Clipmarks | AtlLiberal's clips

Mugabe Spoils for a Fight

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:41:30 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Lying is in political vogue these days. And it seems that the more blatant the lie the more easily it slips off the tongue
How often do we need to hear proclamations of peace from obviously non-peaceful countries. Admittedly, Zimbabwe has not directly attacked it's bordering neighbors. Yet the millions of refugees his failed state has produced could be seen as a human tragedy shared by all the surrounding countries.

And does this man have room for bluster. Apparently so. With all the chaos in his country he seems to find time to rattle a few sabers of his own.

Clip Source: www.reuters.com

Mugabe warns neighbours against provoking Zimbabwe

HARARE, July 4 (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Friday warned neighbouring African nations to "think twice" about provoking his government, which has been condemned for holding a one-candidate presidential election.

"If there are some who may want to fight us, they should think twice," Mugabe, the winner of a run-off election boycotted by the opposition, said after returning home from an African Union summit.

"We don't intend to fight any neighbours. We are a peaceful country, but if there is a country, a neighbouring country that is itching for a fight, ah, then let them try it."

Drugs and Crime

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:30:19 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Scraping the insane drug laws which make it profitable for criminals to engage in drugs in the first place would be a great start. Admit it's a medical and not a legal problem. Turn the resources to that end that are now squandered on law enforcement.

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Americans Can't Allow McCain to Continue Bush's Failed Policies in the "War on Drugs"

One of the reasons John McCain says he is touring Colombia and Mexico this week is to underscore the importance of the "War on Drugs." Just as McCain wants to continue Bush's failed policies in the "War on Terror," he wants to continue Bush's failed policies in the "War on Drugs" as well.

Of course the central fallacy of the "War on Drugs" is that drug addiction is not essentially a military or law enforcement problem. It is a medical problem.

Today America spends billions of dollars on enforcement, interdiction, eradication and the incarceration of those who sell and use drugs. Yet at the same time there are long waiting lists to get into serious drug rehab programs.

Justice Policy Institute found that investments in drug treatment and education are 10 to 15 times more effective at cutting drug use than the same amount spent on law enforcement aimed at drugs.

Tags: drugs, policy, prohibition

Yoo Roast

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:17:59 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Watch John Yoo squirm. Great fun.

What is your question? I was wondering if the President could order a suspect to watch reruns of Roseanne?

Clip Source: scienceblogs.com

Astonishing pusillanimity

This has to be seen to believed. John Conyers asks John Yoo a simple question: "Is there anything the president could not order be done to a suspect?" He can't give a straight answer. So Conyers reduces it to a simple hypothetical: "Could the president order a suspect to be buried alive?" He still can't answer! It's a yes or no question!

[Video]

What can be done in the face of such a disgusting evasion of simple decency from the Bush administration? Not much, but laugh.

Gary Farber has invented a game, "Stump the Yoo". Go ahead, think of some outrage you would propose as a hypothetical to John You, just to see him squirm.

Gary suggests, "Can the president order the arms of a suspect eaten by wolves while still attached?"

How about, "Can the president order a suspect to be impaled for his lunchtime entertainment?"

Or perhaps, "Can the president order a suspect to be repeatedly drowned to the point of suffocation?"

Your turn.

Tags: politics, torture, yoo, bush

Gathering of the Loonies

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:06:05 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: And remember, you're promised a "dazzling array of world class speakers"!!! Such as Ken Ham, the creator of the Creationist Museum in Kentucky.

I suggest anyone within a 100 mile radius of this event stock up on flashlights and candles as you witness the advent of the Dark Ages.

Clip Source: rememberthycreator.com

The Pikes Peak Center Conference

The Beginning and the End of the Universe

The pre-conference events will include a special breakfast for pastors and other Christian education leaders on June 26, 2008, prior to the Conference. Dr. Henry Morris, III, CEO of the Institute for Creation Research will be our keynote speaker. We are working towards a goal of having at least 300 Pastors and Christian education leaders at this event. Every evangelical Pastor in the Pikes Peak region will be invited to be a special guest at our expense. Each guest will receive a free gift pack and there will be no solicitation of funds at this event.

Ken Ham
Answers in Genesis

The Conference itself will feature a dazzling array of world class speakers

As a bonus feature we will be offering a Creation-themed, world class dinosaur and fossil display presented by the Creation Truth Foundation.

Tags: creationism, science, religion

Here We Go Again

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:25:44 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: This somewhat disappointing position by Obama may be simple politics or it may be a sign of increasing involvement by religious organizations in government. Already we've seen the problems this can cause, mainly in the realm of churches to discriminate according to religion. If the rumors are true, churches will be able to discriminate in hiring if "certain conditions are met". I can't help but wonder if this is a ploy to garner the "evangelical" vote. Of course this still doesn't make McCain any more disirrable as a candidate.

