DN Speak: 12/8/13

Saturday, December 14, 2013

P&T Bullshit! 302 - Family Values (Penn and Teller)

*** Explicit language, brief full frontal nudity

Utah Polygamy Law Unconstitutional: Federal Judge - Judge basically decriminalizes bigamy

Judge basically decriminalizes bigamy...

http://www.newser.com/story/179200/utah-polygamy-law-unconstitutional-federal-judge.html

Poverty Wages In America (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

Low-wage America is a big country, and it’s not an easy place to live. The nation’s grown a lot richer over the decades, but retail wages have fallen by almost a third. America’s minimum wage, as a percent of average pay, is now the lowest of any OECD country but Mexico. We all know the stories of McDonalds and WalMart workers on food stamps. It can make you feel guilty just buying a burger. But what to do about it? There’s a new push on to raise the minimum wage, even if just locally. And then what? This hour On Point: America’s low wage crisis, and what to do about it.

– Tom Ashbrook

Interview: http://onpoint.wbur.org/2013/12/03/poverty-wage-minimum-wage-pope-francis

The High-Tech Hiring Market Of Today (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

Old-school hiring and promotion could boil down to some pretty basic stereotypes. A firm handshake and a go-getter attitude. New-school hiring and promotion looks a lot more like baseball’s Moneyball approach. Show me the stats. Never mind the handshake, maybe even the job interview. Show me the data. The proof of performance. The statistical indicators that this person will succeed at the job. Big data is all around us now. We understand it and its consequences in the realm of credit scores. You may soon have a number on your “hirability.” This hour On Point: the data-driven hire.

– Tom Ashbrook

Interview: http://onpoint.wbur.org/2013/12/03/high-tech-hiring-employers-big-data

How And Why We Give To Charity (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

It’s the giving season. Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. But many Americans do. Give. And it’s interesting to look at where they give and why, exactly, we give. And where the impact is greatest. Philosopher Peter singer has been looking at need and response. At what gets us to pull out the wallet, the checkbook, the debit card – and what doesn’t. You may be the guy or gal who can’t resist the bell ringer in the snow. Or the wide-eyed child in the magazine ad. You may be methodical in figuring out your charity, or impulsive. Or missing in action. This hour On Point: Peter Singer and American giving.

– Tom Ashbrook

Interview: http://onpoint.wbur.org/2013/12/10/charity-giving-peter-singer

The Best Books Of 2013 (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

It’s been a good year for books. Cute kitties may dominate the web, but good writers are breaking out all over. Critics are smiling. Readers, too. We’ve got a big John Dos Passos-style American deep dive in George Packer’s “The Unwinding.” Motorcyles and avant-garde art in Rachel Kushner’s “The Flamethrowers.” Men down, in Jesmyn Ward’s “The Men We Reaped.” White girls in Hilton Als’ “White Girls.” A freed slave and John Brown in James McBride’s “The Good Lord Bird.” And a whole lot more. This hour On Point: the best books, great reads, of 2013.

– Tom Ashbrook

Interview: http://onpoint.wbur.org/2013/12/13/best-books-2013-collection

The Gospel of Evolution.

In this video the panel discusses an Anti-Evolution group files lawsuit against Kansas education board over new Science standards. We would love your feedback on this topic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRBL7xQw1ng&list=WL32F078D9EEEFBB36

Streaming now on Netflix: The Man Who Cried

If you are looking for fast paced, action-packed, this movie is not for you. If you are looking for great characters, fine acting, and good cinematography, you will enjoy.

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Man_Who_Cried/60003506?trkid=13641790

Iceland is a great example of a country which had the courage to prosecute bankers, and that’s largely because it’s not controlled by the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England

"Iceland is a great example of a country which had the courage to prosecute bankers, and that’s largely because it’s not controlled by the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England, Max Keiser, financial analyst and host of the Keiser Report on RT, says.
Four former bank bosses in Iceland have been jailed for financial fraud. They were accused of hiding the fact that a Qatari investor bought into the firm [Kaupthing Bank], with money lent illegally by the bank itself. It went bust in 2008, helping to cripple Iceland's economy.
Keiser says, what is considered a crime in Iceland is flourishing thanks to government support in the UK and the US..."

Chimpanzees are rational, not conformists

Chimpanzees are sensitive to social influences but they maintain their own strategy to solve a problem rather than conform to what the majority of group members are doing. However, chimpanzees do change their strategy when they can obtain greater rewards, MPI researchers found. The study was published in PLOS ONE on November 28, 2013.

