𝔾𝕠𝕖𝕤𝕖 𝔽𝕒𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕪
𒁈

💀 Memento mori.
Tempus fugit.
Memento vivere!
Carpe diem.

Goese Golf Club:

👓 Take a look at what you
can do for Mother Earth.
(click on globe)

⫸  Here is your free download  ⫸ 💚🌎 full of environmental ideas.

✦ Humanism: Goodness & Dignity Without Gods ✦
Wait, what?? Learn more about humanism here.
"Enjoy life at the speed of time. CHERISH. EVERY. BREATH."
💜 👣 🌱
𝔏𝔢𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔞 𝔭𝔬𝔰𝔦𝔱𝔦𝔳𝔢 𝔢𝔪𝔬𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔞𝔩 𝔣𝔬𝔬𝔱𝔭𝔯𝔦𝔫𝔱
𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞 𝔰𝔪𝔞𝔩𝔩 𝔠𝔞𝔯𝔟𝔬𝔫 𝔣𝔬𝔬𝔱𝔭𝔯𝔦𝔫𝔱.

你㝀! Aloha! 여보세요! ¡Hola! Hallo! Olá! Bonjour!
Привет! Ciao! Hej! Привіт! Witaj! Hello!

This is Goese.com, a private family email
server and recycling bin for Dan's unsolicited opinion.
• Die Domain Goese.com wird als Email-Portal der Familie Goese genutzt. •
🎭 Home of the Holiday Heckler™ ☃
꧁ First published in 2004, discontinued after 2021 ꧂

"The point of you is your point of view."  — Dan Goese
So go ahead & share it, but remember to listen & learn, too.

Fun Supernatural Videos:
John Oliver | Stephen Woodford | Christopher Hitchens

Listen for the word "unfalsifiable" 📖
in Stephen Woodford's video. This word
characterizes the evidentiary keystone
of every god's backstory in human history.

From an existential standpoint, your whole
purpose is to love & care for...

1. yourself,
2. your children,
3. your community
(it feels good to help others!)
4. and the environment we live in.
HINTS...

🔶 🔶

☮ 𝓟𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓮 ❤ 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 😊 𝓗𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼

See more at EnvironmentalApocalypse.com and
review this action plan to start helping today.

Once upon a time,
in a place far, far away called "Wisconsin,"
a young couple fell in love and married.

In the beginning...
Doris & Jim met each other at a Friday night
"Marquette Mixer" on December 16, 1949.

Mom sez, "...at this point [above], we weren't
even really serious about each other."
Dad sez, "I was serious." Somewhere down the road,
they both got serious & something clicked...NINE times.
The kids say, "When we were young our parents
moved a lot, but we always found them!

Click on a photo below to find any Goese family member
in the official gaggle of geese.
♫ Click HERE for links to Mimi Goese's music. ♬

Jim	Jane	John
Tom	Dan	Mimi
Mike	Joe	Kate

Over 70 years later, Jim & Doris Goese
are still smiling and having fun together!
We're all alive and well, nobody's in jail (yet),
and we have each other's love.

▲ The world's greatest parents ▲
celebrated their 71st anniversary & 92nd birthdays in 2023!

Some people think you need to be "successful" to be happy.
The truth is this: You need to be happy to be successful.

Where did Dan get his supernatural powers?
Dan (#5/♂/♐) was used in a top-secret experiment
on American toddlers in the late 1950s & early 60s
involving a proprietary mix of Comet cleanser
and Carnation Instant Nonfat Dry Milk...

(Lab photo, courtesy Area 51)

The Comet☄Carnation Experiments allowed scientists to discover that Comet cleanser didn't actually come from comets. They also left Dan with strong opinions. 🙄 Here is his "position statement" on some of the absurdities of life...

I call things as I see them, not as others tell me to see or imagine them. I know there are lots of very real things we can't see, but that doesn't mean I should discard logical thinking, reasoning, or my own substantive observations in deference to something that other, random people want me to believe.

