Saturday, February 22, 2014

US mulls bill punishing Israel boycotters

Congress could remove federal funding from academic institutions that decide to boycott Israel. Read more

U.S. Cardinal Raymond Burke: Pope Francis opposes abortion and gay marriage

VATICAN CITY — As Pope Francis led the world’s cardinals in talks aimed at shifting the church’s emphasis from following rules to preaching mercy, a senior American cardinal took to the pages of the Vatican newspaper on Friday to try to reassure conservatives that Francis remains opposed to abortion and gay marriage...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/us-cardinal-raymond-burke-pope-francis-opposes-abortion-and-gay-marriage/2014/02/21/de5dbf52-9b36-11e3-975d-107dfef7b668_story.html

Friday, February 21, 2014

Beethoven - Große Fuge B-Dur Op. 133 - Alban Berg Quartett

http://youtu.be/XEZXjW_s0Qs

U.S. Bishops Face A Lawsuit Over Abortion Policies At Roman Catholic Hospitals (Diane Rehm Show)

The ACLU is suing U.S. Catholic bishops over anti-abortion policies that it claims endanger women’s lives. Diane and her guest discuss the legal rights of pregnant women at Roman Catholic hospitals.

Interview:

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2013-12-04/us-bishops-face-lawsuit-over-abortion-policies-roman-catholic-hospitals

Week In The News: Ukraine In Flames, WhatsApp, Minimum Wage Debate (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

Who knew we’d look to Sochi and see the young women of Pussy Riot be horse-whipped by Cossacks in the street? In 2014? But this week we did. In Ukraine, blood and crisis. A whiff of Cold War. On ice, a tough U.S. women’s hockey loss to Canada. In high-flying business this week, Facebook pays $19 billion for an app. WhatsApp. At the other end of the economy, the Congressional Budget Office says a $10.10 minimum wage could cost half a million jobs. And in North Korea, the U.N. says, hell. This hour On Point: our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines. / Tom Ashbrook

Interview: http://onpoint.wbur.org/2014/02/21/whats-app-ukraine-venezuela-kiev

Friday News Roundup - Domestic (Diane Rehm Show)

A CBO report says a proposal from Democrats to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour would boost incomes but cut jobs. The report comes the same week The Gap announces a minimum wage hike to $10.00 an hour. On the 5th anniversary of the signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the so called stimulus is as politically polarizing as ever. The auto workers union re-groups after a defeat in a Tennessee Volkswagen plant. And a Nebraska judge strikes down a state law allowing a route for the Keystone XL Pipeline. Diane and her guests discuss the week in news.

Interview:

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-02-21/friday-news-roundup-domestic

Friday News Roundup - International (Diane Rehm Show)

Ukraine announces a deal to end the violent political crisis there. Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych says he would call early presidential elections and form a coalition government, but some protestors say this is not enough. Venezuela arrests an opposition leader and expels three U.S. diplomats while six protesters are killed in demonstrations. Iran agrees to a framework for negotiations on its nuclear program. A U.N. panel says the leader of North Korea could face charges of crimes against humanity. And President Obama attends a trade summit in Mexico. A panel of journalists joins Diane for analysis of the week's top international news stories.

Interview:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-02-21/friday-news-roundup-international

Spreading Lies For God

Their bullshit spreads exponentially. Cleaning it all up (damage control) is a daunting endeavor.

http://youtu.be/VWD-ZBrJwmw

Gay-Marriage Battle Moves South, And Religious Right Fights Back

The legal battle over gay marriage is moving to the Deep South. Buoyed by federal court victories in Oklahoma, Kentucky and Virginia, gay-rights activists are taking on traditional marriage laws in the very states where those laws enjoy overwhelming public support.

http://apr.org/post/gay-marriage-battle-moves-south-and-religious-right-fights-back

Candidates for TX Board of Education do not believe state should be involved in education

"...At least two of the Republican candidates running for the Texas State Board of Education indicated in a conservative voter’s guide that they don’t believe the Texas State Board of Education should have any authority over how children are educated..."

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/02/20/candidates-for-tx-board-of-education-do-not-believe-state-should-be-involved-in-education/

7 Foods Experts Said Were Bad For Us That Turned Out To Be Healthy

These foods have gone from being considered healthy to unhealthy to not just healthy but even essential.

Seriously, there's a reason this is happening to you, West Virginia.

