I used to consider myself an atheist. Now, when asked, I say I am agnostic. It is not that I have doubts but I don’t want to be bundled in with the atheist crowd.
In answering such a question, it is too difficult to explain the distinction between atheism and anti-religionism and to be honest, the lines are often blurred.
Is it any wonder?
This Easter we have been witness to baffling brawls over halal chocolate Easter eggs and squabbling over whether or not a footy match should be played on Good Friday. I adopt the laissez-faire approach in these matters but I find it troubling that those who advocate sombre reflection on religious holidays are cast as extremists.
Religion is often mocked by atheists. Mockery is fine in some instances but when people are painted as sub-human for holding supernatural beliefs, items of faith in all organised religions, it is clear there is an attempt to wantonly discriminate against people and limit their movements and their associations.
Full column here.
BASSMAN says:
April 18, 2017 at 9:32 pm
” … if I were Kim Jong-un I would be developing nuclear weapons and the capacity to deliver them through ballistic missiles as quick as is humanly possible.”
I think you might have to line up behind me old mate JB, Bassy. He appears to have a crush on his ‘Kimmy”, if his regular jovial DPRK comments on here are anything to go by. But then again JB may only be having a laugh.
Pretty sick laugh though, don’t you think.
It all goes straight over your head like a missile Carl.
Kimmie tells me he watches a lot of American action movies. That sent a chill down my spine!
I hope he hasn’t noticed any of those movies where the baddies hide a suitcase nuke in Manhattan and the all American hero cuts the wire with 1 second left on the digital clock. Phew! I mean, art and all that, but you really don’t want to go putting ideas in peoples heads.
You’d want to be pretty sure of yourself having a whack at a “rogue” nuclear state don’t you reckon?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Pyongyang
You’re still having a giggle me old mate, eh.
Predictable.
Whats wrong with you. You think flattening 3/4’s of a city and bombing 3 million people to death is a joke? An atomic weapon planted in a major city is a “giggle?”
Is this Carl’s “shadow” finally coming out of hiding? Now that’s a scary thought.
Oh, I see you’re back on your high horse again JB.
But your constant resorting to comments such as : “Kimmie tells me “, blah, blah, blah, is a clear indication you’re not only floundering, you do appear to be treating this DPRK v US as a joke /giggle, but only when it suits you.
It’s obvious you’re trying to walk both sides of the street JB.
Or maybe it’s only on the left me old mate?
Wouldn’t have happened if the North didn’t invade South Korea JB. “Buy the ticket, take the ride”. I think you’ll find 3 million people were the total casualties or missing, not from bombing one city. Estimates say 990,000 of them ended up in South Korea.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/know-the-facts-north-korea-lost-close-to-30-of-its-population-as-a-result-of-us-bombings-in-the-1950s/22131
You don’t get it, and may never will. You have a child like “one or the other” black or white, “we are right they are wrong” stupid herd mentality Carl.
You have approval issue which drive your world view. That’s fair enough, there must be reasons for that , and you might slowly begin to get an insight into how insecure and needy for authoritative approval you are if you keep this up.
Happy to help old mate. Keep ’em coming.
Mack. I remember very well the startling revelations in mainstream media in the 80’s, after the 30 year limitation expired, that South Korea made several incursions into North Korea before the North responded with military force. A few paragraphs tucked away in pages five or seven.
Naturally the propaganda myths have been maintained for Western interests but you might find the ink informative.
I have often read of the fury of the US oligarchs when frustrated by losing the great prize of China to Mao’s communists. Which might help to explain the horrendous violence visited on the North Korean people.
https://monthlyreview.org/2000/10/01/setting-the-record-straight-on-the-korean-war/
Don’t bother to read it if you are comfortable with what you believe. Learning is an option.
But don’t lecture me, I’ve got plenty more.
I think Kimmie has just had a case of premature launchalisation. It blew up in his pants.
I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu1UXCdyNo0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9EnUQltR9A
Ooops!
“Uh oh” as my almost two year old grandson would say – (to the rocket one – he would probably walk away in disgust from the Starlight Vocal Group).
“Starland” dammit!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtUAESOyV5Y
My humblest apologies!
It’s okay.
bugger…lost nth korea …must be here somewhere
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/donald-trump-navy-aircraft-north-korea-australia-237338
Do we wander, unprotected, through wild land areas where we could be attacked by man eating predators? No, of course not. We don’t go and kill every animal that might attack either. So what’s different with the ocean?
