andraste

... is this.

Well, OK, if you're into the feminist side of the New Atheist movement and also My Little Pony, it is the most magical thing ever. And, really, who doesn't love feminism, New Atheism and My Little Pony?

My favourite is Greta Christina, both because she is my favourite blogger and because matching her with Rainbow Dash is SO PERFECT.

I have successfully purchased my weekend pass for the 2012 Global Atheist Convention! So exciting! Not cheap, but last year I only got to go for the Saturday and I've been regretting it ever since.

Now I just hope that Christopher Hitchens' health holds up long enough for him to make it. Not because I'm a particular fan of Hitchens (there's actually not much I agree with him about other than the non-existence of any divine or supernatural forces) but the idea of assembling the Four Horsemen for what might well be the last time is appealingly historical. No matter how many issues I have with them as individuals (and how much I wish the most public face of atheism wasn't four middle-aged white men) they've been hugely important to atheism as a social movement.

One of my favourite atheist bloggers, Greta Christina, has a great idea for a meme. (Warning: Greta's blog as a whole is Not Safe For Work as she also blogs about sex.) It's the Atheist Meme of the Day!

I'm sure any atheist who regularly follows or engages in debate about the subject must be tired of hearing the same arguments and misconceptions over and over and OVER. (I dare say this kind of thing happens to anyone who holds a minority philosophical position, but atheism is the one I'm most familiar with.) If I never have to hear about Pascal's Frelling Wager again, it will be too soon. Hence, a meme designed to spread knowledge so we hopefully run into these ideas less often and can get on with debating something more interesting.

Atheism doesn't mean being 100% certain that God doesn't exist. It means being certain enough. It means thinking God is hypothetically possible, but unless we see some better evidence for him, we're going to assume he doesn't exist. Pass it on: if we say it enough times to enough people, it may get through.

Or, to put it another way: I am not 100% certain that the Judeo-Christian God does not exist. I just think he's about as plausible as Zeus, Thor, or Sohodo-No-Kami, the Shinto god of scarecrows.

... not being able to buy a ticket to The 2010 Global Atheist Convention :-(. Even if I only got a Saturday pass to see Richard Dawkins, it's still $110.

This makes me a sad atheist panda, because there are going to be so many interesting speakers. Not just Dawkins, but PZ Myers and a bunch of locals whose work I've been following for years. Peter Singer! Phillip Adams! Catherine Deveny! Sue-Ann Post! Maybe I should stand outside the convention centre with a sign that says 'THIS CON IS SO TOTALLY AWESOME, I WOULD BE INSIDE IF I WERE NOT SO POOR.'

I mean, it would be nice to think that I will have a job by March, but I'm not holding my breath. Tickets will probably sell out long before the convention. I'm tempted to ask for one as my family Kris Kringle present this year, but I suspect my mother will veto it as inappropriate. (My mother is a fellow atheist, but would probably prefer to avoid the conversations with her extended family that would doubtless ensue. I guess I'll end up with towels or something instead.)

Anyway: if you're an atheist of the 'New' variety and you're going to be anywhere near Melbourne next March, you should go.

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The Most Magical Thing Ever

Wheeeeee!

Continuing Yesterday's Theme

Things That Suck About Being Broke, Number 523 ...

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