***Update***: Olivia provides an update to this interaction in the comments. … Reader Olivia has a minor dilemma. She has an Amazon wishlist (as do I!) and people are able to purchase the items for the listmaker. Kind of like a wedding registry. Olivia recently received one of her wishlist books in the mail. She was surprised to discover who had sent her the gift: The person who sent it is someone I have only [spoken to] online and rarely… Read more
A few random threads on Christmas all in one: Guess who celebrates the holiday? Scientist and atheist Richard Dawkins has admitted he does celebrate Christmas — and enjoys singing traditional Christmas carols each festive season. … ‘I am perfectly happy on Christmas day to say Merry Christmas to everybody,’ Dawkins said. ‘I might sing Christmas carols — once I was privileged to be invited to Kings College, Cambridge, for their Christmas carols and loved it. ‘I actually love most of… Read more
No. It didn’t. Not an angel. I’m glad Colleen Banton’s daughter is ok, but the answer is no. What is she talking about? Well, take a look at the angel she’s referring to: Really. That’s supposed to be an angel. What’s that, you say? It’s the light at a particular angle? Light coming through a window? Nope. It’s an angel. (Screw you and your skepticism.) The Today show’s Ann Curry and NBC’s Ron Mott spent six minutes propagating that absurdity…. Read more
I still say the Rick Warren controversy isn’t as big a deal as people are making it out to be. That doesn’t mean I agree with his absurd, faulty, and hateful social views. Cartoonist Mikhaela Reid shows us why mainstream America doesn’t find Warren as bigoted as his Religious Right counterparts: I’m amazed someone can be so effective and wonderful on certain issues… and so misguided and irresponsible when it comes to others. Warren is making it difficult for non-Christians… Read more
There’s an interview with me on the Regator blog. It discusses how I blog and advice to other bloggers. … I also have a cameo on the Skepchick podcast where I explain my own contribution to the War on Christmas! Read more
The Freedom From Religion Foundation could use the help of a Colorado citizen who has a child in the Cherry Creek School District in Denver. A brief background of the case: Last year, Cherry Creek Schools began promoting “40 Developmental Assets” — a program that would help students become “responsible and confident young adults.” That’s all well and good. The problem was Asset Number 19. It suggested “young adults spend one or more hours per week in activities in a… Read more
Writer Hadeel Masseoud first came across the problem last year: Last holiday season my three-year old son, Zain, innocently asked me, “Mummy, what is Santa bringing me for Christmas?” I should have known that question was coming. After all, I sent him to pre-school at a Baptist church. He attended chapel every Monday and said blessing before lunch every day. Once when he was two, he waddled over to me and told me in his toddler voice, “Jesus is Love.”… Read more
Kate is holding a contest where the winner gets an awesome shirt. All you have to do is tell everyone about your amazing feats of strength! Examples: I can drink two drinks at the same time using only two hands! I successfully renewed my driver’s license today at the DMV… in UNDER. TWO. HOURS! My own feat: I successfully used a gift card while shopping today. Victory shall be mine. If you want to throw in your own entry, tell… Read more
I realize I’m nearly two years behind the rest of the world, but I just finished reading Ishmael Beah’s A Long Way Gone. It took me all of a day. It’s remarkable and scary and heartbreaking and uplifting and horrifying and wonderful. If you haven’t read it, you should. The description and whatnot can be found here. Better yet, just check out this interview the author did with Jon Stewart a while back. Two books done from my reading list… Read more
There’s an ad on Craigslist in Vancouver written by a landlord trying to rent out one of his apartments. For some reason, he says “All the tenants I interview aren’t good enough.” I imagine the landlord isn’t a welcoming one to quite a few potential tenants, either… Why is that? Well, check out his listing… and see if you can figure it out. In case the original link is not working, here’s a backup. (via Reddit) Read more
