An Atheist’s Moral Code
While I haven’t openly committed to atheism, I am quick to admit to not being religious; for this I have been told quite directly that I am “going to hell.” When I respond with “well, what if I don’t believe in hell?” I seem only to further open the gates to condemnation. So I appreciate The Godless Heathen‘s response to moral questioning:
Sometimes a Christian will ask me, “how can you be a moral person without God? What’s the motivation to live a moral life if you’re not accountable for it anyway? Where do your morals come from?”
The following is the author’s justification of his moral choices:
1. I don’t have a religious justification to hate gay people, so I don’t hate gay people.
2. I don’t have a religious justification to believe that women are inherently inferior to men, so I don’t believe women are inferior to men.
3. I don’t have a religious justification to not see a doctor when I’m sick, so I see a doctor when I’m sick.
4. I don’t have a religious justification to hate someone for having the “wrong” religion, so I don’t hate people because they follow a certain religion.
5. I don’t have a religious justification to deprive my children of truthful, frank sex education and the knowledge of safe and effective birth control use; so when I have a teenage daughter, she will be less likely to have sex too young, get pregnant, or get an STD.
6. I don’t have a religious justification to hate someone for being a member of the “wrong” race, so I am not a racist.
7. I don’t have a religious justification to support certain wars due to a belief that it will fulfill some sort of ancient prophecy, so I oppose needless death and destruction.
8. I don’t have a religious justification to strap a bomb to my chest and blow myself up in a crowded market, so I don’t strap a bomb to my chest and blow myself up in a crowded market.
9. I don’t have a religious justification to not care about climate change because “God would never let it get that bad before the end comes.”
10. I don’t believe that I have an eternal, joy-filled life waiting for me after I die, so I appreciate the value and sanctity of this one.

December 4, 2008 Posted by nadzb21 | Internet Content | atheism, choice, condemn, Dexter, heathen, hell, justification, Lists, moral, morality, religion | 2 Comments
Domains For Sale
Interested in hosting your own blog, or looking for a new home on the web for your company or business?
Click links below to view my current domain sales on GoDaddy.com. Feel free to pass these on to anyone who may be interested! :)
The majority of them are going to be in the auction until early February. However, most include a “Buy It Now” option, in case you want to avoid the bidding wars.
Domains:
- gmgrocer.com
- gmgroceronline.com
- shopgmfree.com
- antimodification.com
- promodification.com (current bid at $100)
- safegmfoods.com
- keentogreen.com
- lifeofacell.com
- newscienceonline.com
- newmedicalscience.com
- dnadecipher.com
- greenelectriccity.com
- aminomeds.com
- dealsonhybrids.com
- buyhybridtoday.com
November 12, 2008 Posted by nadzb21 | Internet Content | blogging, buy, domain, domains, food, genetic, genetically, green, host, hybrid, investment, Lists, modification, modified, new, online, science, sell, selling, web, website | 1 Comment
30 Books to Read Before You’re 30
From Marc Chernoff at Brazen Careerist:
The 30 books listed here are of unparalleled prose, packed with wisdom capable of igniting a new understanding of the world. Everyone should read these books before their 30th birthday.
The ones I’ve knocked off my list are italicized. :)
- Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse – A powerful story about the importance of life experiences as they relate to approaching an understanding of reality and attaining enlightenment.
- 1984 by George Orwell – 1984 still holds chief significance nearly 60 years after it was written in 1949. It is widely acclaimed for its haunting vision of an all-knowing government which uses pervasive, 24/7 surveillance tactics to manipulate all citizens of the populace.
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – The story surveys the controversial issues of race and economic class in the 1930’s Deep South via a court case of a black man charged with the rape and abuse of a young white girl. It’s a moving tale that delivers a profound message about fighting for justice and against prejudice.
- A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess – A nightmarish vision of insane youth culture that depicts heart wrenching insight into the life of a disturbed adolescent. This novel will blow you away… leaving you breathless, livid, thrilled, and concerned.
- For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway – A short, powerful contemplation on death, ideology and the incredible brutality of war.
- War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy – This masterpiece is so enormous even Tolstoy said it couldn’t be described as a standard novel. The storyline takes place in Russian society during the Napoleonic Era, following the characters of Andrei, Pierre and Natasha… and the tragic and unanticipated way in which their lives interconnect.
- The Rights of Man by Tom Paine – Written during the era of the French Revolution, this book was one of the first to introduce the concept of human rights from the standpoint of democracy.
- The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau – A famous quote from the book states that “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” This accurately summarizes the book’s prime position on the importance of individual human rights within society.
