I am gay. Deal with it.

If you have a problem with that, I couldn't give a flying f**k. If you're too bigoted to understand and accept me for who I am then you are too bigoted to be my friend.

Everyone else though... Have a happy Christmas!

If he ever existed, Jesus was a Jew, and was killed by the Jews. Biblical historians think it's highly unlikely he was born in December, and that it was more likely September. How many shepherds herd sheep in the middle of winter?

The Jews don't think he was the son of the made-up deity, and are waiting for the 'messiah' to come. The Christians think he was the son of the made-up deity who can't re-grow the limbs of amputees, and the Muslims think he was merely a prophet, and that there won't be a 'messiah'.

I think it's all based on the Pagan ritual of celebrating the feast of the Son of Isis (the Goddess of Nature) which was on Dec 25th. Funnily enough, the Pagans gave gifts on this day, and ate a large feast. The Romans also celebrated the Winter Solstice. The Mummers were a group of costumed singers and dancers that went from house to house entertaining people - that's where carol singers come from...

The Pagans in Europe celebrated the Winter Solstice and called it Yule. Hmmm, yule log, anyone? Yule was symbolic of the Pagan sun god, Mithras. It was celebrated on the shortest day of the year. After that, the days grew longer and warmer, and it was customary to light candles to encourage the sun to return.

Kissing under the mistletoe was a fertility ritual, and holly berries were thought to be a food of the gods.

The Druids used evergreen trees as religious symbols.

It was in the year 350 that Pope Julius I declared that Christ's birthday was December 25th. He was trying to make it easier for Pagans to convert to Christianity.

Christ-Mass began in Germany. The earliest record of an evergreen being decorated in a Christian celebration was in 1521 in the Alsace region of Germany.

Given the above, Christmas is not a Christian festival at all. It is a collection of traditions and old Pagan and Druidic celebrations. Tell me, where in the Bible does it mention Santa Claus? Or decorating evergreen trees at this time? (I know it mentions taking trees inside and decorating them, and clearly mentions the Pagans.) And what about those red and white candy canes that we hang on these trees? I can't find it anywhere.

I'm not a Christmas grinch, but I don't treat this time as a Christian religious festival, or even any sort of religious festival. The Catholics and Christians can attempt to claim it as their own - "Look, aren't we all nice and giving?" - but it most certainly is not theirs.

Spend the next few days with family and friends and be happy that you're alive and well. Merry Christmas.

From BBC News:
The detailed chemical structure of a single molecule has been imaged for the first time, say researchers. The physical shape of single carbon nanotubes has been outlined before, using similar techniques - but the new method even shows up chemical bonds. Understanding structure on this scale could help in the design of many things on the molecular scale, particularly electronics or even drugs. The IBM researchers report their findings in the journal Science. It is the same group that in July reported the feat of measuring the charge on a single atom.

Fine tuning
In both cases, a team from IBM Research Zurich used what is known as an atomic force microscope or AFM. Their version of the device acts like a tiny tuning fork, with one of the prongs of the fork passing incredibly close to the sample and the other farther away. When the fork is set vibrating, the prong nearest the sample will experience a minuscule shift in the frequency of its vibration, simply because it is getting close to the molecule. Comparing the frequencies of the two prongs gives a measure of just how close the nearer prong is, effectively mapping out the molecule's structure. The measurement requires extremes of precision. In order to avoid the effects of stray gas molecules bounding around, or the general atomic-scale jiggling that room-temperature objects experience, the whole setup has to be kept under high vacuum and at blisteringly cold temperatures. However, the tip of the AFM's prong is not well-defined and isn't necessarily sharp on the scale of single atoms. The effect of this bluntness is to blur the instrument's images.

The researchers have now hit on the idea of deliberately picking up just one small molecule - made of one atom of carbon and one of oxygen - with the AFM tip, forming the sharpest, most well-defined tip possible. Their measurement of a pentacene molecule using this carbon monoxide tip shows the bonds between the carbon atoms in five linked rings, and even suggests the bonds to the hydrogen atoms at the molecule's periphery.

