I have noticed a couple of eco-friendly posters here mention how much they hate mans advancement in technology, how humanity is like a virus to nature and the usual ra ra from those blokes and dudettes.

I would like those people to consider this point. If life is to exist beyond the life span of our sun it has to find a way to exist outside of the confines of this planet.

The chances of life evolving another life form capable of space travel before there is another major extinction period is pretty slim, so basically humanity may be lifes (as we know it) last chance for survival.

Think about it... imagine humans kill each other off, and no other life form evolves to the level of space travel. Our sun expands or our magnetosphere dies off... and our planet will become sterile. No more life will exist.

Which means (assuming we are the only life out here), that the complete uniqueness of all life... what it went through, all its suffering, all its learning, all its hopes and joy, everything it achieved... would have being for nothing. There would not even be anyone around to remember it.

So for the long term survival of all life. Humanity I believe is a keystone species.

This is a topic that has being brewing for a long time, and for quite awhile I have let it slide, but today I read a “news” article that really was the straw that broke the camel’s back. So I am writing this article to give different perspective to this non-issue.

Lets have a quick look at the news article that got me all annoyed titled 'No sex with meat eaters' (1), which is about a New Zealand group who wont have sex with anyone who eats meat claiming that people who eat meat have, “bodies are made up of animal carcasses”.

Humans continue to stun me at the stupidity they can accomplish. Einstein was very right when he said the only thing he was sure about was the infinity of human stupidity. Firstly this little New Zealand group where able to invent a new form of bigotry. Now not only will you be judged on your skin colour or religion... the fact that you are surviving to live also counts against you! Go New Zealand vegans! that one is under your belt.

Now let’s have a closer look at their claim that our bodies are made up of human carcasses. Well, they do’ have a point there, but completely not in the way they perceive. Yes, your body is covered with dead body cells, and we call this the outer layer of the skin, and since we are animals, I suppose they almost do have a point. However, we can take that point further. On that dead layer of skin (as well as inside us).. are millions of other dead microbial life. So in essence, its a hard world down on that level, and imagine how many more casualties those darn vegans add to it every time they have a shower. We could take this point even further, within each cell are the mitochondria, and the mitochondria.. while a part of us now, used to be a separate life form, and today, still replicates independently of the cell. So in theory, every time a cell dies two life forms die. I am making these silly points because they will have more relevance later.

Since biologically humans are designed to eat, and our prehistoric “leaf and grass” stomach, the appendix, is useless to us now we have to assume that evolution in this case, knows what’s best for us.

When the ancestors of man were still early primates a group of them were living here in Africa. The area underwent some intense climate changes and the lush forests that our ancient ancestors enjoyed disappeared and the primates had to change or die. So our ancestors changed.. they learnt to walk up right to spot danger from far away as they had less places to scramble for safety. They also learnt to to survive on meat. Understand this is early hominid evolution so we are talking approximately two million years ago.

At the same time we started eating meat we invented tools (wow talk about a coincidence hey vegans!), the ability to process meat enabled our ancestors to have a much richer source of nutrition and to therefore evolve into smarter and more complex creatures. When we learnt how to fish the omega 3+6 that was introduced into our diet enabled our brains to develop better. Studies (2) have shown that primates that have meat in their diet (yes most other primates have a percentage of their diet that is meat) that the primates who ate meat, evolved faster and better than those who were restricted to just a herbivores diet.

The evolutionary advantages in eating meat and the importance it as played in our development are very clear and should not be underestimated. Nature has being pushing our phenotype in this direction for five billion years and it’s clearly working. I have often seen a lot of propaganda comparing us to other herbivorous primates as an argument not to eat meat. All primates eat meat.. even in the gorilla.. it makes up 1 % of their diet. In chimpanzee’s it makes up 13% of their diet. Both these primates require the trace element in their systems and branched away from us about seven million years ago. Another branch of primates called Cebuella such as the Pygmy Marmoset, require as much as 50% of their diet to be meat.

There is however a big difference between us and a gorilla and other herbivorous apes;

“Our stomachs have evolved to consume both meat and plant matter. In humans, more than half (56%) of the total gut volume is found in the small intestine whereas all apes have by far the greatest total gut volume (>45%) in the colon. In addition, the overall size of the human gut in relation to body size is small in comparison to that of apes.

