RationalWiki:What is going on in the world?/September 2008

September 2008
New research from Harvard suggests the "Bradley effect" might have disappeared in the last decade. John McCain's firewall might be in jeopardy. 10 Trillion Turkish Lira to anyone who can find an intermediate-form fossil! Of course, all you have to do is convince a crazy (muslim) creationist that what you have is an "intermediate-form" fossil, and then hope he doesn't change his definition of what one is. But we're sure he's honourable, just as we're sure he has 10 trillion Lira hidden under his mattress to give away. Coming soon: Rationalwiki's Pi Gazillion dollar challenge to prove there isn't a china teapot orbiting the sun.  Dayton area mosque attacked with "chemical irritant" 2 days after a "be afraid of those muslims... be very afraid" DVD goes out from the McCain camp Clarion Fund.  Here we go again, a Brunswick school board in North Carolina is seeking a way to teach creationism in the class room. Keep an eye out, we may have our next Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District. Give me some of that old time religion! Tony Alamo after being arrested for child sexual abuse charges: "In the Bible it happened. But girls today, I don't marry 'em if they want to at 14-15 years old. Because we won't do it, even though I believe it's OK."  More religious leaders willfully breaking the law. Will the IRS revoke their tax exempt status? Bring on the Neil Young jokes - world's oldest rocks found in Canada. Another naughty vicar (in Wales this time). Anglican archbishop John Sentamu condemns financial speculators as "bank robbers" - he should have looked more carefully at his own church. Financial crisis: McCain blinks Something is tugging at our universe from beyond our universe. Crazy stuff Hey all you bible thumpers out there, starve yourself for forty days! If you do, God will be happy and will prevent a minorty from gaining equal rights. Many may find socialistic tendencies in Google's 10100 project. You're only supposed to help those with wealth and power to get more wealth and power. The spirit of Schlaflyism is alive and well in Manchester apparently. Fresh from investigating the vandalism on Conservapedia, the FBI turns it sights to Wall Street News Hounds -- "We watch FOX so you don't have to." Too much content here to single out just one entry. <vote poll=world285 closed="yes">Wonder of wonders! MSN not only posted their own article about voter caging, they linked to it on their home page. <vote poll=world284 closed="yes">Now we've seen everything, an honourable business man. Still, $22 million for four months work, that had to be mighty tempting. <vote poll=world283 closed="yes">[http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2008/09/19/2368908.htm?site=science&topic=latest This. Explains. Everything!] <vote poll=world282 closed="yes">The last two major US investment banks crumble into dust. <vote poll=world281 closed="yes">A fine display of open Government; see section eight. <vote poll=world280 closed="yes">Once again, a so called "Christian church" is exposed as a hotbed of pedophilia. <vote poll=world279 closed="yes">Arch-Henchman Dick Cheney has been maneuvering to hide the actions of the Bush/Cheney Presidency from history, but a judge has overruled his attempt to wipe the slate clean. <vote poll=world278 closed="yes">Ah, the new fall movie release schedule is out, where the fundies unveil their new censorship campaigns. <vote poll=world277 closed="yes">Guess those close-minded scientists aren't the only ones to be fooled by a clever hoax <vote poll=world276 closed="yes">The Southern Baptist Convention is censoring a religious magazine. Its crime? It dared to cover female preachers in a positive way. The bastards <vote poll=world275 closed="yes">Now THIS is a church I could make time for on Sunday mornings. <vote poll=world275 closed="yes">A Scientologist running for the Senate. Good luck with that. <vote poll=world274 closed="yes">Conservatives frighten easily. We could have a lot of fun with this <vote poll=world273 closed="yes">The "liberal" America media reports that Democratic candidates are avoiding Obama. Meanwhile, the British press reports that not only has the Palin!!! - (McCain) campaign peaked, but that Caribou Barbie's "strong anti-abortion views and withering put-downs of Mr Obama seem to have galvanized Democrats."  