Who at the present day can imagine the courage, the devotion to principle, the intellectual and moral grandeur it once required to be an infidel, to brave the church, her racks, her fagots, her dungeons, her tongues of fire, — to defy and scorn her heaven and her hell — her devil and her God? They were the noblest sons of earth. They were the real saviors of our race, the destroyers of superstition and the creators of Science. They were the real Titans who bared their grand foreheads to all the thunderbolts of all the gods.

Robert Green Ingersoll - “Individuality” (1873)

Colonel Robert Green Ingersoll (August 11, 1833 – July 21, 1899) was a Civil War veteran, American political leader, and Orator during the Golden Age of Freethought, noted for his broad range of culture and his defense of agnosticism. (Wikipedia)

The New Ten Commandments

(1) Do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you.

(2) In all things, strive to cause no harm.

(3) Treat your fellow human beings, your fellow living things, and the world in general with love, honesty, faithfulness and respect.

(4) Do not overlook evil or shrink from administering justice, but always be ready to forgive wrongdoing freely admitted and honestly regretted.

(5) Live life with a sense of joy and wonder.

(6) Always seek to be learning something new.

(7) Test all things; always check your ideas against the facts, and be ready to discard even a cherished belief if it does not conform to them.

(8) Never seek to censor or cut yourself off from dissent; always respect the right of others to disagree with you.

(9) Form independent opinions on the basis of your own reason and experience; do not allow yourself to be led blindly by others.

(10) Question everything.

Richard Dawkin's in his book, "The God Delusion" adds a couple of more which I also like;

(11) Enjoy your sex life (so long as it damages nobody else) and leave others to enjoy theirs in private whatever their inclinations, which are none of your business.

(12) Do no discriminate or oppress on the basis of sex, race, or (as far as possible) species.

(13) Do not indoctrinate your children. Teach them how to think for themselves, how to evaluate evidence, and how to disagree with you.

(14) Value the future on a timescale longer than your own.

A story I found on a blog this evening. Unbelievable!!

My daughter, taking a break from her pursuit of a graduate degree, is a server at the Chili's a few miles down from our house. Like many others her age she is already pretty critical of the church and its obvious hypocrisies. Her cynicism, that to say, is neither atypical nor incomprehensible. Nor does this kind of thing help--her or others.

A group of six church-goers came in last night after their evening services and sat down, not in her area but in another server's. When the girl came to greet them and take their drink order, one of them said, "We want to tell you up front that we will not be tipping you tonight because..."

Are you ready?

"...we do not believe in people working on Sunday."

The girl was taken full-aback, stammered out something that sounded like "I wouldn't have to work on Sunday if so many church people didn't come in," or some such. She was furious. So was the manager of the restaurant whom she summoned to deal with them. I think he should have tossed the people out on their...uh...Bibles. To his credit, and demonstrating something like agape all around, he did say to them, "Well, we don't believe in making our people work for nothing, so I will be serving you tonight." And he did. God bless him.

I found this story on another blog and had to chase it back to it's original writer to verify it. It turns out that it was on a blog called "Prayer Pilgrimage". The blog is written by Pastor Tom Steagald (shown above). So I have to believe it's a valid story, however sad it may be. The good pastor was also unhappy with the customer's attitude.

Bible literalists believe that every word in the Bible is true and the writers inspired by their God. There is a story in the Old Testament about the Israelites enroute to the promised land when they discover one of their own collecting firewood on a Sunday. The brought the man before Moses who asked God for direction. God told them to take the man out and stone him to death, which they did.

This just shouldn't happen

As her partner of 17 years slipped into a coma, Janice Langbehn pleaded with doctors and anyone who would listen to let her into the woman's hospital room.

Eight anguishing hours passed before Langbehn would be allowed into Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center. By then, she could only say her final farewell as a priest performed the last rites on 39-year-old Lisa Marie Pond.

Jackson staffers advised Langbehn that she could not see Pond earlier because the hospital's visitation policy in cases of emergency was limited to immediate family and spouses -- not partners. In Florida, same-sex marriages or partnerships are not recognized. On Friday, two years after her partner's death, Langbehn and her attorneys were in federal court, claiming emotional distress and negligence in a suit they filed last June.

At Friday's hearing, Langbehn's lawyers argued the case should be tried because Langbehn had the proper documentation to make medical decisions on behalf of her partner, and was not consulted about Pond's condition for hours despite seeking answers every 20 minutes.

