There is a series of articles on John Hagee and CUFI over at Talk2Action. I've covered the Hitler wannabe, Hagee previously. Now Talk2Action has a post about the fake converted terrorist, Walid Shoebat. Apparently, Shoebat is talking big about being some sort of former terrorist. If this is really true, then why is he not being prosecuted for murders he claims he committed. But it seems that he is scamming the Christians over at CUFI. And the latest is absolutely hilarious. Here are a few excerpt detailing the little scamp's mischief:

Shoebat also fancies himself as a bit of a Biblical scholar and palaeographer, and in a video clip that I have just been made aware of he expounds his theory that the "Number of the Beast" mentioned in the Book of Revelation is in fact a reference to...Allah.

The argument is that the author of Revelation was shown the Mark of the Beast in "video" form from God - obviously following Hal Lindsey's idea that the visions in Revelation, rather than being symbolic, in fact are John's interpretations of images from the future he couldn't understand ("locusts" being helicopters, and so on). With the Mark of the Beast, John saw some strange squiggles, which he incorporated into the text. For centuries, readers thought these squiggles were the Greek letters for either "666" or "616", but finally Shoebat has cracked the mystery: the squiggles are in fact Arabic, and they spell out "In the Name of Allah"!

Here is a video of him making the same claims (if you can stand listening to the idiocy):




I thought "Allah" was simply Arabic for "God". Don't Arabic Christians say "Allah" for their god? Does this mean that since 666=Allah, and since Allah=God, then God=666? So God is the Anti-Christ and Muslim? And I thought the anti-Christ was supposed to be Jewish. Can't CUFI get it's story straight? Does God annihilate himself like matter and antimatter? Since the universe acts like there is not a supreme being in it, this must obviously be true. Heh Heh Heh.

Check out the Red Sky Ministries. I guess the End-Times craziness is not confined to the United States alone. There is a creepy video of a man, perhaps the founder of the site on the front page. He is either one brain damaged specimen of humanity, or perhaps a badly done video. Very creepy.

Apparently these guys have now embraced Global Warming instead of denying it. I knew this would happen once they could figure out how to link this with Revelations and the Rapture. They are a bit slow on the uptake, but I knew they would eventually get there. After all, don't these people use any natural disaster they can wrap their grimy paws around, for their own nefarious purposes? The tsunami in SE Asia, Hurricane Katrina, and any other natural disasters with a large loss of life are used by these people to try to scare others into becoming Christians.

A lot of their links don't seem to come up, but I love the Practical Advice page. It says "coming soon...". And it won't be too soon for these fruitcakes.

Selecting Meet The Antichrist is absolutely surreal and very antisemitic at the end. Check out this:

Here’s the trick. The Star of David didn’t always belong to Israel. Originally, it was used by the Egyptians for Satan worship and still is. They call it a hexagram or a hex. Anyone with a hex is cursed.

What a bunch of morons. The word hexagram means six sides, you idiots. Hex means six not curse in this usage. What a bunch of ignorant dolts. You have to see the site to believe it. These people desparately need a good basic science education.

Oh, look here. There's a free e-book to download, The Global Meltdown Domino Effect: God's Judgment of Fire. Oh and they have a special notice for Christians only located at the back of the pdf file. I looked. Ooops. I guess I wasn't supposed to. I thought I would see their secret plans. But no, all I saw was mangled science and a bunch of boring Bible verses.

Redsky.uk.net is our official web site. It contains details of the Global Meltdown Domino Effect plus practical advice on what you should do during the coming years. There is also a section called “Meet The AntiChrist” where we reveal what he is doing at the moment, how he will take over, what the mark of the beast is, plus we virtually name him.

But their advice page had no advice. How the hell are they keeping track of the Antichrist? Did they snag him, drug him, rectally probe him, and implant him with a tracking device?

I think this is their technique for building this website:

1. Drop your pants and underwear (if you are not going cammo).
2. Reach around and locate your asshole.
3. Reach in and extract as much information as needed to quell your fears (don't worry if it does not match the real world; the crazier, the better).
4. Write website.
   

I'm laughing so hard now it's difficult to continue this post....