Hmmm. Who to believe? <vote poll=world272 closed="yes">Today it is... ahem *hack**cough*, Today, it be International Talk Like A Pirate Day for all piratical goodness. It be manditory to talk like a pirate, except if yee be conservative. Yarrgh. <vote poll=world271 closed="yes">Forget about firearms. Buy yourself a defensive weapon of vacuum <vote poll=world270 closed="yes">Have YOU voted at the PBS poll on whether Palin is fit to be VP? <vote poll=world269 closed="yes">While the dumbasses neo-cons filibuster about the strength of the economy, others say that this is the worst financial crisis since the '30s. <vote poll=world268 closed="yes">The Vatican says that evolution is compatible with the Bible, though wasn't going to apologize to Darwin. In other news, a Vatican sponsored gathering about the evolution debate will not include any creationists or intelligent designers.Jesuit Father Marc Leclerc, a philosophy professor at the Gregorian, told Catholic News Service Sept. 16 that organizers "wanted to create a conference that was strictly scientific" and that discussed rational philosophy and theology along with the latest scientific discoveries. He said arguments "that cannot be critically defined as being science, or philosophy or theology did not seem feasible to include in a dialogue at this level and, therefore, for this reason we did not think to invite" supporters of creationism and intelligent design. <vote poll=world267 closed="yes">Lynn Forester de Rothschild, Hillary Clinton supporter, multinational coporate CEO, New York/London commuter, and wife of international banker - Sir Evelyn Rothschild, is supporting John McCain because she thinks Barack Obama is an "elitist". <vote poll=world266 closed="yes">Michael Reiss resigns from The Royal Society after basically retelling its own official position on creationism. <vote poll=world265 closed="yes">MSNBC story: "Alaska AG: Palin subpoenas won't be honored."  But the real story may be that Attorney General Talis Colberg (a Palin appointee) said that state employees are being asked to choose between their respect for the Legislature and their loyalty to the governor. <vote poll=world264 closed="yes">"Former congressional aide ruled unfit for trial." Why? Because "(a) psychiatrist called by prosecutors testified at a hearing on Monday that (the former aide) was unfit to stand trial as she had a delusional optimism about her chances of winning the case." I bet even George Orwell would be surprised by that. <vote poll=world263 closed="yes">Not only did Al Gore invent the internet... John McCain created the BlackBerry! <vote poll=world262 closed="yes">"Professor Michael Reiss has quit as director of education at the Royal Society following the controversy over his recent comments on creationism." bbc (see earlier WIGOW) <vote poll=world261 closed="yes">I swear Grandpa I didn't toush your whiskey! <vote poll=world260 closed="yes">Sharia law quietly moves into the UK. Actually, no it doesn't, but thanks for playing! <vote poll=world259 closed="yes">Anglican Church admits it owes an apology to Darwin. <vote poll=world258 closed="yes">The Institute of Creation research publishes article on Loch Ness Monster sighting! <vote poll=world257 closed="yes">The Royal Society decides it time educators discussed with students why creationism has no merit. <vote poll=world256 closed="yes">Even Karl Rove thinks McCain's 'Lipstick' ad was waaay out of line. <vote poll=world255 closed="yes">Oh, uhm, right, yes, Sarah Palin didn't actually go to Iraq, no, now that you mention it, no, she, uhm, didn't.  Sorry. <vote poll=world254 closed="yes">Even The Pope of Capitalism disagrees with McCain's economic policy. Also, more edumacahsun puhleez <vote poll=world253 closed="yes">[http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14756748 My naked weapon of gun is out. Quarrel, I will back thee!] <vote poll=world252 closed="yes">After Evo Morales accuses the U.S. ambassador of aiding violent protests in Bolivia and expells him, Hugo Chávez copycats the move in Venezuela. <vote poll=world251 closed="yes">Scientists 1, Crazy nutjobs 1 <vote poll=world250 closed="yes">One for Genghis Kant: Goats working on city of Los Angeles project. <vote poll=world249 closed="yes">Learn all about the Large Hadron Collider though the unlikely medium of rap. <vote poll=world248 closed="yes">A jury considers global warming such a threat that it acquits coal-power protesters. <vote poll=world247 closed="yes">Un-ethical oil officals? Now I have seen everything! <vote poll=world246 closed="yes">McCain campaign's cheap shot ad, which linked two random comments that included the word 'lipstick' has an EPIC PHAIL as it included a Katie Couric quote, so CBS had the ad pulled for copyright violation. <vote poll=world245 closed="yes">Scientists 1, Crazy nutjobs 0 <vote poll=world244 closed="yes"> Imprisoned goats given their freedom in Congo. <vote poll=world243 closed="yes">So sick and wrong, I don't even know what to think. While mayor, Palin was aware of and endorsed charging rape victims for the "rape kit", an essential part of the investigation. (Note: tracking down the original articles). <vote poll=world242 closed="yes">Schlafly has it back to front, it's not atheism that gives kids mental problems. <vote poll=world241 closed="yes"> Obama and McCain keep tradition alive by politicizing the anniversary of 9/11.

