More adults are using weed in the states that legalized, but teen use is flat.

"...The national-level data from this study, released back in September, showed that drug and alcohol use rates among all Americans is essentially flat, while teen use is actually trending downward. ..."
Read more

Fox's Ralph Peters Calls President Obama A Child For Ending Combat Mission In Afghanistan

The talking heads on Fox "news" never pass up an opportunity to disrespect the President of the United States...  Read more

Are Republicans behind Tesla sales bans? Data offers clues.

Tesla supporters commonly assume state auto-dealer lobbyists work with Republican legislators to enact laws banning direct sales of Tesla's electric c... Read more

10 excellent books you might have missed in 2014

Which 2014 books were so good that a critic would gladly read them again on his own time? Danny Heitman shares his list. ... Read more

Court Rules Kansas School Budget 'Inadequate' Under Constitution

A Kansas school finance court on Tuesday ruled that the Kansas public school budget is not sufficient and violates the state constitutin, the Wichita... Read more

GOP Leaders Back Lawmaker Who Spoke At White Supremacist Event

How do you wind up at a David Duke event and not realize it?The post GOP Leaders Back Lawmaker Who Spoke At White Supremacist ... Read more

America’s Retirement Security Crisis Is Huge and Quickly Approaching

Tens of millions of aging Americans face a slow slide into poverty.
...  Read more

The Scary Revolving Door: Black Water Lobbyist to Run House Intel Committee

The revolving door between government and private industry is quite scary.
...  Read more

There's a Big Anniversary This January That the Christian Right Doesn't Want You to Know About

An important turning point in the separation of church and state happened in January, 1786.
...  Read more

Scandal Rocks The GOP Congress, Before It Even Takes Office

Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) handily won reelection in November, despite the fact that he was under indictment for 20 counts of tax fraud...
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/12/29/scandal-rocks-the-gop-congress-before-it-even-takes-office/

Transgender teen: 'My death needs to mean something'

...There are no national statistics about how many transgender people commit suicide, partly because it's not always known.

In 2010, the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force reported 41 percent of 7,000 transgender people surveyed had attempted suicide...
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/12/30/transgender-teen-death-needs-mean-something/21044407/

After living without God for a year, former pastor Ryan Bell no longer believes

"...I wish more Christians knew that atheists are not nihilists who have no meaning to their lives or people with no moral compass. They’re not stubbornly rejecting God. All the atheists I have met have seriously hit a brick wall while trying to know God.

I wish more atheists knew that Christians care very deeply about knowledge and truth. They are not stupid. In every group there is a percentage that are ignorant — but if you take a wider view, Christian intellectuals have contributed a great deal to the body of human knowledge through history..."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/after-living-without-god-for-a-year-former-pastor-ryan-bell-no-longer-believes/2014/12/30/3485778a-904b-11e4-a66f-0ca5037a597d_story.html

Yet Another Transgender Teen Commits Suicide Due To Fundamentalist Christian Hate

There is no love lost between the LGBT community and fundamentalist Christians, and stories like this are exactly why. Yet another transgender teen is dead after suffering unspeakable rejection and abuse at the hands of her deeply religious Christian parents.
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/12/30/yet-another-transgender-teen-commits-suicide-due-to-fundamentalist-christian-hate/

Pat Robertson’s Biggest Prophecy Flops

"...How many times do Robertson’s false prophecies need to fail, before people wise up and figure out this guy is not communicating with or for God, just a bunch of right wing con-artists like himself..."
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/12/26/pat-robertsons-prophecy-fails/

http://youtu.be/euEeYsBlyCk

Exiled From Westboro: Leaving America’s Most Hated Church

Zach Phelps-Roper is the latest in a long line of defectors from Westboro Baptist Church. Now he’s working to save the reviled anti-gay group—and himself.
http://www.vocativ.com/usa/us-politics/westboro-baptist-church/

Religious extremist event draws objections from university community

Kevin Cope, president of the Louisiana State University Faculty Senate, talks with Rachel Maddow about objections by the university community to Governor Bobby Jindal using a campus facility to headline an even with the American Family Association...
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/religious-extremist-event-draws-objections-376623683993?CID=sm_FB

'I don't think God exists'

Conservative pastor who gave up religion for a year in social experiment confirms he is no longer a believer despite falling for a woman who's a devoted Christian...

http://www.georgianewsday.com/news/regional/310472-i-don-t-think-god-exists-conservative-pastor-who-gave-up-religion-for-a-year-in-social-experiment-confirms-he-is-no-longer-a-believer-despite-falling-for-a-woman-who-s-a-devoted-christian.html

Will religion ever disappear?

