For the Bank Holiday, if you've nothing better to do

Sorry I’ve neglected posting anything for a while, but you could have written something yourself, you know. I’ve been in a codeine-induced stupor, due to severe back pain. No advice thanks; just send chocolate.

So, anyhow, here’s some stuff for the bank holiday.

The hoo-ha over MPs’ expenses has, it seems, led many to become so disillusioned with British politicians that they say they won’t vote. Does that mean they’re happy to delegate any decision-making to those of us who do? Were they among the 38.72% who didn’t vote last time? Maybe, if you don’t vote, you’ve no right to express an opinion about how we’re governed. What do you think?

Of those who will vote, it’s been forecast that many will vote for one of the smaller parties – maybe UKIP, the BNP or the Greens. Nigel Farage, the MEP who spends all his time telling us why we shouldn’t be in the EU, has been vocal in his criticism of MPs' expenses, but admits he’s claimed £2 million as an MEP.

The BNP has upset the church with its poster campaign, asking “What would Jesus do?” This seems a little odd, as they wouldn’t want Jesus in the UK if he had a second coming and decided to apply for British citizenship. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are miffed about this, and have advised people not to vote BNP; they don’t think Jesus would vote BNP.

The Christian Party & Christian People’s Alliance think he’d vote for them. Their manifesto is “based on biblical principles”. They’re been in trouble too; their election broadcast was censored to remove a reference to a mosque that could offend Muslims. It’s going to be hard to choose, isn’t it?

Meanwhile, back in the real world (what am I saying?), it seems I’m sub-human. I knew there was something different about me, but now the outgoing Archbishop of Westminster, Murphy-O’Connor, says that people like me are evil. Atheism is, apparently, worse than child abuse, since the shocking Irish Child Abuse Commission report “Should not overshadow all of the good that institutions such as the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of Mercy had done,” according to this arch-hypocrite, who’s helped to cover a paedophile's tracks. When the commission report was discussed on The Big Questions this morning, Fr John Owen, press officer for the Cardiff archdiocese, admitted the paedophilia in the church was appalling, then said “Most of these offences are committed by homosexuals”, implying that homosexuality was the problem! I don’t know why I watch The Big Questions; I always end up yelling at the TV. However, I’m looking forward to seeing atheist comedian Christina Martin on the programme; her invitation has been postponed several times.

I remember seeing something on the Interweb about Noah’s Ark, and the logistics of stocking said boat with sufficient feed and water for the creatures that went aboard, two by two, and for Noah and his family. I know that God can probably vacuum pack, but it’d still have to be a very big boat – too big to actually float. I was reminded of this by a video about the Genesis myth by Michael Shermer, editor of "Sceptic Magazine" and author of "Why Darwin Matters”, which aims “to convey the logical absurdity of trying to squeeze the round peg of science into the square hole of religion.” Thanks to the member who alerted me to it:

Thanks to Roy Saich from the Humanists website for flagging those up.