Another Goddamned Podcast #33: September 25, 2008

THIS WEEK - Eric Kampmann on The Jewel of Medina


Original audio source

This week we have a web-exclusive interview with Eric Kampmann of Beaufort Books - the company that showed the heart we all wish Random House had. For background, listen to our discussion on how Random House caved into the fear of Islamic reprisal, canceling publication of The Jewel of Medina by Sherry Jones in Podcast #26: Muslims, Publishers, and Free Speech. We were all hoping someone would come to the rescue and Beaufort, led by Kampmann, did just that.

Ex asks what Eric thought upon hearing of the Random House disgrace. What we get is some real inside-baseball on the corporate politics that may have been behind their decision, as Eric has been in the business many years and knows some of principals involved. He goes on to explain how Beaufort made the decision to get involved. We talk a little bit about what the book is about and why the book may be a "seller", even though Sherry Jones is a first-time author. Find out if Beaufort has any plans in place in the event of terrorism.

Eric talks about the support he has received from retailers. We get a peek inside the publishing industry and the likelihood of self-censorship in the future. Finally, the positive changes that have taken place within the publishing industry - something every free-thinker should be heartened by. Eric gives better than an iTunes 5 Star Review to Another Goddamned Podcast and gets a prize. You can probably guess what it is. (00:00)

We come back from the interview and the Herd and discuss it a little further. Ex wonders which of us is very likely to buy the book. Is a historical fiction about a religion going to be of interest to people like us? Is it bad if there were no real Islamic threats that Random House thought it was OK to use claims of threats as their reason for not publishing? (35:49)

It's puzzle time. Do any of our listeners know how to interpret Faithfreeists and Christians? Then, see what you can do with some biblical names. Ex gives the results of our "God Bless America" poll. Evo has two quizzes this week. One is just for the Herd, but you can play along! It gets better. The one for you is sweet. But click off of the podcast immediately after the quiz or listen to Evo sing. You've been warned. (51:50)

UPDATE: The European publisher of The Jewel of Medina had his home firebombed in an apparent terrorist attack.

Opening Music [00:00]: excerpt from "Another Goddamned Draft"
Bridge Music [34:25]: excerpt from "One of Many"
Bridge Music [50:45]: excerpt from "Swing to the Left"
Bridge and Closing Music [1:04:54]: excerpt from "As Jazzy as I Get"
(All music: copyright 2008 by Rachel Murie)

This Week's Goddamned Links
Jewel of Medina at Amazon
Beaufort Books

Puzzling Listeners

Another Goddamned Puzzle:
Krystian Kyhl, Yunshui

Another Goddamned Podcast #32: September 18, 2008

THIS WEEK - It's the Faith-Based Economy, Stupid

Original audio source

Evo plays host this week, and everyone's invited to his anti-Republican party. He kicks off the festivities by explaining the origins of the "free market" in America, and we discuss why it's built into the nation's psyche. Does that still make sense today? Or is free-market worship just a "faith" position. Ex thinks the "American Dream" is a nightmare perpetrated by the GOP. (00:00)

How did we get into the economic mess we're in? Surprise: It wasn't just the Republicans. Incompetence and greed may not know party lines, but certainly the drive to deregulate has come from the Right, allegedly in defense of "free markets" — that don't even exist. Aren't all economic philosophies somewhat "faith-based"? After all, there's no scientific evidence that any system would work under all circumstances. However, there's plenty of evidence that the system now in place doesn't work. (Hint: Peek in your wallet.) (14:06)

In the beginning of the last segment, Evo asked if a defense of "free markets" could be supported Constitutionally. Do people confuse our individual rights with the rights of corporations? Philly goes back to that question and shares (at no cost!) his insights. The government bails out businesses, but not individuals; that's "corporate socialism," of course. While the Herd isn't happy with the deregulators, are some of us right to label their ideas as "faith"? What's the difference between faith and opinion, anyway? Chappy says that with supportable opinions, we can rationally attack a notion — but not with faith. OG does the impossible when she makes Ex reexamine his position. (30:36)

Ex grabs back the mike and takes us through puzzles, polls, and quizzes. Even as a rational thinker, you may find that you are CONfounded, but you should have no trouble CONfining your CONfusion to this podcast only! Remember, Ex is a bit of a CONman. By the way, you won't want to miss SI do his short stand-up comedy routine. (42:34)

Opening Music [00:00]: excerpt from "Another Goddamned Draft"
Bridge Music [13:18]: excerpt from "Heathen Boogie"
Bridge Music [29:38]: excerpt from "Latin Down the Hatches"
Bridge Music [41:54]: excerpt from "Highway 45"
Bridge and Closing Music [59:06]: excerpt from "As Jazzy as I Get"
(All music: copyright 2008 by Rachel Murie)

