THE   FOCUS

MARCH 19, 2010
Volume 6, Issue 12
Published by the Center For Atheism (CFA)
Editor: David Birnkrant
 
The Focus provides links to articles collected from major newspapers and magazines, and is emailed weekly.

This Week in Atheism is a cable show that discusses the articles featured below, every Wednesday at 6:30 PM (EST), Manhattan Cable station 57. 
Live streaming is available at: 
http://www.mnn.org.

Comments, suggestions and subscription:
info@centerforatheism.org.


 
The Center for Atheism (CFA) was established by the New York City Atheists as a separate and independent national organization to propose, develop, and be a catalyst for new national activities supporting the objectives of atheists, agnostics, humanists, freethinkers, skeptics, secularists and separation-of-church-and-state advocates. 

CFA will accept and review suggestions from individuals and other secular organizations that will foster our goals.
 
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FEATURED ARTICLES 

Richard Dawkins debunks Noah's Ark 
The Age 
In a speech at Sydney Opera House atheist and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins explains why evolution is "The Greatest Show on Earth. ... 
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/dawkins-delivers-the-sermon-they-came-to-hear-20100314-q63g.html?autostart=1 

Ireland to hold referendum on blasphemy law 
The Guardian 
Richard Dawkins, atheist and evolutionary biologist, quoted by the group Atheist Ireland on their website to challenge the law against blasphemy. ... 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/15/ireland-referendum-blasphemy-law 

ATHEISM 

Atheists meet in Melbourne to celebrate lack of faith 
BBC News 
More than 2000 atheists from around the world are gathering in Melbourne, Australia, to celebrate their lack of religious belief. ... 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8563583.stm 

The God botherer 
The Age 
Nevertheless, Grayling, 60, is the acceptable face of militant atheism, the velvet glove among the mailed fists. He is trenchant without being strident, ... 
http://www.theage.com.au/national/the-god-botherer-20100312-q495.html 

'Stroke of luck' led to life on Earth 
Stuff.co.nz 
However, it seemed shared by most of the capacity 2500 audience, who ensured Dawkins lived up to his billing as the "rock star of neo-atheism" as they ... 
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch/3438156/Stroke-of-luck-led-to-life-on-Earth 

Q: What do these MPs have in common? A: They are out and proud atheists 
The Age 
IN RECENT years, to declare yourself an atheist has seemed not just acceptable but even fashionable. British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins is a ... 
http://www.theage.com.au/national/q-what-do-these-mps-have-in-common-a-they-are-out-and-proud-atheists-20100313-q59i.html 

Path to losing his religion 
The Age 
Atheism came slowly to him, more a ''migration'' than a lightning strike of reason. Exposure to more liberal Christians pushed him from preaching hellfire ... 
http://www.theage.com.au/national/path-to-losing-his-religion-20100313-q59j.html 

Govt urged to back Scientology inquiry 
Sydney Morning Herald 
Speaking at the Global Atheist Convention in Melbourne, Mr Adams said Scientology was a pseudo-religion that shouldn't enjoy charity status in Australia. ... 
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/govt-urged-to-back-scientology-inquiry-20100313-q4rq.html 

Atheist ads on buses in area are defaced 
The Detroit News 
Detroit -- The vandalism of bus signs supporting atheists shows the prejudice nonbelievers face, the campaign's organizers said Monday. ... 
http://www.detnews.com/article/20100316/LIFESTYLE04/3160348/1041/Atheist-ads-on-buses-in-area-are-defaced 

Atheist bus ads are desecrated 
Detroit Free Press 
BY NIRAJ WARIKOO Three Detroit buses with advertisements promoting atheism appear to have been vandalized over the past week, an advocacy group said Monday. ... 
http://www.freep.com/article/20100316/NEWS01/3160307/1320/Atheist-bus-ads-are-desecrated 

Atheists Continue Their Demand to Drop 'Ritual' At City Commission Meetings 
The Ledger 
By Tom Palmer LAKELAND | Atheists continued their demand at Monday's Lakeland City Commission meeting that commissioners drop invocations during meetings. ... 
http://www.theledger.com/article/20100315/NEWS/3155052/1410?p=1&tc=pg 

