Another Victim of Bible Science

Another day, another dead religious-idiot snake handler.  This time, the fellow had a high enough profile to have scored some National Geographic facetime (Why, National Geographic, Why?).  I’ll assume the best and figure that National Geographic was running a high brow bit on the lunatic fringe of religious society and not trying to go head-to-head with a bunch of waterlogged homophobic Duck Hunters on another network.  If I’m wrong, don’t correct me on the assumption.  I’m old and cranky enough already, living in the world of George Jetson with neighbors apparently beamed in from The Flintstones.  For what it’s worth, I’m feeling quite well today, but then I’m a firm believer that laughter is the best medicine, and given the ongoing freak show of the fundamentalists, I’m assured plenty of healthful smiles to keep me fit.

As a matter of curiosity, and with a nod to the photo of the white guy in the masthead above (and the white guy killed today), are there any/many instances of Black preachers dying this way?  I can’t think of any off the top of my head.  Most of the Black people I know, religiously affixed as they are, seem happy enough just bashing homosexuals and have enough common sense, having escaped slavery and all, not to be messing with deadly snakes.  I’ll leave that question to the racial sociology department at JSU or Howard to work out.  I’m always happy to toss out a free doctoral dissertation topic for a young Black college student having trouble finding a topic.

Jeebus’ Law and Order

And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17-18)

In spite of many previous snake bites, one of which led to the loss of the finger of the aforementioned God slobberer, as well as previous troubles with law enforcement over the transport and ownership of his deadly vermin, today’s Darwin Award nominee was undeterred.  The courts in the US, particularly those in the former slave states, are apparently reluctant to enforce long standing laws against public displays of deadly snakes in church services, so this is what we get to read about every other year or so.

Ken Ham’s Killing Spree to Continue

The southern court system, in declining to prosecute a previous case of snake bite induced religious death, stated that there would be no deterrent effect for prosecuting this type of crime, so hardened were the biblical felons in their proclivities and so devoted were the practitioners and followers of this particular religious aberration.  There are literally places in the US where you can get charged with child endangerment for leaving your minor child at home alone for ten minutes to run to the grocery store but it’s perfectly ok to drag them into a sermon where a preacher is slinging deadly rattle snakes around.  Holy shit! 

Prosecution being useless as a deterrent has never stopped any of the former slave states from dragging every other poor black man into the court system and prosecuting them for smoking marijuana, though it’s a pretty easy observation that the incarceration of those young Black males is as ineffective a deterrent to marijuana use in Black youth as the prosecution of White Pentecostal snake handlers is presumed to be in deterring other young preachers from committing suicide by snake.  Wonder why the difference?

Bonus Thunderfoot Video

Enjoy.

Answered Prayers

Introduction

As if the abundance of blessings I receive wasn’t already enough for any single human on the planet, and in spite of my continued outpouring of flirty heresies, providence has again reached out and given me a divine tickle.

It’s heartwarming enough to realize how much my success does to destabilize the delicate sensibilities of the creeply (rhymes with deeply) religious, but when Mr. Deity steps up to the plate and covers two topics which have been front row/center here on my blog the last couple weeks?  That sets me to pondering my odds on the Powerball lottery!!

The 32.4% of me that’s gay is pretty sure I’d be a lock to win that sucker if I made the pre-announcement that I’d tithe ten percent of my winnings to the Folsum Street Fair committee, because that’s how God rolls.  He loves testing his sheep. (see Job).  But I digress.

The Setup

Mr. Deity takes a swipe at the racist Mormons and their incoherent (and patently bogus) early history.  If you pay real close attention you get a clue as to where the polygamy fits in.  My take on the current big Mormon scandal involving apostate Swedes is here in Mormon Blues and Mormon Blues 2.

