Microgreens Experiment

As part of my "lose it to gain it" plan I'm working on, I need to eat more vegetables (not that I don't eat a lot anyway - I'd gladly become a vegetarian if meat wasn't so god-damned tasty) and more importantly, more vegetables that offer a high nutritional content.  So, microgreens!

What are microgreens?  Sprouts.  Basically.  Well, kinda.  Microgreens includes the salad greens and leafy vegetables as well as herbs and edible flowers.  And sprouts.  Microgreens includes a variety of edible, yet immature greens harvested up to a month after planting.  You eat not only the first proper set of leaves, but also the stems and even the seed leaves (cotyledons).

So, basically, I want to grow these in a quantity and format that there is enough to eat every day in various forms.

Day 1
So, to do this I went to a garden shop (in this case, just to Bunnings as they were open at 5:45pm one evening) and bought some seeds (shown below) as well as some 5L plastic containers.  I then decided to use the 5L containers to store stuff in - such as the unused seeds and potting mix - and use takeaway food containers (of which I have a half dozen or so - Fred's chicken necks come in these) instead.

As I had some left over potting mix downstairs, I wet that with water from the fish tank, put about 2cm in the bottom of each food container then sprinkled the seeds I wanted on top of this potting mix.  Some places suggest soaking the seeds overnight - I didn't do this but if there is a less than stellar result from this first attempt, may try that.

I then covered the seeds with a thin layer of dry potting mix and put the covers on the container to keep the moisture in.

I then placed the containers on the verandah where they get a reasonable amount of afternoon sun (except on a day like today when it is heavily overcast and rainy).  You can also see the sweet basil and coriander (cilantro) growing in pots - Pete and Linda kindly donated these to my collection. :)  For those people who hate coriander, you're wrong! :)

I will spray these containers each day with a spray bottle filled with pre-pooed-in fish tank water (fish poo, not Outspoken Wookie poo - that would be gross).  In a few days I should see the seeds starting to germinate and then a week or two after that I should have a decent crop.  We'll see...  I'll then work out how long they take to grow and what sort of harvest I get and work out how many more containers I will need in a rotation and how often I will need to set a rotation off.  :)

Update: Day 6

I've left the containers inside until around lunch time today.  They seeds have germinated quite nicely and I'll now leave the lids off and leave them all on the verandah during the day and bring them into the kitchen at night so they can receive early morning sun.  Looking good so far! :)  The basil and coriander are also coming along nicely.

Update: Day 7

I thought I'd take a closer photo this time - they seem to be doing well - the "D" container did have fewer seeds in it to begin with and the result shows that. They are all looking quite decent and I'll leave them another few days and see how they look before I start sampling them. :)

Update: Day 10

OK, so I think I could call this a success.  The "D" packet (Kale, Cabbage Red and Pea Morgan) may need a little more loving, else I will drop it and try something else later.  Maybe I didn't sprinkle enough seeds?  Aside from that, the rest look good - especially the "B" packet - the Hot & Spicy Mix of Radish, Radish Red Arrow, Kale Red Russian and Broccoli.  Now, how did this experiment know that this is the one of the four I was most interested in?  :)  I'd like the Alfalfa to be a little heavier next time, too.    But all up, I'll call this a successful first attempt with a little tweaking needed to get it to a regular production level for myself. :)

I will add another update or two here and then see how long it takes me to eat through this lot.  I'll start another batch probably on Monday next week (it is Friday now).  This will let me see how many sets I need to have in a rotation to keep this all at a satisfactory level.

Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

Medical Woo-Woo Shits Me

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not a fan of medical woo-woo.  So, to help people understand what these quasi-medical woo-woo terms mean, here's a Patient's Guide to Magical Medicine.

And in case someone is looking for the other common term for these practices, it is "SCAM" as in Supplements, Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

Toowoomba Critical Thinkers Jan 2013

I'll be up in Toowoomba on the night of the 16th January and as there's been some interest in holding another meeting, well, we may as well do it then - sorry for the short notice, I've been rather busy this past week or two...

So, if you know anyone in or around Toowoomba who may be interested in meeting some folks capable of critical thinking, rationalism and skepticical thought, feel free to invite them along. I'll be the wookie-looking guy in the front bar with a black "Quark IT" shirt on (as I'm up there for work on Tues/Wed/Thurs that week).

http://www.somewheretothink.com.au/events/toowoomba-critical-thinkers-jan-2013/

Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

Dave's Thoughts Echo Mine And Many Others'

My friend, Dave Fregon posted this recently. It was so good I had to share it with my other friends:

I'm getting a little sick of Muslim and christian 'missionaries' trying to friend me on Facebook.

