Awards
Lists of Brodie award winners:
X-Mormon of the Year 2012: David Twede
X-Mormon of the Year 2011: Joanna Brooks
X-Mormon of the Year 2010: Monica Bielanko
X-Mormon of the Year 2009: Walter Kirn
A Community for Anyone Interested in Mormonism.
Link bomb #11
Originally published at the USU SHAFT site. New York Times columnist Paul Krugman details the Republican war against science. Several groups, notably the National Academy of Sciences, are encouraging scientists to be more vocal politically and even run for office. Scientists have a lot to contribute to our political discourse, especially where it concerns issues like climate change and stem-cell research. But unfortunately, scientific literacy isn’t a perfect safeguard against believing in Read more [...]
Posted in SHAFT Link Bomb
Link bomb #10
GQ magazine ranks Salt Lake City and Provo among the worst-dressed cities in the country. Our fashion sense aside, Utahns are still counted among the best looking people. Maybe its all that plastic surgery. Harrison Ames argues that the frequent use of corrective words and phrases like rather and in other words in the Book of Mormon is more consistent with dictation than inspired translation. New rule: When you lose your religion, you must blog about it. In keeping with this rule, ex-Mormon Read more [...]
Posted in SHAFT Link Bomb
Link bomb #9
Originally published at the USU SHAFT site. (Sorry for the length! I had a month’s worth of links to cover.) After being teased at work for believing the Rapture would occur on May 21st, Dale OCallaghan brought a gun to the office and shot a coworker (who thankfully is expected to recover). Sam Harris makes a thoughtful case for the responsible use of drugs. He notes that everything we do, from eating our favorite foods to forming friendships, is about altering ones consciousness. Drugs are Read more [...]
Posted in SHAFT Link Bomb
Link bomb #8
Originally published at the USU SHAFT site. A history of the LDS garment. Another interesting history is the evolution of the LDS prayer circle. What a religious debate on Facebook would look like in the Mayan pre-Columbian America. Sincere devoutness is sometimes indistinguishable from good satire. Case in point: this Stake President’s blog. I hope it’s a spoof, and I’m pretty sure it is. But wow, it’s a very convincing parodyand funny! My favorite post is his awkward and euphemistic discussion Read more [...]
Posted in SHAFT Link Bomb
Link bomb #7
In a Psychology Today interview, sociologist Duncan Watts takes a critical look at common sense and shows how dangerously bad we are at predicting certain outcomes. Common Sense Atheism is one of my favorite atheist blogs. Here, its author Luke Muehlhauser recounts the blogs history and most important posts. An oldie, but goodie: Pure Mormonism contends that the Word of Wisdom was neither intended as a commandment nor as a prohibition against beer. Conspiracy theories about Obamas birth Read more [...]
Posted in SHAFT Link Bomb
Link bomb #6
I had planned to write a review of this latest General Conference, but I couldn’t muster up the interest. This conference was particularly dull for me as a nonbeliever, and by that I mean it was controversy-free. Well, almost. Monson’s admonishment to young single men to get married received some attention, as did Packer’s statement that sexual sins are second only to murder and the denial of the Holy Ghost. Pretty unremarkable stuff, really. Also during conference, the church reported having Read more [...]
Posted in SHAFT Link Bomb
Link bomb #5
Wikileaks is back in the news with revelations about the detention of Bradley Manning, the 23-year-old soldier accused of divulging classified information to the group. Ive been critical of Wikileaks, but I nonetheless disapprove of Mannings treatment. In a Virginia military brig, he has been kept in intensive solitary confinement for many months, and has lately been forced to sleep naked. State Department P.J. Crowley called the treatment ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid. (Crowley Read more [...]
Posted in SHAFT Link Bomb
Link bomb #4
In Cache Valley news, a group of Hyrum students seek to form a no cussing club. If you dont want to use certain language, finedont use it. But what will creating a group accomplish to that end? To me, this just smacks of self-righteousness, and thats a greater social ill than cussing. Slate Magazine reviews The Book of Mormon musical. What Parker and Stone do isnt religion-bashing. Its religion-teasing. And its born more from fascination than disdain. Indeed, Slate suggests the musicals creators Read more [...]
Posted in SHAFT Link Bomb
Link bomb #3
(Because it has been a while since the last link bomb, this will be the biggest one yeta nuclear link bomb, if you will.) South Park’s creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are about to unveil their first broadway musical, The Book of Mormon (it premieres at the end of February). The show tells the story of two young LDS missionaries who are sent to Uganda and quickly realize that their faith doesn’t equip them with answers to the suffering they encounter there. I’m excited to see it, but Mormons’ Read more [...]
Posted in SHAFT Link Bomb
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Other Cool Sites!
Podcasts and Video Channels
Gay Trees and Gadianton Robbers
As I have been wandering around the internet, looking for something interesting, there is an election going on. Did you know that? Well most of what is out there is not very interesting, just a lot of people with opinion that they want someone else to have, with an occasional FU to go with it. You too? Wanna be naughty and take a break? Idecided to sharesome of my finds around the bloggernacle (and post-bloggernacle) of things that might make you laugh. I am including one of the posts inmy ongoing Read more [...]