God Helped You? He's Still Not Real!

"Just because God helped you through tough times doesn't make him real. Maybe the reality is that you helped yourself."

http://youtu.be/w1V1JdC-1Q4

TIL a full-time cashier at Costco makes about $49,000 annually.

The average wage at Costco is nearly 20 dollars an hour and 89% of Costco employees are eligible for benefits.

http://beta.fool.com/hukgon/2012/01/06/interview-craig-jelinek-costco-president-ceo-p2/565/

Washington State Dam Could Fail: Officials - Public not in danger from 65-foot crack, they say

Public not in danger from 65-foot crack, they say...http://www.newser.com/story/183120/washington-state-dam-could-fail-officials.html

Attorney: US Banking Aids Suicide Bombers - Gary Osen's lawsuit against the Arab Bank is making headway

"There’s no lower form of humanity than a guy in a suit making money off a teenager detonating a bomb on a bus, then slithering home to
watch CNN..."http://www.newser.com/story/183062/attorney-us-banking-aids-suicide-bombers.html

and

Follow the blood money: Exposing the secret US banking operations that help fund suicide bombers

Hector Avalos: Religion and Violence, A New Theory for an Old Problem (AACON 2013)

This is Dr. Avalos' complete presentation from the American Atheists Convention 2013 in Austin, TX. If you enjoyed this content, please consider ordering the full 3-day DVD set when it becomes available at www.atheists.org. American Atheists, Inc. is a nonprofit, nonpolitical, educational organization dedicated to the complete and absolute separation of state and church - please also consider donations and memberships via the website.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OQcG7lKKtQ&list=PLr7qhb33pmZ2mmtGoKVEDV6s5iavGMdG5&feature=share&index=4

S.O.S. For The I.R.S. (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

Nobody loves the I.R.S.  The Internal Revenue Service.  The nation’s tax collector.  The heat was especially high last year when the I.R.S. was accused of going after political non-profits – conservative, then liberal, too.  But on the core function of the I.R.S., most would agree that if you’re going to have tax collection we need it done well.  Need an I.R.S. that’s efficient, competent, responsive, on top of fraud.  And some big reports are saying that we do not.  That fraud is rife, tax collections shrinking.  That the I.R.S. can’t keep up and may “fail at its mission.”  This hour On Point:  does the nation’s tax-collector still have what it takes to do the job? /  Tom Ashbrook

Interview:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2014/02/24/tax-season-irs-refunds

Guess which side Catholic Bishops were on in the Arizona bill to allow discrimination

"...Bishops, of all people, should be aware of this. How much stronger the Arizona bishops statement would be if they had coupled their support for the law with a clear statement that no Catholic businessman or businesswoman should claim warrant in the Gospels or the teachings of the Church for discriminating against gays. Instead, once again, we have aligned our preaching of the Gospel with a political agenda that is championed by hateful bigots. And, then we wonder why young people want nothing to do with us? When bishops gather to bemoan the secularization of our society, they should start by looking in the mirror. If the face of Christianity is an angry hotelier who wants to place a “straights only” sign outside his inn, then we have no one but ourselves to blame for the decline of Christian faith."

http://ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/arizonas-sb-1062

And for more Catholic bigotry, see http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/27/us/arizona-donohue-cuomo-marriage/ 

On the other hand, from actual churchgoers, there is this: http://www.azcentral.com/news/politics/articles/20140223valley-churchgoers-react-controversial-sb.html

Rouhani says WMD's against Iranian beliefs

Iranian president says the reason the country does not seek nuclear weapons is due to belief in religious principles. Read more

CIS 471: How I cut my Time Warner Cable bill by 33%

It started when I decided to get a new WiFi router. I bought one and installed it, then called my ISP, Time Warner Cable (TWC), to let them know. They told me to bring the old router to their store.

http://cis471.blogspot.com/2014/02/how-i-cut-my-time-warner-cable-bill-by.html

"God in the Age of Science" Herman Philipse on Atheists Talk #255, February 2nd, 2014

Herman Philipse is a noted philosopher, professor and author. He obtained his doctorate of philosophy from Leiden University in Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands in 1983, and has been teaching the subject as professor ever since. His topics of interest include moral theory, atheism, cultural assimilation, scientism and political liberalism.