Atheism is on the rise around the world, so does that mean spirituality will soon be a thing of the past? Rachel Nuwer discovers that the answer is far from simple.
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20141219-will-religion-ever-disappear

‘Living the Secular Life,’ by Phil Zuckerman

Nonreligious Americans are usually pressed to explain how they control their evil impulses with the more neutral, albeit no less insulting, “How can you have morality without religion?” Phil Zuckerman, a professor of sociology and secular studies at Pitzer College in California, attempts to answer this question in “Living the Secular Life.” He offers an insightful mixture of academic research on shifting American religious views, his own experience as a parent, and interviews with others facing moral crises without God — from a woman overcoming drug addiction to a Holocaust survivor who bristles at the idea that God was looking out for anyone when the Nazis were murdering Jews...
https://richarddawkins.net/2014/12/living-the-secular-life-by-phil-zuckerman/

Elon Musk's Hyperloop Will Revolutionize Transportation -- But That's Only The Beginning Of The Change It'll Bring

San Francisco to Los Angeles in 35 minutes flat—that was the dream of the Hyperloop. Back in 2013, Elon Musk introduced the world to this dream a 60 ...  Read more

10 Ways To Lose Friends And Alienate Coworkers With Bad Mobile Behavior

In a survey by Intel, 60% of HR managers said phones ringing in meetings is the top mobile offense.
...Read more

Conservatives Simply Cannot Accept Their Own Insanity

GQ's year-end roundup of crazy politicians has conservatives in a tizzy. How dare they?
...  Read more

This Will Make You Feel Dizzy

There is a group of steeple people in Kentucky who are furious that the government is discriminating against them by punishing them for discriminating...  Read more

15 Intrepid Predictions For 2015

With a recap of last year's predictions (currencies and the economy were good to me; sports and IPOs were not) in the books, it's again time to look a...  Read more

Why We Need To Break The Student-Debt Stranglehold On Young Entrepreneurs

Student debt could be derailing future Mark Zuckerbergs from growing their businesses, based on recent research from the U.S. Small Business Adminstra...  Read more

Report: Physician-Assisted Suicide Gains Support Among U.S. Physicians

Physician-assisted suicide is gaining support among U.S. physicians, a new study finds. Research conducted by Medscape revealed that 54% of physician...  Read more

This is Piha, most famous surf beach in New Zealand [OC][1920x1080]

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The 10 Reasons The 2014 Federal Budget Debate Was A Calamity, Catastrophe & Tragedy

Let's start with the good news: the federal deficit in fiscal 2014 fell to $483 billion (2.8 percent of GDP) and that was the correct fiscal policy be...  Read more

Chinese idea of the train that doesn't stop to pick up passengers

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Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris in Conversation on Religion, Atheism and Morality

http://youtu.be/550nhrMNImI

Secular Law (Freethought Radio)

FFRF's Winter Solstice and Natural Nativity are back at the Wisconsin Capitol. After talking about a victory stopping a "Keep Christ in Christmas" parade in Piedmont, Alabama, we celebrate the birthdays of secular songwriters Ira Gershwin and Jay Gorney. Then we talk with FFRF intern and activist Jarvis Idowu, a 3rd-year law student at UW-Madison, about the Secular Law Students Society that he started and his work to keep state and church separate. -
Interview:
http://ffrf.libsyn.com/secular-law

What Falling Oil Prices And New U.S. Sanctions Mean For Russia (Diane Rehm Show)

Russia’s economy is in turmoil as authorities there take drastic steps to stabilize the ruble. To help prop it up, the central bank raised a key interest rate and the Russian government has begun selling off its foreign currency reserves. The economy is being battered by a combination of western sanctions and falling oil prices. The country faces fears of a bank run as consumers buy big-ticket items before prices rise. While some say this crisis will erode President Vladimir Putin’s political support, others believe he can weather the crisis. Diane and her guests discuss what’s next for Russia’s economy and its impact on global markets.
Interview:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-12-17/what_falling_oil_prices_and_new_u_s_sanctions_mean_for_russia

"Living the Secular Life", Phil Zuckerman on Atheists Talk #293, December 14, 2014

When we talk about how nonreligious people negotiate ethics and morality, we often speak theoretically--in terms of the sources of morality--or anecdotally--about people we know who provide examples to counter stereotypes of both believers and nonbelievers. Why do we do this? Much of the reason is that we haven't had good data to work with. Until recently, very few people studied nonbelievers.

