Friday, December 23, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Friday, September 02, 2011
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
The Incredible Human Journey (BBC Series)
Out of Africa
Asia
Europe
Australia
The Americas
Burzynski, the Movie - Cancer is Serious Business
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Dying to Have Known
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Friday, May 06, 2011
Sweet Misery A Poisoned World (Spanish Subtitles)
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Monday, May 02, 2011
Food Matters
Food Matters Documentary from Jason Greenwood on Vimeo.
Healing Cancer From Inside Out
The Beautiful Truth
Sugar: The Bitter Truth
Sunday, May 02, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The Union - The Business Behind Getting High
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
I.O.U.S.A. - One Nation. Under Debt. In Stress.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Why Darwin Matters - Dr. Michael Shermer Lecture
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Shamanism - Other Worlds - Ayahuasca Documentary
Shamanism - Other Worlds - Ayahuasca Documentary
Thursday, October 29, 2009
An Atheist Meets God
An Atheist Meets God
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Are we alone in the universe?
Are we alone in the universe?
Monday, October 19, 2009
A Brief History of Disbelief
A Rough History of Disbelief - Jonathan Miller - Episode I: Shadows of Doubt
A Rough History of Disbelief - Jonathan Miller - Episode II: Noughts and Crosses
A Rough History of Disbelief - Jonathan Miller - Episode III: The Final Hour
The Ghost in Your Genes
The Ghost in Your Genes
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Purpose of Purpose
The Purpose of Purpose
The Genius of Charles Darwin - The Uncut Interviews
Daniel Dennett
Randolph Nesse
Steven Pinker
Peter Singer
Craig Venter
The Illusion of Reality
The Illusion of Reality
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The Root of All Evil?
The Root of All Evil? - The God Delusion (Part 1 of 2)
The Root of All Evil? - The Virus of Faith (Part 2 of 2)
The Genius of Charles Darwin
Episode 1: The Genius of Charles Darwin - Life, Darwin & Everything
Episode 2: The Genius of Charles Darwin - The Fifth Ape
Episode 3: The Genius of Charles Darwin - God Strikes Back
The Four Horsemen
Thunderbolts of the Gods
Thunderbolts of the Gods
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
There are such things as stupid questions
Question: How do I know if my hampster is pregnant?
Answer: Wait a while.
Question: How do I figure out what is draining my car battery?
Answer: Check the immediate vicinity for electrical vampires.
Question: Can I put vinyl floor over marble floor?
Answer: Yes, but you will need a very strong staple gun.
Question: What is a cure for a ball python that has a respiratory infection?
Answer: Robitussin
Question: What can you tell me about the way trust distribution works when a spouse dies?
Answer: You don't have to trust him/her any longer.
Question: What are some great tropical landscape design ideas?
Answer: Sand, water, and coconut trees.
Question: What can I do to help my golden retriever who has a hind leg limp?
Answer: Buy him some rollerskates.
Question: How does being left-handed benefit you in basketball?
Answer: It only provides an advantage when using a left-handed basketball.
Question: Can you recommend a wireless router for two laptop computers and a playstation 3?
Answer: Yes.
Question: How do I draw comic book characters?
Answer: With a pencil.
Question: How do I connect my headset to my ps2, Playstation 2?
Answer: Duct tape. Apply liberally.
Question: How to I get my generator going?
Answer: Talk dirty to it.
Question: How do you go about treating skin fold dermatitis in bloodhounds?
Answer: Belt sander.
Question: How do you determine the gender of a parakeet?
Answer: Buy it a drink. If it tells you off, it's female.
Question: Do electronic mosquito traps work?
Answer: Yes, but only on electronic mosquitos.
Question: What could be wrong if my razor phone won't charge?
Answer: Plug the charger into the wall.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Lolo Haikus
Ritual feeding the birds
Ever wandering
Dutiful husband
Incorruptible hero
Intellectual
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
18 Excuses/Affirmations - Dr. Wayne Dyer
For all of you naysayers and critics, I get that he's on there to sell books, CDs, DVDs, whatever... I didn't give him one cent. I TiVo'd it.
Excuse 1: It will be difficult.
Affirmation: I have the ability to accomplish any task I set my mind to with ease and comfort.
Excuse 2: It's going to be risky.
Affirmation: Being myself involves no risks. It is my ultimate truth and I live fearlessly.
Excuse 3: It will take a long time.
Affirmation: I have infinite patience when it comes to fulfilling my own destiny.
Excuse 4: There will be family drama.
Affirmation: I would rather be loathed for who I am then loved for who I am not.