Hindgut dominance in apes suggests adaptation to a diet lower in quality than that consumed by humans, a diet containing considerable bulky plant material, such as insoluble fiber and seeds. In contrast, the proportions of the human gut, dominated as it is by the small intestine, the principal site of nutrient digestion and absorption, suggests adaptation to a high quality diet, one that is nutritionally dense and highly digestible relative to that of any wild ape” (2)

Unfortunately I still have a little more of a biology lesson to teach the vegans so I am going to move onto “why meat is good for us nutritionally” before we can move onto the juicy morality issues.

I am sure at some point or another you have come across sites that have (miss) informed you that eating meat is bad for you and you don't need it nutritionally. Well that's bullsh!t. Meat is extremely good for you. The fact is, meat is the most naturally occurring, well balanced and easily obtained and digested package of proteins, essential acids and source of iron and Vitamin B 12 that you can find. Also, a protein rich meat diet is extremely good for you (3).

If fat concerns you, eat lean meat, and don’t forget to watch out for industrial grade vegetable fats such as hydrogenated and hydrogenated vegetable oils (trans-fatty acids (now banned in certain countries). When given the choice, I stick to the natural fat that’s found in meat.

While researching this topic I was speaking to a vegetarian friend in another city over MSN. I told her the topic I was writing and she let me know about her personal experience. She did not like the taste of meat and that was her reasoning for staying away from it for 9 years. However things changed when she fell pregnant. The baby growing up in her stomach required lots of iron (readily available in meat), and because she was a vegetarian, a large portion of her iron content in her body was given to the baby and the result effects was that her teeth turned grey and she started having serious health problems. Eating meat solved that problem and today she has a stunning healthy vibrant daughter.

Now that I have got the basic biology and nutritional lessons out the way lets move onto the morality of this one because It’s actually quiet ludicrous. In fact, the paragraph where I spoke about my friend and her experience is a good place to start from, because if you notice on the link I posted about our New Zealand bigoted vegans you will notice there is a related story together with a more grim reality;

The headline reads, 'Vegan couple starved baby'

"Atlanta - A vegan couple was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison in the death of their malnourished six-week-old, who was fed a diet largely consisting of soymilk and apple juice." (3)

Wow, quiet the moral high-ground you hypocrites take. You seem to completely lack perspective. Humans like all other animals on this planet are predators to one form of life or another. The only honest forms of life out there appear to be most plants. They absorb base nutrients, sunlight and water which they convert into the energy that they require to survive... and not even- all plant are honest to this form of existence. There are more than a few carnivorous plants as well. That said, all animals above them are predators. Herbivores are predators to plants. Plants try defending themselves against this onslaught in every way they can come up. From chemical warfare through to creating sharp weapons to protect themselves. Most plants clearly do not like being eaten.

Vegans are life hypocrites. They seem to think that a plants life is not as important as an animal’s life for its right to exists. They are able to draw this weird moral line at where it’s okay to take life and when its not okay to take life. Life is life no matter exist its form. Humans are also a natural part of that life. We have just as much right to live a chicken and if you have larger scope, were way more important than a chicken.

Let’s assume for a moment that the only life in the universe is found on this rock we call earth. Let’s also assume that we want life to continue to exist. It’s not going to do that forever without help. Assuming that asteroids don't hit us, our molten core does not stop and that some other freak accident does not wipe all life off the face of the earth.. life on this planet has a count down clock. In a couple of billion year’s time our sun is going to become useless to us. It’s going to kill all life on earth. So humans may be life's last chance to create a sentient life form with the capability to allow life to exist beyond the confines of this very vulnerable planet. I think evolution would be hard pressed to push out a decent enough life form in the time we have left assuming we all kill ourselves.

Meat is important to our development and evolution and will continue to be so. Our bodies and brains consume massive amounts of energy and all for good reason. Sure we could build more factories, hire more cheap labour in 3rd world countries to produce them and add more toxic chemicals and fumes into the environment to make those in vogue designer vitamins you considering taking as a substitute for meat, or you can use natures own resource and simply eat meat.

