Hard Believer

by First Aid Kit
Lyrics:

So you ask for my opinion
Well what is there to say
To be honest and just foolish
Won't make you wanna stay
You've got to go on and get moving
I can't do that for you
Got so many plans and so much you want to do

Love is tough, time is rough
Love is tough, time is rough
Whoaaaa on me

Well I see you've got your bible
Your delusion imagery
Well I don't need your eternity
Or your meaning to feel free
I just live because I love to
And that's enough you see
So don''t come preach about morality
That's just human sense to me

Love is tough, time is rough
Love is tough, time is rough
Whoaaaa on me
On me-eeee .. on me-eee ...

And it's one life and it's this life
And it's beautiful
(repeat)
And it's beau .. beau .. beau ... beautiful

Love is tough, time is rough
Whoaaaa on me

(Thanks Johan)

QI: The Great Disappointment

(via RichardDawkins.net)

God, Your Animals Are Stupid...

by Funkanomics Comedy
(Thanks @ritchiewilson)

Cooking with Christ -- Literally!

by Mrs. Betty Bowers

A cooking show with America's Best Christian, Mrs. Betty Bowers. Betty shows that, with enough servants, even the laziest homemaker can serve up a yummy recipe that teaches children all about the gruesome, bloody death of Jesus. Bon appétit!

BBC Natural World: The Chimpcam Project

Play all videos (6)
AIred January 27, 2010 on BBC 2

How does a chimpanzee see the world? A research project at Edinburgh Zoo is designed to answer just that question in an innovative new way - by training chimps to use video touch screens and giving them a special chimp-proof camera. How will they react to tools which in evolutionary terms are a few million years ahead of them? As chimp specialist Betsy Herrelko finds out, trying to communicate with chimps using video technology has its trials and tribulations.

BBC | Chemistry: A Volatile History | Ep2 The Order of the Elements

Play all videos (6) | Episode 1
Aired January 28, 2010 on BBC Four

The explosive story of chemistry is the story of the building blocks that make up our entire world - the elements. From fiery phosphorous to the pure untarnished lustre of gold and the dazzle of violent, violet potassium, everything is made of elements - the earth we walk on, the air we breathe, even us. Yet for centuries this world was largely unknown, and completely misunderstood.

In this three-part series, professor of theoretical physics Jim Al-Khalili traces the extraordinary story of how the elements were discovered and mapped. He follows in the footsteps of the pioneers who cracked their secrets and created a new science, propelling us into the modern age.

In part two, Professor Al-Khalili looks at the 19th century chemists who struggled to impose an order on the apparently random world of the elements. From working out how many there were to discovering their unique relationships with each other, the early scientists' bid to decode the hidden order of the elements was driven by false starts and bitter disputes. But ultimately the quest would lead to one of chemistry's most beautiful intellectual creations - the periodic table.

My Favorite Christian Is An Atheist!!

by Edward Current
See also: The Atheist Delusion

Unreported World: Egypt's Rubbish People

Link
Aired February 8, 2008 on Channel 4

Unreported World exposes a dark side to Egypt that the authorities don't want foreigners to see: a secretive society of around 40,000 people literally living in rubbish in a Cairo ghetto overrun by rats and disease. Reporter Evan Williams and producer James Brabazon are some of the first journalists to film inside the ghetto where tens of thousands live with garbage stacked to the roofs of their multi-storey homes - eking out a living recycling the rubbish by hand. It's a sight rarely seen by outsiders, and almost definitely not by the million British Tourists who visit Egypt every year.

This group is unique for another reason. They're part of Muslim Egypt's Christian minority; a community claiming to be besieged by persecution, extremism and a creeping Islamisation in Egypt's security services. The team highlights one the most sensitive issues faced by some of those in Egypt - their decision to convert to Christianity - a decision that some Muslims believe should be punishable by death under a strict interpretation of sharia religious law.

*Repost

reddit.com Interviews PZ Myers

Questions

BBC | How Earth Made Us | Episode 2: Water

Play all videos (6) | Episode 1
Aired January 26, 2010 on BBC Two

Professor Iain Stewart explores the complex history of our relationship with water as he continues his look at how geology, geography and climate have influenced human history. Visiting iconic and spectacular locations in Iceland, the Middle East, the Sahara and India, Iain explains how control over water has been central to human existence, and discovers how different civilisations have struggled to adapt to the constant changes in the distribution of this vital resource.