Exxon CEO Comes Out Against Fracking Project Because It Will Affect His Property Values

As ExxonMobil's CEO, Rex Tillerson is tasked to promote hydraulic fracturing and fight proposed regulatory oversight. The ... Read more

Ohio Kills Key Programs To Ease Access To The Ballot

In 2012, 59,000 Ohio voters took advantage of a six-day early voting sweet spot during which they could simultaneously register ... Read more

Jokes from the Pope

Ellen found some footage of the Pope cracking a joke to his audience. Looks like he's on his way to a promising standup career.

http://youtu.be/VIPTdtEvr40

Arizona businesses could refuse service to gays if this bill is signed

The Arizona Legislature gave final approval to legislation that allows business owners asserting their religious beliefs to refuse service to gays, drawing backlash from Democrats who called the proposal “state-sanctioned discrimination” and an embarrassment.

http://www.montereyherald.com/nation/ci_25198026/arizona-businesses-could-refuse-service-gays-if-this

Three Things Conservatives Wrote This Week That Are Really Good

TP Ideas' weekly roundup of the most challenging conservative commentary on the web.The post Three Things Conservatives Wrote ... Read more

Mortgage bailout now profitable for taxpayers

U.S. taxpayers have recouped all of the $187 billion they gave mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in one of the most expensive bailouts of the financial crisis.
Read more

America is turning secular much faster than we realise

"...This might not be so much a revolution, as a collective acceptance that – as seems to have happened with gay marriage – people can be honest about who they are, without fearing repercussions from friends, and family or indeed, the moral collapse of society..."

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/peterfoster/100260301/america-is-turning-secular-much-faster-than-we-realise/

The Growing Importance of an Atheist Community

Like it or not, atheism has become more than a "lack of belief in gods".
Sure, if you want to pull out a dictionary you can prove me wrong and say that is all atheism is. Yet doing so would be naive as to the world we live in and ignoring the movement that is happening all around the world...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-arel/the-growing-importance-of_b_4820365.html

Sam Harris gives an amazing analogy - Diamond in the backyard

Sam Harris, one of my favorite intellectuals and debater gives a great analogy to show the craziness of the current belief systems of Theist.

http://youtu.be/TrDlVLbtKbQ

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Is It Child Abuse to Teach Religion to Your Children?

http://youtu.be/lkeVfgI0eEk

Former GOP House Leader: God Wrote The Constitution (VIDEO)

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) on Thursday reminded Americans who wrote the Constitution. "I think we got off that track when we allow... Read more

Arizona House Advances ‘License To Discriminate’ Bill To Governor’s Desk

"...the legislation could be used to discriminate against him, such a taxi that would refuse to give him a ride..."

The Arizona House advanced legislation that will legalize anti-LGBT discrimination throughout the state.The post Arizona House ... Read more

Wall Street Is Drooling Over The Money It Will Make On Americans Who Can’t Afford Houses

Wall Street's entry into being America's landlord is set to explode over the coming years. That's great for banks, but probably ... Read more

How Ted Cruz’s Sulking Rage Could Impact the GOP

Will the GOP be in total disarray in 2016?

4 Ways Conservatives Are Fighting to Control Women's Sex Lives

Evangelical norms about female sexuality have shaped "secular" America more than you think... Read more

Biblical Medicine: How Religious Authorities Can Have Power Over Your Life and Death Decisions | Alternet

"Religion can play a harmful and inappropriate role in our hospital rooms... Each of these individuals, together with loved ones, wrestled with some of the most difficult decisions any of us can face. In all cases, the response of the Catholic Bishops would have been to deny them options—to fall back on the current position of the Church hierarchy: “we believe life is sacred from conception to natural death...”

http://www.alternet.org/comments/biblical-medicine-how-religious-authorities-can-have-power-over-your-life-and-death-decisions#disqus_thread

Register Now! Camp Inquiry 2014 - August 3-9!

Camp Inquiry 2014
Click here to register now!

August 3–August 9
Camp Seven Hills • Holland, NY
Ages 7–16
www.campinquiry.org

Ever wonder how to tell bad science from good? Or what it takes to become a paranormal investigator? Ever think about starting your own freethought group or organizing a philosophical debate?

These may seem like jobs for the pros, but with the right resources and experiences, you don't have to be an expert to Do-It-Yourself. You don't even have to be a grown-up.
This year, CI is DIY.
This year more than ever, we're putting Camp Inquiry in the hands of the campers and taking discovery to a whole new level with how-to workshops, youth-sparked activities, and inquiry-inspired explorations. Whether one is a regular attendee or a first-timer, 2014 offers every child a unique way to experience Camp Inquiry: CI DIY!
With curiosity and imagination in spades, young skeptics already have the essential foundation for discovery and DIY-inquiry. Combine this with hands-on learning experiences and guidance from some of today's brightest minds, and they'll have the tools they'll need to apply rationality, creativity, and critical thinking to the wider world.

