Driving and Ponderances

So I'm driving home from my sister's, and along the way my brain turns over the past couple of days. Friday evening I was visiting Courtney and Geoff, where we discussed the war between new atheists and the religious people (particularly Christians). I was stating that the atheist camp does need eloquent, diplomatic people on their side to help convert fringe Christians, and that sometimes the overly angry and pissed off atheists push those people on the fence the wrong way. Geoff was arguing why we should bother, since Christianity, churches, and particularly church going people are the first to block their ears, point fingers, and scream we are all going to hell. (Sometimes more than pointing, btw, sometime vicious beatings, sometimes shootings, but hey, who's paying attention?)

Actually, I find that I agree with Geoff. The more I think about Christianity, the more I wonder how anyone can follow that religion.

A religion that tells you it knows better than you, so don't think, don't worry. Listen to the pretty words and follow the pretty rules, and everything will be ok. If you do that, you can go to heaven, where everything is happy and good. If you don't, well ... we have a place for you. Oh, by the way, if you go that other way, you get to go there *forever*. So, be a good sheep*cough* follower, ok?

Who can live with that fear? Better yet, who can live with that fear and remain sane? At best, we have quiet, semi-peaceful, pleasantly mindless nice people who don't make too much of a fuss. They get married, have a couple children, make sure they're safe, make sure everything's safe, and not to think about a thing, for god will take care of them. At medium, we have bitter, self-righteous, judgmental people who hear everything you say and watch everything you do, and decide if you belong, decide if you fit in. They cast out equal rights, tolerance, acceptance, love, because their bible tells them too without taking the time to see the human they are hurting. At worst, we have fanatics who scream into the radio and spew out curses, rumors, and horrendous lies to make sure no one looks, no one thinks. Let's not forget those who go out and kill themselves, and/or others, to make their god happy.

All the meanwhile, those preachers, priests, servants of this god, sit up on their pedestal and tell everyone they're right.

Who wants that god? That selfish, narcissistic, vengeful, petty, horrifying judgmental god? (I'm talking to you big three, because really, it's the same one.)

I like the pagans - the old mythologies. The gods were scary folk, full of hubris, greed, lust, and wrath. Sometimes helpful, sometimes caring, but mostly you learned from their humanness - their stories were morals, and while to be respected (and feared), not blindly worshipped. (If Hercules and Xena teach us anything, it's that blind followers of the old gods die quickly! ;)) Most pagan rituals term themselves as paying respect - not bending knee, bowing head quietly and meekly.

(I add this because I find myself to be too spiritual to term myself atheist. Sometimes the angry ones make me want to cry a little. >.>)

Long story short - I agree with Geoff. We should not cater, we should not pamper to make the self victimizing religious people feel safe. We should destroy the thought pattern, we should break the chains, and open the doors. We should burn down the prisons and rip up the books.

Because out here there is learning, thought, growth, and life. In there, there is only the slow, sad, meek march unto death.

Art Guts

Hehe. So I've been following this forum for FreakAngels, a free webcomic from Warren Ellis. Every Sunday night they have this thing called remake/remodel, where Warren will post a scant description of some comic book hero, and calls all the artists to draw an updated version.

I have decided to join in on the fun, and dusted off my pencils and pens for it.

This is my first one!

His name is Digambara Samiyar - this is what we had to work with:

"Digambara Samiyar was created by Vaduvur Duraisami Iyengar and appeared in Manjal Araiyain (Mystery of the Yellow Room), Ratta Sottu (Blood Drops), and Digambara Samiyar (Sky-Clad-One Healer), which were published in the 1940s.

Samiyar was a sanyasi, a holy hermit (usually living in a forest) who had sworn a great and mighty oath to fight crime..."

later added on:

"To do so he used many different disguises (he was good at it) and tracked the criminals across India’s geography and society, without regard to caste or social class. He was not skilled in the ways of detection, but was brave, intelligent, and had the assurance that devout faith brings."

