Book Review #1-Part 1

For some reason the autumn season (however screwy it may be in Florida) makes me want to curl up indoors with a good book. I’ve fallen back in love with my local library after seeing the new additions and upgrades they’ve done in the years since I’d last been. Yeah, I know, libraries are great resources – I just got caught up in whatever excuse and had forgotten. Now, I’m back!

In order to educate myself a little further, I’ve been reading up on topics that interest me: science, reason, logic, evolution, geology, atheism, as well as commentary/criticisms on these topics. I was browsing the atheism/skeptic area of the library and noticed that it paled in comparison to the massive rows of religious material. It makes sense, though, since I feel my views pale in comparison to that of most people around me. This severe distinction just fuels me to learn more and educate myself on everything possible. So that maybe, just maybe, I can help someone off of the fence and onto the greener pastures of reason.

Anyway, in the midst of this tiny section I found a book titled, I Don’t Believe in Atheists by Chris Hedges. Well, surely this is meant to be a “witty” title because clearly atheists DO exist and you can prove them in existence scientifically. -5 points. I flipped through the pages – all 203 of them… noticing that the text is quite large for the size of the book (about the same as an outstretched hand) and thought to myself that this might not be SO painful to read. Then I began to read the inside cover….

From the New York Times bestselling author of American Fascists and the NBCC finalist for War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning… about new atheists: those who attack religion to advance the worst of global capitalism, intolerance and imperial projects.

Seriously? Well, first off, I had to chuckle AND shake my head both at the same time over the title of the second book listed. War gives us meaning? Yeah… maybe the meaning that it’s usually and completely unnecessary. Follow that with atheists attacking religion? Okay, I’ll give that one to you. Many atheists would attack religion as a whole, but so do many people who are actually religious. They end up attacking a particular religion or two or ten. We just lump them all into one big, bad wolf. However, not ALL atheists attack religion. -5 points. I can already smell the correlation = causation misinterpretation oozing out of this book’s pages. Atheists advance the worst of global capitalism? Actually, when you break down what nations are the most successful versus the least – the most secular seem to be the winners here. -10 points. I’m not even sure what he means by “imperial projects” but I assume it’s something scary that I’ll find out once I delve into the book… but as far as intolerance goes, this is the big loser. -50 points. Nearly every single atheist I know (which isn’t every, but it is a significant amount) is VERY tolerant. Why? Because we know exactly what it’s like to deal with people who oppress you for believing something different even though it does NO harm to them at all. I’m actually pretty disgusted that Hedges would even label atheists as intolerant in the face of everything religion does to hold down those who don’t agree – hell, they even do it to people that do agree! I’m sorry, but stereotypes might be true in many cases, but they are usually not. I’m not even into page one, yet, and I already can see that this will be filled with the not.

The agenda of the new atheists, however, is disturbing. These atheists embrace a belief system as intolerant, chauvinistic and bigoted as that of religious fundamentalists (1).

-10 points. Atheists, as a collective, have absolutely NO shared belief system. Atheism is no more than a lack of belief in a deity – or even the conclusion that there is not any sufficient evidence to believe in one. That’s it. Sure, chances are that many of us will have the same values and morals when it comes to basic human interaction, but many of us differ in belief moreso than we will ever agree. So, to continue down the path of our beliefs being intolerant, chauvinistic, and bigoted is pointless…. and it’s absolutely untrue.

Ironically enough, just by flipping the page, I come across a passage that seems to contradict what I just quoted previously. Shocking, right?

(Sam) Harris, as well as atheists from (Christopher) Hitchens to Richard Dawkins to Daniel Dennett, has found a following among people disgusted with the chauvinism, intolerance, anti-intellectualism and self-righteousness of religious fundamentalists. I share this disgust (3).

Wait a fricken minute… So, first we all share collective beliefs that ARE chauvinistic, intolerant, etc. and now you’re suggesting that people who happen to like these men share a disgust for those exact “values?” And you agree? Huh? -5.

(Christianity) may not support the violent projects of apocalyptic killing championed by atheists such as Harris or Hitchens – or by some Christian radicals – but it also does not understand how the world works or the seduction of evil (4.)

Are you kidding me?! I am 100% positive that neither of those prominent atheists would even consider advocating some ‘apocalyptic’ killing of any sort. They adamantly oppose the killing of people – why else do you think they’re so polar to religion of any kind? -10. Shame on you for even insinuating such a disgusting falsehood to scare people off the fence and back onto your side.

Much of the first few pages contain little gems like I’ve already commented on, but they also contain a little about Hedges’ personal life and upbringing. He condemns fundamentalists, as any rational person should, but suggests that there is a gentle and kind middle ground in liberal Christianity. He claims that since there is nothing historical to provide adequate proof of moral progression, that it only makes sense to follow his liberal church. Of course, he’s forgetting slavery and women’s suffrage just to name a couple of many in recent history. I’m quite certain he was alive during the civil rights movement, or should know exactly what it was… so he’s denying that giving blacks the rights that whites had wasn’t a moral advance? Well, then why was it necessary to do it?