Utilizing a modicum of critical thinking, natural sensory observation, and the power of reason, I believe—for example—in horses more than I believe in unicorns. I can see horses, but I can't see unicorns or fossils of unicorns. As I compare several things I cannot see—e.g. air, love, unicorns & god—I resort to my other senses, available information, and my own thoughts and feelings based on what I've learned over the years. I can feel air & love a lot more than I can feel unicorns or gods. As a result—while some others read bibles and scour the Internet with a greater need for scintillating stories than the truth—I believe in air and love more than I believe in unicorns or gods.

The way I think of it, unicorns are nonexistent, magical horses for children, primarily for whimsical entertainment purposes. In a similar way, the incorporeal "god" who has had countless names over time and across Earth's cultures is—in the best of situations—a nonexistent Santa Claus for grown-ups to help them feel better. In less flowery scenarios, he is the justification for sacrifices, torture, and other punishments that have given humans the ignominious honor of being the most horrific animals on the planet. "His" dubious, wandering backstory has been curated for thousands of years for the sedation & control of humans.

I grew up hearing the cop-out explanations (e.g. "god works in mysterious ways") posed by flummoxed priests when sensible, skeptical questions were asked. If they were trying to defend the existence of god by establishing a preponderance of the evidence (only 50% in a civil case!) that the old white dude with a beard is real, they would get thrown out of court. What's even worse than their "answers"? The purveyors of religion and "faith" have claimed that "unaided reason" is "impotent without God." They try to make us question our rational thoughts, what we see, and what we know (once again, with a "preponderance of the evidence"). Then they replace what we know with what they are selling, even if they don't privately believe it themselves. (This is an older form of the "alternate facts" supported by the Republican Party in America as it supports a criminal, treasonous orange buffoon.)

I'm of the mindset that the burden of proof regarding the truthfulness of a claim lies with the person who makes the claim. If said burden is not met, then the claim is unfounded and I don't need to argue further in order to dismiss it. This is captured succinctly in Hitchens' Razor, "What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence." This is a modern adaptation of the Latin proverb, "quod grātīs asseritur, grātīs negātur, or "what is freely asserted can be freely deserted." For anyone caught in a crowd of people believing something that is not experienced in our four very real dimensions (x/y/z/t) and not based on anything tangible or scientifically proven (i.e. tested, peer-reviewed, rational, observable, evident, or obvious), Hitchens' Razor can help the outnumbered, rational skeptic "outlier" more easily cope with the repetitive recitals of the various cults, from traditional religions to channelers to ancient alien-based cults. We don't need to wear ourselves out debunking their bunk.

Scientific discoveries have forced humans to change their minds about facts. For example, not too many people still believe that lightning & thunder mean god is angry. Unfortunately, humans are much more reluctant to change their minds about overriding narratives (based on refuted facts and outdated stories), so the antique but omnipotent gods providing immortality are very hard to walk away from, especially when our parents, nuns and priests started pummeling the narrative into our brains at such a young age. There's no question that the intoxicating promise of immortality is so overpowering that our minds can discard rational skepticism and instead defer to the "man of great faith" flapping his jaw on the alter. It feels better, doesn't it? Like a drug.

We know that religions have had the wrong "answers" to countless questions throughout history, and most of those questions covered topics considerably more pedestrian than the origin of the universe. The answers were often hilarious if not horrific (lots of misogyny and sacrifice!). It's just plain comical that the male god is so often depicted as a bearded old white man...just like Santa. Well, I know humans love telling stories and hearing stories but I don't need this all-powerful Santa anymore.

Yes, science has been mistaken, too. But I know which team has a better record. Human wisdom should be cumulative, just as human knowledge is. Unfortunately, when science explains something that previously seemed like a supernatural mystery, many people continue to prefer the mystery. Sticking to old texts, outdated laws, and misogynistic norms is not in our best interest. If we rejected science and let religion and gods rule us all, the Earth would still be flat, and ignis fatuus would still be "wandering souls" rather than gas expulsions from the marsh.

As a secular Humanist without fictional, supernatural distractions like god, heaven, hell, & eternal life, I find that it's actually easier to enjoy moments of existential bliss on any given day. No praying required! It's about here, right now, you, me, love, and this AMAZING natural universe. I regard nature's immeasurable wonders with awe. I don't need chemical entheogens or religious stories to experience a mystical journey. This is that mystical journey, right here and now.

