Now sponsored by [spoiler]my dick[/spoiler]

[bhoytony]

Spoiler tags went as there is a very unpleasant and at present unstoppable interaction between the JS they used and php. This essentially made the site 100% vulnerable to crackers.

RACIST!

[welch]

Breaking News! Hard rockers Great White reignite to kick off explosive world tour in Santa Maria Brazil.....

http://hardrockhideout.files.wordpress. ... .jpg?w=240

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-21220308
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Station_nightclub_fire

Snerk.

[ConcentratedH2O, OM]

So, instead, look at the content of his beliefs: Muslims immigrate to UK, produce lots of babies, take over the white population, and then establish Muslim theocracy and the only way to stop it is to stop immigration from muslim countries. That is essentially the message of Pat Condell's videos. I hope I don't need to explain why this view is racist.

Muslims aren't a race.

[Steersman]

Islam is a race now is it?

What is it with fucking liberals and their constant shilling for Islam, the most genocidal fascist misogynistic backwards belief system on the planet?

As someone who is a liberal, I can't figure this out either. An attack on Islam is NOT an attack on brown skinned people who speak Arabic, but somehow many want to equate the two things and it's annoying as shit. Some people think that attacking ideas is attacking the person, which is not necessarily true. It is possible to do both, but that must be done deliberately and simply criticizing the theology is not equivalent to tearing down the adherent.

I also don't view mockery of single individuals as Islamophobia, such as this:
http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u58 ... 166711.png

Does this ridicule a single Muslim? Yes. Is that an attack on all Muslims? No.

Sort of a minor quibble – if not what some might call an opportunity to emphasize my status as a contrarian, although I think there are important principles in play here – you say, in effect and quite credibly, that “attacking ideas is [not] attacking the person”, and that ridiculing “a single Muslim” isn’t an attack on all of them.

However, from one perspective – the dictionary – at least, an attack is “To criticize strongly or in a hostile manner”. Which then raises, I think, some problematic questions as to the extent to which ideas are part of a person. For instance, one might argue that ideas are manifested as certain biochemical structures in our brains such that any expressions which shake the foundations of those structures – by calling into question their credibility or veracity, for example – are going to be experienced as some degree of pain which could be construed as an attack or assault on the person. Which is what apparently motivated some woman in a recent video from Thunderfoot on “Feminism” to argue – most illogically – that everyone’s rights to free expression ends where anyone’s right to not be offended begins.

Seems to me that the only reasonable way off the horns of that particular dilemma is the childhood aphorism: “sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me”. Curiously, and maybe not surprisingly, an aphorism on which Ophelia Benson had this to say:

The saying about sticks and stones is utter bullshit. I despise it.

But then again, I don’t think she’s particularly keen either on the one about sauce for the goose being sauce for the gander ....

However, methinks that verbal attacks are still within the Marquis of Queensbury rules, although I think that even those can cross the line into bullying and harassment depending to some extent on the age - mental and physical - of the targets.

[AndrewV69]

Form vs content again. Yes, I think Pat Condell is a fucking racist asshole but not because he does harsh criticism of Islam. That would be focusing on the form, something that you would do. Islam deserves to be harshly criticized. So, instead, look at the content of his beliefs: Muslims immigrate to UK, produce lots of babies, take over the white population, and then establish Muslim theocracy and the only way to stop it is to stop immigration from muslim countries. That is essentially the message of Pat Condell's videos. I hope I don't need to explain why this view is racist.

Actually I would like you to explain why this is racist. I seem to recall Selim Mansur (who is a Muslim) warning about something similar in Canukistan.

Just a sec ...

Actually his view has a bit more nuance than how I expressed it:
http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2012/10/ ... mmigrants/

Indeed, earlier this week, on October 1, Mansur appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and, more or less, warned that unless Canada abandons its current multicultural policies and, accordingly, its immigration policies, we will in the not too distant future “severely undermine our liberal democracy.” In particular, he focused on the need to curtail immigration “from Muslim countries for a period of time given how disruptive the cultural baggage of illiberal values is brought in (to Canada) as a result.

[another lurker]

BTW, you lot are abject failures as misogynists.

There was more fapping over 'tigger' than the kate upton bikini pic!

