RationalWiki:What is going on in the world?/0004


 * 3 June, 2008: In St. Paul, Minnesota (site of this summer's Republican National Convention!), Barack Obama claimed the nomination for the Democratic presidential candidacy (for real this time). Also, Hillary Clinton is planning to suspend her campaign by Saturday.
 * Religious sensitivity? What religious sensitivity?
 * Another problematic clergyman for Obama. Ten bucks says this gets spun like hell in the media, too.
 * Michelle Malkin gets an advertisement removed from the air because in it Rachel Ray is wearing a paisley scarf that reminds Malkin of a kaffiyeh, which Malkin believes to be a symbol of Muslim extremism. Apparently, paisley is now "hate couture."
 * Rupert Murdoch predicting the nomination for Obama?! | These are the End Times!
 * Rational behavior seems to be catching. New York is set to recognize same sex marriages performed out of state just as California sets a date to begin issuing licenses.
 * Scott McClellan, former Bush White House Press Secretary whacks Cheney, Rice, and the Iraq War in new tell-all memoir. Strangely, the White House is not happy!
 * A glorious day for democracy as | Nepal becomes a republic.
 * MSN article: "What God says about your money." The "consensus among most religious leaders" seems to be ignore all those scriptures that criticize rich people.
 * Like neocons, evangelicals (who may be one and the same) seem to have a raging hard-on for Israel. Apparently, the feeling is not mutual.
 * So you're planning to take the family to some Orlando theme parks? Forget about the old standards like Disneyworld and Sea World.  Take them to The Holy Land Experience where "a blood-spattered Jesus stumbles through the crowd on his way to Golgotha, where nasty Roman soldiers strip him, nail him to the cross and crucify him—while perspiring tourists look on in Bermuda shorts."  Sounds like loads of fun for all ages!
 * While some of the comments of the locals were hardly enlightened, this should still be considered good news for secularism against religious segregation (not to mention the children). Or maybe it was because the school was for - ahem - the "wrong" religion.
 * Schools as a means of oppression: 1. Civil liberties: 0
 * Now you can play video games in the name of science!
 * Pat Buchanan (of all people) calls Bush out with a loose interpretation of Godwin's Law.
 * There, now you have some delegates from Michigan and Florida. Will you stop whining now, Hillary?
 * Breaking News (22 May 2008): John McCain rejects John Hagee's endorsement a mere three months after receiving it.  Hagee almost got away with calling the Catholic Church "the great whore."  It was less likely that he would get away with calling Adolf Hitler a "hunter" sent to fulfill God's will.
 * Earlier this year we found out that the Consumer Product Safety Commission had cut its staff down to one single solitary inspector for all of the US. Now it turns out that the Department of Agriculture has decided to one-up the CPSC with regards to its pesticide safety survey.
 * So much for a lack of transitional forms...
 * No, by all means, let's keep the kids at the ranch, they were perfectly safe.
 * The U.S.'s response to more realistic forecasts of decreasing oil? Sue OPEC!
 * A young London protester is cautioned by the probably not very 'Scientology-friendly' anyway City of London Police for calling Scientology a "cult" and given a court summons. The Crown Prosecution Service tells the CoL police to go away and stop being silly.
 * Vito Fossella, the latest example of Republican family values.
 * ID hack Denyse O'Leary gets nominated for three Canadian Christian Writing Awards.
 * We've all heard by now, but let's take a moment and celebrate the newfound Rationality of the State of California.
 * Oh noes! An evolutionist tries to scam Answers Research Journal and gets caught!  (Be more careful next time!)
 * Who would have thought that in this day and age you could run a little business making Ku Klux Klan costumes?
 * Homeskoolers take the idea of being 'Heads' to a whole new level.
 * An analysis of Expelled's box office receipts indicates that box office yields are falling rapidly and the movie has yet to break even.
 * A Colorado group is trying to get a personhood amendment put on the state ballot. The sad part is, they have a good chance of succeeding
 * Which is worse, the demon of intellect, or the demon of anal fissures? In either case, you can puke them up!
