Dr. Oz Is A Quack? Say It Ain’t So!

Ok, so I already knew he was a quack. However, he has taken it to a new level.

Dr. Issam Nemeh, the local doctor who holds faith healing services at Catholic churches, has ardent supporters as well as skeptical detractors.

He can count two well-known doctors as supporters.

Cleveland Clinic Wellness chief Dr. Michael Roizen and TV doc Mehmet Oz say they're amazed at several cases in which patients appear to have been healed after Nemeh treated them. Roizen and Oz collaborate on the "You" self-help books, such as "You on a Diet."

Nemeh and two patients will be featured on an upcoming Dr. Oz television show, currently scheduled for February. The show was taped in December.

So a quack is giving air time to a fraud. Unheard of! Maybe Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen can collaborate on a new book called “You, dead after entrusting yourself to a faith-healer.”

Muslims Plot To Kill Danish Newspaper Staff

The Muslims just won't quit about the goddamned cartoons that were posted in the Danish newspaper, the Jyllands-Posten in September 2005.

Danish and Swedish police said yesterday they had foiled a potentially devastating terrorist attack after arresting five suspected Islamic militants who wanted to "kill as many people as possible" in the offices of a Copenhagen newspaper that published cartoons of the Prophet Mohamed.

Denmark's intelligence service said it arrested four men in two raids in the suburbs of the capital and seized an automatic weapon, a silencer and live ammunition. Swedish police said they arrested the fifth suspect, a 37-year-old Swedish citizen of Tunisian origin who was living in Stockholm.

You've got to be kidding me. All of this over a cartoon of a old nomadic pedophile that happens to be worshiped by roughly 1.8 million morons. Someone draws a picture of this buffoon and the easily offended followers of the Religion of Peace plot to kill as many people at the office of the paper as possible.

You know what doesn't help the image of your religion? Shit like this. Islam is not a religion of peace, so why do we continue to treat it like it is? People should take note of this: the fundamentalists of any religion are out to silence anyone who doesn't believe like they do, especially when it comes to Islam.

Atheist Don't Understand Religion?

What a boring piece of tripe I found on the National Post. Charles Lewis wrote a 'scathing' article against atheists, telling us the he doesn't care what we think. Then he goes on a bitching binge for a few paragraphs about how he is all mad and bothered that atheists criticize religion.

But the debate is useless for one simple reason: most atheists do not have a clue what religion is about. They see religious people as blind sheep following a series of incomprehensible rules and dogmas and then scoff at their lack of enlightenment. They find the flaw in the painting and say it is all now ruined. Atheists are utopians who believe a perfect society can be built if only religion was not in the way.

I skipped over quoting this highly quotable square of toilet paper to make one thing clear: most atheists have been religious and know exactly what it's all about. I am never left without wonder when I here the religious idiots say that 'atheists just don't understand because they don't believe in god.' Well, I don't believe in the tooth fairy or the easter bunny but I can come up with a list of logical reasons why they don't exist without still believing in them. I'm not even sure his statement makes any sense.

Are the religious 'blind sheep following a series of incomprehensible rules and dogmas'? They have had thousands of years to prove they are not and a mountain of evidence that says they are. I will stick with the evidence on this one.

By the way, the way to show that you don't care what someone thinks is not to write an article in the National Post.

The Five Homophobes You Meet In A Religion Class

Does anything go hand-in-hand better than homophobia and religion? According to the religion class I am taking right now, not at all. I had an extra elective to take this semester, so I figured “Old Testament As Literature” would be a fun class to take. I knew I would be in for a good time when I found out that the instructor is actually a Baptist preacher. What can I say, I am a glutton for punishment.

Well, not actually. The instructor turned out to be a Francis Collins-style Christian who puts a lot of stock in science. The man is a biologist but just can't seem to shake off the trappings of Jesus. Oh well, I can deal with namby-pamby Christians. Especially ones that think that most of the Bible is allegory and the Old Testament is not true.

Enough background. During last nights class I was able to have an interesting and enlightening argument with another student, which turned in to an argument with all five students in the class. The conversation came out of nowhere and had nothing to do with religion, aside from the obvious fact that the only arguments that can be made against homosexuality can come from the Bible or the Koran.

The argument started with this one imbecile stating that he hasn't been able to run in a local park lately because he has been sick. However, that was the least of his worries since he has notice more and more lately that “the park system in Gaston County is being overrun by degenerate homosexuals. I know that I couldn't get away with saying this is most classes, but I feel like you guys would understand.” What part of that I am supposed to understand is... not understandable.

This devolves into a discussion between the other members of the class about how gay people are everywhere, lurking like some sort of 1930's propaganda piece about Jew's waiting to steal good Aryan children. I should have said something before this point, but it took me a minute to process what was happening and form a coherent sentence. Then came the gem that sent me off my rocker. “You know, not all homosexuals, but most homosexuals' idea of a good time is getting straight guys drunk and raping them. They thing the only thing that separates a gay man from a straight man is blood-alcohol content. That's why we shouldn't drop 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'.”

