This is one of the things that could happen if you follow a literal interpretation of the bible. Where would the israelites have found ice he asks? Where the fuck would they have found Wonder Dust and ice cream you dolt?

HOME CIRCUMCISION OF 4-YEAR OLD BOY ENDS IN CONVICTION

The Japanese have done it! The life sized Gundam’s shall take over earth……or protect it from evil invaders. In any case, this is one of the coolest things EVER conceived! Take a gander below!

SOURCE:
GIZMODO: The Tokyo Gundam Like You Have Never Seen It Before
GUNDAM wiki page

The audio is horrible so there’s a transcription of the video below, not done by me:

JB: … making people laugh is a great thing…

SH: It’s a… it’s an amazing blessing from God, it really is.

JB: … which reminds me, speaking of God. You say in the book that, uh, you wouldn’t go out with a woman… I guess a woman should not go out with a man who doesn’t believe in God.

SH: Nah, I mean why would you?

JB: Well… well, do you believe that only people who are religious are ethical and moral?

SH: No, I just believe that if you don’t believe in God, then where’s your moral barometer? That’s just me talking…

JB: … I understand you, yeah…

SH: … you can believe what you want to believe, but if you’re an atheist you’re basing your goodness and morality on what? I mean, but what is an atheist? I don’t… I don’t really get into that. You know why? I’ve talked to people all the time– “I’m an atheist!”—I just walk away. I don’t know what to say to you, you know?

JB: Well, an atheist is someone who doesn’t quite believe in… that there is somebody out there… some “God” out there.

SH: Well, then to me you’re an idiot…

JB: Okay, well…

SH: … so I’m cool with that—

JB: But—

SH: I’m, I’m just–

JB: –that’s fine–

SH: –probably not the right ‘politically correct’–

JB: –Nonono–

SH: –thing to say, but if you don’t believe in God, then really you’ve got to have an explanation for this, and you just can’t tell me this spun out of a gastreous ball–

JB: Yeah.

SH: –then all of a sudden then we were evolved from monkeys—why we still got monkeys? There’s too much open here. I just believe that, and if you don’t believe that, then I don’t like talking to you.

JB: I see, okay. Listen—listen—it’s fine with me—

SH: Can you say it on ol’ Larry King?

JB: You can say it on any show–

SH: Okay, okay, okay…

JB: ‘Cause it’s a free country, thank goodness.

SH: It is.

Two days ago, Coca cola unveiled their new strange-yet-awesome combination drink, Green Tea flavored zero calorie Coca Cola plus in Japan. It contains something called Catechins that are supposed to help you not be fat or something. And Japanese women like to not be fat so they are banking on that fact. In about 2 weeks Pepsi will fire back with their own odd-yet-superb combination drink of their own, Pepsi Shiso, which incorporates Pepsi and a leaf called Shiso. All I know is that I need these two drinks in my belly, because as you all know, I love weird Japanese liquids entering my mouth!

Source Articles:
Japan Probe: Green tea-flavored Coca-Cola
Japan Probe: Pepsi Shiso

Yep, Warner Bros. (America) has acquired the rights to the immensely popular Japanese Manga series Death Note. I LOVED the Manga and I tolerated the Japanese live action adaption. I wonder who they chase after to direct this little gem. Let the casting rumors begin. One site I saw had already prematurely casted Zack Efron as the main character, Light Yagami (There will no doubt be a name change). Aside from the usual moans and groans, if you look at a side by side comparison of Light and Zack, I gotta say, it kinda looks right. Even down to the hairstyle. This should be quite interesting.

SOURCE ARTICLE:
Variety article: Warner brings ‘Death’ to bigscreen

INFORMATIONAL LINKS:
Death Note Wiki page
Japanese live action Death Note Wiki page
Death Note on Hulu

On April 26th, the New York times published an article (see below) showcasing Atheists and the recent influx of people willing to come out of the closet on the subject and that is the inspiration for this blog. It’s wonderful that this has been a hot topic as of late and I think more and more people need to be open about it. It’s not so much of a problem out here in Los Angeles where most people are pretty open about who or what they are and don’t seem to have many problems regarding their statuses but I constantly hear stories, mostly from the bible belt (go figure) about how Atheists are continually discriminated against due to their belief’s or lack there of, so understandably it may be harder for people who live in those area’s to be as out it in the open about it. It’s important for Atheists who live in these certain areas to know that they aren’t alone. Everyone around them speaks of gods and devils and they may feel isolated.