So let me know what you think! :) Done in colored pencil, and improved upon in photoshop.

Tyranny, in it's many forms

I've recently subscribed to the intelligent, sarcastic, atheist blogger known as Pharyngula, aka PZ Myers, due to high recommendations. :) I enjoy most of his articles, but I feel his dislike of all things religious are blocking what overly annoying missionaries could be used for.

Apparently, there are a group of soldiers who are trying to convert Muslims while they are stationed in Afghanistan.

While I completely understand why the leaders of the country would be upset by this, and how's it rocking the diplomatic boat; I think we need to look more closely at what these leaders said.

First:
"This is very damaging for diplomatic relations between the two counties ... everyone knows people are very conservative here, very faithful to Islam. They will never accept any other religion....."

Saying, no one is going to listen to you anyways, why bother trying?

Then:
"Someone who leaves Islam is sentenced very severely - the death penalty [is imposed]...."

Saying, those people who do listen to you will be killed.

.....


..................

You know ... we really can't win any war in the Middle East. We have waaaay too many different tyrants to fight. I understand with government diplomatic relations, we are supposed to leave religion at the curb.The United States, due to it's highly religious and cowboy like president for the last 8 years, has a lot of ground to recover in terms of reputation. So there is a need to attempt to kick religious beliefs somewhat to the side. However, there is something we do need to understand.

The religion of Islam is killing people. Harshly, and without any mercy, because their god told them it's ok. The people trapped in this horribly limiting and frightening mindset, need to know there are other ways.

If we can open their eyes just a little, even if it's with another hugely conservative, but not really as ok with killing people, religion, I would say it's a step up.

I understand also, that Christianity is not want we want for any end result in this country. But if any of this people are not allowed to have a differing opinion, they can never really escape from that religion's oppressive rules. It isn't until you can have an independent thought in your head that logic and reason can step in. The fear of thinking has to be attacked first, before any change in this area will work.

So, in my humble opinion, any work done in the Middle East to make the people in the Middle East tell these guys to go fuck off, is good work.

Birthdays

My birthday is readily approaching, next Saturday! I shall be turning 25 and that seems like one of those times to review what I've accomplished so far. However, before I can do that with some peace of mind, I do have to address something.

My money situation for the past couple of years has not been the most stable. I've missed a lot of birthdays and a lot of Christmases. As such, every year when this time rolls around, I really don't want anything from people. It's somewhat unfair, and truthfully I've always liked the idea of the hobbit birthday. I would prefer to celebrate my birthday by celebrating the people I love and having them around me. So it makes sense to make/acquire gifts to give on my birthday, to show my appreciation for their patience and love. ^.^ (dawwww)

Which is what I want to do this year. I want to host a dinner, feed everyone, and make them their own special cake. I don't really want a cake made for me by someone else, and I don't really want any gifts. (Yes I know one person really wants to make cakes period, and feel free to use the birthday as an excuse since you make pretty and tasty cakes :), and some people have gotten gifts. This isn't to make you feel bad, this is me expressing myself. :P) Honestly, in birthday friendship balance, I really don't deserve any gifts/foodz and I want to give back to other people first. :P

So mrow. I keep feeling strangely pressured to plan something for this birthday when the weekend coming up is already going to be eaten by a concert, and I'll most likely be working Saturday. Also, *I* do actually enjoy seeing my mother on mother's day, so Sunday may be family fun day anyways. :P

Conclusion! Now that I've typed out my muddled muddled thoughts:

This weekend my plans are:
Work on Friday. If possible go out and see new Star Trek movie. If not, stay at home alone and watch girlie movies. Perhaps invite Meg and Jess over, have popcorn, and a pillow fight! (perhaps also add copious amount of tasty tasty alckiehol) :)

Work on Saturday. Listen to Bill rave about cool concert, and feel momentarily sad, but then remember fun times with Star Trek/girlie movie, and secretly stick my tongue at him. Perhaps do something with group Saturday night, maybe see Star Trek (will go twice!). Or stay at home with Bill and watch coupley movies.

