Don't mess with me...

Seen while acquiring docwebster in the sights...

( How deadly am I? )

My beliefs.

The comments over my posting about getting nominated for the AQOTM made me realize that I've never really defined them. So here we go,

I am an atheist. I see no evidence for a god, or multiple gods, or any other supernatural entities exerting any control over daily events. As far as I am concerned, there is now such thing as the supernatural, just the natural that we have yet to understand. The major religions I dismiss because they are built on older faiths, and borrow entire mythologies from them. To take two from the Bible, Moses being abandoned and found by Pharaoh's daughter is as old as the legends of Perseus and Gilgamesh. Apollonius of Tyrana's career contains many elements of the later Jesus story, healing the sick, raising the dead, and a mysterious death and rebirth. The dying and reborn god is a common theme in many religions that predate Christianity and even Judaism by centuries. So I reject so-called Holy Books as the works of man.

I do believe that people can affect the material world through force of will. The importance of attitude in dealing with cancer made this clear to me. Now, many people use ritual and communal efforts to focus this force, from a full Mass to magikal rituals. Whatever works for them, as long as what they do harms no one (in a non-consensual way.) As far as I am concerned, if some one gets comfort from their religion, then it is a good thing for them. what annoys me is the ones who use faith as a bludgeon, forcing it on others. They can go and do anatomically impossible things to themselves.

From what I've seen, groups like the Wicca and the OTO are closest to getting it right, focusing more on the potential inside themselves to create change than begging for intervention from an outside source. However, "faith-healers" aside, I think that within ourselves we have untapped reserves of power. Some people learn to tap that power, even if only at an unconscious level.

I believe in things like ghosts and hauntings. I have no idea what causes such things, but after having worked in the Winchester Mystery House, and seen a ghost at the Kole-Kole pass on Oahu, I have too much personal experience to dismiss them. I am ambivalent on UFOs. There is something happening, but I can't say what. The subject of the unknown fascinates me.

As an atheist, I don't lack faith, totally, I just place it in different places. In my own strength of will, in my friends, and in my belief that eventually humanity will get beyond myths and legends.

Icky body stuff.

IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Real common in people who've gone through chemotherapy, especially those who have lymphomas. One of the little gifts Hodgkins left me.

In short, my digestive tract is like a high schooler who tries to do his entire term paper the night before it is due. I can go for days with nothing, then all of a sudden, I spend hours in the little reading room, cursing the poorly built human body.

IBS can be triggered by sudden changes in emotion and stress. Changes in diet can do it as well.

Think getting the job caused a sudden change in stress?

How about waking up suddenly last night realizing I hadn't asked if I was supposed to be at work at 0500 or 1700? All she said was 5 to 8. Yes, panicking over what was probably nothing, but another radical mood change.

All I got to say is I better be done by 1600, so I can shower and get ready for work.

The Fantastic Four

In arib's journal, I commented on the state of CGI and how we can now render people well enough to four-color super heroes. (The comment is in his review of Matrix Revolutions. No link because of the spoilers that lurk there.)

I then asked, who would play von Doom? Well, how about everyone? So, cast a movie!

Reed Richards - Mr. Fantastic. Super genius, able to stretch his body to amazing lengths and almost invulnerable to physical damage. He should be able to play, noble, dedicated, smart and clueless. Late thirties- mid forties.

Sue Storm/Richards - The Invisible Girl/Woman. Can turn invisible, and project invisible force fields. As originally written, she was a girly girl. Later, she was Reed's wife and became a much stronger character. Early thirties.

Johnny Storm - The Human Torch. Bursts into flame, can shoot flames, and fly. Can focus enough heat to burn through almost everything. Early twenties, thrill seeker. Twenties.

Ben Grimm - The Thing. A massive of living rock. Immensely strong, can go toe to toe with the Hulk. Real wise-ass at times. For most of this movie, he will be entirely a CGI character. Gruff, heart-of-gold type. Mid forties.

Victor von Doom - Doctor Doom. The arch-nemesis of the FF. A megalomaniac who uses science and occasionally magic to try and conquer the world! Wears a battle suit that hides his scared face. Same age as Reed.

Feel free to add any characters from the FF story lines you like. Except for Franklin Richards. Ick.

My Kiri loves me.

I must mention the box.

A couple of weeks ago; I was told that my Winter gift had been purchased and I was forbidden to open any boxes addressed to Kiri. Within a few days, UPS brought a box.

It's been driving me nuts ever since.

Last night, I guessed what it was, and told her it would be nice to have at work.

So I got it last night. A new PalmPilot. And it's even black and red!

One difference from the one I borrowed from rosefox, this seems to only have 2Mb of memory. Is that expandable?

Take your rock and leave, Moore!

Alabama Supreme Court Judge Roy Moore has been removed from office!

Bye Roy, and don't forget your rock!