Jews on First has a very good overview of the lawsuit that the Military Religious Freedom Foundation is filing on behalf of Jeremy Hall. Hall as you may remember from previous posts on this blog, is a soldier who is suing the Department of Defense for the religious discrimination that he has received from superior officers and enlisted soldiers, as well as from the bureaucracy of the Army as well.

This case has been on going for nearly a year, and the government has asked for more time until sometime in July to prepare their case. Currently, the MRFF has received over 8000 complaints of harassment from conservative, fundamentalist evangelists. 95% of these complaints are from Christians,whom the evangelists consider "not Christian enough". There is a podcast of a Mikey Weinstein and Jeremy Hall interview here.

An excerpt from the report and the interview:

Maj. Welborn’s tirade notwithstanding, the Constitution’s First Amendment forbids the establishment of an official religion. In practice, however, according to Hall, fundamentalist evangelical Christianity pervaded his combat experience in Iraq. Before seeing any combat, his unit was lined up and a chaplain handed each soldier a New Testament. When a bullet hit the shield on the turret in which he was riding, leaving him “as scared as I’ve ever been,” the convoy stopped, “and the first thing I was asked was ‘Hey, Hall. Do you believe in Jesus now?’ And not ‘hey are you okay?’ Or ‘what happened?’ or anything like that, just immediately my eternal soul was in question; my religious beliefs were automatically brought into question as a test or as a means to gauge me, all the time.“ After this particular episode Hall replied, “’No but I believe in ballistic glass.’ And I knocked on the shield which had just saved me.”

Wow, these Jesus pushers are like telemarketers, they really don't know when to stop. And to know when they have crossed the boundaries of respectful behavior. Perhaps the Department of Defense can have an opt out list for members. They can call it the Proselytization Opt Out List (POOL). This can work just like with telemarketers. Violators can have their pay docked each time they violate the list by trying to convert those on the list. And anyone can be on the list, even Christians who are tired of their fellow Christian's bullshit.

I've been invited to try out the beta Adoptic blogging communities with the javascript on the left side of my blog. I'm in the academic community. I'll see how it works out, though I'm really not that worried about promoting my blog. I use my blog as a way to blow off a little steam.

Adoptic is similar to other blogging communities where post snippets are displayed in the Adoptic widget displayed. These snippets change over time as the web page is displayed. Going to Adoptic and logging in lets you quickly browse the communities and friends posts.

John McCain's favorite preacher seems to have quite the hate-on for Jews. Bruce Wilson over at Talk2Action has been covering this story for the last several months. In addition to some transcripts of Hagee's speeches,there is also plenty of incriminating video.

Last year, at Texas megachurch Pastor John Hagee's July 16-18 2007 "Christians United For Israel" conference in Washington D.C., US Senator Joseph Lieberman made a warmly received appearance and delivered a speech likening Pastor Hagee, Christians United For Israel's founder, to Moses. "He is an Ish Elochim," said the Senator, "A man of God." Lieberman went on, "and, like Moses, he is the leader of a mighty multitude." But in March 2003, on three consecutive Sundays at his San Antonio-based Cornerstone Church, Pastor John Hagee gave a series of three sermons heavily loaded with anti-Jewish memes, stereotypes, slurs and conspiracy theories, one of which was almost identical to what was perhaps Adolf Hitler's favorite conspiracy theory, which alleged that an international Jewish banking cabal, led by the The Jewish Rothschild banking family, controls the fates of entire nation, even the progression of world events and history, through the manipulation of global money markets.

Wow, just wow. And why doesn't the main stream media cover any of this? And what's with Joe Lieberman ignoring Hagee's antisemitic remarks? Well, I say if it walks like a Nazi and quacks like a Nazi, then it must be a Nazi, or at least a Nazi enabler.

John Hagee has also, to wide public notice, declared that God sent Hitler, to chase Europe's Jew towards Palestine with Nazi persecution and with the Holocaust. Hagee, additionally has stated that Jews are not "spiritually alive."

Check out the first two videos, just frightening. How the hell can his group Christians United For Israel get any Jewish support at all? Check out the multitude of links at the end of the article. There were too many articles for me to have time to read them all.