Life May Have Originated Miles Underground - New research questions 'primordial soup' theory

The idea of a "primordial soup," in which life theoretically began in lakes and oceans, may be way off. New studies suggest the beginnings of life on this planet could have occurred deep underground, the Independent reports. Researchers have found microbes up to 3.1 miles below the Earth's surface—tiny organisms that are almost exactly the same on opposite sides of the planet...

http://www.newser.com/story/178867/life-may-have-originated-miles-underground.html

Friday, December 13, 2013

'Rape Insurance Law' Restricts Abortion Access For Victims

"The Republican-dominated Michigan state legislature pushed through a bill on Wednesday requiring women to purchase separate insurance policies if they want to have an abortion, the Detroit Free Press reported.

"I don't think elective abortion should be a part of insurance," state Rep. Nancy Jenkins (R) told the Free Press. "This doesn't affect access to abortion. It will still be legal when this law takes effect. Who should be required to pay? Not Michigan taxpayers."

However, the law, which takes effect in early 2014, will also ban women from purchasing the policy after becoming pregnant under any circumstances, including rape and incest, causing opponents to refer to it as a policy on "rape insurance.""* The Young Turks hosts Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian break it down.

Less Gun Control Since Newtown Shooting

"In the 12 months since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., almost every state has enacted at least one new gun law. Nearly two-thirds of the new laws ease restrictions and expand the rights of gun owners. Most of those bills were approved in states controlled by Republicans...".* How is money in politics involved? The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

Glenn Greenwald with Bill Maher on US foreign policy

First Amendment Only Protects Christians, Says Bryan Fischer

"Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association said Tuesday that the founding fathers intended the First Amendment to only protect Christianity, not Islam or any other religions. On his radio program, called Focal Point, Fischer said the word "religion" in the First Amendment referred to Christianity alone. That is why, according to Fischer, Satanists cannot seek equal representation at the Oklahoma statehouse grounds. "At the time of the founding [of the United States], 99.8 percent of the population of the colonies were Christians. The other 0.2 percent were Jews," he said...".* The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

Jesus & Santa Are White - Megyn Kelly On Fox News

"Fox News host Megyn Kelly on Wednesday assured children viewing her program that both Jesus Christ and Santa Claus were white men even though some liberals were trying to make them black. In a column for Slate earlier this week, Aisha Harris wrote that she had always been confused as a child because the Santa in her home had brown skin like her, but the Santa in malls and on television was always white. So Harris made the case "that America abandon Santa-as-fat-old-white-man" and adopt a penguin in his place...".* The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

Two Young Heroes: Danny and Tommy

When Danny was being bullied at school, his friend Tommy wouldn't stand for it. What happened next will warm your heart.

Get in the Flow State: What Jazz Can Teach You About Collaboration

No one, not Charles Mingus, Art Blakey or Dizzy Gillespie is born a great bandleader. We are not deeply conscious of others. We need to train our minds to be that way. After all, Harvard professor Dan Gilbert has found that aimless thoughts occupy our minds 46.9% of the time.
More...

My glacier cave discoveries - Eddy Cartaya

Snow Dragon. Pure Imagination. Frozen Minotaur. These are the names Eddy Cartaya and his climbing partner Brent McGregor gave three glacier caves that they were the first to explore, caves that are morphing constantly thanks to warm water and warm air. At TEDYouth, Cartaya takes us inside these magical spaces where ice glows in bright blues and greens, and where artifacts rain from the ceiling.

Full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/my-glacier-cave-discoveries-eddy-cartaya

"Towing Jehovah:" James Morrow on Atheists Talk #75, Sunday June 21, 2009

First, let's suppose that Jehovah God is real. Good News for the religious, right? Then, let's twist it a bit and see what happens should Jehovah die. This would cause a major problem for at least the Abrahamic religions. After all, how could we hope for eternal life if the Provider Himself is subject to mortality? The guarantee of eternal life in His Presence would at that time become null and void. Steps must be taken and a cover up must be carried out. Hiding bodies is difficult enough, but when the body of Jehovah falls from Heaven and turns out to be two miles long, complications multiply. The beauty of novels is that they allow absurdities to shed light on reality, and James Morrow uses the device of the dead god to illuminate our notions on religion and philosophy. Scott Lohman, President of the Humanists of Minnesota, will interview Morrow on our show.

