Casual Ravings

Now We Can All Get Some Sleep

Hurray for the Chile miners who have been saved. Now can we please have some different news?

I am happy the miners in Chile were saved. I am happy for their families and loved ones. The rescue operation was fantastic and extremely exciting in many ways, not just in terms of human drama but also the technology deployed.

Why I Am No Longer A Catholic

The church is from an bygone era.

Okay, okay. Half of you reading this will scream and say I have lost my soul, and the other half will say this shows I am a man of logic and sense. Whatever side you take, it is irrelevant when the leadership of the pope (notice I didn’t use a capital) and the church in general is objectively analysed.

One word, and only one word, can sum up the leadership of the church: old. Old in body, old in mind and thought, old in social beliefs, attitudes to life, money, power, and public accountability.

Medieval Technology, Medieval Mind

NZ ripped off against Slovakia is good for Football.

Apparently all the top officials in FIFA are scared silly that the introduction of video referees will somehow destroy the game by “diluting the emotion of the game.” This is why they refused to bring in modern technology to the World Cup, which was brought to a head with Thierry Henry’s handball-goal.

All this discussion needed to get going again was a clear cut example of yet another team getting ripped off and not getting the results they deserve. Which is exactly what happened to New Zealand today against Slovakia.

Kim Jong Il says “Phew”

I am certain that Kim Jong Il, illustrious leader of North Korea is eternally thankful to the crass stupidity of the Israeli Defence Force. Up until 24 hours ago, North Korea was in the world spotlight for their insane act of sinking the Cheonan, the South Korean frigate. The UN was jumping up and down about it, Hilary Clinton was flying around the world from one summit to the next; and (more) sanctions were being imposed. Then “poof”. It disappeared.

What’s The Beef With Iran?

For years the USA has had a serious problem with Iran. Well, for the last fifty. Since enormous sums of oil were nationalised from BP and put in the hands of the people who lived there.

And then it really started. Mossadegh, who did the nationalising, was out because of a CIA coup. Then 30 years of a corrupt dictator pissed off the Iranians and had him thrown out. Unfortunately an excitable man replaced him.

David Cameron – The Man Who Would Be King

Poor David Cameron. Saying he would be prepared to form an “big, open and comprehensive” coalition with the Liberal Democrats. I’m sure the entire speech stuck in his throat.

Tom Hanks is an Actor

He is not an historian, even if his films look historicalish.

Time Magazine did an article in their 15 March (2010) about how Tom Hanks not only makes films but also strives to make them history lessons. So I wrote to the editor saying this is complete bs and why. His films are great fun but I take them for what they are; American propoganda distorting the facts to suit an American audience. Such blatant bias belongs nowhere in the history classroom.

Abuse Is Not Intellectual Debate

Comment – In speaking to Ken Ham I was totally surprised to hear what he had to say. We actually had a good and frank discussion about his world views and mine. I made it clear from the beginning I believe in evolution and that Charles Darwin was correct in his theories.

Swiss Too Neutral To Care About Minarets

On 29th November 2009 fifty seven per cent of Swiss voted in favour of a referendum to ban the building of minarets. This was greeted with the expected howls of racism around the world and accusations that Switzerland is no longer neutral and tolerant. But in fact this is not the case at all. Swiss [...]