Langbehn had documents declaring her Pond's legal guardian and giving her the medical ''power of attorney,'' Jackson officials refused to recognize her or the kids (they had three adopted children) as family.

When are we as a society going to get past what people do in their bedrooms and provide equal rights to all under the law. How can people believe that two loving people of the same sex could in some way threaten the sanctity of marriage?

FEBRUARY 5--A Florida man was arrested yesterday after he was spotted fondling and making out with a pair of blow-up dolls in a supermarket parking lot. Shoppers called cops when they spotted George Bartusek, 51, getting busy in the front seat of his 1998 Lincoln Town Car, which was parked directly in front of a Publix store.

Witnesses told cops that Bartusek was "performing activity to two different blow up dolls in his vehicle that was consistent with masturbation and other simulated sexual activity." He was also spotted "aggressively" kissing the dolls.

When confronted by police, Bartusek said that he was headed to Target to "get some clothes for his dolls." Bartusek, charged with breach of peace, was wearing shorts with a three-inch opening "in the crotch area." Of course, he "had no underwear on under the shorts," noted police.



Provided by my friend Jack. Thanks Jack.

Yes, today is my birthday. Thirty-five years young!!! Others who share my birthday are;

Zsa Zsa Gabor - 92 slapped the Beverly Hills PD motor officer

Actor Mike Farrel - 70 - "MASH"

Axl Rose - 47 - "Guns and Roses"

Babe Ruth - dead - baseball legend

Ronald Reagen - dead - Former president

Tom Brokaw - 69 - NBC newscaster

The first sign of sprinkles were seen here in Ontario about 2:00 pm this afternoon. We are expecting showers on and off thru the weekend her in SoCal. So much for our beach weather.

It would appear that President Obama has had it with the Republicans, and some Democrats. who are stonewalling against his stimulus package. Today at an appearance before the Energy Department he made these comments;

"As we are meeting, in the halls of Congress just down the street from here, there is a debate going on about the plan I have proposed, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. This isn't some abstract debate. Last week we learned that many of America's largest corporations are planning to lay off tens of thousands of workers. Today we learned that last week the number of new unemployment claims jumped to 626,000. Tomorrow we're expecting another dismal jobs report. On top of the 2.6 million jobs that we lost last year, we've lost half a million jobs each month for the last two months."

"Now, I believe that legislation of such magnitude as has been proposed deserves the scrutiny that it has received over the last month. I think that's a good thing, that's the way democracy is supposed to work. But these numbers that we're seeing are sending an unmistakable message, and so are the American people. The time for talk is over. The time for action is now. Because we know that if we do not act, a bad situation will become dramatically worse. Crisis could turn into catastrophe for families and businesses across the country, and I refuse to let that happen."

"We can't delay, and we can't go back to the same, worn-out ideas that led us here in the first place. So let me be clear: Those ideas have been tested, and they have failed. They have taken us from surpluses to an annual deficit of over a trillion dollars. And they have brought our economy to a halt. And that's precisely what the election we just had was all about. The American people have rendered their judgment. And now it is time to move forward, not backward. Now is the time for action."

Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps

I guess this lays to rest the notion that pot smoking will turn you into a lazy couch potato. I wonder if it would help my arthritis pain???

Artist: Zen Hau Dun Huang

Sheyla Hershey is the proud owner of a 38KKK bust line thanks to eight surgeries and a full gallon of silicone. She had to travel to Brazil for the final surgery because of restrictions in the U.S. as to how much silicone can be injected into one person.

Personally ladies, go with what ya got.

Valentines Day is coming!!!

For the Ladies!!!! How we love them!!!

Nice flower!!!

Medical Update

I had to have a colonoscopy on Monday. Everything was fine. That's me in the little photo!!!! The worst part of the procedure was the liquid you have to drink to clean yourself out before hand. It was down right nasty. Fasting on Super Bowl Sunday was a treat as well.


But the kicker was the email I got from my friend Jack on Monday morning before I left for the proceedure. "Go outside and look at a 7' long piece of garden hose". That's my friend Jack!!!

The other day I had to call Citibank about my credit card and while on the phone with the girl she told me she was in Maine. She told me it was about 22 degrees below zero with a layer of ice on top of the snow.

Jack and I took advantage of the "winter weather" here in SoCal and went to the beach. It was a lovely 76 degrees without a cloud in the sky. Wish you all had been there.


