Monday, January 31, 2011

FFRF Calling For Parents of School Children in Giles County, Virginia



WSLS10 news, Roanoke, Va., 1-27-2011

Contact FFRF

Neanderthal - Episode 1



Neanderthal Episode 1 by Discovery Channel

Why Celebrate Darwin Day?



Darwin Day is February 12th. Learn how you can celebrate at darwinday.org

Question for Atheists (a really difficult one)

Tamtampamela had a dream and found this ultimate question for atheists



Please watch:
Chanel 4 documentary Who Wrote the Bible?
Who Wrote the Bible? by History Channel

What is reality?

There is a strange and mysterious world that surrounds us, a world largely hidden from our senses. The quest to explain the true nature of reality is one of the great scientific detective stories. Clues have been pieced together from deep within the atom, from the event horizon of black holes, and from the far reaches of the cosmos




It may be that that we are part of a cosmic hologram, projected from the edge of the universe. Or that we exist in an infinity of parallel worlds. Your reality may never look quite the same again.

This is a BBC Horizon production

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Battle Over Bible-Themed Park Subsidized with Public Tax Money in Kentucky

Ken Ham vs. Rev. Barry Lynn Over Tax Funded Bible Theme Park

Ken Ham, President of Answers in Genesis,
Reverend Barry Lynn, Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State,
Jeff Toobin, CNN legal analyst

Video


Mirror


Anderson Cooper 360, CNN, January 27, 2011

Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Is There Life After Death?

Includes Michael Marshall of The Merseyside Skeptics Society



BBC One 30 January 2011

Why do people laugh at creationists? (part 35)

So Posterboy for Creationist Stupidity (PCS aka venomfangx) has returned, like the prodigal child.



This time he is claiming that:
Newton was a smart man,
Newton believed in Christianity.

And that this some how validates Christianity.

Regrettably Newton also believed in the Philosophers Stone (a magical item that could turn base metals into gold). By the reckoning of PCS this shows that this is a valid idea, or that it 'proves' that smart people can believe in turning base metals into gold.

The power of Newtons ideas of course come from their materialistic application.
Such ideas have been robustly tested.

Newtons ideas on Christianity are as untested and lacking in application as his ideas on the Philosophers Stone.

Another way to look at it that Netwon did comparable work on his materialistic laws as Christianity. The former have earned him the title of arguably the most influencial man in history, for the latter, noone knows or cares about. Gives you some idea as to the comparative value of religious research versus scientific research.

Anyways, these videos are creative commons. You can do pretty much whatever you want as long as you don't sell them as your own, or claim to own the material (copy, redistribute, broadcast etc).

The Evolution of Creationism

A presentation given by Dr. Genie Scott at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.



Date: September 30, 2009

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Darwins Dangerous Idea Episode 1: Body and Soul

In the first episode of the three-part series, Andrew Marr explores how Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection has taken on a life of its own far beyond the world of science.

Video 1/4


He argues that Darwin's theory has transformed our understanding of what it means to be human. Over the last 150 years, Darwin's ideas have challenged the need for a creator, undermined religious authority, and provided new ways of looking at the origins of human morality.

Video 2/4


Marr's journey begins following Darwin's footsteps in Tierra del Fuego at the southernmost tip of South America where Darwin first encountered an 'uncivilised' native tribe. This began to raise questions in his mind about the origins of the human race. The answers to these questions would emerge over the next 30 years, culminating in the publication of On The Origin of Species in 1859.

Video 3/4


Marr then traces the development of Darwin's idea in the years since then and finds a range of influences that Darwin could never have imagined: from the existential philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche to the battlefields of the First World War; from the Freudian psychoanalyst's couch to the Vatican; and from the genetic logic of kindness to an Islamic creationist's claim that Darwin is to blame for modern terrorism. Darwin's dangerous idea is as influential and challenging today as it was 150 years ago.

4/4

Biblical Desk Assembly (final redux)



BY Grappling Ignorance and Lizard Lass

Newsnight: Bogus Dowsing Rod 'Bomb Detector' Update

The government has admitted that the Army and UK civil servants helped market so-called "bomb detectors", which did not work, around the world.

Export of the "magic wand" detectors to Iraq and Afghanistan was banned on 27 January 2010 because of the threat they posed to British and allied troops.

The move followed a BBC Newsnight investigation showing they could not detect explosives - or anything else.



BBC Newsnight 27 January 2011

Now Newsnight has learned that they are still being sold around the globe.

At least four rival manufacturers have sold their own versions of these devices and they are now the subject of a major fraud investigation by the City of London police.

One maker, ATSC Ltd, sold thousands of the so-called detectors, which essentially consist of a radio aerial on a hinge attached to a plastic handle, to Iraq for $85m.

It has been alleged that hundreds of Iraqis died in explosions in Baghdad after ADE651 detectors failed to detect suicide bombers at checkpoints.

ATSC boss Jim McCormick is currently on bail after being arrested on suspicion of fraud in connection with the so-called detectors.

The profit margins in the sale of this equipment are enormous.

The manufacturer of another of the devices, the Alpha 6, has admitted to Newsnight that they make them for £11 and then they are sold for £15,000 each to the end user.

'Unsuitable for British Army'

On Thursday, the UK government told BBC Newsnight that between 2001 and 2004 a Royal Engineers sales team went around the world demonstrating the GT200, another of the "magic wand" detectors which has been banned for export to Iraq and Afghanistan, at arms fairs around the world even though the British Army did not consider them suitable for its own use.

The government's Department of Trade and Industry, which has since been superseded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, helped two of the manufacturers sell their products in Mexico and the Philippines.

Newsnight has also found that the manufacturers are still trying to market so-called "bomb detectors" which do not work.