We have NOTHING in common and I am totally over talking to the wall that is those of faith that are just out there to score points to get to their heaven. I'll say what I think if asked, but I do the same with anything. I am more than my disbelief in a god.

I change my position given the merits of observable, testable, falsifiable evidence, however what is it that would change their mind? Nothing. That's the problem with talking to missionaries, there is no intention at all of a conversation, they are after points to get into some sort of afterlife.

They want more than the wonderful universe we see around us as they see it somehow lacking. I think it is a sad way to view things and that you can be good without the bribe of a heaven and the gun to the head of an idea that is hell. We are social, caring, loving, empathetic creatures and I hope for each and every one of them some day they learn that morality based on the inspection of ethics, doing the least harm possible, is what has fought such things as slavery and women's rights, whereas holy books have justified both sides all the way.

There is no good that comes from either book that a nonbeliever cannot come to the same conclusion using their own faculties. I would suggest that their god if it existed would prefer that avenue, than a bribe in one hand and a threat in the other.

/end rant

Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

Speaking of Nom, Nom

I'm staying in St Kilda, which is nice.  There's a tram stop just about outside the hotel door, the Medina Executive Apartments room is quite good, the air conditioning is working well and there are quite a few good coffee joints within easy walking distance.

Speaking of walking distance, Phil Kent and I put in quite a bit of that on Friday afternoon. :)

The Australian Skeptics National Convention has been going well and the final day today looks to continue being well worth attending.  I've met some good, fun, skeptical people and look forward to meeting yet more. :)

I'll be having a chat with Linus from BackupAssist tomorrow about some of the exciting new products he and his crew are working on.

The Secular Party of Australia is having a Victorian Branch meeting tomorrow night at Sale e Pepe Italian Restaurant that I'll be attending which should be good, especially considering the Royal Commission into child sex abuse that Julia Gillard has finally (been forced) to call for.  Having a proper separation of church and State in Australia will ensure we never again treat these church organisations (and other NGOs) as anything special - we need to ensure that we treat our children with the utmost respect and care, unlike has been the case in the past, particularly in the catholic church.


Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

HSQ - Separation of Church and State Schools in Qld

Just a reminder to anyone who is interested in the future of public school education here in Queensland that the Humanist Society's Separation of Church and State Schools conference is being held at Hotel George Williams this weekend.  Please see http://hiltont.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/separation-of-church-and-state-schools.html for more information.

Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

Separation of Church and State Schools – Time For Reform In Queensland?

Please consider attending the 13-14 October 2012 Humanist Society of Queensland conference: Separation of Church and State Schools – time for reform in Queensland?

This event will possibly be the most important and constructive of its kind to have been staged in Queensland.

The keynote address will be provided by Prof Marion Maddox, Director - Centre for Research on Social Inclusion, Macquarie University, NSW.

Mr Greg Purches, Deputy General Secretary of the Queensland Teachers’ Union will be among the seven prominent speakers at the event. The presence of Mr Purches will provide an excellent opportunity for concerned Queensland parents, citizens and teachers to directly relate any concerns, experiences and anecdotes to the QTU.

The same personal communication access will also apply to ACSSO President Mr Peter Garrigan who will also be speaking at the event. ACSSO—the Australian Council of State School Organisations—is the peak national organisation representing the interests of the parents, families and school communities of more than two million children attending government schools throughout Australia. ACSSO’s formal structure currently comprises six State and Territory peak government school organisations and their membership networks.

Bookings can be made at the HSQ website: http://www.hsq.org.au/Whats-on/Conference-Booking

A conference flyer PDF is also available for download:

http://www.hsq.org.au/Portals/0/HSQ%20Files/Documents/HSQ%20Conference.pdf

Should the conference not be relevant to you, please pass-on the information to any other persons who might have an interest in attending.

 

 

See this and more critical thinking events at http://SomewhereToThink.com.au.

Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

Looking For Somewhere To Think?

Are you looking for somewhere to meet up with other people and exercise your brain?  Do you like critical thinking?  If so, have a look at http://SomewhereToThink.com.au for places around Australia (OK, around SE Qld right now) for places to meet up with others who share a love of critical thinking.

Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

Toowoomba, Oct 6th, 2012

Toowoomba Carnival of Heathens

Just a quick note to let anyone who is in or around the Toowoomba region on Saturday 6th October, 2012 know that there will be a marriage equality rally - Love Is Worth Fighting For - at Frog's Hollow in Queens Park (corner Margaret and Hume streets) from 1PM - 4PM.  This will be a family friendly event with a sausage sizzle, some stalls and face painting for the kiddies.  This is a drug and alcohol free event.

For more information on this event, see https://www.facebook.com/TWBLGBTIQ



Also, after this event we'll be having a Critical Thinking get together at Fibber's/Fitzy's from 4:30PM until, well, what time do they close?  :)  This will be the inaugural meeting to establish a community of skeptical/rational/secular/humanist/critical thinkers in Toowoomba so that we can help those who feel that evidence-based thinking is getting the short straw in Australia (and around the world).

This meeting will be an informal get together so that people can see that they are not the only person who feels similarly to how they feel and so that we can work out a time and place to hold future meetings on a regular basis.  This is clearly not an alcohol-free event! :)

I'll be there, as will Ronnie Williams (of the NSCP High Court Challenge fame), Chrys Stevenson (of Gladly, the Cross-Eyed Bear fame), Jane Douglas (of Putting Her Oar In fame), Emily Dye and a number of others.  Feel free to come along and discuss your thoughts, feelings, frustrations and drink choices with a friendly bunch of critical thinkers. :)


Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

Imagine

The following lyrics were written by a great poet...

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try

You don't actually have to try to imagine there's no heaven - all you have to do is look at the evidence for heaven (whichever form of heaven you believe in) and see that there is no real evidence.  Heaven doesn't exist - there's no need to try and imagine it isn't there as it simply isn't there.

No hell below us

Along with heaven, hell is a myth.

Above us only sky

... and 13.7 billion years of history in this universe.

Imagine all the people living for today

That's right - live for this life, the only one you have, and make sure this life is well lived and you leave the place better than you found it.  Don't bother to "store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal" as that place does not exist.  Make this life good.

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do

Right now with the way the Internet is reaching across the globe and, aside from a few places where it is being heavily censored, such as China, breaking down walls and boundaries this isn't really all that hard to imagine.  Sure, countries still exist and still fight each other for land (look at Israel as a prime example), but these days people have the ability to see what other countries are doing as and when they are doing it and learn from the mistakes that have been made throughout history.  Whether they want to learn or not is still an issue - but the lessons are all out there and available to almost everyone.

Nothing to kill or die for

Now, this will require some serious imagination.  As a species, we're good at two things: Exploration and Aggression.  At times, the aggression pushes our exploration to reach further than it would have (look at the early space race as an excellent example), yet other times our aggression hinders our exploration (look at the current state of space travel and exploration as an unfortunately excellent example).

And no religion too

Humans will always, I think, find something to fight over.  Religion is one of those things - people have different imaginary friends and will kill each other rather than admit those imaginary friends are, well, imaginary.  I don't care if you want to personally have an imaginary friend, but you cannot use that imaginary friend to restrict nor remove the rights of others - but feel free to have them restrict your own rights all you want.

Imagine all the people living life in peace

Peace.  Hhmmm...  Do we really know what that even means?  :(

You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one

I'm most definitely not - I know a number of people who would like to see religion used for personal reasons, not to control the will of others.  People like George Pell, Jim Wallace and Peter Jensen are on the other side of the fence, along with the radical Muslim clerics who are beating up this recent anti-Islam movie into something they can use to murder people - the other side of the fence wants to use their own personal religious beliefs to oppress others in various ways.  Homophobia, for instance, will result in the early deaths of more homosexuals than their "lifestyle" could ever cause.  Living with the hatred of your community for what your genes have expressed (ie, something you cannot control and have no choice over) cannot possibly be an easy thing.

I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Yes, that would be awesome.  Reality is awesome.  Though I'd like a few more people to accept reality for what it is and not feel the need to shield it with religion. Thinking is hard, sure, but the payoffs are great! :)

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can

Well, I don't know if I'd go so far, John, but I get your point.  We may not want to have a communist society (theoretically decent, but they are always corrupted by those in power - those who are "more equal" than their subjects) but there's enough wealth to go around that we really shouldn't have people living below the poverty line.