- One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez – This novel does not have a plot in the conventional sense, but instead uses various narratives to portray a clear message about the general importance of remembering our cultural history.
- The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin – Few books have had as significant an impact on the way society views the natural world and the genesis of humankind.
- The Wisdom of the Desert by Thomas Merton – A collection of thoughts, meditations and reflections that give insight into what life is like to live simply and purely, dedicated to a greater power than ourselves.
- The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell – Gladwell looks at how a small idea, or product concept, can spread like a virus and spark global sociological changes. Specifically, he analyzes “the levels at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable.”
- The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham – Arguably one of the best children’s books ever written; this short novel will help you appreciate the simple pleasures in life. It’s most notable for its playful mixture of mysticism, adventure, morality, and camaraderie.
- The Art of War by Sun Tzu – One of the oldest books on military strategy in the world. It’s easily the most successful written work on the mechanics of general strategy and business tactics.
- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien – One of the greatest fictional stories ever told, and by far one of the most popular and influential written works in 20th-century literature. Once you pick up the first book, you’ll read them all.
- David Copperfield by Charles Dickens – This is a tale that lingers on the topic of attaining and maintaining a disciplined heart as it relates to one’s emotional and moral life. Dickens states that we must learn to go against “the first mistaken impulse of the undisciplined heart.”
- Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot – Probably the wisest poetic prose of modern times. It was written during World War II, and is still entirely relevant today… here’s an excerpt: “The dove descending breaks the air/With flame of incandescent terror/Of which the tongues declare/The only discharge from sin and error/The only hope, or the despair/Lies in the choice of pyre or pyre–/To be redeemed from fire by fire./Who then devised this torment?/Love/Love is the unfamiliar Name/Behind the hands that wave/The intolerable shirt of flame/Which human power cannot remove./We only live, only suspire/Consumed by either fire or fire.”
- Catch-22 by Joseph Heller – This book coined the self-titled term “catch-22” that is widely used in modern-day dialogue. As for the story, its message is clear: What’s commonly held to be good, may be bad… what is sensible, is nonsense. Its one of the greatest literary works of the 20th century. Read it.
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald – Set in the Jazz Age of the roaring 20’s, this book unravels a cautionary tale of the American dream. Specifically, the reader learns that a few good friends are far more important that a zillion acquaintances, and the drive created from the desire to have something is more valuable than actually having it.
- The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger – This novel firmly stands as an icon for accurately representing the ups and downs of teen angst, defiance and rebellion. If nothing else, it serves as a reminder of the unpredictable teenage mindset.
- Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky – A smooth-flowing, captivating novel of a young man living in poverty who criminally succumbs to the desire for money, and the hefty phychological impact this has on him and the people closest to him.
- The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli – This book does a great job at describing situations of power and statesmanship. From political and corporate power struggles to attaining advancement, influence and authority over others, Machiavelli’s observations apply.
- Walden by Henry David Thoreau – Thoreau spent two years, two months and two days writing this book in a secluded cabin near the banks of Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. This is a story about being truly free from the pressures of society. The book can speak for itself: “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”
- The Republic by Plato – A gripping and enduring work of philosophy on how life should be lived, justice should be served, and leaders should lead. It also gives the reader a fundamental understanding of western political theory.
- Lolita – This is the kind of book that blows your mind wide open to conflicting feelings of life, love and corruption… and at times makes you deeply question your own perceptions of each. The story is as devious as it is beautiful.
- Getting Things Done by David Allen – The quintessential guide to organizing your life and getting things done. Nuff said.
- How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie – This is the granddaddy of all self-improvement books. It is a comprehensive, easy to read guide for winning people over to your way of thinking in both business and personal relationships.
- Lord of the Flies by William Golding – A powerful and alarming look at the possibilities for savagery in a lawless environment, where compassionate human reasoning is replaced by anarchistic, animal instinct.
- The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck – Steinbeck’s deeply touching tale about the survival of displaced families desperately searching for work in a nation stuck by depression will never cease to be relevant.
- The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov – This anticommunist masterpiece is a multifaceted novel about the clash between good and evil. It dives head first into the topics of greed, corruption and deception as they relate to human nature.
October 3, 2008 Posted by nadzb21 | Reading | books, Lists | Leave a Comment
Ladytron – Ghosts (Blestenation mix) lyrics
I had to work this out on my own so comment with suggestions!
UPDATE: lyrics have now been posted on YouTube from this page. I feel special.
NEW UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who commented with lyric input/corrections!
