The Rants of Ben Hawkins

Figaro’s Pizza-TERRIBLE!

noreply@blogger.com (MadHacker) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:45:00 +0000

Figaro's Pizza just opened in our area, so I decided to give it a try. It is possible the worst excuse for pizza I have ever had. I ordered a large sausage and pepperoni.

It was bland and uninspired.

Although they claim the dough is made fresh each morning, it may as well have been frozen. It was tough and lifeless. The sausage was like little spicy rabbit pellets. The sauce was flavorless.

The cheesy breadsticks were even worse. Again, heavy dough, too little cheese on top, poorly cut. We could not pull them apart without making a ripped up mess.

To add insult, the breadsticks came with a portion control cup of Heinz Marinara Sauce-bleck!

Pizza Hut pan pizza, Subway's new pizza and even little Caesar's are much better than this.

Sad, I was looking forward to a new great pizza place. I guess I will keep looking.

-Ben

Don’t Give Me That Old Timey Religion

noreply@blogger.com (MadHacker) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:45:00 +0000

There is no god.

The calendar has rolled over to the twenty-first century and god is officially dead.

He has failed to show himself, (or herself), beyond the confines of outdated books written by superstitious men and women, and we must therefore conclude that god is either a machination of the human mind or an illusion altogether, invented to explain the yet to be explained.

The name of god has been used throughout history to subject others to slavery, self-condemnation and all sorts of treachery with impunity. One only needs to consider the Salem witch trials or the murder of thousands during the Spanish Inquisition to understand how mankind has learned to kill, rape, steal and pillage, all in the name of an all-loving deity. The logical mind must see this contradiction.

Some may argue that faith in a god is not logical, or somehow outside or superior to logic. In this case, the argument can end right here. There is no use for logic against a concept that is purported to be outside of logic. This is where many of the "faithful" stop. If it is a matter of faith, supposedly, that is all that they require.

I will concede that if that is enough to bring comfort to them, then so be it. This researcher by no means wishes to diminish anyone's belief system, so long as that system does not deprive others of their basic human rights. Sadly, even in the United States of America, which was founded on the concept of religious freedom, and indeed the freedom from religion, religious beliefs are used to subjugate scores of American citizens that do not subscribe to those ideas.

This must come to an end. The abuses of the theocratic Bush administration, if not over, have at least been stripped of their power. The sun is shining, and Americans are hopeful about the future, even in the face of a looming economic meltdown.

Science has failed to supply us with a definitive explanation on the origins of human life. Try as he has, Darwin has given us only a theoretical framework in which to work. In all our musings and preponderances, we have yet to fully understand how we came about.

The work of Stephen Hawkings and others has proven beyond doubt that the universe is ever expanding. Those same calculations have allowed us to understand that the universe sprang out of a "big bang" that occurred at a certain point in time. Residual microwave radiation proves this theory. This theory has become something of a bastard axiom in our time.

Another bastardized concept is the sugary expression, "I am spiritual, but not religious." This empty statement usually means the individual has no religious or spiritual devotion, but only wish hollowly they had. This appears to be a passing fad, thankfully.

Where does that leave us then? Can we create a world where religion and government are truly separate? Probably not, is the answer I offer up. Can we revisit this concept? Church and state were separated to prevent the government from encroaching on the personal freedom from religion mentioned earlier. In the 21^st century, we see the very opposite happening; religion is encroaching on government to an alarming degree.

Decisions regarding euthanasia, abortion, marriage and civil rights for all Americans are under attack by those who would wish to see their personal belief system forced on the country as a whole. The disgusting antics of Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas are a testament that fanaticism is alive and well. "God Hates Fags" is practically their church motto, plastered on picket signs.

The church keeps track and celebrates how many days Matthew Sheppard has been in "hell". Shepard was cruelly beaten with a pistol by two young men in Laramie Wyoming. He was tied, half naked to a fence, in the middle of nowhere, and left to die. It was done because he was gay. His mom and dad, Dennis Shepard and Judy Shepard were devastated. Matthew was 21.

Although the aforementioned examples are from the more extreme end of the spectrum, they are by no means isolated events, even to one country or one religion.

Women and children have been oppressed for centuries by "faiths" that diminish their worth as individuals. In many places under Islamic rule, women are not permitted to attend school, or even show their face or eyes in public.

The Koran opens much like the Old Testament in the Christian bible, (a term disliked by Jews because the implication is that the New Testament replaced their testament), trying to distinguish the chosen from the lost. If you are not one of the chosen, (a believer), your destiny is death, hell fire and torture.

I believe it is safe to say that scaring someone into believing something just to save themselves from death and torture is not faith at all, but a scare tactic up on stilts. Believe in this—or die. What decision would you make?

One may argue that religion is needed to guide our morality. Is it not safe to say that murder, rape and stealing are just bad decisions in their own right? Do you need a religion to tell you that if someone murders a loved one that great damage is done? That your loss is incalculable? Profound?

Some turn to religion for a sense of worth. It is a weak mind that needs to believe his life has significance, or that he will live forever, even though there is not a single shed of proof in thousands of years of millions of humans searching for that very answer.

It is only the human ego that believes he is too important to be turned into dust along with the pigs, cows and every other creature under this gaseous star we call the sun. Religion does pretend to offer other worldly benefits once you die on earth.

Muslim extremists claim to be in possession of many virgins if they die for Allah, but they are not permitted any sex here on earth. Perhaps a little bit of sex and alcohol will take the murderous edge off. One must wonder if the virgins are made to wear burkas, even in sexy virgin heaven.

Is it not apparent that a new model of community must emerge? Accordance must be reached to promote civility and peaceful cohabitation on the earth, regardless of what brand of religious knick-knack is hanging on our wall over the fireplace.