Phil Zuckerman helped to change this when he founded the country's first Department of Secular Studies at Pitzer College. He has continued to change the discussion around nonbelievers with his recent book, Living the Secular Live: New Answers to Old Questions. From the publisher's description:

Drawing on innovative sociological research, Living the Secular Life illuminates this demographic shift with the moral convictions that govern secular individuals, offering crucial information for religious and nonreligious alike. Living the Secular Life reveals that, despite opinions to the contrary, nonreligious Americans possess a unique moral code that allows them to effectively navigate the complexities of modern life. Spiritual self-reliance, clear-eyed pragmatism, and an abiding faith in the Golden Rule to adjudicate moral decisions, such common principles—among others—are shared across secular society. Living the Secular Life demonstrates these principles in action and points to their usage throughout daily life.

Interview:
http://mnatheists.org/news-and-media/podcast/1021-living-the-secular-life-phil-zuckerman-on-atheists-talk-293-december-14-2014

Rethinking the Benefits of Homeownership (Diane Rehm Show)

Owning a home has long been a linchpin of the American Dream. But the recent housing crisis and changing bank lending practices have led to a drop in the number of people buying houses: The nationwide rate of homeownership is at its lowest rate in 20 years. While some have mourned this loss for the U.S. economy, a new study finds that half of American homeowners would have built more wealth by renting. The new research says many people looking to buy a home overestimate tax deductions, rely on biased, online calculators and underestimate expenses. Diane and a panel of experts discuss rethinking the benefits of homeownership.
Interview:
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-12-15/rethinking_the_benefits_of_homeownership

Pope Francis Expected To Instruct One Billion Catholics To Act On Climate Change

"Francis will release his expected formal encyclical document on climate change to the world after a trip to the ...

...On the other hand, a strong majority of white evangelicals in the U.S. believe that worsening natural disasters are a sign of the apocalypse, not climate change, and other conservative evangelical sects will likely oppose Francis’ efforts.

“The pope should back off,” said Calvin Beisner, spokesman for the conservative evangelical Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation. “The Catholic church is correct on the ethical principles but has been misled on the science. It follows that the policies the Vatican is promoting are incorrect. Our position reflects the views of millions of evangelical Christians in the US.” Read more

Always Low Wages? Wal-Mart's Other Choices - Bloomberg View

"...The question before us is not whether or not Wal-Mart should voluntarily increase its wages to capture these benefits. That is a business decision for the owners and management to make.

Rather, the present issue is whether or not we as taxpayers should be funding private companies paying below-poverty wages. My view is we should put the full costs of shopping at Wal-Mart back where they belong: On the customers and the company itself."
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2013-12-18/always-low-wages-wal-mart-s-other-choices

Derren Brown - Evening of Wonders

A true Magician, Exciting,Entertaining a true master of the art.We are all here to play our role,The secret is will you learn your part or just roll with the dice? Enjoy!
http://youtu.be/d9mt83C9rQE

Hemp fibers could rival Graphene as a cheaper alternative for making super-capacitors.

As hemp makes a comeback in the U.S. after a decades-long ban on its cultivation, scientists are reporting that fibers from the plant can pack as much energy and power as graphene, long-touted as the model material for supercapacitors. Read more

Pope Francis Is Set To Get Tough On Climate Change

In a move that will anger religious conservatives who relish in being climate deniers, Pope Francis will take steps to try and influence the world's l...  Read more

It's Car Buying Season: 8 Ways Used Car Dealers Can Swindle You

As the busiest car buying weeks approach, beware the tricks of used-car salespeople.
...  Read more

Think About It: The U.S. is Both the Richest Country and the Most Unequal: 8 Consequences of American Greed

America is the richest country in all of history... with a whole lot of poor people.
...  Read more

Derren Brown Infamous 2014

The Bafta winning illusionist’s sell out stage show recorded at the Grand Theatre in Leeds during his Olivier nominated tour. The evening features an inventive mix of traditional magic, mind-reading, memory games and thought provoking entertainment that leaves his audience enthralled and enlightened in equal measure.