[surreptitious57]

Musilm is the name given to someone who has decided to declare themselves as followers of the faith Islam

I can hate Muslims for their stupid choice of behaviours without you telling me that it is not OK thank you

Muslims can to not be Muslims not easy, but it has been done. It is a behavioural CHOICE

Mic - there is this thing called apostasy and in Islam - unfortunately - it is punishable by death

You are right though - you can hate whoever you want but it is not something I would recommend

[ConcentratedH2O, OM]

Anybody want a hypnobutt?

[Lsuoma]

So you'll all have noticed that I have signed up with Project Wonderful to put an ad at the bottom of the page. Not sure how that'll work out, but I'll be running with it for a bit.

[ConcentratedH2O, OM]

And here's one for the ladies and teh poofs:

[Submariner]

So, because Melody used the '@' in her tweet to Justin, that obviously means she is guilty of bullying and harassment, according to the Baboon laws of Twitter usage!

Right?

Wait, will someone tell me which side the black Vulcan is on? Cheezus! There's no comic sans here. How can I tell the good guys from the bad guys without comic sans???

[another lurker]

And here's one for the ladies and teh poofs:

I now understand why you are an 'OM'.

[Submariner]

Musilm is the name given to someone who has decided to declare themselves as followers of the faith Islam

I can hate Muslims for their stupid choice of behaviours without you telling me that it is not OK thank you

Muslims can to not be Muslims not easy, but it has been done. It is a behavioural CHOICE

Mic - there is this thing called apostasy and in Islam - unfortunately - it is punishable by death

You are right though - you can hate whoever you want but it is not something I would recommend

I don't hate MUSLIMS (unless they start flying aircraft), but I do hate ISLAM.

[Lapsang Souchong]

The game pockets worked well for smuggling tortillas into the UK - couldn't find them anywhere in London back then. Nowadays I imagine it's not difficult at all.

The Barbour Border is perfect, as far as I'm concerned. It's thornproof against mesquite and prickly pear cactus. With a wool sweater underneath, it's warm and wind-resistant enough for the coldest weather I encounter here. It works with jeans or skirts. I wouldn't trade it for anything in kind.

I take it that you live somewhere in the SW? Perhaps Aridzonia? I used to live in Chandler in my youth. Baevertail cacti, I always thought were some of the worst cacti to encounter, what with their fine little stickers (they seem to be part of the prickly pear family). And speaking of tortillas, I remember a chain of Mexican restaurants called Pancho's in Arizona. Their gimmick was a little Mexican flag that you ran up the pole if you wanted seconds. Standard appetizers that were provided, at the table, were the usual basket of tortilla chips and a delectable, piping hot Indian Fry Bread! I've asked for Indian Fry Bread at every Mexican place in town, where I live now, and they look at me like I'm retarded. Surely this wasn't just some hallucination that I experienced so many years ago?

[justinvacula]

I have authored and sent a letter to the Center for Inquiry’s CEO Ronald Lindsay concerning my attendance at the upcoming Women in Secularism 2 conference which is being made possible by generous donors contributing to a fundraiser which was recently launched.

Soon after the fundraiser was announced, various discussions painting me in a negative light — seemingly aimed with intentions of having me banned from the conference — commenced leading me and many others into believing that I may be prevented from attending Women in Secularism 2 despite what seemed to be previous assurances from the conference’s organizer Melody Hensley.

http://skepticink.com/justinvacula/2013 ... d-lindsay/

[Lurkion]

Some interesting discussion from my Twitter - Melody Hensley jumps in tweeting me and then, after I respond to her, she says she doesn't want me to tweet her :O

http://i.imgur.com/Gl8lteb.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/1Au1b1P.jpg

Yeah, she's setting you up to dob you in to Lindsay. "Look! Harzment!"

[Lurkion]

Hey, pretty cool! Looks like the whole docu too. I'll watch it after I take a shower. Thanks for posting.

There's also a great docu of the finding of Mallory's body in 1999. It's in five parts.

[youtube]Z7KyVKop3sc[/youtube]

The body or the video?
Ba-dum tish.

[free thoughtpolice]

Islam is a despicable belief system. Fortunately, most muslims don't follow all the bad stuff.

The "benign" members of any misogynistic cult are far worse than the few true believers, as they provide cover, funding, labour, support & plausibility for the truly awful things done in their name.
Without them, it would just be a handful of crazies in prison.