Starting his journey in one of the driest places on Earth, the Sahara desert, Iain discovers remarkable engravings in the rock dating back more than 6,000 years. These engravings of giraffes, elephants and crocodiles signify that this desert was once a very different place, a place where water flowed and people made a home. But the dramatic drying of the Sahara shows that water is constantly on the move around our planet.

The programme traces the cycle of fresh water which humans have come to depend on. From the ocean, it evaporates to form clouds, then falls as rain into rivers. Some is stored as ice while another portion sinks below the planet's surface to become groundwater. Water is constantly moving through this cycle, but the cycle itself also changes over time. Iain discusses one such change which happened towards the end of the last ice age, when a final burst of cold caused the ice to expand. As moisture was drawn out of the atmosphere and turned to ice, this led to a vicious drought in the Middle East.

Coping with the lack – or abundance – of water has driven some of the key advances of human civilisation. In early history the need for reliable water supplies led early farmers to settle near rivers, but as humans spread across the planet they learned to exploit the vagaries of the water cycle in many different ways. Adapting to the water cycle has meant the difference between success and failure for many civilisations.

Now, in the 21st century, man's ability to harvest, transport and store water has improved vastly. But the human population has also grown and this combination has placed a great strain on the finite amount of water on our planet. This has led to water becoming a continual source of conflict, a battle which will only intensify as the demand for water increases in the coming years.

(Thanks to AnonyKai)

CBS News: Virgin Mary in Church Fountain?

January 26, 2010 on CBS News

Google No Longer Omits Islam Search Suggestions

See also: Is Google Censoring Islam Suggestions?

Bill O'Reilly vs. Jehmu Greene on Focus On The Family's Anti-Abortion Super Bowl Ad

January 26, 2010 on FOX News with Jehmu Greene, President of the Women's Media Center

Russia Plans to Ban "Damaging Cults"

January 26, 2010 on Russia Today

Octopus Tool Use

From New Scientist:

Octopuses have been observed carrying coconut shells in what researchers claim is the first recorded example of tool use in invertebrates.

There is a growing record of tool use in animals and birds, from musical "instruments" made by orang-utansMovie Camera to sponges used by dolphins to dislodge prey from sand.

Now veined octopuses, Amphioctopus marginatus, have been filmed picking up coconut halves from the seabed to use as hiding places when they feel threatened.

"This octopus behaviour was totally unexpected," says Julian Finn, a marine biologist at Museum Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, who has filmed at least four individual veined octopuses performing the trick off the coast of Indonesia.
Read more

Chimpanzees Make Their First Movie | Natural World: The Chimpcam Project (Preview)

From BBC News:

The world’s first film shot entirely by chimpanzees is to be broadcast by the BBC as part of a natural history documentary.

The apes created the movie using a specially designed chimp-proof camera given to them by primatologists.

The film-making exercise is part of a scientific study into how chimpanzees perceive the world and each other.

It will be screened within the Natural World programme “Chimpcam” shown on BBC Two at 2000GMT on Wednesday 27 January.

Making the movie was the brainchild of primatologist Ms Betsy Herrelko, who is studying for a PhD in primate behaviour at the University of Stirling, UK.

Over 18 months, she introduced video technology to a group of 11 chimpanzees living in a newly built enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo, UK.

The enclosure, which contains three large interlinked outdoor arenas, as well as a series of smaller rooms in which the apes can be studied by researchers, is the largest of its kind in the world.

(via Cynical-C Blog)

Mr. Deity and the Promised Land

by Mr. Deity

Nerdstock: 9 Lessons and Carols for Godless People

Play all videos (8)
Aired January 23, 2010 on BBC Four

A non-religious Christmas celebration of comedy, science and music recorded live at London's Hammersmith Apollo in December 2009. Stand-up comedian and humanist Robin Ince is joined by a host of leading lights from the world of science, including Richard Dawkins, Brian Cox, Simon Singh and Ben Goldacre, as well as musicians and top comedians from Mark Steel to Shappi Khorsandi.