Why not establish patrolled surfing areas, protected by nets or whatever, where surfers can surf without the risk of attack?
Leave all other wild ocean areas to the wild.
Has the raping and pillaging of ocean fish stocks perhaps contributed to sharks seeking other prey?
It also seems to me that lowering people in cages to gawk at them may also be encouraging them to regard humans as forbidden fruit – and therefore more desirable. They are mammals with a brain too.
” …… raping and pillaging of ocean fish ..” ??
Well …., perhaps pillaging in a pinch, but ……. sexual violence with a marlin?
It’d be a wild ride Boadicea.
Less so with a sardine, maybe.
Some words have more than one meaning Carl.
What an interesting mind you have. Settle down.
There’s a bloke on here that would probably find a sardine more ‘accomodating’. Not saying he’s an expert on fish or anything.
He never smiles, but knows a lot about coal mines , eh.
Go Boadicea!
Yes, yes & yes .
Removing sharks by a cull does precious little to protect humans and neither do drumlines. These animals are apex predators so they have a vital role in maintaining balance in our ocean ecosystems.
They’re not targeting human beings, they’re hunting food.
Attacks are very sad & there’s always a few media outlets who try to whip up public outrage by building up the push for revenge, all whilst a family is in grief. That’s particularly galling and so irresponsible.
Go hard Boadicea, proud of you.
Regards, Bella
Mammals?
Maybe she meant MAMILs. Middle-aged men in lycra. They come out in plague proportions every Sunday morning. Horrible to witness.
Ah, I don’t know Gw. (Jeez the w key on the laptop is cactus – have to keep switching to touchscreen to operate it, or think of vocabulary that has no w in it – quite challenging)
It’s the flabby ones in all over designer Lycra that are a worry – otherwise it’s good to see them out there getting some exercise. A trim bod in lycra is acceptable! 🙂
In recent years the sight of woman of all ages in compression “fitness” clothing in supermarkets, cafes etc has become common place yet when I advise the teenagers I am heading to the shops in my workout gear I am virtually tackled to stop it from happening. Strange a woman in her mid years doing it is acceptable but a fittish (is that a word) man in his mid life doing it is definitely not. ( I only suggest it to highlight to the teenagers the differing standards, I would not actually do it)
Didn’t get it second hand from the White House didja?
My mistake Triv. Don’t know why I thought they were. Anyhow, doesn’t change my opinion on the issue.
Maybe because most shark species of shark give birth to live young — the eggs hatch inside the female’s body. In some species, including Great Whites, there is no yolk to nourish the young, so once hatched they start eating each other in utero. I think that’s where they got the idea for free-market economic theory.
Sharks are not mammals Bo, they are cold blooded and adapt to the temperature of their environment.
They have also,under protection of great whites, procreated to the extent they now overly interact with humans. Ditto the protection of crocks in the north of Australia, where we now need to exert control over both because they are at the top of the food chain.
As for the cage baiting of great whites, that is just plain stupid. Ask anyone one in Port Lincoln if the’ jump in the briny for a dip.
Crockodiles? A splendid new descriptor for the old crocks who are at the top of the food chain.
Well done, I’m going to use that one!
The Great White shark and the Mako shark are semi warm-blooded, but not mammals. They maintain their body temperature at about 10C warmer than the water they are in, rather than at a constant temperature. They do this by swimming at high speed in short bursts.
Who exactly did the research for this I couldn’t find out. I’m guessing a thermometer was used, but not at the toothy end; somewhat like a vet checks a dog’s temperature. I doff my hat. Somewhere out there, there is a very brave, very fast skindiver.
British PM Theresa May has called a snap election for June, Mr Insider, one she should easily win given Labor are a mess led by an out of touch wally in Jeremy Corbyn, who must now be aghast as the thumping he will get will put an end to him too and give Labor a chance to freshen and go forward.
http://tinyurl.com/n4m4b5a
You have to wonder why Theresa gave up a dead cert 8 yeras in power for just 5
Tom toms say the natives are showing signs of restlessness, best to act now before cuckoo bird come home to roost.
Possibly she wanted a mandate from the electorate JackSprat? She only came to power when Cameron resigned so may feel she needs to face the people?
A lot of anti Brexit people didn’t bother to vote in the referendum because they thought it was a gimme. May be interesting to see the result when they do vote in Theresa’s election.
