Wow! Good for her! Better Sagan's book than a book of ancient myths from the infancy of human civilization, written by people who did not know where the sun went at night.
I can just imagine the Religious Reich, losing their shit over something like this ... IF they knew about it. As things are, it's dubious to me whether they would know or care about some NASA official they are completely unaware of, taking on a position of authority.
As it is, I'm thrilled that Ms. Weeden chose this way to begin her tenure as associate administrator, and I wish her all success!
I have long maintained the staggering number of Christian tribes should be a bigger problem for believers than it is. It speaks to a God who could will the universe into existence, but when it came to the most important message imaginable, couldn't make himself understood.
How long until the maga caucus hears of this and we start hearing things like “See?! NASA is an atheist! They’re installing Jewish space lasers on our freedom! Huntrrr Biiiden!!!” ?
How long before someone tries to take it to the Supreme Court and *make* the bible the mandatory book to swear on? This SCOTUS absolutely frightens me.
The stunned stupid expression on the child molester's face when he gets the word that swearing on the bible is not required by law is priceless.
Tapper should have also pointed out the "no religious test for public office" clause of the US Constitution to him. Might have had him reaching for his bah-ble and clutching his chest.
It's an affront to them to see an official non-christian, i.e., someone from another religion, actively participating in government. How dare they! Those people don't even follow our rules! And they want to hold elected office if OUR sacred institution of government? Horrors!
If you are willing to dance to their tune, you can be trusted. On the other side, if you are not willing to dance to their tune they won't trust you *even if you're Christian.*
In the unlikely event that I ever made president of anything in the US, I will be sworn in on a copy of Spike Milligan's "Rommel – Gunner Who? A Confrontation in the Desert." If only because no one will know what the fuck it is. 😁
But why Contact? The bible is a work of fiction, but so is Contact (far better fiction, but fiction). I might have gone with Cosmos or any of his other non-fiction. But maybe that's just me. 👨🚀
I don't remember the book as well as I remember Matthew McConaughey and Jodie Foster, but as I remember it was a little wishy-washy on faith (especially having been written by a famous atheist)
Yeah, the whole "science vs. religion" thing was played up far more in the movie.
There are a number of differences between the two. In the book, Palmer Joss was a preacher. In the movie, he's a religious writer. There's no romance between him and Ellie in the book. In the novel, 5 people go to Vega. In the movie, it's just Ellie. There are others, but the movie sticks pretty closely to novel.
I'm currently reading Stephen King's new one "Holly" (the villains in this one are truly evil). Next up in John Scalzi's new one "Starter Villain." After that it's Christopher Paolini's follow-up to "To Sleep in a Sea of Stars" called "Fractal Noise."
I didn't even know that last one had come out until I went to pick up Scalzi's book.
A little while ago I found out that Christopher Hinz had brought out a new Paratwa book. Sort of a prequel. Got straight onto the library to get them to buy it. And got 1st crack at it when it arrived. 😇
Always fun to make suggestions to the library about which books to snag. Even better when you see it in the New section and know you either put it there or helped put it there.
You all have to stop giving me ideas of books I should read. I already have 30 books on my want-to-read list. No matter how many books I read, that list never gets any shorter.
So I shouldn't mention "Whale Fall" by Daniel Kraus, which is a scientifically accurate (though fictional) account of a young diver who accidentally gets swallowed by a sperm whale and only has an hour to escape before his air runs out.
I see your point, but maybe that is exactly what she is saying... "hell, if I'm going to swear on a piece of fantasy and fiction, I'd rather have it be this one - at least it is aspirational for us all on the wonders of exploring our universe!"
If that happens, then we deserve to be hit by the next big chunk of rock that crosses our path when it could've been diverted/destroyed before ever reaching us if we had known it was there beforehand.
I can see the reichwing looking up as the giant meteor approaches and declaring "At least we owned the liberals!"
Aha, of course. And why did I not think about it? I am slow. And now I get depressed. It's that time of the year, when I am so happy I don't live in Honningsvåg, were daylight soon stops. (My father's birth place)
It's not just that he was homophobic (back in the day, most were), but he was one of the architects of the mad campaign to force any and all queer people out of government employment in the 50s ("the Lavender Menace") The man was evil, period. Joe McCarthy with a science degree.
He's got thousands of universes to look after, that's why he doesn't do much more than find car keys and parking spots occasionally. Certainly doesn't have the time to cure cancer or strike child-raping priests with a lighting bolt where the sun don't shine.
Matt Gaetz and MTG are about to go haywire! Now they have a real mission to fix the gubment and rid it of troublemakers and atheists like this who dare to defy God and Real 'Murica.