More Info

Interview:

Download / Listen

Week In The News: Budget Deal, Mourning Mandela And An Execution In North Korea (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

The sound we’ll remember from this week is probably the roar of that huge stadium full of mourners sending off Nelson Mandela. Or the choir remembering the massacred children of Sandy Hook. The news that turns our heads this week is sharp. From North Korea, with an execution at the top. From Syria, where the West’s non-jihadi opposition is in big trouble. From Yemen, a wedding party taken out by a US drone. We’ve got a budget deal in Congress, John Boehner growling at the Tea Party, Pope Francis as Person of the Year. This hour On Point: Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

– Tom Ashbrook

Interview:

http://onpoint.wbur.org/2013/12/13/federal-budget-mandela-ukraine

Friday News Roundup - Domestic (Diane Rehm Show)

The House voted last night to approve a two-year budget deal. Its passage should reduce the chance of another government shutdown over Christmas break. The measure now moves to the Senate where Democrats have been busy confirming President Barack Obama’s backlog of nominees. House Speaker John Boehner criticizes conservative groups for opposing the bipartisan deal, saying they have undermined their credibility. In the wake of its bungled rollout of the Affordable Care Act website, the White House makes some personnel changes. And a look at whether the gun control debate has changed a year after the Newtown shooting. A panel of journalists joins guest host Susan Page for analysis of the week's top domestic news stories.

Interview:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2013-12-13/friday-news-roundup-domestic

Friday News Roundup - International (Diane Rehm Show)

After mounting protests, Ukraine’s president says he intends to sign a trade agreement with the E.U. World leaders. Thousands of South African citizens pay respects to the late Nelson Mandela. And Time magazine names Pope Francis its “Man of the Year.” A panel of journalists joins guest host Susan Page for analysis of the week's top international news stories.

Interview:

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2013-12-13/friday-news-roundup-international

The Problem With Calling Jesus White

Public domain Fox News television host Megyn Kelly told viewers on her December 11 broadcast that Jesus and Santa are both white men. "Just because ... Read more

Pocketful Of Problems: Group Providing Constitutions To Fla. Public School Students Believes Church-State Separation Doesn’t Exist

National Center for Constitutional Studies founder Cleon Skousen argued that the Founding Fathers ... Read more

Hydrogen squeezed from stone could be new energy source

Scientists from the University of Lyon have discovered a new way to split hydrogen gas from water, using rocks. The method promises a new green energy source, providing copious hydrogen from a simple mixture of rock and water.
Read more

Woman who miscarried in private prison 'made to clean up after herself,' court told

Although a nurse was present when remand prisoner Nadine Wright, 37, lost her baby, she says the foetus was left with her afterwards and that she had to clean up the blood..."
Read more

Jon Stewart Takes Down Megyn Kelly Over ‘Santa Is White’ Segment (VIDEO)

Jon Stewart on Thursday couldn't handle the level of "crazy" that was Fox News host Megyn Kelly and a panel discussing historically "verifiable" facts... Read more

The Daily Show
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,The Daily Show on Facebook

Judge: Take Down San Diego War Cross - But Supreme Court appeal may change things

"A giant cross that's stood on a San Diego mountain for decades may not dot Mount Soledad for many more. A judge has ruled the 43-foot national war memorial cross violates the separation of church and state and needs to be removed within 90 days..."

http://www.newser.com/story/179130/judge-take-down-san-diego-war-cross.html

Indiana Bishops: Support Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment For The ‘Well-Being Of Children’

The Indiana Catholic Bishops want to ban same-sex marriage, but they claim they also want to respect the dignity of all ... Read more

Ted Cruz coloring book selling out fast

He's known for coloring outside the lines in the staid U.S. Senate. Now children large and small can color in U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. Just in time for th... Read more

Barry Humphries: 'Dame Edna' says farewell possums

Barry Humphries, the creator and manager of Dame Edna Everage, is tired of the touring life. Humphries has announced his Eat, Pray, Laugh! production will be his last tour - although he says he will continue to perform. Humphries spoke to New Zealnd Herald reporter Nicholas Jones about his life as 'Dame Edna Everage' and his New Zealand connection.