Full line up:
Robin Ince, Richard Dawkins, Brian Cox, Mark Steel, Richard Herring, Shappi Khorsandi, Ben Goldacre, Simon Singh, Barry Cryer and Ronnie Golden, Robyn Hitchcock, Jim Bob and Baba Brinkman.

BBC Newsnight: UK Government Bans Exports of "Bomb Detecting" Dowsing Rods

January 22, 2010 on BBC Newsnight

The UK government has announced a ban on the export to Iraq and Afghanistan of some so-called "bomb detectors".

It follows an investigation by the BBC's Newsnight programme which found that one type of "detector" made by a British company cannot work.

The Iraqi government has spent $85m on the ADE-651 and there are concerns that they have failed to stop bomb attacks that have killed hundreds of people.

The ban on the ADE-651 and other similar devices starts next week.

Peter Atkins vs. Discovery Institute's Stephen Meyer on Intelligent Design and "Expelled" The Movie

Download MP3

January 16, 2010 on Premier Christian Radio: Unbelievable?:

The documentary film "Expelled" is presented by US Actor Ben Stein and makes the case that scientists who question Darwinian orthodoxy and support Intelligent Design are being "expelled" from academia.

As the UK edition of the DVD is released we ask "Is freedom of thought at stake or is Intelligent Design out of bounds when it comes to biological science?"

Stephen C Meyer is co founder of the Discovery Institute in the USA and a major proponent of Intelligent Design. Peter Atkins is Professor of Chemistry at Oxford University and an outspoken atheist.

BBC | How Earth Made Us | Episode 1: Deep Earth

Play all videos (6)
Aired January 19, 2010 on BBC Two

Professor Iain Stewart tells the epic story of how geology, geography and climate have influenced mankind. Using spectacular images, illuminating science content and compelling narration, the series discovers how four different planetary forces have shaped human history.

Programme one explores the relationship between man and the deep Earth. Since the dawn of civilisation a network of active fault lines have provided key resources for civilisations to flourish. Professor Stewart explores iconic locations, including the barren deserts of Iran, ancient tin mines in Britain, the Timna Valley in Israel and the Naica Crystal Cave in Mexico, to discover how planet Earth has changed the path of human civilisation.

Professor Stewart starts his journey in the deserts of Southern Israel. Over 7,000 years ago, the Timna Valley was the site of one of the world's first great scientific discoveries, when man first realised that by smelting rocks he could release metals trapped inside. It was a defining moment in human history.

Continuing his journey to the barren deserts of Iran and with a 50-metre plunge down a tiny shaft, Iain discovers one of the main reasons why so many societies chose to live along fault lines ñ the presence of water. Early civilisations learnt to access this water through tunnels, turning arid deserts into lush oases. This critical supply of water combined with access to metals persuaded 11 of the 13 most powerful civilisations of the ancient world to unwittingly build their cities along the edges of a plate boundary.

Today, man understands the downside of living along fault lines, as these areas are prone to powerful earthquakes and frequent volcanic activity. Yet, incredibly, half of the largest cities on Earth still lie along these boundaries. Ian explores why man still lives in these danger zones. Taking to the skies in California to see the San Andreas Fault ñ the largest earthquake fault in the United States ñ he discovers how the fault continues to bring long-term economic benefits to the 24 million people who live in the state.

(Thanks to AnonyKai)

Vatican Bank Accused of Money Laundering

January 23, 2010 on Russia Today:

The Vatican is facing some awkward questions after an investigation was launched into its alleged involvement in a money-laundering scheme.

The financial scandal was triggered by a report in an Italian magazine that claimed the Vatican bank laundered some $200 million.

The Necronomicon

(Thanks Blake)

The Oldest Quranic Manuscripts

See also: The Syro-Aramic Reading of the Quran
*Repost

BBC | Chemistry: A Volatile History | Ep1 Discovering the Elements

Play all videos (6)
Aired January 21, 2010 on BBC Four with Professor Jim Al-Khalili

The explosive story of chemistry is the story of the building blocks that make up our entire world - the elements. From fiery phosphorous to the pure untarnished lustre of gold and the dazzle of violent, violet potassium, everything is made of elements - the earth we walk on, the air we breathe, even us. Yet for centuries this world was largely unknown, and completely misunderstood.