Excuse 5: I don't deserve it.
Affirmation: I am a divine creation, a piece of god. How could I be undeserving?
Excuse 6: It's not my nature.
Affirmation: My essential nature is perfect and faultless. It is to this nature that I return.
Excuse 7: I cannot afford it.
Affirmation: I am connected to an unlimited source of abundance.
Excuse 8: No one will help me.
Affirmation: The right circumstances and the right people are already here and will show up on time.
Excuse 9: It's never happened before.
Affirmation: I am open and willing to attract all I desire beginning here and now.
Excuse 10: I am not strong enough.
Affirmation: I have access to unlimited assistance. My strength comes from my connection to my source.
Excuse 11: I am not smart enough.
Affirmation: I am a creation of the divine mind, all is perfect and I am a genius in my own right.
Excuse 12: I am too old or I'm not old enough.
Affirmation: I am an infinite being. The age of my body has no bearing on what I do or who I am.
Excuse 13: The rules won't let me.
Affirmation: I live my life according to divine rules.
Excuse 14: It's too big.
Affirmation: I think only about what I can do now. By thinking small, I accomplish great things.
Excuse 15: I don't have the energy.
Affirmation: I feel passionately about my life and this passion fills me with excitement and energy.
Excuse 16: It's my personal family history.
Affirmation: I live in the present moment by being grateful for all of my life experiences as a child.
Excuse 17: I am too busy.
Affirmation: As I unclutter my life I free myself to answer the callings of my soul.
Excuse 18: I'm too scared.
Affirmation: I can accomplish anything I put my mind to because I know I am never alone.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Sunday Morning Nostalgia
Pharcyde - She Keeps on Passin' Me By
Lou Reed - Walk on the Wild Side
PM Dawn - I'd Die Without You
PM Dawn - Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
Tracy Chapman - Fast Car
Wyclef Jean - Gone Till November
Lauryn Hill - Can't Take My Eyes Off of You
Fugees - Ready or Not
Nate Dogg & Snoop Dogg - Never Leave Me Alone
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven
Sting - Desert Rose (w/ Aishwarya Rai)
Enya - Storms in Africa
Eagles - Hotel California
Monday, March 09, 2009
Girl Scout Haikus
Samoas stick to my teeth
Stay in the freezer
Purple box of joy
Caramel and coconut
You will be consumed
Oh shortbread Trefoils
My husband will gobble you
Go well with coffee
Thin Mints oh Thin Mints
So yummy blended with milk
Can't wait for the crunch
Orange box of mine
Peanut butter and shortbread
Chocolate coated
Exploiting young girls
Selling cookies to raise cash
I cannot resist
So, how much are they
Inflation is on the rise
Now four bucks a box
Monday, February 23, 2009
On us
What are your middle names?
Ann and Jorge (pronounced "George" ... not whore-hey). Side note: I used to have a friend named Jorge ... and we called him, hey whore).
How long have you been together?
Since June 2001 (or thereabouts). We started talking daily in June 2001, I flew to NY in November 2001.
How long did you know each other before you started dating?
Since 1996, via IRC. So, on and mostly off for 5 years.
Who asked who out?
Well, since Paul lived in NY and I lived in CA and I flew to NY to meet him... um... I don't remember who suggested we meet, but it was probably me.
Whose siblings do you see the most?
Mine. Paul's sister lives in NJ.
Do you have any children together?
Not that we know of. :)
What about pets?
We had 5 cats, but one died (RIP Bandito), so now we have just 4 cats.
Did you go to the same school?
Negative
Who is the most sensitive?
It depends.
Where do you eat out most as a couple?
We eat everywhere. My favorite spot, El Torito and anywhere that serves crab legs. His favorite, 7-11 and anywhere that serves prime rib.
Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Well, I flew to NJ and we drove to CA, so across the country is my answer. Since then, the furthest we've been is Maui for Holly (my cousin) and Matt's wedding.
Who has the craziest exes?
Crazy is not a nice word. Neither of us dated crazy people.
Who has the worst temper?
I think we're both pretty even-tempered. We definitely know how to push the other's buttons.
Who does the cooking?
Chef Pamela. Paul is Mr. Microwave.
Who is more social?
Me. Paul, not so much.
Who is the neat freak?
Neither. Each room in our home is about 15 min away from being spotless. Close enough for us.
Who is the most stubborn?
I would say him, he would say me, but I usually win so... him. :P
Who hogs the bed?
Neither. I hog the covers.
Who wakes up earlier?
Me
Where was your first date?