http://youtu.be/eiGfZQU4im4

Fox's Henry And Kurtz Carp About Media Truthfully Reporting Obama's Poll Numbers

Fox's Howard Kurtz and his cohort Ed Henry, who was filling in for Bret Baier this Friday evening were terribly upset that the media has been reportin...  Read more

'Food Chains' Brilliantly Exposes The Plight Of The Migrant Farm Worker

Set in Immokalee, Florida, Eva Longoria with the help of the voice of Forest Whitaker, put together a moving tale of the slave labor exploited in the ...  Read more

Derren Brown Infamous 2014

The Bafta winning illusionist’s sell out stage show recorded at the Grand Theatre in Leeds during his Olivier nominated tour. The evening features an inventive mix of traditional magic, mind-reading, memory games and thought provoking entertainment that leaves his audience enthralled and enlightened in equal measure.
http://youtu.be/eiGfZQU4im4

A Toy's Story - Derren Brown: The Events - How To Control The Nation

http://youtu.be/EchfO2pjOrM

Eisenhower Farewell Address (Full)

How have attitudes of Republicans changed since this address by outgoing Republican President Eisenhower?

http://youtu.be/CWiIYW_fBfY

Backpacks for the Homeless

How do backpacks for the homeless help? Well besides giving them essential items they can utilize, I am breaking the stigma of atheism. The backpack is given in exchange for an interview, in which I invite you to get to know a homeless person in my community. How does that help? Well, studies have shown that simply by knowing an atheist or a homosexual, your favorability of atheists and homosexuals rises higher than the average (which is pretty low). Homelessness is frowned upon and has been stigmatized as well. These interviews will help put a face on homelessness. Some cities in the United States have actually made it illegal to be homeless. Here in my city, the mayor continues to bulldoze homeless encampments. This is truly sad because most homeless people prefer their communities over the shelters. 3.5 million people are at risk of being homeless every year and between 25-40% of this number are children under the age of 18. This is a serious problem and I believe that we can change it.
http://youtu.be/hkmLJXovGZI

Paul Krugman: 4 Surprising Reasons to be Cheerful at the Close of 2014

Don't believe the propaganda that good governance can't deal with big problems.
...Read more

Right-Wingers on Twitter Blow Up After Neil DeGrasse Tyson Tells a Few Harmless Xmas Jokes

Tyson's jokes didn't denounce the holiday, but don't tell that to the right-wing fanatics that trolled him.
...  Read more

80 Percent Of U.S. Adults Face Near-Poverty, Unemployment: Survey

WASHINGTON — Four out of 5 U.S. adults struggle with joblessness, near-poverty or reliance on welfare for at least parts of their lives, a sign of deteriorating economic security and an elusive American dream.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/28/poverty-unemployment-rates_n_3666594.html

Christmas Eve Document Dump Reveals US Spy Agencies Broke The Law And Violated Privacy

 The heavily-redacted report shows agents broke the law both intentionally and through human error.The post Christmas Eve ...  Read more

So much time off. Coincidence?

 Read more

Politico Is Very Concerned About President Obama's Church Attendance

Politico writer Jennifer Epstein is quite concerned about how often the President and First Lady attend church. "The president's Christian faith is n...  Read more

Yosemite tunnel view - tried to click good pic but I'm still a beginner 2112X1408

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House GOP Leadership Would Require Dynamic Scoring of Some Tax Bills. Will It Matter?

Last night, the House Republican leadership proposed new rules that would require the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Congressional Budget Office ...  Read more

Lawrence Krauss on Climate Change

http://youtu.be/zQ7ppxvW_5k

As Usual, It’s Welfare on the Block

Congress loves to be Scroogey when it comes to helping the poor at Christmastime. Last year, it let an unemployment extension for the long-term jobles...  Read more

Tyson Trolls Christians on Christmas

If there is actually a war on Christmas, famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson seems ready to lead the fight. On Christmas morning, Tyson, the dir...  Read more...