Dawkins backs 'No God' bus ads 
Stuff.co.nz 
Evolutionary biologist and prominent atheist Richard Dawkins has branded opponents of a bus advertising campaign doubting the existence of God "pathetic". ... 
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3463505/Dawkins-backs-No-God-bus-ads 

Luck led to life on Earth + podcast 
The Press 
By REBECCA TODD - The Press POPULAR FIGURE: A large crowd turned out at the Christchurch Town Hall last night to hear noted author, biologist and atheist ... 
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch/3438156/Luck-led-to-life-on-Earth-podcast 

His fortune polishes atheists' reputation 
News & Observer 
In fact, Stiefel has become one of the country's biggest benefactors of atheist causes. Last month, Stiefel gave $500000 to the Secular Coalition of America ... 
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/03/18/394680/his-fortune-polishes-atheists.html 

There Is No God — and He Can Prove It 
Bay Area Indymedia 
Hanson called atheism “the fastest-growing philosophy” and claimed that “there are about 1 billion non-religious people in the world today. ... 
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/03/17/18641697.php 

BOOKS, FILM, THEATRE, TV, YOU TUBE 

Atheism is doomed: the contraceptive Pill is secularism's cyanide tablet 
Telegraph.co.uk (blog) 
New Atheists comfort themselves with the idea that religious people will continue to drift their way, like rustics to the city, but the figures do not bear ... 
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/edwest/100029971/atheism-is-doomed-the-contraceptive-pill-is-secularisms-cyanide-tablet/ 

The Junior Skeptic Explains Evolution: Daniel Loxton on Natural Selection 
Wired News 
By Jason B. Jones Daniel Loxton's Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be (Kids Can Press, 2010) is the best overview of evolution for children ... 
http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2010/03/the-junior-skeptic-explains-evolution-daniel-loxton-on-natural-selection/ 

Colbert Report - I's on Edjukashun - Texas School Board - Eric Foner 
Colbert Nation 
An interview with Eric Foner, author of 'Give Me Liberty!' and Columbia University professor.  Colbert and Foner discuss the recent Texas School Board hearings and their impact on the education on America's youth... 
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/267540/march-16-2010/i-s-on-edjukashun---texas-school-board---eric-foner 

EVOLUTION, CREATIONISM, I.D. 

Texas education board refuses to require religious-freedom lesson 
Dallas Morning News 
The seven social conservatives on the panel – several of whom openly question the legal precedents affirming the separation of church and state – were ... 
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-sboe_12met.ART.State.Edition2.4bcac76.html 

Creationism ban a test of faith for religious schools 
Adelaidenow 
THE Association of Independent Schools is seeking legal advice on the banning of creationism or intelligent design in the science curriculum. ... 
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/creationism-ban-a-test-of-faith-for-religious-schools/story-e6frea83-1225840641084 

Haddam School Board Member Rejects Evolution 
Hartford Courant 
Harris, 53, rejects evolution. To him, the idea that humans and apes share a common ancestor takes "a whole lot more faith than believing there was a ... 
http://www.courant.com/news/education/hc-evolution-haddam-school-boar.artmar15,0,4249837.story 

Students' perceptions of Earth's age influence acceptance of human evolution 
Science Centric 
The finding could give educators a new strategy for teaching evolution, since the Earth's age is typically covered in physical rather than biological ... 
http://www.sciencecentric.com/news/article.php?q=10031551-students-perceptions-earth-age-influence-acceptance-human-evolution 

Texas Education Board Approves Conservative Curriculum Changes By ... 
The Huffington Post 
Texas conservatives don't want to show that Jefferson was for separation of church and state anymore than they want kids to know that four of the first five ... 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/12/texas-education-board-app_n_497440.html 

Smithsonian opens $21M human evolution hall 
The Associated Press 
WASHINGTON — The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History is opening a new permanent exhibit exploring human evolution over 6 million years. ... 
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gg8HmfU_rwoChnrvMzz57kw0XGDAD9EGAGIG3 

