There’s a stack of books on my desk waiting to be read and reviewed. And I put them all aside because Neil deGrasse Tyson’s new book The Pluto Files came in the mail and I couldn’t wait to read it. I love Tyson for the same reason I enjoy reading Phil Plait’s blog: because I know next to nothing about astronomy, and they know plenty, and they make me want to learn more. This book is no exception… at least… Read more
If you have no atheist buses in your area, no need to worry. Just follow the example of the atheists in Sydney, Australia. Make your own! Scepdoll took some wonderful pictures. Ah, the beauty of an event like Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. I now know what I’m going to be for Halloween this year. Read more
The vote was taken and free speech won out! The city council in Ottawa voted 13-7 yesterday in favor of having atheist ads on their buses! The ad is one you’ve seen before — “There’s probably no God, now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” But watch how one opponent removes the “probably” wording and contradicts himself a few times in one statement: Life Christian Academy principal Mike Karpishka and 40 of his students protested outside city hall yesterday. “We… Read more
This is Ron Gold checking in. Barack Obama has now spent 50 days in the White House. Instead of waiting for the standard first 100 days evaluation, I thought I’d get a head start and give some early thoughts. However, when I think about it, I realize it’s extremely difficult to say if Obama is doing a good job. He’s done some good things, such as erasing the federal ban on funding embryonic stem cell research, but is he making smart economic decisions? Not… Read more
Last time, I ran this contest: Taking a cue from this list… Replace any word from the title of, or a line from, a book about atheism… with the word “Pants.” For example, “The Pants Delusion” or “Atheism: The Case Against Pants.” (If you use a line from a book, give us the name of the book and the page number!) Here are the Top 10 answers (with submitters): 10| The Blind Pantsmaker — Richard Dawkins (a parody of) (Riker)… Read more
I mentioned yesterday how cool it would be to have a Flying Spaghetti Monster ambigram tattoo… only somewhat in jest 🙂 Efrique made it happen. Just with the words “Spaghetti Monster” but very impressive nonetheless! (And in case you don’t know what an ambigram is, here is that same picture rotated 180 degrees) How #%$&ing cool is that?! And bonus points for using the Scarlet A. I’m sure prophet Bobby Henderson will be proud. (via Ecstathy) Read more
Viktor Nagornyy reminds me that atheists are sitting atop the leaderboard at Kiva.com — a website that “allows people to lend money via the Internet to microfinance institutions in developing countries which in turn lend the money to small businesses…” We used to be in second place for a while, but we are currently (and comfortably) in first place! Go us! Currently, the number 1 donating team on Kiva is “Atheists, Agnostics, Skeptics, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists and the Non-Religious.” Yes,… Read more
I missed this episode of Family Guy. But at least I have seen the best part: Peter going to a Christian “Straight Camp”: (via The Invisible Pink Unicorn) Read more
One day, when I become a real man, I am going to get this tattoo: It’s either that or the words “Flying Spaghetti Monster” in ambigram form. Then my life will be complete. (via Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster) Read more
