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Photo by Mat Linek |
August 27, 2009PhotographyIn case you guys haven't noticed, I've started getting into a lot of photography lately. I've decided to move all of my photography to Flickr.
So check it out :)
http://flickr.com/photos/itsjuztin
*x0
Posted on 08/27/2009 4:36 PM Comments (1)
April 5, 2009Dropping the 'xcore'Is there a way I can change my username on Buzznet to just 'juztin' and not 'juztinxcore' ?
xo
Posted on 04/05/2009 11:28 PM Comments (2)
December 19, 2008WARPED TOUR 2009 TOUR DATES AND BANDS! DATES Fri Jun 26 Pomona, CA Sat Jun 27 San Francisco, CA Sun Jun 28 Ventura, CA Tue Jun 30 Phoenix, AZ Wed Jul 01 Las Cruces, NM Thu Jul 02 San Antonio, TX Fri Jul 03 Houston, TX Sun Jul 05 Dallas, TX Tue Jul 07 Indianapolis, IN Wed Jul 08 Pittsburgh, PA Thu Jul 09 Cleveland, OH Fri Jul 10 Toronto, ON Sat Jul 11 Montreal, QC Sun Jul 12 Hartford, CT Tue Jul 14 Washington, DC Wed Jul 15 Buffalo, NY Thu Jul 16 Scranton, PA Fri Jul 17 Camden, NJ Sat Jul 18 Uniondale, NY Sun Jul 19 Oceanport, NJ Tue Jul 21 Boston, MA Wed Jul 22 Virginia Beach, VA Thu Jul 23 Charlotte, NC Fri Jul 24 Orlando, FL Sat Jul 25 Miami, FL Sun Jul 26 Tampa, FL Tue Jul 28 Atlanta, GA Wed Jul 29 Cincinnati, OH Thu Jul 30 Milwaukee, WI Fri Jul 31 Detroit, MI Sat Aug 01 Chicago, IL Sun Aug 02 Minneapolis, MN Mon Aug 03 St. Louis, MO Tue Aug 04 Kansas City, MO Fri Aug 07 Boise, ID Sat Aug 08 Salt Lake City, UT Sun Aug 09 Denver, CO Wed Aug 12 Calgary, AB Fri Aug 14 Vancouver, BC Sat Aug 15 Seattle, WA Sun Aug 16 Portland, OR Wed Aug 19 Fresno, CA Thu Aug 20 San Francisco, CA Fri Aug 21 Sacramento, CA Sat Aug 22 San Diego, CA Sun Aug 23 Los Angeles, CA BANDS 3OH!3 A Day to Remember A Skylit Drive Alexisonfire Anti-Flag Bad Religion Bayside Big D and the Kids Table Black Tide Bouncing Souls Breathe Carolina Brokencyde Cash Cash Chiodos Dance Gavin Dance Dear and the Headlights Dirty Heads Escape the Fate Every Avenue Flogging Molly Gallows Hit the Lights I Set My Friends on Fire Jeffree Star Less Than Jake Lights Meg & Dia Millionaires NOFX Outernational P.O.S. Saosin Scary Kids Scaring Kids Senses Fail Shad Silverstein Sing it Loud Streetlight Manifesto Tat The A.K.A.s The Architects The Ataris The Devil Wears Prada The Maine The White Tie Affair There For Tomorrow Therefore I Am Thrice TV/TV Underoath Valencia Westbound Train How amazing is this lineup?! What do you guys think!? ARE YOU AS EXCITED AS I AM!? :D
Posted on 12/19/2008 4:45 PM Comments (8)
October 19, 2008LEAKED GUITAR HERO 4 TRACK LIST!http://www.buzznet.com/groups/guitarhero
Related Groups:
Guitar Hero
Posted on 10/19/2008 7:45 PM Comments (16)
August 14, 2008SocialVibe - Get Sponsored; Give Back.Help some of the largest and most important charities around the world FOR FREE with SocialVibe - What are you waiting for?! Join SocialVibe and get started! Some of your favorite internet celebrities are members of SocialVibe, such as Matthew Lush, Ashbo (Creator of WhateverLife), and Chris Crocker!
See that little banner right there? That's all you have to put on your profile or in a bulletin to raise money for your favorite charity. Just sign up! Its not that hard, and you could help some of the top charities around the world just by placing a banner in a bulletin or on your MySpace!
