The Odd Blog

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Facts About Mike

Updated on 28th December, 2011.

  1. I am 31.
  2. I am married to a wonderful woman. We have one child, who is 14.
  3. I am English first, part-Welsh second and British last.
  4. I was born and raised in Oxfordshire, but, as of 6th December, 2011, I live in St Paul, MN, with my American wife and our son.
  5. I used to work for these people, in Social & Community Services. I was low-level management, and supervised 12 people. As of 2nd December, 2011, I am unemployed.
  6. I am a legal Permanent Resident of the United States, and will be attempting to gain US citizenship when eligible.
  7. I love to cook, especially curry; one of my proudest culinary moments was when a former flatmate from India said that I cook like an Indian.

30 Responses to “Facts About Mike”

  1. mek1980 said

    Additional fact: I’m not as blurred in person as in the photo.

  2. Chris said

    I was wondering why you spend so much time on your blog trying to disprove God?

  3. mek1980 said

    I don’t. I’m educating people. You cannot show any evidence for any gods, least of all yours; you cannot show any argument which is not unsound.

    “Disprove” implies that there is some doubt involved in the matter.

  4. Chris said

    What evidence have you studied to come to the conclusion that there is no evidence for the theistic God of the Bible?

  5. mek1980 said

    Pretty well all categories. Pick one, and I’ll tell you how it’s wrong.

  6. Chris said

    How can you know with 100% certainty that God does not exist? As finite human beings we cannot know anything with 100% certainty.

    Of course it is not possible to prove with 100% certainty that God exists or that God does not exist.

    That’s why faith is involved whether you are a Christian or atheist.

    Have you ever read the book I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist by Norman Geisler? I would highly recommend it.

  7. mek1980 said

    Because the definition of the Christian god is incoherent and contradictory; because nobody has ever posited an argument for the existence of a god which is not deeply and seriously flawed; and because nobody has ever brought any evidence.

    Sorry, no faith involved.

    No, I haven’t read it. I don’t tend to read apologetics when I already have some idea of what the contents will be; apologians tend to repeat the same discredited arguments over and over. I’m guessing that he sets up a straw man version of Atheism and then knocks it over; that, along with the “it’s so unbelievable it must be true!” and First Cause (non)arguments tend to be the theme.

  8. mek1980 said

    I think after your next reply I’m going to move all this to a separate post on the main page. This isn’t really what this page is for.

  9. Chris said

    How is God incoherent and contradictory? You say that no one has ever provided any evidence God exists – have you studied arguments from Dr. Alvin Platinga? Dr. William Lane Craig? Dr. Gary Habermas? And on and on…what books have you read that provide evidence for God?

    No faith is involved? You know with 100% certainty atheism is true and that theism is false? You must not be a fallible human being like the rest of us.

    You are incorrect regarding the contents of the book. It is actually a very interesting read. I think you would enjoy it.

  10. mek1980 said

    Chris: Sorry for not getting back to you sooner, but there’s a couple of reasons for that. The first is that I was going to move this over to the main bit, but for some reason, WP isn’t letting me create new posts right now. The second is that I had a bereavement just yesterday and haven’t really felt in the mood to do much on here that requires “heavy” thinking.

    I’ll come back to you tomorrow.

  11. mek1980 said

    How is God incoherent and contradictory?

    Incompatible properties, that’s how. Things like infinitely just while infinitely merciful; omnipresent while transcendent; omniscient while transcendent; omniscient while bodiless and perfect; I could go on.

    You say that no one has ever provided any evidence God exists – have you studied arguments from Dr. Alvin Platinga? Dr. William Lane Craig? Dr. Gary Habermas? And on and on…what books have you read that provide evidence for God?

    An argument is not evidence.

    No faith is involved? You know with 100% certainty atheism is true and that theism is false? You must not be a fallible human being like the rest of us.

    Fallacy! Ad hominem, leading question, and strawman. One need not be infallible to know that there are no square circles or round triangles. If something is defined as inherently contradictory, infallibility is not necessary to disregard it 100%.

    You are incorrect regarding the contents of the book. It is actually a very interesting read. I think you would enjoy it.

    Well, maybe I’ll look it up.

  12. mek1980 said

    When I figure out an easy way to move all this over, I will.

  13. starryrift said

    On the God question, this whole back-and-forth reminds me of Douglas Adams:

    “I refuse to prove that I exist,” says God, “for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing.”

    “But,” says Man, “the Babel fish is a dead giveaway isn’t it? It could not have evolved by chance. It proves that you exist, and so therefore, by your own arguments, you don’t. Q.E.D.”