“Why is it OK for the USA, Russia, UK, France, China, India, Pakistan and Israel to have nuclear weapons but not North Korea? Why is it OK for these nations to have the right to defend themselves or deter others using nuclear weapons but not North Korea? The nuclear club wants to remain exclusive. Korea has not invaded over 40 countries since 1945…the USA has. The ‘nuclear club’ will not admit new members because to do so means weakening their power. Every sovereign nation has the right to defend itself against an aggressor. That right is not abrogated or diminished because we don’t like the country’s politics. It is not restricted to conventional weapons and it cannot be taken away by some sort of plebiscite of other nations. In other words, sanctions by the United Nations against North Korea or any nation which seek to prohibit or restrict this right are illegitimate. I don’t particularly like North Korea’s military dictatorship but if I were Kim Jong-un I would be developing nuclear weapons and the capacity to deliver them through ballistic missiles as quick as is humanly possible. Since 176 there are only 21 years when the USA has not been fighting someone”.
Since 1776
In mankinds 6000 years of recorded history there has only been 80 years of peace. Someone is always fighting someone.
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/41210-all-war-is-a-symptom-of-man-s-failure-as-a
Good quote. I read ‘In the Shadow of Man’ by Jane Goodall and reached the same conclusion. We haven’t moved an inch.
Sadly we have G Whizz. We can kill millions of people in seconds.
Chimps with bombs. We’ve always been better at knocking each other off than getting along together. Bizarre that we have two major political ideologies and neither one seems to work, and a third choice seems out of reach. Oh well – no sense worrying about it too much. Back to the shed for something ‘medicinal’ and some more Charles Dickens.
Give ’em heaps G Wizz.
Usually in the name of religion too
“As the world burns, sports are being played, TV is being watched, people are at work, food and drink is being wasted, babies are being eliminated, people are killing each other and politics are planning more destruction, as the world burns.” Anonymous
I don’t believe it’s ever going to change.
Theres a bit of Nero and a bit of Marie Antoinette in all of us Bella.
It will Bella and it will not be for the better
no they’re not……
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/04/america-addiction-war-170416074829028.html
That might help BASSMAN. The US has had an unrelenting aggression towards any Communist nation. It is important to have “enemies” in to sustain the demand for weapons and munitions, and onto whom national angst can be directed. /projected. The military industrial complex will always require a cause.
Very profitable business is war.
https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-12-27/americas-arms-exports-dominate-despite-global-competition
We can expect to see under Trump or his successor Pence, a constant stream of military crisis distracting people from the looming catastrophe of AGW.
Give ’em heaps.
And the Communists were just peaceniks. Outside of the 100 million dead, that is.
Now now Dwight, If I want an opinion from an American…………………………………..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDw-zFFhFgc
“The US has had an unrelenting aggression towards any Communist nation. It is important to have “enemies” in to sustain the demand for weapons and munitions, and onto whom national angst can be directed. /projected. ”
I think there’s a reasonable chance that just a few other countries may also have one or two pop guns in their closets JB.
But then, I’d just be guessing.
You’ve obviously got the nose for sniffing out where the big arsenals are; what say you me old mate?
One or two popguns would be right Carl.
Do you notice the percentages in the link?
Oh, now I get it JB.
You’re not anti-proliferation, you’re just pissed that your side doesn’t have enough me old mate.
That’s a very narrow intellectual bandwidth you have there Carl.
I’m not a child, I don’t have a “side”.
I’ll have you know JB that my IB maturity levels belie my years and is sufficiently receptive to convert my IC into AK whether or not the environment is collaborative.
You’re 12! Sorry, didn’t realise that. You’re going well young fella!
Because if you give a nut case toys that can destroy the world, they are likely to use it.
Also the more countries in the nuclear club, the higher the probability other will be forced to join it. As the numbers increase, so does the risk of an accident or them falling into terrorist’s hands.
Ye Gods, many people will not contemplate the use of nuclear power in this country – the one form of energy supply that will cut green house gases and give humankind a remote chance of surviving yet you are advocating allowing a rabid, totalitarian government nuclear weapons based on the premise that North Korea has never invaded anybody.
I would have thought once they had them, South Korea would be in their sights.
By the way, if Kimmy baby gets a full blown nuclear arsenal, so will South Korea, Japan and any other country that feels threatened by the lunatic.
Quote from a crazy in Iran along the lines that when they get nuclear weapons they will destroy Israel. When it was suggested that the act would be reciprocated, there was a shrug of the shoulder with the comment so what, at least we will be rid of them.