Tip of the iceberg
Lead author of the research Leo Gross told BBC News that the group is aiming to combine their ability to measure individual charges with the new technique, characterising molecules at a truly unprecedented level of detail. That will help in particular in the field of "molecular electronics", a potential future for electronics in which individual molecules serve as switches and transistors. Although the approach can trace out the ethereal bonds that connect atoms, it cannot distinguish between atoms of different types. The team aims to use the new technique in tandem with a similar one known as scanning tunnelling microscopy - in which a tiny voltage is applied accross the sample - to determine if the two methods in combination can deduce the nature of each atom in the AFM images. That would help the entire field of chemistry, in particular the synthetic chemistry used for drug design. The results are of wide interest to others who study the nano-world with similar instruments. For them, implementing the same approach is as simple as picking up one of these carbon monoxide molecules with their AFM before taking a measurement.
---

Simply amazing! The first image of the detailed chemical structure of a single molecule. It's fantastic what science can do.

Facebook criticised by Archbishop
From BBC News:
Social networking websites, texting and e-mails are undermining community life, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has warned. Archbishop Vincent Nichols said MySpace and Facebook led young people to seek "transient" friendships, with quantity becoming more important than quality. He said a key factor in suicide among young people was the trauma caused when such loose relationships collapsed.

"Friendship is not a commodity," he told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper. He added: "Friendship is something that is hard work and enduring when it's right".

'Transient relationships'
Archbishop Nichols said society was losing some of its ability to build communities through inter-personal communication, as the result of excessive use of texts and e-mails rather than face-to-face meetings or telephone conversations. He said skills such as reading a person's mood and body language were in decline, and that exclusive use of electronic information had a "dehumanising" effect on community life. Archbishop Nichols said that social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace encouraged a form of communication that was not in his words "rounded", and would not therefore build rounded communities. The Archbishop also warned of the danger of suicide among young people who threw themselves into a network of friendships that could easily collapse. He said young people were being encouraged to build up collections of friends as commodities, and were left desolate when these transient relationships broke down.

"Facebook and MySpace might contribute towards communities, but I'm wary about it," he told the newspaper. "Among young people often a key factor in their committing suicide is the trauma of transient relationships. They throw themselves into a friendship or network of friendships, then it collapses and they're desolate. It's an all-or-nothing syndrome that you have to have in an attempt to shore up an identity; a collection of friends about whom you can talk and even boast."
---

What a load of old twaddle. And how's the Catholic community doing? Why are you telling us this via a newspaper instead of in person? Why does the Catholic Church have a website? Why are priests in the Catholic Church abusing young boys still? Shouldn't they be texting them obscenities instead?

I digress...

So, Facebook is bad for communities. I say religion is bad for communities. It is divisive and at odds with every other religion.

I digress again...

Facebook = bad. Got it.
SMS = bad. Understood.
E-mails = bad. Check.
Abusing young boys in your care = good. I underst... Wait a second!!!

*censored* the Catholic Church! If it wants to remain firmly stuck in the past, then so be it. We can progress and get on with improving our lives, and laugh as we

I signed a petition on the UK's e-petitions website that goes as follows:
“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to create a Bank Holiday on Charles Darwins Birthday (12th February).

“Charles Darwin is a truly remarkable scientist. His research into, and writings on, evolution deserve to be honoured in some way. Making his birthday (12th February) would be a simple way of doing this.”
---

Naturally, the government didn't bother answering the petition, and instead came back with the usual tripe of "hey, look how great we are. Here's some legislation we're introducing to do x, y and z." Pathetic. Here's their response.