Official MTV music video here – although it’s restricted to US viewers so I can’t see it :(
Download song here
Ladytron – Ghosts (Blestenation mix)
[rap]
My fault
My bad
I had to be trippin
I’m wipin your tears and I’d do it again
You’re playin the game
I’m layin the craze in your brain when I fuck with your head
You’re playin for change but shit is just stayin the same
‘Cause I got that chain around you even when I ain’t around
I’m hittin the town
You wait in the house
Cursing and sayin my name
You callin me but my voice-uh-mail just picks up on the first ring
Your mind is playin the worst thing into tears again, you’re bursting
Here it comes just like rehearsal
I thought my bad
I had to be trippin
That’s just how the cycle works
(Ladytron – Ghosts Chorus)
There’s a ghost in me
Who wants to say I’m sorry
Doesn’t mean I’m sorry
[rap]
A Part of me just wants to say that I’m sorry
But I’m not so I gotta be pardoned
I’m a hard hitter my heart is just hardened
It froze, it’s over darlin
Listen I know that it’s sad that you’re cryin
And I don’t care, but I’m tired
Of all the moaning and bitching and whining
I just came here to pick up what’s mine and be on my way
I’ve got an appointment
Yeah, I’ve got a job employment
You were a puppet, a prop, a pawn for my enjoyment
To get to my point, I met someone else
Who’s better in bed, better-looking, respects me
Someone who’s trying, who protects me
Heh
That’s what she said when she left me
(Chorus x4)
There’s a ghost in me
Who wants to say I’m sorry
Doesn’t mean I’m sorry
[Computer animated voice]
I woke up this morning cold and lonely
And my first waking thought was to get angry with you
It was the first time I’d thought of you in a while
But there I was mad because I was cold and lonely
And I guess it was that I was mad because you weren’t there
It’s just sometimes my friends tell me that I thought you would be there
That I was wrong living with you in New York and L.A.
Not that I remember anything from in December
Anyway, I had a very pleasant second date tonight with a very nice man
I probably had too much to drink
I probably shouldn’t be writing you now
It’s stupid, and petty, and childish and isn’t going to do me any good
But the truth is the truth
There’s a ghost in me
Who wants to say I’m sorry
Doesn’t mean I’m sorry…
Other song suggestions:
Wiley – Wearing My Rolex
Sia – Soon We’ll Be Found
Incubus – Sick Sad Little World
Lily Allen – GWB (Fuck You Very Much) – so pleasantly demeaning!
Adam Tensta – Dopeboy:
Which reminds me of another song with sick beats that I enjoy, Aesop Rock – None Shall Pass:
September 17, 2008 Posted by nadzb21 | Internet Content, Time to Kill | Lists, lyrics, music, recommendations | 7 Comments
Detoxify Your Life. Yeah, that’s a dare.
I Stumble!d upon this list of tips to detoxify your body and mind, in order to improve your quality of life.
Of course, I would have minor beef with tip #2:
2. Limit your online activity: It’s pretty much impossible not to log on to your e-mail accounts everyday, but limit the rest of your online activity, including going to fluff sites and playing online games. You’ll be more productive and will probably end up using the time you would have wasted on something more important and fulfilling.
Then again, I’m usually reading when I’m online, not playing games. Whew, dodged a bullet there. BLOGGING IS NOT TOXIC, PEOPLE.
Can I mention, in passing, that #16 does not seem natural, regardless of its popularity?
16. Consider a colon cleansing: Colon cleansings are believed to remove the body of parasites and other toxins that can interfere with digestion and general health.
Gross. And as for tip #10?
Breathe deeply: Breathing deeply increases the flow of oxygen into your body and relax your mind.
Well, shit. Sucks to my ass-mar.
Full detox article here. :)
September 13, 2008 Posted by nadzb21 | Educational, Funny, General Health, Internet Content, Writing | blogging, detox, Lists | 1 Comment
The Best TV Shows
Kottke.org presents a collection of TV shows considered contemporary bests by writers, bloggers, and critics; South Park makes the cut.
Here is the list as presented (looks like I have a few new shows to become acquainted with):
The Wire
Lost
Friday Night Lights
Deadwood
30 Rock
The Daily Show
Battlestar Galactica
The Sopranos
Arrested Development
Studio 60
South Park
Veronica Mars
Six Feet Under
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys
The Colbert Report
Mad Men
The West Wing
September 9, 2008 Posted by nadzb21 | South Park, Television, Time to Kill | Lists, recommendations | 1 Comment
Clean up your act [writing tips]
I put this together for coworkers when I was the copy editor of my school paper, hoping to make life a little easier (fat lot of good it did). If you’re a GM (Grammar Nazi) like me, feel free to pass it on to your friends! ;) Additionally, the Facebook group titled ‘I judge you when you use poor grammar‘ may be for you!
