RationalWiki:What is going on in the world?/May 2015

May 2015
Nigeria bans female genital mutilation. On Martin O'Malley's religion. "Americans Continue to Shift Left on Key Moral Issues". Related: Nebraska is the first conservative state to ban the death penalty in 40 years, over the governor's veto and Idaho's 20-week abortion ban is ruled unconstitutional. The clown car can never get too full. Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act expires. [http://io9.com/i-fooled-millions-into-thinking-chocolate-helps-weight-1707251800 I Fooled Millions Into Thinking Chocolate Helps Weight Loss. Here's How] The thing about libertarianism is that we already tried it. Sixteen tons, and what do you get? Not wanting the GOP to have all the primary fun, former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley has just launched his bid to secure the Democratic nomination for president. The human heart can taste bitterness. Who knew? Russia goes after grammar Nazis Not The Onion Fewer white Christians in Ohio, other key political states. Albertan creationist discovers new species of 60 million year old fish. Very important find, as fossils from this time period are rare, so knowing what types of species were around right after the dinosaurs mostly died off could give some more insight as to the conditions of the Earth at this time. Hasidic Jews in North London call women driving their children to school immodest Man loses job, drinks, and lies in bed with a knife. Girlfriend wants him taken to a hospital, and calls non-emergency dispatch. You know the rest. At this point, EA is clearly just trolling the gators. Teens are fleeing religion like never before: Massive new study exposes religion’s decline. “Unlike previous studies, ours is able to show that millennials’ lower religious involvement is due to cultural change, not to millennials being young and unsettled.” George Pataki has decided to do the en vogue thing and seek the Republican nomination to run for president. (If, like most Americans, you're scratching your head: he's a former governor of New York.) Rand Paul: Republican War Hawks created ISIS. Frothy Bottom decides to have another go at the circus. Surely FIFA isn't bent! (Much!) Homophobic troll banished from Twitter. And there was much rejoicing. NASA announces a mission to Europa. Vatican Bank Profits Soar As Recovery, Reform Continue Josh Duggar has two more supporters: Ray Comfort (because Josh wasn't really a Christian when he diddled those little girls) and Eric Hovind ("because what one evolved bag of molecules does to another bag of molecules just doesn’t really matter.") Then again, we are talking about people who believe the world was populated - twice - via incest. France and Germany do the only sensible thing, after Dave Cameron has won his election, agreeing to propose closer eurozone ties at the very EU summit at which Cameron seeks to bring forth his demands for looser treaties. John Nash, game theorist with a beautiful mind, has been killed in a motor vehicle accident. An update to the Duggar sex scandal, Huckabee-appointed judge Stacy Zimmerman orders the case report against Josh Duggar to be destroyed, because one of the victims had filed for it in court in order to protect her identity. The people have spoken. The Irish have voted overwhelmingly in favour of marriage equality. "We don't give a shit about this or any of you." Did Chris Christie just announce he's not running for President? Josh Duggar, member of the entirely too large Duggar family and former executive director of FRC Action, is accused of molesting at least five minors, including his sisters. Update: And The Huckster himself has come out in support of the family while saying the media is "sensationalizing" the story. How the Duggars homeschooled their children about sexual abuse. Additionally, the faith healer (and family friend) who counseled Josh quit the center he ran, amid allegations he'd molested more than 30 young girls. Chinese translation app looks into the souls of Republicans – in pictures The TPP passes in the Senate with strong Republican support. Though the Tea Party and House Democrats may not pass it. DAESH has captured the ancient city of Palmyra. There are no reports of destruction as of yet. The links between religious beliefs and acceptance of evolution and climate change - charted. "Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, sounds like a Republican candidate for president." Five of the world's largest banks are to pay fines for manipulating the foreign exchange market. House Democrats introduce bill to ban gay conversion therapy, while 60% of Americans support marriage equality. Former congressional candidate admits plot to massacre local Muslims. After Louisiana's legislators shot down the proposed "hate the gays, because Jesus" law, Bobby Jindal is pushing through his own version, via executive order. 1,400 people, including 135 media personalities, 76 politicians and 43 musicians, under investigation for kiddy-fiddling in the UK. Once again, Grindr is the undoing of a man who made a living attacking homosexuals' rights. "Indonesian Military Chief Defends 'Virginity Tests' For Female Recruits" The Ireland vote on marriage equality begins. Eating the wrong shellfish could give you temporary amnesia. We expect people will use Leviticus 11:12 for fearmongering very soon. Bill O'Reilly accused of domestic violence in child custody battle In the latest from the Clown Car of Candidates, Ben Carson says he only passed his College Chemistry final exam because God gave him the answers, and Jeb Bush has no problem with refusing to serve gay couples on religious grounds. "Satanic Temple abortion battle may become class action, lawyer says" Illinois House resoundingly rejects right-to-work legislation, 76 no, 37 present, 0 yes (out of 118). When will white community leaders speak out against this sort of white-on-white gang violence that is tearing the European-American community apart? If only these disaffected people, who probably grew up without strong father figures, would dress normally and stay in school. The US Navy begins policy of discrimination against goats.