From the page: "[there are] ongoing activities to decide how best we can celebrate and commemorate the nature of our citizenship and national identity in the UK". Having a Bank holiday has nothing to do with celebrating our national identity. Charles Darwin has undoubtedly done more for this country and the entire world than most other people. Given that this request is made so often, why can't the rubbish government simply acknowledge it and do something about it? Why do we need "inclusive debates" about this? They don't have inclusive debates when they decide to sell off our gold reserves, or when they sign us up to pointless, restrictive legislation from the unelected tools in the EU. We don't have as many public holidays as most of the countries in Europe.

What part of this requires "an inclusive debate"? If our Neo-Labour government wanted to include everyone they'd have one person of every belief system, ideology, background, employment etc. in the group. And naturally, this will include more muslims than non-religious folk (despite the number of non-religious outnumbering muslims by ten to one). I suggest the government include ONLY UK citizens. Immigrants and the multiple wives of polygamous men need not apply. Not a UK citizen, then stay out of our debates on bank holidays!

Oh, and don't go bleating on about having a day to celebrate the 'prophet' Mo (inventor of the world's most violent and intolerant religion). Muslims are not in the majority here. There are more non-religious people in the UK than muslims. Muslim demands need to be much further down the 'To Do' list than those of other minority groups, such as atheists and agnostics.

Why can't the government simply answer the questions put to them, instead of their sidestepping?

Merry Xmas to anyone who celebrates it, and a swift kick in the knackers to anyone who thinks it's "the pathway to evil".

Muslim lawyer Anjem Choudary brands Christmas 'evil'
From The Telegraph:
The lawyer, who recently praised the Mumbai terror attacks, urged all Muslims to reject traditional Christmas celebrations, claiming that they are forbidden by Allah. The 41-year-old shocked Christians and even those of his own faith by branding yuletide festivities as "the pathway to hellfire".

Choudary, who is chairman of the Society of Muslim Lawyers, ruled out all celebrations, including having a Christmas tree, decorating the house or eating turkey. In the sermon posted on an Islamic website, he said: "In the world today many Muslims, especially those residing in western countries, are exposed to the evil celebration Christmas. "Many take part in the festival celebrations by having Christmas turkey dinners. Decorating the house, purchasing Christmas trees or having Christmas turkey meals are completely prohibited by Allah. Many still practise this corrupt celebration as a remembrance of the birth of Jesus. How can a Muslim possibly approve or participate in such a practice that bases itself on the notion Allah has an offspring? The very concept of Christmas contradicts and conflicts with the foundation of Islam. Every Muslim has a responsibility to protect his family from the misguidance of Christmas, because its observance will lead to hellfire. Protect your Paradise from being taken away – protect yourself and your family from Christmas."

Choudary is Principal Lecturer at the London School of Shari'ah and a follower of the Islamist militant leader Omar Bakri Mohammed. Earlier this year, he led a meeting at the heart of the area where the liquid bombers lived, which warned of a British September 11.
---

So, this guy praises the deaths of innocent people in Mumbai, and he's still allowed to stay in this country?!

Anyway, if Christmas is "the path to hellfire", then grease up the pavement as I've just finished wrapping my last Xmas present. Better still, grease it up with PORK FAT, just to p*ss off this idiotic c*nt Muslim lawyer.

How does he know it's the pathway to hellfire? Oh, his 'holy' book says it is. Riiiiiiiight. Well, there are other 'holy' books that say it isn't the pathway to hellfire. Thus, which one is right? NONE. They are ALL a load of BOLLOCKS!

To me Xmas is NOTHING to do with Jesus. He probably never existed, or if he did he wasn't divine. NO ONE is divine. All religions are a load of crap. I'm fed up with religious pillocks who think their own religion is the be all and end all of life. Wake up fools!

darkpaw: "The very concept of Islam contradicts and conflicts with the foundation of the UK. Every UK citizen has a responsibility to protect his family from the misguidance of Islam, because its observance will lead to dhimmi status. Protect your Paradise (the UK) from being taken away – protect yourself and your family from Islam and Muslims."