In this three-part series, professor of theoretical physics Jim Al-Khalili traces the extraordinary story of how the elements were discovered and mapped. He follows in the footsteps of the pioneers who cracked their secrets and created a new science, propelling us into the modern age.

Just 92 elements made up the world, but the belief that were only four - earth, fire, air and water - persisted until the 19th Century. Professor Al-Khalili retraces the footsteps of the alchemists who first began to question the notion of the elements in their search for the secret of everlasting life.

He reveals the red herrings and rivalries which dogged scientific progress, and explores how new approaches to splitting matter brought us both remarkable elements and the new science of chemistry.

13-Year-Old Saudi Girl Sentenced to 90 Lashes and Jail For Bringing a Cell Phone to School

January 21, 2010 on CNN with Jack Cafferty
From Daily Mail:

A 13-year-old Saudi schoolgirl is to be given 90 lashes in front of her classmates after she was caught with a mobile camera phone.

The girl, who has not been named, was also sentenced to two months in jail by a court in the eastern city of Jubail.

She had assaulted her headmistress after being caught with the gadget which is banned in girl schools, said Al-Watan, a Saudi newspaper. The kingdom's use of such punishments has been widely condemned by human rights organisations.

Three years ago 16 schoolchildren, aged between 12 and 18, were each sentenced to between 300 and 500 lashes for being aggressive to a teacher.
Read more

Trijicon Removes Bible References From Rifle Scopes

January 21, 2010 on MSNBC with Rachel Maddow

Steve Doocy On U.S. Military Bible Rifles: The Terrorists 'Started It'

January 21, 2010 on FOX News
From Huffington Post:

Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy came to the defense of a Michigan company, Trijicon, that has come under heavy criticism for selling the U.S. military weapons for use in Iraq and Afghanistan that are inscribed with secret Bible quotes. The inscriptions threaten to be a major public relations headache since the U.S. has gone out of its way to offer assurances that its operations in the Muslim world have nothing to do with Islam.

Doocy, however, doesn't see what the big deal is because the terrorists "started it."

Trijicon has announced that it will cease the practice and is offering its clients kits to remove existing inscriptions.

Christian TV Gets Rick Roll'd

(Thanks Ben)

The Meaning of Life with Gay Byrne | RTÉ One

link
January 17, 2010 on RTÉ One

Gay Byrne conducts a new series of interviews with public figures about their views on spirituality. Actor Gabriel Byrne discusses his struggle with depression and alcoholism.

(Thanks Sheryl)

Mr. Deity Speaks to Conan

by Mr. Deity

AHA President David Niose vs. Andrea Lafferty on the Alan Colmes Radio Show

David Niose, President of the American Humanist Association and Andrea Lafferty, Executive Director of the Traditional Values Coalition in heated debate over the AHA's advertising campaign

Geert Wilders on Trial

January 20, 2010 on Russia Today

The trial of a Dutch anti-islam politician charged with hate crimes has begun in Amsterdam. It is a landmark case testing the limits of free speech in the Netherlands. Geert Wilders has been charged with incitement of hatred and discrimination against Muslims. In his short film, Fitna, he compared the Koran to Hitler's Mein Kampf. Supporters of Mr Wilders have been demonstrating outside the Amsterdam court. If he loses he faces two years in prison.

Ireland's First Certified Atheist Interviewed on Newstalk Radio

Ken McCue has been officially certified an Atheist by the Vatican.

(via Atheist Ireland)

FOX Guest Defends Bible Verses on Military Weapons

January 19, 2010 on FOX & Friends

Hitler Reacts to the Global Atheist Convention

(via Pharyngula)

ABC Nightline: U.S. Military Weapons Inscribed With Secret 'Jesus' Bible Codes

January 18, 2010 on ABC News
(Thanks MVJ)

U.S. Military Rifle Scopes Inscribed With Bible Verses

Janauary 18, 2010 on MSNBC with Rachel Maddow
From ABC News:

Coded references to New Testament Bible passages about Jesus Christ are inscribed on high-powered rifle sights provided to the United States military by a Michigan company, an ABC News investigation has found.