While Syrian forces push DAESH away from Palmyra, US special forces assassinate a senior commander, take his wife captive, and free their Yazidi slave. A new low for UKIP as one of their protest group infiltrators is accused of encouraging and committing vandalism so the party could complain the election was unfair. Not to be outdone by Kansas, Wisconsin Republicans ban food stamp recipients from buying ketchup, soup, pickles, canned peas, imported cheese, tuna, rice, any type of spice, and many other foods. Irish referendum to establish same-sex marriage in two weeks. 78% (+/- 1%) support it. The referendum is the first countrywide referendum to establish same-sex marriage rights in the world. A Texas bill would have prevented Texas from spending money to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Texas Democrats "chub"ed it to death. BB King dead. Spurred by a poll of its users and several high-profile cases on the Internet, Reddit has implemented a new anti-harassment policy. Some users are expressing anger over it, claiming it's too vague, stifling of free speech, or merely an advertising ploy. House Republicans approve a bill banning most late term abortion. John Bolton will not be running for president in 2016. No one can take free speech away from sexist slease-bags, but more and more are paying a steep price for their asshatry. Canadian employee and FHRITP heckler fired from high paying job for harassing and sexually trash talking a female reporter. Trying to impress friends through YouTube, he is now plastered on the internet with his name synonomous with dumbass. Pope Francis has officially recognized Palestine. British Prime Minister David Cameron declares "For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'.". Fears of another civil war rise in Macedonia after a battle breaks out with ethnic Albanians. Following weeks of protests against an unconstitutional third term election bid, a coup attempt against Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza has been launched, with Army General Godefroid Nyombare already claiming success. A spokesperson for Nkurunziza has dismissed the announcement as "a joke". California court rules that abstinence-only sex education is "medically inaccurate" and therefore unlawful under state law. "O’Reilly: Secular Growth in U.S. Could Lead Us to Collapse Like the Roman Empire". "Third atheist blogger in Bangladesh hacked to death by radical Islamists AQIS". Remember when scientists used to burn people at the stake for disagreeing with objectively verifiable facts? No, us neither. But Sen. Elbert Guillory (R-LA) does Shell is now allowed to drill in the Arctic Ocean Senate Dems block fast track of the Trans-Pacific Partnership treaty. Psychologist: Will RM8,750 Islamic ‘anti-hysteria kit’ work for everyone? NCLB-like requirements that schools improve test scores hurts actual student learning A black man in Georgia has been found hanged. "Behind America's seismic shifts on transgenderism, loving parents". The BBC reminds us how ineffective impersonation is compared to other forms of vote fraud. George Zimmerman shot in the face during a road rage incident. Reportedly minor injuries. Bush (Jeb this time) thinks the War in Iraq was a good idea. Focus on the Family's James Dobson blames women for baiting their husbands into beating them. For this mother's day, advocate for paternity leave. John Oliver talks about family leave. Congress declares that they have 'Congressional privilege' on investigations on insider trading and the FEC won't be able to control corruption in the upcoming election, but don't worry you couldn't vote them out even if you wanted to. And now for something to lighten the mood from our usual depressing discourse of idiocracy - Prince Harry at the pub, and slumming it overnight

A University of Western Australia cost-benefit analysis concludes that Bjørn Lomborg's centre for cost-benefit analyses is not worth hosting (despite Tony Abbott's assistance). He should be pleased. "Jobless rate at 7-year low as US gains 223,000 jobs in April".