This Week's Goddamned Links
Wikipedia on "Free Market"
An Example of Faith-Based Free Market Nonsense
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
Phil Gramm Calls America "A Nation of Whiners"

Puzzling Listeners

Another Goddamned Puzzle:
Krystian Kyhl, J-Mil, Thorum

Evo's Science Quiz:
Thorum

Another Goddamned Podcast #30: September 4, 2008

THIS WEEK - Funny, She Doesn't Look Woo-ish

Original audio source

Sarah Palin likes shooting defenseless animals. Let's see if she can handle the Herd! Does experience matter? If so, how? Philly and Evo argue that Palin used her little bit of experience in a very authoritarian way, but Ex calls "bullshit" on them. Who's right? Meanwhile SI doesn't think 120,000 total votes and being governor for a year and a half is much experience. Ex sees an insidious strategy that the GOP may be using. (00:00)

OG would rather talk about issues than experience, and the Herd agrees. Obviously, that's a signal for a segue to a conversation about Palin's religiosity. How might her love of Jesus inform her decisions? What will be its effects on separation of church & state? Is (are?) the Assemblies of God scary? (Do moose shit in the woods while they're hiding from Sarah Palin?) Chappy and Evo sound very, very afraid. Believe it or not, Ex tries to assuage their fears. How fucking reassuring do you think that is? Yikes! (19:00)

Can Democrats attack Palin on her fundy ideas? Or have they painted themselves into a church corner? Philly would like to see the Dems go straight for her craziness, but understands it ain't happening. Instead, he offers a few politically feasible tactics. Can Obama/Biden just practice what they preach and let the public judge the difference between their particular god and Palin's? And do atheists have to bite the Christianized bullet? (Will it bleed if we do so?) (33:44)

Three Goddamned Solvers cracked last week's puzzle, one with the help of his ... well, we can't give everything away in these notes. Hint: zombies were not involved. Want to be deliriously happy for the rest of your life? The results of our poll may tell you how! And Evo wonders: Where are the science lovers in our audience? (Possible answer: getting happy?) (49:40)

Opening Music [00:00]: excerpt from "Another Goddamned Draft"
Bridge Music [17:37]: excerpt from "One of Many"
Bridge Music [32:32]: excerpt from "Crouching Christian Hidden Atheist"
Bridge Music [48:37]: excerpt from "Swing to the Left"
Bridge and Closing Music [1:02:31]: excerpt from "As Jazzy as I Get"
(All music: copyright 2008 by Rachel Murie)

This Week's Goddamned Links
Sarah Palin's Acceptance Speech
Sarah Palin Church Video, Part 1
Sarah Palin Church Video, Part 2
Assemblies of God: "Our 16 Fundamental Truths"
[Update] Reason Magazine: "Tracking the Palin Rumors"
Sarah Palin Action Figures

Puzzling Listeners

Another Goddamned Puzzle:
Derek, EnoNomi, Krystian Kyhl

Evo's Science Quiz:
No one

Another Goddamned Podcast #29: August 28, 2008

THIS WEEK - Atheist Woo?

Original audio source

Do non-theists believe their own sets of weird things? The Herd says "yes," but you don't have to take our word on faith; just listen. First of all: Does Evil exist? Chappy falls into Ex's evil trap. SI says it's just an adjective, but Evo isn't willing to go even that far. Wasn't Hitler evil? Find out why Evo would answer "no". (00:00)

How do conspiracy theories fit into our question? Are some conspiracies worth being agnostic about, while others are clearly fantastic? We learn from Chappy why people might either believe in a god, or some other form of woo — but not both. What is it about the human mind that makes even us rationalists seem to need some sort of woo? Ex tries to put words in SI's mouth, but SI spits them up and demands a break. (13:55)

SI believes that we're hardwired to believe something. Was he the subject of an anal probe? Ex hears many faith-based statements — and not necessarily the ones that mention "faith" or "God" — at the political conventions. Chappy sees that kind of "faith" as just wanting to be with the winning team. One of us fulminates about the irrationality of sports fans. [Hint: It's not Philly.] Does Jesus have anything on Roger Maris? (29:08)

Ex reveals that we had no correct answers to Another Goddamned Puzzle. Evo says there was a similarly empty email bag on the Science Quiz. Even the poll results were closer than normal. SI thanks god for sunshine, while Evo thanks a listener for a plug. Only one of them gets a "you're welcome," though. Can you guess which one it is? (45:02)

Opening Music [00:00]: excerpt from "Another Goddamned Draft"
Bridge Music [12:45]: excerpt from "Child of the 80's"
Bridge Music [28:31]: excerpt from "Middle Earth Shortened"
Bridge Music [44:21]: excerpt from "Highway 45"
Bridge and Closing Music [59:04]: excerpt from "As Jazzy as I Get"
(All music: copyright 2008 by Rachel Murie)

This Week's Goddamned Links
Live Science Article: "Monsters, Ghosts and Gods"
Yeti and Bigfoot: a Genuine Photo
Roger Maris's Record Explained
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Anal Probes
What Problem of Evil?