Downtown Manhattan at a fancy Korean restaurant. I was starving (just got off the plane) and all of the food looked and tasted bizarre to me, so I didn't each much. We ended up eating again when we got to NJ at this place called The Americana.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Mysteries of the Bible: The Lost Years of Jesus
Friday, January 30, 2009
Maybe
I got this email from my friend Dennelle. Thanks for sharing, love you girlfriend! - Pamela :)
--------------------
Maybe ...
We were supposed to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so that, when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.
When the door of happiness loses, another opens; but, often times, we look so long at the closed door that we don't even see the new one which has been opened for us.
It is true that we don't know what we have until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives.
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.
The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; after all, you can't go on successfully in life until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.
You should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you dream of, and want to do.
There are moments in life when you miss someone -- a parent, a spouse, a friend, a child -- so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real, so that once they are around you appreciate them more.
The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.
You should always try to put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that something could hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person, too.
You should do something nice for someone every single day, even if it is simply to leave them alone. Profound!
Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but, if it doesn't, be content that it grew in yours.
Happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt, all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of all the people who have touched their lives.
You shouldn't go for looks; they can deceive; don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.
You should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy
You should try to live your life to the fullest because when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling but when you die, you can be the one who is smiling and everyone around you crying.
You could send this message to those people who mean something to you, to those who have touched your life, to those who can and do make you smile when you really need it, to those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down, and to all those whom you want to know that you appreciate them.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Always check your child's homework!
Here's a note the teacher received the following day...-------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mrs. Jones,
I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever been, an exotic dancer. I work at Home Depot and I told my daughter how hectic it was last week before the blizzard hit. I told her we sold out every single shovel we had, and then I found one more in the back room, and that several people were fighting over who would get it. Her picture doesn't show me dancing around a pole. It's supposed to depict me selling the last snow shovel we had at Home Depot. From now on I will remember to check her homework more thoroughly before she turns it in.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Smith
Monday, October 06, 2008
A Dog's Purpose
---------------------
A Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year-old's perspective).
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer.
I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion.
We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right? Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
- When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
- Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy-ride.
- Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
- Take naps.
- Stretch before rising.
- Run, romp, and play daily.
- Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
- Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
- On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
- On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
- When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
- Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
- Be loyal.
- Never pretend to be something you're not.
- If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
- When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
- ENJOY EACHY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Money Quotes
- You can only spend money once
- Interest is paid to those who understand it by those who don't
- A fool and his money are soon parted
- Buy it nice or buy it twice
The rest of these are funny money/business definitions that I snatched from various websites:
- Finance: the art of passing money from hand to hand until it finally disappears. ~ Robert W. Sarnoff
- Bank: a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don't need it. ~ Bob Hope
- Business: the art of extracting money from another man's pocket without resorting to violence. ~ Max Amsterdam
- Budget: a mathematical confirmation of your suspicions. ~ A.A. Latimer
- Inflation: taxation without legislation. ~ Milton Friedman
- Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a refund from the IRS, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with. ~From a Washington Post word contest
- Creditor: the only man who sticks closer to you in adversity than a friend. ~ Author Unknown
- Christmas: the season when you buy this year's gifts with next year's money. ~ Author Unknown
- Corporation: An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility. -Ambrose Bierce, author and editor (1842-1914)
Monday, September 01, 2008
How's your "savings" account doing?
I love ING. A good friend of mine introduced me to ING several years ago. I didn't really think much of it. After all, at that time, ING's APY was only 2.0%. For those of you who don't know, APY stands for Annual Percentage Yield. For simplicity's sake, it's the actual rate your money earns for being parked at a particular bank. The math is a little hairy, but trust me when I say that this is one of the most important factors when choosing a bank for your savings account.
Today, ING's APY is 3.00% which is one of the highest out there. How do I know? There's a website called Bank Rate that compares banks, their products, and rates, and is completely objective, and free.
Some of you reading this may be shocked, even horrified at what you see when you compare your current bank against others. Here is today's comparison (click on it for a larger picture).
Did you see your bank? So, what does this table tell you? Well, first of all, we need to compare apples to apples. Since we're talking about savings accounts, let's disregard any account that says Money Market for now. I'll save Money Market accounts for a different blog.
Let's look at ING vs. Bank of America's saving account. As I said, ING's APY is 3.00% whereas Bank of America's APY is 0.20%. ING's is higher, but what does that mean?
Say you have $2,000 to save. After 1 year at ING, you would earn $60. At Bank of America, you would only earn $4. A difference of $56. Wow, that sucks for you B of A-ers... It gets worse.
