tristane

I didn't realize it was looking so bleak over there. I guess I just have to hope it pulls through, I am close to a lot of people who have a lot invested in Ireland.

Now that's one hell of a home coming.

Indeed, I did. That bit was my favorite line. I really felt that the analysts saying it lacked a great, quotable line dropped the ball when they missed that one.

You'll have to give me some tips on picking up women.

Well congrats on finding a place to live, and scoring a bunch of free stuff.

I get that definition of atheism a lot, and one of the things I've noticed about the definition is that it's never a self-proclaimed atheist using it that way. It seems, to me, to be the greatest misunderstanding about atheism.

I look at it like this:

Atheist - I don't think there's a God, because I see no reason to think that there is one. To put a number on it, I am 99% certain that there is no God.

Agnostic - I don't know if there's a God or not. The lack of evidence for or against a God make the propositions "There is a God" and "There is no God" equally probable. To put a number on it, I believe that there is a 50% chance God exists and a 50% chance it doesn't.

Or, to be more specific, the agnostic doesn't believe we can draw any conclusions from our observations regarding the God question so far. The atheist thinks we've observed enough to safely assume that God doesn't exist.

I can't think of a single individual who, given legitimate, actual proof of the existence of God, would still choose to deny God's existence. I might still think he's an asshole, if we're talking about the God of the Bible, and I'd have a lot of questions, but I would indeed say, "Okay, I guess you do exist."

Atheism is a scientific conclusion and, like all scientific conclusions, changes with contradictory evidence.

Hey just wanted to pop in real quick and say I got your letter today, so your birthday wish actually showed up on the day itself, so thank you for that.

I guess now I will have to be vague if I comment so that my letter might have some gravitas. Woohoo first time I used that word ever, nice.

Curiously, what are the rules about dating your supreme officer?

Maybe it would be VERY good for being considered for a promotion? hahaha

Just teasing! You seem to travel a lot, but I'm unsure why. I feel like I've picked up a novel and started on chapter 7. Is it because of your job? Are you just struck with the urge to move?

I see you are like me and say that you are a bad person when you don't do something you know you should. I do that all the time, automatically go to far end of the spectrum, because when you get right down to it are you really a bad person, or are you just doing something that makes you feel bad about your decision?

Don't worry though, I think it's just a coping mechanism, so roll with it or something, at least I am not going to sit here and tell you to change your phrasing when I do the same damn thing.

Hope all is well over yonder.

Oh, yeah, I am. Don't get too excited, it's just outlining right now. I've done a lot of reading about theology and science of late (if you hadn't noticed, I'm a violent atheist) and I realized that these books tend to fall into the same two pitfalls: a confrontational or arrogant tone and confusing language.

So I thought I'd take it on myself to write my own "Atheism- Here's Why" book that a teenager can pick up and understand, or that someone who's already an atheist could give to a friend or family member to explain why and what it means.

I want to try to make it pretty thorough, but also simple. I'm also going to take a little time on the side to address the "America is a Christian Nation" misconception. My minimum goal is to finish it just to say "I wrote a book". My maximum goal is to get our Pledge of Allegiance restored to its original version without the added "Under God" crap.

Zuma is on the Xbox? Holy shit. I have to get that. I've mastered it on my cell phone. I'm like a zumancer. That's a new word I just made up. It means "one who practices the mystic arts of Zuma".

I can't really talk about my love life (or lack thereof) with my best friend, because my primary interest is his younger sister and, while he's given me his blessing to ask her out, he's not interested in hearing the particulars and I can't blame him. Fortunately, I have another best friend. The one who lives in Dublin. That Dublin thing, though, does get in the way. Whenever he comes into town it's nice to get his counsel. He's the only objective and honest observer I can get. I need to get him a girl, he never comes to me with his girl troubles because he can't be bothered to go and find one.

I can imagine wanting to do it myself every once in a blue moon. Maybe if I'm feeling really stressed, just being alone and stupid might be relaxing for a bit. But yeah, I can't imagine wanting to do it regularly. I don't know, I like being smart.

I tried it because the girl I mentioned in the above post wanted me to. Well, that's not all, but that's the main reason. I happen to know that she's a big fan, so I bought it for her for Christmas. I also have another friend who's a nightly smoker, and he keeps trying to get me to try it. So now I finally have, and all the people who stare at me in amazement, as if I'd told them that I've never tried ice cream, can shut up.

I'll admit, I was hoping for some developments between the girl in question and myself through this whole adventure, but if anything it left me further convinced that it's never gonna happen. I need to start looking elsewhere.

Now, that's the good kind of tired, run down for all the right reasons.

Sometimes I would like to just pack up and roam, but I don't know if I have the guts to do it.

I have a pretty good thign going here and now but sometimes I think if I just put myself out there and went for it that somethign amazing might happen, but once again I don't know that I have the guts to do it.

As of now I am just sitting and trying to let the money pile up so that I can make some kind of movement away from my hometown.

I hope things get better for you.