You could get sponsored by companies such as MAC, Apple, Adobe, Converse, Famous, Rockstar, Powerbar, Kiwee, NBA, XBOX, and MANY more! Some of the causes you could help are PETA, Human Rights, World Wildlife Foundation, To Write Love On Her Arms, and MANY MANY more! So what are you waiting for? Sign up!    JUZTINXCORE invites you to SocialVibe.com 
Posted on 08/14/2008 1:28 AM Comments (0)
July 30, 2008Bisexuality: More than Curiosity
ALL CREDIT GOES TO ANGELUS FERRERO OF SEX, ETC
http://www.sexetc.org/story/glbtq/3398/ “I believe a lot more teens would experiment sexually or even be a lot more comfortable with their sexuality if they didn’t fear being harassed, labeled or forced to identify with a particular group,” says Alexis, a 17-year-old from Cedar Brook, NJ. We are typically taught to fit into a certain sexual category. “Straight”
is the orientation that’s usually considered the “right” one, but what
if people don’t fit into this category? What if they fluctuate between
categories? In fact, what if they don’t feel like they fit into any category? In other words, what about bisexuals?
Bisexual BiasBisexuals like me often have to cover up their true desires. Many attitudes toward bisexuals continue to be both negative and prejudicial. Some believe that those who claim to be sex might be seen as having been gay all along. “Bisexuality doesn’t exist,” our friends might tell us. Or, bisexuals might be seen as trying to take advantage of the benefits of another group. For instance, if a bisexual guy was to date a girl, many people in the gay community might perceive him as seeking freedom from heterosexual privilege. It can also be difficult for bisexuals to be taken seriously. We often have to deal with being seen as a “fun time” or an “experiment,” rather than a person who may be seeking a real relationship. Even more seriously, we are often viewed as being promiscuous and “bedroom hoppers.” Because we are attracted to both sexes, some people believe that once we’re in a relationship with a guy, we’ll want to have sex with a girl, and vice versa. We’re also seen as unable to commit, which is ridiculous. There is just as much of a possibility that a bisexual may be cheated on by his or her girlfriend or boyfriend, as a straight or gay person. These stereotypes have led to false ideas, such as bisexuals are the reason why lesbian communities. Bisexuality can provoke reactions—ranging from confusion to discomfort to outright hostility—from both the gay and straight communities. Sexuality is fluid, stated Alfred Kinsey, a human sexuality researcher who did much of his work in the 1940’s and 1950’s. One behavioral study he conducted revealed that 46 percent of men and 12 percent of women have had both gay or lesbian and heterosexual experiences. Kinsey also developed the Kinsey Heterosexual-Homosexual Rating Scale—a rating scale, ranging from zero to seven, in which zero meant exclusively straight and seven meant exclusively gay. He found that very few people identified as exclusively gay or straight. This indicates that most people feel some level of attraction to both the same and opposite sex. According to Kinsey, bisexuality is more “normal” than many of us think!
Bisexuals Seek the Safety to ExperimentAs teens approach adulthood, we begin to make more choices that shape our identities. Many of us who are bisexual start experimenting in high school. Although it is a lot safer today for the bi-curious teen to sexually experiment than even a few years ago, many are still victims of abuse, discrimination and intolerance. With all these fears of discrimination and intolerance looming in the hearts and minds of bisexual teens, college can seem like a sexual nirvana, where the exploration of one’s sexuality, in all its variations, is not only accepted but often encouraged. “In high school, sexual discovery and experimentation are thrown in your face, but there still looms the fear of judgment from others,” says Jonathan, a gay 19-year-old college student from Philadelphia, PA. “As you enter college, that fear sort of dissipates, as the atmosphere encourages you to seek and discover your sexual identity.” Some colleges even have “questioning” support groups for students who wonder if they are gay or lesbian. Many take advantage of the sexually-accepting atmosphere of college and experiment. Overall, the college environment can be more welcoming of those who are developing their identities, and this is appealing to teens who are eager to explore. Dating Guys and GirlsI often find it difficult to date. I never know if I should wait to tell whomever I am dating about my sexuality in the beginning, or if I should wait and see how the relationship progresses. I often wish I could be completely honest at all times, but the reality is people are not as accepting as we would wish them to be. By lying we are hiding our true selves and trying to protect ourselves from being shunned by both sexes. I find it difficult to constantly be told by some heterosexuals, gays and lesbians that I need to “pick a team” and stick with it. The scrutiny from others has only led me to question myself further. But in being honest with myself, I have learned that I am attracted to both sexes, and if the person I fancy cannot accept that, then he or she is not worth my time. As we discover our sexual identities, we may encounter issues of discrimination and intolerance head-on. Adolescence is not only an emotional roller coaster, it’s also a time when your sexual identity begins to form. Why should it be repressed? Your sexuality—straight, gay or bi—is a part of who you are. Accept it. Love it. *Angelus Ferrero is a pseudonym for a 17-year-old who lives in New Jersey.