Vegans propose they take the moral high-ground, but I propose they don't. Not only are they not using economical natural sources of nutrition, they are also denying the evolutionary advancement the trillions of ancestors that came before them fought for. You want propaganda vegans? How about this!. Stop killing our oxygen supply! Eat more meat!

Oh yes, I am well aware the title is sensationalist. Just thought I would get some vegan attention.

1 - http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2156182,00.html
2 - http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/133/11/3886S
3 - http://www.powerofmeat.com/High_Protein_Diets.htm
4 - http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2110953,00.html

Special thanks to Suz who is helping me work through my grammar block.

I spent a lot of time learning about this topic before I was confident enough to write about it. I spent a lot of time watching documentaries, reading research and studies and speaking to people around me before I put my fingers to the keyboard.

The reason I am writing this is not because I have any type of desire to use the services of a prostitute but because I understand the hypocrisy and unjustness of criminalizing prostitution.

First lets have a look why it is illegal... I asked around and the only reasons I could seem to find was because it is, "immoral" and "degrading". So basically the reason appears to be religious moral conditions more than any actual real crime or harm being done to either the buyer or the seller.

What society has done by criminalising prostitution has allowed some very vulnerable people to become victims to some of the worst types of abuse. Females and males who work in the industry can be subjected to rape without any type of recourse from the law for fear of being arrested themselves.

So basically, because we are offended by the concept and idea of the type of work someone has chosen to do, we just sit back and allow their hurt and abuse to continue. I'm sorry, you cant take the moral high ground on this one. If you seriously think that we should continue to create victims because of some warped morality code than I cant hold any type of respect for you. You are committing a great crime by allowing these woman to be abused, then by legalizing the industry. Morality should not be legislated!

Now I want to move onto the "degrading" argument that was constantly thrown my way. I emailed and got into contact with a couple of people who work in the industry to get a more balanced view point on the topic, and get their thoughts on the criminalization of prostitution. The responses I got back where professional and interesting and to the letter, not one of them thought their job was degrading.

Most of the people I contacted in fact informed me that they loved their jobs and what they did and a couple even mentioned it was more than about the money. Their point of view seemed to center around the fact that they considered themselves sexually "mature" and did not see any type of sin or evilness with sex.

A couple of the people I spoke to appeared already to be the victims of society with no other resources available to them. One of the ladies explained how her husband had left her with three kids and they were basically starving on the side of the road before she entered the industry. Now she is able to look after herself and her kids, and is putting them all through school.

Another important point we have to look at is the crime associated with prostitution. Yes, there is a pretty large criminal element associated with prostitution but as studies have shown... that element is there because the act of prostitution is criminalized. Because prostitutes are considered to be committing a crime they are unable to use the protective services a lot of society has to offer, and so in turn, have to associate themselves with less savoury characters to get some type of protection from the sicker parts of humanity.

If you legalize it, most of the criminal element should leave with it. This has been shown over and over again when countries like the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand and even an American and Australian state who have all started the process of legalizing it.

In the state of Nevada where prostitution has been legalized and is regulated, results have shown that the STD rate amongst the prostitutes in that state are lower than those of the general public. Also, because the woman are more educated in safer sex and are protected there has not being a single case of AIDS in the Nevada legalized prostitution industry.

This topic should be very simple for us. You have no right to tell someone else what they can and can not do with their body, and no one has the right to tell you what to do with yours. If you choose to sell your body services off as a toilet janitor, a politician or a prostitute that should be YOUR choice. Whether you are offended by the idea or not, prostitution has and most likely will always have a roll and to play and a part in our society. Even in countries in the Middle East where prostitution is punishable by death it continues. Sex is legal, money is legal, sex for money is illegal... unless its in front of a camera, and its just porn, and then its legal. You cant be serious?

Now we can choose to be hypocrites and allow this abuse to continue in the name of some imaginary moral conviction or you can do the right thing, and help protect these woman by decriminalizing the industry.

In the closing words of Penn & Teller episode on the subject of prostitution, if you think its disgusting and degrading. Don't do it.

I would like to point out, that I never had the desire or need to use the services of a prostitute.

WARNING. Some spoiler information.

