Over and over I see the religious argument boiled down to this simple trite:

Atheists don’t believe in anything!

An Atheist is simply someone who doesn’t believe in any gods. That’s it.

And I certainly do believe in many things.

I believe in personal responsibility. If you choose to screw up, you take responsibility. You don’t blame it on the devil or the voices in your head. Conversely, if you choose to work hard, you take the credit. Sure, some people have natural talents in a certain direction, but if you’re working it and things pan out, it’s because of that not some supernatural force.

I believe in honesty. You tell the truth no matter what. You don’t go along with the crowd if you don’t agree. You stand up for what you believe in and not let others shut you up.

I believe in personal freedom. As long as you’re an adult and what you choose to do doesn’t hurt anyone else, you are entitled. You can do what you want with your body, you can do what you want in your bed, you can believe whatever myth you want. Live and let live as long as nobody is getting hurt.

I believe in science. The best thing about science is honesty. If it’s real science it’s repeatable, testable, and provable. If someone makes a claim, others can take their research and prove it again. Peer review is a wonderful thing. We know the earth is millions of years old. We know all 600 dog breeds can be traced back to one original type of canine. We know humans and apes had a common ancestor, not that monkeys suddenly turned into humans.

I believe in respecting our planet. Whether you buy global climate change or not really doesn’t matter. Using oil destroys the planet. Using up the rain forests destroys the planet. Dumping shit into our water destroys the planet. We should really stop doing that.

I believe in protecting the innocents. Children should always be protected. They should have education and health care. They should be raised by someone who loves them. The elderly and disabled should not have to worry about living on the street.

I believe in equality. What makes one person doing the same thing as another wrong? Nothing. Then they should have equal pay and equal rights.

I could continue listing my beliefs but I think you get the point. I’m a decent human being and I pretty much follow the rules set down by society though I object when the rules are out-dated or unfair. It’s unfair to deny LGBT people equal rights. It’s unfair to force a woman to incubate a child she doesn’t want. It’s unfair to risk other children because you believe some bullshit about vaccinations. It’s unfair that not everyone has basic health care. It’s unfair that some righteous holier-than-thou big mouths can control the decision making for everyone else.

I’m Debbie Walker and I’m an Atheist – among other things.

You remember we changed the name of PodcampAZ to TechPhx, right? We’re still working on the website, but you can like TechPhx on Facebook to keep up with all the latest info. We’re still going to cover all the awesome topics, and have all the awesome panels it did before, and the types of sessions at TechPhx are not changing, and we’re keeping with our unconference theme. Plus, we do have some new ideas we’d like to incorporate into this years’ conference. We don’t want to reveal it all now- but what it involves is a way to spotlight all the great things the valley has to offer. And there are a ton of great groups, gatherings, and conferences in the valley. However, we need your help to do it.

Saturday, February 11th. 10:00 am, Room 203, at the University of Advancing Technology (where last year’s conference was held) we are holding our kick-off planning meeting. We are especially making an appeal to those who run other conferences, camps, and clubs during the year in the valley. You know, Ignite, Social Media Club, WordCamp, EPublish Unum… etc. All we need are one or two representatives to come out and hear what our big idea is. We think you’ll like it.

Of course beyond that, anyone and everyone is invited to get involved with this year’s TechPhx. Something you loved last year? Help us make it better. Something you didn’t love so much? Help us make it better. It’s everyone’s conference, and the more involvement we get, the better it gets! Let’s all help make TechPhx grow!

RSVP Here! We will see you on the 11th!

First read my last post if you haven’t yet.

Then I see this article. Go ahead, go skim it. Or just know Susan G Komen has also defunded stem cell research. $15 million.

Now I want to know where the money IS going. They take in millions in donations “for the cure” so where exactly is that money going?

After a really quick look on their website I see lots of research grants and stuff. Well, fine.

It really seems to me this supposedly bipartisan foundation is seriously leaning in the right (or in my opinion, wrong) direction.

They want to stop giving money to Planned Parenthood because 3% of PP services are abortions.

They stopped funding stem-cell research because The Right is against it.

What’s next? Are they going to stop helping lesbian breast cancer patients because the God people think whatever happens to the gays is deserved?

Single mothers because they’re not pure? Atheists? Muslims?

I guess I am jumping on the bandwagon after all.

I’m telling you, if you don’t get the power of social media today you need to get out more.

