Everyday Freethought

A while back I was going through some old posts on Yahoo Tech Ticker. There was one post saying that employers do not really care about skill set. Instead it is mindset that is important. The title is “The ’3Gs’: Mindset Over Skill Set Critical to Landing a Job, Harvard’s Stoltz Says.”  The guest was a professor from Harvard. They also have a website and a book.

I reserved the book from my local library, and I got it today. I will be blogging about it as I go through it.

Lately I have been bookmarking sites and pages about productivity and self-improvement. I may start another category on my website about this. I have not decided what I will call it yet.

FYI: The three “G”‘s are Global, Good, and Grit.

The slogan or tagline for the site is currently “Both Freedom Of and Freedom From.”

When I started the site it was “Join the Conversation.” When I started this site I did it to support the Everyday Freethought podcast. As I explained before, the whole idea was to talk to atheists and skeptics who were not part of the “professional” atheist/skeptic class, or people who were not professors or did not work for lobbying, advocacy or educational organizations. They could be involved in local groups, but they had to have day jobs.

I decided on the slogan “Join the Conversation”, since I wanted to get some Joe Schmoe skeptics/atheists as guests. It would not be just plain old me yakking away, but other everyday people telling their stories. So I thought “Join the Conversation” was appropriate.

Until I added the Twitter widget, and saw that their slogan was ALSO “Join the Conversation”. So I started thinking about another one.

Another reason “Join the Conversation” was no longer fitting was that I no longer do the podcast. It became too time-consuming. Now this is just a place for me to rant about whatever I want. I don’t care if nobody is listening. I think people just have an urge for self-expression, so I will express myself.

The slogan “Both Freedom Of and Freedom From” was inspired by the tired line that religious people in the USA give that the Constitution provides for freedom OF religion, and not freedom FROM religion. To some people, freedom from religion is freedom of religion. They want to be free of all other religions, I just add one more to the list.

I cannot remember which podcast this was one, but one had a guest who gave lectures to high school students about freedom of religion. He talks about prayer in schools. Then he offers to lead a prayer. The students are all for this. Then he tells them all to face Mecca. They protest that he cannot make them face Mecca to pray. Then he asks them if they understand freedom of religion. Some do, some do not.

I get a lot of comments, but a lot of them are just spam. But some of them sound complimentary, so for my self-esteem I may start approving them. Plus, some of them are kind of funny. One said that he would have given his right arm if he had found a particular post before he spent half a day searching.

But in order to prevent the spammers from getting any traffic, I will see if I can edit the URL to point to my main page. I will also try to add some text indicating that the comments have been edited.

Here is the original text from my Twitter profile:

EverydayFreethought: A podcast 4 ordinary, everyday skeptics & freethinkers 2 share their stories & talk about whats going on in their hometowns

Even though I no longer do a podcast I left it like that for a year. Here is the new one:

EverydayFreethought: A website about atheism/skepticism, politics, dividend investing, and possible relocation from Chicago to Texas

I am changing my site. I changed the theme. At some point things got messed up. For some reason, no matter which theme I use all of the widgets show up at the bottom on the front page. But when you go to a post or a page, the widgets show up properly on the right side. I am tired of messing with it, so for the time being I will just leave it as it is.

UPDATE: One of the posts was causing some problems, so I changed it. The offending post was a list of all the Twitter accounts I follow related to Texas. I removed all the Twitter icons.

Here is the original About page that I posted 2009-06-20 08:04:23:

Welcome to Everyday Freethought. Everyday Freethought is a podcast where ordinary, everyday atheists, agnostics, skeptics and freethinkers can share their stories and talk about what is going in their hometowns.

If you refer to yourself (either seriously or facetiously) as an Agnostic, Atheist, Bright, Freethinker, Humanist, Infidel, Irreligious, Non-Theist, Rationalist, Secular, Skeptic, or Unchurched, and you want a place for ordinary, everyday people to talk about the local atheist/skeptic/freethought scene in their communities, then this podcast is for you. Everyday Freethought is a podcast dedicated to providing a place for freethinkers all over the USA to share their stories.

The feed for the podcast can be found at Feedburner here.

I live in Illinois, so I will also talk about events and groups in Illinois. I will divide up the state as follows:

• Chicago, The City That Matters
• Chicago Metro: The suburbs surrounding Chicago
• Northern Illinois: Anything west of Illinois 47 and north of Interstate 80 (although parts of Will County will be included in Chicago Metro)
• Central Illinois: Anything between Interstate 80 and US Route 50
• Southern Illinois: Anything south of US Route 50; this will also include the St. Louis Metro Area

I started a podcast in 2009. I wanted to start an atheist/skeptical podcast based in Chicago, since I felt that Chicago was not well-represented in the atheisosphere. I noticed that a lot of other podcasts were by or featured as guests what I call the “Professional Atheist” class: professors, journalists, lawyers, people running national advocacy organizations. I wanted to do a podcast featuring ordinary people with regular day jobs, the sort of people I was meeting at the local meetups.