I have just finished watching the latest documentary by Michael Moore titled SicKo and I am sitting here completely stunned. The documentary shows how Nixon was able to take the American health system and turn it into one of the most disgusting capitalistic quagmires I have ever seen.

The documentary shows how people without HMO (American version of our Medical Aid) are treated like scum and sometimes turfed out onto the street without proper care or medication. However, that's not what this documentary is about. The documentary covers how the slime that run the American HMO system have perverted America`s health services so badly that America dropped from being first in health care... to 32nd (Just above Slovenia).

It never ceases to amaze me at the levels of greed and stupidity of some people around the world. Seriously I just sometimes sit back in awe at the stupendous levels of non-thinking it must take for a country's health service to end up like the American health service.

Such a powerful nation, yet it cant even look after the most vulnerable of its citizens correctly.

The bright spark American president who came up with the idea to privatise the American Health Services was a well known conman by the name of Nixon. Yup, your ol "Mr Trustworthy" of Watergate was the "genius" president who started the slide on the American health system, but he is not alone in the blame here. Regan with as much gusto as an actor *cough* president can come up with fully endorsed Nixon`s system which has left America as the only western democracy without free medical services for those who need it.

Luckily it is easy to brainwash the ignorant, especially in America during tough times with the Soviet Union. All you had to do was say the word "socialist", and people jumped into line. Years of propaganda and non-thinking have lead Americans (and some others) to believe that socialism is all out evil. Even though they don't have a clue about what it is really about. As Moore so correctly points out, the American police force, the American firemen and library's are already socialist systems.

The documentary then spends a bit of time with many many Americans who have had their health claims turned down for reasons that would disgust a human with a shred of morality in them. I remember clearly one female having her claim denied because she did not get "pre-approval" to be taken to Hospital. I am sure she will remember next to to schedule her accident to please the HMO thieves.

Michael Moore then goes and visits some 9/11 heroes who had helped rescue survivors from wreckage of the Trade Towers. These heroes were not fireman or police officers, they were normal people who were in the area who put their lives at risk to help complete strangers by joining in the rescue operations with the local emergency services.

Due to the massive amounts of dust and other foreign particles in the air, some of the people involved in the rescue operations developed crippling lung conditions. You would think that they would be looked after right? Wrong. Since they were not official fire fighters they were simply discarded and told they were on their own. Let's stop for a moment. Imagine that... you put your life at risk to save a complete stranger as you know it is the right thing to do, only to learn a little later that your own government is going to shaft you on medical services for ailments you acquired while assisting the government.

They say you can judge a people on how the treat the weak, the old and their animals. By these criteria America has fallen far and fast.

Michael Moore then finds out that the military base in Guantanamo Bay is offering really good (but free) medical services to all its inmates. Moore gets together a group of the Americans heroes from 9/11 and tries to take them to the military base for proper treatment. The one bit that sticks out in my mind here is Michael Moore shouting over a loud speaker system asking the US military to give the same treatment to the 911 heroes as they are giving to Al -Quade suspects. This was obviously not accepted.. there's no profit in it.

But where the American health care system fails, the Cuban health care system shines like a beacon. All the 911 patients where accepted by Cuba and given almost free medical services. I remember one American
woman crying because in America she was barely able to survive on her $1000 payout and her medical inhalers cost her $129 (each) back home.. at the local pharmacy in Cuba the same medication cost her 5c.

Needless to say, the Americans with Michael Moore in Cuba were treated with care that they would not have received in their own country. Medical exams, treatment and medication that the 911 heroes were not able to receive in the USA was gladly given out in a small 3rd world country with an iota of the resources America has.

The last bit just before the Americans left Cuba was one of the most moving points in the documentary. A local fire station close to where the Americans were getting treatment invited them around to visit. When the Americans arrived at the fire station all the Cuban firemen stood to attention and saluted the patients. When asked why they did this, they responded to Michael Moore that they have the utmost respect for the heroes of 911 and wanted to honour their bravery. The Cuban firemen also informed the patients that they were sorry that they were unable to assist America during that dark time.