It is the silent "good" members of any religion that sustain the truly inhumane aspects.
These "good" members are mainly to blame for the worst elements of Islam. (Or Judaism, or Christ-insanity, or Scientology, etc)

People should be less like sheep but they aren't. It's fortunate that not all billion+ muslims don't follow the worst of their creed.
Hopefully they and the other followers of dogma religious and otherwise can be convinced to question their beliefs and behavior.

[BarnOwl]

I take it that you live somewhere in the SW? Perhaps Aridzonia? I used to live in Chandler in my youth. Baevertail cacti, I always thought were some of the worst cacti to encounter, what with their fine little stickers (they seem to be part of the prickly pear family). And speaking of tortillas, I remember a chain of Mexican restaurants called Pancho's in Arizona. Their gimmick was a little Mexican flag that you ran up the pole if you wanted seconds. Standard appetizers that were provided, at the table, were the usual basket of tortilla chips and a delectable, piping hot Indian Fry Bread! I've asked for Indian Fry Bread at every Mexican place in town, where I live now, and they look at me like I'm retarded. Surely this wasn't just some hallucination that I experienced so many years ago?

I'm in Texas - I've had the fry bread before when traveling in Arizona, and it's delicious. I've never seen it in any of the Mexican restaurants here though.

Mesquite thorns are worse than any cactus spines I've encountered here. I'm forever pulling mesquite twigs out of my horses' manes and tails.

[Michael K Gray]

Musilm is the name given to someone who has decided to declare themselves as followers of the faith Islam

I can hate Muslims for their stupid choice of behaviours without you telling me that it is not OK thank you

Muslims can to not be Muslims not easy, but it has been done. It is a behavioural CHOICE

Mic - there is this thing called apostasy and in Islam - unfortunately - it is punishable by death
You are right though - you can hate whoever you want but it is not something I would recommend

I did imply that it would not be easy. I do know about this strong-arm tactic that is designed to keep atheists lying about their faith.
The 'apostasy=death' has not prevented the muslims who have chosen to opt out of supporting this dangerous delusion.

[nippletwister]

Kate Donovan, co-blogger over at Ashley Miller's page, links to a blog article about veganism and intersectional awesome-ism-ness.

(...)

At 15, as now, I was tempted to hesitate when faced with things that involve “willpower,” because the “power” part sounds like an awful lot of effort expended. Yet I propose an alternate definition, one that indicates the “power” received from the use of will. Because, here is a little vegan-secret: the comic series/movie Scott Pilgrim speaks the truth, I receive superpowers from veganism. In many circles, there is social currency in it; it is seen as impressive or unique. On a more personal level, to practice a lifestyle in accordance with my beliefs is an incredible privilege, and gives me incredible confidence. My veganism is feminist. I find it an incredibly empowering experience to listen to my conscience – and to act.

Where is Kassiane when you need her? This girl's Ivy League feminist Nietzschean veganism is making me dizzy.

http://freethoughtblogs.com/ashleymille ... cellany-2/
http://broadrecognition.com/opinion/veg ... d-choices/

The part I bolded seems to be in contradiction with the part I underlined. It sounds more like she's a vegan because she wants to be considered impressive and unique, which doesn't sound very social-justicey to me.

No, but it does sound familiar....so very fucking familiar....

[TheMan]

Spoiler tags went as there is a very unpleasant and at present unstoppable interaction between the JS they used and php. This essentially made the site 100% vulnerable to crackers.

I don't recall giving you permission to make an announcement.

signed
TheMan

[Michael K Gray]

Islam is a despicable belief system. Fortunately, most muslims don't follow all the bad stuff.

The "benign" members of any misogynistic cult are far worse than the few true believers, as they provide cover, funding, labour, support & plausibility for the truly awful things done in their name.
Without them, it would just be a handful of crazies in prison.

It is the silent "good" members of any religion that sustain the truly inhumane aspects.
These "good" members are mainly to blame for the worst elements of Islam. (Or Judaism, or Christ-insanity, or Scientology, etc)

People should be less like sheep but they aren't. It's fortunate that not all billion+ muslims don't follow the worst of their creed.
Hopefully they and the other followers of dogma religious and otherwise can be convinced to question their beliefs and behavior.

Yeah, followed by flying toaster-cats farting rainbows...

