This is an example why I will never try to make money off my website and blog by running ads. I saw this on Freethought Blogs website.


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Freethinkers have been known to throw a monkey wrench in the works of institutions that rely on citizens' not questioning them. Sometimes this results in amusing stories told at Center For Inquiry happy hours. One guy got a jury summons for a trial where someone sued a business because he fell on their slippery floor. During the jury selection, the ( Read more... )

As I said on Facebook, the reason I go to job search clubs at churches is because Texas Workforce Commision requires you to make 5 "job search activities" to receive unemployment benefits, and going to a job search club counts as one activity. (Somebody has informed me that it's easier to meet those requirements than I thought. Thanks, you-know-who ( Read more... )

I went to brunch at Hickory Street Bar and Grille with friends from the Atheist Community of Austin and Center for Inquiry last Sunday. One of my table neighbors was from Sweden. He pointed out the glaring gender imbalance in the room. Out of 25 people at brunch, only 3 were women. He asked me if I had thoughts why there are so few women at atheist ( Read more... )

As I already said on Twitter, my not-yet-5-year-old Erika had announced, out of the blue: "God created the world". She uttered this in the car, while I was driving with the radio on. So I had to turn down the volume, and ask her to repeat several times until I understood what she said -- it was so unexpected I couldn't even parse it immediately. By ( Read more... )

When I make time to go to discussion groups, even if the topic interests me, I often come away disappointed. It's happened at science fiction conventions, and at Center For Inquiry gatherings too. And I think I'm starting to see what it is ( Read more... )

A while ago my 4-year-old Erika asked me about death. She already knows that everybody dies, and that most people die when they are old. She asked me if she was going to die too, when she's very old. "Yes," I said. She got grumpy. "I don't want to die! I don't want to close my eyes!" (Apparently, like most people, she equates death with sleep ( Read more... )

I haven't blogged for a while (have been writing mostly fiction lately), and it's been even longer since I've actually posted anything controversial. So maybe I should put aside my impartial observer blogger-voice, and indulge in some personal opinion.

I liked this review of Atheist Alliance International (AAI) convention by Santi Tafarella. It's ( Read more... )

September 30 is #blasphemyday ! I'll do my part: "Jesus walks into an inn, hands the innkeeper 3 nails and says: 'Put me up for the night'". #

Surprised no one has tweeted it yet, but Borders will give out free WiFi: bit.ly/vJH0J #

A truly international Soup Night at @shana_e's house. Too bad my Erika ae hardly any soup or salad. #
Automatically ( Read more... )

LOL! Via @pbrantner: Now my FB ads want to know if I'd ever date a zombie. Beats the ads for mature singles? Or just variations on a theme? #

Kinda wish I was at #drupalretreat, but am enjoying having coffee with some peeps; plus need to spend weekend writing a story for a workshop #

Searched my Google calendar for events containing a certain word ( Read more... )