WillWybrow.com

Have you ever stumbled across something so utterly ridiculous that you are certain it is a joke, only to realise with dawning horror that these people are completely serious?

Arch-conservative White Supremacist Christians are hindering the social, technological and intellectual progress of the free world. I give you: the Conservapedia - a right-wing, authoritarian collection of pro-Christian, pro-racism, pro-fascism, anti-Common Sense propaganda spread by pompous egotistical middle-aged men who, for all their complaining and rigidity, are doing as little as they can to help the world, because driving for what they want is, as their self-imposed label implies, conservative regarding true progress.

The collection of sourced articles and original essays is riddled with distaste for anything in the world changing. Acceptance of multiculturalism or homosexuality, for example, is rare and delightfully disguised under layers of elegantly spun prose. It is unashamedly biased, despite hypocritically advocating and claiming otherwise, and I think that it might just be the ultimate collection of the worst views in the world. It might not, though… I can’t speak for the whole world here.

I’d advise giving this one a miss if you’re looking for some unbiased, neutral information. The massively successful Wikipedia, although it has its flaws, is still your best bet, whether it’s a casual interest in something you know little about, or the starting point for a more serious endeavour. You can’t place restrictions on the sources of true knowledge, or you exclude too much of what nobody has enough of.

Or, just hit the alternative, where if it’s there, it’s whacky and if it isn’t, make it up!

ToolChronicles Prayer Submission Form

Fight the good fight, guys.

Regards,

That guy who writes stuff here sometimes.

I’d hate to be accused of not providing equal opportunities…

Ed Callow has finally spoken to us, and he had some important things to say.

Firstly, we’re not in trouble with the Union yet. They haven’t decided on that matter; they will take it into consideration, as we would expect them to.

Secondly, it is the independent action of the Societies Federation to revoke our award in light of the poster. They have complete jurisdiction over the matter, since they are unrestricted by Union policy over the awards they hand out and rescind. This is utter madness, but it’s how things are at the moment.

These two important things mean two other, equally important, things.

One, Ed Callow is off the hook… for now. If the Union vindicates us, he’s free to walk the Earth once more a free man.

Two (and this one is slightly less redeeming): our battle is now with the Societies Federation Committee, the lawless degenerates who changed their minds on us in a matter of seconds, after deliberating long and hard over whether or not we deserved the award. They have the power to take away what they have given. They can do this separately from the Union, and it doesn’t count as an official sanction. That’s why they’ve been able to act like this without informing us or consulting with us. They’ve been notified of the uproar, however.

They’re letting us appeal against their decision.

Good for everyone, this way we’ll be able to fight them and win, and we will win because we get what we want (and deserve) and SocsFed will win because they’ll know the truth at last.

And then we’ll hit them where it hurts. We have a right to complain that they were unconstitutional in their actions. And then we can take a motion to the Union council to hopefully force the Federation into getting some concrete rules.

We’re coming down hard.

In a personal confrontation, our White Knight asked Ed Callow for a meeting. He has denied us this, and is reconvening with his cohorts to discuss the flood of e-mails he has received in protest of his biased and hasty punitive measures exacted upon the undeserving Warwick Atheists. We’ve got no indication of what he’s likely to decide for the society this afternoon, but he projects that his deliberations will not take him long, for he has promised that he will be finished by later today. After this point, we can choose to contest the point again. We do not know whether this further contestation will result in a formal meeting or not.

It is my personal prediction that the Union will take the cowardly stance of reissuing our award, but rescinding the prize money. This will compromise the moral stance of our position. While we will have still been wronged, to begin arguments over just money will not receive as much favourable support from the student body. The right course of action on the Union’s part, of course, is a complete reversal of their decision accompanied by a public apology. I doubt that the case that has been presented to them thus far, comprising of a short discussion with Cai and the numerous, unrequested e-mails to Callow, is as strong as one we could put forward ourselves in a formal (possibly hearing-style, Callow as prosecutor) would be.

This is yet another example of the Union’s blind unreasonableness.

RaW News has incorrectly referred to this website as the “unofficial blog” of the Warwick Atheists. I’d like to remind all readers right now that this is not the case.

This is not the case! While I support the Warwick Atheists, it is a one-way affiliation, and they are not responsible for anything that’s found here. What I write here is my own personal viewpoint, and it is unfair (and irresponsible) to consider this site to be the public face of the society. I’d hate for them to get into trouble over anything I had posted here (and I’d also hate for the public to get the wrong idea about the society).

I’ve sent the following e-mail to the RaW studio, this having been the most accessible contact detail, after the web form for e-mailing the author of the article didn’t work.

RaW,
I would like it to be noted by RaW news staff, and reflected in the recent news article on the Warwick Atheists: “Warwick Atheists lose Best New Society Award”, that the ToolChronicles blog is neither officially nor unofficially representative of the Warwick Atheists. It is a completely separate entity comprising of an *individual* viewpoint on the matter, and should not be represented as otherwise. Please correct this in your news article, so certain controversial statements have no effect on the impending appeal.
Regards.