[Ape+lust]

And speaking of tortillas, I remember a chain of Mexican restaurants called Pancho's in Arizona. Their gimmick was a little Mexican flag that you ran up the pole if you wanted seconds. Standard appetizers that were provided, at the table, were the usual basket of tortilla chips and a delectable, piping hot Indian Fry Bread! I've asked for Indian Fry Bread at every Mexican place in town, where I live now, and they look at me like I'm retarded. Surely this wasn't just some hallucination that I experienced so many years ago?

Ask for sopaipillas.

[Mr Danksworth]

CFI = Creepy Feminist Indoctrination

I am happy to say that, so far, CFI Canada has managed to stay out of the fray. Attempts have been made but the reasonable have triumphed.

[nippletwister]

Basically, if you don't want people to compare your cartoons to the worst of Nazi Germany, and suggesting that you may have similar motives, then stop drawing shit like it came straight out of Der Sturmer. And don't publish it on Holocaust Memorial Day, ffs.

So, Jews are now a forever protected class whose actions and policies cannot be criticized, who cannot be parodied, whose actions that MAY cause bloodshed or suffering have to be whitewashed or not referenced at all or they will be compared with the blood libel, and their days of remembrance must be observed with a religious zeal by everyone in the world.

Sorry, but comparing that cartoon to Nazi propaganda, or implying nazi-esque motivations without anything to back it up, is idiotic dogshit.

In short, fuck you.

BTW, anyone else notice that the "victims" in the cartoon are also physically hideous, and slight caricatures of Arab features? THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!!!!

[free thoughtpolice]

Yeah, followed by flying toaster-cats farting rainbows...

I know you Aussie types have unusual animals, but I've never heard of a flying toaster cat.

[cunt]

I'd really recommend reading through that thread if you're the type of bastard who likes reading a liar getting totally caught up in her lies. Bawwing. Threatening a lawl-suit for calling her a liar. With the added bonus of a bunch of sycophants closing ranks to protect the lying liar and her lies.

http://freethoughtblogs.com/dispatches/ ... hristians/

[nippletwister]

To Git Mobile:

For the record, I despise Islam, I despise the political policies of middle eastern countries, and I think the Israelis have every fucking right to defend themselves as robustly as they need.
I would probably disagree with the artist's political views regarding Netanyahu and Israeli policies.

But claiming that every last unflattering cartoon about a Jew might as well be Nazi propaganda is just pathetic horse-shittery, and plenty of people in the world have better things to do than remember all the horrors that Jews have survived. Like maybe, remembering the horrors their own ethnic group has survived, and trying to learn how to not have them repeated.

best wishes, and sorry if I came across as an asshole.

[KiwiInOz]

Yeah, followed by flying toaster-cats farting rainbows...

I know you Aussie types have unusual animals, but I've never heard of a flying toaster cat.

You haven't heard of it because it is a toast cat, not toaster cat. Nomenclature matters.

http://media1.picsearch.com/is?UIKK-JUQ ... cbPeLlhMIc

[Al Stefanelli]

http://wcoa.info/drd.jpg

[Submariner]

Still no answer on the Vulcan and the comic sans.

Just sayin.

[comslave]

It is ok to hate islam, the religion

Quite right. I;ve never understood why some people (usually Far Left Westerners, and lentil eaters who wear sandals) are so afraid to say they dislike Islam.

Any other belief system or ideology that contained so much sexism, misogyny, violence, bigotry, etc. would be firmly within their "hate" range. Also, there is the notion of blind faith itself, something central to Islam just as in any other religion. That is worth "hating". It is destructive and stifling to human thought.

People are not always as bad as their beliefs. however their beliefs and inform their actions. The more I learn about islam (reading the quran and such) the more I dislike it. It is at best a ridiculous copy of other faiths. And at worst, it preaches ethinic cleansing.

So yes, if someone approached me identifying themselves as muslim, it would take time for me to get to know them before I would trust them. There is a layer of suspicion I experience based on my readings of islam.

[comslave]

http://wcoa.info/drd.jpg

I have immunity: I'm too large to "deep throat".

[Karmakin]

It is ok to hate islam, the religion

Quite right. I;ve never understood why some people (usually Far Left Westerners, and lentil eaters who wear sandals) are so afraid to say they dislike Islam.