 * Religious Values of 'traditional folk' in the news again, as yet another leery old git tries to impregnate under-age members of his flock, claiming he was anointed by God.
 * What's the best part of this election? The Republicans lost a seat they've held for 30 years? No. The election took place in Louisiana, a well known red state? No.  The best part is that the seat opened when the Republican incumbent resigned to become a lobbyist.
 * Confirming what many have said for years, Christians are starting to feel like their faith has been hijacked for political reasons.
 * Will wonders never cease? Looks like St. McCain has let slip the truth about Iraq.  Ooops.  Also, it seemed he called his wife something nasty.  But who cares when Republicans say offensive things?  It's expected of them.
 * Scandal after scandal has rocked Oral Roberts University, now students are leaving. I'm sure it's just the liberal media's fault.
 * 'Sex pest' seal attacks penguin. Proving that perversion does occur in the animal world.
 * Leery old men used religion as an excuse for child rape and impregnated 60% of a Mormon polygamist sect's young girls, sexually abused the young boys, and broke many of their bones into the bargain.  Ah, what wouldn't we do for Old World values?
 * It's not just "Darwinism" that Ben Stein objects to. "Science" in general, according to Stein "leads you to killing people." The quote is at 28 and 1/2 minutes into the April 21 interview here.
 * Do we really believe that Turkey stopped pork farming for hygiene reasons?
 * Definitely not CP breaking news - Priests threatened with jail for plagiarising sermons.
 * Why is it almost every Religion goes on national TV claiming they've been discriminated against, but the Non believers never get attention from that "Liberal Media" we always hear about.
 * A long time ago in a place called America, elected officials would never have openly favored schools with curricula based on theocracy over democracy. Sigh!
 * Hey, guys! All the Viagra and Cialis in the world won't help when sorcerers are at large.  (No pun intended.)
 * You know how creationists always ask for solid evidence of evolution? Well... BAM!
 * Expelled producers have managed to piss off Yoko Ono.
 * Study after study show the same result and the President's reaction? "Screw the scientists, we do what we want."
 * No, there's no first amendment issues in an I Believe license plate. I mean, it comes with its own cross!
 * The Jonesville Church of God puts a blatantly political message on their front sign, but the IRS is nowhere to be found.
 * The voters tire of fluff.
 * New legislation in the UK will force psychics, mediums and spirit healers to prove their super-duper powers. Somehow, the psychics didn't see this one coming.
 * Apparently, right, it's possible to scientifically prove that Mecca is the true centre of the Earth, and that we should therefore use backward watches that always point to Mecca. Or something.
 * Expelled's Mark Mathis in conversation with editors of Scientific American makes for an entertaining hour's listen
 * Do you know what is odd about Christianity? The way it can bring people together in a spirit of love and harmony turn people into a bunch of raving, violent, zealous assholes. Way to go, Greek and Armenian Orthodox believers, you made baby Jesus cry.
 * The cause of our problems has been identified! It's the practice of allowing women to vote, own property, or work outside the home (among other things.) Look here.
 * ROTTEN: Ben Stein's pseudo-doc Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed is receiving atrocious reviews from all but the Christian press, unsurprisingly. Also, the producers have apparently "learned of grass root efforts ... to try to influence the ranking of internet searches regarding EXPELLED by those wanting to learn about the film".
 * "It has been more than three years since a majority of Americans approved of how Bush has handled his job, making his streak of low ratings about equal to Harry S. Truman's in Gallup polls from late 1949 through the end of his presidency."
 * J-Street, a liberal, pro-peace, Jewish-American lobby group is launched to counteract the conservative voice of AIPAC.
 * All sorts of fun at the Discovery Institute's website about Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. First, the movie "does not – repeat: DOES NOT – try 'to blame Darwin for the Holocaust,'" as reported in Scientific American.  No, no, instead "it shows the indebtedness of Nazism to ideas expressed in Darwin’s writing."  Then, the DI tries an ad hominem attack on the website ExpelledExposed accusing it of strawman arguments.
 * Bill Maher on the Catholic Church - turn down the speakers if the kids are around.