Dr. Philipse is the author of several acclaimed books, including his 1995 Atheist Manifesto, which contains in the 2004 republication a forward by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. He is also well known for his Heidegger's Philosophy of Being: A Critical Interpretation.Dr. Philipse joins Atheists Talk this Sunday to discuss his most recent book, God in the Age of Science?: A Critique of Religious Reason.

Interview:
More Info:   http://mnatheists.org/news-and-media/podcast/941-hermanphilipse
Download / Listen:  http://feeds.mnatheists.org/~r/AtheistsTalkRadioShow/~3/mF8K-RhDlpU/Atheists_Talk-0255-20140202.mp3

Week In The News: Ukraine Tension, An Arizona Veto, Eyeing The Exits In Afghanistan (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

Armed men on the move in Ukraine this week, big Russian military exercises right next door, and real fear that Russia might move in, that Ukraine might divide, as Ukrainians struggle for something new. In Arizona, Gov. Jan Brewer vetoes anti-gay legislation after a torrent of protest and dissent. In Afghanistan, a very open break over US troops and troop withdrawal. In Washington, the President calls for help for young men of color. We’ve got El Chapo in jail. Bitcoin in trouble. Rain and gold coins in California. This hour On Point: our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines. / Tom Ashbrook

Interview:  http://onpoint.wbur.org/2014/02/28/ukraine-arizona-afghanistan-governors

Friday News Roundup - Domestic (Diane Rehm Show)

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s 2015 military budget proposal would reduce the army to pre-World War II levels. President Barack Obama calls on Congress to fund infrastructure projects by reforming the nation’s tax code. The president discusses the proposal during a private meeting with House Speaker John Boehner, the first time the two have met privately in over a year. In Arizona, Gov. Jan Brewer vetoes a controversial anti-gay bill. In Texas, a federal judge strikes down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. And the FDA proposes changes to nutrition labels. Guest host Katty Kay and her panel of reporters discuss the week in news.
 

Interview:  http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-02-28/friday-news-roundup-domestic

 

 

Friday News Roundup - International (Diane Rehm Show)

A fledgling Ukrainian government accused Russia’s military of blockading two Crimean airports in an "armed invasion." Meanwhile, ousted President Viktor Yanukovich turned up in southern Russia describing the new Ukrainian authorities as "pro-fascist thugs." Pope Francis and former President Jimmy Carter call for calm as violent protests continue in Venezuela. President Obama orders the Pentagon to prepare the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by year’s end if President Karzai fails to sign a stalled security deal. And Egypt’s cabinet resigns. A panel of journalists joins guest host Katty Kay for analysis of the week's top international news stories.

Interview: http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-02-28/friday-news-roundup-international

Meet the Amazing TAMers: John Loftus

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

John Loftus is an American author, former US government prosecutor and former Army intelligence officer. He is a president of The Intelligence Summit and, although he is not Jewish, a president of the Florida Holocaust Museum. Loftus also serves on the Board of Advisers to Public Information Research.

http://youtu.be/Cf5v0qbfIII



http://youtu.be/OQwaX6Cpa54

(Really) Bad News For Religious Conservatives

*One third of young people who left organized religion did so because of anti-gay teachings or treatment within their churches, according to a new study. While not surprising—it's no secret that younger Americans are more accepting of gay people—it puts a number on the cost anti-gay policies can have on organizations. A full 31% of young people (ages 18 to 33) who left organized religion said "negative teachings" or "negative treatment" of gay people was a "somewhat important" or "very important" factor in their departure, as surveyed by the Public Religion Research Institute. ..* What do atheists think about this? Does this spell the doom of the Christian Right? The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

http://youtu.be/TmrMUm5ltN8

RWW News: Heritage Foundation Chief Economist Complains of Discrimination Against Rich People

Heritage Foundation Chief Economist Steve Moore advocates says, "In America there's only one group you can legally discriminate against in America anymore: rich people."

http://youtu.be/GOKmQOdPq84

RWW News: Barton Says The Bible Prohibits 'Gender Bender' Day In Elementary School

David Barton says things like "gender bending" day in elementary school are prohibited by the Bible.

http://youtu.be/gpRc-kZyWcE

RWW News: American History With The Tea Party Patriots

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, the American Spectator's Jeffrey Lord tells a Tea Party Patriots gives a conveniently abridged American history lesson.

