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

March 2015
In what can only be described as a backhand by the invisible hand, a labor union becomes first to pull conference from Indy Enoch "Rivers of Blood" Powell now being investigated as part of the historic Westminster paedophile ring. Rumours of him being part of a satanic ritual abuse ring may still be bullshit. One dead, two injured after vehicle attempted to ram the entry gates of the NSA campus in Ft. Meade, MD. Anything Indiana can do, Florida can do [http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/28/1374050/-FL-Legislator-s-Revenge-Bill-Goes-After-Children-Allowing-ALL-Discrimination-Take-That-Indiana?detail=facebook_sf worse. Way, way worse.] Noah way!! Guess who's replacing Jon Stewart... “Yes, we took her and we raped her. So what?” – At least 54 Colombian girls sexually abused by immune US military Remember how Boehner invited Bibi to Congress and to mess with the nuclear negotiations? Totally Obama's fault. Ted Cruz grew up listening to classic rock. 9/11 changed everything. He either likes country music, or country music makes him feel like a glass being yelled at by Ella Fitzgerald Christianity, pederasty and obesity Stupid shit Republicans did this week #4346567: Sen. David Vitter (R-La) filed an amendment with the Senate Budget Committee that would "strike out a provision that makes it easier for Washington elites to force Americans to give up their dollar bills and use dollar coins, like Europeans." For once, health professionals get the credit they deserve, as British medic cured of Ebola. Indiana Republican governor Mike Pence signs Religious Freedom Bill into law. Bowe Bergdahl charged with desertion; the army's (unreleased) interview purportedly clears him of attempting to aid the Taliban, of the claim that soldiers had died while searching for him, and of his seeking to desert indefinitely. U.S. Army apologizes for (lack of) treatment of their members who became victims of chemical weapons in Iraq. Airlines change cockpit rules after co-pilot blamed for Germanwings crash Apparently, Obama was really pissed at Netanyahu, as he has declassified a formerly top-secret, detailed document (from 1987) on Israel's neither confirmed nor denied nuclear weapons program, thereby allowing it to become public through a FOIA request. That happened just before this dude spoke to congress (before the Israeli election). (Full PDF) How long will life survive on Earth? Ted Cruz: 'Global Warming alarmists are the equivalent of the Flat-Earthers'. Turns out Jeremy Clarkson is an asshole The Empire has captured Tataouine. A headline only America could generate: End-times-themed Christian band arrested, after fatal shoot-out with cops, outside Walmart. It seems Benny Hinn can't heal himself. You need to pay a fine to exercise your liberty of not trolling attending Ted Cruz's speech about running for president at Liberty University. Indiana could lose massive gamer convention as protest against anti-gay bill, cost state approximately $50 million. UPDATE: The bill is in, the con will stay as long as contracts require, with an implication of relocation in 2020. Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson has come under fire for making very offensive comme-- Wait, isn't this an old news story? Oh, no, it's happened again, this time towards atheists. Oh dear. Germanwings flight 4U 9525 from Barcelona to Dusseldorf has crashed in the French Alps. Unfortunately, no reported survivors. Scientific knowledge continues to evolve: "Earth Has A Layer No One Knew About" Ted Cruz shows off his fantastic political integrity by opting to sign up for Obamacare, saying "we should follow the text of the law". Riposte to California's "Kill the Gays" act: The Intolerant Jackass Act Inexplicable WTF of Americans, part umpteen: Ejaculating into coworker's coffee is not a sex crime in Minnesota. The World still has a long way to go: The Japanese contestant for "Miss Universe" is being criticized for not being Japanese enough. The biggest obstacle to acceptance of nuclear power is the lies the industry tells. Fukushima DID melt down. Cameron says he won't run for a third time if he wins a second term in May. Getting gold from shit. A new take on "Where there's muck there's brass!" The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will deny funds to states whose governors refuse to acknowledge climate change. The Clown Car of Candidates, 2016 edition, is underway, as Ted Cruz officially throws his hat into the ring. Lee Kuan Yew, the autocratic founder and architect of modern Singapore, has passed away. Senate hearing has a little fun with a Florida official who, by decree, can't say 'Climate Change' Useful context on the Iran nuclear deal: Analysts worry whether it could impede (US) weapon sales. But stay relaxed: “According to Hewson [Lockheed CEO], ‘A lot of volatility, a lot of instability, a lot of things that are happening’ in both the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region means both are ‘growth areas’ for Lockheed Martin.” California's ballot initiative process at its very finest. Mississippi passes the "Jesus Take The Wheel" bill, in an apparent attempt to kill off church congregations by letting them use actually-unqualified bus drivers. 'Cos not knowing how to drive a several-ton misguided missile is just fine if God is on your side! Attempts in explaining the WTF of Americans, part umpteen: There are as many people who believe judgement day will be the cause of apocalypse as people who think climate change will cause said apocalypse. Hypoallergenic products [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/20/what-is-hypoallergenic-video_n_6909108.html? ain't necessarily so.]