Scientists discover second code hiding in DNA

Scientists have discovered a second code hiding within DNA. This second code contains information that changes how scientists read the instructions contained in DNA and interpret mutations to make sense of health and disease.
Read more

Republican Senators Introduce ‘License To Discriminate’ Against Married Same-Sex Couples

The Senate has introduced its own version of a bill that will guarantee religious organizations and individuals the ability to ... Read more

Cities See Big Spike In The Need For Food Pantries And Kitchens

Most mayors point to cuts in food stamps as a driver of the increased need.The post Cities See Big Spike In The Need For Food ... Read more

Thursday, December 12, 2013

First Guantanamo Commander Calls It ‘A Prison That Should Never Have Been Opened’

Major General Michael Lehnert opened the notorious prison at Guantanamo Bay, and now he wants lawmakers to close it for ... Read more

Canadian Oil Producers May Have A Lot More Riding On The Keystone XL Pipeline Than Transcanada

The companies' interest reaffirms that the pipeline's construction really does matter for how much of the oil sands ultimately ... Read more

The Senate Just Took A Big Step Toward Expanding Mental Health Care While No One Was Looking

The Senate Finance Committee adopted the Excellence In Mental Health Act as an amendment to the so-called "doc fix" bill on ... Read more

Rape Insurance?

"On Wednesday evening, both chambers of the Michigan legislature approved a measure that will require women to purchase an additional insurance rider if they want abortion coverage, even in cases when the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest. It will take effect 90 days after lawmakers adjourn, making Michigan the ninth state to restrict coverage of abortion on the private insurance market — an increasingly popular method of imposing barriers to the procedure.
Opponents decried the legislation as a “rape insurance” bill, pointing out that victims of sexual assault would be forced to pay out-of-pocket for an abortion procedure unless they had thought ahead and purchased a separate rider. In the lead-up to the vote, State Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer (D) called the bill “one of the most misogynistic proposals” that has ever been up for debate in the legislature, adding that forcing women to consider purchasing extra insurance in case they’re raped in the future is “truly despicable.”"

After the 2010 elections swept Republicans into power in legislatures across the country, they set about passing an ... Read more

Ford set for most aggressive expansion in 50 years

"The Michigan-based automaker said Thursday it's on the brink of "the fastest and most aggressive manufacturing expansion the company has undergone in 50 years." It plans to add add 5,000 new jobs in the U.S. next year, including 3,300 salaried positions..."

Read more

No, Fox, Santa Doesn't Have to Be White - Megyn Kelly takes flak for comments about Santa and Jesus

Megyn Kelly takes flak for comments about Santa and Jesus.

http://www.newser.com/story/179115/no-fox-santa-doesnt-have-to-be-white.html

Ray Kurzweil: Why Should We Create a Mind?

There was a time was when Google engineers spent all their days counting links and ranking pages. The company's famous algorithm made it the leading search engine in the world. Admittedly, it was far from perfect. That is why current efforts are aimed at developing ways for computers to read and understand natural language. ... more

The death of the universe - Renée Hlozek

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-death-of-the-universe-renee-hlozek

The shape, contents and future of the universe are all intricately related. We know that it's mostly flat; we know that it's made up of baryonic matter (like stars and planets), but mostly dark matter and dark energy; and we know that it's expanding constantly, so that all stars will eventually burn out into a cold nothingness. Renée Hlozek expands on the beauty of this dark ending.

Bipartisan Budget Deal Leaves GOP Complaining But...

"Bars set this low were made to be jumped over. And yet, it was something of a marvel on Tuesday when lawmakers from the House and the Senate took to the microphones to announce that they had reached a budget deal. The deal, which was negotiated over the past few weeks by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash.), would set spending for the next fiscal year at $1.012 trillion and increase it to $1.014 trillion the year after that. Should their budget framework actually pass through Congress, it would represent an increase in federal spending by $45 billion in one year and $63 billion over the course of two years. To pay for those increases, Murray and Ryan agreed to hike airline travel fees and require both federal workers and military personnel to contribute a greater portion of funds to their pensions, among other provisions. The deal does not include an agreement to raise the nation's debt limit, which the Treasury has forecast will be hit between March and June. Both Murray and Ryan hailed the deal as a major breakthrough in a press conference...".* The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

Here's Why Wall Street Regulations Are A Joke

"Big Wall Street banks face an uneasy future after U.S. regulators on Tuesday finalized the Volcker Rule, a measure that attempts to curtail big bets on certain financial instruments. But in a potential concession, the banks themselves largely will be responsible for determining whether they're in compliance...".* The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

