We’re all screwed. My IRA is lower now than it was in the Clinton Administration, and my house has been devalued by a stupid amount that makes my heart pound. The GOP just abandoned their president and their candidates McBush and FemQuayle.So here’s a thread for the financial crisis. How long before the politicians start praying for relief from a god (like the Alabama Governor prayed for rain)? It’s too bad we don’t have huge numbers of large buildings that are exempt from taxation for no reason. Then we could tax these buildings in a fair way and lower the burden on citizens. If only there was a huge and powerful sector of the economy that wasn’t paying its taxes AT ALL, that we could finally tax, and get immediate relief for the country. If only.

Today I watched the Jets beat the snot out of the Cardinals. I don’t like the Cardinals because their QB is Kurt Warner, who I met once at a TV studio. He was nice enough, but when I asked him for an autograph for my nephew, he wrote a bible verse on the autograph. This AFTER he learned who I was. I felt it crass, and my nephew thought it was a joke, but since then I’m not a Kurt Warner fan.So today, a player (Anquan Boldin) got hurt, and Warner led a prayer for all the world to see on the football field for that player’s health. Both teams participated — but not all players. Some players actually chose not to pray along with their teammates or to take any part of their sheepish display. Wish I had a picture or a list, but I don’t. But I saw it. Warner wanted it to be a church, but it was still a football stadium to some. I wonder how those other players felt.Thanks to medicine, and not invisible men in the sky, the injured Boldin is healing in a hospital and hopefully will be fine.Too bad Jesus didn’t want to help the Cards win today.

In honor of all those wonderful clergy who tomorrow will break the law of the land because they want to be “treated like everyone else”, I propose that we all call our congresspeople and demand that indeed, the churches be treated like everyone else, and the “religion tax” on American taxpayers be repealed.The fact that a religion or cult believes in a deity should not, in and of itself, allow them tax exempt status. If they do something for the community, then let them prove it (like everyone else), and be tax exempt (without, of course, breaking the laws to which other nonprofit organizations must adhere). Mind you, what they call “outreach” is nothing more than marketing, and does not qualify as community service. They have to actually help other people, not just recruit.If they pay their taxes like everyone else, they can endorse their candidates like everyone else, and every community will enjoy a lot more revenue, paving the way for tax cuts for –guess who — everyone else. Simple stuff.Happy Tax the Church Day!

Did you watch it? My take (personal opinion): Obama won. I’m not saying this because I went in leaning his way (which I did), I’m saying this because McBush was rude, obtuse, and clearly looked like Grandpa or a weird uncle that occasionally gets invited to dinner. McCain was worse than I thought he’d be.And… Where is Ms. Palin? Could she be stepping aside so McCain can attack Obama’s experience without reprisal? Or is she out having non-marital unprotected sex and shooting animals from helicopters? Giuliani was very happy to spin the session in her absence.Here’s the good news: NO GOD! No religion in the whole debate? Did anyone else notice that? Nobody even tried to slip him in.No god, no Palin… Hmm…..

AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.http://www.atheists.orghttp://www.americanatheist.orgFor more information, please contact:Ed Buckner, President (404) 423-2114Dave Silverman, Communications Director (732) 648-9333ATHEISTS WELCOME, OPPOSE ELECTIONEERING SERMONS An Atheist civil rights group announced today that while it opposed a”Pulpit Initiative” by churches to openly endorse political candidates,the effort may encourage people to question the veracity of competingreligious faiths. According to Ed Buckner, new President of American Atheists, “The U.S.Constitution cannot be subverted by a few greedy preachers determined towantonly undermine it, as many have sworn to do this Sunday–28September 2008 CE–during what they’re calling a ‘Pulpit Initiative.’ Their disdain for the rule of law and for the First Amendment isdisgusting. The principle of separation of church and state, set forthin the First Amendment and consistently supported by every reasonableinterpretation since Jefferson first put it into words as ‘a wall ofseparation’ in 1801, prohibits undue involvement of preachers in ourpolitical arena.”David Silverman, National Spokesperson for American Atheists, questionedthe tax exempt status. “Why aren’t they paying taxes in the firstplace?”, noted Silverman, “There are more churches in this country thanthere are pizza parlors, and none of them pay property taxes, even ifthey do nothing to help the community at large. In this era of economicuncertainty, the public has the right to pay the lowest and fairesttaxes possible, and I think we should start by taxing the churches.”Both Atheist representatives, though, pointed out a “pleasant upside” toSunday’s “Pulpit Initiative” that may prompt believers to questionreligious authorities.”What happens when different churches and preachers end up quoting theirholy books and citing ‘God’ as the basis of endorsing areligiously-correct political hopeful?” asked Mr. Silverman. “It seemsthat when it comes to supporting candidates, ‘God’ is very confused –or maybe His followers are!”AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights forAtheists; works for the total separation of church and state; andaddresses issues of First Amendment public policy.American Atheists, Inc.PO BOX 158Cranford, NJ 07016Tel.: (908) 276-7300Fax: (908) 276-7402