The Big Finale

Starting at around the 5:15 mark on Mr. Deity’s video, is the not-so-heavily disguised (major league brutal!) assault on PZ Myers and his totally incredulous serial rape charges against Michael Shermer.  Without ever mentioning the names of the participants involved or the fantastical rape charges themselves, Mr. Deity does more damage to the credibility of PZ Myers and his lunatic #atheismplus American Girlyban pom pom girls than even the esteemed Thunderf00t has managed to do in his smartly crafted four part series on Why Feminism is Poisoning Atheism.

The Moral of the Story

At the time of this post, I have no knowledge as to whether PZ has “ceased and desisted” in the manner prescribed by Mr. Shermer’s legal counsel.  That’ll be something I check on immediately after hitting “post”.  Last time I checked, the offending blog entry and related 46,442 comments (estimate) were still up.  The anticipation of the atheist and skeptic blog and twitter community over this subject yesterday, was on par with that of Brits over the birth of the royal baby or that of the Catholics obsessed over the recent replacement of the Pope.  FWIW, I think the only puff of smoke we’re likely to see rising in Morris Minnesota anytime soon will be from PZ’s eventual self immolation.

The Eventual Fallout

I’d be perfectly happy if PZ would just comply with Mr. Shermer’s extremely reasonable request to remove and apologize for his miscreant behavior and return to being the likably weird atheist uncle (the one who didn’t try to fiddle you under the table at Christmas dinner).

Many others are not as reasonable as myself.  Suggested alternatives to “balance the scales of justice” include the removal of Mr. Myer’s head, which would then be placed either on a pike outside the Morris Minnesota campus as a warning to future demagogues, or alternatively, as a hood ornament on the Rolls Royce Mr. Shermer is going to buy with the monetary damages

Enjoy.

Shameful Non Self Promotion

Just wanted to take a quick minute to point my readers in the direction of several other bloggers who have also taken the time to comment on the PZ Myers #DickiLeaks rape allegations aimed at Michael Shermer.

I’m pretty sure that Myers will escape any libel charges by hiding behind the skirt of Larry Flynt’s Supreme Court ruling making it nearly impossible for a public person to sue for libel damages.

We’ve reached the point of epistemic closure on the #atheimplus movement when they have to hide behind the skirt of the world’s most notorious pornographer to do their own scatological ramblings.

What Honest Skeptics Think of PZ’s Actions

First off, Mr. Shermer himself.  His not-so-cryptic tweet from yesterday. You’re gonna want to click on that picture to see the Saturday Night Live skit he’s referencing.:

I want to take a minute here and add my opinion on how I think Mr. Shermer should respond going forward.  Ignore and mock the troglodytes at PZ’s house of diminishing returns.  Have his lawyer shoot off an email to National Geographic inquiring as to their standards of operations.

Somebody find that info on Nat Geo contact and tweet it to me.  Don’t make me have to get all #flirty with you.  Need I remind you that there’s limited seating for disciples in the 66 VW microbus?  Don’t let that put any pressure on you.

Thunderf00t, doing yet another masterful takedown in his series on the whacked out women of #Atheismplus.  This one is a real treat.

Al Stefanelli, who chose to distance himself very early on from the flagrantly abusive actions of #AtheismPlus and their American Girlyban terrorist cult:

This is not ‘bringing to light‘ a problem in the skeptic community. It is not an attempt to reveal some sort of dark underbelly of rampant sexual abuse that permeates the skeptic conference circuit. It is yellow journalism, if I even dare to use the word ‘journalism‘ in connection to anything that has come out of Pharyngula for quite some time. Full article here.

Atheist Revolution speculates on PZ Myers motives:

It is difficult for me to imagine that someone without a history of conflict with Shermer would jump the gun like this in a public disclosure that seems calculated to harm his reputation. It is similarly difficult to imagine that PZ would have done this had the accused been someone with whom he had no prior conflict. Full article here.

