Comments for Meddling Kids

Comment on The Bar at the Centre of the Galaxy by Space Daughter

Space Daughter — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:16:01 +0000

Love it!!! Opens my differently visualizing eyeballs!!! Good job dad!!!..….;.;.;……………………………… ………………………………………………………………….. …………….AWESOME!!!!!

Comment on Daily Bible Reading Facepalm #60 – Jesus Reminds Us Of Hell, Abraham Kicks Out Eldest Son, God Hates Non-Believers by Cosmic Snark

Cosmic Snark — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:11:11 +0000

Heh. I used to bartend in a seedy gin joint and I can relate. Sometimes the female customers are the worst.I admire the dedication you’re showing in plowing through the Bible. It’s like going to an all-you can eat breakfast buffet filled with crappy food, and you’re saying “NO! It’s not all I WANT to eat, it’s all I CAN eat!!!” and going back for a 72nd helping of rubbery scrambled eggs and floppy bacon.

Comment on Moon Unit Gingrich by Dawn-Ann

Dawn-Ann — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:37:35 +0000

Good post, Jim. And, like you, I have always hoped to slip the bonds of atmosphere and gravity and see the Earth from space. It’s even on my bucket list. But, like you, I also know that the odds of that ever happening are diminishing. Still, it’s fun to dream (Gingrich or no Gingrich).

Comment on Forget Mexico by biguglyjim

biguglyjim — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:47:18 +0000

Hey, Dave.

First off, I didn’t say that Mexicans were bad people. I said that the Mexican system of determining guilt in situations like this has proved time and again to be weak, and for that reason, I wouldn’t consider it a place I would want to go. Yes, I could get beaten or killed anywhere, even in my home, and yes, there is always the possibility that I would wind up in an unsolved crimes pile, but I feel that the police here would do their jobs to the best of their abilities, and I don’t feel that about Mexico (or Thailand, as in the story of Leo). The tale of our mutual pal Philly is a fine example of this. I had written off the idea that his attackers would get caught despite the (grainy) footage of the attack, and yet the police found them and charged them. I do believe they jumped bail and are now the subjects of a manhunt, but that’s just the system for ya. My point is that if something ever did happen to me, whether I lived or died, I would want the police to do their jobs. From all that I have heard, the police appear dismissive and lazy when it’s a Canadian who was hurt or killed. Until I see otherwise, I have no interest in supporting them with my tourist dollars.

My ex-wife went to Mexico while we were still married. She had a great time. I’m sure she would totally go again if the opportunity presented itself. But I’d rather go somewhere that I felt was safe and where if something did happen, myself and my loved ones could hope for the best possible chance for some justice to be served.

Oddly, your comment came in as spam. Dave, I’ve known you for years… Are you a secret spammer?

Comment on Forget Mexico by Dave Anderson

Dave Anderson — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:51:51 +0000

I realize that what happened to Chris sucks, but I feel it is my duty to inform readers here of some first hand information that I have gathered regarding this story.My parents go down to Mexico over winter, and just so happen to stay directly across the street from this five star resort. The thing is gated, and security is tight. My mother can’t even go inside for a drink. So presumably the violence came from inside the resort.If there is any insinuation that it was a Mexican that beat this poor woman within an inch of her life, and that Mexico is a dangerous place we should avoid, those insinuations should be rejected outright, and a more worthwhile target for our energy would be the other tourists inside the hotel – NOT Mexican people. As it turns out, it was most likely another guest, aged 20, male, who is the culprit here, at least according to our news outlets and the security footage from the night in question.I can go down to the bar here in Calgary and be stabbed, beaten, and have the authorities come up empty handed. Justice isn’t always served. Moral of the story; people suck. People suck at being good to each other in a big way, people suck at resolving situations in an expedient manner, wrapping them up for us with pretty little bows. People even suck when they are travelling to other countries, where perhaps they feel they can get away with things they wouldn’t be able to get away with here.What if it turns out that the individual responsible was from England? Are we to assume that all people who come from England are violent jackasses? This of course is a foolish thought, as is the thought of an inherently violent and uncaring Mexico. Mexico is, in my estimation, about as violent and uncaring as our perfect country .I have been to mexico many times, I am still alive, and with cool stories to tell after the fact. I wouldn’t be so quick to write off an entire country, just because all of the bad news coming from there is sensationalized for our media, and molded to fit into a narrative that is simply false.

Comment on Daily Bible Reading Facepalm #52 – Jesus Scatters Seeds, Sarai Ruins Egypt, God Messes Up Jerks by Dean Morrison

Dean Morrison — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:12:59 +0000

I’ll be interested to see once we’re both done reading this thing what our experience has been. I’m reading it front to back in order having never read it before (went to a Catholic high school, but only ever learned the details of the bible through other people) and having never been a believer. We’ll have to compare notes. =)

Comment on What Is The Modern Media by biguglyjim

biguglyjim — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:50:32 +0000

Totally agree.

I find it sad and frustrating, but media today is business. It reminds me of another moment from a friend of mine’s life. He was on the 1988 Canadian Olympic team, and they had this big meeting I think the night before the opening ceremonies with all the athletes. I believe it was the head of the IOC who got up and said something along the lines of, “I hear a lot of people saying these are their Olympics. They aren’t. These are ABC’s Olympics, and you will conduct yourself accordingly.” Took the life right out of the room.

Comment on What Is The Modern Media by Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:42:46 +0000

Jim, The concept of a free and neutral media is a recent development. I agree that the “fifth estate” idea that media is there to hold government’s feet to the fire is what it should be.However that has changed in a sea of media conglomeration. More outlets in less hands makes for easier control. And in this era where we have gone from the idea of citizen’s rights to shareholder rights, news gathering operations have been slashed and put into the same category as entertainment. It’s reported that Izzy Asper told his editorial staff that their job was to “sell soap” and that’s all that matters now, ratings and buzz.I’d offer that we’re actually returning to a media era of around a century ago, where newspapers were the mouthpiece of the influential person who owned them. Occasionally a Bob Edwards and the Calgary Eye Opener will appear, but more often it ends up being the Financial Post.

Comment on Jesus And Mo And Fundies by Sean Robsville

Sean Robsville — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:51:48 +0000

Secularists should encourage the spread of the METAMEME. It blocks the growth of violent, intimidating, dogmatic religions such as Islam, in the same way that the mild cowpox virus blocks the spread of lethal smallpox.

Comment on Why I Hate Other People – Truther Babysitting Service And The Knowledge Sloths by Deann Pena

Deann Pena — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:04:27 +0000

For one, the guy used to be a friend of the US. If people are killing Russians and Chinese they are “freedom fighters”. If they are on about us, well they are “terrorists” doomed to “rot in hell”. I’m thinking that people need to calm down with these absolutist judgments if they are just going to throw out the larger context altogether.

I don’t think we “caused 9/11″ but we definitely helped operationalize Muslim dissent in Afghanistan. Trust me I’m no “9/11 truther” but there are allegations, yet to be disproven, that Osama worked VERY closely with the US in the 1980s and even had a CIA handle, Tim Osman. There are alleged photos of Zbigniew Brzezinski with Tim/Osama and some huge guns. It wouldn’t be unfathomable.

And there is also the Dinesh D’Souza cultural arguments that I appreciate somewhat. If you don’t know what his views are I won’t get into that.