Puzzling Listeners

Another Goddamned Puzzle:
No one

Evo's Science Quiz:
No one

Another Goddamned Podcast #27: August 14, 2008

THIS WEEK - "Creation Care," Ethanol ... and Evo Screws Up

Original audio source

We have a special guest this week: Shrike, president of his local Audubon Society chapter and an active environmentalist for more than 30 years. The Herd asks him to tell us about the new green movement among evangelical Christians. Is the fundies' approach to saving the planet different from the traditional one? Do Christian bears shit in the woods? Chew on this phrase: Creation Care. Will the environmental movement be hijacked by a religious agenda? Shrike is willing to use all the help he can get. (0:00)

Or is he? Ex, fretting about religionists' involvement, poses a challenge. Would Shrike be willing to start his Audubon Society meetings with a prayer? The lifetime environmentalist doesn't have to think twice about his answer, but can you predict what it is? We wonder: If evangelicals are around, won't they ... duh ... evangelize? Philly worries what Shrike and others would be called if they walked away. (14:20)

SI finds a Creation Care website that looks mighty religious to him. After our disclaimer about Democrat bashing, we bash Obama. On ethanol. Shrike is not happy with this bogus response to the energy/environmental crisis. He likes his corn flakes and hopes a Democratic Congress will resolve this. The cynical Herd doubts that it will happen. (26:04)

Another Goddamned Puzzle, Poll and Quiz. Atheists need poetry, huh? Well, at least a different combination of those letters. Is Evo actually bright enough to be testing our listeners? We give a marginal thumbs-up to Atheist Nexus. Our conclusion: Join, but don't expect any miracles! However, do feel free to become a member of our group there. Not surprisingly, it's called ... ta-da ... "Another Goddamned Podcast." (49:11)

Opening Music [00:00]: excerpt from "Another Goddamned Draft"
Bridge Music [12:57]: excerpt from "One of Many"
Bridge Music [25:00]: excerpt from "Swing to the Left"
Bridge Music [39:24]: excerpt from "Heathen Boogie"
Closing Music [51:50]: excerpt from "As Jazzy as I Get"
(All music: copyright 2008 by Rachel Murie)

This Week's Goddamned Links
Creation Care
Christian Care Students Abroad
Wikipedia on Evangelical Environmentalism
Washington Post on The Greening of Evangelicals
E.O. Wilson: The Creation
David Pimentel: "Biofuel Skeptic Extraordinaire"
John Stossel report on Ethanol
Alternative Energy Source: Vertigro

Puzzling Listeners

Another Goddamned Puzzle:
Aly, J-Mil, Question Everything, Venjanz, Yunshui

Evo's Science Quiz:
Aly, Derek, EnoNomi, IsThatLatin, J-Mil, Konradius, Paul (shudd3r2th1nk), Question Everything

Another Goddamned Podcast #26: August 7, 2008

THIS WEEK - Muslims, Publishers, and Free Speech

Original audio source

Islam sucks, OK? And so do some publishing companies. We examine Random House's decision to quash the publication of Sherry Jones's book The Jewel of Medina. Why? The publisher "learned" that the novel might infuriate Muslims. Who's Denise Spellberg, and what was she thinking when she fomented Islamic hysteria? Doesn't the Random House decision just encourage threats of violence? (0:00)

The Herd wonders if there's any book that would deserve banning. It's clear that Random House cancelled publication for one reason only: Can you say "scared shitless," boys and girls? What legal rights does Jones have? We look a little harder at Spellberg and what she had to gain by worrying the editors. Why is it OK to anger other groups, but not Muslims? Philly wants to open up a new front in the so-called "War on Terror." (13:10)

We explore Muslims' responses to Western secular culture — even when they're living in that culture. Evo tells us what Sherry Jones' next move should be. We ask: What might Random House do if it was suddenly besieged by infuriated emails and calls from people who love our freedoms. (That's a hint, listeners.) Or should freethinkers simply threaten violence, just as Muslims would? Question: Is the Bush foreign policy indirectly responsible for the cancelling of Jones's book? (26:18)

