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For most of my adult life, I've been pretty successful at ignoring religion completely. I've always believed that the world would be a much better place if religion had never been invented. Religion is what is keeping us from figuring out how to be decent to each other. Just as a religious obsession with the afterlife ... |
Except guess what? The man is dead. There'll be no puking. |
Poor Jesus Christ. If he were alive, he would probably say, "Crucifixion was a momentary discomfort compared to 2000 years of maniacs committing atrocities in my name." |
An important disclaimer: I did not say the world would be a much better place if religion ended. I said the world would be a much better place if religion had never been invented. If someone (say, God) could take religion away at this point, it would be a disaster akin to giving a kid a deep-fried Snickers and taking i... |
For most of the 80s and 90s I went merrily along, studying secular humanism and positive atheism and trying to follow the golden rule and putting my mouth as close to my money as possible and generally making a concerted effort each day not to be a dick. Because I think that's pretty much all it takes. If everyone woul... |
But then 9/11 changed that. Ever since Osama and Dubs started their Battle of the Network Saviors, it has been impossible to ignore religion. It's everywhere. It's on TV, on the radio, in the newspapers, all over the Web, on the tips of everybody's tongues, and -- in some cases -- in the churches. It's everywhere. And ... |
Where have I had this feeling before? |
It's an epic battle, a struggle for popular opinion and righteous supremacy. The cable stations aren't sure how to cover it, so they just create nonsensical graphics and let the talking heads yammer on without so much as a coherent sentence. The radio stations are never more than five seconds and the blogs are never mo... |
And then one day I thought, Ya know, all this clusterfuck lacks is a 30-mph televised Ford Bronco chase and a glove that does not fit. |
And I realized, that's it! That's where I've had this feeling before! Religion is the new O.J.! There is only one time in my life that I can recall a national obsession so complete, so out of line with its significance, so totally irrational that it was positively dreamlike, and that was the O.J. Simpson trial. Nothing... |
That's when I realized that this is all going to disappear faster than Kato Kaelin's agent. One day soon we're going to wake up and our long national religious nightmare is going to be over once again. Sure, there will always be religious wackadoos. And the fundy churches will continue to mass-produce their shallow pro... |
But I've decided I'm not going to wait. For me, it's over now. |
I remember just where I was when they announced the O.J. Simpson verdict. And I remember vague specks about what happened leading up to the verdict and tidbits of what happened afterwards. I remember "fit/acquit." But I also remember that a long time before that verdict, I successfully stopped paying attention. I stopp... |
I have friends who are religious without being assholes about it and I appreciate that about them. I also know that many deeply religious people all over America believe in my First Amendment rights not to be subjected to their faith. And I return that favor by believing in their First Amendment rights to practice thei... |
I believe in science. I believe in the Constitution of the United States. I believe in civil rights. And I believe in America. And now that religion has launched a coordinated, all-out assault on all of those cherished notions, I'll stand up against religion whenever I have to. I believe it's our patriotic obligation t... |
So, Courier-Journal, New York Times, blogosphere, NPR, Hollywood, TV news, Amazon, et al, listen up: here are some keywords I'm blocking: faith, church, religion, Jesus, God, Baptist, Southeast Christian Church, evangelical, Christianity, pope, ayatollah, priest, moral values, pulpit, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore (not... |
Yeah, I'll have to pay attention when science is outlawed. And I'll have to protest when women's rights are denied. And I'll speak out against capital punishment and war and imperialism and gay-bashing whenever religion supports them. But I'm done following the moment-by-moment fetishist stories of Bibles, bigots, burk... |
I'm confident that religion's assault on American values is on the way back out of fashion. Soon, cooler heads will prevail and this sorry moment in our history will be just like the O.J. debacle that preceded it: a head-scratching conundrum, eventually giving way to e-mail joke fodder. (Head start: When did the tootha... |
But I can't wait for that. I'm tuning out right now. Religion is once again dead to me. Thank God! |
send link to app |
ISIS Vocal Assistant |
3.12 usd |
Give a voice to your phone !ISIS is a vocal assistant for Android, who can speak ANY LANGUAGE.---------------------------------Isis can do the following things : |
- Speak any language (you can customize each sentence)- Call you by your name- Alert you of new notifications and emails- Hundreds of applications detected in the different categories of notifications- Notify you and read your messages- Tell you who is calling- Alert you if the battery is low- Wake you up and tell you ... |
