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=================================== FEATURED ARTICLES Atheist Bus Ads Rattle Fort Worth New York Times A public bus rolls by with an atheist message on its side: “Millions of people are good without God.” Seconds later, a van follows bearing a riposte: “I ... http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/14/us/14atheist.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss ATHEISM War on Christmas: Billboard part of atheists' multimedia strike NewsOK.com American Atheists group sponsors New Jersey billboard plus a national television, newspaper and magazine campaign meant to challenge biblical morality and ... http://newsok.com/atheists-media-blitz-strikes-at-christmas/article/3522557 Mangers and 'Star Wars' mingle in county displays Washington Post The letter, which goes on to appeal for kindness and tolerance during the holidays, was written by Embrey - a member of the Northern Virginia Atheists - to ... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/10/AR2010121006922.html A Bastion of Religion Sees Rise in Secularism New York Times ... toward a more secular view of life, one with a greater separation between church and state, and a rejection of church mandates on individual morality. ... http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/world/europe/12poland.html?_r=1 Atheists accuse Cape council of intimidation Wink News The issue ignited because of the t-shirts an atheist group was wearing at the Cape Council meeting on Monday. Members of the Atheist of Florida say they ... http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2010-12-16/Atheists-accuse-Cape-council-of-intimidation BOOKS, FILM, THEATRE, TV, YOU TUBE Top Ten Creationist Arguments We all hear the same tired and stupid Creationist arguments SO OFTEN that the folks at The Thinking Atheist decided to assemble their 10 favorites and address them in this amusing little video... http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/punctuated-equilibrium/2010/dec/12/1 EVOLUTION, CREATIONISM, I.D. BESE approves science books, school grading system The INDsider ... voted in favor of purchasing several science textbooks, despite opposition from creationists who argue the books teach evolution too matter-of-factly. ... http://www.theind.com/news/7446-bese-approves-science-books-school-grading-system Morality: Created By Evolution or Religion? ABC News By DAN HARRIS, WONBO WOO and JESSICA HOPPER Let a bunch of chimpanzees into a yard filled with watermelons and while a few of them may horde the fruit at ... http://abcnews.go.com/News/famed-biologist-frans-de-waal-argues-humans-inherited/story?id=12226888 Creationism at issue in employment dispute? National Center for Science Education According to the Courier-Journal , the university "acknowledged that concerns over Gaskell's views on evolution played a role in the decision to chose ... http://ncse.com/news/2010/12/creationism-at-issue-employment-dispute-006363 Math Proof Bolsters Theory of Evolution, Researchers Say AOL News In their paper, which is titled "There's Plenty of Time for Evolution," Wilf and Ewens say that changes atributed natural selection require far less time to ... http://www.aolnews.com/2010/12/14/math-proof-bolsters-theory-of-evolution-researchers-say/ SCIENCE Musk Oxen Live to Tell a Survivors’ Tale NYTimes.com Among the various large, charismatic and visibly winterized mammals that one might choose as a mascot for life in the Arctic belt, polar bears are, let’s face it, too hackneyed, reindeer too Rudolph, caribou too Sarah Palin’s target practice, and woolly mammoths too extinct... http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/14/science/14angier.html?ref=science Thought for Food: Imagining Food Consumption Reduces Actual Consumption ScienceDaily (Dec. 11, 2010) — If you're looking to lose weight, it's okay to think about eating your favorite candy bar. In fact, go ahead and imagine devouring every last bite -- all in the name of your diet... http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101209141134.htm Neutron Stars and String Theory in a Lab: Chilled Atoms Give Clues to Deep Space and Particle Physics ScienceDaily (Dec. 11, 2010) — Using lasers to contain some ultra-chilled atoms, a team of scientists has measured the viscosity or stickiness of a gas often considered to be the sixth state of matter. The measurements verify that this gas can be used as a "scale model" of exotic matter, such as super-high temperature superconductors, the nuclear matter of neutron stars, and even the state of matter created microseconds after the Big Bang... http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101209152755.htm Bizarre Reptile Challenges Notion of Crocodiles as 'Living Fossils' ScienceDaily (Dec. 10, 2010) — We