Why does Denise Spellberg get us pissed off at liberals? What exactly are our government's Constitutional responsiblities to religion? Then, briefly, it's "Be Kind to Christians" Week. But that doesn't last long! (42:18)

Do we reveal the correct answer to last weeks' puzzle? Dawk! You'll have to finish listening to find out if we're lying or not. A scrupulous puzzle-solver actually turns down his AGP secret decoder ring. And don't you just live for our poll results? Finally, Evo asks: Where the fuck are our science-savvy listeners? (55:29)

Opening Music [00:00]: excerpt from "Another Goddamned Draft"
Bridge Music [11:57]: excerpt from "Crouching Christian Hidden Atheist"
Bridge Music [25:17]: excerpt from "Waltz of the Dead"
Bridge Music [41:02]: excerpt from "Child of the 80s"
Bridge Music [54:12]: excerpt from "Disco is Not Dead"
Closing Music [1:05:46]: excerpt from "As Jazzy as I Get"
(All music: copyright 2008 by Rachel Murie)

This Week's Goddamned Links
Asra Q. Nomani's piece in The Wall Street Journal
Denise Spellberg's Letter in Response
Amazon UK's page on The Jewel of Medina
Wikipedia on Aisha (a wife of Mohammed)
Wikipedia on Denise Spellberg (not a wife of Mohammed)
Denise Spellberg's "Liberal" Quote (scroll to bottom of page)
Contact Random House
Extreme Mohammed (nothing here by Denise Spellberg)

Puzzling Listeners
No correct answers this week, but funny ones by:
David Smith
shudd3r2th1nk
Venjanz
Yunshui

Another Goddamned Podcast #25: July 31, 2008

THIS WEEK - Angry Atheists

Original audio source

We welcome Chappy back, and then immediately attack her. Why? Well, she's been on the warpath lately and we'd like to know what she's so angry about. It turns out that OG and SI are mad about the very same thing. The other three of us may be even more furious, but for different reasons. Philly and Evo articulate theirs. Listeners are urged to form a circle and join hands. (0:00)

Ex, great sage that he is, tells us all why we're really pissed off, and we see that there are "three flavors of our discontent." OK, so how do we deal with our anger? Does our rage make us "strike out" at religionists, both in the blogosphere and in real life? Urging calm, some members of the Herd argue that we should remain logical. Philly makes an insightful point about theist arguments, which leads us to discuss the role of education in deconversion. (14:26)

Higher education is our continued focus, and we find out how it freed OG. Can it work that way on others? Ex remains rankled. Does religion require ignorance of worldly knowledge? Evo points out that there's probably nothing more worldly for a theist to do than ... what? (29:44)

Another Goddamned Puzzle is solved, but Venjanz needs a shave. Sean sends an audio file, complete with gratuituous wisecracks. In our new poser: No man is an island, but someone gets stuck on one. Evo offers a little Science Quiz, for which fantastic prizes will be awarded! (Well, our definition of "fantastic" might be a little different than yours.) Philly explains how Scientology is like the Mafia. Finally, we award a mini-medal of honor - to one of our own listeners. Find out what she did to earn it. (46:22)

Opening Music [00:00]: excerpt from "Another Goddamned Draft"
Bridge Music [13:45]: excerpt from "Highway 45"
Bridge Music [28:42]: excerpt from "Jesus Loves Me feat. Satan"
Bridge Music [45:35]: excerpt from "Heathen Boogie"
Closing Music [1:00:53]: excerpt from "As Jazzy as I Get"
(All music: copyright 2008 by Rachel Murie)

This Week's Goddamned Links
Is Scientology a Crime Syndicate?
Superintendent's Letter to yinyang
Sing Along with Evo
Sing Along with Philly
Sing Along with Chappy, OG, & SI
Sing Along with Ex

Puzzling Listeners
InTheSkyGirl
Sean
Venjanz
Yunshui

Another Goddamned Podcast #24: July 24, 2008

THIS WEEK - The Pompous-Driven Political Campaign

Original audio source

Ex doesn't need any prodding from a man down-under to get pissed off about McCain and Obama making their first joint appearance in a CHURCH! Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? Rick Warren, of The Purpose-Driven Life fame, claims both candidates as friends, and will soon host a pious party from his pulpit. OG informs us about Warren's book, which we urge listeners not to rush out and buy. The Herd, as usual, fulminates. Is this unsubdued enough for you, Sean? (0:00)