No need for greed or hunger

With the amount of food produced in the world today, there currently *IS* no need for greed nor hunger.  The amount of food that developed nations throw away is obscene - especially when there are way too many currently not only in poverty, but living without adequate food.

A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world

How is it that we pretty much all teach our kids to share their toys and play nicely, but we then willingly throw this valuable lesson out later in life?  Some of the lessons we learn as children are extremely valuable and this is definitely one of them.  No, I don't long for a society of free love, free food, free card and free, well, whatever, but we do have enough resources on this planet to be able to see more equity across the board.  I don't begrudge those who work hard and play hard and make good headway, but we also need to keep an eye on those further back in the class and help them along a bit.

Realising that we are all human beings, no matter what our color, gender, sexual orientation, personal religious beliefs nor anything else and that we all deserve a chance to live a decent life is something that as a species, we cannot afford to lose sight of.  The more critical thinking people start learning how to do, the more they will realise that their beliefs in mythology are unwarranted and they will start to give up on their magical thinking - then they will have the opportunity to experience the absolute awesomeness of reality and the understanding that we are *all* human beings.

You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Yes, I truly hope that one day we can get past this magical thinking and we can all use our brains for working out ways to move us forward as a species.  That will be a wonderful day!


Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

Somewhere To Think

There are a number of evidence-based, critical thinking groups in and around Brisbane and South East Queensland.  I know of a number of them, but no doubt there are others that I am as yet unaware of.  To remedy the situation for not only myself but for anyone who lives in or is visiting South East Queensland, I have set up http://SomewhereToThink.com.au as a portal to these groups.

So, if you know of any evidence-based, critical thinking groups around SEQ that are not on the list, please send me the URLs so I can add them and keep in contact with their organizers.

Also, if you would find this portal of benefit of benefit to you or someone you know and you/they aren't in South East Queensland, ping me and let me know - ultimately I would like to see this portal used in other areas, but I had to start somewhere and as they say, there's no place like home! :)

Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

Catholic Church Sex Abuse

In case anyone missed it, the recent ABC Four Corners episode that investigated the catholic church and its handling of sexual abuse cases is available for watching online.

Four Corners seeks to address the issue that the catholic church is asked these days on a regular basis:

"The Catholic Church says its response to cases of child sex abuse should be compassionate, that abusers should be brought to justice and that concealing the truth is unjust to victims.

But does it follow those principles?"

Have a look at the show and make your own mind up - but the answer is very, very clear:

"In Victoria the Government is holding a joint party inquiry into the way religious and other non-government organisations respond to sex abuse cases. The Government was pressured into holding the inquiry after the release of a police report that criticised the Catholic Church's handling of abuse issues. The confidential police report revealed that the Church had known about a shockingly high rate of suicides and premature deaths but had "chosen to remain silent".

There is now a growing demand for the Federal Government to hold a national inquiry to assess the true extent of sexual abuse by all church groups and to assess the programs that have been put in place to assist victims and deliver them compensation."

This is a disgusting and disgraceful organization that protects child rapist priests and leaves the children who they ruined to their own ends - and those ends often lead to self-harm and suicide.

If you believe that a Royal Commission into the catholic church (and other NGOs) is needed to actually get the situation brought out into the daylight and handled properly, I suggest you sign the petition on Change.org asking for a Royal Commission into what's happening with our children.

Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

A Win For Human Decency

In an all-too-rare win for human decency, the Change.org petition started by Melinda Liszewski in support of Jeannie Blackburn's request to have the Bravery Award that the Royal Humane Society awarded to Paul McCluskey revoked due to the violent behavior of McCluskey against Jeannie Blackburn that left her blinded in one eye and resulted in the loss of her unborn child has resulted in this award being revoked.

When actually honoured with the certificate for bravery for his efforts in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, McCluskey was serving a minimum 3 year jail sentence after pleading guilty in the Victorian County Court to criminal damage, intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury and recklessly causing serious injury to Ms Blackburn between 2006 and 2007.

Now, along with another 18,000 people I signed this petition which was presented on Tuesday 19th June, 2012 to the Melbourne Mayor who is also the Vice President of the Royal Humane Society. Jeannie did a series of interviews about the petition on the nightly news for television channels 2, 7, 9 and 10, radio station 3AW and it was also covered in the Herald Sun, the Daily Telegraph, the Australian and various other media locations.