http://youtu.be/rKM-DggimPM

RWW News: Satan Will 'Put A Witch In The White House': Self-Proclaimed Prophet

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, "prophet" Kim Clement claims Satan will put a "witch" in the White House.

http://youtu.be/7_fmhBdNaQI

What we can learn from galaxies far, far away - Henry Lin

In a fun, excited talk, teenager Henry Lin looks at something unexpected in the sky: galaxy clusters. By studying the properties of the universe's largest pieces, says the Intel Science Fair winner, we can learn quite a lot about our own world and galaxy.

http://youtu.be/kpzEsgSBUqc

The Bigger Picture Behind Uganda's Horrific Anti-Gay Law

"Uganda's president has signed a controversial anti-gay bill that allows harsh penalties for "homosexual offences", calling them "mercenaries" and "prostitutes".

Yoweri Museveni on Monday signed the bill, which holds that homosexuals be jailed for long terms, outlaws the promotion of homosexuality and requires people to denounce gays.

He denounced gays and spoke in lurid detail about sexual activity while signing one of the world's toughest anti-gay laws, which has come under fierce criticism from the US president, Barack Obama, who has warned that ties between Kampala and Washington would be damaged.

"Homosexuals are actually mercenaries. They are heterosexual people but because of money they say they are homosexuals. These are prostitutes because of money," Musaveni said."* The Young Turks hosts Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian break it down.

http://youtu.be/u2G7lAlQ6jw

NO ONE Believes This Excuse Behind The Anti-Gay Bill In Arizona

*Fox's Megyn Kelly and Brit Hume wondered Tuesday night whether Arizona's controversial SB 1062 measure is an "overreaction" on the part of religious conservatives. The proposed law, which would allow businesses to discriminate against LGBT individuals because of religious views, currently sits on Republican Gov. Jan Brewer's desk awaiting approval. Plenty of big-name Republicans have distanced themselves from the law, urging the governor to veto it; while many social conservatives argue the law is necessary to protect religious business owners from being forced to serve customers against their religious conscious...* Even Arizona State Senator Steve Pierce (R) who originally voted for the legislation is now pretending he had no idea it was discriminatory. The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

http://youtu.be/b4jPegO6niQ

Anderson Cooper Humiliates Anti-Gay Rep. On CNN

*Anderson Cooper took on Arizona state senator Al Melvin Monday night over the state's proposed legislation to allow businesses to exercise their religious freedom to discriminate against LGBT citizens. Melvin insisted, "It's nothing more and nothing less than protecting religious freedom in our state." Cooper noted how Arizona doesn't expressly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and grilled Melvin on why, then, they would need to reaffirm a right that isn't under threat in the state in the first place...* Cooper went on to grill Melvin who couldn't come up with a good answer. The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

http://youtu.be/K0on8UHKB6k

Tim Cook advises climate change deniers to get out of Apple stock

In his job as Apple CEO, Tim Cook is mostly known for having a demeanor that's in some ways ... Read more

Five things you should know about iOS security

Security is an extra-hot topic these days, as all sorts of government agencies short on letters but long on budgets keep ... Read more

TIL ancient Babylonians did math in base 60 and not base 10, giving us 60 seconds in a minute, 360 degrees in a circle, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_numerals

Australia’s Renewables Are Driving Down Costs And Keeping Electricity Reliable In Extreme Heat

Wind energy kept prices 40 percent lower than they would've otherwise been during the country's recent heat waves, while ... Read more

A Third Of America’s Most Successful Corporations Pay Less Than A 10 Percent Income Tax Rate

The average effective income tax rate for giant, profitable companies from 2008 to 2012 was just 19.4 percent.The post A Third ... Read more

Private Prison Firm Agrees To Nationwide Settlement After Widespread Claims Of Violence

The profitable private incarceration firm will be subject to federal monitoring at all of its facilities. The post Private ... Read more

An Upcoming Supreme Court Case Could Impose Arizona’s Anti-Gay Bill On The Entire Country

If two pending Supreme Court cases are decided in the plaintiffs' favor, all the nightmare scenarios imagined in the debate ... Read more

Cheering The Death Of American Exceptionalism

American exceptionalism is over, but not because the United States has decayed. Rather, the rest of the world has caught up.The ... Read more

Conservatives Outraged Obama Is Addressing Problems They Blamed On Him

President Obama's critics have blamed him for high black unemployment rates, but now they don't like his new initiative aimed ... Read more