The sights are used by U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and in the training of Iraqi and Afghan soldiers. The maker of the sights, Trijicon, has a $660 million multi-year contract to provide up to 800,000 sights to the Marine Corps, and additional contracts to provide sights to the U.S. Army.

U.S. military rules specifically prohibit the proselytizing of any religion in Iraq or Afghanistan and were drawn up in order to prevent criticism that the U.S. was embarked on a religious "Crusade" in its war against al Qaeda and Iraqi insurgents.
Read more

Christopher Hitchens on Mother Teresa

See also: 'Hell's Angel: Mother Teresa' by Christopher Hitchens

Mexican Church Holds Pet Blessing Ceremony

January 18, 2010 on ITN News

Pet owners have turned up at a church at Mexico City to have their animals blessed by the priest.

"It's so Cold, there can't be Global Warming"

by Peter Sinclair

The Secret Life of Chaos

Play all videos (6)

Chaos theory has a bad name, conjuring up images of unpredictable weather, economic crashes and science gone wrong. But there is a fascinating and hidden side to Chaos, one that scientists are only now beginning to understand.

It turns out that chaos theory answers a question that mankind has asked for millennia - how did we get here?

In this documentary, Professor Jim Al-Khalili sets out to uncover one of the great mysteries of science - how does a universe that starts off as dust end up with intelligent life? How does order emerge from disorder?

It's a mindbending, counterintuitive and for many people a deeply troubling idea. But Professor Al-Khalili reveals the science behind much of beauty and structure in the natural world and discovers that far from it being magic or an act of God, it is in fact an intrinsic part of the laws of physics. Amazingly, it turns out that the mathematics of chaos can explain how and why the universe creates exquisite order and pattern.

The natural world is full of awe-inspiring examples of the way nature transforms simplicity into complexity. From trees to clouds to humans - after watching this film you'll never be able to look at the world in the same way again.

(via Atheist Planet)

Jesus Got In My Grilled Cheese Sandwich

by SMBC Theater
(via Friendly Atheist)

BBC Horizon: Why Do Viruses Kill?

Play all videos (6)
Aired January 16, 2010 on BBC Two

Just months ago, the world stood in fear of an emerging new disease that threatened to kill millions. A new flu variant H1N1 had arrived. In the UK alone, 65,000 deaths were predicted. Yet to date, these dire warnings have not materialised.

If this latest pandemic has taught anything, it is just how little is understood about the invisible world of viruses. But that has not stopped scientists trying.

Horizon follows the leading researchers from across the world, who are attempting to unravel the many secrets of viruses to understand when and why they kill.

Sudanese Journalist: Tens of Thousands of Women Arrested Because of Their Clothing

Aired December 17, 2009 on Al-Mihwar TV (Egypt)

Lubna Al-Hussein, Sudanese Journalist Sentenced to Lashing for Wearing Pants: There Were Dozens of Thousands of Women Like Me.

The Orangutan and the Hound

(Thanks Todd)

Hindu Godman Trampling on Infants to "Bless" Them

Sanal Edamaruku speaks about a shocking and dangerous ritual in Bihar. A godman tramples on infants to bless them. Parents bring their children for this blessing. The parliament member from this area, a minister and a top priest defend the ritual in the name of religion and tradition. Two days after this TV interview, the godman was arrested and this ritual ended.

(via Unreasonable Faith)

Daily Show: Haiti Earthquake Reactions

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Haiti Earthquake Reactions
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

January 14, 2010 on Comedy Central
Viewers in Canada click here

Rush Limbaugh complains that Obama will benefit from the earthquake in Haiti, and Pat Robertson blames the tragedy on a deal with the devil.

Father Knows Best How To Dodge Good Questions on God, Hell, and Free Will

January 15, 2010 on FOX News with Fr. Jonathan Morris
See also: How Did Adam & Eve's Kids Have Kids?