Now remember, Atheist is an adjective. It describes what we are, not what we stand for. You can be an Atheist and not be at all bothered by what theists do. It’s just that the people who are are bothered by religion usually tend to be Atheists and some of us need to be around like minded people and that’s why certain organizations are formed. It’s hard out there for an Atheist. And no, this is not some “Feel sorry for me, we had it just as bad as blacks in the south in the 60’s” plight. That is beyond absurd. But it does get frustrating when you have everyone, including certain Agnostics, not really fully understand you. Theists aren’t too fond of us because we hold the exact opposite view to theirs. Some Agnostics are baffled with us because they think we are just as dogmatic and knowing as theists are. A lot think that we KNOW there is no god and that we hate religion and try disprove it and/or destroy it. This is simply not the case. Most of us Atheists know we can’t disprove the existence of god. No one can. But me not being able to disprove that is like me not being able to disprove that invisible blue foxes sit on our shoulders sipping tea and preventing each and every one of us from contracting the dreadful purple polka dot virus. I defy you to disprove that, but it’s most likely not true.

Anyway, It’s quite hard to explain why we do what we do or why we say what we say. We can try to explain that it’s because “(Insert religion of choice) always say and do silly and potentially dangerous things” and we will always be faced with “Why do you care so much? It’s not affecting you personally” or, and this is one I get a lot, “You’re just like a Christian, the way you get so angry over these things”. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that one. I was just recently told that I am too into being an Atheist and that’s just me. When I’m into something, I really get into something.

Yes, certain Atheists can get a little evangelical about their arguments. One of the definitions of the word “evangelical” is “marked by ardent or zealous enthusiasm for a cause.” Am I the right one to explain to you why we are so enthusiastic? Most likely not. Even I have to ask myself sometimes why I care so much. Most of these things do not effect me personally. The only answer I can give at present is, it just does. And you may say that it doesn’t take religion to hate someone. True, but the usual apathetic non-religious hate monger won’t rally the troops to try and get legislation passed to impose their ways on the public the way a Jerry Falwell or a Glen Beck would, and for some reason, empathy possibly, that burns a hole in my britches.

I am definitely not the best person to articulate the Atheists/Agnostics/Secular Humanists/Freethinkers position. You will probably still be as confused or still have misconceptions after you read this. But the next time you meet one, don’t assume anything. If you have the time, ask him/her questions. Each may have a different answer for the “Why”s you have for them but perhaps you may get a better understanding of them. We aren’t all eternally pissed, arrogant assholes. Only some of us appear to be that way. Just look up Christopher Hitchens on youtube.

Maybe it would help to tell everyone what I’m NOT trying to accomplish. I’m not trying to convert you to my way of thinking. I’m not trying to destroy religion nor am I not trying disprove your beliefs, although I/we will perhaps point out inconsistencies should someone try to use that religion to hide their bigotry behind and/or are misinformed because of it, albeit sometimes in an abrasive manner. Likewise, if I am misinformed, please let me know. This angry dog personality only rears it’s head when I hear horrendous stories about people doing things based on what their bible or koran or any religious text tells them to. If that’s not you and you have a religion or a personal god then we have zero problems. But if you are that type then we may have to have some words. I may also, from time to time, make jokes or playfully ridicule a religion for no apparent good reason but that’s just the nature of it all.

Sure, I may be a little too into it but it’s just like I’m “a little too into Star Wars” or “a little too into Tim Burton films” or “a little too into Anime”. You can just roll your eyes, shake your head, smile and say to yourself, “That silly little Skeptical Halfbreed”. So, keep all the Why-do-you-care’s and the It-doesn’t-make-a-difference’s and the You-are-just-as-bad-as-they-are’s coming. We’ll talk about it and have a good ol’ righteous time. I’ll do me and you do you and hopefully we can all just happily….be.