Hedges also suggests that atheists are pro-war (oddly enough I’ve never met even one) and that we divide the world into “superior and inferior” races of people. HA! Okay, well I will admit to segregating people in my own mind, but it has nothing to do with race. I think race is a ridiculous word to use for a species that is exactly the same but for a few gene differences. We are just barely different, genetically, from an actual primate… it’s just stupid to split people into races that make no difference and serve only a purpose for keeping us all divided. Anyway, yes, I do separate people. However, it is not by anything they cannot control, like color of skin, sexual orientation, gender, etc… it is by those things that a human can control. You can accept or reject what you hear, read, see, feel… how you accept and reject those ideas separates you from the other. If you walk around like a sheep your entire life, grazing and not questioning the herder – I would hold you in lesser regard than someone who actually thinks. BUT, most importantly, just because you do that doesn’t mean I don’t think you should have the same rights as everyone else. I am willing to bet that most atheists, even these so-called “leaders,” would agree.

to be continued…

-TGC

You’ve gotta see this hot cam show!

Got your attention now, did I?! You dirty, dirty reader! However, this is a report on the hottest (by temperature) things available for viewing via webcam – Volcanoes! It’s the closest (and safest) way to get close to an active volcano without having to leave your jammies… although, you know, you should change out of those once in awhile. Now, don’t get TOO excited because the chances of you clicking the link at the exact time something awesome is going on won’t be frequent, but you could get very lucky! My suggestion is to keep an eye on the VolcanoLive site, or perhaps the USGS, and bookmark the most active.

And now for a couple of the best webcam volcano sites I’ve found:

 

Mt. St. Helens, Washington State, US

Mt. St. Helens is located in the county of Skamania in Washington State. It is a stratovolcano, or composite cone. These are generally the most recognized volcanoes with their pyramid-like shape and often violent eruption capability. Although it’s last, most famous eruption was in 1980, it has been quite active since. Usually it will give off plumes of steam via its lava dome in the crater, but it has been known to emit lava – even within the past few years. Although it has been referred to as an active volcano, studies are showing that the possibility of another eruption a la 1980 aren’t in this strato’s future anytime soon. This is a near real-time image of Mount St. Helens, taken from the Johnston Ridge Observatory. The Observatory and VolcanoCam are located at an elevation of approximately 4,500 feet, about five miles from the volcano. It’s not a streaming feed, but it is updated every few minutes. I’ve only caught a little steam every now and again, but on the clear days (especially in the mornings) the shot of this volcano is gorgeous.

Kilauea, Hawaii, US

Kilauea is a massive shield volcano on Big Island, Hawaii. The photo here is just a small snippet of what this feature really is. Shield volcanoes are ridiculously massive, mostly length-wise, but many still have height comparable to certain stratos. The gradient is not as steep and the eruptions are not as violent here, but they are a lot more frequent and the terrain is easier to trek (albeit not always safer). Now, there are several great sites on Kilauea – one of which on the USGS site that has four different webcams (seamed together for a panoramic view) pointed at the Puʻu ʻŌʻō Cone. Because of the weather and positioning, chances are you’ll see cloudiness often, but I have seen some really beautiful shots of lava flow – particularly at night. (If the camera is dark, it’s not broken… it’s just dark and there isn’t any activity!)

There are quite a few different sites that have supposed cams for active volcanoes, but there aren’t that many that ACTUALLY have live (or recently time-lapsed video) footage of one. Choose at your own discretion – or just go visit one in person! Make sure you change clothes first, though.

Carl Sagan Day

As some of you may know, and many of you may not, November 9th would have been Carl Sagan’s 75th birthday. My local group, FLASH, along with the local CFI chapter, the JREF, and Broward College sponsored an entire day of speakers, planetarium viewings, Cosmos episode showings, exhibits, games, and more in honor of this spectacular scientist and visionary. In a time where science is being put on the back burner, it was great for skeptics and science-lovers to come together as a tribute to someone who inspired so many people with his brilliant mind and admiration for the cosmos. And, as far as I know, this was the first Carl Sagan Day celebration held anywhere – something that needed to be done sooner, but I’m glad I was a part of the first.

From www.carlsaganday.com :

Carl Sagan was a Professor of Astronomy and Space Science and Director of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies at Cornell University. He served as an advisor and consultant to NASA, and played a major role in the establishment of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence). He was a Pulitzer Prize winning author and most familiar to the public through his COSMOS series on PBS. In addition to numerous awards, recognitions and honorary degrees for his outstanding contributions, he is acknowledged as one of the most effective public faces of astronomy and space science throughout the world. Sagan died in December 1996.

