Richard Dawkins on The Late Edition with Marcus Brigstocke

A Bollywood Christmas Song, Part 2 December 26, 2009

Hey, Indian people… Stop remaking Christmas songs!*facepalm*I have nothing to do with this, I swear…(Thanks to Sheila for link. I think…)18 Vote(s)

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Merry Whomas December 25, 2009

Happy Wholidays!And no, I’m not insanely jealous of everyone who watched End of Time Part 1 today, why do you ask?Picture credit: BBC17 Vote(s)

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A Fundamentalist Christian Christmas Card December 25, 2009

Edwin Kagin is the legal director of American Atheists and a guy with a very unique sense of humor. He offers his version of a Christmas card from a fundamentalist Christian family:… The house was burned down by sparks from the burning of Harry Potter books in our yard. Little Marvin got a chicken [...]14 Vote(s)

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NPR Science Friday interview today December 25, 2009

I’ll be on today’s episode of NPR’s Science Friday! Ira Flatow hosted a round-table panel discussion with Paul Raeburn, Mariette DiChristina (the new editor-in-chief of Scientific American magazine), Wired senior editor Nick Thompson, and me. We chatted about the year in science news including social networking (like Twitter), privacy, Hubb […]

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Christmas unWrapped- The History of Christmas December 25, 2009

This documentary explores the origin of Christmas and how it came to be the way we know it today.7 Vote(s)

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Ask Richard: Atheist Parents Disagree About Circumcision December 25, 2009

Note: When letter writers sign with their first names instead of a pseudonym or nickname, I randomly change their name for added anonymity.Dear Richard,Both myself and my wife are atheist (but I’m a little more extremist). We were both raised in traditional Jewish homes. That is, we were brought up on the culture and tradition, [...]20 Vote(s)

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Early Whale Was Dwarf Mud-Sucker, Fossils Hint December 25, 2009

8 Vote(s)

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A Bollywood Christmas Song December 25, 2009

Umm… I don’t know whether to be proud or ashamed as an Indian person:I apologize for unleashing that on all of you.(via Sepia Mutiny)17 Vote(s)

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Carnival of the Godless #131 December 25, 2009

Reed has the 131st edition of the Carnival of the Godless up at his site. If you want to see some of the better postings about atheism over the past few weeks, that’s where you want to go!9 Vote(s)

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Merry merry December 25, 2009

Who needs to dream of a white Christmas when you live in Boulder? But as a devoted astronomer, I need a little polychromaticism in my life, too.Enjoy a fun and happy holiday, folks. P.S. Last year’s holiday message still holds, too.20 Vote(s)

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PewForum.org | All News Feeds

It can happen here December 28, 2009

In the past year, exposure of significant jihadist recruitment inside the United States has left Americans worried that "homegrown terrorism" may become a serious threat.

Abbreviating Christmas in Iraq December 23, 2009

As a priest led prayers for a few dozen worshipers inside St. Joseph Chaldean Church here on Sunday, Iraqi police officers stood guard outside.

Vatican: Decision to move Pope Pius XII closer to sainthood is not 'hostile act' against Jews December 23, 2009

The Vatican sought Wednesday to quell its latest public dispute with Jewish groups, saying the pope's decision to move Pope Pius XII closer to sainthood isn't an act of hostility against those who say he didn't sufficiently denounce the Holocaust.

Over 1700 reconverted to Hinduism in Surat December 22, 2009

In its offensive against conversion of tribals to Christianity, Maharashtra-based Shree Sampraday sect claimed to have reconverted 1,747 people back to Hinduism in Surat on Monday.

Study: Mississippi is 'most religious' state December 22, 2009

The South has risen again, at least in terms of belief in God.

Latino leaders use churches in census bid December 22, 2009

Fearing that millions of illegal immigrants may not be counted in the 2010 census, Latino leaders are mobilizing a nationwide drive to urge Hispanics to participate in the survey, including an intense push this week in evangelical Christian churches.

Covenant to bind Anglicans sent out to churches December 22, 2009

The final draft of a document aimed at mediating disputes between liberals and conservatives in the global Anglican Communion was sent on Friday (Dec. 18) to its 38 provinces for approval.

Israel's Messianic Jews wary of stepped-up persecution December 22, 2009

After their teenage son was nearly killed last year by a bomb disguised as a holiday gift basket, few people were as eager for Ya'acov Teitel to see justice as Leah and David Ortiz.

Egypt's Brotherhood elects new leadership amid internal rift December 22, 2009

Egypts Muslim Brotherhood has elected a new leadership amid deep divisions over future strategies and ways to confront a persistent government crackdown, the groups leader said Monday.

Mexico City moves to legalize same-sex marriage December 22, 2009

In a move that may put Mexico City at odds with the rest of the country, the local legislature approved a far-reaching gay rights bill Monday, voting to allow people of the same sex to marry and to adopt children.

PZ Meyer’s Blog

OMG, duck porn! December 26, 2009

Carl Zimmer has some videos of explosive erections in ducks you might not want to miss. Or might want to miss, depending on your kinks. I may have nightmares tonight. Read the comments on this post...

Bad idea, putting me on a poll December 26, 2009

It's just a silly online poll, and I don't have a stake in how it comes out one way or the other, except for one thing: I must defeat Brad Pitt. I like the guy, and I've enjoyed his movies, and I'm happy that he's come out as an atheist, but you know…I'm looking forward to being able to go into the bedroom and tell the Tr […]

Dan Bern for President! December 26, 2009

The agenda on this video made me so happy. I want a president like this! Read the comments on this post...

Shame on Italy December 26, 2009

This is absurd. The Italian National Research Council is sponsoring the publication of a creationist book, titled Evolutionism: The Decline of an Hypothesis. Right away, from the title alone, you can tell that the book has problems: evolution is not a theory in decline, no matter how much the creationists declare it so, but is guiding a thriving research pro […]

Friday Cephalopod: All dressed in red and white…must be Santa Cephalopod! December 25, 2009

Octopus alpheus Figure from Cephalopods: A World Guide (amzn/b&n/abe/pwll), by Mark Norman. Read the comments on this post...

We're very traditional around here December 24, 2009

THIS. IS. MINNESOTA. We like our Christmases white around here, and it's not enough just to have a few decorative snowflakes tumble down — we need a blizzard, and that's what we're going to get. I was out there in the frigid whiteness earlier today, clearing the driveway and sidewalks, and now I'm all worn out, ready for a good nigh […]

The reason for the season! December 24, 2009

It's Christmas Eve. You're probably all busy with holiday preparations, getting together with family, making the traditional dinner, all that secular stuff that makes the day worth celebrating. I know that in the midst of this hustle and bustle you already don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm going to ask you to take a quiet, contemplati […]

War on Christmas, continued December 24, 2009

There is a sign among the various holiday displays at the Illinois state capitol, set there by the Freedom from Religion Foundation. At the time of the winter solstice, let reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is just myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds. […]

Spotting the black hats among the climate change denialists December 24, 2009

Jim Lippard has put up an excellent post identifying the major institutions behind climate change denial. They are almost uniformly conservative and populated with old and unqualified cranks, although Jim is too genteel to put it that way. It's useful information if you need a scorecard to keep track of the players. It's also amusing. Lippard makes […]

α-actinin evolution in humans December 23, 2009

Perhaps your idea of the traditional holiday week involves lounging about with a full belly watching football — not me, though. I think if I did, I'd be eyeing those muscular fellows with thoughts of muscle biopsies and analyses of the frequency of α-actinin variants in their population vs. the population of national recliner inhabitants. I […]