Sunday, first day of my weekend! Sleep in. Think about cleaning.. Decide to go visit Mom in the afternoon to have big lunch/dinner and to tell her I'm glad my parents decided to have unsafe sex. Come home around 6. Possibly go see Star Trek (it could be a third time!), if not, putz around home. Maybe take a nap. Who knows? It's Sunday, the world is my oyster.

Yeah, themz my plans right now. Although, if bunny keeps acting like she is I may stay home and nurse her through post-ovary removing surgery.

Woo choices. o.o

Random thought: People are going to get annoyed by my posts in 2012. I'm going to end them all with "the world's going to end anyways". Heh.

Is it lazy or economical?

So I'm sitting here debating with myself....

My apartment is a mess. Bill and I have not had the time or energy to clean it up, nor does it look like we will soon... Weekends get busier and busier, and with the amount of mess we have it's unfair for one person alone to clean.

As a result, I'm pondering posting an ad on Craigslist - will trade massage for housecleaning. But, seriously? It's a two bedroom apartment, it's not huge ... why can't we keep it clean?

At the same time, as the past shows me again and again ... we will clean for awhile, and then fall away from it, until it piles and piles and piles and drives me insane.

Is this the solution? Or do we just try again? Hmm.

Bunny Attack!

My bunny is adorable. I wish for everyone to know this. :) I made her a cave, in which she happily digs for most of her day, and then she'll come out and flop randomly, tired from the digging. All of this adds to her adorableness. :)

That's really all I have to say, lol. This day has been particularly boring ... I slept a lot. But since it is my only day off until Sunday, I feel that is ok. o.o

Woo new business.

Alright, done with random thoughts. Time to explore more of the internet!

Hmm.

I should post. it's been awhile.

I've decided to do a new thing - learn one new habit a month. This month is cleaning. :) Bill and I have created a chore list on a mostly daily basis (we let Fridays and Saturdays slide ... everyone needs a day off... we need two ;))

So far it's been going really well. :) There is also a punishment factor. If you miss a chore, pay a dollar! If you miss a once a week chore, pay 2 dollars! If you miss a monthly chore, pay 5 dollars!

Dorky I know .. but the place is clean, so nyah! :P

Hehe.

Next month is daily exercise, whether it be stretching, random strength training, or something that inspires a lot of sweat. Bill hasn't done TaeBo yet ... bwuhahaha.

I haven't decided if I should do a daily post month yet. I've got exercise, meditation, and art to go through with yet. >.> But I think it'll be easier to change my life if I focus on one thing at a time. Otherwise it's too much.

I'll let you know in a couple months how that worked out for me. :)

In other news -

No one wants to play in my mage game. They all say they do, but then no one sends in information for me to actually start the game. I'd forgotten how lazy gamers can be. ;) I'm debating a punishment scale next .... not in by tomorrow, take two dots out of attributes ... not in by Tuesday, take 4 dots out of abilities. Not in by Wednesday, lose a sphere. Not in by Thursday, not playing. :P Thoughts?

People may be spiteful over something like that ... Hmm. Maybe I should just go find a forum.

Other other news -

Most people won't care, or will scoff, but I am now Reiki III. Wooiee. :) Now if only people came in for this so I could practice. Ah well, there's always mom. ^.^ Love the mom!

I made my st. patty's day shirt. First thing I've made with a zipper. Bwuhaha. I have to manhandle my breasts pretty aggressively to get into the thing, but once we're past that point, things are hunkydory. Next I am making a skirt!

I am also signing up for kickboxing on Tuesdays. *pokes Courtney* You should sign up too. Meg is also coming!

I could launch into a Watchmen review ... but I don't think I'm ready to yet. So, that's about it for now.

Adios folks!