Clip Source: thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com

The Early Word: You’ve Got To Have Faith

In another sign that his campaign is reaching out to evangelical voters, Senator Barack Obama plans to announce his support for expanding President Bush’s faith-based programs in a speech on religion he will deliver at Eastside Community Ministry in Zanesville, Ohio this afternoon.

The Associated Press previews his remarks and notes that Mr. Obama will say that he supports allowing religious organizations to hire and fire employees based on faith:

Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton offers his take on the faith-based proposal:

The Times’s John M. Broder takes a look at the Obama campaign’s efforts to court religious voters, who make up as much as one-quarter of the electorate:

“Obama does not believe that faith-based groups are an alternative to government or secular nonprofits, or that they’re better at lifting people

Tags: politics, candidate, religion

Buffy St. Marie

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:52:13 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: This is dated and the quality is lacking but the emotion still shines through. If you're not familiar with this artist this is a decent introduction.

Clip Source: youtube.com

[Video]

Tags: folk, protest, native american, cree, canada

Sorry, Tea Leaves Indicate a Leaking Teabag

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:57:59 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: To get to the meat of this issue you'll have to delve deeper than this clip. Consider this clip a teaser only.

So, you've had an "experience" that made you a believer? These are as common as dirt. What most people forget are the untold "misses" they've experienced in their lives. It's similar to the positive hits from prayer that gives believers such faith that their cosmic begging stuff is actually working! Read the piece and open your eyes. It takes a bit of effort but you'll find that you'll be able to see much better afterwards.

Clip Source: atheism.about.com

Belief & Coincidence

People Don't Understand Statistics So Have Mistaken Beliefs About Coincidences

One of the reasons people believe in psychic phenomena is not because of experiments which purport to show something statistically significant — these results only serve to bolster beliefs which already exist. People’s beliefs are instead based upon their own personal experiences. The more such experiences a person has, the stronger their belief will be.

What sorts of experiences are involved? There is a wide variety, too many to cover each one separately here. Many involve dreams — a person dreams about some event, usually an accident or tragedy, and then it mysterious takes place shortly thereafter. Some involve waking premonitions — a person thinks about an old friend and then that friend suddenly calls on the phone. Somewhere, somehow, a person just “knows” that an event is going to occur, and then it does indeed occur.

Tags: parapsychology, faith, prayer, superstition, paranormal, science, statistics

One More Time for the Learning Impaired

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:14:20 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: It always helps to reiterate for the scientific challanged among us (and in the US that's a majority of the population) the difference between law, theory, guess and wishful thinking. Pay attention people, my patience is running out. And yes, you'll have to read the whole article to reap it's rewards. Learning does have it's costs so ante up! Don't let ignorance keep you sounding like a complete idiot.

Clip Source: atheism.about.com

Mailbag: Creation vs. Evolution

The Theory of Evolution is not a scientific law or a law of biology. A scientific law must be 100% correct. Failure to meet only one challenge proves the law is wrong. This web page will prove that the Theory of Evolution fails many challenges, not simply one. The Theory of Evolution will never become a law of science because it is wrought with errors. This is why it is called a theory, instead of a law.

Sometimes I think that it would be almost an understatement to say that people who are in denial about evolution are also in denial about science generally. It's almost inevitable that someone trying to defend some form of creationism will demonstrate some misunderstandings about science and above we see what are not only some of the most common but also some of the most fundamental misunderstandings. I don't think it would be going too far to say that Cris has no idea how science proceeds or even what science really is.

Tags: evolution, creationism, fundamentalism, religion, education

More Ignorant Comments About Creationism

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:23:29 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Jindal, like Bush himself, must have dozed off in basic science class when they were discussing what science is. It's no mistake that Americans are woefully ignorant when it comes to science. This wouldn't be a problem but for the fact that they want to spread their ignorance to school children too. ID is the pig with lipstick. It's Creationism dressed in a lab coat. It's not science. Period.

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Jindal: Intelligent Design "The Very Best Science" (VIDEO)

I personally think that the life, human life and the world we live in wasn't created accidentally. I do think that there's a creator. I'm a Christian. I do think that God played a role in creating not only earth, but mankind. Now, the way that he did it, I'd certainly want my kids to be exposed to the very best science. I don't want them to be-I don't want any facts or theories or explanations to be withheld from them because of political correctness. The way we're going to have smart, intelligent kids is exposing them to the very best science and let them not only decide, but also let them contribute to that body of knowledge.

Most scientists argue that intelligent design doesn't qualify as science.

Tags: ignorance, creationism, science, evolution, schools

Would Garlic Protect Us From the Courts?

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:40:47 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: More insanity from Texas which seems to have more than its share. This superstitious stupidity really needs to end. This religious immunity from critical scrutiny has existed for too long. It's time to begin shinning a light on these barbaric practices practiced by this death cult.