Associated Press – September 24, 2008 12:43 AM ETA federal judge in Alaska is siding with Private-First-Class Michael Barnes. He had told the Army that his religious experience two years ago left him opposed to war in any form.Judge John Sedwich ruled that military investigators failed to prove that Barnes’ religious objections to war were insincere. Barnes enlisted in the Army in March 2005 and arrived in Iraq in September 2006. Soldiers in his unit testified that he devoted much of his spare time to reading the Bible.It’s not clear if the Army will file an appeal. An Army spokesman declined to comment.Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

What about MY sincere beliefs? Do they have to be religious to be moral? Can’t an Atheist abhor war? And what does this say to Father Bush lying so we get into the war??

NEW YORK -Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin said Wednesday that the United States could be headed for another Great Depression if Congress doesn’t act on the financial crisis.Palin made the comment in an interview with “CBS Evening News” anchor Katie Couric while visiting New York to meet foreign leaders for the first time in her political career. As Palin sought to establish her credentials in world affairs, first lady Laura Bush said Palin lacked sufficient foreign policy experience but was “a quick study.”Recent surveys have shown that Palin’s popularity, while still strong, has begun to fade.Earlier this month, an Associated Press-Yahoo News poll showed more people viewing Palin favorably than unfavorably, 47 percent to 28 percent. But an ABC News-Washington Post poll released Wednesday showed that in a two-week period, the number seeing Palin positively dropped 6 percentage points while 10 points more see her unfavorably. On Monday, a CNN-Opinion Research Corp. poll said her favorable rating dropped 4 points and her unfavorable rating rose 8 points over two weeks.Palin has been in New York this week for a series of meetings with foreign leaders, part of an effort by Republican John McCain’s presidential campaign to counter criticism that the former small-town mayor lacks the experience to be vice president, let alone president in an emergency.

Oh, and Senator McBush backed out of politics to do more politics. Funny how this other politics doesn’t involve a debate.

PISCATAWAY ?”The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” “Of Mice and Men.” And the entire “Harry Potter” series.Those books are among the most popular ? and arguably among the greatest ? books ever written. But next week they will be celebrated for belonging on another list: the most-challenged books in the country.”Banned Book Week,” an annual event organized by the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom, kicks off Saturday, Sept. 27, and continues through Saturday, Oct. 4. This year’s theme: “Closing Books Shuts Out Ideas.”Among the local libraries participating this year is the Piscataway Township Public Library. Lina Belkewitch, the library’s public-relations specialist, says the week is more about freedom than it is about censorship.”It’s about your freedom to read and freedom not to read it, too,” she said. “It’s your freedom.”In fact, attempts to ban books at local libraries are rarely successful, according to the library association. The books celebrated during “Banned Books Week” are books that most frequently have been the subject of challenges by local residents. A “challenge” occurs when a resident or group of residents attempt to have a book removed from the library’s shelves, generally due to concerns over graphic language, descriptions of violence or racism, or mature themes. When a resident challenges a book, the complaint can lead to a hearing before the library’s board of trustees, or even a court case.But Molly Newling, acting director of the Piscataway library, said she can’t recall a challenge ever getting to the hearing stage at her library. She said generally an explanation of the library’s decision by a librarian will abate complaints.”I can’t recall a time where we’ve had a major challenge,” she said. “Some people have a problem, and we explain it, and we usually fix it.”Piscataway is celebrating the week with a display highlighting books in the library’s collection that are frequently challenged at libraries across the nation.Sharon Rawlins, youth-services consultant for the New Jersey State Library in Trenton, said participation is high among libraries in New Jersey. Some even use yellow caution tape to decorate banned-book displays.

http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=349New Pew Forum on political leanings and religion. No surprises really, but I really hate the “this kind of christian, that kind of christian, and everyone else” mentality.

Happy Fall Equinox. Half day, half night. 12 and 12. Yin and Yang. Chi and Chow. Cheech and Chong. Moe, Larry, and Curly. Woo woo woo.