Michael Moore in the documentary SicKo was able to take me through a kaleidoscope of emotions as he presented his information. There was anger at how Capitalistic greed could be allowed so negatively to effect the precious lives of those around it. There was sadness when learning how some of the people interviewed for this documentary would still be alive today if they had received a half way decent health care. There is hope when you see how a small country like Cuba which has been demonized by the American government... was able to put forward an olive branch and help those who needed help.

Kudos to the Cuban people!

I really hope the Americans can learn a thing or two from countries like France and Cuba and move forward into looking after the most important resource in America. Its people.

As Michael Moore points out. To many people think about "me", and not enough about "we".

Over the last couple of weeks I have heard more and more disturbing information about this strange Christian sect called Shofar . The straw that broke that proverbial camel's back was when a fellow blogger informed me that he had had his website taken down by this cult.

I decided to do a little more investigation and what I have found out scares the heck outta me. This cult activly goes around to pubs and clubs, harassing and recruiting vulnerable lonely youth for sect.

The more I learnt about this cult sect, the more I was reminded of Scientology. People in this cult are "not allowed" to date people outside of their cult. Reminds you of Scientologist's "disconnects" does it not? However Shofar take it to a new level. Not only are you not allowed to date someone outside of this cult, but you have to date someone on the same "level" as you (apparently you get levels 1-7). Simple things like holding hands is also considered taboo.

This cult actively talks about "harvesting souls" for the "Lord of the Harvest". When reading their site I had to keep reminding myself that I was not reading up on ancient Celtic pagan sect, but rather a 'supposed' "Christian Church" in South Africa.

A bit more research revealed the following comments from people in the area who have had the misfortune on been on the receiving end of their brainwashing techniques.

"I'm one of those unfortunate people who have been prayed for by Shopharites in a pub. I would probably have moered those okes if I wasn't so stunned by their blatant lack of respect!", Jakes Lombard

"There was an incident on campus this week where a guest lecturer (lecturing on evolution) was intimidated by a few members of the Shofar group. After the lecture, they asked him whether he was an atheïst? After replying yes to this question, they spat at his feet and left. I find this degrading and feel that it is extremist!" Student at Stellenbosch University.

That second quote scared me even more! Here was a evangelical group, actively promoting religious myth over real life science! I don't know about you, but I sure think that South Africa has had enough backwards ideologies, and this is not helping the future prospects of our students on any level.

The fact that these people actually go after recognised and accepted scientific theory (that actually has sweet nothing to do with religion) should identify to you the problems this cult faces to us.

Lets make a quick list of the negative impacts the Shofar cult has had so far:

1) Negative impact on the person's social abilities. I have had numerous emails from people telling me how they got 'disconnected' from their friend's, how almost ever aspect of their social lives is controlled by the Church, and other techniques which appear to follow normal sect brainwashing patterns.

2) Shofar are against freedom of speech. Yup they so are. Not only are their recruitment methods very similar to Scientology and other cults, but they also attack our constitutional right to free speech like the Scientologist's. As noted earlier on, a fellow blogger of mine had his site taken offline by this cult, with threats from their lawyers. I asked my blogger associate on what grounds they wish to sue him on, his reply was, "defamation of company".

Shofar cultists... are you a church or a company? Make up your minds please. PS, Please ask your lawyers to email legal@pickledbushman.com. My advocates are standing by.

3) Shofar will 'harass' you in public places where you should be enjoying yourself such as pubs and clubs. Perhaps we should all go to their "Church" and get pissed? Fairs fair right? Since the damaging days of the Dark Age, mankind in enlightened cultures has tried to seperate religion from as many aspects of public life as possible. We learnt in the Dark Ages what happens when religious cults take power. Let us hope we do not allow them back into our public spaces.

4) Shofar seems to have a negative effect on a real education, such as their hostility towards scientific theory such as the theory of evolution. Imagine a world where all your biologists, and all those doctors where creationists... Imagine how much worse of our health and education systems would be due to religious bigotry...

A cult sect as militarized as this one needs to be investigated as quickly and thoroughly as possible to find out what harm it might be doing to local Western Cape community. I am instantly suspicious of people who offer prayer in return for cash or pretend to know what God wants. For those of you who are not worried yet, I advise you go see the documentary "Jesus Camp" http://jesuscampthemovie.com

I would like to find out more about this cultist sect known as "Shofar Christian Church", and if you have been harassed or have any information about this sect please email me at pb@pickledbushman.com . I did try contact Shofar for comment, but a lot of the links on their site are broken (including the contact link). If you think any of the above information is incorrect, please contact me on the email address mentioned earlier.