Posted on 07/30/2008 10:00 PM Comments (2)
July 11, 2008Depression - A Phase Or An Emotional Disorder?
Yes, I wrote this myself, which explains why there is no credit link at the top of this blog.
I was very proud of myself when I wrote this, so I thought I'd share it with the world. Enjoy :)  Imagine yourself in a situation where you feel worthless and you have no motivation to do anything. You feel like everything you do is a downfall, and your performance and attitude towards work and school drop drastically. This could possibly be a phase, but you could also have depression. Depression is a mood disorder caused and carried on by genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental factors. There are many symptoms and causes of depression, but there are ways to get help, and there are ways to treat and cope with depression There are several different symptoms of depression. Students who are at risk of having depression are those who show a drop in grades, have problems in their family, abuse alcohol or other drugs, report physical or sexual abuse, and have issues with sexual or gender orientation. Depression can be passed down through family members, and it can also be initiated by something going on in the environment or a life-changing event. As Wendy Moragne stated in the article "What is Depression?" "Depression seems to be caused by a combination of genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental factors." In order to accurately diagnose depression, information has to be gathered from several sources (such as your parents, school teachers, co-workers, etc.) and see if they have noticed any awkwardness or changes in your behavior. Diagnosing depression can be a complex process. All the information must be analyzed by a health professional experienced in diagnosing and treating depression. There is a lengthy process in which doctors take to successfully make a diagnosis. After reviewing all of the information gathered from the physical examination, patient history, psychological tests, and interviews, the psychiatrist or psychologist will make a diagnosis. One form of depression treatment is psychotherapy. Wendy Moragne stated in "Diagnosis and Treatment" that "psychotherapy is talking therapy. Through regular meetings (weekly or monthly) with a trained mental health professional, depressed teenagers learn how to make positive changes in their attitude, emotions, and behavior". There are four different types of psychotherapy: Cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, family, and group. Cognitive-behavioral focuses on helping change the negative and distorted views of yourself and everything around you. Interpersonal thereapy helps the depressed person identify and solve the current problems he or she is having with other people. Family therapy helps all the members of the family understand and cope with the diagnosed depression. Group therapy is where the therapist sits down a group of people to talk. Some people feel uncomfortable in group therapy, while others actually feel more comfortable. Aside from psychotherapy, there are also medications that can help treat and cope with depression. "When depression is severe or has been long lasting, medication may be prescribed and used in combination for psychotherapy. Only medical doctors are able to prescribe medication. They decide what medication and dosage is the best. Antidepressants are the primary medication which comes in various types and works in various ways. Different medications include Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) like Zoloft/Prozac/Paxil, Tricyclic Antidepressants like Tofranil/Nopramin, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) like Nardil/Parnate/Marplan, and Lithium. There is also Electroconvulsive Shock Therapy (ECT). In the end, you may not be able to overcome depression, but you can control how it affects your life. There are many symptoms and causes of depression, but there are ways to get help, and there are ways to treat and cope with depression. A lot of people have depression, but they all manage to control it. Depression can be handled, and can be controlled. You just have to put effort into it, and keep your medication on a normal routine.