But over time I decided the podcast was too much work. I called people on Skype, and Skype picked up a lot of noise on my end: breathing, lip and teeth noise. These sounds were never present on the part I would record of myself talking.

I was also going to keep track of meetups and events in Illinois. But that was too much work as well.

Over time I would change it. I am just posting it here for archiving purposes.

Image from Wikipedia

I have added a new page to the site. I am keeping a list of sites that are running on Google’s Blogger platform, but are using their own domain.

There are plenty of sites that are on Blogger that are not using their own domain. The Immoral Minority is one I check at least once a day. But I like to see if I can find others that are running totally on Blogger.

One hint is that a lot of them use the Blogger logo for their favicon. Sometimes the layout and design just looks like a Blogger site, although I have seen a few sites running WordPress with themes that look like Blogger sites.

Image from Blogger website

I have a backlog of podcasts and mp4 files that I am slowly going through. I will occasionally make comments on some of the content. So I may write about something that happened a year ago or more.

I have a few other blogs (that almost nobody reads) in addition to this one. One is about my thoughts on moving to Texas called “Going To Texas”. Another is about dividend investing called “Everyday Dividends”. I am thinking about moving all the posts on those blogs onto this one, and just posting here.

I know that my blogs get very little traffic, and I am okay that. I think that people have an urge for self-expression in addition to actual communication. I have heard a lot of young bands and artists make statements like, “I have something to say”, even though most of them don’t. Plus it’s just a cliche. I think it is more accurate to state, “I want to say something.”

I think that if I put everything in one place that I might post a bit more often. So I will make a few more categories and start bringing some of the content over.

Just a test tweet. 12:19 PM Dec 20th, 2009 via web

Episode 001 of the Everyday Freethought podcast is out. Join the conversation at http://bit.ly/6gbFkg 11:12 AM Dec 25th, 2009 via web

Added link to Arkansas Freethinker site: http://bit.ly/8WXUuC 2:46 PM Dec 28th, 2009 via web

Episode 2 coming in a day or so 11:46 PM Jan 5th, 2010 via web

http://twitpic.com/wxdfe – George Hrab in Chicago in November 10:51 AM Jan 6th, 2010 via TwitPic

http://twitpic.com/wxgvu – George Hrab in Chicago in Novermber 2009 11:12 AM Jan 6th, 2010 via TwitPic

http://twitpic.com/wxk0h – Ask George…. 11:30 AM Jan 6th, 2010 via TwitPic

http://twitpic.com/wxk51 – …or not. 11:30 AM Jan 6th, 2010 via TwitPic

http://twitpic.com/wxovy – George Hrab and an audience member in Chicago in November 2009. 12:04 PM Jan 6th, 2010 via TwitPic

http://twitpic.com/wxq4l – George Hrab and an audience member in Chicago in November 2009 12:13 PM Jan 6th, 2010 via TwitPic

Episode 002 of the Everyday Freethought podcast is out. Join the conversation at http://bit.ly/8Z4851 6:19 PM Jan 6th, 2010 via web

I added Everyday Freethought to iTunes. Hopefully I will get approved. Wednesday, January 06, 2010 10:09:26 PM via web

Edited “Other States” page. Goodbye, Arizona: http://bit.ly/59vXLJ Saturday, January 09, 2010 5:22:03 PM via web

Everyday Freethought is now on iTunes: http://bit.ly/6EcD8w Sunday, January 10, 2010 6:39:18 PM via web

Added a link to Skeptic Money: http://bit.ly/7hHuF5 Tuesday, January 12, 2010 12:28:04 PM via web

Added a disclaimer to the website: http://bit.ly/5czmpS Wednesday, January 13, 2010 8:18:03 PM via web

Episode 3 coming soon. Friday, January 22, 2010 11:36:42 AM via web

Added a few new blogs to the “Blogs” page on EverydayFreethought.com: http://bit.ly/8uqaNF Monday, January 25, 2010 1:46:49 AM via web

Episode 003 of the Everyday Freethought podcast is out. Join the conversation at http://bit.ly/78z95X Monday, January 25, 2010 2:25:44 AM via web

http://twitpic.com/zr98p – Bar tricks at the Skepchicamp fundraiser Monday, January 25, 2010 4:15:27 PM via TwitPic

http://twitpic.com/zr9jo – We all noticed this VERY LARGE television across the street Monday, January 25, 2010 4:17:24 PM via TwitPic

Chicago Skeptics website is now online and getting off the ground: http://bit.ly/9SxtTA Tuesday, January 26, 2010 11:47:53 PM via web