Be very careful what you wish for Bassy -your off spring have to live with today’s decisions for another 100 years.
BASSMAN was merely pointing out that the North Koreans, having their own experience of American bombing and observing what has happened to other nations unable to defend themselves, could be pursuing the most plausible survival strategy. He’s not wishing for anything, he is just making an intelligent analysis and seeing the “others” point of view.
If the big guy over the road has been putting pressure on you and waving a shotgun around for decades then you better get a shotgun yourself. Moving interstate or calling the cops is not an option.
One can take “the other’s point of view” a little to far when one is dealing with an idiot like Kim and his capacity to destroy cities..
Also if the guy down the road breaks the law, one calls in the law.
Now I seem to remember that your good self is an avid supporter of the UN and its agencies.
In this case they are the law and Kimmie baby is ignoring them. (We will leave my opinion of the UN right out of it.)
An avid supporter? Your remembering is suspect. Ignoring the UN is hardly the exclusive province of North Korea is it?
So, your plan. Call in the law. How’s that going so far?
JS Did the US have UN approval last week? Hmm?
Longer. 242 years ago today the British attempted to confiscate the guns of the Lexington and Concord militias. The militias demurred and the Revolutionary War began.
Ah geez Dwight! Tell me this isn’t so.
Warning, theres a few rude words in there.
http://www.cracked.com/article_20306_5-myths-about-revolutionary-war-everyone-believes.html
btw, it’s a real shame what’s just happened in Turkey
Indeed it is.
Ataturk’s legacy put to the sword.
A good one Dwight!
Nobody cares anymore…nobody cares about ANYTHING! One day I said to my eldest kids “Thank your lucky stars you were born white”. All I got was a vacant look.
I know it was a just a slip of your tongue Bassy, but your kids will never be “nobodies”.
All of your kids Bassy?
2
Can you say that to the rest?
If not tell them it’s getting better. People like you and me will make sure of it……….
You’re just too entitled Bassy
JTI,
Re football see below for my reply to various comments from you & Dismayed (ie under Dismayed’s being last of the segment).
I thought Paul Kelly’s article in the Weekend Inquirer one of the best “pulling together of strands of historical cause & effect” was excellent -even if there was little new (to me).
The future of print involves the retrospective opinion piece – and weekend reviews/inquirer is a lovely leisurely read (albeit somewhat random in terms of quality of writing – quite aside from opinions expressed). I also found the piece by Kilcullen on Assad “losing” (winning in the south but no resources to spare for the conflict in the north) contrary to media reports, very interesting as it provided an explanation for what appeared an illogical move : using chemical weapons.
It was also strange that the major evidence of the flight plan of the aircraft allegedly involved took so long to be made public as it involved no human intelligence and accordingly provided the US with justification. Funnily enough the actual US response was also symbolic as it caused little damage and they warned the participants at risk (including Russians) prior to launch.
Middle east has always been a mess – and nothing is likely to change unless we provide a unifying cause for that part of the world (sans Israel) to fight the west.
France is the next great cause celebre with presidential elections involving Marine le Pen, future pf EU and French economy (basket case which no one wants to tackle) – not to mention Muslim immigration/integration. The last time that a le Pen (her mad father) made it to the runoff for President, left, centre and moderate right combined to swamp him. However the generally unappealing candidates (Fillon has some good policies but is weighed down by having served Sarkozy and the scandal involving the alleged employment for non-work of his wife, Macron served Hollande) has raised the spectre of the mad left communist opposing the mad fascist…. both populist with a bizarre mixture of policies which will send France into a more abrupt spiral (withdrawal from EU, protectionism, withdrawal from global economy and huge unfunded spending when what needs to be tackled is spending, unproductive work practices, subsidies and state ownership of industry – not to mention the unfunded French pension plan for state employees which runs to more than 50% offbalance sheet debt….).
The fist round is important as le Pen is almost certain to be one of the 2 runoff candidates but the other cndidates’ gap has narrowed. When you have optional voting, all too many may not ote at all in disgust with the remaining candidates for second round – and that can really randomise the result (cf Hillary v the Donald). People just don’t seem to get it that there is always something to vote AGAINST – even if you don’t positively approve the alternatives (lesser of two evils).
Watch this space as the French election has much more bearing on the West (and Europe) than the recent US elections as the checks and balances over there are more substantial (notwithstanding the Donald). Disclaimer : my wife’s family and relatives are mainly French citizens living over there and her stepfather was a very senior French and then EU civil servant..