    “Oh dear,” says God, “I hadn’t thought of that,” and promptly vanishes in a puff of logic.”


    I also enjoy Bill Hicks’s comment that God created marijuana and then thought,

    “Oh my me… I’ve left fuckin’ marijuana everywhere!…If I leave pot everywhere it’s gonna give the humans the impression that they’re supposed to USE it …

    Shit! Now I have to create Republicans.”

  14. Mike said

    Hehehehe…

    Adams and Hicks. My two favourite dead guys.

    I love Bill’s bit about Creationists. That just slays me.

  15. nectarfizz said

    I am a total smartarse while simultaneously being shy by nature and nervous around people. I overcome this by talking too much about various kinds of nonsense and quite frequently being outrageously offensive. <——Wow,I knew there was something I liked about you. We have this in common..so basically I like you because you remind me of me….hmm..I am soo egotistical (smirk).

  16. Mike said

    Well, I’m very likeable. Everyone loves me. That’s because I’m so great.

    On the plus side, my wittering on does have the great side effect of keeping my girlfriend amused for hours on end, and obviously keeping her happy and smiling is one of my major goals in life 🙂

  17. helloblog said

    I just thought i’d point you towards the blog of a friend of mine. He lives in Newcastle, he met his other half over YouTube and she lives in California.
    He’s been living with her for the past few months but has recently had to return to the UK as his visa ran out.
    His blog is http://www.howgoodisthis.wordpress.com

  18. 🙂

  19. bscoobies said

    Mike,

    Everyone believes in a god…in your case you just believe in yourself.

    BS Coobie

    Mike sez: Actually, that’s a crock of shit. I don’t venerate myself, I don’t worship myself, I don’t assume that I am anything but a person so that leaves out being all-powerful creator of everything.

    So, no, I don’t believe in any gods.

  20. bscoobies said

    Mike,

    You believe you love your wife. I say you don’t.

    Let’s see you provide a sound argument that would stand up to the scrutiny of your own logic.

    BS Coobie

    Mike sez: I don’t think so, Junior. My blog, my rules – meaning that I don’t have to take ridiculous high school philosophy challenges.

    Misdirection doesn’t get you anywhere.

  21. bscoobies said

    “I don’t have to take ridiculous high school philosophy challenges.”

    Of course you don’t have to, Sophomore. No one likes to lose an argument on their own blog. I figured if you still watch ridiculous zombie movies, you might be interested in a ridiculous high school philosophy challenge.

    Ah, trolling. Take your cheap psychological tricks and fuck off back under whatever rock you call home, son. You’re out of your league.

  22. Lottie said

    Aren’t they cute when they try to act like their brains function properly?

  23. bscoobies said

    I am a spamming troll.

  24. bscoobies said

    I mean it. I really am a spamming troll. I suck, and in a big way. I aspire to be a moron.

  25. bscoobies said

    “Aren’t they cute when they try to act like their brains function properly?”

    Not as cute as someone whose thyroid doesn’t function properly, like me. I mean, look how much water my head is retaining. I am seriously some kind of cretin. By the way, did I mention that I like to eat pigeons? Argleyarglebargle, that’s about all I’m good for.

  26. bscoobies said

    I snapped my dick while I was wanking. Does that mean I’m a girl now?

  27. therushreport said

    Atheism – An irrational religion for pseudo-intellectuals.

  28. Mike said

    That’s your response to being told that you’re wrong somewhere else, to come over here and make a completely incorrect statement? Wow. What an intellectual giant you are…

  29. Mike, sorry for posting here (delete it) but I can’t find your e-mail anywhere.

    My name is Vedran Vrsalovic and I’m contacting you to ask if you would be willing to review my book on your blog.
    I’ve read your blog and think this matter compliments the work you’ve done in this field, so you’d be the perfect person to review this book.
    Please, don’t say no because you don’t have time, it doesn’t take long to read it, really 🙂 An hour tops.
    The name of the book is „The atheist’s guide to discussion with Catholics“.
    It’s not very long and complicated. The general purpose of this book is to serve as a guideline for atheists who encounter religious individuals, to catalogue the topics they can discuss and offer questions an atheist can ask that are hard for a catholic to answer.
    If you want to write this review send me an e-mail (vedranovmail(att) gmail(dott)com) and I’ll send you the book to read it 🙂
    Thank you

    Vedran Vrsalovic

  30. Hi Vedran,

    I can’t guarantee anything, but may well email in the next day or so.

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