It really is a shame that this sort of media and political pressure was required to force the hand of the Royal Humane Society - who convened a crisis meeting after all of this media coverage and voted unanimously to strip McCluskey of the award.  If only the Royal Humane Society took a look at the central word in their title and the central tenet of their charter maybe Jeannie's initial request for the revocation of a bravery award to a violent criminal would have been heeded without the need of all this additional pressure and poor media they have caused themselves to be subjected to.

I just hope Jeannie can get some comfort in the knowledge that she has the support of a large number of people and that this violent person has been stripped of this certificate and recognition that he absolutely did not deserve to be awarded.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/black-saturday-bushfire-hero-stripped-of-bravery-award/story-e6frfkvr-1226402942393#ixzz1yQf5sFs8

Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

Ron Williams def National School Chaplaincy Program

In what has to be the best news of the year so far, and likely also the best news of the century so far, Ron Williams, who took the NCSP to the High Court of Australia, has won his case.  :)

The High Court decided that the funding agreement between the Commonwealth Government and Scripture Union Queensland was invalid as it was beyond the executive power of the Commonwealth.

Next time I see Ron, I'll buy him a beer/coffee/dinner.  I've already donated money to his legal expenses via a few routes, and this will be a more personal "thanks" for his defence of sanity in the face of the religious infiltration of our education, political and health systems.

Have a read of http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/political-news/school-chaplaincy-program-is-constitutionally-invalid-high-court-20120620-20n2d.html for some more information on this decision.

Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

Bravery Award For Wife Beater

In a disgusting example of the Royal Humane Society's support of a wife beater, they have awarded Paul Francis McCuskey with a bravery award for his rescue of an elderly woman as well as her pets during Victoria's Black Saturday bushfires - and given him this award whilst he's serving a 3 year jail term for numerous assaults on his former partner.

This is a disgraceful turn of events that the Royal Humane Society has effectively chosen to ignore.  How can a violent wife beater - he kicked her in the stomach while she was pregnant and later kicked her so hard in the head he severed her optic nerve, making her permanently blind in one eye - be awarded with a bravery award - especially as he's serving a violence-related jail term.

Quentin Bryce, the Australian Governor-General has put her weight behind the appeal to compassion for Jeannie Blackburn, McCuskey's former partner, for the retraction of the bravery award to McCluskey and to keep the Royal Humane Society in some form of moral acceptability to Australian society.

I signed the petition for this award to be retracted on 1st June - there's currently over 14,200 signatures to this petition.  I encourage anyone who finds violence unacceptable and who cannot accept the awarding of a bravery award to a person serving jail time for a violent crime to head over to Change.org and sign the petition.


Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

NSFW: Radical Islamists Murder Two Homosexuals In Indonesia

WARNING - the video below contains extremely graphic violence and will definitely disturb anyone with a sense of moral justice

In Indonesia, muslims have taken to beating two gay men to death because their non-existent god, Allah, "told" them to kill these innocent men.  What a totally disgusting and senseless waste of life at the hands of extremists who believe in a god of mercy and love (according to this blog on muslim values).

This is disgusting, the Islamic religion needs to wake up to itself and start treating people like human beings and those governments around the world who can take action over this hate crime and similar ones performed in the name of the mythical "Allah" need to take action and take it soon.

WARNING: This is not safe for work.  Far from it.  It contains real life graphic violence.  It *IS* disturbing to see what a group of people can do to other human beings.

Video Link

Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

Jewish Paedophiles

Just in case you thought I was only singling out the catholic church and their seemingly rampant paedophilia amongst their leaders, I thought it appropriate to bring to your attention some recent news about paedophiles in the jewish church, too.

Back on May 8th, The Age ran a story about Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner who told the parents of two separate boys that even though the church security guard, David Samuel Cyprys, had molested their children, the boys would not need counselling because they were under 8 years of age.  Now anyone who has had any experience with children who have been molested knows that this is utter bullshit - Yitzchok Dovid Groner was simply trying to cover his arse and get the church out of having to compensate or do anything beneficial for the children.  Oh, and Cyprys has been charged with 53 offences including 6 counts of rape.  Have a read of that article in The Age to get a full appreciation of what this paedophile (alleged) put children under his care at the Yeshivah Centre through.

Then, on May 15th, The Age reported that Rabbi Abraham Glick, a witness, has now changed his statement, under oath, to acknowledge that Groner had mentioned the names of two individuals to him in the early 2000s.  Isn't it amazing what tricks the memory can play on you right up until you're ittign in the witness stand after being sworn in?