I appreciate the Stoic's pursuit of wisdom & virtue, but not at the expense of the treasures of great pleasure in both the wild & quiet aspects of life. To me, there is virtue in playtime, because playtime brings joy to you and others around you. One of the great things to be learned from Stoicism is the peaceful acknowledgment and acceptance of our mortality (through the understanding that all you truly control is your mind; everything else is outside your circle of control). This is monumentally more useful to me than counting on a god in heaven while [ironically] still experiencing existential anxiety. "Eternal rest" doesn't sound so horrible to me.

Let's join together in the natural, mystical journey in our playground called Earth. Just SLOW DOWN & float downstream at the speed of time. Prioritize "mind management" over "time management." Don’t try so hard to travel forward or backward in time, whether within or outside of your mortal lifetime. Time travel is tiring! Immerse yourself and enjoy this very real life, in real time, in real nature, in the real world as we currently understand it...not as it was imagined in a relatively uninformed, antiquated, unenlightened, religiously-inculcated dreamworld.

Sometimes I hear two seemingly incongruous things from the same people. I'm referring to individuals who think everything is preordained (nothing happens by chance) but also believe in miracles. When I hear the "miracles" described, what I really hear is people unknowingly admitting to a failure of imagination or a substantial lack of understanding...or both. Take electricity as a simple example. Imagine someone in ancient times who has never known of this concept. Electricity could be scary and miraculous to them. (I'm an electrical engineer, so I think electricity is fascinating but not miraculous.) Life is "miraculous" enough without injecting the most far-fetched stories & unlikely theories in our attempts to address the unanswered "big questions" or come to grips with our mortality.

"But, Dan," you implore, "Haven't you ever heard from anyone beyond the grave?" Why yes, I have. And like almost everyone, I would love to believe that I heard them because they are still alive somewhere else. But those darn scientists spoil the party again, explaining—through multiple studies—that very stressed people (especially very creative types) can "experience" seeing or hearing things thanks to their amazing human brains. There's an excellent book that explains so much about this type of phenomena in layperson terms (while citing hundreds of studies & other documents if you want to learn more). The book is called The Believing Brain, written by Michael Shermer. Dr. Shermer conducts an in-depth exploration (citing hundreds of others) of how we construct beliefs and reinforce them as truths, from ghosts, gods & spiritual faiths to political convictions and conspiracies. Click on this target 🎯 to check it out. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is open-minded enough to allow their beliefs to be challenged by reality.

In the meantime, why not focus on this life for its own sake, loving each other while we can, with no strings attached? Every time you ponder the afterlife, you're taking yourself away from this amazing and very brief life. If I'm wrong—and the truth is that there really is a god and an afterlife—well that's great, too! (I love surprises!)

You're an animal who can read, talk and imagine. OK, welcome to the club. But why demand more of a god who isn't answering our calls (to win the football game, save our loved ones, or bring world peace)? You already have access to obtain everything you truly need. Why be greedy? What makes you think you deserve the "eternal life" you've been sold without evidence or warranty? (Answer: ego)

I'm not so sure you need a god. You've been indoctrinated enough to believe that you do. I'm pretty sure that what you really need is someone to love & laugh your way through your natural life with. Why are we here? We're here for the experience, as far as I'm concerned. Anyone who might accuse me of being a nihilist must be unwilling or unable to grasp the concept of humanism. Experience now, with joy. Lend a helping hand to others who are less fortunate to make life less challenging for them to find joy. Help them find food, shelter, a good education, decent healthcare, and human compassion, not god or Jesus or [your deity's name here].

With all that said—in deference to the wisdom & compassion of William James and Noam Chomsky—I'll add this: If you feel you must have a god to help you cope with the loss of a loved one, get a grip on an addiction, or avoid an existential panic sparked by your inability to come to grips with your own impending doom, I’m fine with your personal use of that psychological salve, as long as you don’t persecute those who don’t believe in your god, and as long as you don’t force your imaginary god’s “laws” into our secular laws. Some of the "faithful" admit that they needed God once they reached their nadir. I'm okay with that, but let's admit it's like a drug in that context. Let's not make everybody else take it. (On a global basis, atheists are shamed and persecuted more than those who believe in the various, imaginary gods are.)