Any other belief system or ideology that contained so much sexism, misogyny, violence, bigotry, etc. would be firmly within their "hate" range. Also, there is the notion of blind faith itself, something central to Islam just as in any other religion. That is worth "hating". It is destructive and stifling to human thought.

People are not always as bad as their beliefs. however their beliefs and inform their actions. The more I learn about islam (reading the quran and such) the more I dislike it. It is at best a ridiculous copy of other faiths. And at worst, it preaches ethinic cleansing.

So yes, if someone approached me identifying themselves as muslim, it would take time for me to get to know them before I would trust them. There is a layer of suspicion I experience based on my readings of islam.

Honestly, if anybody approached me identifying themselves as any religious belief, that would be a bit of a red flag that I'd have to get over in order to trust them, more than likely. Exception to the rule: In an environment there that information is on-topic.

That INCLUDES Atheist/Skeptic/Agnostic, by the way.

[Mykeru]

Spoiler tags went as there is a very unpleasant and at present unstoppable interaction between the JS they used and php. This essentially made the site 100% vulnerable to crackers.

http://scomotle.org/alittleadventure/im ... se0788.JPG

"Say what?"

[Mykeru]

Hey, pretty cool! Looks like the whole docu too. I'll watch it after I take a shower. Thanks for posting.

There's also a great docu of the finding of Mallory's body in 1999. It's in five parts.

[lubetube]Z7KyVKop3sc[/lubetube]

The body or the video?
Ba-dum tish.

We have a winner:

http://www.altereddimensions.net/main/w ... allory.png

"Freestyle Yellow Band Belly Flop Winner, 1924"

I've read a number of books on Mallory and Irvine and the search for them, including Peter Firstbrook's Lost on Everest. One of the signature things about Mallory was how forgetful he was. The camera they are looking for, and now assumed to be on Sandy Irvine's body, was borrowed by Mallory. Because he forgot his. I know at 26,000 feet one's thinking processes generally turn reptilian, but he had a history of doing this.

If you like creepy dead in cold places mysterious stuff, look up Dyatlov Pass. Weed through the UFO conspiracy crap. Even when one can figure out what happened (and no, I'm not telling you), it's still a horrible little story.

[CommanderTuvok]

Re: Liberals defending Islam.

It might be different in the USA, where "Liberal" is an insult directed at anybody who is not Right Wing, but in the UK, it tends to be the Hard Left, SWP, George Galloway types, etc. who have a fetish-like fascination with defending the "beleaguered" Muslims.

I'm a Harry's Place type Liberal, and the defenders of all things Islam really fucking hate Harry's Place. They also tend to dislike atheists and secularists as well. Those concepts are a bit too "white", "western", and "imperialist" for them to take.

[AndrewV69]

I believe I have brought this up before, but here is something for some brave SJW to tackle:

Universities Bludgeon Adjuncts With Obamacare Loophole
http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/ ... -loophole/

Universities are citadels of blue model thinking and most faculty members are relentlessly liberal in their politics. But the reality is that these same universities are some of the nastiest and most exploitative employers in America. The exploitation of adjuncts is an ugly feature of contemporary American academic life, and the smug complacency about it among many beneficiaries of the two tier system should remind us all that moral hypocrisy can co-exist with impressive degrees.

Anyone ever recall PeeZuss Christ delivering a sermon concerning the exploitation of adjuncts?

Just asking.

[Lurkion]

Hey, we all know OB coined "Rebitchka' for RW. I was thinking of "Rebeerca" as a shout-out to her alcoholism.

Any takers?

------

Unrelated:

Flogging this one again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMHsEtImvJ4

Because TimeCube is a fucking effort.

[Mykeru]

Fucking hot image links.

Here's some Dyatlov Pass info with photos

[Submariner]

I'd really recommend reading through that thread if you're the type of bastard who likes reading a liar getting totally caught up in her lies. Bawwing. Threatening a lawl-suit for calling her a liar. With the added bonus of a bunch of sycophants closing ranks to protect the lying liar and her lies.

http://freethoughtblogs.com/dispatches/ ... hristians/

Wow, that thread is freaking gold. Heath shows evidence of Opie Benson lying. Opie says Nuh-uh you lied, but provides no refutation. Opie doubles and triples down, it's awesome.

Thanks cunt.