With any luck, they’ll correct the article quickly.

In other news, the meeting is still roughly scheduled for Monday at some point. With so much on our side, it’s going to be tough for the Societies Federation to maintain a fair case against us.

I’ll keep news coming as it keeps happening.

Love,

Chronicler*

*The guy who got a mention on RaW news! Score!

If you know me, you’ll know I don’t have a great deal of faith in the masses, finding them to be uneducated, unwashed and unhelpful. But the masses of a nicely atheist society like RichardDawkins.net ought to be able to shed some decent opinions on our current plight.

Warwick Atheists Controversy

Following this immediate impromptu decision, we’re unfairly revoking everything you’ve worked so hard to achieve…

I sit here with a letter clutched tightly in my angrily-clenched fist. It begins: “Dear Warwick Atheists Society,” and it gets worse.

The person who signed this letter, and (undoubtedly) the driving force behind its content, is the now infamous Ed Callow, alleged Welfare and Equal Opportunities Officer of our so-called Union of Students. What this despicable piece of literature outlines is the disgusting allegation that the Warwick Atheists’ posters (see previous post, below) were offensive and in contravention of the Equal Opportunities Appendix of the Union’s constitution.

FUCK YOU, ED

They’ve produced nothing as or more offensive than has been seen in the past, and it was merely a free expression of a valid viewpoint held by a great many people. Religion is mocked in every form of entertainment we have nowadays. The society wasn’t even doing that. This poster is not offensive to average people. A minority, an incorrectly outspoken minority at that, expressed that it offended their sensitive theistic values.

I don’t mean to sound cynical here, but everything is going to offend somebody at some level. To even be neutral on a topic that some people find offensive at just a mention is going to be nigh impossible. And, it’s only since the Warwick Atheists have made a name for themselves with outstanding community work and spirit that this has become a problem.

Fuck Godwin’s Law, the Union is acting like a dictator. They gave no warning whatsoever, and took this weak chance to discredit a controversial society. I’ve heard conspiracy theories already, and while I don’t think any of them are true, I still believe some of them to be possible (and that speaks worlds for our fascist governing body).

It is being taken to appeal, and the society is going to fight it every step of the way. Bring it on, Callow.

Announced without warning or reason, the Warwick Students Union wants to revoke the Warwick Atheists’ award for Best New Society.

Controversy surrounded the display of this poster:

The society is now being persecuted for a perfectly legitimate poster after a few over-sensitive people complained about it. And, what’s more, a member of the news team is lying about the situation in order to argue against us, dictating that he was disgusted and offended by it (and everyone who knows him will know that it’s a lie).

Updates as I get them, but with things moving so quickly and with so little coherence, it might take time before we can get any positive developments.

Much atheist love,

TC

As piece of film (and, I know that it’s a serial but the sessions are long enough to make it seem like an episodic movie), it has everything; a delightful cocktail of themes that melds together in a beautiful equilibrium. Everything from the six-shooter worn casually at Mal’s side to the Mandarin Chinese curses serves to craft a media masterpiece.

One big space family - there is every flavour of character, and even those hardest to please will not be left wanting: the happy-go-lucky, charmingly innocent Kaylee; sociopathic loyal father, Captain Mal; wise, serious and strong first mate Zoe; humorous relief at the helm as Wash; the rebellious weapons man Jayne; beautiful and sophisticated socialite Inara; the acquired passengers including the brilliant, handsome doctor Simon; his psychic and unstable sister River and the secretive, deep, full-of-surprises Shepherd Book.

The stories are about survival, love and adventure in a universe fraught with hard times and harder crooks. Living as scavenging smugglers aboard their Firefly-class ship Serenity, the crew are dysfunctional, witty yet altogether united. The leadership proffered by Captain Mal may not always be the best choice, and the more extreme ideas are open to reconsideration at the cry of the crew. He is honourable beyond any doubt, however, and his dedication to the crew is admirable. That’s why they follow him. He manages to walk into conversations at key points, giving the impression that he lurks around corners before entering a room.

Zoe and Wash are the stable relationship aboard the Serenity. As husband and wife, we’ve explored the strengths and rough patches of their marriage, as well as the rewarding expression of their dedication to one another. Zoe, the dependable first mate, served with Mal on the losing side of a galactic civil war. Often the voice of reason and the one to keep Mal out of trouble, she is probably the most “street-smart” of them all. Wash is our comic, delivering consistent and refreshing wit despite the horror of any situation. His bright Hawaiian shirts offer a visual contrast to the dark colours of the pilot’s cabin.

Jayne, the ex-mercenary armoury expert, was originally brought onto Serenity by an offer of money. His allegiance to the captain is tenuous, but he is a solid man in a fight. Not the most intelligent of men by any measure, but his often funny remarks lend a deeper layer to his character. He often exhibits a pessimistic, darker view on things, and can sometimes see the worst in situations. Those of us who disapprove of his disapproval still love his unconventional methods and foolhardy bravery. Only two things in the universe frighten him.