Our AGP Fundogelical Correspondent, OG, gives us some deep background on the fleecing of America. Philly reminds us that it's all about power. SI asks: Isn't that why government and religion go so easily hand-in-hand? We all see a number of infuriating church/state conflicts at Warren's Saddleback Church Political Extravaganza. So what can freethinkers do about all of this besides our usual bitching and belly-aching. Evo tells about an excellent idea he tried, but did it work? If you're a proper cynic, you'll guess the answer. (17:22)

Now what? SI wants to use this podcast as a tool. Shall we add it to our atheistic Swiss Army knives? Ex opens a pet shop, and Philly finds a way to compare Saddleback Church to NAMBLA and the American Nazi Party. OG asks the question: Isn't showing up at a Christian Church, and only a Christian Church, a de facto religious test? Doesn't that fly in the face of the Constitution's Article VI? Maybe, but who's gonna sue? (34:23)

Another Goddamned Puzzle. Man, you folks are smart (which our scientific poll later confirms). But you're funny, too! Some listeners work together to give last week's solution, and Yunshui adds a special surprise of his own. Evo awards the 3rd AGP Medal of Honor; find out who got it and why. SI tips everyone off to a good series of articles on evolution. Finally, why we love Darwin — but hate being called "Darwinists." (50:59)

Opening Music [00:37]: excerpt from "Another Goddamned Draft"
Bridge Music [16:19]: excerpt from "Jesus Loves Me feat. Satan"
Bridge Music [33:49]: excerpt from "Middle Earth"
Bridge Music [50:01]: excerpt from "Latin Down the Hatches"
Closing Music [1:14:40]: excerpt from "As Jazzy as I Get"
(All music: copyright 2008 by Rachel Murie)

This Week's Goddamned Links
What Got Ex Pissed Off
Wikipedia on Rick Warren and What The Fuck He's Here For
The Purposely Woo-Driven Web Site
Wendy Kaminer on Rick Warren
Yunshui's Poetry
Olivia Judson on "Darwinism"
Sing Along with Evo
Which one is Sean the Blogonaut?

Puzzling Listeners
Aly
InTheSkyGirl
Venjanz
Yunshui

Another Goddamned Podcast #23: July 17, 2008

THIS WEEK - McCain, Obama, Anyone Else? Oh Well, There's Always Beer!

Lately, we've been avoiding having full-blown discussions about politics. But this week we can't resist looking at a few issues related to the '08 elections in the U.S. Ex wants to know if McCain has anything to offer the American people. You might find some of the answers surprising! Would a President McCain still pander to a religious base that didn't support him in the election? Then: Given that we all agree Obama would be marginally better than McCain, why do we tend to give him such a hard time? Can you say "pissed off," boys and girls? (0:00)

Obama's brand: Change. But it now comes with a secret ingredient: No-change-o. Does anyone buy that "change" line anymore? Was his FISA vote a deal-breaker for you? It was for some of the Herd. We discuss why that single vote was so important to us as atheists, freethinkers, and lovers of the Constitution. Some of us theorize about what was behind it, but what the fuck do we know? (15:18)

We look at the American political system and examine why it's so difficult for third-party candidates to get elected. Lots of voters seem to want choices besides the Demopublicans, yet it's hard to find a viable standard-bearer for the great idea of ... what? Can any of us suggest a political position that a potentially successful third party might embrace? Philly explains how he thinks a new party could get off the ground. Ex, though, seems fixated on dogcatchers. (28:18)

Another Goddamned Puzzle and Another Goddamned Poll and Another Goddamned Ten Minutes of Your Life spent listening to this drivel. In our free-for-all ranting segment, our resident artist is annoyed at the reactions to The New Yorker's Obama cover and the resulting controversy about visual satire. We see this as yet another problem fed by the Left as well as the Right. Evo tells about a college instructor who lost his job because he told his class that the Adam-and-Eve story was a fable. Somehow this leads us back to a brief discussion of the tragic and infuriating case of Madeline Neumann. (46:12)

[NOTE TO SOLVERS of Another Goddamned Puzzle: The podcast is recorded on Thursday nights, 10:00 Eastern time. If the Exterminator has received your correct solution by then, you'll be mentioned in the puzzle segment. If your solution is received after that but before the new podcast is posted (around 1:00 a.m. Tuesday, Eastern time), you WILL still be credited as one of the Puzzling Listeners for that week, but obviously — duh! — you won’t hear your glorious name announced. Sorry, Venjanz and Aly, you didn't know. Not that you're a couple or anything. In fact, we don't even know if Aly is male or female. Not that there would be anything wrong with you folks being paired up whichever he/she is. However, the Herd would like to announce officially that it wouldn't wish Venjanz on anyone.]