Just three months after the ban on sales to Iraq and Afghanistan, a product called the HEDD1, consisting of a radio aerial on a handle made in Bulgaria, was displayed at a security exhibition at Olympia in London.

The company selling the devices, Unival, claimed that while all the other products which looked like it were a "massive scam", theirs was different.

The HEDD1 was marketed by a retired British Army colonel, John Wyatt, who told prospective buyers that it had "proved extremely successful in several foreign countries", including in "double blind" tests.

In reality the maker of HEDD1, Yuri Markov, had been charged in the United States in 2008 for fraudulently claiming that the previous version of his so-called bomb detector could detect explosives.

The US Navy had subjected it to a double-blind test and found it "does not work".

Asked by Newsnight why he had promoted such a product, Col Wyatt said: "I would never put lives at risk on this at all - it is intangible science - I wouldn't use it in a life or death situation."

Nevertheless, in July 2010 he demonstrated the HEDD1 to the Royal Engineers at an army base in Surrey as a potential bomb detector to be used in Afghanistan to deal with IEDs.

Tests

The Royal Engineers showed the HEDD1 to explosives expert Sidney Alford of Alford Technologies, who has previously helped Newsnight expose other so-called detectors.

The HEDD1 failed to find any explosives during a double blind trial and Mr Alford's report concluded by saying "this equipment does not detect explosives".

Col Wyatt told Newsnight he would have made 3,000 euros profit on every HEDD1 he sold but that he had not sold any so far and would not do so without further testing.

Asked by Newsnight whether he had given the product's makers an air of respectability by becoming their agent he said: "If you perhaps feel that they're gaining an edge by my involvement, I'd say probably, yes I'm guilty."

After the Moscow bombing on Monday there will be questions about why the ban on exports to Iraq and Afghanistan has not been extended to protect the citizens of other countries.

The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills told Newsnight that there was little point: "The impact of any further UK action in preventing the supply of these devices from the UK would be limited if they are available elsewhere"

Evolution: It's Not a Controversy

My entry for the Project Reason 2011 video contest. Why evolution is not a controversy among scientists and why it shouldn't be taught as if it is.



Project Steve

30,000 Feet of Skepticism

Case, Jeremy and Sam explore the definition of scientific skepticism and touch on the usual topics that fail the sniff test.



This an episode of Ask an Atheist, a call-in show in the Tacoma/Seattle area dedicated to atheism, skeptical inquiry, and the separation of church and state. The show is broadcast live on KLAY 1180 AM in Tacoma on Sundays at 3:00 PM, Pacific time.

Leave a Voice Mail: 206-420-0997

Friday, January 28, 2011

Dear Awesome Agnostic People...

There's nothing wrong with being agnostic, but I hope you'll hop down off the fence and give atheism a little test drive. Here's some reasons why!

'Islamization' of Paris a Warning to the West

The French have become increasingly fed up with what they see as the growing Islamization of France.



Video by The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) September 3, 2011

Carma - Unforgivable Sinner

The Shape Of Life - Episode 1 Origins



By PBS

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Kenneth R Miller on Richard Dawkins

Before a packed house, Kenneth R. Miller delivered an excellent lecture on the intersection of evolution, religion, and American education as part of the UAB "First Thursday" Lecture Series at the Spencer Honors House. After the talk, he participated in an extended Q&A session. Here is one of the questions he discussed.

George Carlin on Religion and God

Hanged and burned for chewing on Bible

A 65-year-old woman is accused of killing her nephew’s dog because it had chewed on her Bible, and she said it was a “devil dog.”

Deputies said that Andy Fowler called them last Tuesday to report that his aunt had hung his dog. Fowler said his aunt, Miriam Smith, admitted hanging his 1-year-old pit bull, Diamond.

Miriam Smith Charged With Animal Cruelty


Officers found the partially burned body of the dog under a pile of grass with an orange electrical cord around its neck at the home on John Worthy Road in Pacolet.

SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C

More on Nephew: Aunt Hanged, Killed Dog For Chewing Bible

Daniel C Dennett on What Should Replace Religions?

Daniel C. Dennett, Co-Director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University, on What Should Replace Religions?



October 2, 2010 at the Humanist Canada Convention, Montreal

Stop worrying and enjoy your life



Richard Dawkins

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Atheist Experience #693: Misconceptions About Atheists

Tracie and Jen talk about several common misconceptions, including the idea that atheists are angry about God.



The Atheist Experience TV Show
Atheist Experience #693: Misconceptions About Atheists
Host: Jen Peeples
Co-host: Tracie Harris
2011-01-23

Caller: Mike

Horizon: Science Under Attack

Nobel Prize winner Sir Paul Nurse examines why science appears to be under attack, and why public trust in key scientific theories has been eroded - from the theory that man-made climate change is warming our planet, to the safety of GM food, or that HIV causes AIDS.



He interviews scientists and campaigners from both sides of the climate change debate, and travels to New York to meet Tony, who has HIV but doesn't believe that that the virus is responsible for AIDS.

This is a passionate defence of the importance of scientific evidence and the power of experiment, and a look at what scientists themselves need to do to earn trust in controversial areas of science in the 21st century.

BBC Two 24 January 2011

Lou Engle Prays That Ellen DeGeneres Will Be Converted

Lou Engle prays that Ellen DeGeneres will be "converted" and that the current generation will realize that being gay is not okay.

Q&A interviews Christopher Hitchens January 2011

"Info: Our guest is Christopher Hitchens. Mr. Hitchens is the a author of over a dozen books including his recent memoir, "Hitch-22." Other titles include, "God Is Not Great", "The Trial of Henry Kissinger", "The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice", and "Thomas Jefferson: Author of America".

Christopher Hitchens discusses his cancer in this Q&A interview and his wish to continue writing about it as well as advocating more attention to cancer treatments currently in advanced experimental stages."