Too each their own, however, if you are swearing an oath to the U. S. Constitution, then why not put your hand on a copy of the U. S. Constitution; that would also bring home hopefully to these folks that they are pledging an oath to the U. S. Constitution and not a president, or any person.
Wow! Good for her! Better Sagan's book than a book of ancient myths from the infancy of human civilization, written by people who did not know where the sun went at night.
I can just imagine the Religious Reich, losing their shit over something like this ... IF they knew about it. As things are, it's dubious to me whether they would know or care about some NASA official they are completely unaware of, taking on a position of authority.
As it is, I'm thrilled that Ms. Weeden chose this way to begin her tenure as associate administrator, and I wish her all success!
I'm sure they will (lose it). The more knowledge we gain about the vast universe, the more their world contracts.
There is no law requiring a person be sworn in on a Bible.
I know. I'm willing to bet that the average evangelical DOESN'T.
I wouldn't bet against it.
Me neither.
And if they were, which translation is the "right" one?
I have long maintained the staggering number of Christian tribes should be a bigger problem for believers than it is. It speaks to a God who could will the universe into existence, but when it came to the most important message imaginable, couldn't make himself understood.
They've tried to wipe each other out in the past. They haven't finished the job.
Too bad.
Give them enough incentive...
If the King James Version was good enough for St. Paul, it's good enough for me!
The few times I have been under oath, I opted for "solemnly state">And it is not because Jesus forbade swearing an oath.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFYRkzznsc0
remember this?
Goober lives!
How long until the maga caucus hears of this and we start hearing things like “See?! NASA is an atheist! They’re installing Jewish space lasers on our freedom! Huntrrr Biiiden!!!” ?
I'm waiting for the flat earth crowd to start screaming that this proves outer space is a fiction. I mean, everything else proves that, right?
Makes as much sense as a lot of things people believe. Ugh, now I'm sad.
...and then tries to replace her with a member of the Flat Earth Society.
How long before someone tries to take it to the Supreme Court and *make* the bible the mandatory book to swear on? This SCOTUS absolutely frightens me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFYRkzznsc0
I thought I might post this a bit further up – remember this?
The stunned stupid expression on the child molester's face when he gets the word that swearing on the bible is not required by law is priceless.
Tapper should have also pointed out the "no religious test for public office" clause of the US Constitution to him. Might have had him reaching for his bah-ble and clutching his chest.
For the life of me, I can't see why Christians would WANT a non-Christian to swear an oath on their book.
Since they don't take it seriously, why should anyone else?
Projection. Since exposure to non-Christian stuff causes them pain, they think the opposite would also be true.
It's an affront to them to see an official non-christian, i.e., someone from another religion, actively participating in government. How dare they! Those people don't even follow our rules! And they want to hold elected office if OUR sacred institution of government? Horrors!
They don't – they simply want to use the inability to do so to ban them from public office.
If you are willing to dance to their tune, you can be trusted. On the other side, if you are not willing to dance to their tune they won't trust you *even if you're Christian.*
That was Ted Crockett, Moore's spokesweasel.
Oops! Color me red-faced. It's what I get for not looking at the news crawl (graphics? Print-y things?).
Still, the other stuff applies. :)
"You didn't know that?"
Love that open-mouthed braindead "whuh" expression on Crocket's face. Priceless.
Gaaaaaaaaah-lay!
i can only imagine how people will cringe when i am sworn in as Overlord of the united states on a copy of The Twice-Dead King: Ruin
Is that you, Donald?
In the unlikely event that I ever made president of anything in the US, I will be sworn in on a copy of Spike Milligan's "Rommel – Gunner Who? A Confrontation in the Desert." If only because no one will know what the fuck it is. 😁
Beautiful. 👍👏
But why Contact? The bible is a work of fiction, but so is Contact (far better fiction, but fiction). I might have gone with Cosmos or any of his other non-fiction. But maybe that's just me. 👨🚀
I don't remember the book as well as I remember Matthew McConaughey and Jodie Foster, but as I remember it was a little wishy-washy on faith (especially having been written by a famous atheist)
Yeah, the whole "science vs. religion" thing was played up far more in the movie.
There are a number of differences between the two. In the book, Palmer Joss was a preacher. In the movie, he's a religious writer. There's no romance between him and Ellie in the book. In the novel, 5 people go to Vega. In the movie, it's just Ellie. There are others, but the movie sticks pretty closely to novel.
I think I saw the movie.
️🎵 She said, "I think I remember that film
And as I recall, I think we both kinda liked it." ️🎵
https://youtu.be/1ClCpfeIELw
What about one of the Discworld books? Any one of them is better fiction than the Bubble.