Children's Guide to Religion

by Blasphemy Channel

BBC Horizon: The Secret Life of the Dog

Play all videos (6)
Aired January 7, 2010 on BBC Two

We have an extraordinary relationship with dogs - closer than with any other animal on the planet. But what makes the bond between us so special?

Research into dogs is gaining momentum, and scientists are investigating them like never before. From the latest fossil evidence, to the sequencing of the canine genome, to cognitive experiments, dogs are fast turning into the new chimps as a window into understanding ourselves.

Where does this relationship come from? In Siberia, a unique breeding experiment reveals the astonishing secret of how dogs evolved from wolves. Swedish scientists demonstrate how the human/dog bond is controlled by a powerful hormone also responsible for bonding mothers to their babies.

Why are dogs so good at reading our emotions? Horizon meets Betsy, the world's most intelligent dog, and compares her incredible abilities to those of children. Man's best friend has recently gone one step further - helping us identify genes responsible for causing human diseases.

(via RichardDawkins.net)

Hindus Visit the Ganges For Spiritual Cleansing

January 14, 2010 on Al-Jazeera English

Thousands of Hindu pilgrims have braved a winter chill by taking a dip in the Ganges River.

The ritual, which is celebrated every three years and rotates to four different Indian cities, carries one of the world's largest religious congregations.

In the first part of the Kumbh Mela or Pitcher Festival, Hindus gather in the city of Haridwar, located in the northern Himalayas.

They believe the ritual bath washes away all sins and more than 50 million devotees from India and abroad are expected to arrive for a spiritual cleansing over the next few weeks.

Haitian Ambassador Responds to Pat Robertson‎

January 13, 2010 on MSNBC
(via Cynical-C Blog)

Thank God for Andy Choudary

by Pat Condell

Beck Asks Palin About God's Role in Her Life, Country

January 13, 2010 on FOX News

AP: Pat Robertson Calls Quake 'Blessing in Disguise'

January 13, 2010 on AP

TV Evangelist Pat Robertson made some unusual observations about the Haiti earthquake on his CBN newscast Wednesday, calling the quake a possible blessing and saying the Haitian people are cursed.

Pat Robertson Blames Haiti's "Pact To The Devil" For Catastrophe

January 13, 2010 on the Christian Broadcasting Network

PAT ROBERTSON: And, you know, Kristi, something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, "We will serve you if you will get us free from the French." True story. And so, the devil said, "OK, it's a deal."

And they kicked the French out. You know, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other. Desperately poor. That island of Hispaniola is one island. It's cut down the middle. On the one side is Haiti; on the other side is the Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, et cetera. Haiti is in desperate poverty. Same island. They need to have and we need to pray for them a great turning to God. And out of this tragedy, I'm optimistic something good may come. But right now, we're helping the suffering people, and the suffering is unimaginable.

KRISTI WATTS (co-host): Absolutely, Pat.

(via Media Matters)

Hundreds of Thousands Feared Dead in Haiti

January 13, 2010

Haitians are piling bodies along the devastated streets of their capital after a powerful earthquake flattened buildings across the capital.

How To Help Haiti’s Earthquake Victims

Scott Roeder: Killing Dr. Tiller Was Justified

January 12, 2010 on CBS News
Times:

A judge in Kansas has sparked uproar by permitting a confessed murderer to argue that he was justified in killing an abortion doctor.

Scott Roeder, 51, an airport shuttle bus driver with a history of schizophrenia, admitted that he shot George Tiller in the head at the start of a church service in Wichita in May.

Roeder claimed that the killing was justified because Dr Tiller — nicknamed “Tiller the Baby Killer” by anti-abortion activists — was one of only four doctors in America willing to perform late-term abortions.

In court papers filed yesterday defence lawyers said: “In the mind of Mr Roeder the victim presented a clear danger to unborn children.”
Read more

James Randi Speaks About His Chemotherapy Treatment

by JREF

Muslim Protestors Against UK Soldiers Undeterred by Court Verdict

January 11, 2010 on ITV News

Mr. Deity and the Hard Wire

by Mr. Deity

The head of R&D explains the limitations of the human brain to Mr. Deity and Lucy.