Building creativity. Building character.

Grounded on the conviction that kids can begin establishing habits of critical thinking and ethical conduct early on, Camp Inquiry adopts a three-part focus:
• Arts and Sciences
• Skeptical perspectives
• Ethical Character Development
Led by Camp Director Karen Strachan, campers, teacher-counselors, and special guests will work together to help youth confront the challenges of living a non-theistic, skeptical, and secular lifestyle in a world dominated by religious belief and pseudoscience.

2014 Standard Early-Bird Pricing (Before 4/30/14)Single camper - $520
Additional siblings - $470

2014 Standard Registration Pricing (After 4/30/14)
Single camper - $600
Additional siblings - $550

Stay tuned for updates about this year's special guests!

Many thanks to those who joined us in 2013:

Michael Cardus — Founder, Create-Learning
Indre Viskontas — Scientist, Artist
Leonard Tramiel — Scientist, Educator
Garrett Thomas — Magician, Performance Artist

Camp Inquiry, now in its ninth year, is one of many educational initiatives offered by the Center for Inquiry, a non-profit educational and research institution working to foster a secular society based on science, reason, and humanist values.

Camp Inquiry takes place at Camp Seven Hills in Holland, New York, a spectacular locale fully insured and accredited by the American Camp Association. The camp features approximately 620 acres of woods, meadows, streams, and hills. Camp Inquiry staff consists of fully-screened, trained, and experienced teacher-counselors, including a licensed medical professional.

Camp Inquiry 2014
Ages 7–16
Sunday, August 3–Saturday, August 9
Camp Seven Hills
Savage Road, Holland, NY 14080 (Map)

For more information, please visit our website:
www.CampInquiry.org

For questions about registration, please contact CFI's Education Coordinator via email here, or call: (202) 629-2403 ext. 200.

Have questions for our Camp Director? Email Karen Strachan here.

nonprofit software

Meet the Billionaires Using Their Immense Wealth to Make Life Miserable for Ordinary Americans

"...Here is how it works these days: You start hearing about a big, national problem and then it becomes a drumbeat. First there are a few articles and columns mentioning that such-and-such is a problem. Then a number of articles appear, then a “study” from a “think tank” confirms the problem and sounds the alarm about how terrible it is, and then just as the issue seems to be the only thing you are hearing about a solution is presented. Of course, the solution always involves taking something away from you and giving it to some company or industry standing in front of a billionaire or three. The right question to start asking when you hear about these “problems” is which billionaire is driving this..."

5 examples of ... Read more

Boeing Paid No Federal Income Tax Last Year: Analysis

One of the largest recipients of federal government contracts paid nothing in taxes last year, according to an analysis from the Center for Effective ... Read more

Archdiocese Closes School Due To Lack Of Funds, Then Builds Palace For Bishop

An archdiocese in New Jersey is building an expansive, palatial addition to a retirement home for its archbishop, two years after it shuttered a schoo... Read more

Walker Aide Found Racist Email Comparing Welfare Recipients To Dogs 'Hilarious'

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's (R) deputy chief of staff from his days as Milwaukee County executive once called a racially charged email comparing wel... Read more

This Republican Reveals The GOP's Dilemma On Obamacare Repeal

North Carolina Republican Senate candidate Thom Tillis says he supports some good ideas in Obamacare but opposes the law overall ... Read more

McConnell Challenger: Gay Marriage Could Lead To Parent-Child Marriage

Kentucky Republican Senate candidate Matt Bevin suggested that legalizing same-sex marriage could lead to legalizing marriage between a parent and chi... Read more

Why Netflix streaming quality has nosedived over the past few months

"...Have your Netflix streams been much more laggy or choppy in recent months? If so then you’re not alone. As The Wall Street Journal shows, Netflix streaming quality has tanked at multiple major ISPs since this past October and much of it stems from behind-the-scenes wrangling over who will pick up the tab for all the added traffic demand Netflix’s services are generating..."