I live in Kern County, a large, rural, and very conservative county in Southern California. Tuesday, all counties must treat all people the same as regards to performing marriages. Apparently, the Kern County Clerk has decreed that Kern County stopped performing any marriages last Friday. According to the Antelope Valley Press, the Kern County Clerk will not perform any marriages at all, now that they also have to perform same sex marriages.

"The county clerk's office will not solemnize weddings after June 13, 2008," according to a post on the county clerk's Web site. "We will not have the staff or space to deal with an increase in both licenses and ceremonies. Because of long-term administrative plans, budgetary reasons and the need to increase security for elections, the clerk's office will cease solemnizing weddings, which is discretionary on the part of the county clerk."

But, the site notes, "the county clerk's office will issue the new marriage licenses as of June 17 in accordance with California law."

The move allows the county to avoid performing same-sex weddings while not discriminating against same-sex couples - heterosexual couples won't be able to say "I do" at county offices, either.

Looks like a case of "well if I can't get my way, then I'm taking my ball home, so no-one can play." What absolutely childish behavior. Talk about unprofessional.

Kern County Clerk Ann Barnett, who made the decision to stop performing weddings, declined to comment Friday, referring an Antelope Valley Press reporter to Greg Scott, a spokesman for the Alliance Defense Fund, and Brian Raum, a senior fund attorney. Scott referred questions to Raum, who did not return phone calls Friday.

The Alliance Defense Fund is a conservative Christian legal organization that opposes same-sex marriage, adoption by same-sex couples and abortion, as well as the inclusion of contraception in sex education classes.

Syndicated Christian radio host James Dobson is one of the group's founders.

Looks like another conservative Christian group is interfering with County buisness. And exactly why is the County Clerk being represented by a right-wing Christian group instead of a state attorney?

Butte County, north of Sacramento, also is ceasing its wedding ceremonies. Like Barnett, Butte County Clerk Candace J. Grubbs said the change has nothing to do with values.

"The decision to discontinue marriage ceremonies is about budgetary issues," stated a press release from Grubbs' office. "The decision was made during a budget preparation in early spring when it was determined there were not sufficient anticipated revenues to support all current staff positions."

I'm calling bullshit on this one. It seems that there was plenty of budget for performing weddings before the decision mandating that same sex couples be allowed marry like hetero couples. Why no money now?

While Kern and Butte counties won't perform wedding ceremonies, Los Angeles County will open its doors Tuesday, offering extended hours for ceremonies at some county offices. The county clerk's Lancaster office, 1028 West Ave. J-2, will offer marriage licenses from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Wedding ceremonies are by appointment only.

The county clerk's office in Norwalk will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will remain open for ceremonies until 8 p.m. from Tuesday until June 27.

The Norwalk office will offer a first-come, first-served wedding event from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 21, with 12 civil marriage commissioners on hand to perform ceremonies.

Good for you Los Angles County. Show those jerks what acting like professionals looks like. It looks like some County Clerks are acting like bigoted jerks. They seem to forget that they are here to follow the laws, not force their personal religious views on everyone.

There is a long and valuable history of anonymous writing in the United States, especially with the anonymous pamphleteering by writers such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine. I choose to write anonymously because I prefer to keep my views private until I disclose them myself to someone.

This past March, Kentucky Representative Tim Couch(R) introduced House Bill 775, which would require all sites allowing comments to require the person identify themselves. There would be no anonymous posting of comments allowed on the Internet for Kentucky residents.

"In summary, House Bill 775 would require Kentucky residents who want to leave a comment on a Web site to register their real name, address, and e-mail address with the Web site. They would be expected to use their real name whenever they commented. Web site operators who would not abide by the law would be fined $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for any additional violation."

Is the man daft? Does he even know how impossible it would be to implement this scheme?

Mr.Couch says his name has been slashed all over the blogosphere for this bill. I tried to persuade him the interview would give him the opportunity to explain to the blogosphere his original intentions, but he still declined saying:

“I only wanted to make a statement, and I did.”

Mr. Couch told me over the phone that he is being attacked on the Internet. He has received countless e-mails and phone calls not only at his office, but also at his home. His daughter received a call that contained severe “foul language.”

He said, “I am not a Communist,” like he thinks the blogosphere is making him out to be.

Well, you're a public servant, and when you do something this idiotic, people are going to voice their opinions. It appears that your constituents don't suffer fools gladly.