Episode 4 coming soon. Tuesday, February 02, 2010 12:46:05 AM via web

I added my amazing wisdom by commenting at BlagHag’s blog: http://bit.ly/c9tJoF Thursday, February 04, 2010 9:35:04 PM via web

I added a link to the Ethical Humanist Society to the Groups Page: http://bit.ly/apgIen Friday, February 05, 2010 6:05:30 PM via web

Episode 4 delayed due to illness. Monday, February 08, 2010 6:56:36 PM via web

I recorded an interview with someone in Alabama for the upcoming episode 5, which will come out sometime after the still unfinished ep 4. Wednesday, February 10, 2010 10:43:41 PM via web

Episode 004 of the Everyday Freethought podcast is out. Join the conversation at http://bit.ly/b82Gsl Friday, February 12, 2010 4:34:06 PM via web

I added a link to my Atheist Nexus profile: http://bit.ly/9kLKmn Monday, February 15, 2010 1:39:12 PM via web

No Mad Money with Cramer tonight! What am I supposed to do? Monday, February 15, 2010 9:40:47 PM via web

http://twitpic.com/13lsf6 – I am thinking about a business card for my podcast. What do you think of this design? Tuesday, February 16, 2010 10:54:20 AM via TwitPic

I joined Facebook and I am getting a lot of friend requests from people I do not know. Should I accept them? http://bit.ly/cqMZGI Wednesday, February 17, 2010 1:09:18 AM via web

I got my ticket for #Skepchicamp Wednesday, February 17, 2010 10:32:10 AM via web

Bitly Link to #Skepchicamp: http://bit.ly/ajgpBL to keep track of Skepchicamp Wednesday, February 17, 2010 10:35:04 AM via web

http://twitpic.com/13sdhz – I am thinking about a business card for my podcast. What do you think of this design? Wednesday, February 17, 2010 11:24:19 AM via TwitPic

A gallon of milk is now $2.79. It was $2.49 a few months ago. Thursday, February 18, 2010 12:27:16 AM via web

If #TigerWoods were really a Buddhist, he would not have cheated on his wife. He would also have realized golf is a total waste of time. Friday, February 19, 2010 9:49:41 PM via web

@wantonlife: How about this: “A strong religious in-group identity was associated with derogation of ALL out-groups.” Friday, February 19, 2010 9:58:38 PM via web in reply to wantonlife

I just did a reply tweet. Today I am a man. Friday, February 19, 2010 9:59:06 PM via web

@dELYSEious You are welcome to be on my podcast. You could comment on my blog. Sunday, February 21, 2010 2:04:20 PM via web in reply to dELYSEious

Update to the Blogs page and a call to action to help the Illinois budget gap: http://bit.ly/aqOi42 Monday, February 22, 2010 12:39:03 PM via web

Slooooooowly working on episode 5. Tuesday, February 23, 2010 1:52:49 PM via web

Scott Brown votes w/Dems, Tea Partiers go further off the rails, & it’s only his 3rd vote. http://bit.ly/cKENBO Tuesday, February 23, 2010 11:54:30 PM via web

How to fight #climatechange? Convince people it’s caused by gay sex: http://nyti.ms/d3HMQd Wednesday, February 24, 2010 9:07:00 PM via web

Just helped @ChicagoSkeptics & @Vegan_Chicago work on Chicago Skeptics website, building Chicago skeptic community: http://bit.ly/9SxtTA Friday, February 26, 2010 12:45:03 AM via web

Responding to a few Facebook friend requests. If you would like to be a guest on the podcast, just go ahead and ask. Friday, February 26, 2010 12:48:54 AM via web

I have some fudge if anybody wants some. Friday, February 26, 2010 10:02:29 PM via web

I am almost done with Episode 005. I have to “prooflisten” one last time. Warning: No mention of #Skepchicamp Wednesday, March 03, 2010 8:12:59 PM via web

Episode 005 of the Everyday Freethought podcast is out. Join the conversation at http://bit.ly/bl3Cmt Thursday, March 04, 2010 8:27:23 AM via web

Working very slowly on Episode 006 Monday, March 15, 2010 3:42:09 PM via web

Still working on episode 006. There will be no guest. I will discuss events in Chicago over the past few months, including @Skepchicamp Thursday, March 18, 2010 11:12:42 PM via web

I got my Hawking book for the @ChicagoSkeptics salon Friday, March 19, 2010 1:38:54 PM via web

I attended the skeptic salon with @ChicagoSkeptics – good stuff. I should probably tweet about this stuff BEFORE it happens Friday, March 26, 2010 9:35:14 AM via web

Finally starting to record episode 6 – I want to release it tonight before the post-skepchicamp party Saturday, March 27, 2010 4:09:35 PM via web

Episode 006 is done, uploading is taking a while. I guess the intertubes are clogged Saturday, March 27, 2010 5:20:16 PM via web