As if that isn't convincing enough, take a look at the monthly "service" fees. ING charges $0 whereas Bank of America charges $3/mo. That's $36 ($3 times 12 months) right out of your pocket. So, at Bank of America, your $2,004 at the end of the year would only be $1,968 after fees.
So, you started with $2,000 and if you saved with ING, you end up with $2,060. Not bad. However, if you saved with Bank of America, you ended up with $1,968. What the hell? It's no wonder people are going broke!
Let's see how Washington Mutual customers are doing. Same $2,000, earning 0.25% APY gives you $5 after 12 months. That's better than Bank of America, right? Wrong. Look at the "service" fees. WaMu charges $5/mo which equals $60/year. So, you end up with $1,945. It's no wonder their slogan is "Whoo hoo!™ " ... they're making a killing!
"Oh, but Pamela, I get 'free checking' with my bank."
Oh really? Let's assume you have your savings account and your checking account at the same bank. That's pretty common since frequently people need to transfer money from one to the other. Ever wonder why the bank says "free checking" with direct deposit? I know it's a stretch, but stay with me. Is your checking really "free" if your savings account is costing you $3 to $5/month in service fees?
"Oh, but my bank lets me Keep the Change®."
Heh, are you a sucker or what? They can't charge you a service fee on your checking. Why? Because it's "free". By sliding the money from your checking to your savings, you're funding the account that they will withdraw service fees from!
ING has a relatively new feature called Electric Orange™. What the hell is that? Sounds like an energy drink, right? It's way too fabulous for me to explain so I'll let them do it. In short: free (really, free) checking, online bill pay, they'll prepare and send a paper check should you ever need one, FDIC insurance, a MasterCard debit card, ATM access to your money ... AND ... balances under $50,000 earn 1.75% APY.
Wait what? I thought you said it was a checking account. Checking accounts don't have an APY right? Wrong again sparky! This one does. So, throw away your checkbook, stop worrying about getting to the post office on time ... organize and simplify your finances and by extension, your life by signing up with ING. You simply can't lose.
Oh, and if you are going to sign up, before you do, let me know. I can send you a referral email where if your initial deposit is $250, you'll get $25 and I'll get $10. How freaking cool is that?
Moving right along, here is an old blog that I wrote about those nasty little ATM fees. Enjoy
Friday, August 29, 2008
I care about your vagina...
Stop wearing a filty, bacteria-filled, stinky, disgusting "sanitary" napkin or putting fibers treated with bleach in your vagina!!! You DO NOT have to sit in your blood! You DO NOT have to search for the string! Women DO NOT have to die from TSS! There is an alternative.
Monday, August 25, 2008
My Flavorite Atheist Quotes
I copied this list from another atheist blogger and deleted ones that I didn't necessary like or find amusing. I take no responsibility in the accuracy of the quotes or the people they are attributed to. This is just for fun and are presented in no particular order. The ones in bold are honorable mention and the ones in purple are my flavorite (misspelling intentional). Enjoy!
- Faith means not wanting to know what is true. - Friedrich Nietzsche
- I believe in God, only I spell it Nature. - Frank Lloyd Wright
- To surrender to ignorance and call it God has always been premature, and it remains premature today. - Isaac Asimov
- A man is accepted into a church for what he believes and he is turned out for what he knows. - Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)
- Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful. - Seneca the Younger
- Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned. - Anonymous
- Belief in the supernatural reflects a failure of the imagination. - Edward Abbey
- With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion. - Steven Weinberg
- The world holds two classes of men - intelligent men without religion, and religious men without intelligence. - Abu’l‐Ala al Ma’arri
- I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires. - Susan B. Anthony
- Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer. - Anonymous
- The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully. - Richard Dawkins
- It is not as in the Bible, that God created man in his own image. But, on the contrary, man created God in his own image. - Ludwig Feuerbach
- All the biblical miracles will at last disappear with the progress of science. - Matthew Arnold
- Be thankful that you have a life, and forsake your vain and presumptuous desire for a second one. - Richard Dawkins
- What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof. - Christopher Hitchens
- In Christianity neither morality nor religion come into contact with reality at any point. - Friedrich Nietzsche
- I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours. - Stephen Roberts
- You do not need the Bible to justify love, but no better tool has been invented to justify hate. - Richard A. Weatherwax
- What’s “God”? Well, you know, when you want something really bad and you close your eyes and you wish for it? God’s the guy that ignores you. - Steve Buscemi (From the movie “The Island”)
- Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime; give a man religion and he will die praying for a fish. - Anonymous
- Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color. - Don Hirschberg
- To say that atheism requires faith is as dim-witted as saying that disbelief in pixies or leprechauns takes faith. Even if Einstein himself told me there was an elf on my shoulder, I would still ask for proof and I wouldn’t be wrong to ask. - Geoff Mather
- I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it. - Mark Twain