Clintons Provide Firepower Behind DNC 'Voter Expansion Project'

Clintons Provide Firepower Behind DNC 'Voter Expansion Project' by Frank James February 27, 2014 6:54 PM i i Former Secretary of State Hillary Rod... Read more

A Win For Fair Use After Record Label, Copyright Lawyer Settle

A Win For Fair Use After Record Label, Copyright Lawyer Settle by Laura Sydell February 27, 2014 8:24 PM i i Law professor Lawrence Lessig has rea... Read more

Christians, WILL I GO TO HELL?

http://youtu.be/VpSiH-EhWlw

God's Reaction To The Veto Of The Anti-Gay Bill In Arizona

*Though many cheered when Arizona governor Jan Brewer vetoed SB 1062, the bill that would have made it legal for people to refuse to serve LGBT people on religious grounds, there were also some conservative pundits who were not so happy. The biggest complaint was that Brewer was tossing aside the freedoms of Christians...* What else did the Michele Bachmann and other members of the Christian Right say? How about God himself (which atheists should get a kick out of)? The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

http://youtu.be/zlVxDmuPJtE

To Young Christians Speaking Out Against Anti-Gay Discrimination: Thank You

"Never in my life has my very faith been called into question like this."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/to-young-christians-speak_b_4874382.html

Has the Left Surrendered?

"...Has the American left ceased to exist as a viable political force by surrendering its power to a corporatized Democratic Party? That's the argument put forward by political scientist Adolph Reed Jr., first in an essay for Harper's magazine and then in a televised follow-up interview with Bill Moyers..."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/has-the-left-surrendered_b_4874260.html

VIDEO: Jon Stewart Trashes Arizona for 'Morally Repugnant' Anti-Gay Bill

“Arizona…if you had your attitude in Seattle’s weather you would be the world’s largest used condom and nuclear waste dump." ... Read more

Fries with Your ShysterBurger?

A few restaurants in a Florida chain have started implementing an Affordable Care Act surcharge, but employees' coverage doesn't start until December, according to CNN.
... Read more

Simpson's nail my catholic upbringing

Read more

How To Cut Or Copy Text In Quick Look [OS X Tips]

Quick Look is a fantastic bit of tech, letting you view any file up close and personal with a quick tap on the Spacebar. It works in the Finder, in Op... Read more

The Car That Runs On Air

For more than a century, air cars have remained a quixotic quest of engineers—an idealistic exercise with little long-term ...
http://www.popsci.com/article/cars/car-runs-air

A Simple Tree Branch Can Become a Backyard Water Filter

 For people in too many developing countries, clean water is often a luxury. Chlorine treatments are too expensive for small villages, boiling requires... Read more

Why Study Philosophy?

'To Challenge Your Own Point of View'
At a time when advances in science and technology have changed our understanding of our mental and physical selves, it is easy for some to dismiss the...

http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/02/why-study-philosophy-to-challenge-your-own-point-of-view/283954/

5 Energy Vampires You Need to Kill

Our devices make our lives better, but they use a lot of energy to do it--even when they're not "on." We are living in the age of energy vampires. But... Read more

GOP Calls for Cold War to Return

Top lawmakers on the House and Senate Armed Services said Thursday that the world would be better off if the Cold War was still on—and if Obama wasn’t cutting the defense budget.

... Read more

12 Craziest, Most Awful Things God Did in the Old Testament | Alternet

God was a bit of a hell raiser before Jesus softened him up.

http://www.alternet.org/12-craziest-most-awful-things-god-did-old-testament

25 Things Everyone Needs to Know About the Lives of Black People in America | Alternet

The numbers illustrate the unfinished business in our efforts to establish justice for all.

http://www.alternet.org/books/25-statistics-paint-picture-black-america

Cult-like, Corrupt and Christian Conservative: Inside the Campus Group Creating Wal-Mart Managers

An insider reveals how Wal-Mart's favorite campus group curries favor with business while pushing gospel to kids.

 ... Read more

The GOP's Laughable Alternative to Obamacare Is a Sop to Big Business and Screws Workers

The hilariously titled “Save American Workers” bill cuts coverage for 1 million people.

... Read more

Meet the Powerful Billionaire Family Hell Bent on Imposing Their Right-Wing Agenda and Defunding the Left

They beat the labor movement in its own backyard. Next up: your state?

