I've been asked what I gain from my atheism, typically from well-meaning folk who nonetheless cannot grasp the idea of an existence removed from god, or whatever they call "him."

Honestly speaking, I gain everything and nothing; by carrying with it absolutely no baggage I gain freedom. My mistakes are my own, my triumphs are my own, and my life has *meaning* because this is the only one I have. I am free to make my own meaning and pursue my own ideas and ideals of satisfaction and support. I can judge people as they are, free from having to draw arbitrary distinctions of "us" and "them."

I'm my own person, and I have to live with my choices because I'm not going to be bailed out by some benevolent sky-daddy. Atheism is not an end point, and there's no guarantee that an atheist will be a good, moral person. But that's the beauty of it; we have to accept reality on its terms and deal with it as best we can.

I heart irony

So Obama's passed an historic health care reform bill and has met with near-universal opposition from the Christofascists on the Republican side of the aisle.

Just curious, really, but wasn't Jesus all about helping those less fortunate? Or am I getting him mixed up with Allah?

Ooh, right. I keep forgetting that it doesn't matter *what* you do, so long as you say you're doing it in God's name. All is forgiven so long as you subscribe to the whackaloon newsletter.

I hate being wrong

So apparently I went off a bit half-cocked yesterday with my post re: Coulter. Seems that initial reports were wrong, and that the twit canceled of her own accord. Or her people did it for her. Either way, fuck her, she's still an idiot, but I owe an apology to the university for thinking they had had something to do with it. So sorry.

P.S. Ann, you're still a twit.

Wake up, America

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Coulter's a cunt, but that's not illegal.

Ann Coulter, better known as the masculine lovechild of Skeletor and Mr. Ed, was scheduled to give a talk at the University of Ottawa earlier today. Alas, it was canceled due to security issues and a mass of protestors. Protesting's great, don't get me wrong, but to threaten her with physical violence is nothing short of revolting, and the culprit should be fucking ashamed.

This annoys me for several reasons, not the least of which is that it basically says our country's full of pussies who can't handle idiocy the way it *should* be handled: abject mockery. More importantly, however, it gives Ann access to the old canard that liberals can't handle the hard questions and differing viewpoints.

It's bullshit, of course, but conservatives aren't exactly known for their ability to discern talking points from reality. That's why they're conservatives; they're too stupid for anything beyond a sound bite, and you can be sure she'll be shitting them out for the next month or so.

Seriously, fuck you guys for making me feel sympathy for Ann Coulter.

What I've taken from today's aptitude tests

Language skills are off the charts. Communicative ability is beyond compare. Can't draw a straight line with a ruler. Possesses the computational ability of a calculator missing the numbers 7 and 9.

Does not play well with others. Wishes others would either go away or bow before him. Immune to compromise. Cares not for social convention. Can come off as "cold and indifferent."

Interesting stuff, really. "Limitless potential," so long as I actually, y'know, get off my ass and start living up to it. Huzzah! I have potential.