I will be writing more about this sect and others as I get more information. For more information please see:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2381216748
http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/PrintEdition/Article.aspx?id=456264

EDIT

Shofar Christian Campus Cult Part 2: http://www.pickledbushman.com/index.php/2007/05/29/shofar_campus_christian_cult_part_2

I think one of the advantages that I have over David Bullard and his column is the fact that I can call Microsoft scum. Unlike Mr Bullard (whom I find very amusing) I have no desire or need to brown nose the larger corporations like many of the journalists here in this country need and want to do. However, this is off topic and I would like to get back on on track with the topic of my post, "Microsoft scum still hard at work".

A couple of months ago, I noticed Novell and Microsoft getting into bed together and this had me very nervous. Microsoft is not a Google, with Google's wonderful motto of, "Do no evil". Microsoft seems to have the motto, "Only do evil".

When the headlines reached Slashdot about Novel and Microsoft I was instantly very worried. For instance... what is Microsoft's motivation for getting involved with Novell? Well today it seems the truth has come out in today's news edition of ZDNet.

Microsoft claims that free and open-source software violates more than 230 of its patents, according to a magazine report published Sunday.

In an interview with Fortune, Microsoft top lawyer Brad Smith alleges that the Linux kernel violates 42 Microsoft patents, while its user interface and other design elements infringe on a further 65. OpenOffice.org is accused of infringing 45, along with 83 more in other free and open-source programs, according to Fortune.

It is not entirely clear how Microsoft might proceed in enforcing these patents, but the company has been encouraging large tech companies that depend on Linux to ink patent deals, starting with its controversial pact with Novell last November. Microsoft has also cited Linux protection playing a role in recent patent swap deals with Samsung and Fuji Xerox. Microsoft has also had discussions, but not reached a deal with, Red Hat, as noted in the Fortune piece.

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-6183437.html

Now we know why Microsoft got into bed with Novell, so they can all of a sudden have a large amount of "patent infringements". Yet another example of a large corporation trying to stifle innovation through draconian copyright and patent laws.

In the last couple of months I have spent a lot of my time researching philosophy and theology, and having (sometimes) educated debates so I can learn more, from all sides. However, I have noticed a large group of religious people who seem to have some seriously inaccurate information on the sciences.

Listen to the scientists!

What I have found is that in the religious world, such as Christianity... Creationists go out of their way to lie and to distort the facts. I was honestly shocked at how some people who claim to be "for God", could be such a bunch of liars.

This is not just misinformed ignorance, this is active perversion of the truth. A chap on a local forum I hang out in... lets call him, "Prom Queen"... claims to be this big cheese in the name of God. We have had countless debates about the theory of evolution, and many times I have corrected one of his cliches (explaining to him the information is false, and why so), and yet he will carry on using it.

I will give you an example. He will use that common Christian lie that we evolved from Apes. Creationists love this one, because of course... no one wants to come from an ape do they?!? (especially in a country with hectic racial motivation). Well the truth of the matter is that we do not come from apes. Evolution teaches us that apes and humans evolved from that same primate ancestor.

I will correct this slip up, and a couple of days later he is using the same argument with another person. When confronted by me in regards to his.. he just fails to respond. Now don't get me wrong... this is not an individual thing. Almost all the hardcore creationist I debate with will tell a lie to defend their point of view. Apparently lying for God is better than finding out some metaphorical story in the Bible is not literal.

Another common lie I hear is that evolution is only a theory. Another bit of false information I have to constantly correct. Evolution is both a fact.. and a theory. Fact - Things evolve (they change) ; Theory - How they evolve (change). A common misconception amongst the ignorant, is that a fact is better than a theory. Their argument, that "evolution is only a theory", is rather naive. Firstly... theory's do not become facts. They are not different levels on a hierarchy of correctness. A fact is an observation. A theory explains the observation.