Opening Music [00:00]: excerpt from "Another Goddamned Draft"
Bridge Music [13:54]: excerpt from "One of Many"
Bridge Music [29:22]: excerpt from "Swing to the Left"
Bridge Music [44:56]: excerpt from "Disco is Not Dead"
Closing Music [1:08:11]: excerpt from "As Jazzy as I Get"
(All music: copyright 2008 by Rachel Murie)

Original audio source

This Week's Goddamned Links
The FISA "Compromise"
Why the FISA Vote Mattered
Bloggers on Obama's FISA Vote
Third-Party Presidential Candidates
The New Yorker's Infamous Obama Cover
The L.A. Times on Editorial Cartoonists
Adam & Steve (Bitterman)
Madeline's Parents: Criminal Complaint & Police Reports (PDF)


Puzzling Listeners
Aly
InTheSkyGirl
Venjanz
Yunshui

Another Goddamned Podcast #22: July 10, 2008

THIS WEEK - For Elitists Only

[NOTE TO PHARYNGULISTAS: We take pride in our "cussing," although we'd never use such a cutesy, low-brow term for "saying 'fuck.'" You might like some of the other words we use, too, as well as the way we string them together to form thought-provoking ideas. If you're not an elitist, though, you may not be able to follow the conversation. Be warned.]

Ex pulls teeth (especially with SI) to get the entire Herd to agree that we are elitists. After brow-beaten SI gives in, we discuss what, exactly, an elitist is. Is it all about greater intellect and finer taste? And what's the difference between elitism and snobbishness? As atheists, are we automatically unholier than thou? Evo says, "if you believe in supernatural causations...I'm superior". And the members of our snooty Herd all agree on that one. Someone forgets to kill the sound during our first break, and we find out which one of us is the most elitist. (0:00)

How do we manifest our elitism in our non-Internet lives? Evo is a smarty-pants. SI is more cagey, except maybe with his wife! Ex thinks he's smarter than the average bear — and more valuable. Why is it a bad thing in our culture to be better at something? Would most Americans rather vote for a person who is a reflection of them rather than someone who is clearly "better" than they are? Once again, the mic runs during our break, and listeners are treated to a short Philly Rant™. (15:13)

Ex wants to know what there is in our elitism that makes us angry at various things in society. Not surprisingly, we're mostly pissed off at the anti-intellectual culture of the United States. Our engineer decided that our arrogance is too delicious to resist, so we have yet another candid break. Evo claims that more damage was done to our society by Bush's response to 9/11 than by the attacks. (33:02)

Ex, always fascinated by whether like-types can spot each other, asks if we can automatically recognize other elitists. We give the answer to Another Goddamned Puzzle from last week and announce the winners of our AGP Secret Decoder Ring. There were two — neither of whom was named Venjanz. Find out why poor Yunshui may not be happy about that. Poll results revealed — and yet ANOTHER reason you may not want Evo singing in your neighborhood. Is it elitist to mention a few items in the news? We think not. (48:57)

Opening Music [00:00]: excerpt from "Another Goddamned Draft"
Bridge Music [14:00]: excerpt from "Crouching Christian Hidden Atheist"
Bridge Music [32:25]: excerpt from "Middle Earth"
Bridge Music [47:15]: excerpt from "The Atheist's Hymn"
Closing Music [1:10:34]: excerpt from "As Jazzy as I Get"
(All music: copyright 2008 by Rachel Murie)

Original audio source

This Week's Goddamned Links
Low-brow Quiz: What Kind of an Elitist Are You?
U.S. Political "Elitism" Yesterday and Today
A Typical Elite Type
You Think You're So Smart, SI?
P.Z. Myers on Christian Crackers
The Washington Times on Donohue vs. Myers
Atheist Revolution on Atheist Nexus

Puzzling Listeners
InTheSkyGirl
Yunshui

Another Goddamned Podcast #21: July 3, 2008

THIS WEEK - Are We Lacking?, Faithfreeists, and Not Being Liberal

Philly is on a mission. He wants to stop us from being defined by a negative. The one definition commonly attributed to atheists is that we have a "lack of belief," and that really sticks in his craw. So what's a better definition? The Herd weighs in and then we hear about a new word created by The Exterminator. Maybe next we'll create a special word for the 21% of atheists in a recent poll who said they believe in a higher power! Theatheist? Feel free to play along! (0:00)

What's behind the resistance we've all seen in the past whenever a new term is proffered? Do all atheists stand united on all positions? Of course not. While it's generally assumed that atheists are Liberals, each of us has some issues where he or she diverges from the left-wing norm. Even within our self-complimentary Herd, we have disagreements. We give examples and argue amongst ourselves. So what else is new? (18:14)