F**K GOD:
=========

I am yet to be shown beyond reasonable doubt,
That there's a man in the sky, up there on a cloud.
Watching over all that I do and think,
Convicting me of thought crimes before I can blink.

Won't someone provide evidence once and for all,
Just a picture and a miracle, maybe a phone call?
Just to say hello, and prove that he's there,
Just to tell us that he really does care.

Does the magic man in the sky actually give a damn?
Aren't we all part of some wondrous plan?
I keep getting told that, by religious types,
But we still suffer tsunamis, earthquakes, mudslides...

"Oh," say the same ones, "it's a test!"
Who, when given children to care for, molest.
To say so isn't wicked, or at least not as bad,
As the ones in charge who are really quite mad.

"There was a garden of Eden, and a talking snake!"
A chatty, limbless, scaly, elongate reptile?! Give me a break!
Their nonsense knows no bounds, but they demand respect,
Proselytise at my door, and expect to be decked.

"A global flood was wrought on this world!"
Yeah, by a 'loving' god whose creations he killed.
And what's his next trick to cleanse us again?
He's fresh out of water, he's a has-been.

His holy books are childish, and full of hate,
This isn't a god that I would call 'great'.
And he didn't know pi, 3.14159...
The Greeks knew it long before the Bible's time.

His son died for our sins, and I have to repay?!
I wasn't alive back in the day!
I had no say in his sacrifice,
To have been asked if he should, would've been nice.

But arrogance is his passion, and intolerance his way,
God forbid if you turn out gay!
Adulterers are to be stoned, he's such a nice guy!
Follow this maniac?! Why should I?

I'm really quite happy living without him,
An evil, ego-maniacal, inventor of sin.
His morals are base, mine are much better,
I suggest you ditch this childish bed-wetter.

You'll feel much happier, not living in fear,
Of a god you think exists, but is nowhere near.
His existence is a myth, your blind faith is just odd.
I'm not sorry to say this, but there is no god.

---
By darkpaw, 14/11/2008.

A petition was started on the government's e-petition website regarding the removal of NHS funding for the bizarre anti-science known as homeopathy. Here's the response from the government:
"Although the Department of Health provides strategic leadership to the NHS and social care organisations in England, it is for local NHS organisations to plan, develop and improve services for local people. These bodies are best placed to respond to patients’ concerns and needs, so it is their responsibility to commission healthcare services and treatments. The clinical and cost effectiveness, safety and availability of suitably qualified practitioners are all issues that have to be taken into account when deciding what treatment to provide.

The White Paper Our Health, our care, our say makes it clear that Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) will be holding GP practices accountable for the use of public money under practice-based commissioning, and that PCTs will be expected to support practices that are innovative and entrepreneurial, and which extend patient choice."

Richard Dawkins puts it well in his documentary "The Enemies of Reason: The Irrational Health System" when he reveals that the NHS has five homeopathic hospitals being funded by the taxpayer every year. We are actually paying for people to be given WATER as a cure for their illnesses. Yes, water! Simple water. This is nothing but a sham. I am incensed that we have to pay taxes for this utter tripe. The 'doctors' claim that it is the active ingredient that cures the patient, not just the water. Richard Dawkins shows us how much of the 'active ingredient' is actually present in the water. For every ONE MOLECULE of that ingredient, it requires the same number of molecules of water as there are n our solar system (or maybe it was universe, I forget now).

Does no one else see the insanity in this? Our government should be using OUR money to pay for PROVEN medicines, not pissing it away on placebos for dummies. F**king pathetic government.

It seems that a little publicity really does get people going. The Atheist Bus donation campaign needed to raise £11,000 to put adverts on 60 buses in London for a month starting in January. They are currently at £92,000! Please, don't think that this means you shouldn't donate. The adverts will go ahead in London, and I guess they'll use the surplus to put the adverts on the Tube or buses in other cities in the UK.

Whatever they raise, you can be assured it will go to a worthy cause. Please give generously.