RationalWiki:What is going on in the world?/January 2009

January 2009
Though Congressional Republicans have spat on bipartisanship, Republican governors press for Obama's stimulus package to go through. ¡Ay caramba! Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson, decides to use her character's copyrighted voice for a robocall promoting a Scientology event. Will Fox have a cow over this? Lie detector company trying to sue scientists into silence. After two months filled with media coverage and insane amounts of hubris, Rod Blagojevich is removed from office. Zombies! Cardinal Roger Mahoney of Los Angeles is now under investigation for hiding child-abusing priests from investigators. O'Reilly gets his ass schooled in history by Jessica Alba. Here are some nice pictures of Barack Obama's inagauration from around the world (Large load time, 48 images). Atheist bus comes to Madrid Everyone, chant with me now! "ONE OF US! ONE OF US! ONE OF US!" Obama uses Al-Arabiya (an Arab TV station) to give his first televised interview, telling the Muslim world that America is not their enemy. Cue the insane outrage from Fox News in 5...4... Rove is subpoenaed in order to testify about Bush firing nine attorneys. Bets will now be taken on how long before Rove gives the finger to the House Judiciary Committee. Obama acts to reverse Bush climate moves. Thats 2 promises kept, keep 'em going Obama! Antarctica is warming up. (Also, watch the video and try to not think of the Death Star trench run!)  Even after the 2008 election, John McCain shows that he's still an obstructionist 'tard. Ted Haggard: the gift that keeps on giving and giving. And giving away hush money, too! <vote poll=world503 closed="yes">The man in Rome offends. Again. Update: Vatican acknowledges the controversy and calls for the offending bishop to recant his Holocaust denial. <vote poll=world502 closed="yes"> Goats turn against their human masters, shock felt around the world <vote poll=world501 closed="yes"> In a major kick in the 'nads to the Religious Right and everyone else who would choose not to fund abortions, Obama has reversed the decision on the abortion-funds policy. <vote poll=world500 closed="yes"> Blago says he's boycotting (read "skipping") his impeachment trial because it's "unfair". Nixon would be so proud. <vote poll=world499 closed="yes">"Tree mortality (has) doubled in just 17 years in the Pacific Northwest and 25 years in California." (I'm sure it's just God's will and that it has nothing to do with climate change.  After all, Antarctica is still getting colder, isn't it?) <vote poll=world498 closed="yes">A newly discovered type of catfish may offer new insights into the workings of evolution. Will the IDers go nuts or ignore this story? <vote poll=world497 closed="yes">In keeping with promises made, Obama has signed a series of executive orders calling for the closing of Gitmo, the use of the Army Field Manual with regard to interrogation methods and a review of policy options for those apprehended "in connection with armed conflicts and counterterrorism operations". <vote poll=world496 closed="yes">An Illinois statute requiring a moment of silence in public schools has been ruled unconstitutional by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman. In his ruling, Gettleman declared "The statute is a subtle effort to force students at impressionable ages to contemplate religion." Illinois will be overrun by locusts any moment now. <vote poll=world495 closed="yes">Is the Wasilla hillbilly really upset at the press for their coverage of her spawn children, or is she just trying to keep her name in the news? (Psst! Sarah!  You haven't been reelected yet.  If you don't get reelected -- and that is possible, you know -- then you're just wasting your breath.) <vote poll=world494 closed="yes">In anticipation of all the yowling wingnuts out there, President Obama retakes the oath of office. <vote poll=world493 closed="yes">With all the trouble in the world today, it's almost comforting that people can still go slightly insane over small things. <vote poll=world492 closed="yes">Now that it's no longer an awaited future event, let's all practice saying it -- Former President George W. Bush and Former Vice President Dick Cheney!!! <vote poll=world491 closed="yes">Bill Ayers denied entry into Canada. <vote poll=world490 closed="yes">Shedding light on the evolution of the jaw <vote poll=world489 closed="yes">Good news everyone: Future federal funding of abstinence-only education is in limbo! <vote poll=world488 closed="yes">Weird Science News: The hippies might be right--Our world may be a giant hologram. <vote poll=world487 closed="yes">The Atheist Bus Campaign hits a small, yet inevitable snag. <vote poll=world486 closed="yes">Dubya declares a state of emergency for the black guy's Obama's inauguration. <vote poll=world485 closed="yes">A crazy theory: Obama's win was presaged by zombie movies being upstaged by vampire movies. But is it crazy enough to be true? <vote poll=world484 closed="yes">Over in New Jersey, a little boy is taken away from his loving family; is it because of his name: Adolf Hitler. The "Libertarian examiner has its own spin. <vote poll=world483 closed="yes">Not exactly Rational Wiki specific, but what isn't cool about going from London to Timbuktu in a flying car? <vote poll=world482 closed="yes">Republicans demonstrate a greater tendency to interpret ambiguous facial stimuli as expressing more threatening and more dominant emotions than do Democrats. (In other words, conservatives are just more paranoid.) <vote poll=world481 closed="yes">New York Times: "Marxist principles have been dripping into the minds of American youth for more than a century," through children's books. Perhaps Andy will soon mint us an amusing new theory about a sinister cabal of "liberal" children's book authors. <vote poll=world480 closed="yes">Atheist slogan bus campaign starts in London. Reduced service may be expected on Sundays. Update Especially if this driver is at the wheel. <vote poll=world479 closed="yes">Goats, the saviour of the world <vote poll=world478 closed="yes">"What is it that drives someone to believe the worst and perpetuate the worst, in terms of gossip and lies?" Palin asks the Kettle. Why would someone perpetuate the worst of gossip and lies about another person? Unfortunately, Palin is asking about the media treatment of her, rather than her treatment of Obama. <vote poll=world477 closed="yes">Obama takes his place in history, sort of <vote poll=world476 closed="yes">Words alone are not enough to describe this sort of idiocy <vote poll=world475 closed="yes">Canadian moron Mormon charged with polygamy cries "religious persecution...." <vote poll=world474 closed="yes">Christian Voice complains about atheist bus posters on the grounds that there is "scant evidence" for their claims......the words...pot...kettle...and black spring to mind. Also here. <vote poll=world473 closed="yes">Individual State teenage pregnancy statistics are out. Although teen pregnancy has been on the rise country wide, 6 of the top ten states are in the Bible Belt, with the rest in the midwest and west. In fact, the states with the lowest rates are all in liberal New England. Maybe that fresh ocean air is a form of birth control. <vote poll=world472 closed="yes">There'll be another in a minute: atheist bus campaign rolls out across UK. <vote poll=world471 closed="yes">Hopes of wiping out measles in Europe fade due to low uptake. Still, those false MMR scares helped sell papers, so all's well. Not. <vote poll=world470 closed="yes">Newsweek article: "It’s Survival of the Weak and Scrawny:  Researchers see 'evolution in reverse' as hunters kill off prized animals with the biggest antlers and pelts." <vote poll=world469 closed="yes">Guernica in Gaza. <vote poll=world468 closed="yes">According to Cheney, it's only illegal if you get impeached <vote poll=world467 closed="yes">Tom Cruise claims Scientology cured his dyslexia. What a coincidence, Mission Impossible III cures insomnia <vote poll=world466 closed="yes">The Catholic Church released a report claiming that birth control pills are polluting the environment and causing male infertility. They should stick to subjects they know about: discrimination, witch burning and wearing purty dresses. <vote poll=world465 closed="yes">The South: "Where we can't even get our morals straight.