Not only did the Internet rally when legislation came up that would put anyone at risk of losing their websites with no notice and no real recourse…

Over the last few days the Susan G Komen Foundation’s foundation had some serious cracks. On Tuesday social media was rampant with the news Komen would not donate to Planned Parenthood anymore. The comments I read said it was because Karen Handel is rabid anti-choice. You can look this all up on Google. Then BAM! BACKLASH! People everywhere were PISSED! It was like Komen suddenly had the worst cooties from hell. Groups are dropping them like flies. Support for “the cause” takes a drastic hit. The founder of SGK Nancy Brinker goes on youtube and tries to explain some bullshit about it not being political (anti-abortion) but because PP doesn’t actually do mammograms – they farm them out – which is against their new internal guidelines. Whatever. That’s not the answer the people want to hear. Anyway, as of today Komen has reversed their decision. I’m guessing this too late change of plans won’t repair their big mistake. And PP has received more donations in the ensuing days than they normally get from SGK anyway. SGK may or may not recover.

Yes, I was pissed. Yes I posted a few tweets to @Komenforthecure. But I didn’t go off as expected (nodding at you @TSDivaDani) because I recognized this bandwagon before I jumped. I read a shitload of blogs and watched numerous videos and every one of them had a slightly different fact base. What was the real story? SGK was painted by a HUGE paintbrush as the evil without really getting to defend themselves and now anything they say sounds like bullshit. Is this foundation coming out officially as anti-choice or was it just a poorly thought out policy change? If it’s the first then they need to stand up and stand by their decision and take the lumps. Are they so sure of their pink-ribbon everybody loves SGK that they could just do whatever they want with the money people entrust to them? Or did we pro-choice people just bully them into reversing their decision? Are we really bullying or just forcefully stating our opinions?

Here’s what I get out of it for sure. Anti-choice people may be loud in their self-righteousness but when it comes right down to it, the Internet is decidedly pro-women’s rights and especially pro-choice.

Maybe people should donate to their own choices instead of these clearinghouses? Yeah.

I picked Kira up from school Monday and stopped by their house to get a clean uniform for school the next day. On the way there we had an involved conversation about Aunt ‘Rinda’s stupid mean horrible pregnant cat. Kira thinks this pure white cat is going to have lots of colored babies. She’s hoping (eeek) that it has 12 babies and she wants the black one.

Well, I tried to explain about how the colors thing works and, though I know exactly nada about cats, how with it being her first litter she probably wouldn’t have 12 babies. Maybe four or five. And that likely they all wouldn’t, you know, live. Not to mention they really didn’t need to keep anymore cats (they have two) and maybe Daddy wouldn’t let her keep one.

So we get to the house and take the uniform from ‘Rinda’s boyfriend whose name I can never remember… something starting with a B. As we’re leaving Kira spots a couple of neighborhood cats “wrestling”. The one on top is this vague mud colored fella so I’m guessing the upcoming kitties will be a variety of mud and white. There’s usually only one stray male around in any one area, right? Aren’t they territorial?

Just what the world needs, more cats. Blech. If you want to have a cat, get it fixed. Especially if you let it wander around outside.

Sad Sack

I went with the backup outfit and I think I looked rather good! I was stupid enough to get there early (to get good parking) and stood in the stupid line for what turned out to be absolutely no reason. I realized that just about the same time my friends Charlie and Carolyn showed up so I stayed in line with them. The place has no seating so why wait in line? Duh! I could have been comfy in my car for that 45 minutes instead of standing around.

Anyway, we got in – got drinks – and I set up camp out on the smoking patio where there was the only seating in the whole place. Concrete benches, oh joy. I waited out there until the concert actually started and went in to enjoy Jonathan Coulton. He played a few oldies but mostly new stuff which was so interesting I ended up buying a (signed) a copy of his latest CD Artificial Heart.

Between JoCo and They Might Be Giants I went out and sat again but it wasn’t enough. Four songs into TMBG I gave up. My back, neck, knees and feet hurt so bad I could hardly stand it. Especially my neck. I couldn’t turn my head at all. So I went home.

Here it is 3 hours later and I still have pain in my neck. Oh well, I’m just too damned decrepit to stand for hours at a time. I won’t be going back to the Marquee Theatre ever again. I need seating, thanks.

