Bad omens - ill tidings

We stopped in the California desert on the way to Las Vegas this weekend to stretch our legs at a rest stop. I shot a few photos of the enormous ravens that follow the I-15 looking for carrion. Ravens are generally viewed as a sign of bad luck. I am glad that I am not a superstitious man because my gambling trip turned out to be a bust. I played poorly at the poker tables and for the first time in recent memory, came back a loser. I also played poorly in a poker tournament. I had the dubious distinction of finishing dead last amongst 55 participants. Dead last is otherwise known as the “first man out” and is not a title to wear proudly. My wife went on to finish third in the same tournament. She played well.

On our way home, we spent over two hours stuck on the uphill grade west of Primm. An SUV rolled near the summit. We saw the ME loading a body bag into the coroner’s wagon. It was right out of CSI, except that the ME’s were short, dumpy, and wholly unattractive. The roadside death put a chill on our trip. It is always unsettling to see the results of a traffic accident. It is like playing to lotto, only you lose big time if your number comes up.

The bad thing about the drive to Vegas, besides the constant tragic accidents, is its inconsistency. On a good day, the drive will take 4.5 hours. On a bad day, it can take 9 hours. You never really know, it is a crapshoot really. When somebody dies along the side of the road, it can make for a long day. We departed at 11:30 and arrived at 5:45. It was a long day. Like I said, it is a good thing I’m not superstitious. I can understand how some people can be.

*** I sure wish I could spell better ***

Technorati Tags: Las Vegas, Photography, Poker, Driving

Thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vain

Well, since I don't believe in "the Lord" I guess it might be ok to use his name in vain. All it's going to take is one more fill up at $10 more than I am used to paying. These prices suck. Yesterday EXXON announced record profits. I think we all know how EXXON did it


Technorati Tags: Gas Prices, EXXON, GAS

Thou shall read the bible

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue has made my nutballs list. According to Sarah Childress of Newsweek, Georgia plans to teach the Good Book in schools . Governor Perdue signed a bill allowing the teaching of Bible classes in public high schools last week. Didn’t he learn from Kitzmiller? Religion does not belong in our public schools. Hiding ID and Christian philosophy inside a Bible Literacy Project textbook titled “The Bible and Its Influences” and then teaching it to our children is dishonest and an abuse of authority. Teach our children science. Prepare our children for college. Don’t dumb them down with religious views.

This smells like bible school at public school. Teach the bible in Sunday school. Keep religion out of the public school system. It makes sense. Our children need to learn about how to learn, not what to believe. Science teaches how to learn. Parents teach what to believe

A line from the article – “We simply have to teach ‘This is what happened – make your own judgments’,” sends the real message that Christian zealots intend for our children. Christians want an opportunity to teach our child about their religious beliefs so that our children can determine if they wants to become a Christian. Great – does they get to learn about Islam, Buddhism, and Wicca too? I ask, does this metaphysical indoctrination program really belong in our schools? Oh hell no.

I predict a crushing defeat three years and 10 million dollars into the future. And… a 10% drop in George’s SAT scores.

Technorati Tags:
Georgia, Purdue, Nutballs, Religion, Christianity, Newsweek, Bible, Bible Literacy Project

Carson Ugly #23 - The dragon car

A tip of the hat to my friend and coworker Mark. He spotted this monstrosity on Sepulveda in Carson a few days back. What can I say, this car is so Carson.

Technorati Tags: Carson ugly, Carson, Photography

Understanding the Angry Atheists

Rabbi Marc Gellman takes a stab at understanding me (an angry atheist) in his latest commentary at Newsweek. His lighthearted respect-me-and-I-will-respect-you opinion piece was a refreshing read. Atheists were not vilified or pilloried as normally happens when a pious person pontificates. No, instead atheists are encouraged to

...see things as Spinoza urged, sub specie aeternitatis—“under the perspective of eternity.”

In other words, atheists are encouraged to get religion. Rabbi Gellman, shame on you. Why am I an angry atheist? Because few days go by without somebody, usually a fundamentalist Christian, attempting to tell me that I am (i) evil, (ii) blind, or (iii) need Jesus. The effort is so insidious, so pervasive, so overwhelming intrusive that in the end, a simmering anger lies just below the surface of my jovial smile. Sometimes it erupts, but rarely in public. For my part, these eruptions take the form of sarcastic commentary. I enjoy poking fun at the insanity of modern fundamentalist Christianity. Humor is my therapy.


Technorati Tags:
Atheists, Christianity, Christians, Gellman, Religion

Day of Silence

I heard a couple of complementary news stories about the Day of Silence effort going on in our schools. It seems that Gay and Lesbian students are bringing attention to the fact that their sexual orientation is a cause for bullying and violence. It is a shame really, nobody should have to put up with this kind of abuse. I appreciate the approach used to highlight this issue. I think it is well within the non-violent protest tradition of King and Ghandi. Of course, there is a dark side – Fundie Christians take the next day as a Day of Truth. There is no King or Ghandi in their hate filled homophobic approach to in your face abuse. These Christians are in fact the very epitome of the bully our Gay and Lesbian friends are protesting. What is an atheist to think? It seems obvious. The Christians should keep their hate filled rhetoric to themselves. Lifestyle issues are a matter of personal choice. Butt out.