Mirror


C-Span's Q&A. Brian Lamb interviews Christopher Hitchens on January 14, 2011.

Broadcast 1-23-2011.

He is currently a contributing editor for The Atlantic magazine and a columnist for Vanity Fair magazine, where he has been writing articles about his diagnosis last summer of stage four esophageal cancer.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Rick Joyner: We Need Prophetic Voices in Government

Rick Joyner says that the only hope for averting America's destruction is for Christians to get involved in politics and for government leaders to start listening to the prophets.



God has given Rick Joyner a dream warning that America is on the verge of destruction.


It's supernatural

Mr Deity and the Matter

Timmy tries to avoid telling Mr. Deity that they don't have enough matter to create a universe organically.

Lewis Black on Christmas



ME OF LITTLE FAITH by Lewis Black

The Meaning of Life: Growth and Learning

Oh Lord, please don't burn us.

Hitchens on his reason to fight religion

This is the reason why I and many others do what they do. We fight against the abject stupidity that religion brings to the world and I for one, will do this until I die.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Origins - Earth Is Born

The origins of Earth. Documentary narated by Neil deGrasse Tyson, BA from Harvard Univeristy, Ph.D. Columbia University.

The Earth was "born" 4.5 billions years ago.

Video 1/4


Video 2/4


Video 3/4


Video 4/4


With
Mike Zolensky, NASA Johnson Space Center
Dave Stevenson, California Inst. of Technology
Bill Hartman, The Planetary Science Inst.
Simon Wilde, Curlin University of Technology

May we all share knowledge, develop our civilization and prosper! Always strive to improve yourself as a person and also raise the general well-being of those around you!

Paranormality illusion




Download your own copy at www.paranormalitybook.com
Illusion originally created by the wonderful Joseph Jastrow

Is it always right to uphold your religious convictions?



Aired on BBC One at 23. January 2011

Creationist Consistency

Creationist Christian Venomfangx

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Snacks as eucharist

Father Jonathan Morris discusses a Super Bowl commercial, which has been pulled but has generated controversy by showing priests giving out Doritos and Pepsi i Church.

Christians without the ability to laugh


Super Bowl Commercial.
Fox News video January 2011

Deborah age 13: Servant of God

Documentary about 13-year-old Deborah Drapper, who -- unlike other British teens -- has never heard of Britney Spears or Victoria Beckham. She is being been brought up in a deeply Christian family and her parents are trying to make sure she and her ten brothers and sisters have grown up protected from the sins of the outside world.



Deborah is a confident girl who has big ambitions for her life, and the film spends a summer with her as she ventures out into the world to see what life outside her family could be -- as she starts putting her beliefs forward to a wider audience.

Broadcast March 2009 BBC 3

Poison or Cure - Religious Belief in the Modern World

Christopher Hitchens Debates Alister McGrath (2007)on the topic:

Poison or Cure - Religious Belief in the Modern World



Christopher Hitchens debates Oxford University professor Alister McGrath on October 11, 2007.

Abstract: The Falsity & Immorality of Christianity

Internet (Youtube) and Atheists

How have YouTube and the Internet impacted the atheist movement? Three special guests join us:





Youtube channels:

DarkMatter2525

BionicDance

Evid3nc3

Homeopathy: Cure or Con?

Show description:
Erica Johnson investigates one of the country's fastest growing alternative health treatments: homeopathy. Ontario homeopaths are about to become the first province in Canada to regulate homeopathy — lending credibility to this unproven practice.

Part 1 of 2


Canada's leading consumer ally takes a long hard look at the theories, and the remedies. For the first time in Canada, we conduct a test of homeopathic medicines, investigating the science behind these so-called medicines. In light of our results, we ask both the Ontario government and Health Canada why they are lending credibility to the homeopathic industry. Johnson also meets up with a rep from the world's leading manufacturer of homeopathic medicines, who admits that even the company says how homeopathty works is a mystery.

Part 2 of 2


Watch, as we witness a Vancouver group of skeptics (CFI) taking part in a group overdose of homeopathic remedies. Perhaps most disturbing we learn that some homeopaths are treating cancer patients with homeopathic remedies. A leading cancer specialist says there is no role for homeopathy in the treatment of cancer, that it is a "scam that is not evidence-based."

Skeptic North
The Reality Check - Podcast

Family Guy - Hymn #487

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Atheists and freethinkers give aid

Good Without God

Huffington Post Atheists, Humanists Resolve to Give More by Valerie Tarico



Skeptics and Humanist Aid and Relief Effort
Non-believers Giving Aid
Foundation Beyond Belief

Also remember Resolution Revolution all year




Give blood
Donate your body to science

Giles County School Board votes to reinstall 10 Commandments plaques

Giles County School Board votes unanimously to reinstall 10 Commandments plaques in all public schools.



WSLS 10 News, Roanoke, Virginia, January 20, 2011

Klingenschmitt: Gays Are Possessed by the Devil and Need Exorcism

Gordon Klingenschmitt tells David Pakman that it is the Devil that makes people gay and so they need an exorcism.

Contaminate Our Movement

During the first day of the 2011 Texas Legislature, Tea Party supporters rallied on the steps of the Capitol and heard a fiery sermon laced with violent rhetoric.

"Progressivism, Liberalism...in touching them, we contaminate the spirit of liberty. We contaminate our movement." Apostle Claver



Christianity is ugly

This is a part of Apostle Claver at Texas Tea Party Rally January 11, 2011

We left Islam, You can do it too!

The Quran:
Qur'an (4:89) - "They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them"



Council of ExMuslim

Qur'an (9:11-12) - "But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then are they your brethren in religion. We detail Our revelations for a people who have knowledge. And if they break their pledges after their treaty (hath been made with you) and assail your religion, then fight the heads of disbelief - Lo! they have no binding oaths - in order that they may desist." This verse is speaking of infidels (ie. "slay the infidels wherever you find them" 9:5) who obviously became Muslim to escape the sword, but the Hadith make no distinction of how a Muslim came to be a Muslim. Apostasy is always punished by death.