This is the point where I lost my mind. Here is a summery of what I said to this schlemiel: “You are telling me that you have never served with a gay person? Bullshit. Gay people are in the military, they just can't be open about it. If they are allowed to be open about it tomorrow, they still aren't going to find you, or any of you attractive. Your are all a group of bigoted assholes who can't come up with an argument against homosexuality that doesn't involved your stupid, fictitious religion. Have I ever tried to rape anyone in this class? Guess what; I am fucking gay! The lot of you are just as bad as the racists in the 1950's who argued against integrating black people in the military because of the looming spectra of the black rapist, coming to tear your white wives open from the bottom up. Spare me your bullshit.”

I am pretty sure that effectively shut down the conversation. I am not interested in sounding like a diplomat when idiots spout their opinions and expect everyone to go along with them. Would any of you handled it differently?

This Is The Tea Party

Sarah Palin is the gift that keeps on giving, kind of like herpes. She recently retweeted a tweet from one of her friends that said the following:

The entire post read: "The blood of Jesus against Obama History made November 2008 a Taliban Muslim illegally elected President USA: Hussein."

What? That doesn't even really make any sense, but I get the picture. I am less interested in this bat-shit crazy moron who thinks Obama is an al Qaeda operative than I am of the response of Palin.

"I've never purposefully 'favorited' any Tweet," she told ABC News. "I had to go back to my BlackBerry to even see if such a function was possible. I was traveling to Alaska that day ... it was an obvious accidental 'favoriting'."

Didn't know anything about being able to “favorite” another twitter-head? As much time as she spends on the damned software, you would think she would know about the “favorite” function. This is example 4289743 of Palin allying herself with the crazy and then denying it when it backfires on her. Oh well, she could just be a moron who doesn't know any better.

Talking To Idiots

I have recently been in contact with one of my sisters' friends. She felt the need to send me a message (via Facebook) to voice her opinion about me over the billboard issue. I am going to post the conversation (so far) here to let you see the kind of people that we deal with daily here in the South. I have left off her last name so as to not break the law. I apologize for any gushing I do about the military here, but there was a purpose for it. Enjoy!

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The title of her message was "remember you grew up believing both"


Brandie ***** ****** July 7 at 11:42pm Report
praying for you
...Please remember that only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you...JESUS CHRIST and the AMERICAN SOLDIER. One died for your soul and the other for your freedom.
Sent via Facebook Mobile

William Warren July 8 at 5:00pm
I am not sure what this message is supposed to mean. I am not sure if you know, but I actually served 5 honorable years in the Marine Corps. Believe it or not, there are quite a few atheist serving the country (and dying). I lost many friends who died serving people who obviously can't tolerate their existence. Tell me, when did you serve the country? I gave up 5 years of my life to do so. What have you done?

The statement of Jesus dying for our sins is making some pretty bold assumptions: a) Jesus was actually divine, b) Jesus was a defining force in my life, and c) we have a soul. Remember, you are making the claim. Since you are making such a claim, I suppose you have an overwhelming amount of evidence. And by evidence, I mean something that would hold up in a court of law, not a "feeling" or "what the bible says". If you have no evidence, all you have is opinion and I would prefer you to keep that to yourself.

As for praying, I would prefer you do something useful. I have never understood that when something bad happens (which being an atheist is not), people hit their knees and start praying instead of actually getting up and going to do something. I would also direct you to your bible, which you hold so dear, to Matthew 6:6 which says "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Again, prayer is an assumption for which there is no evidence. Keep it to yourself.

William Warren July 8 at 5:31pm
P.S. I just noticed the title of this message. I also grew up believing in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. What's your point?

Brandie ***** ******* July 8 at 9:16pm Report
Hey I'm not the the one all over tv expressing "my views" I have strong feeling about my views and so do you. There is a 50% chance I'm right if I'm wrong, know lost. But if I'm right I hate it for you. But just the same I will still say a pray I have found worst things to waste time on. Like reading all that other mess you typed.
Sent via Facebook Mobile

William Warren July 9 at 2:48pm
Yeah, I have been on TV expressing my views of "equality" and "acceptance". What a horrible concept. You need to remember the fact that you sent me a message, I didn't contact you.

You have still avoided the questions that I raised to you that were brought up in your message. Did you send me the message merely to antagonize me? Do you know how many christians I have contacted to try to make them feel bad for their beliefs? None. Zero. For you to attempt to appeal to my childhood and family is down right despicable.

I know the rest of the "mess" that I wrote was horrible for you. It may have made you think. This proves to me that you had nothing to say, just accusations to make. I'll say it again, if that is all you are trying to do, keep it to yourself.

P.S. I am still waiting on the answer to what have you done for the country.