Again, have a read of that The Age article to get a better appreciation of the way this molestation was mishandled by the Yeshiva Centre and the jewish church.

Molestation of the most vulnerable people in our society is a heinous crime.  Molestation of the most vulnerable people in our society by someone claiming to represent god (who is, of course, fictional anyway) is even worse - they are claiming to represent a god who loves and cares about them, and then they rape the children.  The molesters and those who faciliaated this crime should all be treated the same - the jewish church should be treated the same as any other church who gets found out to be raping the children in their care.  Anyone who rapes children or facilitates those who do are the lowest form of scum and need to be punished appropriately for their crimes.

Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

Public discussion enters the age of the uninformed

Now, I may not think much of Paul Keating as a human being, but he did well as the Australian Prime Minister.  One thing I admired about him was his ability to put his balls forward when he went anywhere and this is a good example of what we're now losing with our inability to treat the incompetent with the respect they so truly deserve.

Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

Pell vs Morality

As I posted recently on Facebook:

George Pell sues @CatherineDeveny over a (pretty funny) tweet: http://t.co/8wejqPpz (via @crikey_news)

To me, if George Pell chose to pause there, it was his choice to pause there, creating the issue all on his own. Calling people in the catholic church out for the rampant paedophilia in the catholic church and its support for the paedophile priests instead of the children whose lives these paedophile catholic priests have ruined, when they leave themselves open like this on AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TELEVISION in no way should be called defamatory.

It looks to me like George Pell is more concerned about how he himself looks after making a gaffe like this than how the raped children are helped.

Now it looks like George Pell has started something he never expected and something he and the catholic church lawyers won't be able to control.  For starters, they are now playing in the real world, not their fanciful world of scared children, brainwashed parents and mythical sky fairies - they are playing with Internet memes, real people with real, active minds who can and will use them for themselves and with people who don't bow, courtsey and bend over to the will of the catholic church.

Catherine Deveny is but one of a great many people who have continued the Internet meme that George Pell started with what seemed to be an intentional pause on Q and A during a comment about the catholic church preparing young boys which has turned out not only to be a clear Freudian slip, but something that the world at large has been gathering more and more anger about lately - the catholic church and their institutionalized protection of the child rapists that seem to be so prevalent amongst their ranks.  Why Pell decided to single out Cathering Deveny is not known, but I suspect it is may well be because she's an atheist, gay (Correction - I got that last bit wrong - please see the comments) and outspoken about the abuse that certain catholic church priests have perpetrated on once innocent children - he obviously doesn't seem to think that the catholic church should be treating its own priests like they exist in reality where there are acceptable morals and a functioning justice system.

After Catherine's carefully worded apology on her blog, George Pell stopped proceedings against Cathering Deveny.  Sensibly.  Likely because his legal team sought counselling from lawyers in the real world who let them know they didn't stand a real snowflake's chance in a mythical hell of succeeding and would only bring the catholic church into even more disrepute regarding their blatant refusal to have paedophile priests brought to justice whilst flagrantly wasting church money on stupid defamation cases.

For another look into this whole sordid mess that George Pell has created, a look at the video of George Pell stating he was involved in preparing boys... for holy communion and some good background on how the catholic church (and George Pell himself) fare regarding child rape here in Australia, have a read of Chrys Stevenson's blog.

The institutionalized child rape in the catholic church and the support of paedophile priests by people like George Pell and Joseph Ratzinger needs to be brought right out into the public spotlight.  Hopefully George Pell, as a result of the gaffe he made on national television, has created even more momentum in the movement to bring the catholic church to justice.  Sure, there are other institutions who have child rapists amongst their ranks, but the number in the catholic church and its appalling inability to see that these paedophiles need to be brought to justice so that those they have raped can start to recover from these horrific crimes really places it in a class all of its own.

Regards,

The Outspoken Wookie

Feaster and the Flying Spaghetti Monster

Just a reminder to all that as Feaster approaches - the time of year where we give thanks to our Pasta Master for His ultimate sacrifice on Food Friday where He boiled for our sins and after being refrigerated, was rinsed again on Sunday - we also need to remember that cheeses are the reason for the seasoning.

Praise the Flying Spaghetti Monster!

Ramen.

- The Outspoken Wookie