Another common mistake made by the simple folk, is that a scientific theory is simply a guess. Wrong again of course. In scientific usage, a theory does not mean an unsubstantiated guess or hunch, as it can in everyday speech. A theory is a logically self-consistent model or framework for describing the behavior of a related set of natural or social phenomena. It originates from and/or is supported by experimental evidence. In this sense, a theory is a systematic and formalized expression of all previous observations that is predictive, logical and testable.

Another common mistake made by Creationist`s, is that evolution is trying to answer the question on the origins of life. The theory of evolution does no such thing. Its simply explains the variety in life, and how it came to be... not from whence it came.

Creationist`s often confuse the theory of evolution with the hypothesis, Abiogenisis. Abiogenisis is the whole primordial soup story... not the theory of evolution. However Creationist`s use the same type of argument as with the ape as they do with the theory of evolution. They say that, "evolution teaches us that we are made from goo that just came to life one day". This of course, as I have mentioned.. is false, and merely one of their deceptive tactics to make the theory of evolution sound uninviting.

Over the next couple of months I am going to be writing a lot about science and religion. There's a lot I need to learn and a lot I need to talk about and share. There is a lot of bull out there, and I hope I will be able to broaden your scope on some of these important issues.

What a week people, what a week. I don't know where to start. I'm really angry at the moment. By now, those of you that read this website often enough know my blanket views on organised religion. Its a load or political rubbish designed to keep the simpletons in line.

Islam however, is going beyond the point of stupidity, and the people of Islam seem to be in no hurry to rectify this situation. Either because they are to scared to, or because they don't want to. Its as simple as that. If you really are a "religion of peace", you would moderate the fanatics, just like the Western world did with Christianity at the end of the dark ages.

This week the Pope mentions something about how Islam is linked to Jihad, or Holy War. Once again, the people in oppressed Islamic countries go on the protest. They claim the Pope is being intolerant of their religion and misrepresenting them.

A couple of responses from the Islamic community:

- Pope must convert to Islam
- Kill the Pope
- Jihad on the Pope and the Vatican
- "Smashing of the cross" and its followers
- etc etc

Basically, even though the Pope said he was sorry for his words. Which in my opinion was a waste of time, and not needed. What he said was true. Islam IS linked to Jihad. Where the f#ck do you think the word "Jihad" came from? Some Anglo-Chinese background or something?

Islamics (and other religions) have been declaring Jihad on just about anything that doesn't agree or comply with their religion. Chances are, if its had a heart beat, some nut out there has declared "Jihad" on it.

It appears, everyone from Cartoonists, Presidents through to the Pope are being threatened with Jihad in one way or another. Islam claims it wants tolerance for its religion from the Western world, but in the same breath is COMPLETELY intolerant to any other religion or way of life.

Its okay to deny the Jewish holocaust happened (not many shouts of protest from the Muslim peanut audiance), but its not okay to link Islam to "Holy War" Where the holocaust denial is an out right LIE, and judging from current responses and history the Pope was right. Lying hypocites.

Wake the f^ck up people of Islam. In our world, were allowed to make cartoons of religious people, even gods, because believe it or not, God doesn't strike you down if you don't comply with the religious texts. Actually if anything, judging by "Gods" responses, it doesn't care. So if you want us to give toot about what or where Mecca is, starting giving a toot about.... (wait for it)... (wait for it)... (its mostly likely a new phrase for you)........ (*drum roll*)... Human Rights!!!

Yeah we got them here. A place where people care more about people than killing for their god.

The next time a Muslim says his from a "Religion of peace". Say out loud "Bullsh!t!" Ask the Muslim to give an example of Islam as a religion of peace. All you need is one happy example. A country where everyone is free and happy... there are no oppressed people and theres no religious upheaval.

Explain to that Muslim that you are finding it hard to be tolerant of a religion that is intolerant to your beliefs (ie, simple freedoms, like freedom of speech and expression), and ask this Muslim, "How can I take you seriously, when all I see is a system of failed states, oppressed people, liars and tyrants?"

The people in Iran and neighbouring countries are so caught up in this hatred that they are simply too STUPID, to see all the oil vanishing under their noses. Taken by the people sponsoring their religious actions.