RDUBWILEY, adds another YouTube video bemoaning the anonymous nature of the PZ’s rape charges against Shermer:

 Here’s blogger/cartoonist (The Pigman) doing what cartoonists do:

Here’s another bit of analysis dripping with enough disgust to make the cut.  (h/t @esaboojam) From the Skeptic Ink Network:

When I first lacerated Myers and Watson and their ilk, people were surprised at my vehemence and wondered whether I was not going too far.  Well, now you see why.  I knew the sort of people they were, and are, and I knew that no compromise was possible.  Full article here.

Mr. Myers just updated his blog post with even more damning “evidence” that Mr. Shermer is a serial rapist.  I won’t link to it because I don’t link to pornography on this blog, but here’s the accusation (another mystery woman – the elevator must be getting pretty crowded by now?):

Michael Shermer helped get me drunker than I normally get, and was a bit flirty.

Seriously?  A bit flirty?  OMG, call the cops.  Oops, I forgot.  The American Girlyban are on record pointing out how the cops don’t help them.  They’ve all but accused the police force of passing them around the precinct re-raping them while uploading it to YouTube.

If the latest anonymous accuser had taken her complaints to the cops, they would have informed her that there is no law against “flirty behavior” and likely would have tossed her ass in the slammer for public intoxication, thus verifying the fact that the cops don’t give a dam about women.

I’m sure my list of those who strongly dissent with Mr. Myers is not comprehensive.  Others may want to add content in the comments section or just forward links to me through my Twitter account @thetimchannel.

Edited to add stuff. Don’t complain. It won’t cost you any more than you’ve already paid.

Enjoy.

Recapping Atheism Plus

Planet of the #fapes

The Atheism Plus contingent, aka American Girlyban, aka FTBullies are at it again.  Not content with bashing only the largest names in the movement like Richard Dawkins & Lawrence Krauss, they have now moved to male members of the skeptic community of somewhat lesser stature.  I remember when they invited Thunderf00t into their community just long enough to scalp him.  Matt Dillahunty obviously did not.  In fairness, he was probably busy that day blocking me from his Twitter feed for trying to comment on the absurdity of the ongoing Girlyban assaults.  I vaguely remember seeing a video shot from below the dash of his car where he waxed poetic on the joys of this new atheism.   I quit wasting time listening to his Texas podcasts since he was such a big prick. see also: PZ Myers)

Since I don’t stalk people who ban or block me, he was off my radar until he popped back up the other day on his own accord.  How did that work out for you Matt?  PLUS ONE to the list.  Ha Ha.  I TOLD YOU SO.

I left the following comment over at this site.

I am with you 100 percent.  Your observations on PZ are identical to what I have witnessed, and I WAS a longtime follower/commenter at his site for at least a couple years before he went off the rails.

You are not alone.  The list of personal casualties is growing longer and longer every day, but the blow to the very core of group logic was delivered last year by Rebecca Watson, with her ridiculous elevator guy screeds and rationalizations.  I was quick to come to the support of Richard Dawkins, when his cogent comments on the incident caused the “American Girlyban” contingent to attack him.  The attacks on rationalist males has now escalated to the point that they are shooting at their own MALE supporters.  It would be funny were it not for the damage to the people and movement that first embraced them.  I was not up to speed on Twitter when this first went down or I would have coined a shorter name than American Girlyban (though I do think it the best!!).  The hashtag winner was #ftbullies, and now #atheismplus, their self-selected handle, is taking hold.  Perhaps we could agree (to save precious character count), on a completely new hash tag that is even shorter?  Something that starts with AP and ends with ES would only take four characters, and be a nice aside to evolutionary biology.  After all, these freaks we are dealing with are most definitely a product of nature, every bit as much as the two headed calves we drop a quarter to glimpse at the State Fair sideshows.  #apes or #fapes (the f is for femininity as well as preventing possible backlash against a much more noble primate.)

Welcome to the new age era of “touchy-feely” atheism.  Finally, somebody has figured out a way to carve out a space where non-rational atheists can feel at home.

Cross posted all over creation.

Enjoy.