Brandie ******** *********** July 9 at 9:55pm Report
I didn't send the message to antagonize you. I'm not going to debate religion with you. As for my country I respect what it stands for. What did you do its not like you were out fighting for your country . Did you not say a prayer everday and whats on your dog tags? If the usa military and millions of people pray it looks like you are the one attacking our views. With that sign! you just might not say it to there face. Sorry to have bothered you.
Sent via Facebook Mobile

William Warren July 10 at 10:58am
So your definition of someone doing something for this country is going and pulling a trigger or being shot at? You do realize (of course you don't) that there are roughly 2 million members of the military, of which 80% (that's 1.6 million) never see combat? Oh, my dog tags said "USMC" and "Atheist". What do your dog tags say? Oh that's right, you didn't join the military. I am not saying that you have to have been in the military to have done something for this country, but when you say that it's not like I was fighting for my country, I have to know what your definition of defending the nation is? When did you become an expert on the military? I hope the other 1.6 million members of the military whose good names your are disgracing right now can somehow find their way into the graces of "Brandie, Military Expert." I guess I have been forced into a position of justifying my military service to someone who has reasoning problems. Oh, and no, I did not say a prayer every day; or any day for that matter.

Your ridiculous views of "just because so many people do it, it must be right" are laughable. I suppose you think slavery should have been kept around because, you know, all those white people in the majority liked the idea of having black slaves. Read a book and get back to me, because your knowledge of, well, anything up to this point has been somewhat less than a four year old.

If you think putting up a billboard is attacking your beliefs, then your belief system must be as weak as hell. I have to remember though, dealing with thin-skinned people can get a little dicey sometimes. So putting up a billboard is attacking your beliefs? So then I am sure you would agree that someone vandalizing said billboard (which is private property) would be equivalent to all out war? I hope I never see the day when people like you are left in charge. Of course I shouldn't expect you to have even a cursory knowledge of the Bill of Rights, because that would require "learnin'".

What am I afraid to say to someones face, that I think people should be treated equally? I have said a lot worse directly to someone. I don't appreciate being called a coward. I consider the coward the person who would rather bitch at someone over Facebook than call them directly. I am not afraid, nor have I been afraid to speak my mind to anyone. I would consider the long list of death threats from good Christians like yourself to be the ultimate indicator of that. That's the problem though; religious people don't want equality. That is something that I will not tolerate.

You have bothered me a great deal. It has been like talking to an irrational wall. But as long as you keep replying with your child-like retorts, I will continue to spend time trying to decipher what you are trying to say and respond.

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That is as far as we have made it. I am not sure she will reply and could honestly care less. What do you think? Would you have handled this situation any differently?

A Political Dictionary

Democracy - government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.

Republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.

Monarchy - supreme power or sovereignty held by a single person.

Socialism - a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.

Communism - a system of social organization in which all economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party.

Dictatorship - a country, government, or the form of government in which absolute power is exercised by a dictator.

Fascism - a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.

National Socialism - the principles and practices of the Nazi party in Germany.

Nationalism - the policy or doctrine of asserting the interests of one's own nation, viewed as separate from the interests of other nations or the common interests of all nations.

Marxism - the system of economic and political thought developed by Karl Marx, along with Friedrich Engels, esp. the doctrine that the state throughout history has been a device for the exploitation of the masses by a dominant class, that class struggle has been the main agency of historical change, and that the capitalist system, containing from the first the seeds of its own decay, will inevitably, after the period of the dictatorship of the proletariat, be superseded by a socialist order and a classless society.

Capitalism - an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, esp. as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth.
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I have been listening to Glenn Beck too much lately (because I am a masochist). I am sure everyone has noticed the same thing I have noticed: all of the negative political systems are said in one breath to paint the current administration. I am still trying to figure out what a fascist-communist-socialist-king-Marxist looks like. You have to admit, though, it sounds good. That is, unless you have a brain.

I have plenty, plenty, of problems with the current administration. No matter what you hear on Fox News, there is one thing Obama is not, and that is a socialist. He has no intent on letting even the slightest bit of socialized medicine out into the public. He isn't going to nationalize the banking system. He will give the banking system the benefits of nationalization, but none of the hassle of regulation or responsibility. That much is clear.

The meme marches on. "Obama is a socialist-communist." Those are two systems that are incompatible. "Obama is a fascist-communist-king." Hey, Glenn, fascists are far-right wingers. That is something I figured you would be down with. How someone can be a fascist-communist is beyond me. Throw a king in there and you have a good time.

The guys on the right don't care about us. I am convinced that those on the center-right (democrats) don't care about us either. But if anyone thinks Glenn Beck gives a shit about them, then we are in deeper trouble than I thought. So it is OK for Glenn Beck to go on stage and throw around words that he obviously doesn't understand because there will always be a group of people who are terrified that the government is coming to get them... as they collect their welfare checks and go visit the doctor at Medicare's expense. They obviously have as good of an understanding of socialists and communists as Glenn Beck does.