- Of all religions the Christian is without doubt the one which should inspire tolerance most, although up to now the Christians have been the most intolerant of all men. - Voltaire
- And if there were a God, I think it very unlikely that He would have such an uneasy vanity as to be offended by those who doubt His existence. - Bertrand Russell
- Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? - Epicurus
- I’m a polyatheist - there are many gods I don’t believe in. - Dan Fouts
- A lie is a lie even if everyone believes it. The truth is the truth even if nobody believes it. - David Stevens
- "I refuse to prove that I exist," says God, “for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing." - Douglas Adams
- It ain’t the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand. - Mark Twain
- Remember, Jesus would rather constantly shame gays than let orphans have a family. - Steven Colbert
- Religion does three things quite effectively: Divides people, Controls people, Deludes people. - Carlespie Mary Alice McKinney
- Religion has caused more misery to all of mankind in every stage of human history than any other single idea. - Anonymous
- When a man is freed of religion, he has a better chance to live a normal and wholesome life. - Sigmund Freud
- They felt that science would be corrosive to religious belief and they were worried about it. Damn it, I think they were right. It is corrosive to religious belief and it’s a good thing. - Steven Weinberg
- Take from the church the miraculous, the supernatural, the incomprehensible, the unreasonable, the impossible, the unknowable, the absurd, and nothing but a vacuum remains. - Robert G. Ingersoll
- History teaches us that no other cause has brought more death than the word of god. - Giulian Buzila
- Atheism is a non-prophet organization. - George Carlin
- Properly read, the bible is the most potent force for Atheism ever conceived. - Isaac Asimov
- An atheist is a man who has no invisible means of support. - John Buchan
- Gods don't kill people. People with Gods kill people. - David Viaene
- Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make when in the presence of religious dogma. - Sam Harris
- No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism. - Annie Wood
- Besant I refuse to believe in a god who is the primary cause of conflict in the world, preaches racism, sexism, homophobia, and ignorance, and then sends me to hell if I’m ‘bad’. - Mike Fuhrman
- Faith does not give you the answers, it just stops you asking the questions. - Frater Ravus
- Absolute faith corrupts as absolutely as absolute power but absolute power is corrupt only in the hands of the absolutely faithful. - Anonymous
- Gods are fragile things; they may be killed by a whiff of science or a dose of common sense. - Chapman Cohen
- The inspiration of the bible depends on the ignorance of the person who reads it. - Robert G. Ingersoll
- When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called religion. - Robert Pirsig
- I have no need for religion, I have a conscience. - Anonymous
- Man has always required an explanation for all of those things in the world he did not understand. If an explanation was not available, he created one. - Jim Crawford
- I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world. - Richard Dawkins
- What has been Christianity’s fruits? Superstition, Bigotry and Persecution. - James Madison
- The characters and events depicted in the damn bible are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. - Penn and Teller
- If god is the alpha and the omega. The begining and the end, knows what has passed and what is to come, like it states in the bible, why do people pray and think it will make any difference. - Mark Fairclough
- The finality of death is the coldest truth one must face. Religion makes the perfect distraction. - Anonymous
- Religion is the opiate of the masses. - Karl Marx
- Atheists will celebrate life, while you’re in church celebrating death. - Anonymous
- Animals do not have gods, they are smarter than that. - Ronnie Snow
- I have observed that the world has suffered far less from ignorance than from pretensions to knowledge. It is not skeptics or explorers but fanatics and ideologues who menace decency and progress. No agnostic ever burned anyone at the stake or tortured a pagan, a heretic, or an unbeliever. - Daniel Boorstin
- I have never seen the slightest scientific proof of the religious ideas of heaven and hell, of future life for individuals, or of a personal God. So far as religion of the day is concerned, it is a damned fake… Religion is all bunk. - Thomas Edison
- Fundamentalism, of any type, due to its prerequisite lack of intelligent thought, could prove to be the worst weapon of mass destruction, of all. - David J. Constable
- To really be free, you need to be free in the mind. - Alexander Loutsis
- Most religions prophecy the end of the world and then consistently work together to ensure that these prophecies come true. - Anonymous
- Jesus hardly made the greatest sacrifice. He knew he would be resurrected anyway. - Anonymous
- Religion is like a virus that affects the behaviour of its host in such a way as to propagate itself further. - Jack Pritchard
- Religions are like pills, which must be swallowed whole without chewing. - Anonymous
- Today’s religion will be the future’s mythology. Both believed at one time by many; but proved wrong by the clever. - Steven Crocker
- The Bible - A Fairytale book of rules brainwashing millions. Obliviously used to help create war, kill, hate, judge and discriminate. - Anonymous
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Paying your respects, Compton style
"After violence kept breaking out at gang funerals, the owners of the Adams Funeral Parlor on Palmer Street had a drive-through viewing window installed. The glass is bulletproof." See article here.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Night at the Races!