<vote poll=world240 closed="yes">Troy Davis' execution has been schedule for September 23rd, and his clemency hearing is on the 11th. Please help save him. <vote poll=world239 closed="yes">What harm can a 14 year-old, a bot and 4 hours to kill do to a wiki? Find out here. It takes a while to load the 4000 changes <vote poll=world238 closed="yes">Free market embarassing PHAIL. <vote poll=world237 closed="yes">Perhaps Palin isn't utterly beloved by evangelicals after all? <vote poll=world236 closed="yes">Obama answers the Science Debate questions. And McCain nominates a creationist. <vote poll=world235 closed="yes">R.I.P. <vote poll=world234 closed="yes">And in local news: Molesting kids, not just for Catholics anymore. Who knew we had Mormons in the UK too? <vote poll=world233 closed="yes">A study re-confirms that autism and the MMR vaccine are not linked, yet we always have to hear the opposing point of view. <vote poll=world232 closed="yes">STOP THE PRESSES!!!!! The Republicans have been playing fast and loose with the truth during their convention. We at Rationalwiki are shocked. <vote poll=world231 closed="yes">When the speech of a Vice-Presidential candidate is said to be "reminiscent of Ronald Reagan", that shouldn't be taken as a compliment. Apparently, these people believe it is. <vote poll=world230 closed="yes">Ben Stein on Sarah Palin: "She scares me" <vote poll=world229 closed="yes">Goats to play major role in upcoming Angolan election. <vote poll=world228 closed="yes">Girls! Avoid the faux pas and stick to the recorder. <vote poll=world227 closed="yes">As if an evangelical, anti-choice Republican VP candidate's daughter getting pregnant at 17 wasn't ironic enough, McCain and Palin each have opposed funding for teen-pregnancy programs. And they thought they'd have a hard time getting the media spotlight off of Palin... <vote poll=world226 closed="yes">Ron Paul's Rally for the Republic is being streamed live! <vote poll=world225 closed="yes">And who said Americans couldn't stage a fucking protest? <vote poll=world224 closed="yes">Unfortunately for the new evangelical Republican party Vice Presidential nominee, it seems abstinence education didn't help maintain her 17 year-old daughter's virginal sanctity. Incidentally, pro-lifers are lauding her for making the choice decision to keep the child. <vote poll=world223 closed="yes"> Hurricane Gustav rains on the Republicans' parade. Poetic justice or meteorological omen? You decide. <vote poll=world222 closed="yes">Just in time for the convention, machine-gun-wielding Police are barging into random houses and confiscating computers and cardboard, Link 1: [http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/08/30/republicans-are-coming-to-minneapolisquick-hide-the-bill-of-rights/ Republicans Are Coming To Minneapolis…Quick! Hide The Bill of Rights!] Link 2: [http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/08/31/the-police-state-comes-to-minneapolisst-paul/ The Police State comes to Minneapolis/St. Paul]