So I’m told I’m a Libertarian Socialist

I saw that PZ Myers took an online political orientation test and was nettled when it called him a “Libertarian Socialist”. I wonder what the 8values test has to say about me …

My results page

Well, drat. Then again, I readily identify as a civil libertarian, so maybe there’s some leeway to the term.

Meanwhile, another friend of mine came out as a “Libertarian Communist”. Birds of a feather?

I fisked (part of) this New-Agey autism book so you don’t have to

At one point during my extended break from all things computers and Internet and fun, I was given a reading assignment of sorts: a chapter out of some ridiculous New-Age-type book on autism (because I am autistic, so it falls upon me to read autism-related kookery, I guess). It’s quite possibly the most painful thing I’ve ever read, so I figured if I had to suffer, I might as well have my little fun with it – in that I spent all night laboriously translating it from the original French and typing it up with my added commentary. And now, you all get to suffer with me. (You’re welcome.)

And so, without further ado, I present to you: A point-by-point takedown of a chapter from Au-delà des limites de l’autisme: La Quête et les révélations d’une mère (English: Beyond the Limits of Autism: A mother’s Quest and revelations) (p.203–228), by Nadine Primeau. Bracketed red text is my commentary. The screaming is your own.

Today, after having lived numerous experiences in diverse ways and at different levels where the human being is concerned, I cannot stay silent about the nature of autism according to all that I’ve lived and all the observations I’ve made. [Get used to the grandiloquence. It’s even worse in the original French.] Although I haven’t really identified the causes of autism in this book [I hope not, considering the causes aren’t yet understood], the scientist in me [You don’t get to call yourself that, even figuratively], the one who’s always sought to understand all throughout these years without ever being satisfied all this time, must now deliver its definition of autism. [My breath is bated, dear medically untrained and unqualified writer.] This hypothesis must be known so that people question themselves, open their consciousness and perhaps grasp what I reveal here. [Oh, god.] With this information, which comes without contradiction from my inner laboratory, where I’ve seen, experimented, felt, analyzed and understood major points about autism, I must deliver this information. [I swear that sentence doesn’t make an iota more sense in the original.] Even if I know, in my heart, that they’ll bother certain people, they must be heard, it’s a question in my opinion of transforming this world towards a better life. [I’ll settle for transforming you into a better writer. Seriously, all of this is [sic], translated to mean exactly what it does in the original French. The woman just can’t write.]

The future that liberals want

This is a tweet that made the rounds in early March 2017. A far-Right Twitter user thought they would mock liberals with a photo showcasing a slice of urban diversity.

This is the future that liberals want. pic.twitter.com/QwterpqQbH

— /pol/ News Network (@polNewsNetwork1) March 1, 2017

The tweet has since been deleted, but here’s the image that was attached:

Have some image tests

Indeed, have some image tests!

TEST 1 Text text text text text text text looooo­ooooooo­oooo­ooooooo­ooong word

1) Standard (right) corner image w/ fixed size: div class “cornerImg”, div max-width desired size, image width same as div max-width:

TEST 2 Text text text text text text text looooooo­ooooooo­oooooo­oooooooo­ooooooo­ooooo­ooong word

2) Left corner image w/ relative size: div class “cornerImgLeft”, div width 30%, image width equal to div width (240px = 30% of 800px post width):

3) Centered image: div class “centerImg”, div max-width 480px, image width same as div max-width:

TEST 3 Text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text loooooo­oooooooo­ooooooo­oooooooo­oooooooo­oooooooo­ooooo­oooong word (with soft hyphens to prevent breaking the layout!)

4) Full-width center image: div class “centerImg”, no div width, image width 800px (full post width):

TEST 4 Text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text text looo­ooooo­ooooo­ooooo­ooooo­ooooo­oooo­ooooo­ooooo­ooooooo­ooooooo­ooooooo­ooooooo­oooooo­oooooo­ooooo­oooooo­oooooo­oooooo­ooooooo­oooooo­oooooo­oooong word (with some soft hyphens to prevent breaking the layout!)

Just another test post

This one doesn’t have a corner image, ’cause why not. Instead it has some image tests!

First, a single large centered image:

This is some text.
[source | full size (1600×1200)]

Then, some smaller images side-by-side, using a table:

This is some text. This is some text. This is some text. This is some text. This is some text. This is some text. This is some text. [source | full size (1600×1200)]

Horizontal rule:

---

Dashed horizontal rule:

---

Dotted horizontal rule:

---

Have an expandable content box!

Title goes here

(Click to open/close:) [−]

This is the body text.

---

Text text text text text text text text text.
This-is-a-very-long-word-that’s-meant-to-test-word-wrapping.

Oh look, a corner image! Using a clearfixed SPAN tag. Also, this here is some text. This here is some text. This here is some text. This here is some text. This here is some text. This here is some text. This here is some text. This here is some text. This here is some text. This here is some text. This here is some text.