Mr. Couch also told WebProNews that he does not think the bill will go anywhere especially after the strong response he’s received. He said he would like the negativity to stop, and he’s very busy at the moment working on the state budget.

So why waste everyone's time with this sort of foolishness? Poor baby. The bill seems to be dead as of now. But I expect some power hungry control freak to try this again.

Quite a few bloggers use anonymity when blogging. There are a few disadvantages to anonymous blogging. Anonymous bloggers are more likely not to be taken seriously and usually have to compensate for this with more and higher quality posts. There is also a lack of some personal and uniquely identifying information in the posting, qualities that would allow readers to emotionally connect with the blogger. I find that I have to sometimes make small changes in identifying information in my posts. I also have to choose not to posts some personal stories. This restricts my content somewhat.

But I feel that anonymous activism can be a very powerful force. Anonymous has turned the act of anonymous protesting to an art form. It allows someone a freedom to express themselves with a possibly reduced risks of threats and harm. Though in the Keiffe & Sons Ford ad, I would have probably written as myself anyway, at least to the Ford Corporation. But publicly writing about this in the very conservative Antelope Valley almost requires me to write anonymously if I want to keep my family and property safe from some "Loving Christians."

Later, I will write about a few incidents that have prompted me to keep this blog anonymous. I enjoy my secret identity. It's turning out to be a lot of fun.

As I perused J W Horne's third blog, I'm thinking that the entire blog is probably an implementation of Poe's Law. Poe's Law states:

Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humor, it is impossible to create a parody of Fundamentalism that SOMEONE won't mistake for the real thing.

Horne has created 3 differing blogs over the last couple of weeks. Each blog consists of only one post containing one paragraph only. The first blog was entitled "Kieffe & Sons Ford" and consisted of the one long rambling paragraph, in which he apparently was trying (albeit unsuccessfully) to respond to my posts over here.

When people responded to his posts, pointing out his hypocrisy, he removed the first blog as well as all of the comments responding to his posts. He also renamed the blog. It also looks like Kieffe & Sons Ford seemed pretty unhappy with Horne's "defense" of the radio ad. In the comments to the Blog o'One Post, he gave out his buisness address and personal phone number for anyone on the Internet to see.

Now, that people have apparently been calling him and giving him a piece of their minds, he seems rather surprised people would call him. Duh! I don't advocate people calling and harassing anyone. He has every right to express his opinion no matter how hypocritical and bigoted. The lack of common sense in posting a phone number on the Internet is really mind boggling. He has now taken down that blog and created a new one. Again, with one post, though this time he finally uses paragraphs. Here are a few excerpts with my comments:

Because some of you respondents have crossed the line, I will issue this word of warning. Any attempt to be destructive, abusive or intimidating will not be tolerated. I have already reported some of you to the proper authorities. They have informed me that two have been identified and are now on a watch list. If you think you can hide behind the proxy servers and remain invisible and completely anonymous, you are mistaken.

Ooohhh, scary. What "watch list"? Blogger has checked on a couple of IP addresses for him? Well, I for one, have only visited his site, but have left no comments as there is really nothing to reply to. As for what Blogger can do, they could be easily defeated by using FireFox with TOR onion anonymous routing, and a throwaway email from DodgeIt.

Now all the details:
I wanted to get the attention of the 86 percent of Americans who say they believe in God. That includes Jewish Americans, Muslim Americans and Christians. I wanted to gauge their response. The ones who chose to be a part of the 14 percent spoke first. Calls were loud, vulgar and profane. After a few days, the believers started to contact the client. The positive calls and emails were far greater in number than the loud obnoxious ones. The majority woke up and responded. Included among them were the TV stations, the radio stations, other automobile dealers and people from all walks of life. I wrote the ad and produced it to get the attention of the believers. It is as simple as that. It worked and the atheists helped. Thanks.

J W Horne, you stated that 86% of Americans were Christians, who believe in God, and those are the people who are allowed to state their opinions in your perfect, Christian America. All others need to "sit down and shut up". Well, you are incorrect in your figures. It's closer to 73% identify as Christian, and about 10% identify as atheist or agnostic, with the remaining identifying as Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, New Age, etc.