We left after placing a small bet on a horse named Perry's something. Perry is the name of Holly and Matt's dog. We didn't find out until the next day that our horse actually won!
Aside from this wicked pen that my cousin Maynard and his wife Fil got for me, this was the coolest graduation gift I received.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Must ... Attack .. Feetz!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Toss your iPod in the trash
I think of music as sharable art; completely useless if created and not shared. So, in order to encourage the free exchange of "art" I'm recommending the following application (currently in beta stage): http://www.seeqpod.com/
It is my new favorite toy. It's an application that searches the Internet for your favorite songs posted online and allows you to listen and add them to your personal playlist for free.
Here's how it works: People have been creating music files from their collections and posting them on the Internet for years. This application uses advanced search technology (probably Google's) to locate those files and create a playlist using links. It does this, not by downloading or copying the song to your computer, but by accessing and playing the songs directly from their online location.
I like it for the following reasons:
1) you don't have to download songs to your local PC;
2) it finds the most obscure songs quickly (I found the Geico commercial song);
3) it streams the songs immediately (no buffering lag time while it loads);
4) you don't have to fill up your hard drive with data that could be lost if your hard drive decides to crash;
5) no annoying banner/pop up ads (not yet anyway);
6) access your playlist from any PC;
7) it's free; and oh yeah
8) it's free.
You will have to sign up to use it. All it asks for is your name and an email address - it doesn't force you to verify your account by clicking on a link, at least, not yet anyway. Oh yeah, it searches for videos and other stuff too. I have a feeling they will be acquired by Google soon enough, especially since it was developed by people in Berkeley. It's currently in beta (testing) mode so it isn't perfect yet, but it's close. Don't forget to save your playlist after you add a song (it doesn't save it automatically).
Here's a playlist to get you started - Click here for Coachella 2008 (If you don't know what Coachella is, you may not like the music, but you'll get the idea of how it works)
Don't spend your money on (*gasp*) CDs or iTunes (they have enough money) when you can save it and actually go out to see a band perform live.
If you knew about this and didn't tell me, shame on you. Just kidding!
Feel free to share with friends!
And now a word from His Holiness the Dalai Lama: "I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy. From the very core of our being, we desire contentment. In my own limited experience I have found that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace."
Free Tibet!
Monday, April 07, 2008
Me on rappers
Ok, so, I'm watching TV, waiting for my favorite show to start and on comes a rap commercial showing guys wearing sunglasses, crisp, ironed shirts, freshly cut hair, buffed nails, girls in bikinis, guys boarding private jets, dancing with drinks in their hands, [ add other, typical, rap-video-related images here ], etc. From their appearance and from the lyrics these guys "spit" (a term which I find as repulsive as its actual meaning), I conclude that what they really want is to be admired.
It's so much simpler to achieve that goal than it is to produce and distribute a record, go on tour, perform at shows, market yourself, find an agent, sign a contract, travel all over, etc.If one wants to be a hero, start small. My respect and admiration is reserved for the deserving. Do something extraordinary, like volunteer and make a difference in someone's life. Here is a perfect example: join Big Brothers or Big Sisters of America. Become a hero to a child that has no father.
To be a role model ... be a person worth modeling after. Also, at the very least, PLEASE have an educated person proofread your lyrics. Why would ANYONE admire someone with poor grammar? Words like hisself, niggah, conversate, ain't and the like are completely overused and reflect a lack of adequate education.
On a side note, Paul and I watch a program on MSNBC called "Lockup" and not only are all of the prisoners 'innocent,' they like to rap about how unfairly they are treated and how 'hard' their life is. Life is full of choices and ultimately, each person is responsible for their actions. The rules are simple: You steal, you go to jail. You kill, you go to jail. You rape, you go to jail. It does not take much education to understand these simple things.
Inmates do not 'deserve' anything and should be thankful that they are fed and given free medical care. Seriously, not one of the inmates had holes in their socks or pants nor stains on their shirts. There are hundreds of thousands of children who go hungry all over the world every day and even more who are unable to afford healthcare that these inmates are entitled to by law.
