I did a couple of podcasts recently, with slightly varied results.
The first is the BBC Sky at Night ‘cast with Will Gater and Chris Bramley (direct link to MP3). We talk DftS!, astronomy, evil doomcriers, misconceptions, movies, Obama’s influence on space science, and IYA 2009.
The second, and decidedly different contribution, was for the third Skepchick ‘cast, where they have some fun with The War on Christmas ™ (direct link to MP3). They got a bunch of people to send snarky and sarcastic messages about how they’re contributing to The War. I show up at 24:40. And hey: the podcast itself is pretty much wall-to-wall NSFW. There’s some stuff that’ll offend a lot of people, of course, but also some pretty adult conversations about gift giving. I’m just sayin’.
December 24th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Sign me up as a soldier in that war.
I am just reminded of something with your warning:
In a democracy, opinions that upset everyone are sometimes exactly what we need. We should be teaching our children the scientific method and the Bill of Rights. [Carl Sagan & Ann Druyan]
December 24th, 2008 at 10:37 am
You might be getting a big lump of coal this year.
God bless you anyhow and Merry Christmas.
December 24th, 2008 at 10:59 am
War on Xmas. Bah. Humbug. If there is a war, it’s an entirely justified one against the mistaken notion that the Jeebazoids own the month of December. I’m a Preacher’s Kid, and I’ve been known to lob a few hand grenades at that bunch of BS. Happy Holidays, everyone!
December 24th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Funnay!!
December 24th, 2008 at 11:20 am
“Happy Birthday Jesus -
Sandwiches $2.99″
Hilarious podcast
December 24th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
There’s a pretty funny “expose” on Santa on Firedoglake dot com… click on my link for the video — pretty much also NSFW. But funnay.
December 24th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Oops… that should be “click on my name” in the previous comment…… darned Bailey’s Irish Cream, anyway…
December 24th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Just in passing — on the skepchicks podcast they discuss origins of the holiday season; they make some very cogent points about how holiday traditions are sometimes quite fleeting.
December 24th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Here’s another take on the “war” on christmas :
http://loadingreadyrun.com/videos/view/401/war-of-christmas
Gave me a good laugh! (Hope the link works)
Happy what ever holiday you celebrate, even the holiday called “just-a-couple-of-days-off-yipee!”
December 25th, 2008 at 4:24 am
Really what a storm in a tea cup!
Why not just let those who want celebrate* Xmas do so in the fashion they choose and not all be Scrooges and Grinches eh?
(* Not cele-berate which is what I first typed – too much berating here anyhow, not that *I’m* not guilty of that too on occassion ..)
I’m an athiest and I don’t care about this over-hyped non-issue except in that in it makes us atheists look particularly bad, intolerant and churlish.
Xmas is NOT really about religion – any religion anymore.
Not if you don’t want it to be.
If religious people wish to celebrate Christams in their way while us secular types turn it into a secular day of family, fun and feasting – then what’s the frakken problem? Eh?
Can’t the Jewis and others who seem to get their knickers in such a twist over other people having fun their way just relax and leave others be for once? Must we turn it into this big culture war between a few miserable fun police & the majority of traditional, more secular but ok perhaps slightly religious tinged Xmas-lovers?
Sheesh!
Yep, Merry Christmas to all & to all a good night or two or three and a happy & propserous 2009 the International Year of Astronomy!
Then bring on Boxing Day I say and the (Cricket) Test match at the MCG – C’mon Aussie c’mon!
December 25th, 2008 at 4:32 am
I found the attitude of this recording to be very offensive; and I pretty much agree with the overall content. Atheists will be much more effective when we learn to live and let live. This superior attitude makes me want to go to church.
December 25th, 2008 at 6:30 am
“Can’t the Jewis and others who seem to get their knickers in such a twist over other people having fun”
Gee, anti-Semitic much? Care to offer any proof that the “Jewis” are behind the supposed (but, ofcourse, non-existent) War On Christmas?
BTW — the Puritans banned Christmas. Just Google that and you will get a history lesson you SO clearly need.
December 25th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
I gave someone a lump of coal for Christmas once. Well, it was in form of a small diamond in a necklace. I got *so* laid that night.
December 26th, 2008 at 10:45 am
This is slightly ridiculous. I have to agree that atheists probably just need to let things be. Celebrate what you want, say Happy Holidays and everything works out. I’m an atheist as well, and I agree with some of this stuff, but its holiday season for TONS of people of all kinds of backgrounds. It’s stupid of Christians to force Merry Christmas on people, but its just as bad for us to attack it.
I hate Christians for the same reason as whats going on here. Stop trying to convert everyone to your way of thinking. Have your opinion, heck, voice it too. Defend it to the death, but really you don’t need to make people see it your way. Make your point and let them grovel in what is probably a huge waste of time.
December 29th, 2008 at 8:39 am
The “war on Christmas” exist mainly within Bill O’Reilly’s tiny little mind. Like so many of his arguments, he seems to think that if somebody else has a contrary opinion i’s not just an opinion, it’s an attack. He thinks Christmas is about Jesus and that’s it. According to him there should be nothing else other than baby Jesus and Christianity celebrated on Christmas and any inclusive-non-hateful person that wants everyone to enjoy their celbrations and says so by saying the words “Happy Holidays” is some sort of commie liberal.
1) If you’re offended by somebody saying “Merry Christmas” then get over it. Merry Christmas is NOT saying “Screw you non-christian scum”. It’s saying “I hope you have a happy Christmas”.
2) If you’re offended by somebody saying “Happy Holidays” then get over it. “Happy Holidays” is not saying “Screw you christian scum”. It’s saying “I don’t know, or really care, what your religious views are, but I hope you enjoy the holidays (there are more than one by the way).”
3) Two days from now is New Years Day. So even if I know that you’re a Christian and celebrate Christmas I’ll STILL wish you “Happy Holidays” because I hope you enjoy both your Christmas and your New Year celebration. See!? Happy HOLIDAYS, Plural.
Only a close minded conservative scum bag like O’Reilly would think that wishing people a happy, pleasent, inclusive, wonderful holiday season would be an attack on Jesus. Why does anyone take him seriously?
December 31st, 2008 at 10:54 am
There was a bit on the other day about the risk of meteroid impacts. Too bad they didn’t mention your book.