I have a proposition

All atheist conferences should start with Ceremonial Disemboweling of Deranged Creationist Ideas.
At least, that’s how the Kamloop’s Imagine No Religion Conference started. After PZ Myer’s talk on evolution, one person asking a “question” that managed to combine “tolerance means accepting my wrong beliefs,” “if you don’t believe in god why do you keep living because then life is pointless,” and Pascal’s wager into one statement (because it wasn’t really a question). Another creationist crank then persisted to the post-talk mingling, and spent hours debating PZ. And by debating, I mean repeating tired and refuted arguments ad infinitum and changing the subject whenever someone tried to answer his questions.

Poor PZ. Can’t even drink his beer in peace.

But seriously, can all atheist conferences start this way? I’m feeling positively invigorated. It’s a great reminder of why we’re doing what we’re doing – because people are still spewing these noxious ideas into the atmosphere.

Apparently even in Canada. Is there nowhere I can escape to?!

I am a masochist

Tonight I watched the Republican debate on Fox News with three of my other liberal minded friends. Pretty much all I got out of it was:

Ron Paul: Completely off his rocker fiscally (durrr, isolationism, that worked in the past amirite?!?!), but oddly says very sane things about most social issues. Maybe not all of the policies I’d implement, but lots of things I could live with. This made me feel oddly dirty while watching a Republican debate.

Herman Cain: Makes all of his points while counting on his fingers (though usually doesn’t keep track properly). His credentials are being the head of a pizza chain I’ve never heard of. Apparently there’s one in Tacoma, and we’re tempted to make a trip to try it out. Because seriously, if the man can’t even make a good pizza, can he run the country?

Tim Pawlenty: Bland and unmemorable, which means he probably has the best shot at the nomination amongst the crazies. Oh, and apparently he comes from a working class family, which he reminded us about ten billion times. We dubbed him the Republican John Edwards.

Rick Santorum: Scares the fucking shit out of me. He is my nightmare. Can’t…can’t even summarize. By far produced the most screaming at the television.

Gary Johnson: Again, didn’t agree with everything, but was scared when I did find myself occasionally noting that he had a sane stance on something. Refreshing in the “I know I don’t have a chance so I’m speaking my mind” way. Oddly reminded me of a muppet.

And overall impressions? I learned it’s super important that we list the religion, marital status, and number of children of each candidate lest we vote for the wrong type of Christian. And that all of these Republican candidates are fucking jokes.

Brain cells died, but the liberal in me rejoiced. Obama isn’t my dream candidate, but he’s better than the alternatives.

A warm welcome to Canada

Hey, remember how I just said I’d be going to Canada for a lovely godless conference? Well, the same atheist group sponsoring the event had some bus ads in the area – evil, evil signs saying stuff like “There’s probably no god. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” Bus drivers refused to drive the buses featuring the ads, and the spokeswoman for the organization announced that any vandalized ads would be removed and not replaced. You know, just so everyone knows that. Wink nudge.

Unsurprisingly, the bus ads are now down – but not because someone took a magic marker to them. They mysteriously disappeared from all of the buses while locked in a guarded area, and look to have been removed professionally rather than ripped off. And of course, the bus company refuses to replace them.

Man, if religious people are that afraid of atheists saying “There’s probably no god,” we better bring the smelling salts for this conference. I’m sure they’ll love my talk about how “God” is a misogynistic, abusive asshole. Hopefully I don’t disappear in the middle of the night too.

Back to Canada!

Tomorrow I’ll be leaving for Kamloops, British Columbia to speak at the Imagine No Religion Conference. It should be a lot of fun! It’s a smaller group than a big national conference, but still has awesome speakers like PZ, Mr. Deity, and Nate Phelps. And some blogger chick who’s going to rant about misogyny in religion, or something like that.

I’m not sure if I have any Canadian tradition I forgot to check out when I spoke in Vancouver. I mean, I ate poutine and learned about Canadian politics – what more is there do to? Though I hear I probably shouldn’t bring up Canadian politics right now, ahem… Hey, at least your conservatives aren’t as bad as ours, right?

Anyway, I apologize that I haven’t been producing as many substantial posts lately. The end of the quarter is approaching, which means things are a little crazy on my end. Have a presentation next week, need to finish my research, then make a presentation for that, then choose a lab that I’ll be in for the next four years… Just a tad bit busy. But fear not, my real posts will return soon!

My diversity panel from AHA

I’m currently in Going Insane with Grad School Work mode, so here’s something to tide you over until I have time to write real posts. It’s long, but what’s better than listening to me, Debbie Goddard, and Greta Christina talk about diversity within the atheist movement?

It’s long, but I think the panel went really well, so it’s worth the watch. I certainly learned new things!

I am such a hermit

“Hmmm, I should really go buy some groceries today. *walks outside* Oh wow, it’s beautiful out! I don’t even need a jacket. Holy crap, a blue sky! Mountains! *reads car thermometer* 67 degrees?! This is a great day. Man, I should really do something outside to enjoy it, since it’ll probably rain for a month straight again. Hmmm… … …what do people do outside for fun? It’s too late to go hiking somewhere. I don’t really feel like walking around alone… …If only my laptop got here, then I could at least sit outside on the internet. …Meh, back to the basement. I wish it was this nice the only time I do go outside.*”

*That would be traveling to and from work. Yes, I am a pathetic nerd.