HOW TO CLEAN UP YOUR ACT
And get right to the point
Therefore making my life easier
By your dedicated Copy Editor
- Where to put periods and commas
- Punctuation & Quotes
- Semi-colon
- Colon
- Its/It’s, Your/You’re, etc.
- When your story just doesn’t read right
- Online grammar help links
PERIODS AND COMMAS
Periods and commas appear inside of quotation marks, “like this,”
BUT
Periods and commas appear outside of ‘these’.
Multiple commas should separate pieces of the sentence that can be taken out without changing the meaning.
Ex. Nadia knew all along that, regardless of her studying habits, this year would be a hell hole. See how the portion in between the commas can be removed, and leave the sentence feeling complete? Nadia knew all along that this year would be a hell hole.
QUOTES
When ending a sentence with a quote, punctuation marks appear inside the quotation marks, and nothing more is needed on the outside. “Get it?”
SEMI-COLONS
How to use the SEMI-COLON ( ; )
-The thought is related, yet different (it’s not a listing of features)
Ex. This grammatical device is so often abused; understandably so, considering how often we are witness to its misuse.
COLONS
How to use the COLON ( : )
-When introducing something like a list.
Ex. There are so many things I avoid when writing essays: clichés, repetitions, redundancy, and padding (see below).
ACTION OR POSSESSIVE?
Its, Your – possessive.
Ex. I stared down at the last beer in my fridge – its time had come.
It’s, You’re (note apostrophe) – active, short for “it is” and “you are.”
Ex. It’s not so tricky when you look at it this way, is it?
Just read the sentence out loud, substituting “is” for the “’s.” If it doesn’t sound right, you know what to do.
HOW TO TOUCH UP
AVOID clichés (they’re tired), repetitions (unless seeking rhetorical effect), redundancy (saying the same thing in different ways, ie. to fill space), and padding (the language people use to try to ‘fancy up’ their writing).
Example of repetition:
• “I would have to ask the questioner. I haven’t had a chance to ask the questioners the question they’ve been questioning.” (G. Bush)
Examples of redundancy:
• The two countries had a mutual respect for each other.
• Pedestrians crossing the street on foot should look both ways.
• “Our nation must come together to unite” (G. Bush)
Example of padding:
• It was the telephone that suddenly rang.
• Instead: Suddenly, the telephone rang.
Random Things You’ll Notice
I remove the superscript to any dates when I catch them—say, September 21st, which I would turn into September 21. In my opinion, it looks a little more professional in the final product of the paper.
I remove hyperlinks from any email addresses, so that they don’t inconvenience the process of putting articles on the page.
Helpful Links
http://www.queensu.ca/writingcentre/handouts/index.html
http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/subidx.cfm
August 26, 2008 Posted by nadzb21 | Educational, Writing | grammar, Lists | Leave a Comment
Justification!
So, because I’m the coolest person I know, I sometimes do nerdy things for fun (no, I did not just contradict myself). In an essay I wrote on South Park titled “Words of Wisdom,” I referred to it as “inarguably one of the important shows of our generation” – I later wondered how many people would call this a crock of $hit. However, I feel somewhat justified in my declaration by this list of The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time, in which South Park appears at #17! In your face, Seinfeld fans! Shh, just leave it. :P Okay, admittedly, I’m not clear on how this list was generated, but I’m not complaining for now.
August 11, 2008 Posted by nadzb21 | South Park, Television | Lists | 1 Comment
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
Since I posted the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, I will follow up with the top movie list I also found on kottke.org (also published elsewhere, origins unknown as far as I am concerned). As before, the movies I’ve seen will appear in bold, and those I plan on watching in the near future are in italics. Let me know if you have any other suggestions! These ones stop in 2003 and I’m a big fan of a ton of movies that have come out since…perhaps a new list is pending :)
August 1, 2008 Posted by nadzb21 | Movies, Time to Kill | Lists, Movies | Leave a Comment
Things to smile at
-Photos of people jumping off swings (Flickr) makes me feel like a child
-nerve and IFC’s voted 50 Greatest Comedy Sketches of All Time
-nerve’s voted 50 Greatest Commercial Parodies of All Time
-A video compilation of “That’s What She Said” quotes from The Office
-This video of little monkeys riding motorcycles from BoingBoing.net
-This tragically hilarious picture (via FAIL Blog):
I hope you enjoy these as much as I did!
August 1, 2008 Posted by nadzb21 | Funny, Time to Kill | Lists, videos | Leave a Comment
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