I'm offended by the fact that you're afraid (or even aware that) you may have offended someone.

 

Now see, that's why I spend so much time here. I knew the sarcasm would float gently by.

 

I am, unfortunately, very aware of who Ken Ham is and what he is doing.

If you guys havnt watched the nye v ham highlights, do so. The entire 3 hour debate is a waste of fuking time. It basically consists of ham saying "you werent there so you cant know" and " we know XYZ because the bible tells us ______" then bill looking at him with blood vessels about to burst, and having to explain the basics of the scientific method and how certain hypotheses are theorys for a reason. Ham would respond with "but you weren't there, you can't know for sure... the bible tell us that...."

 

I watched a fair bit of it until it occurred to me it was like listening to a left vs right, liberal vs conservative, facts vs alternative facts debate.

 

As someone who grew up in a strongly Christian household but has since adopted a sort of vaguely agnostic philosophy, this sort of thing really bugs me.

My mother, step-father, sister, brother-in-law, and niece attend their local church regularly, and are very much of an "if it ain't in the bible, it can't be true" mindset. What's even more distressing to me personally is that they've also "converted" a childhood friend of mine, who was previously very much of the metalhead persuasion, and now he and his whole family also attend their church. In fact, he's in charge of the front-of-house audiovisual system. Yes, it's that kind of church. Three cameras, two HD projectors, a video switcher and clip playout / CGI system, etc. Despite this, we all get along very well both on social media and in real life. My IRL childhood friends (who I mostly see only when I'm down in Florida around the holidays) span the spectrum from religious converts to "we don't really pay attention to that" to Bobby, who is literally a Satan-worshiper. For what it's worth, I've found Satanists to be much more open-minded and less judgmental than evangelical Christians, and I can speak from direct first-hand experience on this.

My family are all young-Earth creationists who believe that God formed the whole universe 6,000 years ago. I've long since stopped trying to argue with them, and we've reached an amicable and tolerant stalemate situation on that front. They don't preach to me (I literally have formal authorization to roll my eyes and say "ok, grandma" at my mom when she tries- we actually agreed on that several years ago) and I don't point out hypocrisy to them. It frustrates me, but it's their decision, not mine.

And I have no problem with people who subscribe to any particular religious faith or another. I recognize that for many people, religion and church-attendance is a kind of cleansing therapy, much like yoga or going to the firing range.

What twists my pickle is when people start using religion as an excuse to deny reality, or worse, start trying to impose their religious faith as the law of the land. There's really no fundamental difference between someone who claims to be a [Catholic / Christian / Jew / Muslim] claiming that State and Federal law need to conform to their religious doctrine, and all those folks who protest that I need to pay for their birth control / "free" college / defaulted loans, to acknowledge their identity as a [man / woman] despite the fact that they are in fact a [woman / man] or else I'm Hitler, and so on...



EDIT: But this isn't the Politics thread.

(joe_sipping_coffee_from_a_Harris_mug.jpg)

 

I have the same trouble with many relatives in regards to liberal vs. conservative. I have, on multiple occasions stated, "Godwin's Law, you lose", and refused to answer or even acknowledge them further. This tends to **** of my wife, who thinks I am being much too confrontational.

 

i cast no stones

 

 

That's fake news BS... and besides, you weren't there.

 

I drove past that last year coming home from my GF's grandparents house. If I was not doing a 15 hour drive in a day, I would have probably stopped. Mostly for the lulz and to people watch.

 

I laugh at you with your "religion related issues"...

We are not allowed to use the word "create" in that TV show I'm in.
As in, "That'll create a hazard", or, "sharp bends create non-laminar flow".
Apparently only god can create, we are instantly censored, and we do another take.

And, I had to go to court for several months for posting "God is Santa Claus for adults" in Turkish, and barely.got off on a technicality.
The crime? Outward disdain, belittlement towards religious beliefs embraced by a segment/portion of the society.

Never a dull moment.

 

Things like this strengthen my respect for my own county, even with all its flaws. And redoubles my disdain for people who protest against free speech on the grounds that they find some of it offensive.

 

"Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition thegovernment for a redress of grievances."

This is currently under severe threat in our country. History will judge us all, but primarily current Republican members of Congress, by our response.

Edit: "I just don't think it's useful to be doing investigation after investigation, particularly of your own party. We'll never even get started with doing the things we need to do, like repealing Obamacare, if we're spending our whole time having Republicans investigate Republicans. I think it makes no sense." Senator Rand Paul, R-KY, my home state.

 

Time to paint the engine block.

I'm thinking I should forgo the traditional black this time around and go with hi-temp gray.
Would make life a little easier to work around the engine (to see things) and actually see if there are any leaks and stuff.

Any disadvantages to gray that I can't think of?

 

I paint my block white for this reason.

 

It's well after Labor Day.

 

Only that the glitter doesn't show up as well.

 

I am painting my engine block New Ford Gray (Duplicolor DE1611) for the same reason. I don't have a picture handy but I have seen the result and it looks great.

 

So I got a new shirt for my birthday this month...

 

Do all 'baby' photographers crank the exposure setting to 'only eyes and mouth visible'?