Oh yeah, I had three different women compliment me on my Surly necklace. I’m such a pusher for her wearable art.

I know it sounds like I go out all the time, but in reality I’m usually going to places I’ve been before. Every time I go a new place I get anxious. How does one dress? Will there be seating? Will they have what I like to drink? Is there decent parking?

I bought tickets months ago to see Jonathan Coulton – who I love – tonight at the Marquee Theatre. He’s opening for They Might Be Giants – who I know nothing about – and I expected to have a great time. So I mentioned it to the girl who was coloring my hair last night and she dropped a few comments about the venue.

So I looked it up. Well, I tried to. It doesn’t appear to have it’s own website so I then went to Yelp. Egads, no seating! I have to stand for hours? Shit. That means the boots I was planning on wearing are out. And lots of bitching about it being too hot. There goes my whole outfit. I have to rethink my entire plan now!

I don’t do well when I can’t sit down. Combine heat and standing and I’m actually rethinking going at all. What I thought was going to be a good night has now become a bit of a dread. But I can’t miss Coulton. Maybe I’ll just stay for his part, I should be able to last that long. And I must remember to eat first.

Either way, at least my hair looks great!

There’s been quite the controversy going on with the Girl Scouts lately. You can look it all up, but the gist is Colorado GSA allowed a transgender 7-year-old boy to join their local troop. Other troops across America have been quietly doing the same. Then apparently something called HonestGirlScouts.com got all offended and one teen GS posted a video calling for a boycott of cookie sales because OMG! Boys in the Girls Scouts!!!!

Honestly, I don’t know shit about transgender people. I don’t think I’ve ever actually met one. But if you’ve opened your eyes at all lately you would see more and more differences in children are becoming… mainstream? Not quite the word I want. Out-of-hiding? Whatever, we can find out more about different people easier if we want. One of the things you can learn is few of these differences are by CHOICE.

By the time your child has a mind of their own, you know you can’t change them. If your darling daughter hates pink, no amount of paint and glitter will make them girly. If your son prefers to play barbies with the girls, no amount of punishment will make them a football player. Kids are what they are. I can only assume transgender is the far end of the tomboy or (what some people would call) sissy-boy spectrum. So it stands to reason if your son turns out to really, really want to be a girl, you should make their life as easy as possible. That’s our jobs as parents, right? To make our children’s lives as great as we can all the while teaching them not to be serial killers by killing their little souls. You can’t beat it away.

Some Girl Scouts get it. If the boy-born is to all intents and purposes a girl, then they are a girl. If your daughter feels more like a boy, then support that.

Why would anyone spend their entire parenthood forcing their child to be something they’re not? It’s not like these kids do it all just to piss you off. If your child wanted with all their heart to be something acceptable – like a figure skater or hockey player – you’d be damned sure out there getting them to practices, paying for lessons, freezing your ass off, whatever.

So anyway, this came up on my facebook, originally posted by HGS as reasons why you should boycott Girl Scout Cookies.

You can click on it to make it big enough to read if you haven’t see it yet.

I was a Girl Scout and a leader when my daughter was a Girl Scout. I think there are a lot of good things about Girl Scouts. And this stupid graphic makes me more determined to buy cookies in support of Girl Scouts of America. That is, if I hadn’t already ordered a whole case and I can’t afford more than that. If you’re local to me I can send you a link to a local GS I know and you can order YOUR cookies online in support of Girl Scouts today.

Don’t let the misinformed bigots win. Buy your cookies, and if you don’t want them – donate.

Let me start by saying this: At one time or another in my parenting life I have likely done most of these at least once.

• You are out in public (business, grocery, etc.) with your kids improperly dressed. The biggest faux pas is a kid in just a diaper, but I’ve recently seen kids without shoes. Not only is that just plain tacky, what if your car broke down and you all had to walk? Along with that, ratty hair and snotty faces. C’mon, I know sometimes you’ve just picked them up from daycare and you’re stopping for essentials on the way home, but take a moment to make sure they’re somewhat presentable before you enter a store.
• Your child repeatedly attempts to get your attention and you’re oblivious. Mom, mom MOM, Mommy? Pay fucking attention! It just takes a moment to answer their request, or to ask them to hang on a minute if you’re actually busy and not just perusing the jewelry counter. Give them that moment.
• Your child is running loose in a store like a wild animal and you’re nowhere to be found.
• Your child is screaming and/or crying and you’re not handling it at all. If your choice is to ignore the tantrum, at least have the decency to take your battle out of public.
• This one bugs me a lot: Child A does something to Child B and Child B retaliates and you either only see the second part or believe the wrong child. Again, you’re not paying attention. Sometimes observing your children without their knowledge teaches you a lot about how they interact and who is usually the instigator.
• You yell at your child in front of people. A tight grip and a lowered voice work better and draw less attention. Or you threaten over and over and never follow through.