Girlyban Bingo

Recently updated to include information on Al Stefanelli fall from grace change of mind concerning the Girlyban contingent takeover of FTB.

Cranking out content faster than Ryan or Romney can grab your granny’s social security check is a specialty of mine. and in that regard, I have a genuine treat for you today!

The Tim Channel’s open source gaming division is proud to announce the release of Thunderf00t “Unlimited Edition” Girlyban Bingo!

If it is even half as popular as The Tim Channel optical science division release of a free downloadable Iphone Flashlight App in 2010, then the limits of the internet backbone are about to be stress tested fer reals!  The BEST part?  You don’t even have to IMAGINE “hacking” into a semi-secure private LIST-SERVE to get it!!

Select your favorite “Thunderfoot Banned” post from among the following Girlyban FTBullies bloggers (or pick one of you own special favorites!)  The posts I offer below simply save you some Google time, and offer a representative sample.:

Ed Brayton’s outrage. I never met the guy, but he shares the name of one of my favorite talking television horses. There is also the uncanny “likeness factor” which makes it an even easier meme to remember (my apologies to horses everywhere).  It would have better for Mr Ed B if he would have even pretended to speak out the same end as the Mr. Ed from TV.

That was then:

Al Stefanelli’s screed.  Again, somebody I am quite unfamiliar with, though reading his bio, it is clear that his recent foray away from skeptical writing and into the world of fiction has had consequences beyond those of his control.  Another highly plausible explanation for Big Al’s “Thunderf00t HaterAde Jam Session”  is jealousy over Thunderf00ts magnificent good looks.  Mr. Stefanelli definitely has a face made for radio.  Also, would somebody buy these guys a razor?  I am beginning to see a trend.

This is now:

Jen McCreight’s rant.  I was kinda aware of her existence before the formal introduction and forced insertion of  Girlyban “tech” into the Skeptic movement. One of the more prominent of the whacko Girlyban contingent, she is well received within the group, notwithstanding her total lack of facial hair (only her hairdresser knows for sure).

Zinnia Jones take on the need for “back-channel” private communications, a topic that she likely came to know through true life experiences..  Totally unknown to me before “MailingListGate”, she bills herself as the Queen of Atheism, but doesn’t say if that was before or after the sex change.  To save her needless extra grief, I will truncate her bio with the observation that mixing an interest in trans-humanism with a love for pet rats is a recipe for disaster.  In a recent issue of Law Enforcement Daily, this profile photo of her was voted “most likely to be confused as a mug shot”.  You may find her “The assumed primacy of penis-in-vagina sex” on Youtube explains more than you want to know.  “Simulacrum” makes a cameo appearance in there somewhere.  So much win!

Rules of the Game

Each player needs their own physical copy of the screed selected from the Thunderf00t  slam fest articles linked above.   All players use the same text and comments.  Texts can be changed between rounds.  Each player will also need an official Girlyban Bingo playing sheet – Thunderf00t edition. (click for full size version)

You may simply mark out the squares with a highlighter, or you can print out the official Girlyban Bingo Cover Buttons to use instead.  Right about now I wish I still had access to an office laminating machine that I could hack into.

Game play is based on regular bingo, but in place of bingo balls, you will be checking off bingo square words in response to seeing those words in the selected text. All players are required to start at the top of the selected FTB text, making off (on both FTB text and the official Girlyban Bingo Card, the words that match the Bingo squares. Everybody plays from the same text and marks the words on the text with a highlighter as well as the associated word on the Girlyban Bingo card.  Luck is replaced by your ability to scan the text and comments quickly.

First person to get a row, column, or horizontal line completed shouts “LOGIC” instead of Bingo.  Winners Girlyban Bingo card can be checked against the players printed text to see that they actually located all the correct winning words.  Prize for winners is up to player discretion.

The use of alcohol based intoxicants during game play is not only legal, but encouraged.  Think of it as an internal douche to help stave off the inevitable Girlyban butthurt of wading though all those FTBullie posts.

Enjoy.