The event was held on November 7th, 2009 at Broward College – Davie campus. This is roughly thirty minutes north of Miami and just west of Fort Lauderdale in southeastern Florida. It was an all-day affair, starting around noon and running until well after dark. My father (who is just as crazy about science as I am) and I arrived around 1:00pm and wandered around the main area where they had booths for the various sponsoring organizations, tshirts commemorating the event, and books by Sagan for sale – as well as some written by the speakers in attendance.

The master of ceremonies for the day was DJ Grothe, a program director for the CFI (Center for Inquiry). He began the series of speakers with a nice background of Carl Sagan’s impact on science and education and did a great job ‘hosting’ the program. Grothe passed the mic to one of the organizers of the event, Dr. Jeanette Medea, a chemistry professor at Broward College and head of a local CFI chapter here in Florida. She also spoke a little of how this day came about and her hopes in turning this into a bigger event year after year.

 

DJ Grothe

Now, this is the part of the day where it started to get REALLY fun. It was just before the beginning of the first main speaker that I learned the entire presentation was broadcast live via UStream courtesy of the lovely gentlemen over at weirdthings.com…. big thanks to them! Anyway, the first of several special guests was Russell Romanella, the director of the International Space Station and Spacecraft Processing Directorate at NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He had 250 slides as part of a Powerpoint show, some of them so beautiful I couldn’t describe them if I tried. He was extremely well-spoken and told us all about the current and future projects that NASA has planned. Did you know that the three space shuttles are being retired next year? Only five more trips up to the station and they’re out of commission. If you live anywhere near Cape Canaveral – I’d go see a launch before it’s too late! Anyway, big thanks to Romanella for his great presentation.

 

Romanella & the Mars Rover

Next up we have a personal favorite of mine, Phil Plait, the Bad Astronomer. Plait actually sat through every speaker we had, which I found particularly awesome. The guys over at weirdthings joked to the internet crowd that when Plait came into the auditorium all of the women were throwing themselves at him. If my father weren’t around – I might’ve! Anyway, Plait’s shtick was pulling apart movies, such as Armageddon, that were totally, completely, factually, and scientifically WRONG. Not only that, the potential risks of asteroid/meteorite damage to Earth was also a focus. He was ridiculously funny and a real treat to know that he’s just as amiable in person as he is on his blog.

 

Phil Plait *swoon*

After Plait, we had a special guest in David Morrison via satellite (Skype actually) since he couldn’t make it in person. Morrison is the senior scientist at the NASA Astrobiology Institute, NASA Ames Research Center and was a student of Sagan’s. He spoke on their professional relationship as well as Sagan’s impact on science back then, and still today. Shortly after Morrison started, the lights were dimmed in the auditorium so we could see him a little better on the screen. This turned his view of us quite dark and he joked that at least now he couldn’t see if we were sleeping or not… of course, none of us were!

 

hey... no sleeping!

The best was definitely saved for last. No offense to any of the former speakers, because they were all so gracious and amazing, but to have the final guest speak on Carl Sagan the person, and not just the scientist, was very appropriate. James Randi, Sagan’s dear friend, stepped up to the podium of a packed auditorium and we all listened intently. James Randi has an international reputation as a magician and escape artist, but today he is best known as the world’s most tireless investigator and demystifier of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. Anyhow, it was so apparent on this dear old man’s face how much he loved Carl Sagan, and still does. He told us how they first met, anecdotes of their times together, and how he still sometimes turns to call him even though he passed 13 years ago.

 

The Amazing Randi

All in all it was one of the best days I’ve had in a long time. It was a nerd’s paradise, if only for one day. I’m so glad I got to be a part of this momentous occasion and hope it continues every year forward. In fact, November 9th is officially Carl Sagan Day in Fort Lauderdale, FL now – so it absolutely HAS to continue! Oh, and I almost forgot… I came home with something super special…

 

weeeee!

-TGC

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is this thing on?

 

umm..... hi

Good day, intarwebs! After a few failed attempts at pigeonholing myself into blogs where I’d given the wrong impression about the content and had to stifle news and comments that weren’t exactly related, I’ve created an all-encompassing blog so I can say whatever the hell I want to! I plan on writing about articles I find interesting related to science, skepticism, politics, social issues, my own personal issues, and just about everything else I deem worthy. I do not consider myself an expert in most things I will write about, but I do my research and try to pass on the best opinion possible given the material. (How scientific of me!) I won’t deny to being biased towards rationality and reason, but if you aren’t in that same boat – chances are you won’t like anything I have to say and, thus, don’t care. I am very opinionated and have been known to curse like a sailor when something gets me fired up (which happens often these days). Just a forewarning!

 

I hope this blog will be mostly informative, educational at times, and usually humorous. Feel free to drop me a line at thegeochick@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter – thegeochick.

-TGC