The sun was dancing off the waves and looked like hundreds of flash bulbs going off. We even saw several pods of porpoise going by.

Another beach goer, who admitted to playing hookey from work because of the great weather, volunteered to take our photo.

Ah retirement!! It doesn't get any better than this!!!

"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

It seems that the "Passion for Christ Movement" has instituted a t-shirt program with a bunch of "EX" slogans. The latest is EX-Masturbator. No kidding. You can check it out on their website at http://www.p4cm.com/. The website refers to an article which talks about the shame of having "an illegal orgasm". HUH???

The article defines masturbation as: the excitation or erotic stimulation of one's own or an other's genitals to achieve an orgasm by practices other than coitus/sexual intercourse, by instrumental manipulation, usually manually, occasionally by sexual fantasies or by various combinations of these agencies. Self-gratification, auto eroticism, self-abuse. From the Latin word masturbatus and manstupare, meaning to stir up, to defile oneself, to dishonor, to stupefy.

The writer goes on to say;

Two things I've come to know about masturbation is this:

1. It brings shame, and
2. It's addictive

Most people who have engaged in masturbation know that the culmination of this sexual act ends in shame. I don't have to share with you the thousands of emails of admittance of this shame because you know all too well since you have experienced it yourself. Curled up in a fetal position, crying, because your bed is even more empty and you're lonelier than you did before you violated yourself.

and

The sensation that many long to achieve was instituted, manufactured and conceived in the factory of God's mind. He knew the functionality of it, the mechanics of it, and the modus operandi. And God's method of operation for sex is marriage. He created the fibers of sex to be so strong that it could only be contained in the confines of marriage.

and finally

Any other orgasm achieved outside of marriage couldn't handle its intense, explosive, addictive, domineering, gripping force without repercussions. Yes, you could very well achieve and very much well, enjoy one, but not without suffering the impact of its climactic aftershocks. Yes, I just said it, Church! Yes, the tremors may feel good, but the aftermath, the consequences of an illegal orgasm is traumatic.

This shit just ain't right!!! We need to stop teaching young people that their bodies are shameful and that any pleasure they get from their bodies is immoral.

The "religious" just seem to love to paint a swath of guilt on all who don't toe the line of their beliefs. The "sky god" will find you in contempt and damn you to a fiery hell for whacking off. Give me a break!!!

Other birthdays of note:

Farrah Fawcett turns 62

Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills & Nash turns 67

Tommy Smothers of the "Smothers Brothers" turns 72

Super Bowl XLIII

27-23

What an exciting Super Bowl!! The Pittsburgh Steelers pulled out the win with this reception with 35 seconds left in the game.

AP Associated Press
Punxsutawney, Pa.

Today is groundhog day and Punxsutawney Phil apparently emerged from his den just after dawn this morning and saw his shadow which is supposed to indicate six more weeks of winter. Amazingly there were a reported 13,000 people there to witness this sacred event.

So I'm sorry to say that we are destined to suffer this terrible weather we have been having here in SoCal. In fact it's so bad, I think I will go to the beach tomorrow!! Should be 80 degrees in San Clemente, Ca. tomorrow!!!

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Christie Brinkley who turns 55 years old today. Christine Lee Hudson was born in Monroe, Michigan. Christie has been married four times, including nine years to musician Billy Joel, and is currently single. She has three children.

Christie Brinkley is described as an American model, actress, illustrator, photographer writer and designer. Christie has designed clothing patterns for "Simplicity Pattern", has her own signature fragrance called "Believe", has her own jewelry line manufactured by "Swank" and designs eye wear for "Nouveau Eye wear". Her financial holdings are believed to be worth $80 million dollars.


She is probably best known for her modeling career which she started while studying art in Paris in 1973. She has just signed a five year contract with "Cover Girl" having completed a 20-year contract last year. She has been on the cover of the "Sports Illustrated" swimsuit edition three times and posed for Playboy.

Christie Brinkley is also well known as the "girl in the red Ferrari" in the movie "National Lampoon's Vacation" with Chevy Chase.

The Mormon Church has continually denied lending much financial support to the fight against California's Prop 8, admitting to spending no more that $2,078.

An investigation by California's Fair Political Practices Commission has caused the church to admit to spending nearly $188,000. The complaint was brought against the church by the group, "Californians Against Hate". The church may be subject to fines of up to $5,000 for each violation.