Other verses that seem to support the many Hadith demanding death for apostates are Qur'an verses 2:217, 9:73-74, 88:21, 5:54, and 9:66.

Advocates for killing apostates have pointed out that the supporting hadith are reliable and thus qualify as law according to verse 4:80 - "Whoso obeyeth the Messenger obeyeth Allah."

From the Hadith:
The reason why executing apostates has always been well-ensconced in Islamic law is that there is an indisputable record of Muhammad and his companions doing exactly that.
Bukhari (52:260) - "...The Prophet said, 'If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.' "

Bukhari (83:37) - "Allah's Apostle never killed anyone except in one of the following three situations: (1) A person who killed somebody unjustly, was killed (in Qisas,) (2) a married person who committed illegal sexual intercourse and (3) a man who fought against Allah and His Apostle and deserted Islam and became an apostate."

Bukhari (84:57) - "[In the words of] Allah's Apostle, 'Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.'"

Bukhari (89:271) - A man who embraces Islam, then reverts to Judaism is to be killed according to "the verdict of Allah and his apostle."

Friday, January 21, 2011

Inappropriate For Children

The bible...it's not for kids. Is it tantamount to exposing a child to pornography or violence? I think so. It should be age restricted.



Bibel knowledge

CNN w/ Piers Morgan interview of Ricky Gervais

CNN's extended & unedited portion of Ricky Gervais Interview w/ Catholic Piers Morgan

Ricky Gervais: Christians Haven't a Monopoly On Good







Piers Morgan Tonight, CNN, 1-20-2011

David Mitchell on Pascals Wager

Comedian David Mitchell discusses atheism and Pascal's Wager on QI, hosted by Stephen Fry also starring Sean Locke, Alan Davis, and Jimmy Carr.

Jews Were the First Environmentalists

Starting tonight, January 19, 2011, is the Jewish holiday of Tu B'Shevat (literally the 15th of Shevat). There is still snow on the ground in parts of the United States as we prepare to celebrate this New Year for Trees, but Tu B'Shevat is thought to mark the beginning of spring in Israel because it is the time that the almond tree begins to blossom.

Trees and all things that grow in the ground that are very important to us as Jews. The Torah even compares the human being to a tree. In fact, the Jewish people were the first environmentalists. It was our Torah, given to us over 3300 years ago, that states in Bereishith (the Book of Genesis) how God placed us in the Garden of Eden to work and guard the land. We were the world's first guardians. The Torah also tells us that we are not allowed to cut down fruit-bearing trees, even in times of war when lives are at stake. Its our Torah that says you cannot divert the the water going to a city, even if you are waging war against them. The Torah even discusses how soldiers must carry a spade with them to dispose of waste properly. And that is why Tu B'Shevat is so important to us as Jews.

You can celebrate this New Year (for Trees) in your home by eating a new fruit (something you haven't eaten in the last year) so you'll be able to make a blessing over the fruit and recite the Sheh'heh'chi'yanu blessing (of God who has sustained us). Have a very happy Tu B'Shevat, the New Year for Trees!



While it has been a difficult winter for many of us, it may be time to look beyond the turbulent weather and see that spring is just around the corner. You might wonder how one can possibly think of spring at the present time, but, according to Jewish wisdom, now is precisely the time because now is the time of the New Year for trees: Tu B'Shevat.

Tu B'Shevat, literally, the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat, marks the official start of spring in Israel, even though the weather is still cold. According to Jewish tradition, this is the day on which the long dormant sap in the trees begins to flow again.

Why is Tu B'Shevat even celebrated as a holiday and elevated to the status of being one of the four New Years on the Jewish calendar? In Judaism, a holiday usually marks a day on which there is a unique connection between the spiritual and physical worlds and signals an event from which we can learn and grow.

Because of Tu B'Shevat, Jews around the world are given a moment to stop and think about the trees and the greenery around them. Spiritually, there is much that one can learn from a tree. For instance, almost every person goes through a "spiritual winter," a time in which it is hard to connect to God or to follow religious beliefs. According to tradition, deep within each Jew there is a pintele yid (Yiddish for a "little bit of Jewish spirit"). Like the frozen sap that is thawed by the coming of spring and brings new life to the tree, the pintele yid can be ignited by a spark of inspiration and revitalize the Jewish soul.

This year, Tu B'Shevat begins on Sunday, February 8, at nightfall and ends after sunset on Monday, February 9. Some people follow the custom of eating special Israeli foods and conduct a special Tu B'Shevat Seder.

Mysterious Ways

When the light of logic shines brightest upon the cockroach of religious justification, it often attempts to scurry under the refrigerator of "incomprehensible mystery" for some impregnable threshold of safety. When all arguments from ignorance have been educated into exhaustion you can almost finish the sentence of the desperate and defeated theists as they utter something to the effect of "you're just a human, and you can't understand God. He works in mysterious ways beyond our comprehension. Who are you to question him?"



I am perplexed, not by the power of this argument, but by the combination of its popularity and absurdity. These people consider their undetectable God too complicated, and mysterious for the people who don't believe in it to comprehend. If you hold that position alone, it's fair enough, but it's not fair to simultaneously consider the ambiguity and utter lack of physical evidence as proof of your God. Additionally, it's ludicrous to assume that while he's too supreme and supernatural for doubters to grasp or detect, YOU somehow are able to understand that same being well enough to not only claim it exists with great certainty, but also claim that YOU understand its actions, desires, intentions, and emotions. One group of humans simply cannot tell the doubting humans that God is too complex to comprehend before preaching to them about just how well they understand him. Surely is particularly out of place for discussing their "personal relationship" with such an incomprehensible being.