It’s NO WHERE NEAR as bad over here but here’s a well known CNN story on the subject:


The New York Times article:
More Atheists Shout It From the Rooftops

INFORMATIONAL LINKS:
Atheism Wiki page
Richard Dawkin’s official site
The Atheist Experience site
Sam Harris site
PZ Meyers Pharyngula blog

RELATED BLOGS:
About
Christopher Hitchens is a busy little anti-theist
Save the religious douche bags!
Steve Harvey is an Ass

It’s that time in my life when people in shows from my childhood start dying off. Bea Arthur, best known for her role as Dorothy Zbornak on the hugely successful sitcom, The Golden Girls has succumbed to Cancer at age 86. Her character of Dorothy held that wacky cast of that show together. The perfect straight woman. I remember sitting at home on a Saturday night watching the sexual adventures of those 3 horny old women I enjoyed every minute of it. And I was about 10 years old at the time so it was a wonder I got any of the humor. It’s just a riot to hear Bea Arthur yell,”Condom’s Rose, condom’s, condom’s, condom’s”. She will be missed. Thank you for being a friend, indeed.

SOURCE LINKS:
Aint it cool news: Thank You For Being A Friend Bea Arthur
Ktla.com: Actress Bea Arthur Dies at Age 86

Bea Arthur’s Wiki Page

The shit storm caused by Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (草彅 剛) continues. He appeared on the news to apologize for his naked romp through the park. He looked visibly disturbed while his lawyer recounted the events of that drunken night.

His nude escapade will apparently cost companies that he had deals with billions of yen. His band mate and best friend, Katori Shingo (香取 慎吾) , also gave a tearful apology for Kusanagi on one of their television shows, SmaStation!

I find it incredibly strange and sorta sweet that that fellow band members and/or comedy partners etc., get on television and apologize or the mishaps of their friends. But that’s Japan for ya. Strange and sweet.

This all really begs the question: Really? Come on now! Is it actually this serious?

RELATED BLOG:
SMAP star Kusanagi, arrested for being nude

One of the members of the insanely popular Japanese pop group SMAP, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi (草彅 剛) (34), was arrested on the morning of April 23 in a park in an area of Akasaka, Tokyo. Apparently he was drunk out of his mind and he was running around being belligerent to everyone in his path on top of screaming and making all kinds of unnecessary noise. But man, is he paying the price for it. Once the pitch man for the change to digital TV over in Japan, that job is now vacant. His face has also now been taken off of every poster for every product he once endorsed (like the one above) and his place in popular Japanese variety shows are lost, including his role on SMAP x SMAP, a show based off of his singing group. He also has a new movie coming out, “Ballad Namonaki Koi no Uta” (バラッド- 名もなき恋のうた) which is a live action film based of a Crayon Shin Chan movie, “Crayon Shin-chan: Arashi wo Yobu Appare! Sengoku Daikassen”(クレヨンしんちゃんちょー嵐を呼ぶ金矛の勇者), which is surely now in serious question. Well, at least Kusanagi’s actions were not unlike what Crayon Shin Chan would do. I wonder will become of his very popular TV show, Pussma (ぷっスマ), a show I was very fond of.

He is the homeliest and purest looking member of SMAP and I couldn’t have imagined him doing anything like this. Kimura Takuya, maybe but not Kusanagi. This reminds me of a similar career smashing story a couple of years back that involved a popular Japanese comedian, but in that situation he was accused of raping an underage girl. Kusanagi’s career seems to be falling down on top of him, all just because of a little drunken nudity. That kind of shit would get you a reality show over here. Man, they don’t mess around in Japan when it comes to their stars.

STORY SOURCE:
Japan-Zone: Butt Naked SMAP Star Arrested For Indecency + The Kusanagi Storm Continues

INFORMATIONAL LINKS:
Tsuyoshi Kusanagi’s Wiki page
SMAP’s wiki page