This is the title of a sample post #0123456789

Corner image description
[source | full size (481×388)]

This is a test post. It includes text such as this paragraph and that link just now. It also includes some random numbers: 0123456789.

This is blockquote text. This is blockquote text. This is blockquote text. This is blockquote text. This is blockquote text. This is blockquote text. This is blockquote text. This is blockquote text. This is blockquote text. This is blockquote text. This is blockquote text. This is blockquote text. This is blockquote text. This is blockquote text. This is blockquote text.

This is a blockquote within a blockquote.

More blockquote text. More blockquote text. More blockquote text. More blockquote text. More blockquote text. More blockquote text. More blockquote text. More blockquote text. More blockquote text. More blockquote text. More blockquote text. More blockquote text. More blockquote text. More blockquote text. More blockquote text. More blockquote text. More blockquote text. More blockquote text. More blockquote text.

Anticoagulant anticoagulant anticoagulant anticoagulant

Some more regular text. Some more regular text. Some more regular text. Some more regular text. Some more regular text. Some more regular text. Some more regular text. Some more regular text. Some more regular text. Some more regular text. Some more regular text. Some more regular text. Some more regular text. Some more regular text.

Below is the jump break.

This is a test post with a really, really quite long title, the intention being to see how it wraps

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent laoreet erat a auctor interdum. In posuere bibendum mauris sed iaculis. Fusce interdum felis neque, at convallis odio suscipit non. Vestibulum quam metus, iaculis ut ligula at, sollicitudin volutpat nisi. Sed suscipit molestie nisl. Vivamus ornare nec tortor et dapibus. Etiam imperdiet, tortor vel bibendum ullamcorper, enim leo semper ex, a porta purus orci eget lacus. Praesent vulputate cursus tincidunt. Donec iaculis, odio vel condimentum auctor, tortor eros sodales turpis, sed viverra dolor ex eget tortor. Proin sollicitudin sem vulputate sapien suscipit sodales. Nam non ante sed mi placerat fringilla. Cras varius mauris vitae lacus placerat, eu ornare augue rhoncus. Ut dictum neque sit amet dui hendrerit tempor. Aliquam cursus ultricies lectus, ut iaculis dolor varius a. Vivamus scelerisque tempor enim non aliquet. Nullam varius vel tellus quis consequat.

Aenean bibendum purus magna, vitae vehicula leo pulvinar eu. Morbi velit est, pellentesque fermentum gravida a, mattis id libero. Etiam sed molestie ipsum. Donec dignissim, nibh at varius blandit, nisi nisl euismod turpis, a pellentesque erat tortor quis ante. Aliquam vitae velit non ligula tempus vestibulum. Aliquam sit amet imperdiet ligula. Vivamus aliquet enim felis.

This test post is full of headers

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent laoreet erat a auctor interdum. In posuere bibendum mauris sed iaculis. Fusce interdum felis neque, at convallis odio suscipit non. Vestibulum quam metus, iaculis ut ligula at, sollicitudin volutpat nisi. Sed suscipit molestie nisl. Vivamus ornare nec tortor et dapibus. Etiam imperdiet, tortor vel bibendum ullamcorper, enim leo semper ex, a porta purus orci eget lacus.

This is an H4 header

It should be the largest of inner-post headers. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent laoreet erat a auctor interdum. In posuere bibendum mauris sed iaculis.

Aenean bibendum purus magna, vitae vehicula leo pulvinar eu. Morbi velit est, pellentesque fermentum gravida a, mattis id libero. Etiam sed molestie ipsum. Donec dignissim, nibh at varius blandit, nisi nisl euismod turpis, a pellentesque erat tortor quis ante.

This is an H5 header

It should be a smaller inner-post header. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent laoreet erat a auctor interdum. In posuere bibendum mauris sed iaculis.

Aenean bibendum purus magna, vitae vehicula leo pulvinar eu. Morbi velit est, pellentesque fermentum gravida a, mattis id libero. Etiam sed molestie ipsum. Donec dignissim, nibh at varius blandit, nisi nisl euismod turpis, a pellentesque erat tortor quis ante.

This is an H6 header

It should be the smallest inner-post header. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent laoreet erat a auctor interdum. In posuere bibendum mauris sed iaculis.

Aenean bibendum purus magna, vitae vehicula leo pulvinar eu. Morbi velit est, pellentesque fermentum gravida a, mattis id libero. Etiam sed molestie ipsum. Donec dignissim, nibh at varius blandit, nisi nisl euismod turpis, a pellentesque erat tortor quis ante.

Common myths about atheism, skepticism and social justice

There’s only so much time atheists, skeptics and social justice activists can spend addressing the same ill-informed claims before their brains try to escape through their ears. So in an effort to save time and patience whenever someone trots out the usual canards, I’ve decided to catalogue some of the most prominent attacks and falsehoods (and their easy refutations) that godless, evidence-following and equality-minded folks seem to encounter at every turn.