Kaylee was hired due to her natural affinity with mechanics. Beauty and an innocent smile hidden underneath a layer of engine grease and mechanic’s overalls, she represents that guileless perspective on things, showing us that a life of crime does not always turn one into a hardened criminal. She and Simon Tam have an ongoing series of failed attempts at engaging socially, mostly due to Simon’s social clumsiness. Originally a fugitive hired on to serve as a medic, Simon selflessly sacrificed his career and standing to free his sister from the clutches of evil research scientists. Simon puts himself after his sister in all affairs, and his unconditional love for her and unending quest to save her from the damage she underwent during government experiments both depict an epic and uphill life quest; a never ending search for hope.

River herself is an enigma. What she can and can’t do might never be fully explored, but she has a childlike quality that seems unnaturally coupled with her intelligence, and her mental instability worries more than one crew member. She’s sought by the authorities for the same reason she was originally held, although we may never know what that was.

The Shepherd Book is a self-declared preacher of the faith, although the way he handles weapons and hand-to-hand combat, or the things he knows about the criminal underworld, suggest that he may not be exactly what he seems. While initially confused about being an associate of criminals, experiencing the side of need and deprivation begins to change his perspective on morality. Although his teachings come to surface, they often grate on Mal’s nerves, who has no use for religion, being a reformed theist (reformed, of course, to godlessness), but the confrontation never goes deeper than casual banter.

Inara represents a change in the mindset of the masses. No longer considered a bitter choice of a desperate woman with no choice left, prostitution is now seen as a sophisticated, well-respected profession. Companions are sought-after and high in demand. They get to pick their own clients, so it is no longer a case of the client making the decision. Having a companion escort is a privilege, and Inara’s presence offers the ship some validity and standing, gaining access to places whose doors would otherwise be closed. The romantic tension between her and Mal is remarkable in its rare lack of emphasis on sex being a key aspect. Mal’s unaffected by Inara’s profession and their unexpressed love is only brought to light in extreme circumstances.

The world they are a part of is fraught with myriad perils, although none more fearsome than the Reavers. Maddened space-barbarians who seek out and kill human life, often thought to be just stories, haunt the outer reaches of the galaxy. As put in a stone-cold voice by Zoe to Simon, Reavers will “rape us to death, eat our flesh and sew our skins into their clothing. And if we’re very, very lucky, they’ll do it in that order.”

The milder (but more common) “bad guys” are the Alliance, the winners of the civil war: an inept and corrupt government who care only about the central and industrialised planets and leave the underprivileged societies to fend for themselves. Mal has a deep-seated contepmpt for the Alliance and supporters of it.

If it wasn’t enough that the awesome crew-family hybrid runs flies around space acting as honest pirates, the civilisation resembles that of the Wild West: cowboys… but from space! The unique environment is the ideal combination of the two concepts. It creates a suitably fantastic and familiar mix that stimulates the imagination and triggers the “awesome sense”. Guns from all eras are fired off to laser-sounding blasts. Old Western-style saloons house metal cups and futuristic bar-seats.

The final thing to mention about the varied and unique world is the fusion of Western and Oriental cultures. The supposed joining of two superpowers, China and the USA, has resulted in a written and spoken language peppered with parts from either (as well as the extrapolated prediction of the use of certain words as slang). Mandarin words (often curse words) are thrown in here and there, and we see Chinese glyphs on adverts and in the background.

So what does it all mean? We’ve got an intense character set in a completely versatile environment. The wit and action fly thick and fast, and there’s never a second or a scene that doesn’t contribute to the overall feel or the way the characters grow and develop. Every little detail, down to the space ship making no sound in space (a frequently overlooked technicality), serves to build up a series that delivers in every single way. It might sound old and tired to say this, but there really is only one problem with the series. It’s a little thing called ‘cancellation’ and it happens right after the last episode. Joss Whedon is an absolute genius and he has raised the now untouchable bar on Sci-Fi productions from here onwards. We’ll never see anything even comparable to what Whedon has given us in the form of this series, and while this means that nothing else will ever be enjoyed as much as this will, it also means that every scene is tainted with some small sense of longing and sadness that the adventures of the crew of Serenity had to come to a stop. I just don’t see how having the series and film consistently voted in the top list of best Sci-Fi productions can go unnoticed by Whedon and Fox. But we have all seen what Fox thinks of the continuation of successful Sci-Fi series when we helplessly watched them axe Futurama. Murdoch’s blood will one day be on the hands of space-fans everywhere.

This is the New System of Government: Failocracy

Arrgh bleeding heart liberal scum students infecting my university.

This Union will not ban Racist & Fascist Speakers
Total Votes: 2053
Votes For: 1020
Votes Against: 954
Abstentions: 79

This motion has carried
Read the policy here

The University of Warwick’s Student Union is full of baby-eating satanic racists and fascists who want to kill your families and enslave immigrants.