Read more

Private Prison Firm CEO Collected $22 Million In Compensation Between 2008 and 2012

The CEO of a private prison firm known for inmate abuse and legal violations was named America's highest paid "corrections ... Read more

The Big Progressive Win In Obama’s New Budget

A controversial measure that would have reduced Social Security benefits won't make an appearance in the latest budget from the ... Read more

'Piglet Smoothie' Fed To Sows To Prevent Disease; Activists Outraged

'Piglet Smoothie' Fed To Sows To Prevent Disease; Activists Outraged by Eliza Barclay February 20, 2014 4:37 PM i i A screengrab from an undercove... Read more

150 Messages To Creationists

150 Messages To Creationists- a collection of photos from YOU in response to creationists. Play this full screen! We responded to the buzzfeed article "22 Messages From Creationists To People Who Believe In Evolution": http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/messag...

http://youtu.be/bw2QIgHieY0

The Sketchy Story of Jesus

"In this video, I explain the history of the Gospels and how they do not provide good evidence for the life, death, or resurrection of Jesus. Sources listed below.

This video makes a relatively conservative case against the reliability of the Gospels, but it is still enough to shake the foundation. TheoreticalBullshit made a stronger case in his video below, but he didn't cite his sources, so I can't be sure it's reasonable to go as far as he did."

http://youtu.be/MUh_0E3qi6w

RWW News: Jones & Schlafly Warn Immigrants Will Make Everybody Else 'Slaves'

Infowars host Alex Jones and Eagle Forum founder Phyllis Schlafly claim that immigrants will end "freedom and prosperity" in the US make the rest of Americans into "slaves."

http://youtu.be/J_GleQdK5rI

Debate: Atheist vs Christian (Michael Shermer vs John Lennox)

Debate Topic: Does God Exist?

http://youtu.be/JZIJAt1tIHc

"Kill Kill Kill!" by Old Fart Rants

For many Christians, these political positions are allegedly based on God's instructions in the Bible, specifically Leviticus 20:13, and specifically nothing at all about abortion except for the generalized moral concept that "thall shalt not kill" in the 10 Commandments. Keep that in mind as we explore some of God's other "direct orders."

http://youtu.be/aL1iuWhJK9E

They're Bigger Assholes Than You Ever Thought | Wall Street Secret Society Infiltrated

"Recently, our nation's financial chieftains have been feeling a little unloved. Venture capitalists are comparing the persecution of the rich to the plight of Jews at Kristallnacht, Wall Street titans are saying that they're sick of being beaten up, and this week, a billionaire investor, Wilbur Ross, proclaimed that "the 1 percent is being picked on for political reasons."

Ross's statement seemed particularly odd, because two years ago, I met Ross at an event that might single-handedly explain why the rest of the country still hates financial tycoons -- the annual black-tie induction ceremony of a secret Wall Street fraternity called Kappa Beta Phi.

"Good evening, Exalted High Council, former Grand Swipes, Grand Swipes-in-waiting, fellow Wall Street Kappas, Kappas from the Spring Street and Montgomery Street chapters, and worthless neophytes!"

It was January 2012, and Ross, wearing a tuxedo and purple velvet moccasins embroidered with the fraternity's Greek letters, was standing at the dais of the St. Regis Hotel ballroom, welcoming a crowd of two hundred wealthy and famous Wall Street figures to the Kappa Beta Phi dinner."* The Young Turks hosts Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian break it down.

http://youtu.be/OeNZAzRxIXk

Comcast's Devastating Admission About Time Warner Merger

"When Comcast announced its proposed acquisition of Time Warner Cable, it said the merger would bring significant cost savings and efficiencies that would "ultimately benefit customers." But Comcast doesn't expect these savings to bring price decreases, or even cause prices to rise less rapidly...".* This and the roles of Senator Charles Schumer and his brother Robert are broken down by The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur.

http://youtu.be/VO2YH2Iu9dE

Right Wing Christians Preach Hate In Africa & Now People Will Die

*** Explicit language ***

"Gay rights activists have reacted angrily to the Ugandan parliament's abrupt decision to pass anti-homosexuality laws that would condemn same-sex couples to life in jail for mere touching, urging president Yoweri Museveni to veto them.

The bill, rushed through by MPs on Friday, also bans the promotion of homosexuality and makes it a crime punishable by prison not to report gay people to the authorities or to conduct a marriage ceremony for same-sex couples. The law was first introduced in 2009, when it advocated the death penalty, but after a worldwide outcry, that was removed from the final version.

"This is victory for Uganda," David Bahati, the MP who proposed the bill, was quoted as saying in media reports. "I am glad the parliament has voted against evil. Because we are a God-fearing nation, we value life in a holistic way. It is because of those values that members of parliament passed this bill regardless of what the outside world thinks.""* The Young Turks hosts Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian break it down.

http://youtu.be/5uatY7FAHO4

Bill Nye + A Big Oil Shill = A Bad Climate Change Debate

"A recent study from Media Matters found that the Sunday shows on NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox spent a combined 27 minutes on the topic in the whole of 2013. Meet the Press was singled out as "failing to offer a single substantial mention of climate change" for the entire year.