Clip Source: scienceblogs.com

Texas court approves traumatic exorcisms

Well now…if you've had a hankerin' to torture, abuse, and do who knows what else to people at your whim, here's what you do: move on down to Texas and set up a religion. The Texas Supreme Court just ruled on a case in which a young woman was subjected to extreme distress and restraint during a church-run exorcism

The court ruling basically says that because this church carries out this practice all the time, and because adherents of the religion accept it, it's OK to pin people to the floor and scream at them for a few hours.

"The laying of hands" and the presence of demons are part of the church's belief system and accepted as such by its adherents," the ruling said in part.

Hello, world. In the United States, it is not considered unusual to accuse teenagers of being possessed by demons, and we subject them to frightening magic rituals to cast out such satanic forces with some regularity.

Tags: religion, exorcism, superstition, fundamentalism, christian

Crazy Phelps Rants On

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:28:47 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Be warned. This is not pretty. This demented hater of the ages spews his venom. And he backs it up with scripture so it must be true!

Clip Source: atheistmedia.blogspot.com

Fred Phelps: George Carlin is now in Hell

[Video]

Tags: hate, christianity, religion, phelps, bigotry

Golden Rays on the Move

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:04:59 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal

Clip Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Golden Ray photos of amazing mass migration

Looking like giant leaves floating in the sea thousands of Golden Rays are seen here gathering off the coast of Mexico.

The spectacular scene was captured as the magnificent creatures made one of their biannual mass migrations to more agreeable waters.

Gliding silently beneath the waves they turned vast areas of blue water to gold off the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Sandra Critelli, an amateur photographer, stumbled across the phenomenon while looking for whale sharks.

She said: "It was an unreal image, very difficult to describe. The surface of the water was covered by warm and different shades of gold and looked like a bed of autumn leaves gently moved by the wind.

"It's hard to say exactly how many there were but in the range of a few thousand.

Measuring up to 7ft (2.1 metres) from wing-tip to wing-tip, Golden rays are also more prosaically known as cow nose rays.

Tags: nature, migration, rays

Small Steps Are a Start

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:49:49 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: No one has ever suggested that I am a friend of religion. Yet, for positive progress in the Middle East it apparently needs people that share that mindset to take a positive approach to deal with this issue.

Clip Source: www.jpost.com

Is religion good for peace?

If everything goes well and there are no surprises, as of next week the International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ) will for the first time be headed by a woman.

Dr. Devorah Weissman, a former professor of Jewish education at the Hebrew University, has since the Eighties been a member of the ICCJ. A modern Orthodox feminist, Weissman is a member of the dovish religious group Netivot Shalom, and for years headed the Kerem Institute for Teacher Training for Humanistic-Jewish Education.

Interestingly enough, Weissman believes her election to the position is not the most important issue at stake. Instead, she highlights the question of whether religion has a largely radicalizing influence or a positive impact on the relations between people. In other words, is religion good or bad for peace?

Tags: religion, middle east, war

Nader - One Trick Pony

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:16:49 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Admiration for past good deeds aside, Nader presents these days as bitter, self-absorbed, and out of touch. Now he's accusing Obama of attempting to "talk white". I'm not even sure what the hell he means by this except perhaps a twisted view into his own cultural stereotypes

Clip Source: www.cnn.com

Obama using 'white guilt,' Nader says

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Ralph Nader's presidential candidacy has received little media attention, but his latest critique of Sen. Barack Obama has come under fire for its seemingly racial overtones.

Speaking with Colorado's Rocky Mountain News, Nader accused Obama of attempting to "talk white" and appealing to "white guilt" in his quest to win the White House.

"There's only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate. He's half African-American," Nader told the paper in comments published Tuesday.

"Whether that will make any difference, I don't know. I haven't heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What's keeping him from doing that? Is it because he wants to talk white? He doesn't want to appear like Jesse Jackson? We'll see all that play out in the next few months and if he gets elected afterwards," Nader added.

Tags: racist, prejudice, nader, president, ignaorance

He Just Doesn't Get It!

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:02:09 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: What a continuing embarrassment this frat boy president continues to be.

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

President Bush met with Filipino President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today at the White House. Arroyo was in Washington while her country tries to recover from a typhoon

Bush couldn't resist beginning the sober meeting with a quip about a Filipino member of his kitchen staff.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Madam President, it is a pleasure to welcome you back to the Oval Office. We have just had a very constructive dialogue. First, I want to tell you how proud I am to be the President of a nation that -- in which there's a lot of Philippine-Americans. They love America and they love their heritage. And I reminded the President that I am reminded of the great talent of the -- of our Philippine-Americans when I eat dinner at the White House. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT ARROYO: Yes.

PRESIDENT BUSH: And the chef is a great person and a really good cook, by the way, Madam President.

PRESIDENT ARROYO: Thank you.

Tags: politics, bush, filipino, diplomacy