all know that crocodiles are reptiles with long snouts, conical teeth, strong jaws and long tails. But according to researchers at Stony Brook University in New York, we don’t know what we thought we knew. Rather, some crocodiles possessed a dazzling array of adaptations that resulted in unique and sometimes bizarre anatomy, including blunt, pug-nosed snouts, pudgy bodies and short tails... http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101210094416.htm World's Smallest Battery: Real-Time Observation of Nanowire Anode to Help Improve Lithium Batteries ScienceDaily (Dec. 10, 2010) — A benchtop version of the world's smallest battery -- its anode a single nanowire one seven-thousandth the thickness of a human hair -- has been created by a team led by Sandia National Laboratories researcher Jianyu Huang... http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101209152751.htm New Insights Into Formation of Earth, the Moon, and Mars ScienceDaily (Dec. 10, 2010) — New research reveals that the abundance of so-called highly siderophile, or metal-loving, elements like gold and platinum found in the mantles of Earth, the Moon and Mars were delivered by massive impactors during the final phase of planet formation over 4.5 billion years ago. The predicted sizes of the projectiles, which hit within tens of millions of years of the giant impact that produced our Moon, are consistent with current planet formation models as well as physical evidence such as the size distributions of asteroids and ancient Martian impact scars... http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101209141130.htm Our Brains Are Wired So We Can Better Hear Ourselves Speak ScienceDaily (Dec. 9, 2010) — Like the mute button on the TV remote control, our brains filter out unwanted noise so we can focus on what we're listening to. But when it comes to following our own speech, a new brain study from the University of California, Berkeley, shows that instead of one homogenous mute button, we have a network of volume settings that can selectively silence and amplify the sounds we make and hear... http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101209101515.htm Astronomers Discover, Image New Planet in Planetary System Very Similar to Our Own ScienceDaily (Dec. 9, 2010) — An international team of astronomers has discovered and imaged a fourth giant planet outside our solar system, a discovery that further strengthens the remarkable resemblances between a distant planetary system and our own... http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101208172320.htm Redrawing the Map of Great Britain Based on Human Interaction ScienceDaily (Dec. 9, 2010) — A group of researchers at MIT, Cornell University and University College London have used one of the world's largest databases of telecommunications records to redraw the map of Great Britain. The research, which will be published in the journal PLoS ONE on Dec. 8, is based on the analysis of 12 billion anonymized records representing more than 95% of Great Britain's residential and business landlines... http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101208172316.htm 'Secret Ingredient' in Religion Makes People Happier ScienceDaily (Dec. 9, 2010) — While the positive correlation between religiosity and life satisfaction has long been known, a new study in the December issue of the American Sociological Review reveals religion's "secret ingredient" that makes people happier... http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101207091802.htm SEPARATION CHURCH / STATE Atheists To Protest Hartford City Council Meeting WFSB Hartford Members of the Connecticut Valley Atheists plan to silently protest Monday night, by sitting instead of standing during the City Council meeting's opening ... http://www.wfsb.com/news/26121500/detail.html Ark Encounter to Receive Kentucky Tax Incentives Einnews Portugal Critics argue that the tax incentives given to Ark Encounter break the separation of church and state. Democratic Gov. Steven L. Beshear says that the ... http://www.einnews.com/pr-news/260480-ark-encounter-to-receive-kentucky-tax-incentives Religious music, public schools hed help hed help hed help hed help Abilene Reporter-News Do you think public school choir concerts dominated by religious-themed music violate the separation of church and state? A. Yes, and I'm bothered by it. ... http://www.reporternews.com/news/2010/dec/13/religious-music-public-schools-hed-help-hed-help/ US$150m Creationism theme park planned Attractions Management ... of the US media balking at the fact that the developers are seeking government money, saying “it's a violation of the separation of church and state”. ... http://www.attractionsmanagement.com/detail1.cfm?pagetype=detail&subject=news&codeID=232463&site=AM&dom=N Redistrict