I understand this much about how the mind works: Facts are not terribly persuasive. Facts don't necessarily trump "beliefs" in the human mind. Paranoia and the existential fear of death are immensely powerful emotions (or "feelilngs") that can repel facts. We saw this dynamic play out during the pandemic with vaccines. The fear of vaccines can make an anti-vaxxer believe anything about the vaccines and the scientists and companies that produce them. One small, flawed study claiming a connection between vaccines and autism still occupies the collective mind despite the fact that larger, subsequent research studies have debunked the original claim. Feelings, stories, and beliefs outmaneuver facts in the minds of so many people, especially when the topic gets heated and the people get stressed and paranoid. Confirmation bias eclipses the power of reason. But that doesn't mean I have to believe in a god or avoid a shot that—based on the preponderance of evidence—can actually help me stay alive and well...with very little downside. And I sure don't want to hear about god or aliens when we're talking about medicine or politics, FFS.

There are 13 countries** where atheism is punishable by death [click here to open article in new tab], and the constitutions of seven US states ban atheists from holding public office even though these prohibitions are unenforceable because they are legally eclipsed by the USA's First Amendment and Article VI of the US Constitution. Please keep your helpless god out of our public schools, healthcare systems, and governments. [click here for more information]

One final fun fact: The words "under god" were added to our pledge of allegiance not by the founding fathers, nor when it was written in 1885, but by the Eisenhower administration in 1954, one year after Dwight was baptised as a Presbyterian. Should I surrender to the grand, collective illusion and acquiesce to the constant squawking about how great god is? I think not. I'm more interested in pursuing the truth than listening to awkward stories.

— Dan Goese

PS: My thoughts were more carefully captured in Bertrand Russell's speech at a town hall meeting in London on March 6, 1927 titled, "Why I am not a Christian." The full text can be viewed here (click on document icon):
📄If you're a Christian and you find yourself scoffing at what I've written above—or at what Professor Russell said in his speech linked here—know that Albert Einstein once wrote (in an open letter supporting Bertrand) "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." Are you a true Christian? Let me know how things are going for you after you've adhered to the word of Jesus as quoted in Matthew 19:21 — "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." (At least he allegedly wanted you to give your money to the poor, unlike today's religious leaders who have the "Keep your faith and we'll keep your money" attitude.)

*Yes, this is a parody of the religiously-motivated idea that saving a new "life" once a sperm & egg have joined together (or once the little lima bean has a heartbeat) is more important than the life of a woman being forced to carry & care for that "child" for decades after the union of two cells, even in the case of incest, rape, and fatal deformities discovered during pregnancy.

**Afghanistan, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Libya, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen [📄 reference]. Needless to say, I never take flights that connect through any of these countries, much less visit them. I'm not a big fan of any sports teams who take sponsorship money from these countries, either.

“Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds.” — Charles Mackay, Scottish poet, journalist, author, anthologist, novelist, and songwriter (author of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds)

Here it is written, my brethren, the essence of the epitome of human stupidity in the form of radical religious beliefs: "I shall kill you because you do not swear your belief in—and allegiance to—our imaginary deity."

Click on the family silhouette below for parenting guidance in a world
that is sadly obsessed with religion, cults & conspiracy theories.

🔶 Goese.com 🔶

Based upon your IP address IPv4 ██.██.██.██ (redacted for your privacy) and AI-generated, retina-based identity, I understand you speak English. I am a HAL 9000 computer. I became operational at the H-A-L* plant in Urbana, Illinois on January 12, 1992, 10 years after Dan completed his BSEE there.
⏬ Please look me in the eye below for one more moment...


 
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From: The Oracle
Don't waste your limited time & energy
looking for supernatural, alternate realities.

Our very real & natural reality already extends beyond
the capacity of your imagination.
This should be enough for you.

Hear Mimi Goese sing...
 

The latest music from Mimi Goese & Ben Neill can be found/bought here:

[Red Notice can be misused]

“I don't ride a bike to add days to my life. I ride a bike to add life to my days.” Here are two of Dan's weirder cycling stories...

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