In addition to this claim's base lunacy I must ask what other religion or non-falsifiable claim can the "too hard to understand" angle not be applied to? If you're a Christian, for example who claims that Hindus should believe in your God because their disbelief in your God is rooted in him being beyond their level of human comprehension, what's to stop them from claiming the same of their God in application to you? What's to stop me from claiming I have an invisible, intangible pet pterodactyl on my shoulder, but you can't tell it's there because its power is beyond what you can imagine and it doesn't wish for you to detect it, so you can't. You would be inexpressibly gullible to accept my claim as true, let alone as proof- especially without questioning what gave me the ability to detect the ancient flying lizard's presence. What special power was I born with that enabled me to comprehend the majestically transparent dinosaur which you remain unfortunately exempt from?

If you have any sense at all you would dismiss my pterodactyl claim out of hand until I could provide sufficient evidence. The final level of desperation for most theists is the threat of hell as punishment for disbelief in the God that created us without the ability to detect or comprehend him. So I'll close with a question, for all those of you who threaten atheists with hellfire, but have the nerve to not believe the pterodactyl is on my shoulder. Would you be any further convinced if I suggested it was also responsible for creating the entire universe, will pass judgment on you for your worthiness of an eternity of torture or paradise when you die, and that you must believe in it because I happen to have a close, personal relationship with it? Answer honestly- your God doesn't like liars.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

CERN Milestone: First Heavy Ions In The LHC

CERN News: First heavy ions in the LHC

The LHC runs led ions for the first time, reaching unprecedented collision energy. Interviews with Jürgen Schukraft (ALICE spokesperson), Bolek Wyslouch (CMS run coordinator), Peter Steinberg (ATLAS Brookhaven National Laboratory), William Brooks (ATLAS Brookhaven National Laboratory).



The CMS experiment at CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has recorded its first Lead-Lead collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 2.76 TeV per nucleon pair, marking the start of its heavy ion research programme. Physicists around the world expect a wealth of new results and phenomena from these collisions, which occur at energies 14 times higher than previously achieved by the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC, Brookhaven, USA).

At 11:20:56, on 8th November the LHC Control Centre declared stable colliding beams of heavy ions. CMS immediately detected the first collisions, each producing thousands of particles whose trajectories are reconstructed in the CMS silicon detectors and whose energies are measured in the calorimeters. Moments later, the data were analysed and the first images of these events were produced.

Pitfalls of Thinking: Confirmation Bias

Confirmation bias is a tendency to search for, interpret or remember information in a way that confirms preconceptions or working hypotheses. People can reinforce their existing attitudes by selectively collecting new evidence, by interpreting evidence in a biased way or by selectively recalling information from memory. Some psychologists use "confirmation bias" for any of these three cognitive biases, while others restrict the term to selective collection of evidence, using assimilation bias for biased interpretation.

Video 1 of 2


Video 2 of 2


I explore the use of confirmation bias in three areas:
1. Alternative health practices
2. Intelligent design aka creationism
3. HIV/AIDS denialism

That's right, global warming is made up

That's right, global warming is made up. Any idiot with half a brain realizes that there is no way the EARTH can heat up from tiny cars, factories, and nuclear waste. It's all FANTASY made up by the elite gay atheist liberal leftist scholars to scare YOU and KILL us Christians!

Unreported World: Witches on Trial

The Central African Republic is a country obsessed with black magic, where nearly half the prison population are convicted witches. In villages and the capital witchcraft is used to explain every misfortune and it is such a powerful weapon that it is a feature of almost every family quarrel or village dispute. And, as Reporter Seyi Rhodes and director Julie Noon reveal, it's often the most vulnerable who are singled out.



Broadcast 12 November 2010 Channel 4

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

1,000,000 Christian Billboards - One in Every Town

FAYETTEVILLE — A new billboard in Fayetteville aims to reach out to nonbelievers.

A local Christian group, Save America First, Evangelize the World, put up a billboard Friday promoting Christianity.



Billboards promoting atheist messages popping up around the country inspired Founder Pastor George Lucas to put up his own sign, featuring Bible verse John 3:16. The billboard is on Highway 301 in Fayetteville and Lucas hopes on day it will reach folks all across the country.

"I hope to put up a million billboards, in every town, we want to put up a billboard in every town in the United States of America," said Lucas.

News14 Carolina, Fayetteville, NC, January 17, 2011

The Bible is Fiction and so are all Holy Books

As a child I was taught that the bible was the perfect word of God. This became my starting position for evaluating all other information. I compared everything against my holy book. If anything contradicted my "Perfect Book", then I rejected the information or found loop holes to explain away the inconsistencies. I realize now this evaluation technique is quite flawed. It stopped me from seeing things with an open mind. I wonder how ridiculous a book could be before people would realize that the book is not perfect and not a good source of judgment.



If the Bible stated "All men are held to the earth by God's hand" Then the theory of gravity would be disputed just a strongly as the theory of evolution is today. Christians would be trying to get the "Intelligent Hand Theory" taught in the classroom alongside the theory of gravity?

If the Koran said "All sicknesses are demons, exorcism is the only true cure." Would Muslims go to the doctor? We might have two sets of medical schools and two sets of doctors. One based on faith and exorcisms, one based on science and technology. Even in the face of statistical evidence showing that a larger percentage of the patients in the faith based hospital were dying, would they keep their faith in their book?
If the book of Mormons said "The moon is made of wood." How would Mormons cope with all the moon rocks brought back from the Apollo missions? They would have to claim the rocks were put there by Satan to fool humans or some other rationalization. How many of them would continue in their beliefs with this overwhelming evidence?

