faulker012

I'm very glad the Kavanaugh proceedings are being televised in total for the people to watch because we don't have to rely on news sources to interpret them for us. Watching the proceedings, it seems obvious to me that this man is neither fair nor impartial and, therefore, not suitable for the highest court in the land.  Remember, it's not about sex. It's about POWER and these men in power won't let any of it go.

Guest Post: Kaleesha Williams Kaleesha is a dear friend of mine. Our friendship started out right here on my blog. She and I finally met at an atheist convention several years ago and we really clicked. Our kids have also become wonderful friends to one another. This post is something she posted on Facebook earlier today and I thought it was marvelous!  Congratulations, Kaleesha, on your first six years.   💙 Saturday was a significant day. I didn't mention it then, but I treated myself to some celebration for being six years religion-free. Hallelujah.   Six years ago my then-husband and I studied our way out of the Bible. On Sept 22, 2012, I laid down the book and rejected its god. For me, it meant freedom beyond words (but I tried mighty hard to find them and even published a whole book that probably didn't do the journey justice, though folks seemed to enjoy it anyhow). I di dn't lose faith, didn't get angry with God and reject him -- my belief simply disso...

It's been a little over a year now since Mom's death and I've been thinking about her so much. Our relationship was weird. On one hand we loved each other very much and we meant so much to each other. On the other hand, there was so much freaking contention between us that I hated so much. Among many other things I could mention, she was always upset that I am an atheist and that my kids are atheists too. She brought it up quite often and I would often say something along the lines of Mom, we don't agree about this and I simply don't want to hurt you anymore. Can we not discuss it?   But we would discuss it. Although Mom didn't follow an actual religion or go to a church of any kind, she carried on the beliefs of her mom, my beloved grandma, often saying to me Kay, what would your grandmother say if she would hear you talking like that?  To which I would simply reply, I don't know, but I do know that Grandma loved me, so I'll stick with that . I know ...

The other night I was talking to my very dear friend Mary, a woman who knows her independent music. If you're looking for a little-known artist or cut, she's your contact. Mary and I were talking about music and such and she revealed that she has really taken to some of my music over the years, as surprising as that is, and she wanted some recommendations from me for some good music. I've said before that my favorite instrument is the human voice and my favorite music reflects that. I love artists who carry the performance with gorgeous vocals. I love excellent music too, it's just that I really lean toward beautiful vocals.  So, for Mary and for you, I'm posting links to my favorite music. I tend toward ballads and gorgeous lyrics but I've tried to balance that preference with excellent instrument playing in this list. So, if I have a favorite performer, I might include songs of vocals and of music. Get it? OK, here goes: Luther Vandross: I have loved Luther...

I'm a pretty capable person, so are you, probably. I can generally do anything I set my mind to. With a few notable exceptions, I have always found myself to be competent no matter what I try to do. Of course I have to learn things that I don't know but...oh, you know what I mean. But there are a few things that I truly cannot do no matter how hard I try. And I do feel rather sad about them because these are things that I admire in other people.  In no particular order: Math I cannot do it. My awareness of my math problems started in the second grade when Mrs. Allison made me take home a paper to get it signed by my parents. It was about greater than and less than. Of course I know which whole number is larger than the other, so why, oh why, do we need to have an abstract symbol in there? Why can't we just say that one number is larger than the other one? Needless to say, I didn't get much better than that. I would estimate my math limit to be at about the half way poin...

One of my favorite times of day is when John gets home from school and he tells me about his day. I know. We all love that moment, but this kid is extra interesting because he thinks so much, he observes, and he's pretty darn hilarious. He tells his stories with such energy and I find myself laughing constantly. I love his unique observations. From what happens in the classroom to learning theories to current events to his own response to things, his stories both amuse and impress me. On Monday the campus had some sort of stump speech by the Right to Lifers. John was nursing the beginnings of a head cold so he was lying in the sun in the quad, giving him an interesting vantage point on the speeches going on. When he joined the audience from a closer range, John told himself I don't know much about this; I'm going to really pay attention and learn something .  He observed the rhetoric and the barbaric tools the RtoLers showed their audience and he was quite shocked by what t...

One of the things I've been noticing on Facebook in the past year or so is Christian family and friends writing things like I'm not ashamed of my Jesus . Ashamed? An interesting thing to defend. Have you seen it? I can't help but wonder where this particular meme comes from, though I suspect I know. In the churches, for example, from the pulpits, are they saying They want you to feel ashamed of your belief?   I guess it is a part of the persecuted Christian narrative that is so prevalent now. From my many years in the church, I'm sure that the people on the pulpits across our country are riling people up with the idea that they are being persecuted, shut down, challenged in their belief. And it's scary. Maybe it's because I'm older, but I've become so much more aware of fad, fashion, crazes, and bandwagon thinking in things like music, fashion, even beliefs than I've ever been before. I've watched clothing and hair styles come and go again and ag...

NEW RULE: If you are going to build a public bathroom, the stall needs to be large enough that a human being can both stand up and open the door at the same time without straddling the toilet. NEW RULE: People who break up with each other have to give their support system family and friends three days to prepare. NEW RULE: Do not break up with someone just days before holidays, birthdays, vacations, planned events, finals week.   NEW RULE: Employers who hire college students need to be aware that finals week requires time off of work.   NEW RULE: The church does not get to forgive pedophile priests who go into hiding. NEW RULE: 70s music is cool again. Not 80s music.   NEW RULE: Every party comes with a dance coach so you can learn that dances that everyone else seems to know.   NEW RULE: No more clothing that sexualizes babies, kids, and preteens.   NEW RULE: The new drinking age is 18. You can vote, drive, and serve in the military at 18.   NEW RULE: Mar...

Many atheists in the atheist community are fans of the podcast The Atheist Experience with Matt Dillahunty, Jeff, Dee,  Martin Wagner, Russell Glassser, Tracie Harris, Jen Peeples, and a number of others. This podcast is put on by the Atheist Community of Austin. This award-winning podcast gets much attention from Christians and Muslims (mostly) for their debate and scientific method debates. And I've been watching it for the first time for the last two or three months but I've heard about it for years. Lots of new atheists listen to this podcast "religiously" in order to sharpen their religious debate chops and, probably to find ways to reduce the habit of religious thinking and to get better at critical thought. And lots of Christian and Muslim apologists call in to debate various points of belief, history, dogma, etc. I have heard of the podcast for many years now but I've never been the slightest bit interested in listening to it. I'm not a debater in the...