chargerrrrsssss!!!

What is the drive like coming back to southern California (San Diego) from Las Vegas on New Year's Day (Jan 1st)? Is it tolerable or should I come back home from Las Vegas the next day (Jan 2nd)? I will be spending the 2012-2013 New Year in Las Vegas.

The highway I'm talking about here is the I-15, so pretty much anyone who has experienced driving here from Las Vegas on New Years can be of help. Thanks!

Now, I want to stress out that your arguments will only be valid if you take the secular approach to this matter. That means you can't bring in religious scriptures, bible verses, and all of that is associated with it. Assume that there are no consequences or rewards from a supernatural being by saving/killing a fetus. Also note that to come to the most valid conclusion that is true to you, it would make sense that you analyze the for and against positions, no matter what stance you are, to better get a sense of what is morally permissible/impermissible and recognize/reject any fallacies that could render your argument an invalid one. This is an invitation to bring your philosophy in stating your stance on the topic of abortion. The reason I ask this is because I grew tired of so many people on R&S defending their stances with religious mumbo-jumbo or other simplistic arguments. I want to see if there really are people from the theistic and atheistic sides who can be rational beings and make educated conclusions on the matter of classifying abortion as morally permissible or immoral.

Fundies, if you don't have the knowledge of the facts or theories you are trying to refute (facts accepted by the science community and not made up or taken out of context), what makes you think your argument has any merit to be taken seriously and be considered for further debate? Seriously, I can't believe how moronic you sound. Reading your questions and your claims leave such a strong negative impact on me that leads me to think there's no hope for humanity. This is the first time I felt the need to rant this much but are you really that deluded? An example (with some deluded answers too):

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjrOm...

Then again, I should be thanking you. If you weren't this deluded, I wouldn't want to come back on here just to read your horrendous claims and built up so much anger to release it at the gym later on (I lost 15 lbs over the last few weeks!). Also, it gives me drive to keep studying until I get a PhD and hope to NEVER become like you. To some of my fellow atheists, thanks for all those witty answers to those ridiculous questions. Keep em coming. I always have a laugh with those. To religious people who keep to themselves, please don't change and be like the fundies.

-Screw the Bible Bill

I don't know about you guys but this brought a smile on my face. Now, I don't really bash creationists because I really don't gain anything in doing so, but this is surely a big blow to them.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/may/19/ida-...

I've never understood why people think that there is a meaning to life that keeps escaping our grasp. I'm not a believer in any deity, so maybe that's the cause for my lack of understanding this idea. I guess you have to believe in a creator of the universe to believe in this idea (since the creator might have this answer), but why should a lot of people bother trying to find this very elusive "meaning to life"?

walking in on your roommate/friend accidentally and caught him masturbating? just want this awkwardness to go away. i know a lot of people do it but it just gets awkward when someone gets caught. need to know cuz got to live with him until summer 2009. serious only.

So, I'm one year away from Med school and during my volunteering days at a hospital, I saw this one family who's kid had a brutal accident and was badly injured. He had lost so much blood that the doctors told the parents his only chance to survive was to get a blood transfusion. The parents denied it and after an hour, the kid died. He was only 5 years old. I literally wanted to beat the crap out of the parents for not putting religion aside just this once and realizing that family should always come first, BEFORE RELIGION.

My question is, would you, as a Jehovah's Witness, put your religion aside if it meant violating a major part of your religion and banishment from it to save a loved one? If there are any others, how would something like this happening in front of you make you feel? I know I might get obvious answers from the latter (if you care about family and friends), but your extra input is welcome. Please be respectful.

-Stopped being religious even before this blood-boiling incident happened.

Grew up in this very religious catholic family and I guess, they've pulled me into it in my childhood years.. Eventually, I kinda 'wizened' up by reading books about the truth of religion (god not real, etc.). Went to a phase where I became an extreme atheist. But, I eventually started seeing religion as sort of a product (created by businessmen: priests, testament writers, etc) that makes people happy. I see extreme religious conservatives who impose “the teachings of god” or whatever, as nothing but those pesky and annoying salesmen. People sort of buy it using time spent in a church and praying to god (praising also), donations given to it, and all other sorts of stuff as the mediums of exchange. In exchange, it gives them happiness: they feel protected that they have someone watching over them, have sort of a guide to lead them to a happy life, know that there is an afterlife, etc. But like most products, they sometimes misuse them, and mask their evil intentions by justifying them as acts of god, or they were just doing god's work (It can be a tool for war, famine, inequality, and all sorts of social disasters.) I myself am not a consumer of religion anymore, since I know right from wrong, I know I must believe in myself and not some super being if I am to achieve prosperity, I found my answer to the meaning of life, and I can face the fact that when you die, you will just rot in the ground (but the fact that people will remember me keeps what religious people might call, my spirit, alive). Although my parents are still extremely religious, she thinks I am one of the greatest thinkers she ever met for thinking that (she hasn't shunned me away like other strict families do to their atheist family members). Don’t get me wrong. I am not one of those atheists who wish to completely eliminate religion. I just don’t want to see it used in a bad way. Although I see it as a product, that will not be what I want it to be labeled as by society, since it ruins the spirituality factor of it. I know some people won’t feel right about it.

So, now that I’ve given my opinion, I want to know what your take is on it. I want to see if there is anyone out there with the same view on it. Would you agree/disagree with me (am I right on the money)? To religious people: if your kid thought the same, would you still love him/her knowing that he/she didn’t need it anymore, because they learned a great deal about life (something you should be proud of, since that could be a result from great parenting)? I could think of more questions, but I’ll save you the hassle of reading and answering more. Although, you could just add any other opinions that you might want to share. And please, don’t tell me I will go to hell since I don’t believe in god. I couldn’t care less about it.