Father of Shooter Believes Someone Told His Son to Kill People

This is disquieting news. Who Could possibly want to equip and train a disenfranchised violent Muslim youth to go on a killing rampage?

The father of Trolley Square shooter Sulejmen Talovic apologizes over and over for the ordeal. Suljo Talovic says no one who knew his son saw this coming, and he believes someone pushed him to do it.

Suljo Talovic doesn't know where his son got the guns or how he learned how to use them.

Suljo Talovic, Father of Shooter: "Somebody got (the guns)…and maybe (they were) training him and tell(ing) him (to), ‘go shoot somebody.'"

Question: So you think that somebody influenced him maybe to do this?

Suljo Talovic: "Yeah. I think somebody."

Talovic says the tragedy is taking a toll on his family.

Repeatedly, in a lengthy interview with KSL Newsradio, Talovic expressed the sentiment that someone trained and pushed his son to kill. He apologizes for the ordeal, saying it makes him feel horrible, like killing himself.

Source: ksl.com - Father of Shooter Believes Someone Told His Son to Kill People

Technorati tags: Islam, Trolley Square, Sulejmen Talovic

They still don't trust us

Hat tip Charly of Ansatz for the results of a gallop poll which looks at the religious backgrounds of candidates. Atheist are still at the bottom of the heap.

If Your Party Nominated A Generally Would You Be Comfortable In Voting Well-Qualified Candidate For WH '08 For A WH '08er Who Was ___, Would You Vote For That Person?

                          Yes No
Catholic                  95%  4%
Black                     94   5  
Jewish                    92   7   
A woman                   88  11        
Hispanic                  87  12   
Mormon                    72  24 
Married for third time    67  30  
72 years old              57  42
A homosexual              55  43   
An atheist                45  53

Source: USA Today/Gallup: Watch Out Old Divorcees.

Technorati tags: Atheism, politics

Feed the Muse: Marian Jordan Lewandowski

I hesitated before I hit the "delete forever button" in gmail after a quick look at my spam folder. I saw something that did not look spam-like. I open the email to find an invitation to exchange links with a remarkable photographer named Marian Jordan Lewandowski. I first watched his short web movie, Happiness. It game me chills. This man has a remarkable eye. his imagery evokes emotions.

His photography website, MJL Photography, devoured an hour of my time. I looked at every picture. At one point I even stopped to take notes. I admire the way Marian composes his photographs. He inspires me to work harder on some of my own projects. Inspiration is what life is all about.

From his bio I learned that Marian is a Christian with a healthy world view:

The most beautiful thing that a human being can experience is the possibility of true dialogue; my website is such an attempt - my private but open dialogue with the world, with other open-minded, sensitive people ..."

Marian Jordan Lewandowski is an excpetional photographer. He has earned a link on my sidebar.  

Technorati tags: Photography, Art

Blogroll Update: CaroLINES

CaroLINES has joined the Atheist Blogroll and has the honor of becoming our 200th blog. That's right - 200 blogs have joined since I started this project just a few short months ago. Woohoo!

Take a moment to get to know our newest member. CaroLINES' introductory post is about Hitchhiking. I was lost in the first paragraph - what the hell is a Hillman Avenger?

,,,reminded me of the only time I've ever picked up a hitcher. I had an old Hillman Avenger (I think it avenged the fact that I bought the damn thing), with a bigger engine, same transmission and a busted radiator. Somewhere along the way someone had "upgraded" the engine to a staggering 1300cc, from the original 1100cc...

Technorati tags: atheism

Blogroll Update: Rank Atheism

Rank Atheism has joined the Atheist Blogroll. Check out Misleading premises in arguments: Propositional Logic for an introduction.

The potential for rhetorical abuse and misleading premises makes propositional logic a minefield. For this reason, scientists and philosophers recommend formal reasoning as an alternative.

Something tells me arguing with Alan Mackenzie might be fun.

Technorati tags: Atheism

Atheist since 5, crossdresser since 6

CaroLINES: talks about becoming an Atheist.

I've been an atheist since about 5. It precedes my gender-awareness by about a year, and has caused almost as much trouble. I was sitting in Sunday School when I startled myself with an insight that I still find telling. In a flash, I ended up questioning the entire construct of religion, and as a result became "very atheist" (for wont of a better term) before I knew such a thing was possible...

More and more Atheist are telling their stories. CaroLINES is a little more interesting than mine.

Technorati tags: Atheism

The Jews are behind evolution!

Via the Neural Gourmet - The Jews are behind evolution!

It makes me proud to be an American - but happy I live in the great state of California - Georgia and Texas have something in the water which breeds stupid fundamentalists.

Technorati tags: Evolution, Science

Not my porn!

I know this might be old news to some, but another Christian group is trying to invade our privacy with their ineffective vision of morality. This time the focus is on pornography. 

XXXChruch.com (X3) is dedicated to breaking porn addictions, because deep down, we all love to see naked women.

You know, I have this friend....

X3's Mission Statement (pdf) makes for an interesting read. Apparently, porn addiction is not limited to the male of our species.

The problem isn't just for men. From mommies to working women, the ladies are among the top demographic struggling with porn addiction. Perhaps more quiet than the men, but struggling non-the-less. Women are finding it, devouring it, and destroying lives with the dirty little secret. If you are struggling, get help today.