Scammers and Skeptics with Brian Brushwood (The Humanist Hour #128)

Interview:

http://thehumanist.com/multimedia/podcast/the-humanist-hour-128-scammers-and-skeptics-with-brian-brushwood

In this episode, Bo Bennett interviews entertainer and career skeptic Brian Brushwood. Brian is an American magician, podcaster, author, lecturer and comedian. He is known for the series Scam School, a show where he teaches the audience entertaining tricks at bars so they can “scam” a free drink from their friends. In addition to Scam School Brushwood co-hosts the podcasts Weird Things, Too Long Didn’t Listen, Cordkillers and Night Attack. Brushwood is also a regular guest on the This Week in Tech podcast. Brushwood performs his Bizarre Magic stage show across the United States and is the author of six books. Brushwood has appeared on national television numerous times including on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, CNN and Food Network.

From Brian’s website:

Ever wonder how those guys on TV seem to talk to the dead? What about ESP and psychic surgery? How do street scams and cons work? Want to know how YOU can trick your friends into believing you have psychic powers?

As a magician, Brian’s wise to all the tricks used by frauds, tricksters, and scam artists …and now he’s ready to take YOU to scam school. This is no ordinary lecture: we’re talking hands-on experiments, a live performance of psychic surgery, free giveaways of cash and prizes, and all the secrets TV psychics DON’T want you to know.

Sye Ten Bruggencate: Apologetics For The Bewildered

http://youtu.be/zc5H7RUjkjM

ADHD As A Difference In Cognition, Not A Disorder: Stephen Tonti at TEDxCMU

Stephen is a Senior Directing major at Carnegie Mellon. He is also the current President of Carnegie Mellon's Film Club. He recently completed his Thesis Project within the School of Drama: a production of Mac Wellman's "A Murder of Crows." He is currently working on creating a collective of Film Enthusiasts across Carnegie's Campus as well as other colleges and universities around Pittsburgh. You can find out more about Stephen and his talk on his website: www.stephentonti.com or follow his blog "Caffeine, Nicotine, and ADHD: a guide to maintaining sanity."

http://youtu.be/uU6o2_UFSEY

How I Gave Up Religion

http://youtu.be/C10k2c2h44c

Ian Juby: Feed The Bird Brains

http://youtu.be/NZwX1yFj4rs

The Power of belief -- mindset and success | Eduardo Briceno | TEDxManhattanBeach

The way we understand our intelligence and abilities deeply impacts our success. Based on social science research and real life examples, Eduardo Briceño articulates how mindset, or the understanding of intelligence and abilities, is key. When students or adults see their abilities as fixed, whether they think they're naturals or just not built for a certain domain, they avoid challenge and lose interest when things get hard. Conversely, when they understand that abilities are developed, they more readily adopt learning-oriented behaviors such as deliberate practice and grit that enable them to achieve their goals. But this belief is itself malleable, and there are clear actions we can all take to establish a growth mindset and enable success for our children, our peers and ourselves. 

Eduardo Briceño is the Co-Founder and CEO of Mindset Works (http://www.mindsetworks.com), an organization that helps schools and other organizations cultivate a growth mindset culture. The growth mindset was discovered by Stanford professor and Mindset Works co-founder Carol Dweck, Ph.D., and is described in her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success (http://www.mindsetonline.com). Mindset Works offers Brainology, an innovative blended learning program to teach a growth mindset to students, teachers and schools, as well as teacher professional development and tools (http://www.mindsetworks.com/brainology/).

Interview: http://youtu.be/pN34FNbOKXc

Ronald A. Lindsay: Why God Can’t Tell Us What to Do (Point of Inquiry)

Despite the fact that the United States was founded as a secular state, government neutrality toward religion remains a tumultuous and controversial issue -- a conversation-stopper in most public policy discussions. This week on the show, Lindsay Beyerstein welcomes Ronald A. Lindsay, president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry, the organization responsible for Point of Inquiry. Ron joins us to discuss his just-released book, The Necessity of Secularism: Why God Can’t Tell Us What to Do, in which he explains how the language of secularism is the most ethical and productive language for believers and nonbelievers alike, the missing puzzle piece to fair public policy.

Ron Lindsay is both a lawyer and philosopher, as well as a veteran freethought activist, with several books and articles on ethics, philosophy, and secularism to his name. His particular background provides him with a unique understanding of how crucial the separation of church and state is for equality and stability, as well as how people can be persuaded that a society built on secularism is in everyone’s best interests.

Interview:
http://www.pointofinquiry.org/ronald_a._lindsay_why_god_cant_tell_us_what_to_do/