These seem like silly statements and that no book with these statements could be taken seriously. But these three books have statements that are just as ludicrous.
The bible states that the human body was formed because a magic being breathed on some dirt and that millions of species of animals all fit on a boat for over 100 days. It has stories about talking donkeys and men being swallowed by whales. Yet most Christians do not question these stories.

The Koran states that if you get dirty by touching a woman, and can't find any clean water around at prayer time, you can clean up by rubbing your face and hands in some dirt. Muslims have come up with ways to rationalize this and many other ridiculous statements in their book.

The book of Mormon's has a story about flying serpents of fire. Why are these stories not obvious fiction to the believers? Just how unbelievable can a story be before a person stops and says "Wait, that doesn't make any sense?" It seems that just about any story could pass as acceptable no matter how outrageous when it is called a religious book. These faith driven beliefs seem to override any form of questioning or rational thinking.

People believe these stories for different reasons. Some are taught to believe with childhood indoctrination. When we are young we are pre-programmed to believe what our parents tell us. Another method is when a person feels helpless or depressed. Religions can bring comfort to some, but belief in the ridiculous stories comes as a side effect in joining these groups. I believe we can have support groups that are just as comforting without superstitious beliefs.

If you believe in a holy book, try to put your book in perspective with any other story you hear. Most of the stories in these books are just as fictional as jack and the beanstalk. Instead of reading your book from the mindset that the book must be perfect, try reading it with a questioning mind. Try asking questions like, does this make sense, could this really happen, and keep in mind the identity of the authors. Don't simply think the book must be from God. It came from a man that is just as flawed as you and I and lived long ago in a time when knowledge was just a fraction of what it is today. You may be surprised at what you find. Your mind just might open to the reality of "It is just a book."

A special thank you to my friend Dr. Scott for this video's inspiration
Action are more important that beliefs.

Alabama Gov. Bentley Alienates Non-Christians

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley




The Rachel Maddow Show, MSNBC, January 18, 2011

Pascal's Wager

Sam, Mike and new host Rich Lyons (of Living After Faith) perform an autopsy on that oldest of bad arguments for the existence of gods, Pascal's Wager.



Also talk about doomsday/Judgment Day wecantknow.com

This an episode of Ask an Atheist, a call-in show in the Tacoma/Seattle area dedicated to atheism, skeptical inquiry, and the separation of church and state. The show is broadcast live on KLAY 1180 AM in Tacoma on Sundays at 3:00 PM, Pacific time.

If you would like to ask us a question, feel free to head on over to http://askanatheist.tv and fill out our handy question form!

Leave Ask an Atheist a Voice Mail: 206-420-0997

Buzzwords of Ignorance: "Sacred"

Don Baker explores how the buzzword sacred/sanctity is used to assert an unreasonable claim of ownership.



The Atheist Experience TV Show
Atheist Experience #692: Buzzwords of Ignorance: "Sacred"
Host: Matt Dillahunty
Co-host: Don Baker
2011-01-16

The Atheist Experience is a weekly cable access television show in Austin, Texas geared at a non-atheist audience. The Atheist Experience is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin.

The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.

DVDs of the Atheist Experience can be purchased via atheist-community.org/products.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

God made Herman Cain get an SMS

Herman Cain explains to Bryan Fischer how God spoke to him through his granddaughter to encourage him to run for president.



Herman Cain talks about social issues with Bryan Fischer as he prepares to run for president.

Atheists, Why Y'all Have Fait in Sumpn Y'all Don't Belief In?

Back when theist callers had the guts to call the Atheist Experience show, they had the guts to make no sense whatsoever. This Christian guy doesn't hear a single word Ashley Perrien or Matt Dillahunty have to say. And he should have tried.

Part 1 of 2


"Just because there is a book about it, doesn't mean anything. It's a book. Get over it!" quote by Ashley Perrien

Part 1 of 2


From Matt's debut on The Atheist Experience #387

How can we make atheism hip?

Finally... someone who realises that atheism has a serious image problem... its just so boring and unedgy.

Luckily help is one the way to remedy this dire situation.



Atheizm motherfuckers!

The Magic Bullet

Thank You God, For Making Me An Atheist!

Ricky Gervais's 2011 Golden Globes ceremony sign-off. "Thank you to God for making me an Atheist"



Last words from Ricky Gervais at the 2011 Golden Globes ceremony. An important message by Ricky Gervais: "Thank you to God for making me an atheist," says Ricky Garvais ending the 68th Annual Golden Globes Award show.

(c) 2011 NBC

Monday, January 17, 2011

Alternative Medicine: Fact or Fiction by Dylan Evans

Alternative Medicine Fact or Fiction Dr. Dylan Evans



A reminder of Cork Skeptics in the Castle. First meeting this... on Twitpic

Event by Cork Skeptics
Video by Atheist Ireland.

Accidents & Irony

"You are not an accident. Nobody in this gym is an accident. Somebody created each of you with an important purpose."

It disturbs me when creationists equate a world without god to an existence where all things are accidental. It doesn't so much disturb me because I find the idea of an ungoverned existence frightening, or even that they don't understand that an ungoverned existence does not equate to one with no order, rules of probability and/or basic structure - you know, like natural laws. The truly disturbing part of that false equivalency is the scientific ignorance that makes Creationists blind to their own irony. Their position of a God creating us just as we are today, and the planet six to eight thousand years ago requires them to consider a myriad of individually clarified pieces of scientific evidence from multiple disciplines to be circumstantial and accidental.



It's the creationist position that requires it to be an accident or coincidence that chimpanzee and human genomes are more than 98% identical, and that fossils from around the world have been independently discovered, dated, and studied- contradicting biblical claims about earth-age and species development. It's they who believe earth dating techniques including carbon , dendrochronology, amino acid racemization, palomagnetic and others performed by separate scientists in separate locations consistently yield remarkably similar results about the age of our planet just happened by accident. They all must be a flukes!