We continue disagreeing with one another's dismissals of leftist "dogma". However, one of us brings up a silly liberal idea that we all agree is dumb. Maybe you can guess who that sweet person is before you hear the idea presented. For extra credit, can you predict the idea? (40:50)

More polls, more puzzles. Venjanz has become a monster. Can any of you match his greatness? (58:30)

Opening Music [00:00]: excerpt from "Another Goddamned Draft"
Bridge Music [17:25]: excerpt from "Heathen Boogie"
Bridge Music [39:46]: excerpt from "Swing to the Left"
Bridge Music [57:30]: excerpt from "Waltz of the Dead"
Closing Music [1:20:02]: excerpt from "As Jazzy as I Get"
(All music: copyright 2008 by Rachel Murie)

Original audio source

This Week's Goddamned Links
Reuters article on the Pew Religion Study
Philly's Post on the Definition of "Atheism"
SI on "Faithfreeists"
yunshui on "Faithfreeists"
No Swearing, No Gambling, No Customers

Puzzling Listeners
Venjanz

Another Goddamned Podcast #20: June 26, 2008

THIS WEEK - Crabs, Stars, and Richard Dawkins ... Plus EVO SINGS!

The Herd "celebrates" its 20th podcast by talking a little more personally. First we look at how we manifest our atheism in our non-Internet lives. Find out which members of the Herd are surrounded by theists and how we deal with it. What does Philly do when Mrs. Chief dips into the woo? Evo can't resist bringing in a story about woo and evolution. (0:00)

More about spouses. Then we examine whether skeptics can instantly identify like minds. If so, how does our A-dar work? In living our atheist lives, do any of us have a mission? What oral (or other) arguments could be made to us that would sway us to believe in a god? Philly says: "You can't argue something into existence." So what evidence would a theist have to present? Ex takes a break to consult the stars. (20:22)

"God" is the first explanation for a strange event to many people. But, obviously, not for the Herd. In fact, it would be the absolute last. OG would need a trip to heaven supported by scientific observations. What would Richard Dawkins need? More importantly, what would he need to get back to writing about science? We discuss the value of his writing about atheism. Ex and Evo aren't pleased that he's changed his focus. (42:10)

The rest of the Herd chimes in on Dawkins, supporting his work as Atheist-In-Chief. Ex gives Venjanz another chance. Which of us hates sad-eyed fictional bunnies? And stick around for the out-takes: Another Goddamned Dittty. (1:01:59)

Opening Music [00:00]: excerpt from "Another Goddamned Draft"
Bridge Music [18:57]: excerpt from "One of Many"
Bridge Music [41:30]: excerpt from "Highway 45"
Bridge Music [59:18]: excerpt from "The Atheist's Hymn"
Closing Music [1:14:52]: excerpt from "As Jazzy as I Get"
(All music: copyright 2008 by Rachel Murie)

Original audio source

This Week's Goddamned Links
Feeling Crabby?
Samurai Crab 1
Another Goddamned Samurai Crab
Carl Sagan Video on Heikegani
Richard Dawkins books available through Amazon


Puzzling Listeners
Not Venjanz

Another Goddamned Podcast #19: June 19, 2008

THIS WEEK - Shrinks, Oaths, and Stupid Editing at The NY Times

Joined by regular pinch-hitter Chappy, the Herd follows up on last weeks' Evolutionary Psychology conversation by discussing psychology of the non-evolutionary kind. We wonder: Is psychoanalysis somewhat "faith-based"? Why isn't god-belief considered delusional? Or would atheism be seen as a problem requiring therapy? (0:00)

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) wants to take on the government in an attempt to preclude it from essentially forcing new citizens to swear "so help me god". Wouldn't a freethinking new American be loath to complain about that oath as part of the ceremony? Some of us think we need to concentrate on removing god from ALL public affirmations. (17:26)

The Herd agrees: Let's do away with government oaths to god. But how do we accomplish that? Evo has a faith-based all-encompassing solution! Chappy argues — one step at a time! But this is all about Evo's reality. We swear! (34:12)

Late-breaking news: If Obama is elected, he'll be America's first black President! Is that too obvious for us to mention? Well, you may be right. After all, we're not The New York Times? Ex offers another goddamned puzzle: Can Venjanz keep his perfect record going? (46:58)

Opening Music [00:00]: excerpt from "Another Goddamned Draft"
Bridge Music [16:38]: excerpt from "Heathen Boogie" by Rachel Murie
Bridge Music [33:02]: excerpt from "Star Spangled Banner"
Bridge Music [46:17]: excerpt from "Latin Down the Hatches" by Rachel Murie
Closing Music [59:17]: excerpt from "As Jazzy as I Get" by Rachel Murie
(All music: copyright 2008 by Rachel Murie where noted)

Original audio source

This Week's Goddamned Links
What's Psychoanalysis?
FFRF's News Release about the Citizenship Oath
Colbert on McLaughlin's Claim (starts at 3:30)
New York Times: Was Harding our First Black President?