Posted on 07/11/2008 10:23 PM Comments (13)
7 Awesome Ways to Reuse a Pringles CanALL CREDIT GOES TO LIFE HACKERY http://lifehackery.com/2008/07/10/art-design-2/
Put all those Pringles cans you’ve emptied into good use and burn some fat and cholesterol along the way. Below are some things you can do with the long cylindrical shape of a Pringles container. These ideas range from obvious to awesome, with a little weirdness to pique your interest even further. 1. Storage Bin The simplest way to reuse a Pringles can is to store it with all kinds of items, including pens, paint brushes, hairclips, plastic utensils, cleaning equipment, seeds, small trash, candies and children’s toys. Thanks to a few Pringles can, you can easily tidy up your home and make it more spacious. Transform your Pringles into a first-aid kit by filling it up with
medical supplies, such as bandages, ointments, alcohol, antiseptics and
painkillers. Spin a little creativity to it by covering the can in
white felt paper and topping it off with a red cross. Instead of household items, fill a quarter of the Pringles can with some dried macaroni, beads, beans and rice grains. Seal the can tightly and decorate the exterior with a nice Puerto Rican flavor. Shake the can and dance to the groove of your new maracas. If you slowly shift the can upside down, you get an instant rainstick. Enjoy two percussion instruments from just one can! 3. Molding Device Erect a candle inside the Pringles can but make sure it doesn’t exceed the length of the container. While waiting for another set of candle wax to melt, fill the can with ice chips. Once the melted wax is ready, pour it all over the can until it completely submerges the ice chips. After your creation cools down and hardens, drain the water and peel off the can and marvel at your latest masterpiece — a creative artificial source of light.
You can also create soap by simply substituting candle wax with melted glycerin. Once it solidifies, extricate the soap from the can and slice it into smaller pieces. 4. Coin Box Cut a small opening on the plastic top of the Pringles can. Shut it tight and make sure it doesn’t open easily. If you are in a charitable mood, wrap the can with red, blue and white to make it appear like a Red Cross donation box. Make sure to give the collection to the Red Cross though, and not keep it to yourself. 5. Urn In an incident somewhere between the bizarre and creepy spectrum, a couple of Pringles cans were recently converted into an urn. The ashes belonged to Fredric Baur, an American chemist who designed the cylindrical packaging of Pringles. Baur requested that his remains be buried in one of the iconic cans. Another can with some of his ashes was given to one of his grandchildren, while the rest of his remains were placed in a more conventional urn. If you want to create headlines like Baur, simply store the ashes inside the container and decorate your new urn. You can also leave the cylinder as it is and preserve the face of Mr. Pringles instead. 6. Birdhouse The most important items you need in building an improvised birdhouse are a small Pringles can, contact paper, a glue gun, glue sticks, toothpicks and a cutter.
7. Cannon This homemade bazooka is probably the coolest thing you can create from a Pringles can. It is great for celebrating the New Year or any other special occasion. Just make sure you don’t point it to someone or something important.
For this project, you need two lidless Pringles can, a gas lighter, lots of masking tape, knife, foil, glue gun and glue sticks.
Before using your new gadget, complete these very important safety precautions first.
Finally, here is how to use your new toy. Enjoy!
With these recreational materials, you now have more reasons to enjoy a can of Pringles tasty chips. It may be an unhealthy habit, but at least you’re doing the environment some good by reusing aluminum containers. For some people, that’s called sacrifice.
Posted on 07/11/2008 9:31 PM Comments (3)
10 Signs It Might Be Time To Quit Your Job
ALL CREDIT GOES TO THE EXPERIENCE PROJECT
http://www.experienceproject.com/uw.php?e=1779  Often, the hardest part about quitting your job is figuring out if and when you should go. Having been through this many times, I’ve picked out some of the fail-safe warning signs. Enjoy. 10) The best part of your day is listening to the radio on your morning commute. You’re actually disappointed when you arrive in the parking lot and have to turn off your car. 9) You break into a cold sweat
when you suddenly realize how trivial everything really is, and yet how
insane your co-workers get over things anyways. Then, you start excessively slipping in the phrase “the big picture” a lot. After a while, you actually pity them. 8) When you ask hard-working people at the lower rungs of the company how they’re doing, they inevitably say “Well, I’m still here.” 7) You start checking out the guys/girls at the company that are 20 years older than you. You found these people entirely repulsive before, but boredom and the fact that you’ve exhausted all other prospects leaves you on this unfortunate island. 6) You’re always having to ask people to copy you on emails. Listen, people absolutely love adding as many people to the cc: list as possible—more people get to see how wonderful they are that way. If even despite that, you have to consistently ask—it means you’re just not viewed as important. Sorry. 5) All of management’s pep talks are vacuous, in the future tense and accompanied by a preposterous Safe Harbor-esque statement. You know what I’m talking about: “Next quarter we will have great sales, of course, so long as electricity isn’t disrupted in the Western United States and most of our customers don’t come down with bird flu.” 4) You start looking forward to meetings, because it’s an hour long opportunity to shoot knowing looks to that one other really disgruntled employee and laugh on the inside. And you literally stare laser beams at this person until you finally catch eyes, getting insanely frustrated when they don’t look your direction for a few minutes. 3) You cautiously start using idiotic work clichés at every opportunity, like “let’s have a come to Jesus meeting,” or, “Let’s peel back the onion,” assuming someone is finally going to call you on your ridiculousness. But no one ever does, and instead they start using your clichés in their next presentation. 2) When people give you assignments, you have to consciously hold yourself back from blurting out, “You know, I just don’t care, because I won’t be here when this is due.” And the #1 Sign It's Time to Quit Your Job...1) Taking a bathroom break is excessively satisfying. You think to yourself, “I just got paid for relieving myself,” and that carries much more satisfaction than it really ever should.