FOX News: Constitution Guarantees Freedom "Because We Are Created in God's Image"

January 11, 2010 on FOX News with Judge Andrew Napolitano

Groundbreaking Gay Marriage Trial Starts in California

January 11, 2010 on AP

The first federal trial to determine if the U.S. Constitution prohibits states from outlawing same-sex marriage got under way Monday. The proceedings involve a challenge to Proposition 8, the gay marriage ban approved by California voters.

UAE Sheikh Cleared in Videotaped Torture Case

January 10, 2010 on CNN

CNN's Stan Grant interviews the lawyer for Sheik Issa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who has been cleared of all charges against him.

Update: An extended report from Al-Jazeera

Special Investigation - Evolution

by NonStampCollector

32,000 Leading Scientists Signed a Petition Against Global Warming?

by Peter Sinclair

Low - Murderer

Low performs a track off their album "Drums and Guns"
Lyrics:

One more thing before I go
One more thing I’ll ask you Lord
You may need a murderer
Someone to do your dirty work

Don’t act so innocent
I’ve seen you pound your fist into the earth
And I’ve read your book
It seems that you could use another fool
Well I’m cruel
And I look right through

You must have more important things to do
So if you need a murderer
Someone to do your dirty work

(via Unreasonable Faith)

One on One: Richard Dawkins | Al-Jazeera

Play all videos (2)
January 9, 2010 on Al-Jazeera English with Riz Khan

Storm Movie - Tim Minchin: The Official Trailer

The Official Trailer of the animation of the popular beat poem by Tim Minchin. Copyright Storm Movie, all rights reserved. www.stormmovie.net Written and Performed by Tim Minchin. Director - DC Turner. Lead Animator - Fraser Davidson. Producer - Tracy King

(via Unreasonable Faith)

Stephen Baldwin vs. Richard Dawkins: Why Are There Still Chimpanzees?

Stephen Baldwin recently posed an interesting point against Evolution on Celebrity Big Brother UK 2010. So what would Richard Dawkins say in defence of Evolution? Lets find out.

(via Bad Religion)

XTC: Dear God

*Repost

Sir David Attenborough on Science & Religion

See also: Sir David Attenborough on God

Nature Video: Walking with Tetrapods

The fossilized remains of 395-million-year-old footprints in Poland have turned back the clock on the evolution of four-legged creatures, or tetrapods. The finds, reported this week in Nature, are 18 million years older than the earliest confirmed tetrapod fossils.

RDF TV - "Teach the Controversy" - A.C. Grayling

Philosopher A.C. Grayling explains why "Teaching the Controversy" isn't a good approach to science education, whether it's regarding Evolution, Astronomy or Medicine.

If you enjoy content like this, please consider helping with our RDF fundraiser by donating here:
http://fundraiser.richarddawkins.net/

Visit A.C. Grayling's website at:
http://acgrayling.com/

From RichardDawkins.net

Is Google Censoring Islam Suggestions?

From Wired:

Confused about what is Islam is? Join the party — it seems Google can’t figure it out either. Or, at least its search suggestion program can’t.

If you type, “Buddhism is” or “Christianity is,” Google will quickly show you suggestions for what it thinks you might be trying to type. In the former query’s case, the Google guesses “not a religion,” “wrong,” “not what you think.” Christianity gets tougher treatment with the suggestions “bullshit” and “not a religion.”picture-1

But the query “Islam is”? Not a thing comes to mind for Google to suggest. (Search results are still there, of course.)

It’s enough to get some to conclude Google is censoring itself, perhaps as a result of complaints for suggestions that one guesses are just as flattering as those for other faiths.

But Google says it’s just a software problem.

“This is a bug and we’re working to fix it as quickly as we can,” a Google spokesman told Wired.com.

The suggestion feature relies on your previous searches and searches from users globally. Google says it filters out “pornographic terms, dirty words, and hate and violence terms.”
Read More

Prehistoric Footprint Rewrites History

January 7, 2010 on ITN News:

A prehistoric footprint left by an ancestor of the dinosaurs could lead to a radical change in theories of how animals evolved.

Polish scientists have discovered footprints left by a four-legged animal called a tetrapod 397 million years ago in the Swietokrzyskie mountains in southern Poland.