 * Brace yourselves! When "liberal Hollywood's" newspaper of record says that Expelled "has a good laugh at a few scientific hypotheses about the origin of life, some of which involve UFOs," (emphasis added) and "There's an intelligent case to be made for intelligent design," you can bet that the review in your local paper will probably make you reach for the Alka-Seltzer.
 * That would involve some CIA-government types having a sense of rhythm.
 * Yet another debate forum on religious issues by the Presidential candidates, but still no commitment to a science debate.
 * Ontario to talk about getting with the times.
 * Anybody want to waste creationists' money? Go here and order their free DVD.  You can also waste their money on printing and postage by signing up for their snail mail newsletter.  Offer expires April 30th, so hurry in and get yours now! (UPDATE, offer seems to have expired due to mockery and stampeding by the evidence-based crowd.  Oh well.)
 * John Rennie of Scientific American publishes the most biting (except possibly our Expelled:Leader's Guide!) review of Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed to date as an intellectual property lawsuit erupts against the filmmakers.
 * Increasing prices of petroleum and global warming threaten a global food scarcity.
 * Phyllis Schlafly, ever the up-to-date one, tells us about the dangers of comic books rock and roll Postal 2.
 * Illinois representative Monique Davis goes on non sequitur rant against atheist Rob Sherman, apparently "it’s dangerous for our children to even know that [atheism] exists!", censorship is always the answer! (The transcript doesn't do the audio justice, be sure to give it a listen.)
 * Agents of Big Government brutally oppress a religious community...for making 15-year old girls marry 50-year-old men. More: 137 children and 46 women were removed from the Mormon Sect.
 * Watch some clips from Expelled... and be prepared to cringe!
 * Charlton Heston Dies at 84. RIP Mr. Heston.  Even though we may not agree with all your views, America is still the land of free speech ... and almost free gun ownership.
 * NYT: "Americans are more dissatisfied with the country’s direction than at any time since the New York Times/CBS News poll began asking about the subject in the early 1990s, according to the latest poll. In the poll, 81 percent of respondents said they believed that 'things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track,' up from 69 percent a year ago and 35 percent in early 2003."
 * The drama continues! PZ Myers now "infiltrates" a moderated conference call, the transcript here.  (How one infiltrates a moderated conference call is a mystery!)  Apparently, the Expelled producers want to... control the media and not allow alternative views. Hmm.
 * Girl dies when parents pray rather than seek medical help. Similar tragedy:  Sadly, another girl's parents did the same thing to her three weeks earlier.
 * We're all going to die. Perhaps one of you science-y people can say something to calm me down about this.... (please fuel one of our editor's statistics-mania by reading (and commenting, please) on his relevant blog post.)
 * Geert Wilders' controversial film about Islam, Fitna, has been pulled from the web by the UK site host LiveLeak, after threats to its staff. However, it is still available on You Tube.1 & 2
 * Everyone cares that Barack Obama has links to a controversial pastor, but no-one cares that John McCain actively seeks the endorsement of right, wing, fundamentalist lunatics. Spread the word.
 * Richard Dawkins reviews Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed on his website.
 * Another reminder of what a fundamentalist religion, with a willing state apparatus, can do. Terrifying.  UPDATE:  Especially terrifying when you consider the results of this survey (from the EU).
 * PZ Myers is expelled from Expelled... and more hilarity ensues, but I won't steal the punchline. UPDATE: The Discovery Institute claims that someone "stoops to gate-crashing."  When will the ID-ers accept that Expelled will be public and open for anyone to criticize?  And what are they so afraid of, anyway?  (Probably what they're afraid of is reviews like this one.)
 * Churchman castigates British PM.
 * Happy fifth birthday, Iraq War! I hope you enjoyed your party favours of 4,000 dead US troops, over a 100,000 dead Iraqis, half a trillion dollars in taxpayer money, and a ruined Iraqi infrastructure!
 * What is this? Conservative talk show hosts.... Encouraging Deceit? But only the Liberals do that
 * Apparently the new move by YEC nutjobs is to play "docent" at museums and explain what the exhibits really mean!