Posted on 07/11/2008 8:03 AM Comments (4)
June 27, 2008Essential Items To Bring To WARPED TOUR!ALL CREDIT GOES TO RYAN COOPER http://punkmusic.about.com/od/punk101/tp/warpeditems.htm
If you've never been to Warped Tour before, you may not have realized it's unlike any other concert you've been to. For one, you're going to be outside all day. This calls for actual survival items. Even if you're already a Warped Tour veteran and you have all the basics, there are still a few items you may not have thought of that can make your experience that much more Warped. Use this list as a resource, and keep in mind that the rules of your local venue may vary. 1. BackpackEverything else you will need for the day can fit in here; this simple piece of luggage will be your home base. You'll also want it to store all the stickers and flyers you'll collect throughout the day, as well as anything else you might end up buying. Don't carry anything you don't need, as you'll get sick of lugging it around. Also, keep in mind that your bag will be searched, so don't put anything in here that could prevent you from getting in. When in doubt, leave it out. 2. Bottled WaterAt every Warped Tour date, more than a few people end their day in the medical tent due to heat exhaustion - you're in the sun all day, and it's best to be prepared. Bring your own water; inside the gates, a bottle of water will cost you a few bucks, and the lines can be quite long. Most venues will allow you to bring in at least one bottle of water, as long as it's sealed when you arrive. Be aware, they may take the cap away at the gates; a full bottle can be used as a projectile. 3. SunblockI'll say it repeatedly -- you'll be in the sun all day! Hats are a good idea to help block the sun, but not as good an idea as bringing a tube of sunblock. Use it early and use it often. You may bring home a bunch of souvenirs, but it's best if blisters on your ears aren't one of them. 4. A CameraThe Warped Tour presents a unique setting in that the "backstage" is minimal, so many of the performers hang out at their merchandise tables or simply wander around. This provides an extraordinary opportunity to meet some of your favorite artists. Most venues allow non-professional cameras inside, so a disposable camera is a great accessory to have. Which is better - the story about how you met the guys from Patent Pending or the photo of you with the guys from Patent Pending? 5. A Pen or a MarkerFor the same reason you'll want a camera, a pen or a marker will make it easier to get a quick autograph if you run into a musician. No matter how cool you think your favorite musicians are, they've got places to be and they're not going to stick around while you try to get a pen from someone so you can get an autograph. 6. A NotepadWhen you get to the venue, the first place to go to is the big board that lists each band's time and stage. There will be several stages playing simultaneously, and it's nearly impossible to keep track of who is playing where and when. A notepad lets you schedule your day accordingly, so that you don't miss anyone you've designated a "must see." It will also allow you to realize in advance that, say, Rise Against is playing at the same time as Halifax, and you'll need to make a choice. 7. Rain GearThe Warped Tour happens rain or shine, and depending on where you'll be seeing it, both can often happen in one day (you know who/where you are). If you get rained on early in the day, you don't want to spend the next few hours wet and miserable. No venues allow umbrellas, but they do allow disposable plastic ponchos. The ponchos can also be used as a place to sit when you're taking a lunch break. 8. SnacksThe place will be swarming with food vendors, and they're a great place to get a bite, but that's a bit expensive. Unless you're independently wealthy, you're not going to want to rely on the guy at the pizza stand to feed you all day. A couple of granola bars, some candy bars or an apple can go a long way towards helping you and your money make it through the day.9. Proper AttireIn an all-day festival, you're there for the music, not to be a fashion plate. Dress practically. Wear comfortable shoes instead of boots, and simple shorts or a skirt paired with a t-shirt will keep you comfortable all day. Oh, and like your mom always said, take a sweater. 10. T.P.Two words: Porta Potties.