There is something very seriously wrong with that and if you have never stopped to think about that, please pause for a moment and soak that in. It is shameful. Simply shameful. There are hard-working Americans who go to work each day, who do not steal and who do not kill and whose tax dollars are used to fund the care of these unappreciative criminals.
One could make the argument that it is due to a lack of educational funding that leads criminals down their path. Bullshit. It is not the educational system that is to blame. It is those who choose not to use birth control, breed out of control, and pay little attention to the educational needs of a developing child. Blame the parents, not the system.
I will admit; I am bitter towards those that abuse government programs. I work VERY hard, pay my taxes and have decided to invest in my education instead of my entertainment. I am angry that I make too much money to qualify for financial aid while people with no jobs sit at home and collect welfare checks ARE eligible for financial aid for school and do not take advantage of it. Instead, they sell drugs trying to "make a living" by poisoning themselves and others. It is pathetic. Oh and do not EVEN get me started on gang members.
Here are my lessons for today: Satisfaction is the death of desire. Happiness is learning to be content with what one already has. One must consciously do what they can to lessen or negate the efforts of the media to instill a sense of need, longing or desire for material things.
I am sure there is more, but this blog is getting preachy and I am getting irritated. Time for some green tea and some sleep.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Me? A cat lady?
So, of course, I fall in love with a cat person (thank you karma) and he wants a cat. So I say, "Fine, we can get a cat, but I get to choose which one."
So I began searching for him online (the way I find everything) and so we drove down to Fountain Valley to adopt the most beautiful Siamese/Himalayan cat who we later named Owen.
When we got to the adoption center, there was a woman with some really fresh scratch marks on her arm. And I mean very LONG, red, fresh scratch marks. She said she had tried to give a pill to one of the cats and it was not very happy about it. Of course, she waited until AFTER we had put Owen in a to-go box before telling us it was him that had scratched her. Boy, were we in for it or what?
Owen was like a walking razor blade. He hid under the bed for 23 hours a day for the first month and peed all over Paul’s sofas. It was awesome. It just validated my opinion of cats and I was pleased as punch that Paul was having such a rough time with him.
Eventually, Owen ventured out more and more and began sleeping at our feet, playing with a laser pointer, and letting us pet him while we were lying in bed. He still did not like to be picked up, but eventually he began to sit on Paul’s lap and climb up his chest. It took several years, but now Owen has mellowed out.
Then I met Poppy and Bandito. Poppy and Bandito are brothers and they used to belong to my friend Shelby. Whenever I would visit her, they would come over, snuggle, meow and were just plain adorable! I used to tell Shelby, "You’d better leave these two to me in your Will."
Then one day, several years ago, poor Shelby’s allergies got the better of her and she called and asked if I wanted them. I told her I had to check with Paul and he immediately said yes and I was so excited. We brought them home and they wandered around our tiny two bedroom apartment and made themselves comfy.
We would get them groomed occasionally so they looked like little mini lions and everyone that came over loved them. They would sleep with us, wait outside the shower until we came out, wander around our ankles, stand by the door when we got home, cry if we locked them in a room (on accident of course), and were just an incredible joy.
Unfortunately, Bandito got a pretty bad cold and died last week. Paul and I were crushed when we had to bring his little body to the animal hospital. I don’t think I’ve cried that hard in years.
Almost immediately, we both got online and started looking for a kitten. Luckily, there are a lot of breeders in Southern California and we found one with the most amazingly beautiful Himalayans we’ve ever seen. We wanted one that looked just like Bandito (a seal point Himalayan with brown ears, feet, nose and tail), but ended up falling in love with a flame point too (with red ears, nose and tail). So, why buy one when you can get two for twice the price?
Yes they’re insanely expensive, but we don’t have children and we really enjoy having them around. Our vet bills are going to be crazy this year because they will need shots and to be neutered, but I don’t care.
So yes, I guess I am now Pamela, the crazy half Filipina, half white cat lady. :)
Grunion Run 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Birkenstocks, not just for hippies anymore!
I found a pair of Birkenstocks for less than $75 on eBay and they arrived today. I was very particular about the type and color that I wanted so my search took a little while. I used to have the same pair when I was in high school and I wore them all the time. Now, I agree they’re not very fashionable, but they are remarkably comfortable once you break them in.
Speaking of that, I wore them today to Home Depot (my second home) and my brother and I walked around and around for about an hour. I’m not used to wearing shoes that have proper arch support so my feet are a little sore right now.