panelist quits amid accusation Arizona Daily Star "This certainly is not the meaning of separation of church and state." Araneta did not return repeated phone calls seeking comment. ... http://azstarnet.com/news/state-and-regional/article_2613d161-4101-5427-9c64-1d86aad8bdf2.html Church and State: Warren mayor says City Hall nativity scene will stay as ... MLive.com ... a separate roadside nativity scene blur the constitutionally-mandated separation of church and state. and Maco As was the case with the prayer booth, ... http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2010/12/church_and_state_warren_mayor.html Complaint dropped against nativity scene in park WRCB-TV (AP) - A group advocating the separation of church and state says it will not go forward with a complaint against a nativity scene painted on a giant ... http://www.wrcbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13687770 Rebuilding Noah's Ark, Tax-Free Wall Street Journal In that sense, the theme park may challenge not the proper separation of church and state as much as the proper separation of faith and commerce. ... http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704828104576022034214342872.html?mod=googlenews_wsj NORCO: Council approves posting 'In God We Trust' motto Press-Enterprise The organization, which says its mission is to protect the constitutional principle of separation between church and state, sent Mayor Berwin Hanna a letter ... http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_wnorco16.40472fc.html City Council reinstates religious invocations San Antonio Express The issue arouse when a Bulverde women filed a complaint with the Washington DC-based groups, Americans for Separation of Church and State and The Freedom ... http://www.mysanantonio.com/community/bulverde/article/City-Council-reinstates-religious-invocations-901522.php Creche moving to borough building in Canonsburg Pittsburgh Post Gazette Sara Rose of the ACLU said courts determine whether nativity scenes violate the Establishment Clause -- the separation of church and state -- on a ... http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10350/1110988-55.stm Atheists Plan Protest At Hartford Council Meeting Hartford Courant An atheist organization is planning to make a silent protest tonight against the city council's practice of opening its meetings with a short prayer service ... http://articles.courant.com/2010-12-13/community/hc-hartford-athiests-1214-20101213_1_prayer-service-opening-prayer-muslim-prayers Loudouners take a stand with courthouse displays Loudoun Times-Mirror The 10 courthouse displays include four atheist signs, a Christmas tree, a letter from Jesus, two nativity scenes, a Christian sign and a Jediist display. ... http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/loudouners_take_a_stand_with_courthouse_displays456/ Atheists sit down, and make their voices heard Hartford Advocate By Jon Campbell Connecticut Valley Atheists held their promised protest on Monday at a meeting of the Hartford City Council . Wearing t-shirts with their ... http://www.hartfordadvocate.com/drive-by-media/atheists-sit-down-and-make-their-voices-heard-052717 Warren mayor: Nativity scene will stay Royal Oak Daily Tribune “The issue becomes, would he allow an atheist display to go up?” Fouts said Wednesday he would not oppose displays from any “legitimate” religious group. ... http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2010/12/16/news/doc4d0a0c1db9c97447701039.txt Feds Force Okla. Bank To Remove Crosses, Bible Verse KOCO Oklahoma City The feds interpret that to mean, for example, a Jew or Muslin or atheist may be offended and believe they may be discriminated against at this bank. ... http://www.koco.com/news/26162860/detail.html MISCELLANEOUS Money-Laundering Inquiry Touches Vatican Bank By RACHEL DONADIO - NYTimes.com ROME — Italian monetary authorities said Tuesday that they had impounded $30 million from the Vatican bank and placed its top two officers under investigation in connection with a money-laundering inquiry. The announcement amounted to another potential storm confronting the papacy of Benedict XVI, who is struggling with the effects of a priestly abuse scandal... http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/22/world/europe/22vatican.html?ref=vaticancity Nun charged with embezzling $1.2M from Iona By BRUCE GOLDING - NYPost.com Talk about a really bad habit. A nun known as Sister Susie was charged yesterday with embezzling more than $1.2 million from a Catholic college in Westchester County. Sister Marie Thornton, 62, allegedly stole the money over the course of a decade while serving as vice president of finance at Iona College in New Rochelle... http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/take_the_nun_gYglkKhuxRoyvYQ18yF8YL |