Photos:
Posted on 06/27/2008 4:11 PM Comments (9)
June 2, 200813 Reasons Not To Believe in God
I HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF OFFENDING ANYONE WITH THIS POST.
CREDIT GOES TO IMPORT MIND.REASON http://importreason.wordpress.com/2007/01/25/13-reasons-not-to-believe-in-god/  Lack of EvidenceThere’s no evidence for God whatsoever. Sensible theists admit that their belief is founded on nothing but faith, but there are always those who claim to have evidence of irreducible complexity, healings, out-of-body experiences or other such stupid notions and treat them as evidence for the existence of their particular God. Don’t believe them. The truth is, if someone managed to prove God, it would be instant news on all news channels, through all media, everywhere. It would be an unprecedented landmark in human history. Of course, there is absolutely no evidence at all. No idea of the holy or paranormal has ever stood up to skeptical enquiry, for good reason. Contradictions of ScriptureIt’s bad enough that the various books that claim to be the word of God are in disagreement. The various holy books even contradict themselves. For instance, there’s the hilarious verse in the Bible where God can’t drive out the inhabitans of a valley, because they have iron chariots1:
And this is the guy who created the earth, Heaven and Hell, animals and humans, light and dark? If these books were really the word of God, surely the Lord would’ve made sure they actually made sense? If God’s foundation, his holy book, doesn’t make sense, then why should the concept of God? The Concept of God is IncoherentThere’s never really any agreement on the exact definition of God. Many hold that God is almighty, but at the same time there are things God can’t do. Many hold that God is all-loving, but at the same time the world is full of evil. Many hold that God is all-knowing, yet God often regrets His actions. Some hold that we are all part of God, and some that the number of gods is infinite; some hold that God created the universe and walked away, and some hold that God is personal. The very concept of God is ill-defined and fuzzy to the point where one can’t really say anything useful about the concept except perhaps “beyond human”. Belief in God is IrrationalThere’s no way to come around this. Belief in God is irrational. It defies all logic and it is not founded on evidence. The most common way to “find God” is to be taught the religion of your parents or other relatives. If you had been born in another country, your version of God would probably be different. The effect of your answer to the question “is there a God” ranges from profoundly changing your life to complete indifference. Do you really want to leave such an important decision to your heritage? By believing in God you essentially throw away one of the most important tools we have, namely rational thought, in favor of feelings or simply social pressure. Belief in God Leads to a Dangerous Us Versus Them Mentality2
Conflicts rooted in religion are probably the worst kind of conflict, and they abound through human history and even today. It leads to a dangerous us versus them mentality, and unlike other such attitudes, this kind of attitude rooted in religion is socially acceptable. It’s acceptable to draw a sharp line between believers and non-believers of your religion, but drawing the same kind of line between people with black and white skin color is not acceptable. This is very dangerous thinking, and it leads to intolerance, fear, violence, and ultimately terrorism and even war. The Problem of EvilThe major religions assert that God knows all, loves all, and can do pretty much everything. Still, the world is full of evil. This pretty much speaks for itself. The theists defend their God by saying that the reason for evil is that humans must have free will. Yet God, who is all-knowing, must have known what kind of world this would lead to. How can God love all people yet be willing to put them through so much misery and suffering? Religion is a Shield from RealityReality is a dangerous place to be residing in. There’s so much bad stuff in the real world, and we are so small. No wonder people dislike reality. But that isn’t a good reason to build up a shield from reality. That’s exactly what religion is. When a loved one dies, people hide away from the dark reality (the loved one is really gone, and won’t be coming back) by reciting a well learned fantasy, such as “He is in a better place,” or “She will be reincarnated into a better life” or some such. When someone does something unfair to the believer, he or she may find comfort in the thought that while those doing bad stuff will not always be punished in this life, they will certainly be in the next. When the believer faces a phenomenon he can’t explain, the natural explanation is that God did it. The truth is, this is a mechanism for hiding from reality. It might lead some people to happiness by helping them overcome the bad stuff in life, but it also leads others to think that God has commanded them to blow up a bus or fly a plane into a building. God May Not Care About the WorldSome people, e.g. deists, believe that God created the world and then walked away from it, or at least watches it passively. Such a God is difficult to refute, because not only does it reside outside of space and time, but all the effects it has had that we could study and test for also reside outside of space and time, if they exist at all. Why believe in a God like this? If you believe in a God like this, it doesn’t have any implications on your life notwithstanding