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Schmooze and Partake
A2Z, You wrote: "Empirically, there does not appear to be a strong argument that God does not exist either, or one must restrict one's empiricism in viewing the entire universe to only our small part of the local arm of the Milky Way galaxy...." There is a VERY strong argument that God does not exist. It's called "Russell's teapot". Familiarize yourself with it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell's_teapot There's no more likelihood that your angry sky deity of the Bible created anything than that the Flying Spaghetti Monster created everything. Spend a bit more time on logic, and a bit less on sunday school amateur preacher arguments that are so easy to dismiss. Do you actually understand evolution? Atheism is not a religion. You're merely playing with words. Specifically, ANY belief in the supernatural is simply, completely, and indisputably WRONG...whether it means believing in astrology, unicorns and witches, or your ugly hatefilled deity from the Bible. At least astrology, unicorns and witches are relatively harmless, but the utter crap Christians claim to believe in is inexcusable in a grown-up. Back to the topic at hand, Sempra, Doug "Papa" Manchester, and other bigots cloak themselves with justifications from the "good book". Yet their actions are hateful and vile. No more giving these creeps a pass just because they invoke an invisible friend. Belief in religion is worthy of contempt, not respect. Using mythologies like those found in the bible to restrict the ability of adults to enter into a state marriage contract is reprehensible. Best, Fred the "Anti-Theist"— August 23, 2008 9:06 a.m.
Veteran’s hang-up hell
A2Z, if you can afford other medical care, why are you using the VA at all? I'm a veteran too. I don't take away resources from those with genuine combat injuries for my completely civilian ailments. What are you thinking? Buy some health insurance, and stop wasting the VA doctor's time on what is clearly NOT a military-related heart condition. Thank you, (formerly) Petty Officer Williams— August 14, 2008 8:57 a.m.
Schmooze and Partake
Sempra executives are filled with hatred. Like their Enron mentors, they cloak themselves in the mantle of righteousness while committing grave offenses against the community. This is tyical of those who label themselves Christian. Using their how-to atrocity manual, the Bible, they explain away their disgusting indifference to common human decency. With God as an ever-handy excuse, they can justify any lie, cheat, theft, or slander. Hopefully, this year will see the demise of both Proposition H8, AND the Spinrise Powerlink. Even better, let's hope this century also sees the demise of ignorant Bible-thumping zealotry, and a new era of kindness, love, and cooperation in this world that has been so often ripped apart by religion-fueled hatred. Best, Fred "Proud to be Atheist" Williams— August 14, 2008 8:51 a.m.
Marriage Protection Act
It's a given that those who most loudly denounce "sin" are themselves obsessed with those same acts. Let's remember George Bush's once-a-week spiritual advisor, the Reverend Ted Haggart. He screamed about the evil homos and awful drug abusers louder than anyone...until he was caught snorting meth in bed with his boyfriend. So my question to Gregor, a2zresource, and any other zealot who can string a few words into nearly coherent sentences is this: * Why are you so obsessed with sodomy and rape? * Why are you so obsessed with bestiality? * Why are you so obsessed with pedophilia? It really isn't healthy for you to be so interested in these topics that you bring them up even when the conversation is about love, marriage, contractual law, and the state constitution. Those of us who have good mental health don't make these kind of associations. Yet you're always yammering on-and-on about this disgusting stuff... Isn't there a confession you ought to make? It's okay. You can tell us right here. We won't judge you harshly if you need help. Unlike X-ians, we have nothing but love and forgiveness for you, and want you to get the help you need before you do something you'll regret forever. But until you have seen a professional to talk over these twisted obsessions of yours, you might want to stop embarrassing yourselves and calling your character into question by spewing perverted nonsense in a public forum. In loving kindness, Fred— August 14, 2008 8:42 a.m.