Or Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?
I don't disagree. One of the books I have fallen in love with. I have to force myself to read books I haven't already read.
I'm currently reading Stephen King's new one "Holly" (the villains in this one are truly evil). Next up in John Scalzi's new one "Starter Villain." After that it's Christopher Paolini's follow-up to "To Sleep in a Sea of Stars" called "Fractal Noise."
I didn't even know that last one had come out until I went to pick up Scalzi's book.
A little while ago I found out that Christopher Hinz had brought out a new Paratwa book. Sort of a prequel. Got straight onto the library to get them to buy it. And got 1st crack at it when it arrived. 😇
Always fun to make suggestions to the library about which books to snag. Even better when you see it in the New section and know you either put it there or helped put it there.
You all have to stop giving me ideas of books I should read. I already have 30 books on my want-to-read list. No matter how many books I read, that list never gets any shorter.
So I shouldn't mention "Whale Fall" by Daniel Kraus, which is a scientifically accurate (though fictional) account of a young diver who accidentally gets swallowed by a sperm whale and only has an hour to escape before his air runs out.
Oops! Did I say that out loud? ;)
I see your point, but maybe that is exactly what she is saying... "hell, if I'm going to swear on a piece of fantasy and fiction, I'd rather have it be this one - at least it is aspirational for us all on the wonders of exploring our universe!"
Thought about that myself. 🙂
DEFUND NASA!!!!
That might happen in a few days.
If that happens, then we deserve to be hit by the next big chunk of rock that crosses our path when it could've been diverted/destroyed before ever reaching us if we had known it was there beforehand.
I can see the reichwing looking up as the giant meteor approaches and declaring "At least we owned the liberals!"
DON’T LOOK UP!!!
"This is not happening."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY-HOYTz-rs
Don't blink!
https://images.app.goo.gl/e3PGkNjH6Si8v5aD6
DR. SMITH (in danger): "If I close my eyes, it will all go away."
"Oh, the pain! The pain!"
The meteor is just another hoax by Big Telescope.
Aha, of course. And why did I not think about it? I am slow. And now I get depressed. It's that time of the year, when I am so happy I don't live in Honningsvåg, were daylight soon stops. (My father's birth place)
And Deep Space.
I would not take a bet against you.
Kinda makes up for the fact that James Webb was a raging homophobe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryb5qm7kNs4&t=57s
Getting harder and harder to find someone...anyone...who is above reproach.
It's not just that he was homophobic (back in the day, most were), but he was one of the architects of the mad campaign to force any and all queer people out of government employment in the 50s ("the Lavender Menace") The man was evil, period. Joe McCarthy with a science degree.
OT, but there's a new YouGuv/Economist poll that has Biden at 45% to Trump's 40%.
Looks like "Sleepy Joe" is wide awake.
OT - No surprise here
https://www.gocomics.com/speedbump/2023/09/27
Only sometimes?
He's got thousands of universes to look after, that's why he doesn't do much more than find car keys and parking spots occasionally. Certainly doesn't have the time to cure cancer or strike child-raping priests with a lighting bolt where the sun don't shine.
This is the deity Christians view as the perfect being? Their standards leave a lot to be desired.
https://www.alternet.org/boebert-defamation-suit/
This sounds delicious.
*munches popcorn*
Save some for me!
BTW, are we going to have enough popcorn? This might go on for quite a while. *grins wickedly*
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WFYRkzznsc0
Another "smart" conservative.
Smrt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls5BFzuxGw4
I bet that mouse is pissed at him now.
MOUSE: "First they won't sell me fire insurance and now this! That's just great!"
Smrt like drt.
It's Goober again!
Nice!
UPDATE: on a story I might have posted last year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grQ7AbN2YWM
Matt Gaetz and MTG are about to go haywire! Now they have a real mission to fix the gubment and rid it of troublemakers and atheists like this who dare to defy God and Real 'Murica.
Do actual work?
Them??
This is their work. No real legislating, just propagating the culture war.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0c56299171a4d19375c200a9a434712b594a34380d21390842c4d8cfa8842fe0.jpg
Too each their own, however, if you are swearing an oath to the U. S. Constitution, then why not put your hand on a copy of the U. S. Constitution; that would also bring home hopefully to these folks that they are pledging an oath to the U. S. Constitution and not a president, or any person.
But if they did that, then they'd have to actually follow it, which prevents them from discriminating against people they don't like.
Depends who's reading it. Justice Thomas doesn't understand implication and has a blind spot right where the 9th Amendment is.
I love that idea.