For those unfamilaiar with his work you might google Tom Lehrer for a few of his works more than 50 years ago: We Shall all go Together, MLF and and Who’s Next in these times of universal international brou-ha-ha…
cheers
Le Pen trailing slightly in the polls today not that we should put too much store in them, Voltaire. Theresa May has pulled the pin on Labour this evening. She will win in a canter on June 8. Corbyn is a one man freak show. Looking at polls again, he trails in every key demographic including Labour voters. I kid you not.
That’s quite an achievement (Corbyn)
He’s a real trailblazer, TV.
The other vote that will be interesting to see Jack is the SNP, it will give an idea of whether Sturgeons “neverundum” is really a go or not, the Labour vote north of the border took a hit at the last election (Milliband factor) and may not/probably not recover under Corbyn
They’re not travelling well either, Tracy.
I think it would be interesting if they whacked a supplementary question onto the form, e.g. ‘Did you mean it about Brexit’?
Good point. Somehow I don’t think they will. The woman is playing Brexit like it’s going to be The Battle of Britain all over again.
yes, he is a very very poor candidate, foisted on his comrades by a ridiculous system.
i expect the tories will pick up labor seats at will in the north, the tricky bit is whether they will lose a few in the Remain strongholds, if the Lib Dems can get their act together.
though i guess that is unlikely, they are a bit lit like the Aus Dems, who always needed someone else to run their campaign for them.
could happen i suppose, some disaffected but skilled Labour people might pitch in and help.
“……… contrary to media reports…..” Of course! Lets suspend disbelief and make this pig fly.
Another point of view from someone who actually might have a clue.
http://conservativetribune.com/ron-paul-drops-jaws-after-calling/
There is something really fishy about it JB
Dutts on 7.30….has anybody EVER heard Dutts start ANY interview without prefacing with ….’we have to fix up labors mess’…..At least he stays on message…Cormann too is brilliant at this. Sales killed him though when she caught him out…er ‘but Howard introduced …745 visas’…that said.
Dutts trying to make politics out of blaming Labor for all of the 457 visas. Now wait on…. in 2012 unemployment was a low 4.9% under Labor. A figure Turnbull’s mob only dream of! Turnbull’s business mates were screaming for employees because Aussies were too lazy to work and yes they DID come out in fairly large numbers with preference given to skilled workers.
Employers who sponsored them had to prove there was no Aussie who would do the job and/or qualified. Now when unemployment went as high as 6.5% under Turnbull’s lot they started squealing about 457’s because they saw a votes in it lying that 457’s were taking Aussie jobs. No…they were taking jobs Aussies would not do because we are foolish enough to pay people NOT TO WORK!!
I agree with most of this but. The 457’s increased during the biggest resource construction boom ever seen in the country which sucked skilled labour from all other industries which required business to bring in people. I think with your recent experience with Centrelink you should ease up on those looking for work. Spending on unemployment has decreased in fact the only areas of welfare that is increasing is the Aged Pension and rightfully the disabled. I have related the experience of a family member who at just over 50 after being retrenched from a position he had worked at pretty much his entire life had applied for over 1000 jobs to so far be knocked back by every one of the them, his wife works part time so he receives $260 per fortnight on “Newstart” but no one will give him a New Start. He is now told he will soon have to do 3 days a week “work for the dole” scheme where he will not be covered by normal work place protections, OHS etc as over 75% of placements do not have to meet normal standards. How does he seek meaningful employment when 3 dyas he week he must do unpaid leave for a company that has decided their business model is to use free labour instead of hiring someone? Attacking the unemployed is weak and the usual diversionary tactic used by the cons just like this 457 “change” that sees not much change at all.
https://theconversation.com/budget-explainer-has-there-been-a-blowout-in-social-security-and-welfare-spending-75055
Oops unpaid work that is.
I think the current scheme is being rorted.
Fascinating reading the OZ and the SMH’s take on it.
Poles apart.
As having been pretty hard on ex ousted PM Tony Abbott over the years, Mr Insider, I do recall the words of Bill Shorten in praise of Abbott after his ousting, linked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vWSTvkbjh8
gunna get warm …nevermind
https://blog.csiro.au/death-metal-nickel-played-role-worlds-worst-mass-extinction/
Bloody wonderful news Smoke. Doesn’t sound like Nirvana does it?
…..the best straight line feed ever……