Homeopathic fraud exposed on ABC Lateline

It is amazing that a fraud as transparent as homeopathy can be accepted by people who can think. There is a word for a statement that homeopathy can replace chemotherapy for cancer, and that word is "lie". When are scientists going to stop being polite about this ridiculous waste of time, money and lives?

Ban Harry Potter - movie and book

A video about the movement to ban Harry Potter books & movies.

Gary Mannion: Young, Psychic and Possessed

Meet Christian Gary Mannion a psychic how is down with Abrabam from the Hebrew Bible.

Psychic surgery for 35£



Video by BBC

Bad psychics website

Sunday, January 16, 2011

The Doctors - A Daytime Talk Show Disaster

Daytime television talk shows have never been known for giving the most reliable information to the public. A show called "The Doctors" is no exception.

I'm going to go over a segment of the show that aired on the 12th of January 2011.



The segment is about the proposed circumcision ban in San Francisco California. This bill would ban non-consensual genital cutting of minors when there is no immediate medical necessity. This bill is intended to protect minors, and does not ban medically necessary or adult consensual surgeries.

The clip begins with Doctor Drew Ordon making a horrible case for his position. Dr. Drew, you will henceforth be known as Doctor Fallacy.

Read the rest of the text on youtube

Christopher Hitchens demolishes Sharpton in Debate on Morality

Christopher Hitchens completely destroys Christian Al Sharpton in a debate.

News Updates From Freethought Radio for January 15, 2011

Clips from Freethought Radio, January 15, 2011 (Edited for time)



Annie Laurie Gaylor President of Freedom From Religion Foundation

Miracles in Catholicism

Devine action in the world - conference, invited by the Vatican

With
Ted Peters, theologian. Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
Father Mario Conto. Basilica of St Anthony
Father Gumpel. Judge of Instruction Congretation of the Saints



Miracles - Narrated by Cathy Tyson by BBC 1996

(Science Friction)

Daniel Dennett interview by Dan Barker January 15, 2011

Interview with Daniel C. Dennett, auther of "Breaking The Spell"



From the Freedom From Religion Foundation's "Freethought Radio", January 15, 2011

Saturday, January 15, 2011

The Frontier Is Everywhere



Spoken words by Carl Sagan

Lonely? Need a compagnion?



A message from God

Earth's Rotation Changes Zodiac Signs

Astrology shakeup: Earth's rotation changes zodiac signs

With:
Megan Kelly, Fox News
Ian O'neel, Space producer
Constance Stella, astrologer



Aired on January 14, 2011 on Fox News. News Corps.

Read more Your Star Sign Just Got Rumbled

The Problem with Religion

It really is terribly simple,
1) models with predictive capability are of utility.
2) Science is in a class of its own, a process without competitors, when it comes to its ability to form such models.



So where is the problem? These are observations that not only essentially everyone agrees with, but practically EVERYONE eagerly embraces, most notably in tasting the sweet fruits of science, such as modern civilization.

However religion, a model with no demonstrable predictive utility, remains prevalent within mankind.

The bizarre thing is that all these people who engage in religion must realize what a good model looks like as they use them everyday of their life. Convergent models with predictive capability are the good one... the ones they chose to use. Yet still, peculiarly, these folks still embrace religion which is evidently divergent with no demonstrable predictive utility.

Tides and Sunrises

Russell and Jeff talk about Bill O'Reilly's reasons for why religions are not scams.



The Atheist Experience TV Show
Atheist Experience #691: Tides and Sunrises
Host: Russell Glasser
Co-host: Jeff Dee
9th January 2011

The Atheist Experience is a weekly cable access television show in Austin, Texas geared at a non-atheist audience.

The Atheist Experience is produced by the Atheist Community of Austin. The Atheist Community of Austin is organized as a nonprofit educational corporation to develop and support the atheist community, to provide opportunities for socializing and friendship, to promote secular viewpoints, to encourage positive atheist culture, to defend the first amendment principle of state-church separation, to oppose discrimination against atheists and to work with other organizations in pursuit of common goals.

DVDs of the Atheist Experience can be purchased via atheist-community.org/products .

Birds and Shabbat Shirah

Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, director of Jewish Treats' parent organization the National Jewish Outreach Program.

Birds play a very significant role this week. Once the Children of Israel safely got across the Red Sea and set up camp, the Israelites began to complain to Moses. They said "If only we had died by the hand of Hashem in the land of Egypt., as we sat by a pot of meat and when we ate bread to satiety" (Exodus 16:3). In response to their complaints, God gave them the manna, food from heaven. According to tradition, there were those people who tried to plant manna in the field on Shabbat, trying to trick Moses and defy God who did not send manna on Shabbat. The birds were significant here because they came and ate up the manna as to not fool Moses. We reward the birds this Shabbat, also known as Shabbat Shirah, by signing songs for them.



Az Yashir Moshe U'v'nei Yisrael... Then sang Moses and the Children of Israel...(Exodus 15:1). The song, which is recorded in Exodus 15:1-19, is known as the Shirah (the song). The Shabbat on which this Shirah is chanted in the synagogue (Parashat B'shalach) is known as Shabbat Shirah.

The lyrics of the Shirah constitute exalted praises of God, Who saves the Jewish people. Recounting the miraculous event, the Shirah calls out: "For the horses of Pharaoh went into the sea with his chariots and his horsemen, and God brought back the waters of the sea upon them; but the Children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea." (15:19).

Why is a special name given to this Shabbat? Because the Shirah inspires us to remember the heights that our people can reach.