Puzzling Listeners
Cephus, Venjanz

Another Goddamned Podcast #18: June 12, 2008

THIS WEEK - Evolutionary Psychology (Maybe), You Wanna Bet?, and Killing Peter Rabbit ... plus Another Goddamned Puzzle

Man: the questioning animal. Is there a psychologist in the house? No? Good. It's safe for the Herd to weigh in on evolutionary psychology. While none of us know much about the field, it doesn't stop us from discussing it and its relationship to gods and woo. Who’s flawed, wooists or those who use reason? Or are neither flawed? Is there a specific "god gene"? (0:00)

More on evolutionary psychology. OG is presented with a nightmare "desert island scenario," and turns down the opportunity of a lifetime. Is there an evolutionary advantage to reason? How about woo? (15:43)

Pascal's wager, and woo, and god. If you accept the bet without really believing — is that good enough for god? We try to figure out: How in the hell do we get in to heaven? Seriously, though, do some Christians make believe that they've made themselves believe? (32:07)

The new atheist video game - murder Abraham, Jesus, and Mohammed. Is that any fun? Remember: We have several hardcore gamers in our ranks. Results of Another Goddamned Puzzle from Podcast 16, and a new challenge. Can Venjanz do it again? (49:21)

Opening Music [00:00]: excerpt from "Another Goddamned Draft"
Bridge Music [14:40]: excerpt from "Jesus Loves Me feat. Satan"
Bridge Music [30:26]: excerpt from "The Atheist's Hymn"
Bridge Music [48:17]: excerpt from "Swing to the Left"
Closing Music [1:08:24]: excerpt from "As Jazzy as I Get"
(All music: copyright 2008 by Rachel Murie)

Original audio source

This Week's Goddamned Links
The Moral Animal by Robert Wright
Pascal's Wager
The New Atheist Video Game
More on (Moron?) the Game
Wired on the New Game
Tommy's "Pledge Project"

Puzzling Listener
Venjanz

Another Goddamned Podcast #16: May 29, 2008

THIS WEEK - Evangelicals for Israel, the Rapture, and a Big Ape

Pastor John Hagee and his ilk – why would the State of Israel in general, or Jews specifically, think this blowhard is their friend? We look at the many things he (and other fundamentalist Christians) do and say. They're repulsive, right? So is gaining their financial and moral support worthwhile for Israelis when it means having to stomach their hateful rhetoric. Can the meddling of the American evangelicals cause bad things to happen in the Middle East? Our biblical authority, OG, shows us how the “end times” crowd has the scriptures wrong. (0:00)

What is the “rapture” all about and who thought it up? Does the human brain have the ability to justify bogus "truths" in religion -- and in politics? How can a leader strongly influence beliefs in others, even without the ability to back his claims up intellectually? In this regard, we compare our current political players to religious leaders. No surprise: The Herd gets pissed off again. (32:05)

Ex tells a story about sticking his foot into his atheistic mouth at a party. Now that he finds himself back among friends, he asks: Can an intelligent person be religious? Philly wonders which came first, the religious chicken or the stupid egg? How do people who had the misfortune of being born into a highly charged religious environment fit into this picture? Evo hypothesizes that compartmentalizing may be a factor in the religiousness/dumbth phenomenon. Ex disagrees. Philly can't take his eyes off the 1,000 lb. gorilla sitting in the corner. (30:24)

Evo rethinks his hypothesis about compartmentalization and re-defines what he means by it. SI kicks in with what the Herd agrees to be a nice analogy. We review the interesting results of our latest “scientific” poll. Ex unveils a new feature of Another Goddamned Podcast. Have fun – win prizes (sort of). (48:14)

Opening Music [00:00]: excerpt from "Another Goddamned Draft"
Bridge Music [16:59]: excerpt from "Crouching Christian Hidden Atheist"
Bridge Music [31:00]: excerpt from "Swing to the Left"
Bridge Music [47:13]: excerpt from "Waltz of the Dead"
Closing Music [59:29]: excerpt from "As Jazzy as I Get"
(All music: copyright 2008 by Rachel Murie)

Original audio source

This Week's Goddamned Links
Hagee on Hitler
Going Up!
A History of the End of the World
Hemant's Post: Biblical Literalism and IQ
Intelligence and Faith
"Idiot Savants"
A Deeply Religious Person