As far as pissed off callers, I simply placed your words for all to hear. You refer to a minority as if we are second class citizens and placed your phone number on your blog, and now act surprised that you received a lot of calls? Poor, oppressed baby.

Oh and you're welcome, though your customers may have an increase in fundy customers, it may not be so easy to get new customers outside of your Christian buisness directory.

PS. My relationship with the dealership is as strong as ever. Be sure to be listening for more ads

Go ahead, it will be fun to do this all over again. But I think that your customers may eventually get a bit gun shy from the excitement.

Even though I posted a reply here to Horne, I suspect this blog may really be a Poe. Could someone in professional media really be this bad at conveying information?

It looks like the Kieffe & Sons Ford radio ad is continuing according to several people that I've heard from.

The local Bakersfield station quotes Rick Kieffe:

Rick Kieffe, owner of Kieffe and Sons Ford, said he doesn't regret running the ad, which aired on radio stations in eastern Kern County and the Antelope Valley, but he does apologize for offending anyone.

So he wants to keep running an ad that drives away potential customers by insulting and calling them second class citizens. Real good buisness sense there, buddy. First, Placing an apology on your website which has been removed as of today, then continuing to play the ad, really shows that you like to talk out of both sides of your ass. Typical used car salesman.

But I guess he's "technically" not lying. He just like to piss off potential customers. As for caring not to offend people, why air an ad that says he does not care who he offends? Just so much hypocrisy and weaseling out. Well I know one car dealership I will never shop at. Since I'll never get a straight story about the ad, why think that I could ever get the truth about a car?

PZ Myers over at Pharyngula is encouraging everyone to go vote at the poll at KGET. I'm late getting to this. Good work everyone. Here are current results:


Looks like the poll has been Pharyngulated.

Charming news from the Antelope Valley today. The Valley Press has an article in today's paper entitled Vandals Target Citizen Who Spoke Up.

A Lancaster woman's home was vandalized overnight Wednesday with "In God We Trust or ?" painted across her windows in what she believes is retaliation for speaking out against placing a similar phrase in City Council chambers.

So, is this what happens to those who don't "sit down and shut up"? Wow, sharing God's Love is a wonderful thing.

Phillips believes the vandals found her home after Mayor R. Rex Parris told her she had to announce her home address during the meeting, which is televised.

"I believe the two are linked," Phillips said.

She questioned the legality of forcing a speaker to provide an address to talk to the council. When she filled out a speaker card in order to address the council, she said she omitted her home address, but Parris asked her for her address when she stepped up to the podium.

This mayor will do and say anything to advance his political career. If sucking up to the Christocrats running Lancaster will advance his career, then he will do it.

At Tuesday's meeting, Phillips told the council that displaying the motto, "at the very least, implies that nonbelievers are unwelcome or unsuitable to appear before the council."

"I don't believe that motto should be brought into a public venue," she said.

Phillips said she is a "reluctant activist," but felt strongly about the council's proposal.

"I believe in God, but I don't even want my religion shoved down other people's throat," she said.

Phillips said she sent Parris, via e-mail, a list of secular slogans to put in place of "In God We Trust," but had received no response from the mayor.

Parris said he hoped the vandalism wasn't related to her speaking out.

Why aren't other non fundy Christians stepping out to support her? Why do they let the right-wing Christians run the Antelope Valley? Why do they stick their heads in the sand? Even if there are very few atheists, at least we support her, as she is supporting us.

He described the vandalism as an atypical incident since the vandal painted Phillips' windows with shoe polish.

Sheriff's officials are investigating the vandalism, Parris said.

I hope she didn't do this herself to get attention.

First Amendment expert Jim Ewert, legal counsel and legislative advocate for the California Newspaper Publishers Association, said no case law exists to indicate that a speaker must provide his or her home address to talk to a city council.

"I fail to see the nexus between providing an address and being able to speak at a council meeting," he said.

Under the Ralph M. Brown Act, the state's opening meeting law, Ewert said, the council can't pose unreasonable restrictions on individuals who want to speak to it.

Providing one's name is not an unreasonable restriction, but being forced to state one's home address out loud might be, Ewert said.

"It all boils down to whether forcing the speaker to give out her address constitutes reasonable restrictions," he said.