SCIENCE 

Psychopaths' Brains Wired to Seek Rewards, No Matter the Consequences 
ScienceDaily (Mar. 15, 2010) — The brains of psychopaths appear to be wired to keep seeking a reward at any cost, new research from Vanderbilt University finds. The research uncovers the role of the brain's reward system in psychopathy and opens a new area of study for understanding what drives these individuals... 
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100314150924.htm 

Scientists Glimpse Nanobubbles on Super Non-Stick Surfaces 
ScienceDaily (Mar. 15, 2010) — Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have obtained the first glimpse of miniscule air bubbles that keep water from wetting a super non-stick surface. Detailed information about the size and shape of these bubbles... 
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100225164853.htm 

Analytical Eye: Viewing Through the Data Jungle 
ScienceDaily (Mar. 15, 2010) — Unmanageable volumes of data accumulate in our digitized working world. Scientists are developing analytical techniques that make use of our ability to identify complex data relationships by means of pictorial images... 
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100301111411.htm 

Mars Constantly Loses Part of Its Atmosphere to Space Due to Solar Wind 
ScienceDaily (Mar. 14, 2010) — Space physicists from the University of Leicester are part of an international team that has identified the impact of the Sun on Mars' atmosphere... 
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100312133725.htm 

Designer Nano Luggage to Carry Drugs to Diseased Cells 
ScienceDaily (Mar. 14, 2010) — For the first time, scientists have succeeded in growing empty particles derived from a plant virus and have made them carry useful chemicals... 
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100309202929.htm 

New Insight Into Brain's Decision-Making Process 
ScienceDaily (Mar. 13, 2010) — The hippocampus, a part of the brain essential for memory, has long been known to "replay" recently experienced events. Previously, replay was believed to be a simple process of reviewing recent experiences in order to help consolidate them into long-term memory... 
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100311123620.htm 

SEPARATION CHURCH / STATE 

Appeals court rejects challenge to Pledge of Allegiance in schools 
San Jose Mercury News 
The sweeping ruling shot down the arguments of a Sacramento atheist who has been trying in the courts for a decade to end the morning practice because he ... 
http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_14660762?source=rss 

Kentucky House budget includes $100000 for Christian school 
Louisville Courier-Journal 
But Brent McKim, president of the Jefferson County Teachers Association, called the budget provision “a violation of the separation of church and state. ... 
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100312/NEWS0101/303120081/Kentucky+House+budget+includes+$100+000+for+Christian+school 

Atheist Group Challenges Commission Over Prayer 
The Ledger 
By Cary McMullen The Lakeland City Commission is being challenged on its policy of beginning its meetings with prayer, part of an effort by a state atheist ... 
http://www.theledger.com/article/20100312/NEWS/3125036/1338 

Lake Local not planning to act in dispute with atheist group 
Canton Repository 
By Anonymous The Lake Local School Board doesn't plan to vote anymore on whether the phrase “belief in God” should remain in its stated values. ... 
http://www.cantonrep.com/stark/lake/x1526463002/Lake-Local-not-planning-to-act-in-dispute-with-atheist-group 

Friends defend tribute to crash victim; Atheist group wants crosses axed 
Toledo Blade 
Rob Boston, senior policy analyst for the Washington-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said he believes roadside crosses are more ... 
http://toledoblade.com/article/20100314/NEWS16/3140321 

Bribery Blackmail Coercion? Scientology and the IRS 
NEWS JUNKIE POST 
It's a constitutional question of the separation of church and state. If religious education becomes deductible, it means that taxpayers are subsidizing ... 
http://newsjunkiepost.com/2010/03/14/bribery-blackmail-coercion-scientology-and-the-irs/ 

Bay area atheists want to get God out of government 
10 Connects 
Lakeland, FL - "There is no place for prayer in a government meeting," sad John Kieffer, president of Atheists of Florida. Kieffer is one of a handful of ... 
http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=127598&catid=8 

MISCELLANEOUS 

None 
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