Reflecting a trend in other Western nations, Americans who describe themselves as without a religion continue to grow in number. They now represent one-fifth of all Americans and a huge one-third of adults under 30. It is an incredible disconnect with our politicians who continue in both parties to push faith-based politics. Some of these individuals may believe in the concept of a divine being but not associate with a particular religion. Perhaps sensing this trend toward agnostic and atheist views, U.S. politicians have increased their attacks on those who do not believe in an almighty being (here and here).
Edward Archbold, 32, had secured the world’s least appealing title this week: champion roach eater. However, the Florida man then collapsed and died in front of the Siegel Reptile Store in Deerfield Beach.
Continue reading “Roaches Revenge? Florida Man Collapses and Dies After Roach Eating Contest”
This YouTube video shows a rather bizarre scene as QVC co-host Cassie Lane passes out. However her co-host continues to pitch the sale without missing a beat.
Below is my column today in USA Today. We are now just a month away from the presidential election and our continued inexplicable use of the Electoral College. I have previously discussed steps that we can take to reform our political system. However, the starting point should be the elimination of the electoral college and the requirement that our presidents be elected by a direct and majority vote. As with other leading countries, we should allow for a runoff to guarantee that every president enters office with the support of over half of the voters.
Liquid nitrogen cocktails have become the rage in bars and parties. However, a teenage girl Gaby Scanlon has shown the dangers of the gas after her stomach was removed after drinking a cocktail containing liquid nitrogen.
Continue reading “Liquid Nitrogen In Drink Results in Stomach Being Removed To Save Teenage Girl”
Annika Eriksson is not your usual lunch lady. The Swedish lunch lady often served fresh bread and vegetables to the children at her school in Falun, Sweden. The school district soon heard of the rave reviews from students and teachers alike. It moved quickly to stop Eriksson — telling her to serve the same fare as other schools so not to give her students a better meal than other students. It is managing a school to the lowest common denominator. Rather than striving for all schools to serve better food, it was easier to reduce the quality at the leading school.
Associate Justice Antonin Scalia is again making headlines with controversial public statements. I have previously written about Scalia and the advent of the celebrity justice. Scalia clearly relishes the public attention, even though his public controversies likely cost him the Chief Justice position on the Court. Continuing his celebrity tour before conservative groups, Scalia thrilled his “base” by declaring that the criminalization of homosexuality, abortion, and the death penalty are “absolutely easy” questions.
Despite widespread protests and international condemnation over his authoritarian policies, Vladimir Putin is back to his unrelenting efforts at self-aggrandizement and deification. His aides have organized national celebration of Putin turning 60 this week with fawning politicians like St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko proclaiming “Your name is a symbol of a wise politician and a strong leader in Russia and the world.” Yeah, that’s how the world views Putin. In Moscow, an exhibition dedicated to Putin is running at the art center entitled “A Man of the Kindest Soul.” Nevertheless, even if Putin has not succeeded in winning over the world or freedom loving Russians, he has appeared to win over Russian women: one in five Russian women say they want to marry the wannabe dictator. Who needs eHarmony when you can land the perfect dictator on eTyranny?
Continue reading “eTyranny: One Out Of Five Women Want To Marry Putin”
A Pew Research Center survey has shown that, despite the faith-based politics of both Democratic and Republican leaders, most citizens like separation of church and state — including separation from politics. Two-thirds said that religious organizations should not endorse or openly support candidates. For a prior column on the issue, click here.
Continue reading “Two-Thirds of Americans Polled Support Separation of Churches From Politics”
I have of course been basking in the warm glow of the ascension of the Chicago Bears, who are now tied for first in the NFC North (a position solidified not only with the 41-3 blowout yesterday against the Jaguars but the loss of the Packers to the Colts). However, nothing quite matches the final play in the game of Trinity against Millsaps College on Saturday, October 27, 2007. The play by play coverage by the announcers is enough to make this worth the watch. The two announcers appear to have a joint aneurysm at the end.
Brenda Geers may have to revisit Step One in her Alcoholic Anonymous program. Geers not only hit an eighteen-year-old college student in Boulder, Colorado but crashed into St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church while driving drunk to her Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
Colleen Lachowicz is facing a truly bizarre attack campaign from Republicans in her campaign for the state Senate in Maine. The Maine Republican Party is warning voters that Lachowicz is really “Santiaga,” an Orc Assassin Rogue on the World of Warcraft. That’s right, the GOP has adopted an openly discriminatory policy against Orcs despite their legendary tenacity and frugality.
by Gene Howington, Guest Blogger
The 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads, “[t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
Seems pretty straight forward, doesn’t it? Continue reading “The Shame and Waste of Fusion Centers”
Respectfully Submitted by Lawrence Rafferty-(rafflaw)- Guest Blogger
A short time ago, our country and its military reached a sad milestone in the war in Afghanistan. We have now lost 2,000 members of our military during our almost 12 year war in Afghanistan. In light of that sad news, a Republican Congressman, Rep. Bill Young of Florida, received a letter from an Army soldier on his third tour in Afghanistan that caused him to change his mind about our continuing involvement in Afghanistan. That soldier, Staff Sgt. Matthew Sitton wrote the letter to the congressman, shortly before he and a comrade were killed by an IED that journalist Bill Moyers recently discussed. Continue reading ““Why Are We Killing Kids That Don’t Need to Die?””
-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger
The Supreme Court will soon hear arguments on the affirmative action case of Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin. Opponents of affirmative action claim that the process is inherently unfair: a non-white student gains admittance over a more qualified white student. That certainly seems unfair.
A key question in verifying the unfairness of affirmative action is an objective measure of each student’s qualifications.