- Define its name- Choose its look- Customize every sentence- Filter verbal notifications- Customize battery alert level |
*** ISIS DOES NOT USE INTERNET : no data leaves your device. *** |
- READ_SMS / RECEIVE_MMS : used by Isis to orally read your messages- READ_CALENDAR : used by Isis to indicate the number of appointments to come- READ_PHONE_STATE / PROCESS_OUTGOING_CALLS : used by Isis to indicate you the dialer- READ_CONTACTS : used to indicate you the name of the dialer- MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS: used... |
- We strongly recommend the use of a good speech synthesis engine (search SVOX or IVONA on play store ). Voices only costs about $3, and are incomparable with the very bad default engine (TTS). |
- The interface is in English or French. But Isis dialogs can be fully customized . |
- Isis just born, do not hesitate to let me know your ideas or criticism. |
- Add more notifications filters for common applications - The possibility to add an application to a category |
If you experience a bug or have suggestions or criticisms, please contact me by email. |
*** If you like Isis, please leave a rate :) *** |
Tags: Isis, speech, assistant, siri, voice, tts, talk, secretary, voice actions |
Protocol Online logo |
Linearising plasmid before transfection? - (Oct/15/2012 ) |
Is there a need to linearise a circular plasmid DNA before transfecting it into a mammalian cell with Lipofectamine or electroporation? Or the circular form will integrate into the host cell automatically? |
-science noob- |
There is no need to linearise. But if you do, the advantage is that you don't disrupt your gene, promoter and resistance. |
Thursday, March 28, 2013 |
I have not been riding much, Gentle Readers of This Blog, except very short runs to the store and other errands on the Desert San Campus Bike. Very cold here in Kansas and we went through two large snow storms. I didn't mind so much--the snow took its time melting. Just not really much to write you guys about... An... |
So that's what I've been doing, mes amis--and believe me it has been driving me crazy. Finally Little Egypt and I go on the vacation we meant to go on back in early June--but my fall and injury keep that from happening. After three times to go to New York City (we tried to go but there was a blizzard here in KS and t... |
I've been to Hawaii many times--I have had family that's lived there since after WWII, so we've always had places to stay, etc. This time Little E and I went to the Big Island of Hawaii and Volcanoes Nat'l Park for about a week, before our trip over to Honolulu. Here's just a few picks for you! |
So in 1996, the lava flowed down the mountain (as it has done for thousands of years) and pretty much covered up everything--like the farms and the jungle, etc. People still own the land, but its covered with about 20 feet of rock. Eventually things will grow but really its a tough call. These people rebuilt, but re... |
Imagine driving home for work and seeing this! Everything melted and vaporized by slow moving lava. Actually most of the Big Island, like around Kona, is uninhabitable. The forests and farms and whatever else was there is covered by lava flow eventually. Hilo and other parts of Hawaii reminded me of rural South Dak... |
That's Diamond Head, and the condos there. Not much of a beach--or any beaches there. We stayed in the Hale Koa on Waikiki--which is a military resort with a private beach for the hotel. It was very affordable for us to stay and while we paid only $60 a night (because of Little Egypt military deployment thing) very ... |
But lots of pretty girls--we saw a lot of fake boobs this trip--don't know what's up with that. I would say Waikiki is about a third attractive women (some fake boobs squeezed in there--women in their 40's) a third older people that have had so much sun that their skin is like dark-brown leather, and then a third just... |
We went out on a sailboat and saw a few whales, sea turtles, and some dolphins. Just a chance to get out and relax. Everyone had fun and I talked to many people from many different parts of the USA. I really enjoyed talking with a guy my age and his dad that have bought a sail boat, and are learning how to do all th... |
Another man I met was an Englishman, and a few years back he said he was in Fiji, and took a vacation where he was a crew member on a replica of a Tall Ship. So he worked as a sailor, and worked very hard. He said it was the best time in his life those two weeks--I believe he said the replica ship was that of one lik... |
Anyway, we arrived back to Kansas City to find ourselves having to dig our car out of a few feet of snow at the airport parking lot. And then we had a few more days of the white stuff you see up there! |
So it was tough to come home to snow--but I'm happy to report that while I'm writing, the snow is melting and the sun is shining! Its getting warm and I'm getting the Garmin 800 Edge put on the Mighty Trek. This coming up weekend (Easter) I should be out for a few rides, and get in some miles before rain starts up. ... |
Cheers! Bruce |
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How to obtain Uplay Points? |
Showing topics in General Discussion and Players Helping Players posted in for the last 365 days. |
This stream auto-updates |
1. Earlier |
2. Dark Zone 1.8 B.S |