Validation of Skarka's Law by frat members, part 2: Defending taking naked pictures of passed-out women without their consent. What products are we making in this plant again? Oh right... fire extinguishers. Daesh shows its disapproval of the Shi'ite Houthi militia by killing 126 people in Mosque bombings in Yemen. You shall know them by their love. San Francisco Catholic church installs a watering system to drench sleeping homeless people. "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." They've apologized and will dismantle the system Health Canada approves fake natural remedy, cooked up by a TV crew. Hanging death of Mississippi black man being investigated by FBI and DoJ Civil Rights division. Rev. Creflo Dollar asks for upwards of 60 million dollars in donations for a new "Church" jet. The Hartford minor league baseball team will be named the Yard Goats. Sociology professor smoking on a plane probably is a gesture of revolutionary solidarity, in these times. Maybe, just maybe, if you don't use the N-word when you say "some of my best friends have been niggers." people won't pay as much attention to whatever you have been plotting. An amazing story of determination versus cancer turns out to be less than advertised. Turns out making a profit from fakery can extend to App Stores. Your hate speech has a messaging problem if you have trouble identifying who you hate. And the Swastika is not helping. Despite trailing in the polls on the days up to the election, Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party wins 30 seats in Israeli elections, likely securing him the position of Prime Minster. [http://www.timesofisrael.com/washington-offers-chilly-response-to-netanyahu-reelection/#! What this means for international relations is not clear]. “Brexit would make 2m Britons abroad illegal immigrants overnight” In shocking conformity with the fates of most darknet markets, Evolution Marketplace, another Silk Road successor, has vanished and its owners fled with $12 million worth of Bitcoins. Jeb Bush calls for the elimination of the federal minimum wage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promises no Palestinian state if he is re-elected. The scientific evidence is starting to come in, and substandard vaccination rates are almost certainly to blame for the recent measles outbreak. UKIP leader Nigel Farage's election bid is to force the children of migrants out of free education for five years in order to help fund rich private schools the state. Ted Cruz vows to repeal the non-existent federal legislation establishing Common Core. We need moar good clothing items with guns to stop bad clothing with guns. As the Syrian civil war enters its fifth year, Kerry says that the US will have to negotiate with Bashar al-Assad. Two French sociologists "Sokal" the Maffesolian band of sociology. Coming soon: Magnetically triggered mind brain activity control. What could possibly go wrong? "Skeptic" offers 100,000 Euro reward to prove Measles is a virus (rather than psychosomatic), is ordered to pay up. Listening to music affects the expression of genes in the brain. Epigenetics: Because regular genetics isn't complicated enough. Kent Hovind has been found guilty of contempt, faces sentencing on June 12th. Jury not convinced of fraudulent intent. Oklahoma House passes bill to prevent any non-clergy from providing marriage licenses. Skarka's Law strikes again. This time defending the Oklahoma frat house racist chants. Can we now please phase out when we have LED bulbs that looks almost the same in almost every way? At last, Sir Terry, we must walk together. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11467688/Sir-Terry-Pratchett-dies-aged-66.html Terry took Death’s arm and followed him through the doors and on to the black desert under the endless night. The End.] China tells the Dalai Lama that he will reincarnate, and on their terms too. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frO1T3vZNrA “As a matter of long-standing policy, the US does not support political transitions by non-constitutional means. Political transitions must be democratic, constitutional, peaceful and legal.”] [http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/deep-space/a14507/enceladus-saturn-moon-ocean/ Enceladus, Saturn's 6th largest moon, has a warm ocean with hydrothermal vents. This is the first ever discovered outside of Earth, and makes for the most habitable off-world environment ever found.] A scientific analysis of conspiracy news consumers. Highlights: Both "pro-science polarized" people and "conspiracy anti-science polarized" people form self-selecting groups, conspiracy nuts outnumber us, conspiracy nuts are far more likely to reshare conspiracy articles, pro-science people are more likely to engage contrary articles in comments or conversations. Charlie Hebdo staff posthumously named 2015 International Islamophobes of the Year by the London-based Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) Texan Teabagger newbie representative Molly White offers a bill that states that even if the SCOTUS declares gay marriage legal in Texas, Texas can ignore them. Rationality isn't determined by single factor. That is to say, while individual kinds of biases and fallacies crop up recurringly for individuals, different kinds of biases have weak relationships with each other and intelligence. Just how much more fucked up can a story get? [http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/justin_harris