So, when "MTP" does finally decide that the issue merits its consideration, what does it do? It sets up a "debate" about the issue between Bill Nye—who, despite the great things he has done to popularize science, is not a climate scientist—and Blackburn, who has previously tweeted about how proud she is to deny that global warming exists...".* The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

http://youtu.be/ooa7_DESP6U

Laughably Biased or Fair & Balanced Climate Change Debate?

"Fox News contributor George Will on Sunday argued that climate change was a hoax because the world had also gotten warmer during the Middle Ages...Fox News contributor Kirsten Powers asserted that climate change had become an "article of faith" for liberals, making the president's effort an "overtly political move." Both Wall Street Journal columnist Kimberly Strassel and The Washington Post's Charles Lane were also on the same page when it came to combating climate change...".* The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

http://youtu.be/72kkPFJqSaE

America’s broken home broadband market gets perfectly summed up in one quote

“The impact on customer bills is always hard to quantify,” Cohen said. “We’re certainly not promising that customer bills are going to go down or even increase less rapidly.”

http://bgr.com/2014/02/14/comcast-time-warner-cable-price-increases/

Dog imitates baby

http://youtu.be/Nupfxo2ihQc

Real Time with Bill Maher: Overtime- Episode #304

http://youtu.be/V4B5MeR8Axw

Why the One Appealing Part of Creationism Is Wrong

"...On the surface, this does not seem completely unreasonable. There is, after all, a difference between an observation and an experiment. In the laboratory, one can have much better control when attempting to establish cause-and-effect relationships. However, to suggest that somehow this qualitative difference between observation and experiment translates into any sort of deep qualitative difference between the different sciences mentioned above is to demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of science itself..."

Earlier this month, Ken Ham, the founder of the Creation Museum, in Petersburg, Kentucky, held a debate with Bill Nye at the museum. Within the creati Read more

GOP Lawmakers Want To Define Anti-Gay Discrimination As 'Religious Freedom'

"...Now legislation has popped up in Kansas, South Dakota and Tennessee in the last few weeks, which would give private businesses and individual government workers the right to deny services to same-sex couples if it would violate their "sincerely held religious beliefs," as both the Kansas and Tennessee bills put it..."

The growing specter of legalized gay marriage, which has been advanced by numerous court decisions starting with the Supreme Court's overturning of th... Read more

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Norwegians reactions to a lonely boy out in the cold without a jacket

Is Tyson Foods' Chicken Empire A 'Meat Racket'?

Is Tyson Foods' Chicken Empire A 'Meat Racket'? by Dan Charles February 19, 2014 3:44 AM Audio for this story from Morning Edition will be availabl... Read more

Minneapolis/St. Paul: Number of alleged sex abuser priests greater than church has revealed

"...The archdiocese reassured the public that the number of victims was relatively low. In 2004, it said publicly that it had received only 69 credible allegations in the past 50 years. Yet an internal chancery document from May 2006 — just two years later — lists the names of 180 victims. The nearly eight-year-old document isn't a complete listing of all victims, just those known to the chancery in some depth at the time..."

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/catholic-church/2014/02/19/investigation-more-priests-accused-of-sexual-abuse-in-twin-cities-catholic-church/

(Honolulu, Hawaii) At a news conference on 3/20/13 in Honolulu, attorneys presented gripping video testimony of predator priest Father Gerald Allen Funcheon admitting the sexual abuse of children during 40 years of assignments in Indiana, Nebraska, Minnesota, Florida, Texas, Hawaii, California, on military bases in the United States and Germany and during travels to Spain.

Old Testament Armed Forces | The American Conservative

"The connection between America’s wars in the Middle East—and its wars more generally—with the more fundamentalist forms of Christianity in the United States is striking. Opinion polls suggest that the more religiously conservative one is, the more one will support overseas wars or even what many might describe as war crimes..."

Also see comments...

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/old-testament-army/

Kids Ask Questions about Humanism

http://youtu.be/t2W478fgn-4

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Glenn Greenwald: Top-secret documents...

...from the National Security Agency and its British counterpart reveal for the first time how the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom targeted WikiLeaks and other activist groups with tactics ranging from covert surveillance to prosecution.

Read more

Elephants Console Each Other

"Now, scientists have shown that African elephants do indeed get distressed when they see others in trouble, and they reach out to console them—just as we do when we see someone suffering. Elephants, thus, join a short list of other animals, including great apes ..."

Read more