Prior to the 1.8 update I NEVER went into the dark zone not even for “Daily’s” because you would ALWAYS have some ass hat come up behind you and shoot you dead before I even knew what was happening. I was kind of excited for the 1.8 update and being able to get some sort of warning that someone was going rouge so I... |
3. Long Loading Screen |
wassup every one I'm trying to figure out why do we have to wait on the longest loading screen in division before 1.8 came out 1.7.1 loading screen was so fast but now it take like 20 min or 30 min to load into a game come on with that fix that please.. but the game is wonderful I love playing 1.8 something new kee... |
4. Friends and Clan |
Hey guys, i'm looking to get back into the game and i need some friends and or a clan to join. Im a vet and played up till late early 1.7 so won't be an issue getting back into the swing of things. I'm really trying to give this game another chance and im trying to get other people i know to either get back on here... |
5. Hi guys Got six piece classified reclaimer but when my healing station is down and I fire a heal down as well the station immediately blows up anyone know why? This seems to happen me no matter what build I'm running. Thanks in advance |
6. Vendor Reset |
Not sure if I understand this correctly, but the items are available for a full week after each reset (then a new set of random generated items will be available to buy). |
7. If your just starting the game you have no choice you have to make it to LV 30 to get the equipment and weapons at 256. Play all missions and you should reach Lv 30 before you reach the last two safe houses - do not collect any intel , echos or lost division agents except what you have to to complete missions. Whe... |
8. die fast |
I need some help...My toughness is over 400.000 and my stamina is 9,300, my build is striker & predator and i still die fast..can someone assist me. |
9. Discount |
We should have a discount on holiday for ((DLC)) $9.99 instead of $14.99 |
10. Shadow menu problem on my new pro |
PS4 pro need tv's 4 K. |
11. Hiya new to the forum. I was wondering if anyone knew the exact spawn times for the bosses in the Light Zone? |
12. i just need help |
I'm lv 27 and i need to finish the last mission and i think that i need help |
13. how to build character |
im level 12 still learning the game haven't played in long time so im been confused on what to keep or sale or how to build character |
14. Game Suggestion - PVE |
To keep the game fresh. I think it would be a good idea to have dynamic AI Elites and Bosses with gear sets. Meaning Randomized elites bosses and rouge division agents who have Tactician, Dead-eye, Predators Mark, builds or Exotic pieces. These builds could consist of 2 to 6 piece sets with notification over the AI... |
15. What does this icon mean? |
Pretty much says it in the title. |
16. Hi all! I’ve been periodically checking my commendations and there’s one I can’t figure out. It’s called “top gear” and it’s under the General section. The description for the commendation is, “equip all gear slots with gear set and named weapon items”. I’ve tried everything I can think of (like all gear set item... |
17. Female character models |
Just a little suggestion about the female character models in The Division is that the females should look like females and not small versions of the males. Real females have curves on the body and longer hair. Why do the females look like the males too? Why can't the be a little prettier? You know and look like re... |
18. Buy/get/obtain/need IELTS Certificate online without Exam What’s app: +1 (701)253 – 0655 | Skype: Josepha Ibrahim Buy IELTS certificate Online | Need Real IELTS certificate for sale | Get original IELTS certificate without Exam Have you been trying to get or buy a real registered IELTS Certificate which could che... |
19. Je chercher des joueurs qui parle français |
Salut CrazyHead07, Si c'est toujours d'actualité, je veux bien rejoindre ta team pour jouer en Co-op, c'est mieux à plusieurs... Cependant, je n'ai pas encore de casque Mon GamerTag est shuba276. Bye |
FIX THE DAMN SERVER LAG ALREADY!!! ADD MORE!! DOUBLE UP!! Your future updates aren't going to mean crap if you lose the other half of your players because you keep adding content but never bother to fix the existing issues in this game! The biggest issue right now are your severs, or lack there of. PVP right now is... |
21. I bought a rifle for my group member in DZ vendor, but sadly I can't share it. Any specific reason for that..?? |
22. I tried coming back |
I used to play all the time but stopped due to lack of content. So i came back for Global Events. They were fun at first but after opening a crap ton of boxes and not getting a single 6 piece set sure i got like 5 Lonestar chest and not a single set of gloves. Which wouldnt be so bad. But I was trying Dragons nest ... |
23. All this gear |
They keep adding, when will they increase the size of agents stash? |
24. Barrett's vest |
Just wanna share my experience with you , don't wasting your time , you ll get nothing ! Try warrengarden mission on heroic or hard , or do napalm hard or heroic , after playing around 470hrs , now im full of exotic items with 520000dps and 373000 thoughness , |
25. Legendary Missions |
Are you still looking to do this? |
26. looking for friends |
I tried to find him but his username doesn't exist, could you add me instead? |
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