the simple fact that you can now claim to believe in God. Whether you believe or not, this God doesn’t care. This God is so passive that even if it has wishes for human behaviour, it has failed to communicate them, so there’s no guidance to be drawn from this belief. In any case, God isn’t likely to do anything. You can never prove it. There’s no way a deist God can have any impact on your life. Looking at the world, it’s not difficult to see that any God must be extremely incompetent or extremely absent-minded to have left the world in the state it’s in. Even if there is a God, He sure doesn’t seem to care much about the world, or He’s to incompetent to do anything about it. The Argument from IncompetenceIf God designed humans and other animals, why are there so many unnecessary or even harmful features of the various types of life that inhabit the earth? If God is almighty, why has He failed to fix the problems of the world? If God created the universe specifically for life, why is so much of it very hostile to and totally devoid of life? If God dictated or inspired the various holy books of the world, why are they so self-contradictory and nonsensical? If God is the source of morality, why are many of his laws so cruel? These are all questions a theist must answer. Holier than ThouReligion leads to a warped understanding of morality3. Strange rules, like not using condoms, killing people for (alleged) adultery or punishing people for teaching girls are all the result of interpreting morality through religion. The belief that ancient books should govern what is acceptable behaviour several thousand years later and in the light of all the terrible mistakes of the past is stupid. Extremely stupid. Why do Christians hate homosexuals (but not shellfish-eaters)? Why is it wrong to abuse the name of God, but not to sacrifice your son to God? The Gaps in Our Knowledge Will Be FilledTraditionally, and continuing to this day, God has been placed in the areas we know nothing about and held responsible for the phenomena we don’t understand. In early times, God was responsible for the weather, health, fertility, success in war and peace and much else besides. Now, we can explain all these phenomena through natural processes and social factors. Now God is said to be responsible for the questions we haven’t yet answered, such as the origin of the universe or life, or how consciousness can arise from a biological machine. Science has been filling gaps in our knowledge since it was conceived, and it continues today. What we don’t know today we might find out tomorrow. It’s curious how religious claims have weakened while human understanding has advanced, especially if one considers religion to have the right of it and science to be only a tool to understand the marvellous work of a creator. Our gaps will be filled. Before you start blaming God for phenomena currently beyond human understanding, take a look at history. Getting Caught Up in Doctrine Prevents Human AdvancesOnly a fool would say that science and religion aren’t incompatible. What is true is that not all of science is incompatible with all of religion. But in certain areas, they are definitely incompatible. The record of human advances brought by religion is next to none. By contrast, science still continues to advance civilization. Advances in communication has made it possible to communicate with each other from almost anywhere in the world. Advances in medicine has drastically increased life expectancy, reduced birth death rates, and has raised consciousness about the importance of healthy food and hygiene. The list goes on. How has studying ancient holy books advanced civilization? With belief in God comes the belief in an absolute authority. From there, the road to doctrine is short for many. True, many people manage to believe in God and still reject ancient dogma, but many do not. Opposition to use of condoms to prevent HIV, or to stem cell research, both of which have the potential to save millions of lives, are examples of what comes from this attitude. Really, how much should a belief be allowed to impair your life? The Mind is Easy to TrickBaked into most religions is the notion of duality. There’s a material body, and an immaterial “soul” that exhibits free will and lives on after death. While we don’t have full understanding of the brain yet, there’s no indication that there is such a thing. If the brain isn’t “really” where thoughts and choices are formed, what’s it for? Is it just the “hardware” on which the soul runs? The mind is easy to trick. Religious experiences can be induced by drugs or through meditation. Drugs of various kinds profoundly affect the functioning of the brain. If your brain is damaged, consciousness may fail. This is strange if consciousness really resides in the soul. The mind is easy to trick. It is, as far as we can tell, a result of natural processes and accordingly isn’t always to be trusted. Religious experiences may be nothing more than delusions of the brain.
Posted on 06/02/2008 5:51 PM Comments (99)
June 1, 2008So there's a bulletin going around about me?
What the fuck? Can anyone explain this to me? I'd greatly appreciate it.
*x0
Posted on 06/01/2008 6:13 PM Comments (14)
May 30, 20087 Reasons The World Is Ending In 2012
Scientific experts from around the world are genuinely predicting that five years from now, all life on Earth could well finish. Some are saying it'll be humans that set it off. Others believe that a natural phenomenon will be the cause. And the religious folks are saying it'll be God himself who presses the stop button...