The footprints, left by a creature about 2.5m long, are 18 million years older than the earliest known examples of fossilised bones of tetrapods.

According to existing fossil evidence it was thought that tetrapods diverged from the group of large fish called the elpistostegalians around 387 million years ago, but the new discovery turns this theory on its head.

At the time the footprints were made, the region was a seashore, whereas previous fossil findings of four-limbed vertebrates have been in river deltas and lakes.

The seashore could have been a tempting source of new food for ocean-dwelling animals and eventually tempted them to walk on land.

Lewis Wolpert vs. Russell Cowburn: What does science tell us about God?

November 8, 2009 at Gunnersbury Baptist Church

Professor Lewis Wolpert is Emeritus Professor of Biology at University College London. Professor Russell Cowburn is Chair of Nanotechnology at Imperial College.

Symphony of Science - 'The Unbroken Thread' (ft. Attenborough, Goodall, Sagan)

(via Pharyngula)

Survivor Credits "God's Grace" After Being Rescued By US Coast Guard and Navy

January 6, 2010 ON FOX News

reddit.com Interviews Christopher Hitchens

Christopher Hitchens answers the top questions from reddit.com.

See questions

Daily Show: What's the Best Religion for Tiger Woods?

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The Best F**king News Team Ever - Tiger Woods' Faith
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

January 4, 2010 on The Daily Show
Viewers in Canada can watch it here

The Best F**king News Team helps Tiger Woods find forgiveness by recommending the best religion for redemption.

(via Gotcha Media)

Woman Sees Jesus In Her Bruise

January 1, 2010 on ABC News
(Thanks Mike)

Pat Robertson Praises Brit Hume

January 5, 2010 on the Christian Broadcasting Network

Vilayanur Ramachandran: The Neurons That Shaped Civilization

Filmed Nov 2009; Posted Jan 2010 on TED

Neuroscientist Vilayanur Ramachandran outlines the fascinating functions of mirror neurons. Only recently discovered, these neurons allow us to learn complex social behaviors, some of which formed the foundations of human civilization as we know it.

Brit Hume Tells O'Reilly That He Wasn't Proselytizing - Then Goes On To Proselytize Again

January 4, 2010 on The O'Reilly Factor

Keith Olbermann and Dan Savage on Brit Hume's Evangelizing of Tiger Woods

January 4, 2010 on MSNBC

Pastor Says Barack Obama is Pure Evil

(via Cynical-C Blog)

'Atheist' Nations Are More Peaceful

Brit Hume: Tiger Woods Must Become Christian To Be Forgiven

January 3, 2010 on FOX News Sunday

The Big Questions: Do Miracles Happen?

Play all videos (2)
Aired January 3, 2010 on BBC One

Danish Police Shoot Cartoonist Attacker

January 2, 2010 on ITN News

Man shot by Danish police as he tries to enter home of controversial cartoonist who depicted Prophet Mohammed with bomb turban.
Read more

Danish Paper: Obama Is Greater Than Jesus

January 1, 2010 on FOX News' Red Eye

The Richard Dawkins - Thunderf00t Discussion

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Greek Battle Over Religious Symbols In Schools

The head of the Greek Orthodox Church has warned the country's new socialist government that it faces a major battle over removing religious symbols from schools.

The European Court in Strasbourg has ordered Italy to take down crucifixes from its classrooms, and Greece's justice minister has acknowledged that it may have to follow suit.

Read more:

• Greek Church acts on crucifix ban - BBC News
• Human rights ruling against classroom crucifixes angers Italy - Guardian

Thanks to TreVelocita

Foundation Beyond Belief

FoundationBeyondBelief.org

A charitable and educational foundation created to focus, encourage, and demonstrate the generosity and compassion of atheists and humanists.

Members sign up for automatic monthly donations in the amount of their choice and distribute them across ten categories of giving. Every three months, all donations are forwarded to the charities and a new slate is selected.

Members can research, debate, and nominate charities through an online forum and social network.

The Foundation also helps build and support local secular parenting communities.

(via Friendly Atheist)

Richard Saunders vs. Astrologer Milton Black

Australian Skeptics
(Thanks Bryce)