Homosexual and bisexual youth more likely to be bullied, even before they determine their sexual identity. Former 15-year-old Canadian Citizen Cuban Disneyland detainee SuperLegitimately Convicted terrrrrrrrrorist Omar Khadr is now out on bail after 13 years. CBC perspective. Totally rational and completely sane point of view. Maclean's Magazine POV with a pretty damned good perspective on scapegoating. Fallout from the 2015 UK elections: Ed Milliband (Labour), Nick Clegg (Lib Dems) and Nigel Farage (UKIP) have resigned as their respective parties' leaders. TL;DR: the Tories won a majority. Update: Farage stays. Stephen Colbert funds every DonorsChoose.org project in his home state of South Carolina, to the tune of approximately $800,000. The Al-Qaeda leader who claimed responsibility for the Charlie Hebdo attacks has been killed Your phone data doesn't belong to you. Je suis insulté: Despite the controversy, officials of Granby, Quebec have expanded regulations banning insulting police or municipal officials to the Internet and social media. (Malgré la controverse, les élus de la Ville de Granby au Québec ont modifié leur règlement sur les injures envers la police ou les employés municipaux pour l'appliquer à Internet et aux réseaux sociaux.) NSA Bulk surveillance deemed unauthorised by U.S. court. Terror-bill: Canadian Anti-Terrorism Bill C-51 passes in House of Commons. Nebraska woman sues all homosexuals for breaking "religious and moral laws". Asks secular court to declare homosexuality a sin.........seriously! UPDATE: Thrown out on grounds of "plaintiff filing the suit was not God’s spokesman." Iran bans "homosexual" and "devil-worshipping" hairstyles An aide to California's attorney-general and two accomplices arrested for running a rogue police force they claimed was 3,000 years old, had jurisdiction in 33 states, and was descended from the Knights Templar. BONUS link: The Masonic Police website. "IRS Is Sued For Investigating Churches". "Entire Bible being read aloud on US Capitol steps".

Alberta's New Democratic Party wrests the most conservative province in Canada from the Tories. Jump for joy! Supreme Court rejects appeal of gay conversion therapy ban. Another UKIP MP candidate has been suspended, just two days before the General Election. This time candidate "Blay" was recorded by the press attacking his Conservative rival's father for being a hard-working accountant benefit-sponging Tamil refugee (Tamil apparently being the worse of the two), and then threatening to murder his rival should he become Prime Minister. Rubella has been officially eradicated from the Americas. So everyone please get the fucking MMR vaccine so it doesn't come back! Saudi-led coalition drops U.S.-made cluster bombs in Yemen. Failed Christian shoe promoter makes anti-gay first-person shooter. Mike Huckabee decides to have another try for the top job. A majority of Americans believe that wealth should be redistributed by taxing the rich. "Supreme Court justices appear divided on gay marriage".

GOP-led house overturns DC law, thus allowing employers to fire women for using birth control. And because it's DC, if the Senate passes it, Obama can't veto. Two Islamists tried to shoot up a "Muhammad Art Exhibit and Cartoon Contest" in Texas, police shot them dead. By the by: The event was organized by Pamela Geller and Geert Wilders was there, too Native Hawaiian panel withdraws support for the Mauna Kea volcano Thirty-Meter Telescope in response to weeks of religious protests, further delaying construction of the project. Just days before the General Election and a UKIP candidate has already been suspended for controversial comments regarding the White extinction hypothesis in South Africa and Europe, and possibly antisemitic comments regarding how a number of Jewish politicians with "divided loyalties" are destroying Europe. He insists these were political comments about liberals with no racial suggestions intended. UPDATE on the Freddy Gray situation : All six officers involved in the incident are now facing criminal charges ranging from 2nd degree murder to assault and false imprisonment. Claims that Gray was carrying an illegal switchblade have also been found to be false.