Tell your Muslim friend, basically to shut up, and fix his side of the fence, before daring to make a comment about your side. Enough is enough, and if you are willing to believe the bull these people continue to spatter out, then you have a really different version of reality, and perhaps should go live in one of their crappy 3rd world countries and stay there.

Burn flags and stuff, riot, kill babies, burn images of the Pope, or Mickey Mouse, or whomever has apparently "upset" Islam on that day. I mean.. its what God wants you to do. For such a powerful god such as Allah, its amazing his got all these really stupid followers doing the work of mass mayhem for him. One would think an omnipotent entity would not be so lazy, and would be able to cope with the "eternal damnation" etc etc etc himself.

If I get threatened for writing this article I don't really care. The threats will be as efficient as a goose farting in a hurricane. Your threatening views mean nothing to me, because I know no God is as stupid as what some religions seems to think it is.

Moderate your Islamic religion or I swear, you are going to piss off the world enough that we will assist you in moderating your religion. Why should we have to suffer because you religion wants to compare God penis size every 10 minutes?

The recent reactions from Islam is doing nothing good for Islam. People who used to be more understanding of Islamic beliefs are becoming less and less tolerant every single day. I don't blame them. People have enough sh!t in their lives. Why should they have to deal with Islams?

We have two idiot ministers here in South Africa. Who have been complete and utter faluires in their positions, and have done nothing but to bring down the people of South Africa.

The two in question are the Minister(ess) of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and our Minster(ess) of Communications, Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri.

With their gross acts of stupidity, how either of these got the "Dr" in front of their name is beyond me. Both of them are clearly simple, with no actual hard knowledege of either health or communication. A couple of months ago, I contacted the University where Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri (I will no longer refer to either of them with title Dr, as I believe it waters down the actual meaning behind, it, and neither of them deserve it), apparently "studied" and got her "docterate". Going over what they said she studied, it looked like our Minister of Communications was studying to be a school teacher. Not to be the head of one of the most sensitive ministeries in the country.

I emailed the University she "attended", and asked them for more information on her Docterate. I never got a reply, despite repeated requests to them for more information. Searching the university in question's website, I could find no mention of her. Strange that. You would think that if one of your students became a minister of a country, it would feature somewhere on their website.

Ivy has single handidly set this countries economical and social growth back 10 years, and millions of people are suffering for her stupidity. Her gross crimes against the South African people due to her own incompetence should be put to trial in a public court, on charges of "Crimes against Humanity". Its thanks to her (failed) policies that hundreds of thousands of kids go hungry every night, and over a million South Africans are kept in abject poverty. I wonder if she gets a nice big fat check from Telkom every month for screwing over her country in this disgusting way.

Now onto Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. Another lucky packet Docterate apparently. She has just embrassed South Africa internationaly in such a way, that shames all sensible South Africans. At the recent AIDS summit in Montreal in Canada, she and her department told the world that garlic, beetroot, and some good old fashioned witchdoctor medicine was what is needed. Bullsh!t. She was trying to push this remedy instead of the much needed anti-retroviral help that South Africans need to seriously combat HIV/AIDS.

Her comments were described by prominent members at the summit as sounding like they came from a "lunatic fringe group". South Africa was (rightfully) blasted with critisism and condemnation at the summit, because of yet another idiot Dr`s policies.

South Africa has come out of this looking really bad, and I will be suprised if we are invited to the next summit after this charade. However, the people of South Africa who should be most embrarrsed of these two woman, should be the woman of South Africa.

If these are examples of what happens when you put current South African woman in positions of power, its an extremely embarassing reflection of all woman in South Africa. History shall remember how the two of you single handidly pushed South African development so far back.

There is some hope for the woman of South Africa in the future. I have heard only good things about the young lady heading the NIA in South Africa. Suprisingly enough, she does not have the title "Dr" in front of her name, but shows an intelligence far beyond the the two simpletons heading up the Departments of Health and Communication.

There are more young intelligent woman like this out there. They are amazing people, with sharp mines, and have South Africa`s interests at heart instead of their own bank balances.

Oprah`s school for girls is another place I believe we are going to get some very talented female leaders, but thats still 20 years away from being in positions of power. What is South Africa to do in the interm with these imbecels in charge?