1. Mayan Calendar  The first mob to predict 2012 as the end of the world were the Mayans, a bloodthirsty race that were good at two things: Building highly accurate astrological equipment out of stone and Sacrificing Virgins. Thousands of years ago they managed to calculate the length of the lunar moon as 329.53020 days, only 34 seconds out. The Mayan calendar predicts that the Earth will end on December 21, 2012. Given that they were pretty close to the mark with the lunar cycle, it's likely they've got the end of the world right as well. 2. Sun Storms  Solar experts from around the world monitoring the sun have made a startling discovery: our sun is in a bit of strife. The energy output of the sun is, like most things in nature, cyclic, and it's supposed to be in the middle of a period of relative stability. However, recent solar storms have been bombarding the Earth with so much radiation energy, it's been knocking out power grids and destroying satellites. This activity is predicted to get worse, and calculations suggest it'll reach its deadly peak sometime in 2012 3. The Atom Smasher Scientists in Europe have been building the world's largest particle accelerator. Basically its a 27km tunnel designed to smash atoms together to find out what makes the Universe tick. However, the mega-gadget has caused serious concern, with some scientists suggesting that it's properly even a bad idea to turn it on in the first place. They're predicting all manner of deadly results, including mini black holes. So when this machine is fired up for its first serious experiment in 2012, the world could be crushed into a super-dense blob the size of a basketball. 4. The Bible says... If having scientists warning us about the end of the world isn't bad enough,religious folks are getting in on the act aswell. Interpretations of the Christian Bible reveal that the date for Armageddon, the final battle between Good an Evil, has been set down for 2012. The I Ching, also known as the Chinese book of Changes, says the same thing, as do various sections of the Hindu teachings. 5. Super Volcano  Yellowstone National Park in the United States is famous for its thermal springs and Old Faithful geyser. The reason for this is simple - it's sitting on top of the world's biggest volcano, and geological experts are beginning to get nervous sweats. The Yellowstone volcano has a pattern of erupting every 650,000 years or so, and we're many years overdue for an explosion that will fill the atmosphere with ash, blocking the sun and plunging the Earth into a frozen winter that could last up to 15,000 years. The pressure under the Yellowstone is building steadily, and geologists have set 2012 as a likely date for the big bang. 6. The Physicists This one's case of bog-simple maths mathematics. Physicists at Berekely Uni have been crunching the numbers. and they've determined that the Earth is well overdue for a major catastrophic event. Even worse, they're claiming their calculations prove, that we're all going to die, very soon - while also saying their prediction comes with a certainty of 99 percent- and 2012 just happens to be the best guess as to when it occurs. 7. Slip-Slop-Slap-BANG! We all know the Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field that sheilds us from most of the sun's radiation. What you might not know is that the magnetic poles we call north and south have a nasty habit of swapping places every 750,000 years or so - and right now we're about 30,000 years overdue. Scientists have noted that the poles are drifting apart roughly 20-30kms each year, much faster than ever before, which points to a pole-shift being right around the corner. While the pole shift is underway, the magnetic field is disrupted and will eventually disappear, sometimes for up to 100 years. The result is enough UV outdoors to crisp your skin in seconds, killing everything it touches.
Posted on 05/30/2008 9:59 AM Comments (23)
MY T-SHIRT DESIGN MADE IT TO ROUND 2
Everyone help me out and VOTE!
CLICK THE SHIRT TO VOTE!  *x0
Posted on 05/30/2008 12:24 AM Comments (2)
May 29, 2008"Love isn't about genitalia."
I definitely agree with Chris Crocker on this one.
I've been through some things like this before, and its really hard to get over. Poor Chris :[ *x0
Posted on 05/29/2008 11:09 PM Comments (2)
STICKAM
Posted on 05/29/2008 7:45 PM Comments (1)
VOTE FOR MY DESIGN!
I designed a T-Shirt for the BUZZNET.COM promotional group entitled BUZZMOB. Please comment and +BUZZ my design and help me win :) Thank you everyone<3
PS. Look out soon. I'll be wanting to get to know you ;)
Posted on 05/29/2008 5:47 PM Comments (2)
May 28, 2008I'm New :)
I'm new to this whole buzznet thing. So hello! :)
Comment and buzz my photos.
Posted on 05/28/2008 11:37 PM Comments (4)
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