Justin Harris (R-AR) and his wife first adopt two little girls, then rehomed them a year later (after first trying to return them to the Dept. of Human Services) in a house, where the older girl (6) was raped by her foster father. Now it turns out Harris performed exorcisms on the elder girl who "needed specialized care."] Huge meta-study by Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council finds homeopathy no better than placebos. South Africa, where being on live TV doesn't stop you getting mugged. After 47 GOP Senators breach federal law by writing to Iran, telling them that any nuclear deal made with Obama could be repealed by the next President, it turns out an Iranian minister knows more about international law and the US Constitution than these 47 fuckwits. Fastest Star Ever Seen In The Milky Way Is Headed Out Of Our Galaxy Lebanese female TV presenter tells Islamic scholar where to put it. Fanta has a funny definition of the "Good Old Times." First rule of Florida Department of Environmental Protection is you don't talk about whether you have a policy of not using the phrase "climate change" or "global warming" in official communication. Second rule of the Florida DEP is you don't use the phrases "climate change" or "global warming". Fitness gym sides with transgender customer after a complaint is lodged against the use of her preferred washroom. Great-grandaddy galaxies rediscovered. Notorious British DAESH member Mohammed Emwazi (Jihadi John) reported to have been held in Tanzania for drunkenness in 2009 while trying to join al-Shabaab. Not very Muslim. Boko Haram pledges allegiance to Daesh. Blaming "teenage risk taking" for crime rates among youth don't make quite as much sense when poverty rates are factored in Documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney won the 2007 Oscar for his film about how America became very un-American after 9/11. But the obstacles he faced making that film in the waning years of Bush-Cheney were nothing compared to what he dealt with while making his new Scientology doc, Going Clear. Every single TV news network he contacted (and offered to pay) for news footage about Scientology refused to provide any, fearing endless litigation. Of course all those lefties in the UK in the '80s who spoke of Thatcher and the Tories like they were barely-human in their evil were just exaggerating. Conservatives: The Party Of Fucking Children and Coverups Of Fucking Children. Homeless people a problem? Let loose the wolves! This is your brain on drugs. Dawn is in orbit around Ceres, the first dwarf planet to receive a visitation from Earth. In order to destroy any cultural distinction in the Arab states, Daesh bulldozes the ancient city of Nimrud. Hatra also. As more GOP-led states try to implement religion-based discriminatory laws, we get this gem from Oklahoma State Senator Joseph Silk, "The L.G.B.T. movement is the main thing, the primary thing that’s going to be challenging religious liberties and the freedom to live out religious convictions. And I say that sensitively, because I have homosexual friends." In a story just now getting national attention, the Arkansas House of Representatives (controlled by small government-loving Republicans) voted on February 23 to require people employed to work with children to "friend" their bosses on social media so that their activities can be more easily tracked. Bill Nye fixes his inverse stopped clock, renouncing his anti-GMO views. An appeals court rules that Applebee's is not liable for a N.J. man's burning his face while praying over a fajita skillet. [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/05/nyregion/new-york-to-add-two-muslim-holy-days-to-public-school-calendar.html Count down to the religious right doing their nut in 3... 2... ]

Ben Carson throws his hat into the ring. Update: Only makes it a few hours before his first gaffe apology after saying prisons prove homosexuality is a choice. "Because a lot of people who go into prison go into prison straight -- and when they come out, they're gay," says Carson. Here's a jawbone that God put in the ground to test our faith. Alabama Supreme Court tries to drag state back out of 21st century, orders probate judges to stop issuing same-sex marriage licenses. Let's see how long before they get overruled. Way to go, Bibi. Yucky eunuch-y business: It has come to light that Indian celebrity religious guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh convinced 400 people to castrate themselves to bring themselves closer to God in 2000. The transitional animal the flying kitty weasel That feeling that your opposition to the death penalty is wavering. That. Delhi rapist says victim shouldn't have fought back

In a surprise to pretty much everybody living here, Nebraska's Gay Marriage ban is ruled unconstitutional. Meet Skeletorus and Sparklemuffin. Using sales taxes (which hurt the poor) instead of property taxes (which hit the rich) to pay for education has left South Carolina with an $866 million shortfall. Everyone seems to act like fixing the problem would only make it worse. [http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Bill-OReilly-admits-he-did-not-see-Irish-terrorists-kill--in-Northern-Ireland.html Facts go in, lies come out. You can't explain that.] How are some relatives of Coptic Christians (with the concurrence of Franklin Graham) reacting to the recent mass beheadings by ISIS? By thanking them for starting the Apocalypse.