 ... Read more

Mad Cow, Eye Cancer, Feces In Your Food? The Price of Cutting Back on Meat Inspectors

Food safety recalls and animal cruelty are increasing under government abdication of public health duties.

 ... Read more

‘What’s In It For Me?’: Public Schools, Public Taxes And The Public Good

The taxes we pay for public schools aren't just about what you get personally. A story from the ... Read more

Senate GOP Blocks Vets’ Benefits Bill Over Diplomacy-Killing Iran Sanctions

Senate Republicans want more Iran sanctions so bad they're willing to prevent the nation's veterans from receiving better ... Read more

Fracking Waste is Being Dumped Into the Ocean Off California's Coast

"...According to the Center for Biological Diversity, oil rig operators have federal permits to dump more than nine billion gallons of fracking wastewater into California's ocean waters each year. That's enough wastewater to fill more than 100 stadiums the size of the Rose Bowl brim-full of toxic waste. And CBD wants the Environmental Protection Agency to do something about it..."
Read more

HPV vaccine effective for Danish women

The HPV vaccine against cervical cancer was introduced in Denmark in 2006. New research shows that it is already working as it should and has significantly reduced the risk of cervical precursor lesions.
Read more

Top Senate Republican Says Diplomacy Won’t Solve The Iranian Nuclear Issue

"There is a role for diplomacy in the world," Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) said in a speech this week on Iran. "But …"The post Top ... Read more

Solar Industry Employs A Surprisingly High Percentage Of America’s Veterans

The solar industry's workforce is projected to grow substantially in the coming years, making it a key opportunity for boosting ... Read more

5 Anti-Abortion Laws Offering Solutions For Problems That Don’t Actually Exist

In order to continue enacting restrictions on abortion, lawmakers are pretending to "fix" problems that they created out of ... Read more

National Academy Of Sciences Delivers Highly Readable Climate Change Warning

The US National Academy of Sciences and the UK Royal Society have achieved a breakthrough in readability with their new report, ...

How do scientists know that recent climate change is largely caused by human activities?
Scientists know that recent climate change is largely caused by human activities from an understanding of basic physics, comparing observations with models, and fingerprinting the detailed patterns of climate change caused by different human and natural influences.

 Read more

Obama Should Cut Food Stamps, Not Defense (says Cheney)

*Former Vice President Dick Cheney on Monday accused President Barack Obama of cutting the defense budget because "he would rather spend money on food stamps." The Pentagon announced on Monday plans to shrink the U.S. Army to pre-World War II levels, in addition to eliminating the Air Force's A-10 fleet and retiring the Cold War-era U-2 spy plane program. "Absolutely dangerous," Cheney told Fox News host Sean Hannity...* The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

http://youtu.be/hkrZ35cPstw

House OKs bill to ease stem cell limits / Measure to allow federal funding for research faces veto

...The House passed legislation Tuesday that would reverse President Bush's 2001 decision to severely limit embryonic stem cell research, but the White House called the vote "morally troubling" and reiterated Bush's intention to veto the bill if the Senate approved it...

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/House-OKs-bill-to-ease-stem-cell-limits-Measure-2668326.php

After Long Battle to Form High School Atheist Group, Student Bows Out After ‘Numerous Threats’ and ‘Verbal Attacks’

"...we never expected our family and friends to be sought out and demonized. Please know that we recognize the importance of the club but we can not justify our involvement with the risk of our families safety and well being..."

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2014/02/26/after-long-battle-to-form-high-school-atheist-group-student-bows-out-after-numerous-threats-and-verbal-attacks/

How Republicans lost non-religious voters

"... non-religious voters are gravitating steadily away from Republicans, even as Democrats have made few major efforts to galvanize their support..."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/02/26/how-republicans-lost-non-religious-voters/

RWW News: Schlafly and Solomon Suggest Ukraine-Style Uprising

Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly agrees with host Stan Solomon's suggestion of a Ukraine-style uprising to depose President Obama.

http://youtu.be/0wMsrJT6YoY

The ‘Freedom’ to Discriminate

The six prominent conservatives who still urged Governor Jan Brewer to sign SB 1062 even though much of the GOP had turned on the measure... Arizona Senate Bill 1062, the controversial anti-gay measure that was passed by the state legislature last week, has drawn vocal opposition within the... Read more