Testing, testing, testing…is this thing on?

It looks like Pharyngula is back online…at least I’m seeing new comments appear. Now let’s see if I can post anything.

How about another pointless poll? In a web page for some TV show I’ve never seen, ABC is asking, “Did Arlene have the right to refuse to vaccinate two of her sons?” (I presume this refers to some fictitious incident in the program). Alas, the anti-vaxing kooks have seized upon it, and the vote is now at:

70% say “YES – The parent has a right to act on their beliefs.”

30% say “NO – Her decision put her sone and hundreds of other people at risk for the measles.”

Wait, measles? That’s a dangerous disease that is currently on the rise because of these paranoid idiots who oppose the MMR vaccine. This should be a no-brainer — it’s too bad there are so many brainless people out there.

Orac has transcripts of the relevant part of the program, if you want to figure out what the poll is refering to.

Holidays: officially over

I have just returned from my last long drive of the season, finally and regretfully shuttling the last beloved member of the Myers clan off to the distant Minneapolis transportation hub. Now, at last, I can relax, shed of my patriarchal obligations (speaking of which, the hair is getting a bit long and wild, and the beard is looking a bit ferocious…I may have to do something to tame them). I’ve also feeling the fatigue of waging the war on Christmas — my trigger finger is all calloused, and the recoil bruises on my shoulder would make you weep to see them — so it’s nice to have a little armistice until they start up again, six months from now. I’ve even got a little time to catch up with the neglected blog!

Here are a few quick tidbits.

  • The quixotic Michael Newdow is suing to have godly invocations dropped altogether from the presidential swearing-in ceremony, and our very own Minnesota Atheists have joined in. I don’t think they stand a prayer. It’s still a good thing to keep speaking out about it, so I support them wholeheartedly.

  • You need a poll to crash. How about one from Lynchburg, VA, home of Liberty University, where they are asking, Atheist group files suit to keep religion out of inauguration. Okay? So far, 17% say OK, 83% say not OK. That might change soon.

  • A bus matron who was supposed to be assisting a young man with cerebral palsy, Ed Wynn Rivera, abandoned him on the bus, still strapped to his seat, while it was parked in the depot…for seventeen hours. She had a good excuse, though.

    Hockaday admitted to knowing that Rivera was still on the bus when it was locked up on one of the coldest nights of the year. Her rationale for leaving? She apparently didn’t want to be late for church.

  • Good news from Texas! The final draft of the state science standards is done, and by all accounts, it is good.

    But with the “weaknesses” requirement removed and a new definition for science, the new plan makes it clear that supernatural explanations like creationism and intelligent design have no place in public classrooms, said Dan Quinn with the Texas Freedom Network, an Austin-based nonprofit group that opposes religious influence on public education.

    Good work, Texas scientists and educators!

I hope you all enjoyed your godless holiday. It was much more pleasant than the religious one.

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Hva skjer?

The pharynguloid hordes continue their reign of terror, marching through foreign lands and laying waste to their polls. Today, we crush Norway. An article about a faith healer wants to know whether you think this guy is a:

Placebo (23%)
Helbreder (healer) (61%)
Overtro (superstition) (9%)
Lureri (scamming) (8%)

I think he’s a superstitious scammer who’s taking advantage of the placebo effect, so basically anything but a healer. So go stem!

Tycker du att skolor bör hålla sina avslutningar i kyrkan?

About half* my ancestry is Scandinavian — equally split between Sweden and Norway — and one of the nice things about the Christmas holidays is the reconnection with family and tradition, so it’s only appropriate that I urge you all to crash a Swedish poll. It’s asking, Do you think schools should hold their commencement ceremonies in church?. So far, I’m shocked to see that secular Sweden is answering 69% “Ja” — is there some sneaky plan to get in there and desanctify the church, is the poll being mobbed by a religious minority, or (more likely, from my experience growing up with swarms of Swedes) is it just that they don’t give a damn, a building is a building?

Whatever the reason, get over there and rösta.

*Don’t ask about the other half. Classic American mongrel I-don’t-know-whatsis, mostly diverse North European.

A truly significant poll on license plates

Yeah, and next we’ll have a really important poll on what color socks I should wear. Right now, you’ll have to settle for answering this question: What do you think of the decision to block the “I Believe” license plate? The results so far:

Good. The plates are a violation of church and state 18.16 % (69)

I disagree with the ruling. I have a right to show my faith 63.95 % (243)

They should get rid of all vanity plates and have one standard design for the state 17.89 % (68)

The second, and so far winning (but you’ll turn that around fast), choice is palpably stupid. Of course you have a right to display your faith! Slap a Jesus fish and a bunch of bumper stickers on your car. Go out and get a vanity license plate frame that is dripping with crosses. Buy some trucknutz. You can flaunt your faiths all you want, you just don’t get to demand that the state endorse them and promote them.

Target-rich polling environment

AOL is running several polls on Bush’s recent statements — they seem more shocked by the fact that he didn’t believe the bible was literally true than that he doubted evolution. Anyway, have fun, but keep in mind that these are polls that are heavily trafficked so we probably won’t make that big a dent…but let’s shift ’em our way as much as we can.

Here are the four polls and their results so far:

Do you believe the Bible is literally true?
No 50%
Yes 50%

How close are George W. Bush’s views on religion to your views?
Not at all 41%
Somewhat 36%
Very 13%
Not sure 10%

Which explanation about the origins of life on Earth do you believe in?
Creationism 47%
Evolution 34%
Intelligent design 13%
None of the above 6%

Do you think Bush’s religious views affected his policies as president?
Yes, and that bothered me 39%
Yes, and that’s fine 35%
No 26%

If you would like an easier poll to roll over, here’s another on a different site:

What’s Your View of Evolution and Creationism?
God created heaven, the Earth and all life in six days. Evolution explains nothing. 4% (10 votes)

Evolution and creationism are compatible. 20% (46 votes)

Evolution makes creationism very unlikely. 11% (24 votes)

Evolution explains life. Creationism is just a primitive story. 65% (146 votes)

It’s a science site rather than AOL, which explains why the results so far are much more sensible.

Give Bill O’Reilly apoplexy

I have a suspicion that that photo of squid guts in the last post is going to make a few people feel squeamish, and now I’m going to show something even worse: Bill O’Reilly. <cue frantic screams from everyone…”More squid guts! Please! Anything but Billo!”>

Of course Billo is outraged at the news from Washington state. How dare they allow atheists to express themselves? This is a Judeo-Christian nation, and only Christians are allowed to have a voice in the public square (Jews, too, as long as they’re quiet and willing to pretend that they’re pre-Christians).

He urges his listeners to howl dementedly at Governor Gregoire. I may not have quite the reach of Mr Falafel, but I’ll suggest that you write polite, supportive letters to Gregoire as an antidote. If you want a little instant gratification, there’s also a poll to crash: Under freedom of expression do you approve of the atheist representation at the State Capitol?. It’s split 51:49 right now.