Marriage Protection Act
Gregor, I only repeat what the Bible teaches. I'm sorry you think the Bible is hateful. Perhaps you should pray more. I repent. From now on, let's follow ALL the teachings of the Bible. Otherwise, this homicidal hate-filled thunder being from space might kill us too. * If you taunt bald-headed people, God will KILL you. (2 Kings 2:23-24) * If you enter the holy place without the required bells, God will KILL you. (Exodus 28:34-35) * If you eat shrimp, God will KILL you. (see above) * If you masturbate, God will KILL you. (Genesis 38:9) * God doesn't mind if you want to KILL your slaves, as long as you do it slowly. (Exodus 21:20-21) * If you pick up sticks on Sunday, God will KILL you. (Numbers 15:32-36) * If you are a virgin girl, God will KILL you. (Numbers 31:31-40) * If you are NOT a virgin girl, God will KILL you. (too many instances to count) * Before KILLING the virgin girls, God commands you to RAPE them first. (Deuteronomy 21:10-13) ....praise God! His love is boundless. It's clear to good folks like Gregor that ALL morality comes ONLY from the Bible. We must follow ALL the teachings of the Bible, because we know from the example of the talking-snake who got rib-woman to eat an apple behind omniscient God's back is a homocidal tyrant who is easily offended. If you don't praise him constantly ("Thanks for creating me with original sin, God. You're the best!) you're gonna get it in the neck. So Gregor, I'm sure you're a good Christian and have, in accordance with Matthew 10:35-36 rejected and abandoned your family, wife, and children as he commands. If not, are you one of those whimpy Christians who wants to pick and choose which bits of the Bible to follow? If so, please let us all know which bits you find objectionable, and how you dare to contradict God's own holy word. In closing, let's all bow our heads in prayer to urge God not only to help our team in the next football game (I've got a lot of money riding on the Chargers, Lord, so you better come through) but to give Gregor enough wisdom and virtue so he can finally live a God-fearing life by committing holy murder as prescribed in the Bible. (By the way, Gregor, Barbarella is suspiciously witch-like...suffering her to live is yet another of your many sinful failings.) Otherwise, Gregor might have to admit that the Bible is an absurd collection of myths and ridiculous historical falsehoods...fairy-tales no intelligent fifth-grader could believe...and join the side of those of us who are against ignorance and hatred, and support the right of people to love each other free from attacks by ignorant religious bigots. Amen Rev. Fred Williams (P.s. Marriage predates both the Bible and Christianity. The church didn't even get involved until after the Council of Trent in 1545...look it up you Bible-thumping fools.)— August 13, 2008 9:34 a.m.
Wealthy Local Citizens Discuss Buying U-T, Combining It with KUSI-TV, Possibly Having 24-Hour News Program
Re: #37 and #39, sorry to disagree. That's not "solid" information, Don, but pure speculation. I guess you have to be in the IT industry to understand how some of our minds work. Craig could have made hundreds of millions years ago, and every time he turned them down. He stepped away from managing the lists, and became one of the customer support guys, answering the phone and emails, and scanning ads like anyone else. He's happier that way. Burwell, I don't understand your thoughts on Craigslist, or where you are getting your allegations. The facts about how Craigslist works and is administered are open for anyone to read about, and previous posters have provided links to reliable sources. Please post some kind of back up for your theory, because it contradicts everything I know about the subject. Yes, you are correct that Craigslist is killing the newspapers, but it's not making a killing. Quite the opposite. I don't understand how you get from that to a wild scenario where they greedily corner the market after consumating their evil plot against the newspapers. Please, Burwell, do you have any sources you can cite? If not I'm going to assume this is just a bee in your bonnet, because there are so many sources that contradict you. As best I can find out, Craigslist is NOT an evil plot. Best, Fred— August 10, 2008 8:21 a.m.