Episode 006 is finally out: http://bit.ly/dcuNl6 No guest this time, I just talk about stuff that has happened over the past month. Saturday, March 27, 2010 5:28:47 PM via web

ChicagoSkeptics What’s up with Chi Skeptics? Meet May 15, Skep & Humanities; Salon Doubt May 27; dets at meetup/chicago-skeptics or at chicagoskeptics.com. Friday, May 07, 2010 7:26:58 PM via web Retweeted by EvrdyFreethout

New episode coming out soon Friday, May 14, 2010 3:57:49 PM via web

Blackhawks win. So where are the jobs? (I really do not see what the big deal is.) Wednesday, June 09, 2010 10:31:10 PM via web

#touchdownjesus doesn’t survive storm. Kind of reverse of how 1 person surviving a crash is always a miracle – or is this just conincidence Tuesday, June 15, 2010 4:07:24 PM via web

@skeptipede: was skepticurean taken? Sunday, July 11, 2010 11:46:12 PM via web

@skeptipede: FYI: I checked out “Supersense” from the library today Wednesday, August 04, 2010 10:19:28 PM via web

Nice to see @ChicagoSkeptics moving their website to @WordPress Thursday, November 18, 2010 9:11:45 AM via web

Testing Twitter Tools from my blog Sunday, November 28, 2010 11:11:47 PM via 2010-11-25_23.56.46

New blog post: Plans for the site http://www.EverydayFreethought.com/2010/11/28/plans-for-the-site/ Sunday, November 28, 2010 11:13:38 PM via 2010-11-25_23.56.46

There seem to be fewer #Bloomberg podcasts this week – what’s up with that? Saturday, December 04, 2010 9:30:44 AM via web

New blog post: Quote from Yahoo article http://www.EverydayFreethought.com/2010/12/04/quote-from-yahoo-article/ Saturday, December 04, 2010 9:55:05 AM via 2010-11-25_23.56.46

There are no updates on @ChiRadicalendar after Dec 14. Why not? Is the site shutting down? Or are Chicago radicals just taking a break? Tuesday, December 07, 2010 10:18:37 PM via Power Twitter

Quote from Yahoo article: I was planning on writing a bit on the Tea Bagger nutcases. But I came across an artic… http://bit.ly/eXWggw Monday, December 13, 2010 8:22:20 PM via twitterfeed

Trying out echofon Wednesday, December 15, 2010 8:09:26 AM via Echofon

@QueenRania – definitely a QILF Wednesday, December 15, 2010 8:16:34 PM via Echofon

Alpine chocolate – good stuff Wednesday, December 15, 2010 8:19:00 PM via Echofon

All my stocks are getting away from my limit order prices – I must remember not to chase them Wednesday, December 15, 2010 8:28:23 PM via Echofon

New atheist site/twitter feed: @LatinoAtheists, http://latinoatheists.com/ Saturday, December 18, 2010 3:01:07 PM via web

I got another 20 shares of Valspar today – high life, here I come Monday, December 20, 2010 2:11:57 PM via Echofon

First #Festivus party was this weekend with @skeptipede, @JeffWagg and many others – I had too many grievances to share only one Monday, December 20, 2010 2:13:34 PM via Echofon

15 Useful Google Chrome Plugins http://tinyurl.com/2foe68x Monday, December 20, 2010 10:10:17 PM via web

I had to reinstall everything on my VPS – I plan on having everything back to normal soon Tuesday, December 21, 2010 9:34:36 PM via web

@LatinoAtheists – Put a link to your site on your Twitter profile Tuesday, December 21, 2010 9:46:55 PM via web

Reinstalled all site software: I reinstalled all the software on my site. I upgraded the OS, and had to reinstal… http://bit.ly/i3QLhX Wednesday, December 22, 2010 8:22:10 AM via twitterfeed

Looking for a better #WordPress theme Wednesday, December 22, 2010 10:21:18 PM via Echofon

@urbanophile You could have said “Southern Indiana is the third world” and stopped right there PP Thursday, December 23, 2010 2:04:28 PM via Echofon in reply to urbanophile

All of us non-Christians have our schedules disrupted every December because, don’t you know, this country is SOOOOOO anti-Christian Thursday, December 23, 2010 8:11:30 PM via Echofon

Post of @BurritoMonday tweets: http://j.mp/env5yi Monday, December 27, 2010 12:50:41 PM via web

I decided on a #Wordpress #Theme based on staypressed theme Monday, December 27, 2010 1:18:40 PM via web

It’s nice to see more events showing up on @ChiRadicalendar Wednesday, December 29, 2010 2:54:45 PM via web

@dELYSEious Once again, science is right. Why don’t more people see the pattern? about 4 hours ago via Echofon in reply to dELYSEious