Been there, done that. Except the running around the store thing. My kids ALWAYS were right near me in the store or they didn’t go. If I had a bunch of errands to do and they had to behave they got equal (and I mean to the minute equal) time at the nearest playground. One of the most important lessons my kids learned was there was a time and a place for behaving and for play.

Some “parents” just don’t give a shit. You know those that yell at their kids like dogs and drag them everywhere without a thought. Some parents are just having an off day and certainly wouldn’t want that one bad moment to be a reflection of their overall parenting. I get that, but to me they all look the same.

By the way, to those who bitch about a happy laughing or squealing child being too loud? Fuck you, the opposite behavior is much much more annoying, so get over it.

You’d think as much as I talk about dick I wouldn’t get asked the question. No, I’m not gay. I like dick. I like men. I like men with dicks. I even like some men who act like dicks because sometimes they’re really funny. I haven’t seen a real dick in quite some time but I Still. Want. Dick.

Oh right… the title. I hate sushi. I don’t want to try sushi. Even the thought of trying this one or that type is repugnant and makes me gag. In my mind, sushi is nasty. Yuck.

Exactly how I feel about having any sort of sexual intimacy with another woman. I’ve tried sushi once and I’ve tried another woman once and let me tell you both were gross to me.

But here’s the thing. Millions of people like sushi. Some of my friends love sushi. I’ve even hung around sushi places and I didn’t have to eat it. It doesn’t bother me a bit that other people eat sushi and it doesn’t change my beef-eating life in the slightest. Sushi had no effect on my marriage or my divorce.

Do I think sushi should be outlawed or sushi lovers shunned? That’s stupid. As long as I don’t have to eat it, why should I impose my sushi-hater feelings onto others?

Again, exactly how I feel about teh gayz. I don’t have to join in in what they do, I don’t have to click that link in my porn selections, and I don’t have to deny others what they want. If my girlfriend R likes women, far be it for me to deny her feelings. If C and T want to go home with other men, go for it. I think gay men are a perfectly good waste of dick but really, there’s a lot of wasted dick out there. At least somebody is getting satisfied. Go guys.

You either like sushi or you don’t. You either feel attraction to the same sex or you don’t. You can’t wish it different.

So you think gays and lesbians shouldn’t be able to marry or have/adopt children. Why? How exactly would either of those things change your life in any way? Really, I’d like to know. So you, like me, might find the idea of same-sex action repugnant. I can say it and still believe that those who DO like same-sex have just as much right to a life as sushi lovers. Why shouldn’t sushi lovers be able to marry? Why shouldn’t they be able to adopt a child nobody else wants and provide it with a sushi-loving home. I’d even bet gay parents wouldn’t force their kids to eat sushi if they didn’t want it.

If you tell me it’s because God didn’t like the gays I say bullshit. God didn’t say anything about gays, some bigot who made up the bible said it. Hey, as long as you’re writing a book to control the masses, let’s put your personal bigotries in there. As far as I know your God hasn’t actually said anything about anything. The bible is full of second-hand stores written hundreds of years later by some guy who may have talked to the barber of the second cousin of the neighbor who was there at the time. And then more men translated it over time. Like a good folk tale where the basic story remains but the details change for different audiences… but enough of that tangent.

Ask yourself this: (READ IT ALOUD) If my brother/sister comes out and wants to marry the love of their life – and it happens to be the same sex as they are – how exactly does that impact my life? Does it make me gay? Do they want me to watch or join in as they do gay things? Can I live the rest of my life without any difference based on their gayness? Does my relationship with them change at all based on what they do in their bedroom?

I’m betting you already know the answer.

So ask yourself this: (READ IT ALOUD) Am I a decent human being if I deny another decent human being the same rights that I have?

Let those who love sushi eat sushi and you can still eat all the steak you want. I do.

Think for yourself.