[another lurker]

I'd really recommend reading through that thread if you're the type of bastard who likes reading a liar getting totally caught up in her lies. Bawwing. Threatening a lawl-suit for calling her a liar. With the added bonus of a bunch of sycophants closing ranks to protect the lying liar and her lies.

http://freethoughtblogs.com/dispatches/ ... hristians/

Wow, that thread is freaking gold. Heath shows evidence of Opie Benson lying. Opie says Nuh-uh you lied, but provides no refutation. Opie doubles and triples down, it's awesome.

Thanks cunt.

Yes, thank you!

I love this quote from Michael Heath:

"I’d be embarrassed if I wrote what you did; and then to double down . . . delusion runs deep for some in the tribe."

I also love how Ophie keeps threatening to sue him for libel and defamation hahaahaaaa

He doesn't back down though, and clearly has a solid case on which to stand.

[Mr Danksworth]

Hey, we all know OB coined "Rebitchka' for RW. I was thinking of "Rebeerca" as a shout-out to her alcoholism.

Speaking of which, where did the term 'Twatson' originate?

[Reap]

Ophelia Benson was offered a guest spot on the A-News podcast today. She accepted too. Then when she learned the details ( I am a co-host on the show) She pulled out (so to speak) Ophelia has done public speaking before right? So it isn't that she is unable to speak in public. What is it with these people who gleefully libel and slander people left and right showing no ability to grasp the concept of responsible behavior in even its basic form? They can spout off constantly claiming they want the world to be a better place but can't be bothered to actually talk about it with anyone who doesn't already subscribe to their thinking. What is Ophelia Benson worried about? Does she think I am going to come through her computer monitor and steal all her cat food from her or somethin? Even if I was a ranting prick to her all she would have to do is hang up. She would then have a REAL example of someone behaving the way she has been accusing them of. That would also provide her with something else she yearns for. I think you could call it the "holy grail" of freethought blogs , credibility. No one there has it but they all long for it. Over and over again they have tried to claim they possess it but it always turns out to be made out of the same stuff you find in Mr Rodgers neighborhood, make-believe and sock puppets. I find it laughable that any of these 'social justice warriors' really think that by avoiding human interaction with anyone except those who smile and nod the world is going to give them any consideration. What a huge waste of time. I have a standing offer to anyone who wants to offer their side of things and have a real back and forth conversation. No one can claim I am unable to do anything but rant, all they need to do is take a look at the list of people who have been guests on my podcasts. From christ-followers, to people who claim they can heal burned flesh through a phone text message, psychics, ghost hunters, and even an Oolon. Add to that list the number of well known/not so well known atheists and other guests. I have more than proven myself able to have an adult conversation there is no valid excuse to decline especially if you really believe in the words coming out of your mouth or popping out of your keyboard. I can't imagine what it must be like to not be able to stand up for what you believe in because it is so fragile and weak. If you remove it from the protective wrapper of your warped perception it will be crushed under the weight of common sense, how good could it be really? I don't even disagree with everything they find fault with but we will never find common ground as long as they refuse to exchange ideas and instead only attack or misrepresent. I they can't even manage to find a way to get along with other skeptics and atheists how could they possibly think they can win a battle with religious people over all the things they are hoping to change? Not a chance

[TheMan]

Currently reading for the Feb book club meet: How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran.

Interesting so far and I'll probably be the only bloke at the Book Club

[mordacious1]

Rebeerca sounds like something drunk feminists would wear to keep from being raped in elevators.

[Lurkion]

Rebeerca sounds like something drunk feminists would wear to keep from being raped in elevators.

Hahahaha

[free thoughtpolice]

Rebeerca sounds like something drunk feminists would wear to keep from being raped in elevators.

I didn't think they needed more defenses than the unnaturally colored hair and projectile vomiting of 12 hours of bar food and vodka and tang to defend themselves.

[Zenspace]

<snip>

If you like creepy dead in cold places mysterious stuff, look up Dyatlov Pass. Weed through the UFO conspiracy crap. Even when one can figure out what happened (and no, I'm not telling you), it's still a horrible little story.

As a winter mountaineer myself, I always find these stories fascinating. The most obvious conclusion to my mind is an avalanche, even tho the writer seems to play that aspect down. Crushed, torn tent (partially buried?) and hasty, panicked exit with no time to dress, uneven snow depths in different, but nearby areas, physical impact injuries. It all seems to add up at first glance, so why all the mystery? But, yeah, a creepy little story just the same.

