Americans for the giant step backward that it is. Our children are literally the future of our nation, which will increasingly need competent scientists and engineers to guide us through the coming technological revolutions — revolutions that are already under way all around us. There are examples in history of the collapse of great civilizations. There is no particular reason that the United States should be exempt from historical forces. The Visigoths are at the gates. Will we let them in?

- excerp from Edge: http://www.edge.org/

Finally, a book that gets down to the nitty gritty of MAKE BELIEF and it's army of pretenders.

they're STEALING our DEMOCRACY

STEALING DEMOCRACY: THE NEW POLITICS OF VOTER SUPPRESSION

Advance Praise

"A thorough, brilliant and impartial assessment of continuing problems at the ballot box."
-- Donna Brazile, Campaign Manager for Gore-Lieberman 2000

"With searing detail and the stories of real voters, [Overton] reveals a dirty little secret: our democratic system is crumbling and, with it, the legitimacy of our institutions."
-- U.S. Congressman John Conyers

"This book is a must for every American who cares about the integrity of our electoral system."-
- Raul Yzaguirre, President of National Council of La Raza, 1974-2004

Voters don't choose politicians-politicians choose voters by manipulating election rules. What can we do to restore power to the people?

While politicians spew shallow sound bites that describe a "free" American people who govern themselves by selecting their representatives, in reality politicians from both parties maintain control by selecting particular voters. Incumbent politicians maintain thousands of election practices and bureaucratic hurdles that determine who votes and how votes are counted--such as the location of election district boundaries, long lines at urban polling places, and English-only ballots. Spencer Overton uses real-life stories to show how these seemingly insignificant practices channel political power and determine policies on war, schools, clean air, and other issues that shape our lives. He also exposes the pressure points in this Orwellian system and provides strategies toward restoring self-government, such as making voting easier for all Americans, removing redistricting power from self-interested partisans, and renewing parts of the Voting Rights Act that expire in 2007. Overton's insights are vital to the future of our democracy.

Published by W. W. Norton & Company.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002.

"Taxation without representation is tyranny" - James Otis (1725-1783)


A slogan of the Revolutionary War and the years before. The colonists were not allowed to choose representatives to parliament in London, which passed the laws under which they were taxed. To be taxed only with the consent of one’s representatives in Parliament was a particularly cherished right of the people under English law, a right dating back to Magna Carta in the thirteenth century. Each additional tax caused fresh resentment among the colonists. Taxation without representation is one of the principal offenses of Britain listed in the Declaration of Independence.

-The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002.

WITHOUT FAIR ELECTIONS AND VOTING PROCEDURES - NO FAIR ELECTIONS!
NO FAIR ELECTIONS - NO REAL REPRESENTATION!

Tell Congress to Renew the Voting Rights Act!
For more than 40 years, the Voting Rights Act (VRA) has protected the right of every American citizen to cast a vote. But a small, vocal group of Republicans in the House of Representatives has had VRA Reauthorization (H.R. 9) pulled from the House floor. In response, PFAW has launched an emergency petition urging immediate passage - and we will hand deliver petitions to Capitol Hill this week.

Sign NOW!
http://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/ct/contactcustom.asp?c=feIJKQMEF&b=1810325

our wonderful republicans are planning to just DO NOTHING and take advantage of a clause in the Voting Rights Act which will make it disappear if it's not voted on! if the VRA or something like it isn't put in place WE RISK VOTING LOSS FOR THOSE OF COLOR AND WITH LESS THAN BIG BUCKS.

Bush as AntiChrist and Jesus Day Decider

A Quote from the past of our chimp and president, George W. Bush:

"Throughout the world, people of all religions recognize Jesus Christ as an example of love, compassion, sacrifice and service. Reaching out to the poor, the suffering and the marginalized, he provided moral leadership that continues to inspire countless men, women and children today.

To honor his life and teachings, Christians of all races and denominations have joined together to designate June 10 as Jesus Day. As part of this celebration of unity, they are taking part in the 10th annual March for Jesus in cities throughout the Lone Star State. The march, which began in Austin in 1991, is now held in nearly 180 countries. Jesus Day challenges people to follow Christ's example by performing good works in their communities and neighborhoods. By nursing the sick, feeding the poor or volunteering in homeless shelters, everyone can play a role in making the world a better place.

I urge all Texans to answer the call to serve those in need. By volunteering their time, energy or resources to helping others, adults and youngsters follow Christ's message of love and service in thought and deed.

Therefore, I, George W. Bush, Governor of Texas, do hereby proclaim June 10, 2000, Jesus Day in Texas and urge the appropriate recognition whereof, in official recognition whereof, I hereby affix my signature this 17th day of April, 2000."

the day of the beast (NOT) & the "god" number - HAH!

this is a day for all you phoney christians and catholics out there. and yes, you are OUT THERE!
and before you crow about unequal barbs - the same goes for you phoney judaic and islamic sheep and all the rest of you dogma crap make beliefers.

6/6/06

the day of the mark of the beast (unless you're one of the 6/6/1 gang) heralds release of the new Damien film and gets demented christians everywhere thinking that chicken little must be around the corner in cahoots with the d of evil (devil, you paranoids).

this brings to mind a question posed to me last week by a fellow philosopher. we were talking about my recent foray into this new nonreligion, nonchurch thing. the question put to me was that if the "god" concept had a number - "WHAT NUMBER WOULD I CHOOSE?"

after a bit of thought, I knew I had it! EUREKA!

the number for "god" would be OF COURSE - ZERO

the reasons for this are obvious. in our favorite base 10 system the zero is necessary but a value for nothing. my feelings about god go with the thought that some need to make up assorted inane qualities and concepts about a nonexistant entity. the concept usually addressed and pointed to by all the makebeliefers is probably just the "ghost" of life, ie - the thing we all share which is indescribable and too big to explain.

in numbers, the figure zero has no value, but the numeric system would be havoc without it. the figure for NOTHING becomes as important as all other value figures (1 thru 9) BUT it has no value of it's own other than to be the axis between negative and positive numeric zones.

dig that. the god concept is something that doesn't exist but has a symbol and place in everything! yeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaw.

THEREFORE... my new favorite symbol is zero. the THING that isn't but which has a symbol and a place in the forest of numeric values.

another concept attributed to the Nonchurch Of The Holy INGnant. (NOTHING) actually, it's the Nonchurch Of The Wholly Unknown - but heck Holy INGnant works too!

blog name change

realizing that "Planet of Pretense" was too vague for blog title; it's been changed to MakeBELIEF.

Make-belief \Make"-be*lief`\, n. A feigning to believe; make believe. --J. H. Newman.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

although I think makebeliefs are a weak and sheeplike way to deal with the unknown; I realize that family brainwashing and a plethora of other reasons cause makebelief to be a part and solution to many human lives.

"just do the right thing" is my motto of the day - and I think it stands well on it's own.

even so, I understand addictions to religions and accept that for some there is nothing else that will fill the gnawing need for structure as well as protecting same from the ravages of the unknown.

worship on but remember that all religions are created by imperfect beings who've given their guesswork free reign.

here's an idea: start a religion of your own and avoid conjecture and makebelief.

or heck, if you've gotta hang on to that religious fix - "JUST SAY BAAAAAAAAAAA!"