I actually made fun of people that wear these shoes in class on Thursday. I said that iPhones were for "granola eating, birkenstock wearing-types" and got quite a laugh from my classmates.
Anyway, for those that don’t know, the sole of the shoe is made from cork and forms to your foot with time. They are very well made and will last a long time if you take good care of them. Don’t buy the knockoffs because they fall apart and are made with cheaper cork.
Here’s a photo for you visual learners.
If you’re interested in buying a pair, click here for their website.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Me, the nerdling
I started a needlepoint project a few years ago and I only have one color left, but I refuse to finish it.
So, if this wasn't me and I was reading this about someone else, I would say that I have a problem with commitment. Because this IS me, I object.
I am a very serious person and I do my best to find pleasure in everything that I do. I guess my excuse is that I don't want to finish it because it's still a source of pleasure to me so long as it's incomplete.
I've started dozens of books and I'm so happy while I'm reading them, but when I'm done, there is a feeling of dissatisfaction that plagues me.
My home isn't spotless and that makes me happy, because that means I'm not anal retentive. My bed isn't always made because there are more important things in life than kicking my husband out of bed before he's damn good and ready to get up.
Is this normal? Who knows? All I know is ... I'm a nerd and that's ok. :)
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Me on bras
I've tried cheaper bras, but they're just that, cheap. They don't fit, the straps are too small, and they fall apart after about three months. They either make the ladies too pointy or like they're struggling for air.
I find bras with underwires repulsive, but simple cloth/elastic bras simply do not provide the support that my C/D cup boobies require. Now, these bras don't last forever. In fact, I find they don't last more than a year because of damage caused by washing. Once the underwire pokes out of the bra to stab me unsuspectingly, it's not a difficult decision to toss it in the garbage.
So instead of buying seven bras, I've resorted to buying tank tops with built in bras which are remarkably comfortable. Paired with a tunic or a simple button up shirt, the layered look is flattering and easy. Now, the problem with the tank tops is, they're not made for women with large breasts. The elastic is either too tight or not tight enough, but they're not too bad.
For you small breasted women who don't understand my pain, consider yourselves lucky and quit your bitching. :) That's all I have to say about that.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Review - Grizzly Man
From what I gather, Timothy was a recovering alcoholic that had trouble coping with people, society, and life in general. He found friends in animals, as many people do, but his "relationship" with those animals was beyond healthy and was borderline obsessive.
He videotaped himself and the grizzly bears and spent lots of time alone. I think if I had met him, I would have liked him, but I wouldn't have trusted him. I wish people would learn to get along with other people before resorting to spending months alone in the woods only to be eaten and then laughed at.
I do not agree with the guy in the documentary that said that he got what he deserved. I think it was a matter of time before he had a violent and dangerous encounter with a grizzly bear, but no one "deserves" to be eaten alive. It's tragic, but inevitable.
Wild animals are exactly that, wild. Just because a human spends time around them does not make them tame. It reminds me of that woman got her face chewed off by a beached seal or that poor bastard, Steve Irwin, that got stung in the heart by a sting ray. It's ok to love animals, but people need to understand that the rules of nature are simple, universal, and must be respected: 1) kill or be killed; 2) eat or die; and 3) reproduce.
Anyway, good documentary -- waaaaay too long though. I'm just glad I was able to get all of our laundry done whilst watching it, otherwise I'd be pissed that I wasted three hours.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Review - Andrew Jenks, Room 335
When I first met my husband and we were dating, I vividly remember not being able to sleep. He would move, hold me, snore ... anything he did would wake me up and I was so irritated! Eventually, I got so tired that I was finally able to sleep through an entire night without waking up. Earlier this year, I went away for a week for a retreat for work and I remember how awful it was to sleep by myself again. Whenever Paul puts his arm around me, usually I fall asleep instantly and I'm a peace. To be without him would be the worst feeling in the world. I think that's why I cried. I love him so much.
Well, enough at about me. Back to the film... Usually the documentaries I watch have some call to action for society, but this one was different. No sappy message, no lame monologue that makes you sick. Just a story of his time with these lonely, bored, old people living in Florida. It was a nice break from the norm. Don't know if I'll watch it again, probably not. Would I recommend it? Nah... Not when there are so many other, better films to enjoy.
Speaking of which, I continued watching Discovering Buddhism today, but didn't get very far. Last night, I had a pretty trippy dream and I think my brain is trying to wrap itself around all that it's taken in lately. I'm going to give that a rest for a bit and pick it up again tomorrow, maybe.