I saw a man killed and a woman very badly injured in an avalanche about 10 years ago during a ski backpacking trip in the Adirondck High Peaks. It happened right in front of me as I stopped for a breather after skiing down from - wait for it - Avalanche Pass. We managed to get word to the local rangers pretty quickly, but it took over six hours to find the guys body. The woman was taken out by helicopter and I believe she recovered.

[Metalogic42]

Ophelia Benson was offered a guest spot on the A-News podcast today. She accepted too. Then when she learned the details ( I am a co-host on the show) She pulled out (so to speak) Ophelia has done public speaking before right? So it isn't that she is unable to speak in public. What is it with these people who gleefully libel and slander people left and right showing no ability to grasp the concept of responsible behavior in even its basic form? They can spout off constantly claiming they want the world to be a better place but can't be bothered to actually talk about it with anyone who doesn't already subscribe to their thinking. What is Ophelia Benson worried about? Does she think I am going to come through her computer monitor and steal all her cat food from her or somethin? Even if I was a ranting prick to her all she would have to do is hang up. She would then have a REAL example of someone behaving the way she has been accusing them of. That would also provide her with something else she yearns for. I think you could call it the "holy grail" of freethought blogs , credibility. No one there has it but they all long for it. Over and over again they have tried to claim they possess it but it always turns out to be made out of the same stuff you find in Mr Rodgers neighborhood, make-believe and sock puppets. I find it laughable that any of these 'social justice warriors' really think that by avoiding human interaction with anyone except those who smile and nod the world is going to give them any consideration. What a huge waste of time. I have a standing offer to anyone who wants to offer their side of things and have a real back and forth conversation. No one can claim I am unable to do anything but rant, all they need to do is take a look at the list of people who have been guests on my podcasts. From christ-followers, to people who claim they can heal burned flesh through a phone text message, psychics, ghost hunters, and even an Oolon. Add to that list the number of well known/not so well known atheists and other guests. I have more than proven myself able to have an adult conversation there is no valid excuse to decline especially if you really believe in the words coming out of your mouth or popping out of your keyboard. I can't imagine what it must be like to not be able to stand up for what you believe in because it is so fragile and weak. If you remove it from the protective wrapper of your warped perception it will be crushed under the weight of common sense, how good could it be really? I don't even disagree with everything they find fault with but we will never find common ground as long as they refuse to exchange ideas and instead only attack or misrepresent. I they can't even manage to find a way to get along with other skeptics and atheists how could they possibly think they can win a battle with religious people over all the things they are hoping to change? Not a chance

Real examples are anathema to them. Real examples are concrete, they can be challenged. They're vague and nondescript on purpose, it's harder to challenge their claims of harassment that way, and easier to paint themselves as victims. Welch said it best, originally about Rebeerca: " Look, here’s the deal: if she can’t draw attention to herself, she isn’t valuable as a speaker. If she’s not valuable as a speaker, she has to go back to the work her communications degree will get her: copywriting for an ad agency. Becky don’t wanna go back to working for the man, so her primary, primary agenda is to create attention for herself, and then monetize that attention." (http://dissentionisnothate.wordpress.co ... ca-watson/).

In a day or two, odds are she'll claim you tried to trick her into appearing on your podcast in order to further harass her. Or something similar.

[Reap]

In a day or two, odds are she'll claim you tried to trick her into appearing on your podcast in order to further harass her. Or something similar.

Thing is I didn't invite her this time, it was Lee Moore and if I had really wanted to trick her all I would have had to do was refrain from mentioning i was on the show, she accepted the invite at first. I have no interest in attacking or tricking Ophelia that is why I insisted Lee tell her who was on the podcast. Then when we were honest with her she shunned us. Real classy Ophelia, does it hurt to look in the mirror sometimes?

[Al Stefanelli]

http://wcoa.info/drd.jpg

I have immunity: I'm too large to "deep throat".

You've obviously never met Brandi 'Gagless' McEnirney

[Submariner]

Currently reading for the Feb book club meet: How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran.

Interesting so far and I'll probably be the only bloke at the Book Club

TheMan....about TheHouse.

TheMam...about town....

[youtube]co6-tYS9k1U[/youtube]

[Submariner]

Dammit. TheMan .