Marriage Protection Act
If the Bible didn't tell me not to, I'd be out slaughtering my neighbors. The angry omniscient space-being Jehovah shows me the way through magical 100% truthful writings from ancient goat herding nomads and 4th-century 3rd-hand story-tellers, so I know what's right and wrong. Paul urges good Christians NOT to marry unless they are unable to control their evil sexual urges. (1 Corinthians 7:1—9) It's clear that Paul supports gay marriage as a way to keep men holy and pure in the sight of God. In fact, the Bible says that in the end times, evil people will try to prohibit marriage. (1 Timothy 4:1-3) According to the Bible, those who oppose gay marriage are occupied by "deceiving spirits and demonic teachings, influenced by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared." Clearly, God celebrates homosexual love. Consider the story of David and his boyfriend Jonathan. 1 and 2 Samuel reads like gay porn, "...and they kissed one another and wept with one another, until David exceeded." Whew! King David all hot and bothered. The Bible is SUCH a good book and a comfort to us all. As our fundamentalist friends say, “take the Bible out of society, you have complete anarchy. If you take God and the Bible out, then murder is no longer right or wrong because God is the one who said that murder is wrong.” Praise God..!! It's an indisputable fact that without Bibles, there is complete anarchy. Take Sweden, where just about everyone is an atheist and they are fine with gays marrying. You visit that evil godless country, you'd just better be armed to the teeth. Sweden is just like "Mad Max", only more violent. Everyone knows the murder rate in Scandinavia is well over 100%. Same in Holland and Thailand too, evil places where they just don't have enough Bible in their society. Now anywhere you have lots of religion and strong Bible believers, where they joyfully kill faggots on sight...all those places are like paradise on earth. Rwanda and Haiti, where faithful priests sometimes lead the God ordained killing, are great examples of Godly countries. And of course we can't forget how wonderful everything is in God fearing Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. The Bible tells me what to do, so I'm gonna go right out and kill me some Edomite babies, as Psalms 137 commands: "Fortunate is the man who will seize and dash your little ones against the rock!" Hallelujah! Don't forget that Leviticus 11:9-12 says "Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you," and Deuteronomy 14:9-10 agrees, God hates shrimp. Anyone who partakes in ABOMINATION sins against God and nature and MUST BE STOPPED. So I'm collecting signatures to outlaw Red Lobster in California. Blessings be upon you. So remember, in November, Vote YES on Proposition H8...it's what God wants, because if you don't there will be a big earthquake in California's future.. Amen.— August 10, 2008 8:09 a.m.
Jake and the Fat Man's Execution
What humor? Killing people is funny, to you Josh? Oh. My. God. You are a Republican..!!— August 9, 2008 2:45 p.m.
SciFi Summer
Felliy, you get the non-sequitor of the month award. Congratulations. John, I'm an unabashed life-long fan of sci-fi. Have you read anything by Neil Stephenson? Snow Crash? Diamond Age? If not, I highly recommend his books, including his dynamite historical fiction. I think one of the best things about sci-fi is it's ability to subject our own species and ways of thinking to the scrutiny of the "other", whether alien being or culture. This can be very illuminating of the human condition, as well as highly enjoyable. Best, Fred— August 9, 2008 9:11 a.m.
Sempra spins Sunrise Powerlink in the Union-Tribune
Back to Spinrise... One of the reasons Enr..oops, I mean Sempra claims to need their environmentally stupi...oops, I mean sensitive powerline is to provide clean energy to San Diego's residential, government, and business users. Yet, if our manufacturing base has declined so dramatically, where do we use so much power? In industries such as biotech I can understand and even support the fact that they utilize a lot of power and water, but who else is gobbling up the supply? I suspect a large proportion of the growth has been due to the increases in automation in our households and offices, rather than the installation of any productive plant equipment. Wouldn't it be much friendlier to our world if we concentrated our efforts (and our government subsidies) to reducing our power usage rather than augmenting it? For example, there could and should be a public campaign, led by public officials, to dress warmly in the winter instead of heating buildings. After all, this is San Diego. Similarly, from May 1st to October 1st, suits and ties ought to be forbidden as office attire for government employees. Turn down the air conditioning, or better turn it off completely and open some windows. I don't see Enro...ooops, (why do I keep confusing the two?) I mean Sempra doing much to encourage conservation. Instead they have invested in power plan capacity south of the border. This short video uses Google Earth to show you where these plants are: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_TgMydmJX0 Please let Enro...oops, (dang it!), I mean Sempra know your opinions on this plan.— August 9, 2008 8:53 a.m.