Know you are not alone. Know there are other women who feel and have felt the same way you do right now. Most of all know there are others who have found hope and recovery living pure lives away from porn and sexual sin.

X3 gets Christian hate mail (because they are annoying).

I am sure that your website means well, but what do you think about a young child walking thru a parking lot and seeing a vehicle covered in the words XXX and CHURCH together, you send a mixed message and nobody thinks it is a good plan but you...

Is XXX a word?

In reading their Executive Summary - I found this interesting tidbit. They debate porn star Ron Jeremy.

XXXchurch is on college campuses debating the biggest male porn star in the world, Ron Jeremy. The Ron Jeremy debates are a great way for the message of X3church to hit an audience that embraces porn. In the 2006-2007 school year we anticipate 20 plus dates on different college compuses.

Somebody must have have tapped this. it would be YouTube gold.

They claim 60 million hits - could it be because they are viewed by the typical porn cruiser as the church of sex? I'm willing to bet 60 million hits translates to fewer than 60,000 interested people. The rest hit the back button real fast. Is it just me or does this seem funny in an odd sort of way?

How is it possible that not heard of this before?

Technorati tags: Pornography, XXXChurch, Religion, morality

Oh... I'm a science geek

- and proud of it. When did Science become the enemy?

Photo Care of Space.com

The photo of cluster Abell S0740–an image that would have bedazed every previous generation of humans–probably didn’t even make it to the front section of your local newspaper.

I don't feel so special when I view images like this. The universe defies big, it defies our concept of god, it defies our science, our culture, and our knowledge, but it gives me hope - there is so much to learn.

Technorati tags: Science, Astronomy, Cluster Abell S0740

Muslims converting to Christianity by the thousands in France

I read two blogs every day. Little Green Footballs and Dhimmi Watch. I've been a fan of Charles at LGF since he started posting after 9/11. Some of the people who comment on LGF are racist whack nutjobs, it is one of the reasons I rarely post there, but Charles does a good job of highlighting the dangerous side of the Islam - despite what his critics might might claim. The same goes for Dhimmi Watch, Robert does an outstanding job of representing the problems with encroaching Islamic fundamentalism. I might not hold the same political positions as these two men, but I find they fight on the same side in at least part of the war - fundamentalism is evil.

Dhimini Watch has a post highlighting Muslims who are converting to Christianity in France which is based on Muslims converts face ostracism in France from Zeenews.com.

Around 15,000 Muslims each year are converting to Christianity - around 10,000 to Catholicism and 5,000 to Protestantism....

Muslims who convert from Islam to Christianity become apostates. Under Islamic law, they risk death. converting is deadly serious business. It brought to mind a point I wanted to make about another religion converstion methodology. 

Mormons face problems similar Muslims when they seek to convert to any another religion (or become atheists), only without the whole "hunt you down and kill you" thinking that goes on is Islam. Mormons face intense social pressure to remain part of the church. Leaving is unthinkable because you are often cut off from your family and friends. The Mormons church will move to excommunicate wayward members, which places and even grater negative stigma on the person involved. Members who choose to leave often face moving away from their community and starting over. It can be a daunting decision, and prevents people from leaving as effectually as Islamic death threats. Coercive religious practices seem disingenuous when the real reason for the behavior is often control of a community. Mormons often do not understand the nature of the lies which bind them to their faith.

Religion is a beautiful thing. Really, it is.

Technorati tags: Islam, Muslims, Mormons, Religion, LGF

The five weirdest patron saints

You may never guess the names behind these patron saints, so just give in and follow this link for the answers.

Who is the patron saint of coffee and coffeehouses?

Who is the patron saint of grave diggers?

Who is the patron saint of cooks and tanners?

Who is the patron saint of prostitutes?

Who is the patron saint of flowers?

Patron saints are yet another thing I don't understand about religion. Long dead losers and weirdo's are immortalized as "saints", who are then worshipped as demigods by the faithful.  I don't get it. Do I pray to the patron saint of prostitutes if I want to find a hooker or is it the hooker who prays if she wants to find a john?

Technorati tags: Catholicism, religion, trivia

Aardvarchaeology : History Carnival 48

Fellow Atheist Dr. Martin Rundkvist is hosting the 48th History Carnival  at Aardvarchaeology. Check it out.

GodTube

GodTube is YouTube, except unpopular and for Christians only.

Technorati tags: Religion, YouTube

China has low standards for use of the death sentence

A Chinese business executive was sentenced to death for swindling $385 million from investors in a bogus ant-breeding scheme. I’m sure his vital organs are on the way to a needy rich transplant patient.



read more | digg story

Trolley Square Video

If I ever need further proof for why I could never be a police officer, it is because I could not do what these brave men do. How do you run into gunfire without wetting yourself? The Trolley Square video clip is amazing. Videographer Jaron Densie desires some recognition for his actions too.

(KUTV) SALT LAKE CITY - 2News has acquired dramatic home video footage that was taken inside of Trolley Square during Monday’s shooting rampage that left five people dead and four others wounded.

Jaron Dansie was inside the mall when Sulejmen Talovic entered the building, pulled a gun and started shooting people at random. As he took shelter inside one of the shops on the first floor, Dansie pulled his video camera.

“What the… What the hell's going on?” Dansie can be heard saying on the video, in between a barrage of loud gunshots.

Violence like this give me nightmares. The full uncut video can be seen here.

Technorati tags: Trolley Square, Video, Jaron Dansie