 * The truly sad thing, Dennis Prager actually finds these responses logical.
 * The state of — wonder of wonders — Georgia — brilliantly decides to execute a man on the basis of highly inconclusive evidence (see the AI summary). Help save Troy Davis.
 * You are a concerned teacher at a small town public middle school. You write a true-to-life stageplay about schoolyard bullying.  You intend to have your students perform it at school.  Just remember three things:  (1) Your principal will probably cancel it at the last minute.  (2) You may still be able to stage the play off campus.  But (3) if you do, the school district will probably "investigate" you.
 * Apparently, homosexuality is worse than terrorism, at least according to one Oklahoma state representative's shocking remarks. Send a letter the governor decrying this bigotry.
 * The resignation of a top US commander in the Middle East fuels speculation that a war with Iran will come before days are up.
 * Animated goat found on 5000 year old pottery. This displeases the LORD Jerboa.
 * 51st State? Do we have to slavishly copy the US?
 * The latest Expelled news: Film critic Roger Moore is disinvited to a screening of a movie that will shortly be public.  (Scared of real criticism are we?)
 * It's not just wine, expensive placebos work better say researchers.
 * Shame at Vatican football competition.
 * From West Virginia: bring back the four Rs: readin, 'ritin, 'rithmetic, and rifles!
 * ABC's new drama, "Eli Stone," promotes anti-vaccine hysteria, and the producer is an intelligent design advocate! Behold, what the writer's strike hath wrought.
 * Jerusalem gunman shot by student (who happened to be a soldier). How long before the gun lobby take this up as a justification for mass gun ownership?
 * Vaccine Injury Court finds that one child with an extremely rare preexisting disorder ended up with autism like symptoms following a battery of vaccinations. CPers will begin wetting themselves with glee any minute now.
 * Welcome to Virginia, ladies. Have a miscarriage, go to jail.
 * Texans vote against an anti-evolution candidate, as has happened before. Why is it that creationists can't seem to get elected?
 * Oh dear! Homeschooling is illegal!
 * A "student review" (by an ID'er) of the upcoming propaganda event Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed talks of the "specific problems with academic freedom." (Perhaps the author wants academic terrorism?)  The review admits "a few cheap shots at Dawkins," as well.
 * Only a sexually frustrated place like Texas could have produced the likes of George W. Bush. Unfortunately, this decision came too late to save the world.
 * Whaling protesters hurl rotten butter - accused of throwing acid.
 * Sign up now for the International Conference on Creationism in Pittsburgh, PA, August 3-7, 2008!
 * "About two years ago I hit a wall with it. I said I was going to listen to my inner voice. The whole vaccination process is based on fear of getting diseases but I would rather put my faith in God to heal diseases." Who needs science when you hear voices?
 * Savin' your body, not just your soul. The latest fad from America: "The Jesus Diet".
 * It's not just Conservapedia sysops who plagiarise articles. White House officials do too! (For historic reference, remember this?)
 * We're all aware of denying the Holocaust...but is there a term for threatening a holocaust?
 * It seems that the Boy Scouts of America isn't the only organization that denies membership to atheists. Here is a followup article and some letters to the editor.  Update:  Another followup article.  (To some readers, merely writing about anti-atheist discrimination makes the columnist "anti-God" and a member of the "anti-religious movement.")
 * A recent article in Answers Research Journal, entitled "An Apology and Unification Theory for the Reconciliation of Physical Matter and Metaphysical Cognizance," seems like a parody. In fact, it's so blazingly close to another "scholarly" hoax - the Sokal Affair - that it just has to be.  Opinions?
 * The United States is going into a recession, being beaten to death by the Euro, and gas prices are at an all-time high. President Bush's response? I hadn't heard that. Let's make the tax cuts permanent!


 * According to John McCain "No American argues against our military presence in Korea or Japan or Germany or Kuwait or other places, or Turkey..." Really? I've heard arguments against that from both liberals and conservatives. You really that out of touch, Johnny?