Satan Is Causing Trouble In Oklahoma

"Legislative leaders in Oklahoma sought to ease public concern Monday over a plan by a group of satanists to erect a monument at the state Capitol. Both House Speaker T.W. Shannon and Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman suggested that such a plan was far from a reality, and members of the committee that would need to approve the monument sounded skeptical. But a constitutional law professor says the state could be on legally questionable ground if it rejects the New York-based Satanic Temple's request to put an homage to Satan near a Ten Commandments monument that's already at the Capitol. The Associated Press reported Sunday about the Satanic Temple's plans to donate such a memorial. The Oklahoma Capitol Preservation Commission would have to approve such plans. "That's Oklahoma's house. It's not the Satanic club of New York's house," said Capitol architect Duane Mass, who serves on the commission...".* What does Fox News host Gretchen Carlson think? The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

Dame Edna’s Last Laughs

Since the nineteen-seventies, I've followed Dame Edna Everage, Barry Humphries's magnificent comic termagant, as she progressed from housewife superst Read more

Tea Party Challenger Lee Bright: People Who Don't Work Shouldn't Be Allowed To Eat

"...At a fundraising event in Tulsa Oklahoma, state Sen. Lee Bright (R-SC), one of a handful of Republicans challenging Graham said that "folks in government" aren't looking out for the best interests of the country. Bright went on to offer unemployment benefits as an example of how elected officials are failing...

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/tea-party-challenger-to-lindsey-graham-people-who-don-t-work-shouldn-t-be-allowed-to-eat?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews

Michigan Legislature Passes Controversial Abortion Insurance Bill

"What's happening in Michigan is part of an outrageous and troubling trend. In just the last five months, politicians in Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Michigan have broken or bent the rules to jam through abortion restrictions that the public overwhelmingly opposes," Cecile Richards, president of PPAF, said in a statement.

The Michigan legislature passed an abortion insurance bill Wednesday and that will bypass Gov. Rick Snyder's (R) desk and skip placement on the 2014 b... Read more

A crow does tobogganing using a mayonnaise lid

Ворона катается на майонезной крышке videolarını kanalıma abone olarak izleyebilirsiniz. Kullanılabilir açıklama yok.

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In 13 countries around the world, all of them Muslim...

...people who openly espouse atheism or reject the official state religion of Islam face execution under the law

Read more

ELI5: If it is said that the gravitational pull of Black Holes...

...is so strong that it attracts light, then wouldn't that require light to have mass?

Read more

Norway is digitizing all its books and making them free to read online

"...It's similar to the mass digitization efforts in the UK and Finland, but Norway has taken the extra step of making agreements with many publishers to allow anyone with a Norway IP address to access copyrighted material..."
Read more

Colin Powell Makes The Case For Universal Health Care

"I think universal health care is one of the things we should really be focused on," Powell said at an event last week. ... Read more

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Freethought Books Project: Volunteer, Donate

"The Freethought Books Project provides donations of secular and freethinking literature to prisoners, inmates in mental hospitals, books to prisoners projects, and others in need. The program also connects inmates to volunteer pen pals, who correspond with secular humanist, atheist, and other inmates who are connected to the project. This project has been administered by the Center for Inquiry since 2013..."

http://www.centerforinquiry.net/outreach/about_freethought_books/

Holidays, minus God

"Americans who are unaffiliated with any faith tradition are the fastest growing religious group in the country. With the holiday season upon us, we asked iReporters: If you're atheist, agnostic or a nonbeliever of any kind, how do you celebrate the holidays? The outpouring of submissions we received were thoughtful, heartwarming, engaging and, above all, cheerful -- In other words, perfectly in tune with the holiday season..."

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/atheist.holidays.irpt/

Analysts predict surge in health care enrollment

Most customers for private insurance so far are not eligible for subsidies to help pay for it.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/11/federal-exchange-moving-forward/3988359/

The Bible as Bludgeon

"YOU can make a successful run for political office in this country without an especially thick résumé, any exceptional talent for expressing yourself, a noteworthy education or, for that matter, a basic grasp of science.

But you better have religion. You better be ready to profess your faith in and fealty to God — the Judeo-Christian one, of course..."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/08/opinion/sunday/the-bible-as-bludgeon.html?_r=1&

Meet the Amazing TAMers: Michael Shermer

Joel Guttormson, Outreach and Event Coordinator for the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science interviews speakers from TAM 2013 presented by the James Randi Educational Foundation.