Phillips said the vandalism demonstrates "there are repercussions in speaking out against them (the city council)."

"It's an invasion of freedom of speech and privacy," she said.

I wonder why the mayor insisted she give her address. Hmmmmm, it makes one think.

The Kieffe & Sons Ford Dealership has issued a public apology at their website.

"For 15 years, Kieffe and Sons Ford has run ad campaigns that focus on current events. We have chosen to do this rather than presenting typical car sales ads. We do this through an agency that develops the material and sends us a package of commercials to review. From this, we select commercials that we distribute to area radio stations. Frequently we emphasize humor and patriotic themes, as we are located adjacent to two military bases. Public response over these 15 years has been hugely positive, often eliciting calls and visits from appreciative individuals. Regrettably, the commercial that has prompted the current objection to religious sentiment ("Under God", "In We Trust") was not closely reviewed by our dealership before it went live. The commercial has been replaced. We apologize to all who were offended. It is Kieffe and Sons' intention to support America and the freedoms that make this country great."

Rick Kieffe, President

Perhaps they will review the ads that they pay for in the future. They ended up with a lot of egg on their faces this time. I emailed them weeks ago about how the ad was offensive to nonbelievers, especially atheists. The portion of the ad that offended me was the "shut up and sit down" portion. The arrogance and condescension I can put up with, but not being told to give up my right to free speech.

If I were them, I definitely would screen future ads. There is a person calling himself J W Horne who claims to have made the ad. He seems to be cluelessly making himself look like an ass, both here and on his blog.

The Bakersfield Californian has the story as well.

A radio ad that tells non-Christians to “sit down and shut up” has prompted a flood of phone calls to the Kern County car dealer who paid for the ads and now regrets airing them.
...

Rick Kieffe, owner of Kieffe and Sons Ford in Mojave and Rosamond, insisted Wednesday that he does not remember approving the ad, which he said was written by his longtime advertising writer and producer in Oklahoma.

“It’s just something that went by us,” said Kieffe, who does not attend church but considers himself “a Christian spirit.” “We’re obviously sorry that it offends a given segment who identifies themselves as atheist.”

Airing on local AM and FM radio in eastern Kern County and the Antelope Valley, the ad has gained a lot of attention on the Internet, where blog posts go on and on about its pro-Christian, anti-atheist message.

Kieffe said he has received “an incredible amount” of calls from people as far away as Australia and England, most but not all of them from “very articulate, nice people.”

Way to go everyone.

Kieffe and Sons has contracted the same Oklahoma ad producer for 12 to 15 years, Kieffe said. Most of the ads are humorous but a minority are patriotic, “flag-waving” messages that don’t necessarily push car sales, he said.

The dealership also advertises on television and in print, although the ad in question was limited to radio.

I wouldn't call an ad that told 14% of the population to "sit down and shut up" very patriotic. The ad is also discussed over at Way of the Woo.

Consumerist discusses the Kieffe & Sons Ford ad as a prime example of bad advertising. I couldn't agree more.

Cuttlefish has written a new poem especially dedicated to our friends at Kieffe & Sons Ford.

When the rapture sweeps the planet
I know Heaven's my reward,
But for now my piece of paradise
I bought from Henry Ford

It's a broken-down jalopy;
It's a rusted piece of junk;
But there's Jesus on the dashboard
And a fishy on the trunk

Sure, it leaks a little oil,
And it doesn't "turn", but "lurch",
Seven miles to the gallon
But it gets me to my church

You can hear me from a block away
And smell last weekend's skunk,
But there's Jesus on the dashboard
And a fishy on the trunk

Got a brand-new bumper sticker
Saying "What Would Jesus Do?"
Now it's holding up my tail light
With some duct tape and some glue

You can almost hear the "Kieffe and Sons"
In every "Rattle-Clunk",
But there's Jesus on the dashboard
And a fishy on the trunk.

I saw a car that had a fish--
A Darwin fish, with legs!
I fixed it, with a wrecking bar
And half a dozen eggs

Don't mess with me or with my God
You heathen, godless punk--
I've got Jesus on my dashboard
And a fishy on my trunk.

Thanks Cuttlefish, I've just added you to my blogroll.

HehHehHeh. The ad with commentary seems to be going viral.