I plan to link to these entries from now on whenever I don’t feel like countering a particular lie for the tenth time that day; feel free to do the same. Just click on the linked prefix for any given entry (“A1”, “S3”, etc.) to get its URL anchor.

This list is periodically updated with new entries. Feedback and suggestions (and correction) are encouraged.

(Please note that whilst this list is written from the perspective of a predominantly Christian culture, terms like “God” and “believers” are intended to apply to all deities and all their religious adherents.)

Test post #6

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent laoreet erat a auctor interdum. In posuere bibendum mauris sed iaculis. Fusce interdum felis neque, at convallis odio suscipit non. Vestibulum quam metus, iaculis ut ligula at, sollicitudin volutpat nisi. Sed suscipit molestie nisl. Vivamus ornare nec tortor et dapibus. Etiam imperdiet, tortor vel bibendum ullamcorper, enim leo semper ex, a porta purus orci eget lacus. Praesent vulputate cursus tincidunt. Donec iaculis, odio vel condimentum auctor, tortor eros sodales turpis, sed viverra dolor ex eget tortor. Proin sollicitudin sem vulputate sapien suscipit sodales. Nam non ante sed mi placerat fringilla. Cras varius mauris vitae lacus placerat, eu ornare augue rhoncus. Ut dictum neque sit amet dui hendrerit tempor. Aliquam cursus ultricies lectus, ut iaculis dolor varius a. Vivamus scelerisque tempor enim non aliquet. Nullam varius vel tellus quis consequat.

Aenean bibendum purus magna, vitae vehicula leo pulvinar eu. Morbi velit est, pellentesque fermentum gravida a, mattis id libero. Etiam sed molestie ipsum. Donec dignissim, nibh at varius blandit, nisi nisl euismod turpis, a pellentesque erat tortor quis ante. Aliquam vitae velit non ligula tempus vestibulum. Aliquam sit amet imperdiet ligula. Vivamus aliquet enim felis.

Test post #7

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent laoreet erat a auctor interdum. In posuere bibendum mauris sed iaculis. Fusce interdum felis neque, at convallis odio suscipit non. Vestibulum quam metus, iaculis ut ligula at, sollicitudin volutpat nisi. Sed suscipit molestie nisl. Vivamus ornare nec tortor et dapibus. Etiam imperdiet, tortor vel bibendum ullamcorper, enim leo semper ex, a porta purus orci eget lacus. Praesent vulputate cursus tincidunt. Donec iaculis, odio vel condimentum auctor, tortor eros sodales turpis, sed viverra dolor ex eget tortor. Proin sollicitudin sem vulputate sapien suscipit sodales. Nam non ante sed mi placerat fringilla. Cras varius mauris vitae lacus placerat, eu ornare augue rhoncus. Ut dictum neque sit amet dui hendrerit tempor. Aliquam cursus ultricies lectus, ut iaculis dolor varius a. Vivamus scelerisque tempor enim non aliquet. Nullam varius vel tellus quis consequat.

Aenean bibendum purus magna, vitae vehicula leo pulvinar eu. Morbi velit est, pellentesque fermentum gravida a, mattis id libero. Etiam sed molestie ipsum. Donec dignissim, nibh at varius blandit, nisi nisl euismod turpis, a pellentesque erat tortor quis ante. Aliquam vitae velit non ligula tempus vestibulum. Aliquam sit amet imperdiet ligula. Vivamus aliquet enim felis.

Test post #8

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent laoreet erat a auctor interdum. In posuere bibendum mauris sed iaculis. Fusce interdum felis neque, at convallis odio suscipit non. Vestibulum quam metus, iaculis ut ligula at, sollicitudin volutpat nisi. Sed suscipit molestie nisl. Vivamus ornare nec tortor et dapibus. Etiam imperdiet, tortor vel bibendum ullamcorper, enim leo semper ex, a porta purus orci eget lacus. Praesent vulputate cursus tincidunt. Donec iaculis, odio vel condimentum auctor, tortor eros sodales turpis, sed viverra dolor ex eget tortor. Proin sollicitudin sem vulputate sapien suscipit sodales. Nam non ante sed mi placerat fringilla. Cras varius mauris vitae lacus placerat, eu ornare augue rhoncus. Ut dictum neque sit amet dui hendrerit tempor. Aliquam cursus ultricies lectus, ut iaculis dolor varius a. Vivamus scelerisque tempor enim non aliquet. Nullam varius vel tellus quis consequat.

Aenean bibendum purus magna, vitae vehicula leo pulvinar eu. Morbi velit est, pellentesque fermentum gravida a, mattis id libero. Etiam sed molestie ipsum. Donec dignissim, nibh at varius blandit, nisi nisl euismod turpis, a pellentesque erat tortor quis ante. Aliquam vitae velit non ligula tempus vestibulum. Aliquam sit amet imperdiet ligula. Vivamus aliquet enim felis.