Dr. Michael Shermer is the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, the Executive Director of the Skeptics Society, a monthly columnist for Scientific American, the host of the The Skeptics Society's Distinguished Science Lecture Series, and Adjunct Professor at Claremont Graduate University and Chapman University. His latest book is, 'The Believing Brain'.

RWW News: Fischer Says 'Our Constitution Protects The Free Exercise Of The Christian Religion'

Sanders Weighs in on Budget Deal

RWW News: Venker & Malzberg: 'Everybody Loves Raymond' Symptom of Feminized Men

Right Wing Watch reports on the extreme rhetoric and activities of key right-wing figures and organizations by showing their views in their own words. In this video, Suzanne Venker and Steve Malzberg discuss the "War on Men."

How Much Did Fox News Pay an Exec to Not Talk?

"Roger Ailes' secrets command a heavy price. Last week, the New York Times reported that Fox News had reached an out-of-court settlement with Brian Lewis, the former Ailes aide who was abruptly fired in late July. A Fox News executive with knowledge of the negotiations told Gawker that Lewis was paid approximately $8 million in hush money...".* The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

Obama Is 'So Close To Death' He Needs Life Insurance, Says VA GOP Chair

"RPV Chairman Pat Mullins blamed the media for gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli's loss, saying that the so-called "war on women" was covered more than the president's health care reform law. "This year, our message couldn't break through and we paid a price," he lamented. "This is false narrative by false prophets... Republicans do not win when we are mini-Democrats or Democrat Lite. In fact, Mullins seemed more sure than ever that the health care law was going to give Republicans the upper hand in dealing with the state's new Democratic governor. "Obama's so close to death that Terry McAuliffe is about to buy a life insurance on him," Mullins joked...".* The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

Leaky government: Detroit's water supply wasted by ravaged pipes

DETROIT — Torrents of water spew from broken pipes in Detroit's Crosman School, cascading down stairs before pooling on the warped tile of what was on... Read more

GOP poised for overnight talkathon to protest filibuster rules change

The Senate is set to spend Wednesday night debating executive nominees as Republicans protest Democratic attempts to force Obama administration nomina... Read more

Obama Shakes Hand Of Raul Castro, Heads Explode

"With a quick handshake, President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro whipped up a frenzy Tuesday that led many to wonder whether a shift is coming between the former Cold War nations. Others just thought it was a nice thing to do. Obama became the first U.S. president since 2000 to shake hands with a Cuban leader. The gesture came as the two took their seats at Nelson Mandela's memorial service just before each leader eulogized the fallen icon. The simple act generated a torrent of rage from some, including Cuban-American politicians who have fought to maintain the U.S. embargo against the island and remove the Castros from power...".* The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

FFRF, Gaylor, Barker overturn ‘parsonage exemption’ clergy privilege

The Freedom From Religion Foundation and its co-presidents Annie Laurie Gaylor and Dan Barker have won a significant ruling with far-reaching ramifications declaring unconstitutional the 1954 “parish exemption” uniquely benefiting “ministers of the gospel.”

http://ffrf.org/news/news-releases/item/19361-ffrf-gaylor-barker-overturn-%E2%80%98parsonage-exemption%E2%80%99-clergy-privilege

Newtown anniversary: US schools keep trying wrong fixes to deter school shootings, experts say

> By Bill Dedman Investigative Reporter, NBC News It happened after Columbine, after Virginia Tech, and after Newtown, too. After every mas... Read more

Michigan Governor Condemns Anti-Gay Remarks By GOP Committeeman Dave Agema

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has condemned remarks by Republican National Committee member Dave Agema, even though Snyder has ... Read more

The Secular Policy Recommendations That Will Make the Religious Right Squirm

"The Secular Coalition for America is releasing its “Model Secular Policy Guide” for politicians with a briefing on Capitol Hill today...."

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/12/09/the-secular-policy-recommendations-that-will-make-the-religious-right-squirm/

Capitol Leaders Agree to a Deal on the Budget

"WASHINGTON — House and Senate budget negotiators reached agreement Tuesday on a budget deal that would raise military and domestic spending over the next two years, shifting the pain of across-the-board cuts to other programs over the coming decade and raising fees on airline tickets to pay for airport security...."