[Metalogic42]

In a day or two, odds are she'll claim you tried to trick her into appearing on your podcast in order to further harass her. Or something similar.

Thing is I didn't invite her this time, it was Lee Moore and if I had really wanted to trick her all I would have had to do was refrain from mentioning i was on the show, she accepted the invite at first. I have no interest in attacking or tricking Ophelia that is why I insisted Lee tell her who was on the podcast. Then when we were honest with her she shunned us. Real classy Ophelia, does it hurt to look in the mirror sometimes?

They make up so much shit anyway, it doesn't really matter what actually happened. Her fans will believe anything she says. In a month you'll have prank called her house.

[d4m10n]

Rebeerca sounds like something drunk feminists would wear to keep from being raped in elevators.

I didn't think they needed more defenses than the unnaturally colored hair and projectile vomiting of 12 hours of bar food and vodka and tang to defend themselves.

I see we have another TAM veteran on board.

[Mykeru]

<snip>

If you like creepy dead in cold places mysterious stuff, look up Dyatlov Pass. Weed through the UFO conspiracy crap. Even when one can figure out what happened (and no, I'm not telling you), it's still a horrible little story.

As a winter mountaineer myself, I always find these stories fascinating. The most obvious conclusion to my mind is an avalanche, even tho the writer seems to play that aspect down. Crushed, torn tent (partially buried?) and hasty, panicked exit with no time to dress, uneven snow depths in different, but nearby areas, physical impact injuries. It all seems to add up at first glance, so why all the mystery? But, yeah, a creepy little story just the same.

I saw a man killed and a woman very badly injured in an avalanche about 10 years ago during a ski backpacking trip in the Adirondck High Peaks. It happened right in front of me as I stopped for a breather after skiing down from - wait for it - Avalanche Pass. We managed to get word to the local rangers pretty quickly, but it took over six hours to find the guys body. The woman was taken out by helicopter and I believe she recovered.

I think the answer isn't avalanche, but fear of avalanche. Dyatlov set up camp on a snowy slope that wasn't very steep, but higher up exceeded 23 degrees, and apparently there was a cornice.

The day of the last camp they started late and only made 2.5 miles. I assume they were out of sorts. They set up camp and it's toasty warm due to a homemade stove in the tent. Some even partially undress. All take their boots off. Maybe avalanche seemed like a negligible risk, but then they start thinking about it...

Now, there are reports of some prototype MiG29s flying the area. If I was already maybe a little antsy about avalanches, and I was tired and bedding down for the night, the sound might be like that of an approaching roaring wall of snow. But even that isn't necessary.

Who hasn't gotten "the weirds" in a tent, especially at night when you can't see what's going on out there, but you hear all sorts of things?

If even one of them was primed, had a little hypnogogically-induced illusion that an avalanche was coming, I can see the panic as they cut their way out of the tent and run like hell. It's dark. They can't see their tent once they run downhill. They are all reinforcing their panic.They group under a tree a mile away near the treeline and try to build a wet little fire.

But it's maybe -17 C and windy. Hypothermia makes one very stupid, very fast. I've been there and they thing that impressed me in trying to get a fire going at 3:00 am when I was freezing was how I just went in circles. It takes focus to get anything done. Thing about freezing to death, it makes you too stupid to stop yourself from freezing to death.

Of the people in the group two died near the inadequate fire. Three died trying to make it back uphill to the tent. When the three didn't come back those remaining apparently stripped the two already dead to their undies (often attributed to paradoxical undressing, but probably not) and bare feet and sought shelter deeper in the woods and apparently fell into a 5 meter ravine, breaking ribs, which is really doable in the dark and freezing to death. They were found two months later under shitloads of snow during the thaw.

And at no point did they probably realize there was no avalanche.

[rayshul]

Sins of your father:

(and mother - fuck the patriarchy)

crom - Copy.JPG

Crommunist being a racist cunt? What's new?

That man is a fucking piece of worthless shit.

Boy, I'm glad to get home from work and read his racist fuckbullshittery first thing. :evil:

[d4m10n]

Hey, we all know OB coined "Rebitchka' for RW. I was thinking of "Rebeerca" as a shout-out to her alcoholism.

Speaking of which, where did the term 'Twatson' originate?

Not entirely sure, but first I heard of it was on Justicar's blog.