Rush Limbaugh

noreply@blogger.com (MadHacker) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:11:00 +0000

Rush Limbaugh should shut the fuck up. He is irrelevant.

Dick Cheney

noreply@blogger.com (MadHacker) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:09:00 +0000

Dick Cheney should shut the fuck up. He is nothing now.

DON'T give me that old time religion....

noreply@blogger.com (MadHacker) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:58:00 +0000

Manic Panic Vampire Red

noreply@blogger.com (MadHacker) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 02:30:00 +0000

I cracked open a jar of Manic Panic today for the first time in over 10 years. I could not believe the smell. It was almost like patchooli. I was immeidately transported back to my club/alternative 90's days. Wow. Crack open for a sniff today!

Today is the Greatest Day I've Ever Known

noreply@blogger.com (MadHacker) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:31:00 +0000

I am happy to be alive today. I am enjoying everything more. I look around and appreciate everything more. Every breath is a privilege not afforded to everyone. Someday, I will die. Maybe not, depending on technology. I hope there is an afterlife. If not, I am going to live the heck out of this one.

Heath Ledger Deceased-Jan 22, 2008

noreply@blogger.com (MadHacker) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:31:00 +0000

One of my favorite actors died on Jan 22, 2008 in NYC, Heath Ledger. Rest in Peace, Heath. The next night I had a dream/vision of him in death. He was on the other side and I was talking to him, telling him he was dead. he was holding hands with other face-unseen people, like the were in a big circle. Conversation:
Me: Did you know you are dead
Heath: How do you know?
Me: They have been talking about it on the news
Heath: Maybe its wrong
Me: Sorry, I don't think so
Heath: Maybe you are the one who is dead and I am here to tell you of your death
Me: wow
-end

Cooking

noreply@blogger.com (MadHacker) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:31:00 +0000

I have really been into cooking lately. Recently I made: Eggplant Lasagna, Meatloaf, Strawberry Cloud Pie, Quiche (ham and swiss) (spinach onion).

God is Not Great

noreply@blogger.com (MadHacker) — Tue, 15 May 2007 18:37:00 +0000

I just finished reading "God is Not Great" by Christopher Hitchens. What an amazing look at the 3 Monotheistic religions in the world today and why they are so awful. Religion poisons everything. More to come...

Music of the Moment

noreply@blogger.com (MadHacker) — Tue, 15 May 2007 18:35:00 +0000

Currently I am really into:
Year Zero: Nine Inch Nails
Black Parade: My Chemical Romance

I am also trying to get into the new Tori Amos, American Doll Posse

Cheaper than therapy

noreply@blogger.com (MadHacker) — Tue, 15 May 2007 18:34:00 +0000

I suppose blogging is a good way to release your many thoughts into the world. If someone else picks up on them or benefits, that's great. Cheaper than therapy.

Ben Hawkins-Psuedonymn

noreply@blogger.com (MadHacker) — Tue, 15 May 2007 18:26:00 +0000

Did I spell that right? Anyway, I am using the name Ben Hawkins to identify myself. He was the main character in Carnivale on HBO a while back. He was a lost and confused oakie whose mother just died and his house razed to the ground by the bank. The traveling carnival picks him up and he eventually discovers he has the power to heal, and defeat the devil, (a preacher in disguise), and eventually discovers he is the avatar in the age of the atomic bomb. i am avatar...

The Beginning of the End

noreply@blogger.com (MadHacker) — Tue, 15 May 2007 18:01:00 +0000

I'm not going to use my real name here. I am not going to show a picture of myself. In fact, I have done everthing I can think of to cloak my identity. Somehow, they will find out who I am and who knows what will happen then.

My identity is not important. My ideas are.

Jerry Falwell died a few minutes ago and I cannot help but feel glad. God forgive me. If there is a God.

Falwell has done more to demonstrate how dramatically retarded the thinking evangelical Christian in America is today. Blaming 9/11 on the homosexuals and abortion, the aclu and more...crazy rantings of a hypnotized mind.

(Partial transcript of comments from the September 13, 2001
telecast of the 700 Club
JERRY FALWELL: And I agree totally with you that the Lord has protected us so wonderfully these 225 years. And since 1812, this is the first time that we've been attacked on our soil and by far the worst results. And I fear, as Donald Rumsfeld, the Secretary of Defense, said yesterday, that this is only the beginning. And with biological warfare available to these monsters -- the Husseins, the Bin Ladens, the Arafats -- what we saw on Tuesday, as terrible as it is, could be miniscule if, in fact -- if, in fact -- God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve.
PAT ROBERTSON: Jerry, that's my feeling. I think we've just seen the antechamber to terror. We haven't even begun to see what they can do to the major population.
JERRY FALWELL: The ACLU's got to take a lot of blame for this.
PAT ROBERTSON: Well yes.
JERRY FALWELL: And, I know that I'll hear from them for this. But, throwing God out successfully with the help of the federal court system, throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools. The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say "you helped this happen."
PAT ROBERTSON: Well, I totally concur, and the problem is we have adopted that agenda at the highest levels of our government. And so we're responsible as a free society for what the top people do. And, the top people, of course, is the court system..
JERRY FALWELL: Pat, did you notice yesterday the ACLU and all the Christ-haters, People For the American Way, NOW, etc. were totally disregarded by the Democrats and the Republicans in both houses of Congress as they went out on the steps and called out on to God in prayer and sang "God Bless America" and said "let the ACLU be hanged". In other words, when the nation is on its knees, the only normal and natural and spiritual thing to do is what we ought to be doing all the time - calling upon God. ~~~
PAT ROBERTSON: > Amen)