The Day of Silence has a PDF if you are interested in organizing in your school. (well.. maybe next year)

Technorati Tags:
gay, lesbian, doyofsilence, dayoftruth, christians, atheists

Iranian War Watch

I worry about Iran. It seems likely we are heading to a confrontation, maybe even a war. With Iran telling the world they will retaliate if America attacks. The war of words keeps getting more intense. What is more troubling is that Iran does not threaten war. Iran threatens to retaliate with terrorism. They threaten a great many other things. Take for instance, wiping Israel off the map. I'm sure religion has nothing to do with it.


Technorati Tags: Isreal, Iran, war, Religion, Islam

Brian - at the reception

I attended a family wedding this weekend were I took this moody photo of my cousin Brian. This is the only un-wedding reception wedding photo of the bunch. The rest look like they would be part of a wedding album. Not that I mind – it was a very special occasion. My brother-in-law finally tied the knot. It was a Catholic wedding, a long ritual I had not been exposed to in years. I had forgotten how symbolic every little aspect of the ceremony was designed to be. If I had not been a sponsor/candle lighter, I would have missed most of the symbolism. I don’t get it – Vegas is so much more my speed. Play some cards, have a few drinks, get married, it’s all good.

Congratulations Don and Vicky!


Technorati Tags: Photography, weddings, family

Mike shoots Pong

I am trying to teach my 11 year old son two things currently, how Dawin developed his thinking on evolution, and the art of photography. I call it specialized extracurricular home schooling. I teach Darwin in response to his exposure to a nutball fundie friend who filled his head with unscientific crap-o-la. I teach photography because I love it and he appears to be interested in the subject. I gave him my camera at a recent party. His only instruction “be careful”. He produced this photo of his cousin Pong – I love it. He also shot two dozen other outstanding photo’s. I asked him what he was thinking while he was shooting, he said he was trying to take pictures that I would find interesting. He did a good job, there was not a single snapshot in the bunch.

This picture is his best. I gave him instruction in the zone system a few months ago. He used it in most of his photos. In this one, he lined up Pong’s left eye in the upper left zone junction. The effect is visible. The picture is interesting. He made his poppa proud.


Technorati Tags: Photography, Teaching, Home Schooling

Turner an Atheist, Fonda a hypocrite

Jane Fonda, a former Atheist, was on a PBS special with Barbara Walters recently. She recounted Ted Turner's reaction to her conversion to Christianity. Apparently Fonda felt the need to hide her interest in religion from her husband for fear that he would talk her out of it. I read the phrase “hide her interest” as code for lying. Fonda’s first Christian lesson appeared to be about dishonesty. How nice.


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Atheism, Religion, Christianity, Fonda, Turner

Carson Ugly # 23 - Little red door

This photo is yet another reason why Carson is an ugly city, unregulated construction. This door is so narrow that a normal man must turn sideways to squeeze through. Once inside… well let’s just say it take a brave man to use the facilities.

The shot is from a Chinese restaurant – I ate there once in 01. It was not a good idea.

Technorati Tags: Carson, Carson ugly, Street photography

Cuba, Iran & Islam

I came across this article Miami Herald. It seems that the Iranian mission to Cuba is doing it’s best to convert the good Atheists (actually closet Catholics) to Islam. I smell the hand Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his desire for worldwide jihad. Iran is the driving force, according to articles author Rui Ferreire;

The mission created a writing contest about Iranian history, hopes to set up a ''reflection group'' on Islamic subjects and earlier this month hosted a reception to mark the anniversary of the birth of the prophet Mohammed.

Cuba’s Communist Party Department of Religious Activities has appointed an official to work as liaison with the new Muslim converts. It is not surprising, Castro has been a staunch supported of Islamic strongmen like Yasser Arafat and fundamentalist groups like Hamas. Now Castro can pay the price for cutting deals with the devil (so to speak) as his populace shifts toward religious extremism. It is only 300 converts so far, but fundamentalist Islam is like a virus. It will spread.

Technorati Tags: Islam, Iran, cuba, Castro, Ahmadinejad, religion

The Dormitory Boys

I have been meaning to post this for a few days now. I followed a link from lifehacker to the Google top 100 videos where I found a link to the Back Dormatory Boys performing I Wanted it That Way. I laughed and laughed and laughed. Also known as "two Chinese Boys", they have a blog, a shrine, and even imitators. It’s all good. And, work safe too!


Technorati Tags: Parody, comedy, humor, video, china, google,

Nutball Altert - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

I have been watching developments in Iran lately. President Ahmadinejad scares me at a fundamental level. Ahmadinejad is pursuing nuclear weapons. He promotes terrorism, supports Hezbollah, and does not even think Israelis are human. That Ahmadinejad is a lunatic is clear, but it is his religion that concerns me. Ahmadinejad is a Muslim. Islam pushes him to act in support of the worldwide jihad – at some point he could act decisively, by nuking our ally. The press trivializes the issue. Political correctness says that we must accept Islam as a peaceful religion – yet the evidence to refute these positions is easy to find. One Iranian clearly sees the danger. Amil Imani is an Iranian born, pro democracy activist who resides in the United States. In a pointed article published in the Persian Journal, Imani puts forth a strong argument for classifying Islam as a death cult and Ahmadineja as one of Islams most dangerious leaders. Perhaps Imani is right.

For now, Ahmadinejad is officially classified as a nutball.

Technorati Tags: Islam, Iran, Ahmadinejad, religion, nutballs, Israel

Sticker graffiti - Long Beach

I spotted this example of sticker graffiti a few months ago in Long Beach off Lakewood blvd and the 405 freeway. I have been trying to find time to record it on film. I finally got the chance a few days ago. I would love to know what this represents.


Technorati Tags: Long Beach, graffiti, street photography, culture