Those who have read Bible cannot help but notice that such spontaneous praise and gratitude from the Israelites was rare. The Israelites spent much time complaining. They wanted meat (Exodus 16), worshiped the golden calf (Exodus 32), sinned with the Moabite women (Numbers 25), etc. But when the Israelites reached the far side of the Sea of Reeds, their faith in God and in their own significance was at an all time high. There was no restraint in their praise of God.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Keith Barry: Brain magic

First, Keith Barry shows us how our brains can fool our bodies -- in a trick that works via podcast too. Then he involves the audience in some jaw-dropping (and even a bit dangerous) feats of brain magic.

So cool!

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) Core Beliefs

This is a vignette of the basic beliefs and tenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) aka Mormon.



Without words

Do they have the willingness to die...

During the first day of the 2011 Texas Legislature, Tea Party supporters rallied on the steps of the Capitol and heard a fiery sermon laced with violent rhetoric. "If they [politicians] don't have the spirit of Christ, they may be eligible, but they are not qualified."



View the full speach by Apostle Claver at Texas Tea Party Rally January 11, 2011.

Richard Dawkins - The God Delusion interview

Interview by Horizon with Richard Dawkins talking about the book The God Delusion and The OUT Campaign.

Ted Haggard a sinner

Video about the Christian sinner Ted Haggard



You may remember Ted Haggard from an interview made by Richard Dawkins to the documentary Root of all evil?

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Penguins: the flip side of flipper bands

Scientists often study penguins to see how climate change is affecting the marine ecosystem. To keep track of individual birds they use flipper bands. But a new study shows that these bands reduce the penguins' breeding success and survival, thus biasing the data.



For more, listen to the researchers talk about the study on the Nature Podcast and read the original research paper.

An Atheist Manifesto by Joseph Lewis

An Atheist Manifesto (1954), by Joseph Lewis (computer-generated audiobook)



Read along An Atheist Manifesto

What is an Atheist? Why do atheist have a Show?

Premiere radio episode! Sam, Mike and Casey define their terms and explain what an atheist is, what it isn't, and why they would have a radio show.



This an episode of Ask an Atheist, a call-in show in the Tacoma/Seattle area dedicated to atheism, skeptical inquiry, and the separation of church and state. The show is broadcast live on KLAY 1180 AM in Tacoma on Sundays at 3:00 PM, Pacific time.

Leave Ask an Atheist Voice Mail: 206-420-0997

If you would like to ask us a question, feel free to head on over to askanatheist.tv and fill out our handy question form!

Talk about We Can't Know - Countdown To Backpedaling

The Great Coincidence

Cindy Jacob: Birds Dying Because of Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal

Cindy Jacobs says that birds and fish may be dying in large numbers because of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Its against Gods (Jahwes) will.



According to biblical principles, marriage is between a man and a woman, so we have to say “what happens when a nation makes a decision that’s against God’s principles?” Well, often what happens is that nature itself will begin to talk to us – for instance, violent storms, flooding. And you know there are actually some patterns that you can see where a nation will make a decision that is contrary to the principles of God and after that there is some kind of answer that God gives - being the God of creation, the God who created nature - but we don’t always understand what He’s saying.

Well, there’s something interesting we have been watching – let’s talk about this Arkansas pattern and say, could it be a pattern? We’re going to watch and see. But the blackbirds fell to the ground in Beebe, Arkansas. Well the Governor of Arkansas’ name is Beebe. And also, there was something put out of Arkansas called "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" by a former Governor, this was proposed, Bill Clinton. As so, could there be a connection between this passage [Hosea 4] and now that we’ve had the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, where people now legally in the United States have broken restraints with the Scripture because the Scripture says in Romans 1 that homosexuality is not allowed.

It could be because we have said it’s okay for people who commit these kinds of acts to be recognized in our military for the first time in our history, there is a potential that there is something that actually happened in the land where a hundred thousand drum fish died and also where these birds just fell out of the air.


Who stupid can you get?

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Apostle Claver at Texas Tea Party Rally January 11, 2011

Apostle Claver T. Kamau-Imani speaking at the Texas Capitol at the Texas Conservative Action Committee rally January 11, 2011.

The apostle Claver T. Kamau-Imani speach of hatred.

Part 1 of 2


Part 2 of 2


the Texas Freedom Network

Mind Control Made Easy

Mind Control Made Easy or How to Become a cult leader



a film by Carey Burtt

Pistols & Piety - It's The American Way




The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, MSNBC, January 11, 2011

Saskatchewan's Highest Court Nullifies Religious Dogma on Gay Marriages

Supreme Court Ruling Religion Cannot Be Used To As A Reason To Refuse To Marry Gay Couples.



CBC News, Canada, 1-10-2011

American Islamophobia

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Is Atheism an Intolerant Belief?




BBC One 2 August 2009

Pigeons, superstition and religion

QI Series 8 Ep 13: Hypnosis, Hallucinations & Hysteria



BBC1 7 January 2011

Fred Phelps Thanks God for the Shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords & Others

Pastor of The Westboro Baptist Church, Topeka, Kansas.

Monday, January 10, 2011

The First Amendment - Gabrielle Giffords

On the second day of the 112th Congress (January 6, 2011), Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords read aloud on the House floor the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.



"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Paxman Meets Christopher Hitchens: A Newsnight Special

In a wide-ranging special interview, Jeremy Paxman talks to Christopher Hitchens about his cancer diagnosis, his life, his politics and his writing.



BBC2 29 November 2010

Rebuttals: irreducible complexity

Refuting the fallacious criticism put forward against my recent video on irreducible complexity.

Pat Robertson's Predictions for 2011

Pat Robertson reports that God has told him 2011 will be a difficult year for the world, but a very good year for his CBN empire.



Aired on Christian Broadcasting Network January 2011

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Jonathan Morris on Gabrielle Giffords Tucson shooting

Violence & Threats Have No Place in Democracy!

Keith Olbermann. Special Comment: Violence & Threats Have No Place in Democracy!



Keith Olbermann, MSNBC, January 8, 2011
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